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.

 

The Simpsons Futurama Crossover Crisis II #2 closes out the second crossover between the Springfield and Planet Express worlds. For those who missed out on the first issue, it does a pretty good job of bringing up the major plot points. Namely, fictional characters -- and this would include the Simpsons -- have broken through into the real world. There is a sneaky use of a deus ex machina to clean up the whole mess of the situation which turns out to be some good clean fun.

Freedom Force #3 continues to blaze on through at their break neck pace. If last issue's mob of characters wasn't enough, there are even more new faces and costumes to be had this time around. Liberty Lad tackles the letters pages and it's all like one of those Amalgam comics of a few years ago. The energy is just sheer and the speed is near obliterating. And where is the time for a rest and chance to develop characters? Nowhere. Yet despite this, why then is there a compelling want for the fourth issue?

 

Another Thursday falls this month, and for March 17, these are the goods getting picked on:

Clearly there must be something wrong when starting a mini-series on its second issue. Unless of course that reason is due to having missed out on even remembering that the first issue was even released. And so it will be on reading Lions, Tigers and Bears #2, a four issue mini-series from Image about a kid and his toys. Calvin and Hobbes comes to mind, as does a really hard edged sword for no particular reason.

Hark! Another from the Mike S. Miller churn school, Lullaby: Wisdom Seeker #1 hits this week with hints of Fables all around it. Still, with the cover image looking a little strange, it's a pick on the basis that its only one issue of a four-parter that isn't tied down in some heavy continuity.

Not saying that Ultimate Spider-Man #74 is, but sometimes you want to test the waters out there. Along with teen Parker is Ex Machina #9 and a vague recollection that perhaps a tax write-off could be in order for a few of these issues. If only there was a receipt. Alas.

Fear not a rambling end, Freedom Force #3 should continue the rollicking fast-paced action of this limited series from Image/Irrational Games. And boy, what a pace, where's the room to breathe? This comic is nuts with all out action and a shaky plot that bounces too fast for it to even keep up. Really moved the video game in with a synch.