I got a fever...and the only cure is more Batman or turkey!
Posted 10/10/2009

Greetings, dear readers. Welcome back to the Big B weekend update!

Just a reminder that Big B Comics will be closed on Monday October the 12th for the Thanksgiving holiday. So come on in and stock up on some books on the weekend to avoid meeting the gaze of those inlaws! A massive number of books has hit our beloved shelves to catch your eyes and entice you to take them home.Let's skip the pleasantries and jump right to the books!

DC had a fever for Batman this week with FOUR! not three but four Batman titles on the shelf this week. Grant Morrison turned out another fantastic issue of Batman and Robin where we learn a bit more about the motivations of the newly returned Jason Todd. The 27th Batman annual had a little crossover action with the new Azrael but unforunately fails to conclude its story. We'll have to pick up the Detective Comics Annual to finish it off. The other two Batman titles to drop were Batman Unseen and Batman Confidential. Nothing overly impressive but its Batman. DC's other semi big release this week was Justice League Cry for Justice. I can't help but feel that Robinson is bringing back the Shade and Starman just to recapture some of that magic from his Starman run.

Marvel just had an incredibly large number of books come down on us. The best Marvel books of the week? Dark Reign The List: Secret Warriors, Daredevil, Ghost Riders: Heaven's on Fire, Criminal The Sinners, Ultimate Spider-man and X-Men Vs Agents of Atlas. We could spend pages just going on about how good these books are. While not as amazing as the former, some of the other books that deserve a chance to go home with you are; Vengeance of the Moon Knight, Strange Tales, Cable, Astonishing X-Men and Amazing Spider-Man.

Once the butt of many an industry joke, Warren Ellis' Planetary series has finally finished its run! Well worth the wait with an oversized issue that wraps up one of the bigger Planetary plotlines. Buffy fans also got their monthly fix with the fourth part of the retreat storyline.

Fable fans got an especially good bone thrown to them this week. Peter and Max by Willingham tells the story of the Piper brothers who led the children out of Hamelin. This is the first full length novel in the series and hopefully not the last! Speaking of Fables; Jack of Fables vol 6 saw the softcover treatment as well. And finally, Dark Reign Fantastic Four by the talented Jonathan Hickman saw a softcover release.

Well, that's all the time we have this week! This is the Big B Crew signing off reminding you that: "why save money for a rainy day when you can buy a comic and use it to protect against the rain when you're done reading it!"

