COACH'S WEEKLY WIN - CAPTAIN AMERICA #50

That's right, after a brief hiatus and a variety of trips Coach Cohen has returned to shout his comic book opinions at the internet with the veins bulging in his forehead and his whistle/keys jangling around his neck! This week, I'm choosing a character who is near and dear to my heart and whose book has been a standout performer in the Marvel stable for a number of years now, Captain America #50.

Scribed by Ed Brubaker and drawn by the excellent Steve Epting and a rotating stable of fill-in artists (Luke Ross and Rick Magyar take on the penciling and inking duties for the main story in this double-sized issue), the uniform of Cap is currently filled by his old partner from Dubya Dubya Deuce, James Buchanan Barnes aka Bucky aka The Winter Soldier. You see (Spoiler Warning - if you've been absent from comics for the last two years and live in a news free box) Steve Rogers got himself capped (pun intended) 25 issues ago right after the Marvel Civil War and Bucky was given the uniform and indestructible adamantium-vibranium alloy shield by then head honcho of S.H.I.E.L.D. Iron Man. Bucky has since struggled with carrying the mantle of his former partner and best friend and this issue does a good job portraying a very special day in the life of the current Captain America.

Now, when I first heard that they were bringing Bucky back for this story, I was totally against it. Bucky was one of those Holy Grail characters who was cool because Marvel refused to bring him back from the dead. However, I have to say Ed Brubaker has knocked this book out of the friggin' park and it is consistently one of the best if not the very best read that Marvel currently has to offer in their collection of classic Golden/Silver Age characters. It is consistently full of win on a monthly basis.

Also, Bucky is a badass. He has a Soviet bionic left arm, carries a pistol and commando dagger (both of which he uses - BLAMM! flying bizatch), and unlike Steve Rogers, who was enhanced from a weakling to the peak of human performance by the Super Soldier Serum, Bucky is a born fighter and scrapper who spent his entire childhood on military bases. This issue reveals that he was sent off to train with the British Special Operations Group at age 16 after a birthday bar fight with two Navy boys and an MP. Crucial.

Finally, this issue has an excellent 50th issue anniversary backup by Marcos Martin who has a very Tim Sale style to his pencils (probably not a coincidence since Sale's Captain America: White series is coming up) and a cool Fred Hembeck comedy piece to finish things off. As I said, full of win.

So if you're looking for a good read with great characters, quality artwork, and really standout writing, take Coach's advice and pick up Captain America #50. Now hit the showers!!!

BEST OF THE STACK - BPRD THE BLACK GODDESS #5

I'm a little behind from last week, and have yet to nab this week's pile. Lot's going on. But not as much as the events within BPRD The Black Goddess #5. There's been massive conflict going down in the past 2 issues what with flame dragons, nasty frog legions, and the creepy underground critters and their martian walker-like machines all going at each other at once.

After lots of talking to Gilfryd by the BPRD team about how Liz and himself are the only way to save humanity and blah blah blah, our man of action Johann finally shows up after shankin' some dude, then busts in to the inner chambers where Liz is being held, and starts blastin' ol' Gilfryd. Of course this doesn't work very well, seeing as Abe tried that nonsense a few moments earlier. But Johann has of late been a bit impulsive and loosey-goosey. And maybe now we know why.

Johann at least tried to do something. The rest of them were trying he old talk 'em to death route. Anyways, he was rewarded with a Jedi-like force pummeling, that cracked his bubble suit. Which is trouble for our ecoplasmic buddy. But a panel or so later, it appears that he finds a way to keep on truckin' - in the shoes of Lobster Johnson. Though the name is ridicuous, Lobster Johnson is awesome. But only Hellboy knows about him for the most part. (Abe did some research, but that's about it. I think.) So, I couldn't be happier and more eager to see where this final arc goes. However there's lots of filler issues coming up and I think the next arc doesn't begin for awhiles. Oh well.

LEAST CRAPPY OF THE STACK - DEADPOOL #10

Deadpool is an idiot.

He fills a void left by the folks I used to work with day in and day out. I now get my dose of stupid from this book. Though I doubt I'll stay on long after any Dark Reign tie-in action is over. It's the only reason I picked it up in the 1st place to be truthful. His adventures with the Thunderbolts recently have been amusing to be sure. It also outlines what a sorry bunch of sad sacks they are now.

So, after making the Thunderbolts look stupid, Norman Osborn sends in Bullseye to kill what basically can't be killed. I mean they loped off Deadpool's friggin' head in the last issue.

