It’s that time of year again. In what’s become an annual tradition here at iFanboy we have our version of Shark Week on Discovery.

It’s the start of the week and Austin plans his attack on the menacing stack that stares him down. See how he plans to fight back in Part 2 of the 2011 Stack Week!

(via iFanboy by Austin)

This was quite an exciting week in comics all over the board and, unlike the past month, I really opened my wings and picked-up more then just X titles. Of the large lot I picked up this week which included Brightest Day #11, Red Hood: The Lost Days #5 and more, there were two that I saw as absolute must reads!

The finest read I found this week was Uncanny X-Force #1 written by Rick Remender and art by Jerome Opena. There were several factors that made this ish so strong. First and foremost, X-Force was/is/has been one of my favorite titles since its debut. It brought some of my favorite characters, new and old, to the brink of utter chaos and madness in ways I hadn’t thought they would try.
I mean, it’s the X-Men’s black-ops kill squad. As I mentioned, collectively the team features some of my favorite characters – and now, in the new UNCANNY X-Force, they have replaced some with other awesome characters (i.e. Deadpool – woot). Another amazing part of the new X-Force title is the return of En Sabah Nur (Apocalypse), who was for the greater part of my childhood the revered villain that dominated the X pages with the “Age of Apocalypse” arc. I was further impressed with the way they are now integrating the various character’s voices into the book. Before, X-Force was a killing machine that had little thought outside of the darkness they were doomed to. But now, with characters like Deadpool, Fantomex and the romantic relationship between Psylocke and Archangel we will be show different perspectives to the dark and deadly missions they are yet to endure – a voice(s) that will most likely include humor and lewd criticisms through out all the missions. Thus far, the writing seems strong, the art is awesome and this is a must read that will remain to be on my single -ish pick list. The only downside is that they got rid of Domino – hubba-hubba. Also, I am now waiting for Deadpool to be in a near death experience in which he notes that he cannot die because he is involved in too many Marvel titles this month… think about all the money they would lose if they killed him.

Sweet Tooth #14
Jeff Lemire remains to be one of my favorite authors that I have found over the past couple of years. He brought me to tears with Essex County, wowed me with The Nobody and again continues to keep me utterly interested with his Vertigo title Sweet Tooth. With the newest issue, things are picking up and beginning to come around to suspense and excitement. This issue was well balanced between Jepperd and Gus and the new characters that are following them. Lemire remains to have amazing sequential art, whether it be a full page panel with action or multi-panel pages – his visual narration is told without a hitch. With action and emotion pressed into every page, this was a highlight of a read, and a title that everyone should be keep up with.

Sometimes when I am working at Comicopolis, and one of my bosses leaves for the bathroom, I walk over to the shelf, open a graphic novel and I smell the bindings. It’s not that I anticipate the smell of action leaping off the pages, I just like the smell of newly printed comics – mostly because I am a giant geek, or maybe it’s inherited. In any case, it’s time to hunker down on a couch or in your bed with a glass of whiskey and an exciting new graphic novel. We all need something to keep us warm when the heat dish breaks.

The Usuals
For me, and many of my comic reading friends, there are certain authors who I can always go to and read something astonishing. These authors, nine out of ten times, have the ability to pull me out of reality and into a world of fantasy. Below is a list of these aforementioned visionaries and a few of their finer titles.

Alan Moore

Swamp Thing (9 trade paperbacks), League Of Extrordinary Gentlemen (3 TPBs), From Hell, A Small Killing.

Warren Ellis

Freak Angels, The Authority (5 TPBs), Fell, Transmetropolitan (11 TPBs), Planetary (3 TPBs).

Grant Morrison

Invisibles (7 TPBs), Kill Your Boyfriend, Animal Man (3 TPBs), Sebastian O, WE3, Filth.

Neil Gaiman

Sandman (11 TPBs), 1602, Hellblazer.

Help From The Gods
While those previously listed authors may serve as my comfort food when I need to satiate my hunger for fantasy, other times I like to take a chance and branch out. The following are some tips and tricks to finding those hidden gems that lay buried at your local comic shop.

1. Look at the author of the introduction. With the above list of radical writers, look to see if they speak highly of a new book. For example, Alan Moore wrote the intro for Sam Keith’s Zero Girl – damn good read.
2. Find a long lasting series, because if they’re still making it, then it’s probably good. As a note, and a suggestion, Hellblazer is the longest running Vertigo series.
3. Look at the art! Do you like what you see?
4. Ask the totally awesome and friendly staff at Comicopolis, located at 829 Front St, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060.

So whether you already read a ton of comics or have never pushed a paneled page before, this article can only help. Whether your fancy be super heroes, crime fiction, mystery, science fiction, blah blah blah, there’s always something for YOU!

Austin Hartman