Shipping This Week 10/7
Posted 10/06/2009

ABSOLUTION #2

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #608

ANGEL #26

ANGEL #26 10 COPY VIRGIN MOONEY INCV

ASTONISHING X-MEN #31

ASTONISHING X-MEN #31 CHAREST VAR

AUTHORITY #15

BATMAN AND ROBIN #5

BATMAN AND ROBIN #5 VAR ED

BATMAN ANNUAL #27

BATMAN CONFIDENTIAL #34

BATMAN THE UNSEEN #1

BETTY & VERONICA DIGEST #198

BLACK PANTHER 2 #9

BOYS #35

BUCKAROO BANZAI HARDEST O/T HARD #1

BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #29 CARNEVALE CVR

BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #29 JEANTY CVR

CABLE #19

CAPTAIN AMERICA THEATER WAR GHOSTS OF MY COUNTRY

CARS RADIATOR SPRINGS #2

CARTOON NETWORK ACTION PACK #42

CHRONICLES OF WORMWOOD LAST BATTLE #1

CRIMINAL SINNERS #1

CROSSED #7

CROSSED #7   AUXILIARY ED

CROSSED #7   WRAP CVR

DAREDEVIL #501

DAREDEVIL #501 SALE VAR

DARK REIGN LIST SECRET WARRIORS ONE SHOT

DARK REIGN ZODIAC #3

DEADPOOL #16

DOCTOR VOODOO AVENGER OF SUPERNATURAL #1

DOCTOR WHO CLASSICS SERIES 2 #11

DOOM PATROL #3

DOOM PATROL #3 VAR ED

FALLEN ANGEL REBORN #4

FINAL CRISIS AFTERMATH RUN #6

GHOST RIDERS HEAVENS ON FIRE #3

GHOSTBUSTERS DISPLACED AGGRESSION #2

GREEK STREET #4

HAUNT #1

HAUNT #1 10 COPY OTTLEY VAR

HAUNT #1 25 COPY CAPULLO INCV

HOUSE OF M MASTERS OF EVIL #3

HOUSE OF MYSTERY #18

INCREDIBLES #1

IRON MAN ARMOR WARS #3

IRREDEEMABLE #7

JONAH HEX #48

JUGHEADS DOUBLE DIGEST #154

JUSTICE LEAGUE CRY FOR JUSTICE #4

JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #31

KILL AUDIO #1

KING CITY #2

LOONEY TUNES #179

LUKE CAGE NOIR #3

MAGOG #2

MANGALICIOUS TICK #3

MARVEL SPOTLIGHT DEADPOOL

MODELS INC #2

NORTH 40 #4

OFFICIAL INDEX TO MARVEL UNIVERSE #10

PLANETARY #27

PROJECT SUPERPOWERS MEET THE BAD GUYS #2

PROOF #24

REBELS ANNUAL STARRO THE CONQUEROR #1

RED TORNADO #2

SAVAGE DRAGON #153

SHERLOCK HOLMES #5

SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #205

SPIDER-MAN 1602 #1

STAR TREK ROMULANS SCHISM #2

STAR WARS INVASION #4

STARR THE SLAYER #2

STARSTRUCK #2

STRANGE ADVENTURES #8

STRANGE TALES #2

SUPERMAN WORLD OF NEW KRYPTON #8

SUPERMAN WORLD OF NEW KRYPTON #8   VAR ED

SWEET TOOTH #2

THE GOOD THE BAD & THE UGLY #4

TORCH #2

TRANSFORMERS BEST O/T UK PREY #3

ULTIMATE COMICS SPIDER-MAN #3

VENGEANCE OF MOON KNIGHT #2

WALT DISNEYS COMICS & STORIES #699

WAR HEROES #3

WARLORD #7

WITCHBLADE #131 SEJIC CVR A

WITCHFINDER IN THE SERVICE OF ANGELS #4

X-BABIES #1

X-MEN VS AGENTS OF ATLAS #1   ANGEL NOT FADE AWAY TP ART OF TOP COW SC BETA RAY BILL GODHUNTER TP DARK REIGN FANTASTIC FOUR TP DRAGON BALL CHAPTER BOOK VOL 04 CARROTS SIDE OF PILAF  ESSENTIAL GHOST RIDER TP VOL 03 GOOD NEIGHBORS GN BOOK 01 KIN GRANDVILLE HC   HARLEQUIN VALENTINE HC     HOW OBELIX FELL INTO MAGIC POTION HC   JACK OF FABLES TP VOL 06 THE BIG BOOK OF WAR   MASQUERADE TP VOL 01   MASTERPIECE COMICS HC   MUPPET ROBIN HOOD TP PETER & MAX A FABLES NOVEL HC   TIMOTHY & THE TRANSGALACTIC TOWEL SC X-MEN FOREVER TP VOL 01 X-MEN NOIR GN TP A DISTANT NEIGHBORHOOD GN VOL 01   CHOCO MIMI GN VOL 02   DRAGON EYE GN VOL 08   EYESHIELD 21 TP VOL 28   FAIRY IDOL KANON GN VOL 02   GAKUEN PRINCE GN VOL 03     GENTLEMENS ALLIANCE TP VOL 10   HAPPY HAPPY CLOVER GN VOL 03   HOSHIN ENGI TP VOL 15   KIMI NI TODOKE GN VOL 02 FROM ME TO YOU   LA CORDA DORO TP VOL 11   LEAVE IT TO PET GN VOL 03   LEGEND OF ZELDA GN VOL 07   MAGIC TOUCH GN VOL 04   NARUTO TP VOL 46   NORA LAST CHRONICLE OF DEVILDOM GN VOL 07   ONE PIECE TP VOL 22   ORANGE PLANET GN VOL 02   POKEMON ADVENTURES TP VOL 03 2ND ED   POKEMON DIAMOND & PEARL ADVENTURE GN VOL 05   ROSARIO VAMPIRE GN VOL 09   SCHOOL RUMBLE GN VOL 13   SHAMAN WARRIOR TP VOL 08   SHONEN JUMP NOVEMBER 09   SHUGO CHARA GN VOL 07   SLAM DUNK GN VOL 06   SOUL STEALER GN VOL 02 STRAWBERRY 100 % TP VOL 10   SUMMIT OF GODS GN VOL 01     WALLFLOWER GN VOL 21     WILD ONES GN VOL 08   YEN PLUS MAGAZINE VOL 2 #11 NOV 2009   YU GI OH R GN VOL 01   YU YU HAKUSHO TP VOL 18

