The Sword. I love the Luna Brothers. The latest issue delves into how people perceive what’s going on with the titular Sword. Dara is captured by the government, and everyone is just as freaked out by her as you think they would be.

What I’m even more excited is the prospect of the next issue (or next several) actually giving the back story of the Sword and of Dara’s father, who may or may not have been several thousand years old when he was finally murdered.

Gotham Underground. I’m starting to really like this book. They finally are giving some much-needed background on several characters, introducing a mystery villain (her face was replaced by a missing puzzle piece all issue), and exactly how Bane is playing his cards is starting to come to light. I guess this all makes sense now that we’re about halfway through the miniseries, but still. Oh, and I’m even starting to tolerate Matches Malone

Batman Confidential. Another solid story arch from this book. If you’re looking for a good jumping-on book, Confidential is still a good bet. Each arch lasts a few issues, and you don’t have to have any idea what’s going on within continuity. A new arch just started, so now’s a good time to pick it up.

Ultimate Human. Still going strong. I really hope Warren Ellis keeps up the pace on this miniseries. His computer crashed nearly a week ago, so here’s hoping that doesn’t put him too far behind. He seems to be doing okay with Freak Angels…

Wolverine Origins. Deadpool still isn’t my favorite, but I liked this issue more than the last one. Please keep getting better, guys.

The Immortal Iron Fist one-shot. Subtitled “Orson Randall and the Green Mist of Death”, its explaining Randall’s history with the Prince of Orphans, John Aman. This is now coming to bear in the main Iron Fist storyline, but this thing can stand alone as a revisiting of the classic character. Even a lot of the art is right out of the golden age. Oh, and Son of Frankenstein is in it. Awesome!

You can probably guess pretty easily what we’re all about, so I’m not going to bother with too much exposition besides to say that both Brian and I are really excited about this.

Anyhow, as you probably know, Wednesday is new comics day! Its easily the highlight of the middle of my week, and I’m into 21st Century Comics every time.

Due this week:

Clandestine #1. A friend just loaned me issue number 1, and I think I might have to start picking this one up. Its this really cool story about a super-powered family, and what the youngest members of the family deal with as they realize that they’re not only not normal, but not just mutants as they had previously thought.

Foolkiller #4 was delayed another month until March 19. This kind of bums me out, since I’m regularly excited about the book now, and it seems to take forever for each issue to hit stands.

Gotham Underground – Gotham Underground is a Batman mini-series that’s all about some kind of secret underground railroad that Penguin is using to get villains out of Gotham. Bruce is doing time as Matches Malone… the jury’s still out on this title as far as I’m concerned, but I’m sticking with it. Hopefully the endgame of the whole story is worth it.

Simon Dark – I’m really fascinated by the idea of Steve Niles writing something within the Batman universe. It would have been a weird fit for him to be writing a Batman book though, so here he is, writing about a new vigilante (sort of? I think?) in Gotham. Its dark, which works both for Gotham and for Niles. I think this book could grow into something great.

the Sword – What else to say? The Luna brothers have won me over again. I was in love with Ultra, and Girls was great too (if a bit long). A book about a crippled girl who finds out her dad is actually a centuries-old adventurer and proceeds to regain her ability to walk (not to mention the ability to kick ass) thanks to an old sword of his? Trying to figure out what’s really going on is what makes you love the Luna Brothers’ stories. Oh, and introducing and subsequently killing off the main character’s entire family within the first issue? Gold. Seriously.

Ultimate Human #2 is now due on the 20th. That’s two weeks delay, which considering Warren Ellis is writing it, that’s not too bad. The man writes brilliant comics, but he’s often damn slow about it. But hey, Tony Stark is an asshole, and Bruce Banner is really bummed out about being the Hulk – things are totally how they should be. Preview of issue#1.

Wolverine #62. I can’t always read all of the X-titles (there’s just too damn many, as far as I’m concerned). But Wolverine? I can get into that. I’ve been reading this and Wolverine Origins for a while now. Sometimes they’re awesome, and sometimes not, but I don’t feel as bogged down in the mythology of the X-Men with these solo books. Anyhow, I DID read Messiah Complex, which is good because apparently this is about Wolverine being pissed at Mystique for some of the shit that went down, and he’s out for revenge.

Anyhow, I’d like to say welcome again to Beer and Comics. I hope you’re enjoying your beer and comics as much as we are.

Ian!