Anywho, Bullseye is dressed as Hawkeye becasue of the whole Dark Avengers thing and hilarity ensues in 20 something pages. Besmirch is put to good use (as you can see from these shoddy pictured panels), Deadpool shoots a pizza delivery dude in the face or being a douche bag in High School, and the action sequences are well paneled and written for maximum funny/ridiculousness.

In the end Deadpool gets an arrow through his head due to his brash nature. Yeah, that'll stop the retard from talking for about 4 minutes at best.

This week was kinda slow for me as most tiles were sorta ho-hum. As such, I deem this the Least Crappy Of The Stack. Something Deadpool would probably endorse.

WHY DO I KEEP BUYING THIS JUNK? - MARVEL ZOMBIES 4

It took awhile, but I've finally looked at the whole Marvel Zombies thing and asked "Why?". The 1st series was neato bandito. Of course that was the one title my comic dude DIDN'T put in my sub box ( I generally picked up anything zombie or horror previously and was onboard Walking Dead from day one) and Marvel Zombies #1 remains the only damn issue I need the 1st printing of. But, I don't want to shell out 30 bucks for that privilege.

The second series was off the wall weird, but at least it was still funny. Zombies with the Power Cosmic is funny damn it. 3rd time around, yeah, getting assy. Didn't really care about machine man or whoever the fuck dude was. Jocasta neither.

Now, we're up to Marvel Zombies 4. Lame ass Son of Satan is in the hizzouse! Gah. There was some promise as they introduced zombie fishmen, but now they all blew up and now Morbius has an oxygen gun that explodes things infected with the virus and Z-list goons abound. Ugh. Did I mention Son of Satan? Oh, and since the Hood isn't in enough titles (I still like the guy) just yet, he shows up. Deadpool's here too. Or at least just his head. Jeeze. And where the hell is Man-Thing? I want Man-Thing damn it.

Though Deadpool marks the only moments I've enjoyed thus far. As you can see in the panel above, he is kept in a cage until 2 geniuses decide to set him free. I think the one guy is a dead damn ringer for Dale from The Walking Dead. If not, his hat, face, and baggy eyes are too close for comfort. Coincidence? Who cares. I'm getting off this train while the gettin's good.

SADNESS ABOUND! GIGANTO! NOOOOOOOOOO!

This here panel from Avengers Invaders #10 is both funny and sad. Red Skull has taken out most of the undersea world as well as the surface world. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO not Giganto! Who will becon to Sub Mariners sea-trumpet-magic-horn-blasts now? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

I can name just about any giant monster or rubber suited man from Toho or Tsuburaya Productions, but the rest of these floaters outside of Mole Man's big green buddy there are a mystery to me. Name them and win my admiration! I've already dubbed the red one "Pinchy".

BEST OF THE STACK - CAPTAIN AMERICA: THEATRE OF WAR

These "Theatre of War" one shots with Cap have been hit or miss. They're all set in WWII, so it's generally Nazi blastin' good times. The big miss was the last one which was helmed by Chaykin. Ugh. Piss poor. Left that one on the rack. Which sucked, because the 1st one was dope. That sucker had Cap going after a Nazi UFO operation. Well drawn and cool as hell. So I was glad to see the next one continuing the tradition of good.

This has Cap and some GIs going in behind enemy lines to stop a dam from being blown. Things go wrong and they have to hole up in a pillbox and fight off German attacks. In the process a German soldier is taken prisoner. The dude is roundly hated, but Cap points out that the dude is Heer, not SS. The prisoner offers to help as a medic during the firefights as they are shorthanded and eventually the GIs respect him.

Yada yada yada, it all ends badly, but it's a fun ride and it's nice to see the German army given a human face. Though douche bag SS show up eventually and jerkitude ensues. Anywho, nicely drawn (scans later maybe), full of action, and containing some philosophical bits to chew on when it comes to war and and the illusion of "sides".

One bad poitn was the part where they have a mini tank battle with a pair of panzer IVs...from like 5 feet away. Kinda budge. But, hey at least there were panzers - and no Chaykin!

PANEL OF THE WEEK - AVENGERS INVADERS #10

This book has some slow burn to it. But htings have ramped up nicely the past few issues. This issue has all sorts of cool junk in it. Nazi super dogs, people jump on grenades, and the final page was worth it all. Red Skull and his new buddy The Cosmic Cube have racked up a sweet body count of Golden Age heroes. Nice.

FABLES PANELS OF JOY

Simple dimple. Here's a fun panel set where the Literal Kevin Thorn (who can pretty much make anything happen by writing it down) causes some havoc in the park. The falming kid on the tire swing brought me great mirth. Because the flaming skull child turns to look at you.

LOCKJAW IS BETTER THAN MA-MUTT. BUT JUST BARELY.

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