Why watch TV when you can read a comic book?
Posted 10/03/2009

Hello again! This is the Big B crew with another exciting update on what's come into the shop this past weekend. Marvel definitely had the edge over DC this week through the sheer number of great books it brought us. Thor #603 shows us what Dr Doom's plans are for the Asgardians who have taken refuge in Latveria and it's not a pretty sight. Stracynzski's Thor is one of Marvel's best titles and it's a real shame that Marvel has caused him to abandon the title by mandating a crossover event that he wants nothing to do with. So enjoy these JMS penned issues while you can! Dark Reign The Hood concludes with Parker showing off some of his new found powers in the aftermath of his beatdown in the New Avengers title. A strong ending to a good mini-series, though this story would have been best told in the pages of New Avengers instead of its own series. Another fantastic issue of Secret Warriors has come and gone with the Dark Avengers making an appearance. Secret Warriors should be on every reader's list if they want to keep their finger on the pulse of the Marvel universe. The Shang-Chi black and white one shot was a cool experiment from Marvel in bringing back a cool character from the 70's. While a few of the stories fell flat, the opening motorcycle death race between Shang-Chi and Deadpool makes it all worthwhile. Other notable Marvel books this week were: X-Factor, Wolverine Weapon X, X-Force and Marvel Zombies: The Return.

DC didn't quite have the number of books as Marvel this week, but still had some gems in the batch. Green Lantern gave us a reunion between Sinestro, Star Sapphire and Hal Jordan as they work together to deal with the growing Black Lantern Corps. The Green Lantern books are at their top of their game. Kevin Smith's second part of Batman Widening Gyre backs back one of Bruce's old flames while he tries to decide whether or not his new helper is truly a friend or foe. Great stuff as usual from Smith. Fans of Gaiman's Sandman may find a certain chubby character looking eerily familiar.

Trade fans have their tongues a wagging as they got a whole lot of loving this week. Alan Moore's Promethea got the absolute treatment this week. Batman fans got the Black Glove lead-in to Batman RIP in a softcover format while Deadpool fans can enjoy a hardcover release of Deadpool: Suicide Kings. Marvel's ultimate universe got a makeover in the form of Ultimatum and Ultimatum: Requiem; both saw hardcover releases. Got a penchant for blood and guts? Then pick up Johnny Ryan's Prison Pit Vol 1; an epic tale of being dropped onto a prison planet and wrestling everything on the planet to death while using as much profanity as you can. The second part of the Umbrella Academy gets the softcover treatment so fans who didn't pick up the massive hardcover can sink their tooth into this great series. And saving the most anticipated for last...Buffy fans can rejoice as Vol 5 of Season 8 lands in softcover.

Toy lovers were shown some affection too. The second wave of the Justice League International figures featuring: Martian Manhunter, Booster Gold, Blue Beetle and Fire look fantastic. We've also obtained a reorder of DC's All-Star line of figures, so check out these versions of Batman and Superman.

Well, it's the time of the week again, where we must bid you all farewell. This is the Big B crew signing off reminding you that: "If a picture is worth a thousand words, a comic book must be worth a million words!"

