WHAT IS THE BUY PILE?

Every week Hannibal Tabu (winner of the 2012 Top Cow Talent Hunt/blogger/novelist/poet/jackass on Twitter/head honcho of Komplicated) grabs a whole lotta comics. These periodicals are quickly sorted (how) into two piles -- the "buy" pile (a small pile most weeks, comprised of planned purchases) and the "read" pile (often huge, often including comics that are really crappy but have some value to stay abreast of). Thursday afternoons you'll be able to get his thoughts (and they're just the opinions of one guy, so calm down, and here's some common definitions used in the column) about all of that ... which goes something like this ...

THE BUY PILE FOR AUGUST 3, 2016

Vote Loki #3

(Marvel Comics)

Jump from the Read Pile.

Previous issues of this frighteningly lifelike parody have stayed largely in the realm of the possible, sticking to bloviating for news cameras and spinning stories in the court of popular opinion. This time, Loki kicks it up a notch showing his deftness in a televised presidential debate and in real life interventions. The creeping dread that someone truly horrible is about to be elected is disturbingly timely and gets very entertaining when mixed with godlike powers and magic. A scary road to travel with creative team Christopher Hastings, Langdon Foss, Chris Chuckry, Rachelle Rosenberg and Travis Lanham that's just the tonic for these troubled times.

Nightwing #2

(DC Comics)

Jump from the Read Pile.

Dick Grayson is again out on a ledge -- literally -- with a less-than-inspired plan, only to find a disturbing mirror image looking back at him and mocking everything he is. New character Raptor is equal parts antagonist and catalyst as a new secret organization (the Parliament of Owls replacing Spyral) makes an effectively threatening backdrop. Tim Seeley's script is clever and intricate, weaving the fast-paced plot with the parallel character development, drawing the titular hero further into darkness ... but in a good way, not a Cumberbatch way. The visuals presented by Javier Fernandez, Chris Sotomayor and Carlos M. Mangual move when they need to and seethe when the plot calls for it, the bittersweet last page being enormously effective. Interesting stuff.

Super #6

(Unlikely Heroes Studios)

Like many comics these days, this wasn't exactly, by strict definitions, a story. It just kind of muddled along without starting or, purely, stopping. However, unlike most comics, virtually every single panel is dangerously entertaining. The script from Zachary Dolan and Justin Piatt is simply a hoot, with so much characterization packed in that it is unbelievable. A villain (sort of) gets introduced and it not only yields some great references (nice Stones riff) but makes the last page a wonderful moment well-established by the rest of the issue. As good as the script is, you simply have to be stunned at the wonder and variance of tones, imagery and ideas brought to life by Dolan, Everardo Orozco and Laurie Foster. You could just go panel by panel and study this book, and it'd be worth your money -- every moment with this motley group is worth it. So good to see this simply outstanding work back in the marketplace, a book that's like an evolution of the Giffen/DeMatteis/Maguire "Justice League."

Black Science #23

(Image Comics)

Jump from the Read Pile.

Apparently, nobody in this series ever saw "Empire Strikes Back," but the tale of fatherly devotion and a child's disappointment worked on a few levels as a kind of science fiction fairy tale. This was close to the mark with some clever turns of phrase and a bit of come-upsmanship that was just about perfect. Rick Remender's script wonderfully depicted all the characters, as even ones who don't show up, like the Prince, got fleshed out. The artwork from Matteo Scalera, Moreno Dinisio and Rus Wooton really kept the reader entangled in this bittersweet inter-dimensional fable, and the story haunts you, looking at truly high stakes for everyone involved. Nicely done.

WHAT'S THE PROGNOSIS?

Three jumps! The return of a favorite! Great success!

THIS WEEK'S READ PILE

Honorable Mentions: Stuff worth noting, even if it's not good enough to buy

We all know that Mycroft Holmes went on to essentially embody the British government, a master thinker and manipulator with few equals. In "Mycroft Holmes And The Apocalypse Handbook" #1, we see him as a Cambridge student, womanizer, gambler, drunkard and scoundrel who torments his brother Sherlock and is bored with almost everything. This superbly engaging, well-depicted comic did a fantastic job establishing all the characters and even fitting in an effective action scene. Its sole deficit is that its ending was not a conclusion to a chapter or a story, but merely a pause in a larger narrative. It's a common challenge for people who don't regularly deal with serialized narratives, but this already feels like it will make a heck of a TPB.

"Fuse" #20 is a rock-solid procedural set in space, and if this issue was a complete chunk of something and not just chasing leads from one point to another, especially with that conclusion, it would have made it home. This will be one gripping collected read without the seemingly abrupt stops for issues.

"Lady Killer 2" #1 had a couple of moments where this amazingly well depicted comic could have made it home (seriously, Joelle Jones, Crank and Michelle Madsen make one good looking book) but despite the effective "seven rules" and the kind of slapstick macabre aesthetic that works so well, the story isn't a complete thought and coasts on ambiance. Effective ambiance, but not quite making the cut.

"Jeff Steinberg Champion Of Earth" #1 has some very funny, Seth Rogen-esque moments as a wholly ridiculous confluence of events come together to throw the spotlight on one of the least interesting people in the world. Kooky and silly, if you flipped channels and landed on this you'd be cracking up. For the cost of a comic, it's just shy of the mark to make it home.

