Like Pete Sampras in the 1996 U.S. Open against Alex Corretja, I fought off illness and exhaustion to bring you this week’s NewsOK Comics Podcast with Kyle Roberts. We talk about the excellent week DC Comics had, with new issues of Supergirl, Adventure Comics and Flash Rebirth, and about Spider-Man’s trip into the Gauntlet with Amazing Spider-Man 612. Check it out.

- Matt Price

Kyle Roberts and Matt Price review Dark X-Men 1, X-Force 21 and the Batman/Doc Savage one-shot on the NewsOK Comics podcast.

Kyle Roberts and Matt Price review X-Men vs Agents of Atlas 2, Haunt 2, Black Widow: Deadly Origin 1, Stumptown 1.

Kyle Roberts and Matt Price discuss some of the best bets for Halloween, including Tomb of Dracula, Batman: The Long Halloween, and Angel: Frankenstein.

Matt Price and Kyle Roberts provide comic-book reviews for Incredible Hulk 602, Supergirl 46 and Justice League 38 in this week’s NewsOK Comics Podcast. It’s Hulk vs. Wolverine: The Next Generation in “Incredible Hulk” No. 602. The Hunt for Reactron ends in Supergirl 46. And James Robinson (”Starman”) begins his run on “Justice League of America” in issue No. 38.

Deadpool celebrates an anniversary in “Deadpool” 900, and Magneto is back in Uncanny X-Men 516. Two Super-stories take place this week in “Action Comics” 882 and Adventure Comics 3. Matt Price and Kyle Roberts provide reviews in the NewsOK Comics Podcast.

Things get spooky this October week in comics, as Haunt #1 comes out from Image and DC brings forth Batman Unseen #1. Meanwhile, the X-Men face off with the Agents of Atlas in the first part of a two-issue miniseries. Kyle Roberts and Matt Price discuss these comics in this week’s NewsOK Comics podcast.

A dream team of Image Comics creators come together for “Haunt,” and at least after the first issue, it feels like a solid blend of all of their styles into a book that feels very much like a hit Image Comic.  (And I mean that in the context of what that meant in say, 1992, though today it takes a lot fewer copies sold to qualify as a hit.)

Robert Kirkman has written some of Image’s biggest hits of recent years in “Invincible” and “The Walking Dead,” and was also named an Image Comics partner, the first time that had happened since the founding of Image.

The co-creator of “Haunt,” and the series inker, is Todd McFarlane, who launched “Spawn” in 1992 to the tune of 1.7 million copies sold.  “Haunt” feels like a book from the mind of the “Spawn” creator, but fine-tuned a bit, given how much more common horror and hyperviolent comics have become.

Greg Capullo, who drew many issues of “Spawn” and may have become an even better McFarlane than McFarlane himself, is providing layouts here, and I think that helps with both the horror elements and harking back to that 1990s comic-book heyday.

Ryan Ottley, who draws “Invincible,” is the penciller here, and while his style is different working with McFarlane and Capullo, what he’s put on the page here is high-quality work that mixes interestingly with the other creators’ visions.

The colors are by FCO Plascenca, who has also worked on “Invincible.”

“Haunt” features a downtrodden priest who hears confession from his black-ops brother.  Neither are happy with one another, or, seemingly, their lives.  Through the course of the issue, they discover they’re going to have to work together, like it or not.

SPOILERS AHEAD

Daniel is a priest who curses, smokes, even visits prostitutes. Daniel and Kurt, his black-ops brother, have had a falling out at some time in the past, but Daniel still hears Kurt’s confessions of killings and violence, so no other priest will have to do so.

While on a mission, Kurt’s supposed to rescue a scientist – but he finds the scientist has done unapproved human experimentation on prisoners, including children.  Kurt shoots the scientist and breaks the prisoners out.   Not long after, he’s kidnapped by a mysterious group looking for a notebook, who torture and kill him.

At Kurt’s funeral, Daniel finds himself haunted by Kurt, who asks him to check on Amanda, Kurt’s wife.  Daniel isn’t sure if he’s being haunted, or hallucinating, but goes to check on Amanda, with whom he has a tense reunion.  Obviously something has happened in the past to cause these two discomfort around each other.

