10. Dark Reign: Young Avengers # 2. This book has been seemingly slipping under the radar, as I haven't heard much buzz about it whatsoever, but it is really, really good. Paul Cornell's writing on this is at least the equal of his work on Captain Britain, and the art isn't too shabby either. Much as Cornell's opening Captain Britain arc carved out an interesting and different take on the major marvel event at the time (Secret Invasion), this mini has a refreshing take on the effect of Dark Reign on the Marvel Universe.
The "Dark" Young Avengers team that are the focus of this book don't have a direct connection to Norman Osborn and his "Dark" Avengers, but they are inspired by him to some extent. The idea of super hero team as performance art attempting to expose the inherent contradictions in the term in a world where one of the most notorious super-villains is in charge is a novel concept that is being handled quite deftly here. And after this issue, it is still entirely unclear whether these "Dark" Young Avengers will become true heroes, or tragic failures. Cornell does an excellent job of portraying the uncertainties and insecurities of youth, and has us really caring about the future of these characters (whether we are rooting for or against them). This is far and away the most
impressive of the Dark Reign minis so far, and it deserves more recognition.9. Northlanders # 18. This issue continues the general excellence of Brian Wood's Viking-themed anthology. This time, we get the first of a two-part story involving three women fighting to survive in an inhospitable world. It's a fascinating look at the role of women in that historical period, and Wood really invests these characters with identifiable and realistic personalities. So often in historical comics, the women are presented as nothing more than objects, or as completely independent modern women of a type at odds with any concept of historical accuracy. The women presented in Northlanders # 18 are fully realized women seeking independence, but within the confines of the harsh realities of their time. All of this is nicely rendered by Danijel Zezelj, making for a particularly strong issue of this consistently good series.
8. Dark Avengers/Uncanny X-Men: Utopia. As set-ups for a six-part crossover between the X-Men and Avengers go, this one is about as good as you can hope for. That might seem like faint praise, but this is really an enjoyable issue if you've been following either Dark Avengers or Uncanny X-Men lately and are at all invested in the characters. Its really nice to see Marc Silvestri drawing these characters again, and Matt Fraction does a nice job moving the story along. I won't give away the twist at the end, but suffice it to say that it is both shocking and entirely logical in the context of the story and characters, which is a rarer feat than one might think. Too often this type of twist either is easy to see coming, or is shocking without making much sense in terms of the story or characters. That Fraction's ending hits the perfect tone and has me anxiously anticipating the next installment earns this book my #8 spot.
7. Phonogram 2: The Singles Club # 3. This issue gives us another look at a single night at a single dance club in London town, and the fact that Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie are able to make such a concept work without it being either repetitive to those who've been reading the entire series or incomprehensible to those who pick up a single issue is a real testament to their craft. There are a lot of musical references, and they enhance the story if you get them, but prior knowledge is not necessary for enjoyment. There are also some nice back-up stories and some good text material (giving a full run-down of the aforementioned musical referents and a full interview with electronic group "The Knife"). Definitely more than worth your hard-earned $3.50.
6. Punisher # 6. Scoff if you like. Chuckle, snort, snigger, point and say "HA HA." But I defy you to show me a book that is more fun right now than the Punisher. Rick Remender has hit all the right notes in his short run on this book, and it just keeps getting better. Want to see Frank Castle using an Ant-Man helmet and other Marvel tech creatively? You've got it. Want to see the Hood resurrect some skeevy and cheesy Marvel D-List villains to go after ol' Frank? You've got it. Want to see Frank suffer through lectures about the straight-edge lifestyle and crack jokes about PETA? You got it. Want to see a really talented writer mesh with pitch-perfect art for an engrossing take on a character you thought couldn't be made engrossing in the mainstream Marvel Universe? Start buying Punisher.
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