Well, it’s that time of the week again. Diamond Comics has released their shipping lists this Wednesday, June 24th. It looks like Marvel’s got a big week this time around, what with no less than six Dark Reign tie-ins, along with the regular books. Sheesh. I know that I’m going to be missing out on a lot of those…I mean, who can afford them all? With my money so tight these days, I’m pretty selective. A few of the titles I’m willing to part with some of my change for include:

• Detective Comics #854: Starting with this issue, Batwoman takes the reigns for the main story. I’ve seen a few of the pages online and the artwork is simply incredible. The stylized art fits just perfect for the new direction. A lot has been said about Batwoman being a lesbian, but I think D.C.’s done a great job just making her a cool character all around, lesbian or not. And, oh yeah, back-up feature? None other than Batwoman’s ex: Rene Montoya aka The Question. Yeah…this book is going to kick ass.
• GREEN LANTERN #42: As the March to Blackest Night continues, the Agent Orange storyline gets wrapped up here. If it’s a Geoff John’s book, it’s pretty much a no-brainer, but Philip Tan’s art has just been off the hook. Given the events at the ending of last issue, I’m really interested to see how the resolve Hal’s latest…um…issue.
• Superman #689: If you haven’t been reading the Superman family of books lately, you might want to give them a try. I was a little apprehensive when I heard the books were going to not include Superman (you know…the star!) but they’ve been doing a great job. I’m especially loving following the exploits of a pre-Legion Mon-El, as he tries to acclimate to our world, all the while thinking he’s dying from lead poisoning. There’s also a great cast of co-stars that has readers saying, “Uh, Super…who?”.
• Avengers/Invaders #12: I’ve always been a fan of 1940s superhero groups for some odd reason, and the Invaders are no exception. The series that brings the modern-day Avengers together with the WWII group comes to it’s conclusion here. There story has been okay, and as always, Steven Sadowski’s art has just been great for my money. While it’s not an earth-shattering event, I’m looking forward to, what I hope, is a really satisfying conclusion. If nothing else, where else can you find Bucky teaming up with Captain-Bucky?!
• New Avengers #54: The conclusion to the story that will give us a new Sorcerer Supreme in the Marvel U is here. There have been a few candidates, now the Dr. Strange is being forced to give up the title, but with this issue, we’ll find out who will ultimately weild the Eye of Agamato. Marvel touts it as an important chapter in Avengers history. Let’s see if they pull that one off!
• Thor #602: If there is one book that everyone should be reading, it’s Thor. J. Michael Straczynski has managed to take a character that a lot of people have never cared about (me included!) and turned him into the true bad ass he should have been all along. But it’s not just Thor that’s great; JMS has breathed new life into the citizens of Asgard, made Loki even more evil than before and, as of issue #600, turned Thor’s world on it’s ear. This book should be at the TOP of everyone’s pull list!

There are a few others, but to be honest, I’m really pinching pennies not only for all the Blackest Night crossovers, but for Comic-Con. And quite frankly, Marvel’s attempt to squeeze every last nickel out of us with all the Dark Reign stuff is just not working for me. While I like the concept, most of it’s been filler or fluff, and could have been played out in the regular titles. I have slightly more faith in the Blackest Night series and tie-ins, but only because Geoff Johns has been overseeing everything.

Here’s the list of what’s coming from the Big Four:

DARK HORSE COMICS

APR090061 CLEANERS #4 (OF 4) $2.99
FEB090052 EMPOWERED TP VOL 05 (MR) $14.95
SEP080033 END LEAGUE #8 $2.99
DEC080071 GANTZ TP VOL 05 (MR) $12.95
OCT080019 INDIANA JONES TP VOL 01 TOMB OF GODS $14.95
APR090013 PREDATOR #1 (OF 4) $3.50
APR090026 RAPTURE #2 (OF 6) TAKI SOMA CVR $2.99
NOV080082 SPIRIT MOVIE STATUE $199.99
APR090116 STAR WARS LEGACY #37 TATOOINE PT 1 (OF 4) $2.99
MAR090083 TUROK SON OF STONE ARCHIVES HC VOL 02 $49.95
APR090051 USAGI YOJIMBO #121 $3.50

