So I’ve been slacking. Too many good movies out. But there is some really cool stuff you need to check out and some stuff you should say away from that are on the shelves this week.

Issues to Spend Money on:

Uncanny X-Men #510 – Hoo-boy. Not only has the Black Queen (Maddie Pryor) brought back Psylocke from the dead under her control, but she now has something that can be used to resurrect Jean: a lock of her hair kept in secret by Wolverine. And that was revealed AFTER the Sisterhood handed the X-Men the butts in their own HQ. I still say that as pretty as Greg Land’s pencils are, it doesn’t fit the X-Men. Wonder Woman, Power Girl, Superman, Iron Man, Thor… you know, not team books. Titles where there is a lot of posing by the main character.

Black Panther #4 – As much as I like Reggie Huldin’s plots and dialogue, it seems he’s been studying Jeph Loeb’s Hulk series. For those of you not familiar, you have a secret that you try to drag out as long as possible even though the readers are past caring. Black Panther isn’t to that point yet, but I am getting tired of waiting for the reveal. Hell, the Thunderbolts #1 was the biggest shocker in years and they revealed that secret at the end of the issue and the series was still good. Back to Panther, T’Challa is still dead and fighting Death to return to the world of the living. Storm has partially killed herself to go and help her husband while T’Challa’s sister has been ruled out by the Panther God. All this while Morlun Devourer of Totems (remember him from JMS’ Spider-Man run?) has killed the Man-Ape and is coming for the Black Panther (whoever the hell it turns out to be…). Ken Lashley’s pencils are great but I think that he needs a different inker. Paul Neary’s inks are good, just not on this book.

Star Wars: Dark Times #13 – I don’t know where this story is going, but I’m with it for the duration. Taking place in the Rise of the Empire Era and focuses on a Jedi that is unfamiliar to me. Bottom line: new Star Wars story, new Jedi and Doug Wheatley’s art make this one a must.

Green Lantern #41 – Still “preluding” Blackest Night, Geoff Johns is building this series to a fever pitch. This more I see of the teaser ads (of Aquaman, Superboy Prime, Martian Manhunter, etc.) all reanimated by Black Hand – the more I’m hooked. It looks as if Hal Jordan is either going to be the hero or the villain – he can use all of the different Corps’ rings so far. Stay posted.

Dark Reign: Cabal – A One-Shot with a short story focusing on each of Norman Osborn’s Dark Reign conspirators. The only reason I’m recommending this one is because of the Doom story. Taking place in Doom’s mind in the moments after agreeing to help Osborn; Doom plans the destruction/subjugation of the rest of the Cabal. The way he handles each person, coupled with great art by Adi Granov is phenomenal.

 Wolverine #73 – Ah. The “Filler Issue.” The issue that Marvel had to rush to print so comic shops would have a Wolverine comic on the shelves for the movie (it still hit the week after the movie opened…). The only reason that I’m not telling everyone not to waste their money is the Jason Aaron/Adam Kubert story about a month in the life of Wolverine. The art alone is worth the price of admission. Each day is divided into one or two panels or one or two pages for a pause with minimum text. As always, Adam Kubert is brilliant.

Star Wars: Legacy #35 – Well it looks like Cade Skywalker has inadvertently created the next Darth Vader. His former Jedi love, Azlyn Rae, was gravly injured in the final battle with Darth Krayt. While she was willing to accept the will of the force, Cade was not and made his uncle promise to save her. What results is a pissed off Jedi that is trapped within life-sustaining armor. Seems like some Skywalker is always stepping in it.

Cable #14: Messiah War Part 4 – Hope and Warpath have been captured by Stryfe and Bishop in the future as the rest of the X-Force team and Cable fight their way to Stryfe’s citadel. The kicker in this story however is this: Stryfe reads Hope’s mind and then removes his mask – PRETENDING TO BE CABLE! She actually leaps into his arms.

Batman: Battle for the Cowl #3 – Finally. A resolution. Because Nightwing was too much of a wuss to take up the mantle, Tim Drake has put on the cowl to track down the new psycho, gun welding Batman: Jason Todd. Jason proceeds to beat the living hell out of Tim and leave him for dead as Nightwing tracks Jason to his base. I think I like this one just because by the end: Jason Todd is dead/missing again. Tim Drake is set to become Red Robin. Nightwing has finally accepted his responsibility to become The Bat and taken Damian as Robin. Leading directly into Batman & Robin #1 by Grant Morrison and Frank Quietly.

Issues to Stay Away From:

New Mutants #1 – The 1980′s have returned! Wait. This book was only good because I was 10 in the ’80′s. Unknown writer and artist make this one iffy. But it does have the return of Legion. PHHT…

Flash: Rebirth #2 – Geoff Johns needs to concentrate on Green Lantern. This story gets more convoluted every issue and there’s only been two! Barry is now the Grim Reaper of the Speed Force. Parallax anyone?

Fantastic Force #2 – I’ve been trying to withhold judgment on this book until issue two. It sucks and makes now damn sense. And I like alternate reality future stories. Just not this one.

The Complete Dracula #1 – This new mini-series from IDW is just one of the many things wrong with the industry. Hey, let’s take a story that has been absolutely beat to death, find someone with questionable art skills who’s cheap and throw a John Cassady cover on it to bait the fanboys. Covers by great artists that have nothing to do with the actual book is like being shown a filet mignon and then getting a greasy, burnt pork chop. To steal a bit from Attack of the Show: Brand It! SHENANIGANS!