When two men break into the apartment intent on violent action, Daniel and Kurt somehow merge, into a superstrong masked being.   It’s a strong start for Kirkman and McFarlane, who have managed to write an entertaining and intriguing start to the series.  Despite some elements that may be considered cliched, “Haunt” for the most part works, especially for those who enjoy action with a taste for both the supernatural and superheroic. Fans of Kirkman and McFarlane – of whom there are plenty – will find something to like here.

- Matt Price

Die Hard goes back to the 1970s in “Year One,” while Spider-Man revisits the 1990s in “Clone Saga.” The Guardian stars in Superman 692, and Wolverine Weapon X closes out its first story arc. Kyle Roberts and Matt Price discuss this week’s comics in the NewsOK Comics Podcast.

Old Man Logan concludes, Geoff Johns shares Superman’s secret origin, the hunt for Reactron continues in Supergirl 45 and Spider-Woman stars in her own series. Stay tuned til the end for Kyle’s surprising pick of the week!

Two of the year’s biggest series hit their third issue, and Archie ties the knot. Listen to Kyle Roberts and Matt Price discuss the eternal question, “Betty or Veronica”?

Things light up with Torch #1, and it’s the end of the world as we know it in Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #2. In Supergirl Annual 1, find out the origin of Superwoman and visit a day in the life of Linda Lang.

- Matt Price

Kyle Roberts and Matt Price discuss how you can’t always judge a comic book by its cover, as they review Supergirl 44, X-Men Legacy 227, Wolverine Weapon X 4 and Archie 600.

Archie #600 - Archie gets engaged!  It seems like it’s sort of a What If? or It’s  A Wonderful Life kind of scenario, though.  Written by Michael Uslan and drawn by Stan Goldberg, this was a perfectly accessible Archie issue that was fun to read.  Upon graduation from college, Archie realizes his friends are going their separate ways, and somewhat impulsively proposes to Veronica. Looking forward to how it progresses, and if there is in fact a follow-up in which Archie marries Betty.

Blackest Night Superman #1: I’ve heard mixed reviews on this one, and I can see why.  Overall, I thought James Robinson’s Superman tie-in to Blackest Night worked, but the hickery of Smallville was a little over the top.  Also, the Supergirl/New Krypton pages seemed very crammed, whereas earlier pages seemed almost too languid.  So, some things I didn’t like, but worth checking out if you’re reading Blackest Night to see the return of some Super-characters.

Supergirl #44: In general I love this title, and this is another strong issue. It’s biggest weakness may also be the reason more people may pick up this issue than last: It’s part 3 of a crossover among the Super-books.  Thus, some of the Supergirl-specific stuff gets less time to develop.  It’s a bit of a balancing act, which Gates does as well as can be expected.  There’s revelations about Zod’s assassin, and a cliffhanger that sets up part 4 of the crossover nicely.  Jamal Igle remains a top-notch penciller, so overall it’s more good work from the Supergirl team.

Wolverine: Weapon X #4: You remember those 1980s movies where Bruce Willis or Sylvester Stallone would just mow down bad guys, dispatch them with heavy violence and quips, and possible face off against a dark mirror of themselves?   That’s what came to mind when reading Weapon X #4.  It’s brutal, but Jason Aaron is writing a dark thriller that works, here. Ron Garney is turning in good artwork as well, especially as far as the action is concerned.

- Matt Price

The time-lost Steve Rogers, the original Captain America, is at the center of Captain America Reborn 2. Rogers has come unstuck in time, and jumps through his own personal history in the World War II era, reliving key moments, but unable to affect them.  Meanwhile, in the present, the new Captain America faces off against Norman Osborn’s Dark Avengers.  Also, the Fantastic Four’s Reed Richards finds a curious clue.

Writer Ed Brubaker, whose Captain America run has largely stayed out of the bigger Marvel crossover events, gets pulled definitively into Dark Reign in this issue.  The way Brubaker writes it, it’s as if it had been planned all along.  More is revealed about the Red Skull’s overall plan, and Osborn approaches Crossbones and Sin to get in on the deal.