DC COMICS

MAR090174 ALL STAR BATMAN AND ROBIN THE BOY WONDER TP VOL 01 $19.99
NOV080252 BATMAN COSBABY BATGIRL FIGURE PI
NOV080253 BATMAN COSBABY CLASSIC BATMAN FIGURE PI
NOV080256 BATMAN COSBABY ROBIN FIGURE PI
NOV080257 BATMAN COSBABY TWO FACE FIGURE PI
APR090226 BATMAN THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD #6 $2.50
AUG080267 COMIC BOOK COVER PORTFOLIO #3 DCU BY BRIAN BOLLAND $49.99
OCT080239 DARK KNIGHT THE JOKER 1/2 SCALE BUST $295.00
APR090152 DETECTIVE COMICS #854 $3.99
APR090146 FINAL CRISIS AFTERMATH INK #2 (OF 6) $2.99
APR090244 FREDDY JASON ASH NIGHTMARE WARRIORS #1 (OF 6) CV A (MR) $3.99
APR090245 FREDDY JASON ASH NIGHTMARE WARRIORS #1 (OF 6) CV B (MR) $3.99
APR090246 FREDDY JASON ASH NIGHTMARE WARRIORS #1 (OF 6) CV C (MR) $3.99
APR090243 FRINGE #6 (OF 6) $2.99
FEB090213 GOLDEN AGE STARMAN ARCHIVES HC VOL 02 $59.99
APR090158 GOTHAM CITY SIRENS #1 $2.99
APR090183 GREEN LANTERN #42 $2.99
MAR090178 GREEN LANTERN TALES OF THE SINESTRO CORPS TP $14.99
FEB090207 JLA DELUXE EDITION HC VOL 02 $29.99
APR090188 JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #34 $2.99
APR090189 JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #28 $2.99
MAR090249 KIICHI AND THE MAGIC BOOKS VOL 05 $9.99
APR090247 KILLAPALOOZA #2 (OF 6) $2.99
APR090191 LAST DAYS OF ANIMAL MAN #2 (OF 6) $2.99
APR090263 LITERALS #3 (OF 3) (MR) $2.99
APR090269 MADAME XANADU #12 (MR) $2.99
APR090271 NORTHLANDERS #18 (MR) $2.99
FEB090187 SGT ROCK THE LOST BATTALION #6 (OF 6) $2.99
APR090196 SPIRIT #30 $2.99
APR090251 STARCRAFT #2 $2.99
APR090165 SUPERMAN #689 $2.99
MAR090188 SUPERMAN TALES FROM THE PHANTOM ZONE TP $19.99
APR090198 TEEN TITANS #72 $3.99
JAN090318 TERMINATOR SALVATION BLAIR WILLIAMS BUST $79.99
JAN090317 TERMINATOR SALVATION KYLE REESE BUST $79.99
JAN090319 TERMINATOR SALVATION MARCUS WRIGHT BUST $79.99
JAN090320 TERMINATOR SALVATION T-600 BUST $79.99
JAN090321 TERMINATOR SALVATION T-RIP BUST $79.99
NOV080278 UNI FORMZ BATMAN MODERN VERSION PI
APR090275 UNKNOWN SOLDIER #9 (MR) $2.99
NOV080260 V FOR VENDETTA 1/6 SCALE COLLECTOR FIGURE $125.00
APR090240 WILDCATS #12 $2.99
APR090202 WONDER WOMAN #33 $2.99

IMAGE COMICS

FEB092417 DYNAMO 5 #22 $3.50
APR090410 FUSION #2 (OF 3) $2.99
APR090387 LILLIM #4 (OF 5) $2.99
APR098374 MILO VENTIMIGLIA PRESENTS BERSERKER #1 ALL BEEF EDITION (MR) $2.99
APR090407 MILO VENTIMIGLIA PRESENTS BERSERKER #1 HAUN CVR B $2.99
APR090406 MILO VENTIMIGLIA PRESENTS BERSERKER #1 KEOWN CVR A $2.99
AUG082242 OUTLAW TERRITORY GN VOL 01 (MR) $19.99
JUL082206 PERHAPANAUTS #6 $3.50
NOV082300 PILOT SEASON WINNERS PACK 2007 2008 $6.99
APR090363 POWERS TP VOL 05 ANARCHY (NEW PTG) (MR) $14.99
APR090391 PROOF #21 $3.50
FEB082161 PVP #42 $3.50
APR090396 VIKING #2 (MR) $2.99
NOV082313 WITCHBLADE TP VOL 06 $14.99

