Book of the Week for 10-24-12

Happy New Comic Book Day! And Happy Halloween as well. Before we get to some comic book goodness, I just want to send some love to our friends on the east coast as they deal with a force of nature which has already claimed lives and done massive amounts of damage. We're sending well wishes your way.

As usual, before I reveal the best read, I'll go over the other comics which found a home in my collection. Amazing Spider-Man #696, Astonishing X-Men #55, Avengers #32, AvX: Consequences #3, Captain America #19, Gambit #4, Invincible Iron Man #527, Punisher: War Zone #1, Secret Avengers #33, Invincible #96, Spawn #224, Cobra #18, Extermination #5 and Ghostbusters 100-Page Spooktacular. Sadly, I'm behind on two of those titles, so their newest releases were not read and thus did not qualify. It happens.

My favorite read of the week came from DC Comics. That's pretty rare considering the quality of the New 52. I have to give it to the creative team behind I, Vampire #13. Joshua Hale Fialkov, Andrea Sorrentino, and Marcelo Maiolo have been doing quality work. I'm reading nine DC books and this one is near the top of the list for consistency. I have no doubt that it's one of the better books of the New 52.

This issue is a game-changer. If you've been reading, you've seen how the book has progressed through the first 12 issues. Credit to Fialkov for the overall tale and the characters. The events of the previous issue left Mary, formerly Queen of the vampires, powerless. This issue begins with the focus on her settling into life as a human. She reveals aspects about vampires that I can't say I've ever come across before. As the book progresses, Andrew comes back into the picture. This transition is where things change and you'll want to jump on board to see how.

Visually, Sorrentino and Maiolo work well together. I've already mentioned the consistency this title has brought. That extends beyond the writing to Sorrentino's pencils. Maiolo's colors add that sense of darkness and mystery. His shadows serve the book well. There's a two-page spread where Mary is just sitting in a chair. That may not sound exciting, but the image conveys a lot about the character's current state. It appears she's dwelling on her new role. It's simple, but powerful.

This is going up late, but even though Halloween books are here, I still wanted to post it. And let's be honest, it having been out a week doesn't make it less of an entertaining read. Now get out there and buy some books. Happy reading and thanks for looking.

Book of the Week

Well hello fellow comic fans. Thanks for joining me again in this weekly celebration of comic goodness. Despite how it seems, the world of comics isn't always about controversy. We do enjoy our books greatly and that's what we're here to do right now.

Finding a home in my collection are Amazing Spider-Man #688, Spider-Men #2, Wolverine & the X-Men #12, X-Men Legacy #269, X-Men #31, Gears of War #24 (final issue), I Vampire #10, Justice League #10, Witchblade #157, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #11. I didn't get my hands on the Fatale Vol. 1 TPB, but it's okay. Overall, it was a good week of releases.

But of course only one book can come out on top. And surprisingly, it's a DC book. I never thought I would've saw that. It's not that I hate DC. Obviously, I don't or I wouldn't spend my dollars on them. But their books don't always connect with me as Marvel and Image comics do. I know how that may sound, so I'll put it out there that I don't read them expecting them to be of lesser quality than other books. I give all books their fair shot. That even included New 52 Action Comics and Superman. Both of which turned out to be trash, but you know, I gave them their chance.

Onto a more positive note, my book of the week is I, Vampire #10. Joshua Hale Fialkov and Andrea Sorrentino's series is, in my opinion, one of the better books post-relaunch. Let's see what "Waiting for the end of the World" has in store for readers.

In the previous issue, readers were left with two notes. One of those is Andrew taking on anyone who would challenge his control. Who took that challenge? Mary of course. The second of those points is the introduction of the Van Helsings. Whom, according to the cover of this book, are the ultimate vampire killers. In this issue they descend upon Andrew, Mary, and their band of loyal bloodsucking followers.

At one point in the book, Sorrentino opens up Andrew and Mary's fight and he shows out. It's a beautiful two-page spread where Mary has transformed into a giant beast with Andrew still looking like well, Andrew. Cool glasses and all. But that's not all. In the background, the pages are broken up into 20 panels showing the flow of the fight. While some of it obstructed because of the figures in the foreground, it's still something to behold. His work is complimented with Marcelo Maiolo colors giving it a darker vibe. They're a good pair, especially fitting for this book.

I, Vampire has a lot of good qualities. At the top of the list for this particular issue is the discussion of morality between the Professor Troughton and the leader of the Van Helsings. The talk of morality revolves around Andrew and Mary's "struggle" for power and the Van Helsings basically murdering anyone getting in the way of their mission.

If you haven't been reading I, Vampire, you should check it out. It's only getting better and the cliff-hanger could lead to disaster for our protagonists. So my friends, that's my book of the week. I'm curious to see what other people thought of this book as well as what your personal pick of the week. Let me know and of course thanks for looking.