The flashbacks to Cap’s past bring readers up to speed about what’s so great about the character Steve Rogers.  It works as a primer while seeming fresh. Meanwhile, the modern Cap, the former Bucky, shows how he’s grown as a hero through Brubaker’s run.

Artist Bryan Hitch’s art is solid, but really shines in the World War II era battle scenes.  Hitch is working with Butch Guice on the series, and the artwork is pretty seamless.

Reborn fits in well with the Captain America saga Brubaker has been chronicling in the regular title for more than 50 issues, and is a successful outing especially for those who have been patiently awaiting Steve Rogers’ return.

- Matt Price

Tiny Wolverine guest-stars as Kyle Roberts and Matt Price discuss big Wolverine’s absence in other Marvel titles this week. Also: Detective Comics 855 and a Blackest Night tie-in.

Matt Price and Kyle Roberts discuss this week’s comics, including Captain America 601, Phantom Generations 3 and Blackest Night 1.  Kyle must deal with his fear of zombies and vampires.

Kyle Roberts and Matt Price discuss DC Comics’ newspaper-style weekly experiment, Wednesday Comics.

Kyle Roberts and Matt Price review some of this week’s comics, including X-Men Forever 2, Wolverine Weapon X 3, Berserker 1, Dark Avengers/X-Men Utopia and Detective Comics 854. Note: I talked about Silvestri drawing a “whole comic” in Utopia, when in fact he had assistance from several other Top Cow folks.

Greg Rucka and JH Williams III kick off the Batwoman storyline with a bang in “Detective Comics” 854.  Williams hasn’t lost a step from “Promethea,” and is one of the most interesting artists working today.  If you’re on the fence about this, I suggest you just pick up a copy and look at it.  Rucka’s story is interesting – continuing the “Crime Bible” saga, it appears, and exploring the personality of Kate Kane, first introduced with much fanfare in “52.”  But the obvious selling point of the book is the art.  Williams is brilliant in layout and composition, experimental yet completely clear in his storytelling.

The black and red color palate from Dave Stewart as “Detective” opens draws you into Gotham City; Todd Klein, one of comics’ most prestigious letterers, completes the package.

The backup story, by Rucka and Cully Hamner, follows the new Question, Renee Montoya.   It’s just 8 pages, but sets up what looks to be an interesting yarn.

- Matt Price

Kyle Roberts and Matt Price discuss Amazing Spider-Man 596, Superman: World of New Krypton 4, Dark Avengers 5 and Batman and Robin 1.

Kyle Roberts and Matt Price review some of this week’s comics, including Supergirl 41, Wolverine: Weapon X 2, Batman Battle for the Cowl 3 and Captain America 50.
Below, see an image gallery from “Wolverine: Weapon X” 2, written by Jason Aaron with art by Ron Garney.

It’s an UNlikely week for comics, as three comics starting with the prefix “UN” are released. Kyle Roberts and Matt Price discuss two of them: Unwritten #1 and Unthinkable #1. Also discussed in this week’s NewsOK Comics Podcast are “Fusion” No. 1 featuring a Marvel-Top Cow crossover, and Wolverine 73.

Matt Price and Kyle Roberts review X-Men Origins: Wolverine and talk about a few of the best comics that came out this week, including the one-shot with the same title, X-Men Origins: Wolverine; Batman Battle for the Cowl: The Underground, and Final Crisis: Legion of Three Worlds #4.

Kyle Roberts and Matt Price have a need for speed as they discuss the comic books Flash: Rebirth #1, Cars: The Rookie #1, and Irredeemable #1.

It’s a week of anniversaries! Darkness celebrates 75 issues, Thor celebrates 600, Batman attends a funeral, and Sabretooth has a violent way of saying “Happy Birthday” in this week’s comics, as discussed by Matt Price and Kyle Roberts.

DC Comics brings surprise endings to “Adventure Comics” 0 and “Legion of Three Worlds” 3. And Marvel Comics has two new launches, “War of Kings: Darkhawk” 1 and a revamped “Black Panther” 1. Kyle Roberts and Matt Price give you the lowdown.