Top 5 Comic Book Moments of the Week: Batman runs errands, Hulk-vengers, and a 'Strange' speech at school
Spoiler alert for comics released on March 4
Another week of excellent comics, including some 'strange' new titles for both Marvel and DC. Some comics have an eye fixed on the future, while others are taking a fresh look at the past. There were a lot of great moments in comics this week, but we present our top 5 here.
5. The art of 'Strange Adventures' #1
'Strange Adventures' #1 is one of the best-looking comics that came out this week. There are alternates between Adam Strange's shiny, heroic past drawn by Evan Shaner, and his grittier, grounded present, drawn by Mitch Gerads. It's a challenge picking out one panel that stands out above the others, but this image is particularly evocative. Featuring Alanna defending her husband against a murder charge, reflected on Adam's famous jetpack, with their bloodstained family picture also seen.
4. Hulk-vengers...
What's worse than a Hulk with a bone to pick with the Avengers? It's a Hulk who's got an Avengers team of his own. In the new anthology series, 'Marvel' #1, the Hulk battles the Avengers for the right for Rick Jones to hang out with him again (it's a flashback story to a MUCH simpler time). In the midst of the battle, the Hulk finds himself attached to a machine that can turn his thoughts to reality, creating a monstrous Avengers team ready to smash their originators wide open.
3. "Try not to die"
Every school needs its own motto. Unfortunately, the schools of the Marvel Universe tend to be less focused on honor, pride, and discipline, and a lot more with keeping their students alive. After making one hell (no pun intended) of an entrance battling extradimensional monsters, Doctor Strange welcomes his newest class of students to the school with an impromptu speech. It's not exactly rousing, but it is, admittedly, better than the X-Men's "hope you survive the experience."
2. Lois uses Batman as an errand boy
Lois Lane is one of the greatest investigators on the Planet, but part of being a good investigator is knowing when to let someone else do the grunt work, and no one is a more efficient investigator than the Batman. In 'Lois Lane' #9, Lois sends her ally, the Question, to Gotham city to give Batman what amounts to an investigative to-do list, and wait for results. Batman might not be happy about having to do it — but he does it all the same. Looks like Superman isn't the only hero Lois has doing her favors.
1. The Flash realizes the New 52 is broken
Wally West has been given a lot of power, and with that comes a certain cosmic awareness. Granting him an almost meta-level of cosmic vision, Wally West realizes that the New 52 has left a great many inconsistencies in the DC timeline. The timeline hasn't quite settled yet, and for fans, there's been a lot of confusion in figuring what is canon, and what isn't. DC has a long history of making inconsistencies canon, as far back as the '60s with 'Flash of Two Worlds' and with 'The Flash' #750, it looks like the Flash is carrying that tradition proudly on.
That's all for this week. What were your favorite moments for this week? Let us know in the comments.