Shipping This Week 9/30
Posted 9/29/2009

ALIENS #3

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #607

ARMY OF DARKNESS #25

ASTRO CITY ASTRA SPECIAL #1

BATMAN THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD #9

BATMAN WIDENING GYRE #2

BATMAN WIDENING GYRE #2   VAR ED

BETTY #182

BLACKEST NIGHT TITANS #2

BLACKEST NIGHT TITANS #2  VAR ED

BOMB QUEEN VI #1

BOYS HEROGASM #5

CYBERFORCE HUNTER KILLER #2    ROCAFORT CVR A

DARK REIGN HOOD #5

DARK REIGN LETHAL LEGION #3

DARK REIGN SINISTER SPIDER-MAN #4

DARK TOWER THE FALL OF GILEAD #5

DARKNESS #80 HESTER CVR A

DIE HARD YEAR ONE #1

DO ANDROIDS DREAM OF ELECTRIC SHEEP #4

ECHO #15

FINAL CRISIS AFTERMATH INK #5

FREDDY JASON ASH NIGHTMARE WARRIORS #4

FUTURAMA COMICS #45

GI JOE COBRA SPECIAL #1

GI JOE COBRA SPECIAL #1 10 COPY FUSO INCV

GLAMOURPUSS #9

GOTHAM CITY SIRENS #4

GREEN LANTERN #46

GREEN LANTERN #46 VAR ED

HERCULES KNIVES OF KUSH #3  A CVR LANGLEY

HULK #15

HULK #15 MCGUINNESS VAR

JACK OF FABLES #38

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA 80 PAGE GIANT #1

JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #31

LAST DAYS OF ANIMAL MAN #5

MARVEL ADVENTURES SPIDER-MAN #55

MARVEL DIVAS #3

MARVEL ZOMBIES RETURN #5

MICKEY MOUSE & FRIENDS #296

NEW MUTANTS #5

PALS N GALS DOUBLE DIGEST #135

PHANTOM GENERATIONS #5

PHANTOM GHOST WHO WALKS #5

PUNISHER ANNUAL #1

PUNISHER ANNUAL #1 REST IN PIECES RANEY VAR

RADICAL FVZA PREVIEW ASHCAN

RAPTURE #4 OEMING CVR

ROBERT E HOWARD THULSA DOOM #2

ROTTEN #4

RUNAWAYS 3 #14

SECRET WARRIORS #8

SHANG-CHI MASTER OF KUNG-FU BLACK & WHITE ONE-SHOT

SKY PIRATES OF NEO TERRA #1

SON OF HULK #15

SPIDER-MAN CLONE SAGA #1

SPIN ANGELS #2

STAR WARS LEGACY #40

SUPERMAN #692

TAROT WITCH OF THE BLACK ROSE #58

TEEN TITANS #75

TEEN TITANS #75 VAR ED

THOR #603

THUNDERBOLTS #136

UNKNOWN DEVIL MADE FLESH #1

UNKNOWN SOLDIER #12

USAGI YOJIMBO #123

WOLVERINE WEAPON X #5

WONDER WOMAN #36

X-FACTOR #49

X-FORCE #19

X-MEN FOREVER #8 ABSOLUTE PROMETHEA HC VOL 01 AVENGERS INVADERS HC BALL PEEN HAMMER GN     BATMAN THE BLACK GLOVE TP BEST AMERICAN COMICS HC 2009   BOOK OF GENESIS ILLUS BY ROBERT CRUMB HC   BTVS SEASON 8 TP VOL 05 PREDATOR & PREY   DEADPOOL SUICIDE KINGS HC FABLES DELUXE EDITION HC VOL 01   GARTH ENNIS BATTLEFIELDS TP VOL 03 TANKIES     HIGH MOON TP VOL 01 HOWARD CHAYKIN POWER & GLORY TP   ICON A HEROS WELCOME TP NEW PTG INDIANA JONES FURTHER ADV OMNIBUS TP VOL 02   JOHNNY CASH I SEE A DARKNESS GN   LOGICOMIX GN   LOVECRAFT UNBOUND NOVEL   MARVEL MASTERWORKS AVENGERS TP VOL 02 DM VAR 09 OFF HB MARVEL UNIV A TO Z PREM HC VOL 10 PRISON PIT SC BOOK 01   RICHARD MOORE THE POUND   SLEEPER SEASON 2 TP SUPERMAN BATMAN TP VOL 01 PUBLIC ENEMIES NEW PTG SUPERMAN KRYPTONITE TP TIMOTHY & THE TRANSGALACTIC TOWEL SC TINY TYRANT GN LUCKY WINNER   TRICK R TREAT TP   TROTSKY HC   ULTIMATUM PREM HC ULTIMATUM REQUIEM PREM HC UMBRELLA ACADEMY TP VOL 02 DALLAS   UPSIDE DOWN WORLD OF GUSTAVE VERBEEK HC   WOLVERINE WEAPON X FILES TP X-MEN MAGNETO TESTAMENT TP BERSERK VOL 31     BRIDE OF THE WATER GOD TP VOL 04  GUNSMITH CATS BURST TP VOL 04   PASSIONATE THEORY GN     TEZUKAS BLACK JACK TP VOL 07  TEZUKAS BLACK JACK TP VOL 06