MARVEL COMICS

APR090451 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #598 DKR $2.99
APR090528 ASTONISHING X-MEN #30 $2.99
APR090480 AVENGERS INITIATIVE #25 DKR $2.99
APR090489 AVENGERS INVADERS #12 (OF 12) $2.99
APR090494 DAREDEVIL #119 $2.99
APR090455 DARK AVENGERS #6 DKR $3.99
APR090452 DARK AVENGERS UNCANNY X-MEN UTOPIA #1 DAX $3.99
APR090582 DARK REIGN ACCEPT CHANGE TP $24.99
APR090467 DARK REIGN ELEKTRA #4 (OF 5) DKR $3.99
APR090473 DARK REIGN HOOD #2 (OF 5) DKR $3.99
APR090465 DARK REIGN LETHAL LEGION #1 (OF 3) DKR $3.99
MAR098006 DARK REIGN SINISTER SPIDER-MAN #1 (OF 4) DEODATO VAR $3.99
APR090475 DARK REIGN SINISTER SPIDER-MAN #1 (OF 4) DKR $3.99
APR090469 DARK REIGN ZODIAC #1 (OF 3) DKR $3.99
APR090460 DARK WOLVERINE #75 DKR $3.99
APR090604 ESSENTIAL DOCTOR STRANGE TP VOL 04 $19.99
APR090560 FALLEN SON DEATH OF CAPTAIN AMERICA HC $29.99
APR090508 FANTASTIC FOUR GIANT-SIZE ADVENTURES #1 $3.99
APR090527 GUARDIANS OF GALAXY #15 $2.99
APR090606 HULK #600 POSTER $8.99
APR090499 IMMORTAL IRON FIST #27 $3.99
JAN092560 IMMORTAL IRON FIST FRACTION BRUBAKER AJA OMNIBUS HC $74.99
APR090597 IMMORTAL IRON FIST TP VOL 04 MORTAL IRON FIST $14.99
APR090502 INCREDIBLE HERCULES #130 $2.99
APR090509 MARVEL ADVENTURES SPIDER-MAN #52 $2.99
APR090493 MARVEL SPOTLIGHT CAPTAIN AMERICA $2.99
APR090558 MMW FANTASTIC FOUR TP VOL 02 $24.99
APR090559 MMW FANTASTIC FOUR TP VOL 02 DM VAR ED 6 $24.99
APR090476 MS MARVEL #40 DKR $2.99
APR090457 NEW AVENGERS #54 DKR $3.99
APR090525 NOVA #26 $2.99
APR090568 NYX WANNABE PREM HC $24.99
APR090569 NYX WANNABE PREM HC DM ED $24.99
APR090595 PATSY WALKER HELLCAT TP DM ED $16.99
MAR092491 RIFTWAR #1 (OF 5) $3.99
APR090520 RUNAWAYS 3 #11 $2.99
APR090611 SECRET INVASION CHRONICLES #4 (OF 9) $5.99
APR090472 SECRET WARRIORS #5 DKR $2.99
APR090512 SKAAR SON OF HULK #12 $3.99
APR098008 SKAAR SON OF HULK #12 MCGUINNESS B&W WRAPAROUND VAR $3.99
APR098009 SKAAR SON OF HULK #12 MCGUINNESS WRAPAROUND VAR $3.99
APR090517 SQUADRON SUPREME 2 #12 $2.99
MAR092585 THOR #602 $3.99
APR090601 THOR VISIONARIES WALT SIMONSON TP VOL 03 NEW PTG $29.99
APR090471 THUNDERBOLTS #133 DKR $2.99
APR090514 TIMESTORM 2009/2099 X-MEN $3.99
JAN092559 ULTIMATES BY MARK MILLAR & BRYAN HITCH OMNIBUS HC $99.99
APR090530 UNCANNY X-MEN #512 $3.99
APR090581 VENOM TP DARK ORIGIN $14.99
APR090539 WOLVERINE FIRST CLASS #16 $2.99
APR090507 WOLVERINE MAGAZINE #2 $6.99
APR090443 WOLVERINE NOIR #3 (OF 4) $3.99
APR090444 WOLVERINE NOIR #3 (OF 4) CALERO VAR $3.99
APR090545 WOLVERINE WEAPON X #3 $3.99
APR090544 X-FACTOR #45 $2.99
APR090535 X-FORCE #16 XMW $2.99
APR090541 X-MEN FOREVER #2 $3.99
APR090566 X-MEN SPIDER-MAN HC $19.99
APR090438 YTHAQ NO ESCAPE #3 (OF 3) (MR) $5.99

For a complete list of all new releases, visit Diamond Comics website.