Another week, another pull.  As always, there will be some spoiling.

All Star Batman & Robin the Boy Wonder #10; Writer Frank Miller, Pencils Jim Lee, Inks Scott Williams, Colors Alex Sinclair
DC Comics $2.99 {Unable to find sales estimate}
When I picked up myfirst issue of this title five months ago, someone in line behind me at the checkout counter of Hastings (I hadn’t started a pull yet, having just recently eased my way back into comics) said, “Wow– Frank Miller and Jim Lee.  That’s like a 90’s comic fan wetdream.”  This is very, very true.  While there are quite a few people who hate this book, and while it must be admitted that the constant delays to the extent that the last issue that came out all those FIVE MONTHS ago was issue NINE to this week’s TEN (which you might remember was delayed an extra week for dirty words) are bothersome, this book is a joy for me.  It isn’t perfect, but it’s so much better than the majority of DC comics that I’ve picked up in the past year that it warrants special attention.  This month’squarter’s issue is a Jim Gordon spotlight, and who doesn’t love Gotham’s best cop?  The issue is funny, tragic, and great with the action shots as well.  Sure, sometimes Miller’s noir monologues drag, but Lee’s art is always a treat– his men too manly and his women too seductive to be anything but pulpy heaven.  And to spoil more than I usually do, Gordon having to go to jail to bail out his daughter wearing her Batgirl outfit?  Worth the $2.99 in and of itself.  I’ll keep picking this up; even though I’ll probably have to wait until next year for issue eleven.

Deadpool #2; Writer Daniel Way, Pencils Paco Medina, Inks Juan Vlasco, Colors Marte Gracia
Marvel Comics $2.99  {Too recent for sales estimates}
For reasons that I can’t quite figure out, I refuse to let myself enjoy this new take on the Merc with the Mouth as much as other people seem to.  I am fully aware that this is probably the second best / second most unique Secret Invasion title up next to my current favorite Marvel pull Captain Britain.  The art is clean, and the expressions are strong (especially with a masked lead).  The twist (to last issue’s twist) was foreseeable a mile out, but wasn’t bad.  At the same time, the whole book is a one note joke– this is the comic book form of Happy Tree Friends.  Yes, it’s awesomely violent.  Yes, it’s funny to the point that I chuckled aloud twice.  But eventually there will come a time when I completely tire of it.  That time is not yet.

Hellboy: The Crooked Man #3(of 3)…. did not show at my comic book store.  “Didn’t get it.”  So, hopefully it will show soon, ’cause this makes me pissy.  And with that, I have no more single issues to review this week.

However, because I know that this is a column that defines so many folks’ weeks, I’d hate to leave you without “enough” comics to consider.  So, I’ll give you the 411 on a bound collection!

Batman: Snow; Story J.H. Williams III & Dan Curtis Johnson, Script/Dialog Dan Curtis Johnson, Art Seth Fisher, Colors Dave Stewart
So, you saw The Dark Knight and you decided that you wanted to read about Batman.  You got your copy of The Dark Knight Returns, Year One, The Long Halloween, The Killing Joke, and The Dark Victory.  You’ve read the creme de la creme, and now you want something else that feels like material for a potential future Bats movie (although you hopefully understand that not all comics should just be storyboards for movies).  Well, have I got a winner for you.  Batman: Snowis a five-chapter (issue) take on Mr. Freeze’s origin story, but more importantly it develops a clever “Year Two” style tale.  Batman is definitely working out the sophomore kinks of his career as the Caped Crusader, and decides that he may need some sort of back-up.  True to the idea of a real world Batman, Bruce carefully selects a small tribunal that will assist him in his war on crime– former criminals, government officials, profilers, computer experts– a team that will help him, but only on his terms.  Fisher’s art is uniquely detail-oriented and the four issue’s drawings are further augmented by Stewart’s always reliable colors.  Snow is a dense, intelligent look at an early Batman, with the bonus of a strong Mr. Freeze tale tying it together and is fully worth your attention.

That’s a week.  Check out last week or beyond for more commentary, and please give feedback on what you want to hear about (or feel yourself).