This week's comics and the Shuster are here!
Posted 9/26/2009

Well hello again, dear comic readers. Welcome to another weekend update by the Big B Crew. First things first; this saturday are the Joe Shuster awards, where we honour Canada's best and brighest in the comic book industry. Awards start at 8:00PM and are taking place at the University of Toronto's Innis Hall. Now that we have that out of the way, let's move onto what nice treats the comic book world has for us this week.

Marvel had a pretty impressive lineup this week with Amazing Spider-Man, Fantastic Four, New Avengers, Spider-Woman, Giant Size Old Man Logan and Dark Reign Made Men being some of the more standout titles. The new Spider-Woman comic picks Jessica Drew up from the mess Secret Invasion left her in and gives her a new purpose in the Marvel Universe. For those who have been watching the motion comic, the printed comic actually deviates from it, so it's worth picking up if you're a Spider-Woman fan. Jonathan Hickman and Dale Eaglesham's run on Fantastic Four may have had a bit of a shaky start, but with the second issue, we're definitely going full steam ahead and it's a fantastic book with the great idea of an all Reed Richards brain trust given absolute power. After what seemed like an eternity, Millar's storyline of Old Man Logan finally reached its epic conclusion. Wolverine versus the entire Hulk family? Pretty damn epic and we're left with an opening in case Millar ever wants to revisit this apocalyptic world.

DC had a fairly low key week this week. Their great experiment with Wednesday Comics came to a conclusion with a few choice titles like Metamorpho, Sgt Rock and Hawkman having great conclusions while others...not so much. Blackest Night Superman continues the rampage of Black Lantern Earth 2 Superman and Lois. Pretty much the entire issue is a brawl between the kryptonians which sits just fine with us! The oh so great Detective Comics continues on with the identity of Alice being revealed and it's quite a revelation. This book has some beautiful art in the Batwoman section but I must admit that I am not a fan of the art style in the Question back up.

A fantastic number of trades came in for the trade crowd this week. Alan Moore's anarchist V for Vendetta gets the Absolute treatment and it's a gorgeous reproduction with the usual high production quality we expect from these mammoth tomes of comic glory. Volume 9 of the Goon came out in trade paperback, which brings trade readers almost exactly on par with readers of the single issues. Work faster, Eric Powell! Kevin Smith's latest book; Shootin' the sh*t with Kevin Smith is possibly the funniest book ever made and can't come recommended enough for fans of humor. And to cap it off, the second volume of the Umbrella Academy gets an absolute sized hardcover release. The dark horse of Dark Horse, this series just keeps getting better and better. Hopefully we'll have a third installment coming sooner rather than later.

Well, that's all the time that the Big B crew has this week. We'll see you at the Shuster Awards Saturday evening! This is the Big B crew signing off reminding you that; "When the going gets tough, forget doing it and just go read some comic books."