New Comic Days: September 14, 21, 28 and October 12

So I've been a bad blogger the past month but I have a good excuse: I have stumbled into the magical world of Texas Hold'em Poker! It's a really fun game and it's been taking up most of my free time (and money). Since Monday was poker night I couldn't sleep (damn you Jon Ben for brewing vast quantities of coffee) when I got home, I decided to watch some World Poker Tour, do the dishes and update this here thing. So here goes: all the comics I've gotten in the past month. However, due to time and budget constraints, I'll just give my quick impressions of the issue along with a "RECOMMENDED" or "LEAVE ON THE SHELF" or "UNDECIDED."

September 14

JLA #118 OK, but is really just a lunchbox comic (ie. a tool that performs some function - in this case advancing some plot issues with Batman vs. the JLA. LEAVE ON THE SHELF.

Fables #41 The end of the Homelands storyline. Good but nothing really surprising happened other than we find out Blue was there with Charming's knowledge. Some forshadowing that Gepetto's not going to let the matter with Blue rest and maybe another Fabletown war is on the way. RECOMMENDED.

ALL Star Batman and Robin #2 "I'M THE GOD DAMN BATMAN!" pretty much sums up this book. Miller is making Bats even crazier than he usually does. At least from Year One, we see Bats is intelligent and at least somewhat rational about what he's doing. Here, though, he's (to quote a line from Batman Begins) just some nut. LEAVE ON THE SHELF (after flipping through it and getting a chuckle).

September 21

Ultimate Fantastic Four #23 The conclusion to ZOMBIE MARVEL is here. I was pleased with this three issue story as it went out of the box of what people were expecting. RECOMMENDED.

Ultimate Fantastic Four Annual #1 The idea of annuals is cool. The idea of having annuals with no content other than to introduce more characters to the Ultimate Universe is NOT cool. LEAVE ON THE SHELF.

Girls #5 I expected more from the guys that brought me Ultra. LEAVE ON THE SHELF.

Ultimates 2 #8 Well I'm sure we're not really surprised that Captain America is thought to be the traitor. I think it will end up being some Skrull/Loki ploy to ruin the Ultimates. RECOMMENDED.

New Avengers #10 Last issue of the Sentry storyline. Bendis single-handedly took away all the mystery regarding the character and now he's just another Superman archetype with electricity and telepathic powers. LEAVE ON THE SHELF.

September 28

Invincible #26 I GOT A LETTER PUBLISHED IN A COMIC. NOT JUST ANY COMIC, BUT THE BEST COMIC OUT THERE. YAY FOR ME!! On a serious note, Mark meets up with Daddy dearest and hijinxs/sucker punches ensue. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Ultimate Secret #3 Glad this is almost over. LEAVE ON THE SHELF.

JLA #119 Zatanna is one of the most underrated characters in the DCU as in this issue she shows what a badass she can be. RECOMMENDED.

The OMAC Project #6 Things finish up with the JLA watchtower being blown to smithereens (how many times is that now?). Nothing really exciting happens and the end encourages you to read Infinite Crisis. Big Surprise. LEAVE ON THE SHELF.

New Avengers #11 Start of the Ronin arc. Man, Bendis really knows how to annoy the internet fanboys. All along he's claimed that Ronin will not be Daredevil. All along, the internet fanboys have thought that it will be revealed that Ronin is Matt Murdock and Bendis will say "See Ronin ISN'T Daredevil, he's Matt Murdock, there's a difference!" In this issue though he makes it look SO much like Ronin is MAtt Murdock it would be funny if it didn't fill up so many pages. Reminds me of the new Secret War where we know something happened, but won't find out forever. LEAVE ON THE SHELF.

Ultimate Iron Man #4 I don't recall anything being particularly BAD about this issue, but then again I don't recall anything GOOD either. Pick it up on a coin flip if you want.

Young Avengers #7 Teenage angst belongs on TV, not in comics. LEAVE ON THE SHELF.

October 12

Infinite Crisis #1 IT'S HERE! IT'S FINALLY HERE! That aside, it definately reminded me of the original Crisis on Infinite Earths and it was entertaining. RECOMMENDED.

Ex MAchina #15 Yet another storyline about Mitch's past that I don't really care about. GET TO THE FREAKIN" ALIENS ALREADY! LEAVE ON THE SHELF. And I'm dropping this title.

Fables #42 The start of the Arabian Nights Arc and it looks good so far as we see the return of King Cole. RECOMMENDED.

Y: The Last Man #38 Lunchbox issue to fill up a trade. LEAVE ON THE SHELF.