"Kill Or Be Killed" #1 is a very intriguing start presented by two all-star collaborators, presenting an high concept episodic that would fit in well on premium cable. Unfortunately, despite great character development and great visual storytelling, it's shy of a complete thought and is just set up with no pay off. That's TV good, but not quite cutting it for the price of admission here.

"Strange Attractors" #3 could have almost the exact same review as "Kill or Be Killed" as it feels like a compelling network or cable drama hindered by hindered by the art's inability to use charisma and intensity like live action actors might. The ideas here, which are fascinating, kind of tread water from the last issue and barely move forward. A touch too slow for the printed medium.

Just when "James Bond" #8 was building up to a big story point, it came to a sudden and abrupt stop like your date's spouse pulling into the driveway. The action scenes were spectacular, the pacing was exquisite and then ... left you hanging, unsatisfied. Bad form, 007, Maybe this will -- again -- work better when collected without interruptions.

"Dishonored" #1 is an interesting steampunk royal intrigue with great action, a protagonist holding perhaps too many secrets and a dash of "Penny Dreadful" super powers. The colors are a little dull and the artwork is a little rough edged, but it has a charm that will appeal to fans of the era.

The "Meh" Pile Not good enough to praise, not bad enough to insult,

"Uncanny Inhumans" #12, "Superman" #4, "Daredevil Annual" #1, "Puss In Boots" #4, "Deadpool V Gambit" #3, "Batman Beyond" #15, "Nailbiter" #24, "Street Fighter X G.I. JOE" #6, "Trees" #14, "Squadron Supreme" #10, "Brutal Nature" #4, "Invincible Iron Man" #12, "Harley Quinn" #1, "Control" #3, "Batman" #4, "Tank Girl Two Girls One Tank" #3, "Silk" #11, "Walking Dead" #157, "Wynonna Earp" #6, "Punisher" #4, "Unfollow" #10, "Blood And Dust The Life And Undeath Of Judd Glenny" #1, "Aquaman" #4, "Discipline" #6, "Marvel Tsum Tsum" #1, "Torchwood" #1, "Spidey" #9, "Green Lanterns" #4, "4001 A.D. War Mother" #1, "Bounty" #2, "Harley Quinn And Her Gang Of Harleys" #4, "Ghostbusters International" #7, "Uncanny X-Men" #11, "Battlestar Galactica Volume 3" #1, "Tokyo Ghost" #9, "Marvel Universe Avengers Ultron Revolution" #2, "Godzilla Oblivion" #5, "Justice League" #2, "Faster Than Light" #9, "Biggest Bang" #3, "Hot Damn" #4, "Doctor Strange" #10, "Sex" #30, "Bloodlines" #5, "Deadpool" #16, "Vikings" #3, "Green Arrow" #4, "Civil War II Kingpin" #2.

No, just ... no ... These comics? Not so much ...

What the hell was "Moon Knight" #5? Was that supposed to be a gigantic wind up? Are we supposed to think Bobby Ewing was coming out next? The jumbled narrative, the incoherent visual storytelling, the inconclusive conclusion ... this was a big ol' dumpster fire, despite some strikingly beautiful visuals.

SO, HOW BAD WAS IT?

Marc Spector can't drag down the whole bunch by himself.

WINNERS AND LOSERS

The stellar performance by this week's purchases easily outshine the weaker books that happened, let alone the mountain of "meh" in between, so the week wins.

THE BUSINESS

The writer of this column isn't just a jerk who spews his opinions -- he writes stuff too. A lot. Like what? You can get "The Crown: Ascension" and "Faraway," five bucks a piece, or spend a few more dollars and get "New Money" #1 from Canon Comics, the rambunctious tale of four multimillionaires running wild in Los Angeles, a story in "Watson and Holmes Volume 2" co-plotted by "2 Guns" creator Steven Grant, two books from Stranger Comics -- "Waso: Will To Power" and the sequel "Waso: Gathering Wind" (the tale of a young man who had leadership thrust upon him after a tragedy), or "Fathom Sourcebook" #1, "Soulfire Sourcebook" #1 and "Executive Assistant Iris Sourcebook" #1, the official guides to those Aspen Comics franchises. Love these reviews? It'd be great if you picked up a copy. Hate these reviews? Find out what this guy thinks is so freakin' great. There's free sample chapters too, and all proceeds to towards the care and maintenance of his kids ... oh, and to buy comic books, of course. There's also a bunch of great stuff -- fantasy, superhero stuff, magical realism and more -- available from this writer on Amazon. What are you waiting for? Go buy a freakin' book already!

Got a comic you think should be reviewed in The Buy Pile? If we get a PDF of a fairly normal length comic (i.e. "less than 64 pages") by no later than 24 hours before the actual issue arrives in stores (and sorry, we can only review comics people can go to stores and buy), we guarantee the work will get reviewed, if remembered. Physical comics? Geddouttahere. Too much drama to store with diminishing resources. If you send it in more than two days before comics come out, the possibility of it being forgotten increases exponentially. Oh, you should use the contact form as the CBR email address hasn't been regularly checked since George W. Bush was in office. Sorry!