September 29 hits on the Thursday (but a delay puts them on October 4) and with that, so few months remain of the year. So too do the days run out that reading something printed in 2005 becomes something of a joke. At least they aren't running on hold for months on end.

Speaking of things that look like they never would be, Captain Gravity And Power Of The Vril #6 finally comes out. The pulp action hero of the 1930s or 50s, can't quite remember. Nazis are involved though, so that's putting the decade around then. Quite the lovely art, with a story that is nothing short of fun for the period.

Ultimate Spider-Man #83 is around about, what, the fifth part in a six-parter? Moonman and those Chi boys? Last read, #80 saw Parker doubting a deal from Kingpin.

Not too sure what Indigo Vertigo One Shot is. The hits of the 80s are ringing in the ears for some reason. Best put the Duran Duran and New Order on rest then.

Revelations #2 will most likely see Ramos draw a 40 year old looking very much like a teenager. Charlie Northern is now in the Vatican and still not getting anywhere close to cooperation from the local officials. Fantastic moody art.

Best thing about this week, Action Philosophers Self Help For Ugly Losers. The title says it all, and if it doesn't, then pick it up and read a page to see what it's about. A page should be enough to garner some sort of read on it.

 

June 19 watches on as two series start up as two minis walk away done and finished with their respective tales.

Giant Size X-Men #3 reprints some old classic mutant tales featuring stories that manage to start and end in the same issue. Only four tales of reprints in 80 pages. Staples set to strain! Wallet set to faint! Also includes a new chunk from Joss Whedon and Neal Adams.

Definitely picking up Ex Machina #12. It's solid, intriguing, the characters are well-fleshed out and the art is top notch for capturing the moment.

Trigger #7 is either the penultimate or the final issue. Either way, this series is dead. Been an interesting read though.

Both Freedom Force #6 and Captain Gravity and Power Of The Vril #5 are closers. Can't say much about FF, it's issues were always too frenetic and jumpy to have any real linearity within the pages. CG&PV however, should end things nicely. Back issues are available on Captain Gravity these should the desire to read from the last issue first be there.

Following Cerebus #4 is due which now means that #1 and #2 still haven't been read. So no chance on picking this one up.

G.I. Joe #0 is some ground floor material. Just like Wildsiderz #0. The former, eh, can't be bothered trying to get into the 80s anymore. Outside of music that is. The latter looks promising and pretty fun.

 

As the monies align for the eventual collection of Puppet Angel, comics are also on the cards and this time, for May 1.

At a damn cheap price, Red Sonja #0 is one that surely has to be picked up and taken home at the very least. Hopefully there will be more to the fiery red head than a chain mail costume showing some crack on the first page.

Pretty much the same goes for Invincible #0 in terms of cheapness. Only in Kirkman's case it's a currently running title that is supposed to be something of a foothold for prospective new readers. Why not?

Kabuki #4 finally rears itself and like all of The Alchemy has been thus far, should definitely blow the mind. A rare case in which the wait is definitely worth all the fungi in the room.

Not too sure on Lullaby: Wisdom Seeker #2. The first one felt like a mash of things from all over the place. Best read that one again before heading out and putting money on the second.

Short ordered on the first go and now coming back for another round is the Vertigo First Taste trade. The cover is absolutely tragic and in no way delivers any hope. But check it out and there's hooks all over the place. For those who are fans of pulp serials or Sal Velluto and Bob Almond, Captain Gravity and the Power of the Vril #1 was reordered. No idea how many though.

 

Right in the middle end of National Youth Week, April 14 sees another batch of comics hitting the store. As such, another look at what could end up being taken home...

Spotted about eight pages of Imaginaries #1 in one of the Comic Book Digest sampler magazines a month or more back. It looked good, even in black and white. Story wise, here's hoping it gets beyond what could easily be passed off as another Tellos.

Having read the second, but not the first, why would there be a reason to pick up Lion Tigers and Bears #3? #4, perhaps, just to read the story in a flash forward mode. Like coming in to halfway through a show, flicking over to another channel and then back again to this when you realise that the reality TV show just before it went on for far longer than it should have.

Flaming Carrot #2 is bound for the shelves this week. Still have yet to read the first issue despite having bought a copy a couple of months ago -- some time in December. Did happen upon the two page inclusion within Negative Burn: Best of 1993-1998. Kind of in that superhero field without being all too serious.

Captain Gravity and Power of The Vril #4 continues on after what feels a lot longer than a month between drinks. Last issue might have been where Captain Gravity was lying in ditch. After letting Chase's captors steal her away of course. Not something along a line of a booze hound unable to withstand the pressures of the suit. Not one for those who don't like the old pulp era they might only know from Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow or The Rocketeer.

For those who missed them the first time around, the Astonishing X-Men volume 1: Gifted and The Sentry trade paperback collections are back again. Get them before someone else does.

 

So what looks good coming in on February 17?

Out of the old pulp movie times in the crank house of Hollywood, Captain Gravity and the Power of the Vril #3 as a pick for the week harks back to those such times. Times when things were so bold and open, when dreams were just starting to soar into the air. That I still haven't read the second issue despite buying it over a month ago should not dissuade opinion. The first issue itself was a rock solid romp back into those times. The tone, the feel, the characters, these are like people lifted straight from the lot of The Rocketeer. Or the universe of. It's that kind of warmth.

Speaking of which, Freedom Force #1 was a rollicking mad train of outlandishing Silver-Age comicbook era fun. The garish costumes, the garish dialogue and the garish sudden introduction of new characters within a heartbeat of a panel. Fast and out of the blocks. The first issue was all things crazy and wild. Here's hoping number two keeps up the pace.

Regular hauls for this week include: Astonishing X-men #8, Captain America and The Falcon #12 and Ex Machina #8. Not too sure about grabbing Trigger #3. While the first issue was good and the second one sits waiting to be read, there's other places the mind is going right now. Could very well be a spur of the moment thing, picking it up on the way toward the counter.