Gun Machine
by Warren Ellis
Mulholland Books

I have this image in my head of Warren Ellis sitting outside his local pub in the light summer snow of southern England, stabbing at the folding keyboard of his iPad with only his middle fingers, muttering around the cigarette hanging from his lips about stupid fucking commas. There’s also empty cans of Redbull and a few broken, empty bottles of Whiskey littered around his feet. This fiction, in part, comes from Ellis himself, from his posts on twitter and his site, but mostly it’s my own romantic vision of him.

Another thing I get from Ellis’s posts on the web is that, wherever he’s writing, he approaches work not as some lofty artistic pursuit, but the same way he’d go about digging a ditch, or building a bridge, or assembling a strange device designed to inflict pain. This is backed up by every single word and sentence in Gun Machine.

Gun Machine is about NYPD detective John Tallow’s investigation into a roomful of guns he finds moments after his partner is shot dead right in front of him. It’s a short read, but it never slows down from the first page on, and each of the secondary characters could star in their own books.

I’m not usually a fan of crime fiction, and frankly hate the kind of procedural cop dramas Fox is likely to turn Gun Machine into, but if Ellis suddenly becomes prolific in the genre, I might just forsake the usual sword and sorcerer and spaceship bullshit I usually read.

Do yourself a favor and read Gun Machine, and if I haven’t convinced you, watch these 2 excellent trailers for it.

[editor: Here's where you can buy Gun Machine]

This post was written by guest writer, Tim Kress. He is the author of the book Early Mourning. When he’s not publishing strange web comics about Roy Orbison, Tim can be found harassing the masses on Twitter under the handle @Tim_Kress. His website is timkressfiction.com.

This is the second part of my Top Ten List of where geeks should shop, to take part in Small Business Saturday. Really, this is a good list for all of the holidays. It sure beats stomping your friends and family to get a new trac-phone or something. I mean the super cheap tv’s are never even a real brand. Hardly worth the attempted manslaughter indictments. Part 1 of this list is here.

6. Local Brewery/Distillery – In the sea of domestic light lager and pilsners, it is easy to forget that there is something else out there. That something may taste incredible, have a higher alcohol content, and be made somewhere near by. No, not your creepy neighbors bathtub gin. Instead of just bringing a bottle of blah-blah for a holiday meal, bring something new and local. You will appear ultra-hip and “with it” (if that is still a good thing to be).

My Local Picks – Templeton Rye Spirits, Millstream Brewery

7. Local/Non-Chain Bookstore – Yes! There still are some. They can be hard to find, because they’re darkened by the shadow of… say a Barnes and Noble or even a Half-Price books (I go here sometimes, I do admit). These are the kind of places that are run out of love for books. You can ask someone who works their, they’re not doing it for the money, they’re doing it because they love books and reading, and helping other people find some books to love. I respect that. You should too.

My Local Picks – Mystery Cat Books, Prairie Lights

8. Local Movie Store – In my city, even the Blockbusters are starting to go out of business. And, before Netflix and the Blockbuster’s ran all the local stores out of business, there was a place called Mr. Movies. They were owned by a local family. And, when ever I was late returning a movie(which was a lot), instead of getting a huge fee, the lady would call my mom and tell her that I had to return the movie. How awesome is that? You know what’s wrong with the world? The lack of that.

My Local Picks – None…they’re extinct.

9. Local Video Game Store – Yes, they’re pretty much going extinct too, thanks to Gamefly and the downloadable on demand stuff. The guys that work at these places are very much like a local bookstore person. They probably make minimum wage. They’re working there for the discount and the opportunity to talk about video games as much as possible. Much like the tabletop game person, they probably know more about gaming than you. And if they don’t, they certainly think so.

My Local Pick – Video Games Etc.

10. Independent Artist/ Author – I nearly forgot all about this one. But, it really is the most obvious. Any artist or author is probably the smallest type of business: themselves. You can find them at farmer’s markets. On Ebay, Amazon, Etsy, Facebook, or just through their personal website, they might make beaded necklaces, or write Twilight Fan Fiction (shiver). I could go on and on about the merits of directly supporting someone who performs a trade or craft skill. Just know that the money that goes to most of these people is the most effective because it’s rarely split between all the different divisions of the corporation, and can go straight in their pocket, so that they can create another day.

My Picks – The Napping Hook, Tim Kress Fiction

So these were just some of my ideas. Please leave comments or links with your own suggestions. And remember, it’s always a good time to shop with these places.

If it wasn’t obvious, Small Business Saturday is a day dedicated shopping at small (and most often local) stores. This is opposed to Black Friday, which is usually to the advantage of the big-box and chain stores that give you ridiculous deals, if onlyyou will stand in line for hours and then trample your fellow-man, when it is time. Don’t get me wrong, I love the “Hunger Games” inspired aspects of it all. Full-contact consumerism, if you will. Anyway, Small Business Saturday is your chance to give some money to people you actually may like, and since you are all set on trading money for goods, you might as well give it to these people. Sure American Express started the idea, but it’s probably one of the less evil things they’ve done.

I’ve put together a list of some places that I plan on going to, or go to on a regular basis. I’ve also given some examples in the form of the actual business (obviously, they’re mostly local to me).

1. Local Comic Book Shop – Of course, how would this not be number one on my list. I go there about once a week, but with the holidays coming up, go see if you can get a bulk deal by buying 10 copies of Batman: Year One (by Frank Miller) to give out. That way you can stop looking down at everyone for not having read it yet.

My Local Picks: Alter Ego, Daydreams Comics

2. Locally Owned Movie Theater - This is one that you may not be lucky enough to have. I don’t live in a huge metropolitan area, but we still have an independently owned movie theater. Now, that means that they don’t carry movies during their first run. They do however, offer much cheaper prices, and you can add your own butter on your popcorn! It means they might be able to carry some movies that don’t get national releases. Sometimes, the owner/manager will come down before a movie and introduce the film, or have drawings for free stuff. If you have one of these, go buy some gift certificates, maybe the person you give it to will take you with them.

My Local Pick - Collins Road Theatres

3. Local Tabletop Gaming Store - I wasn’t always a cool, well-adjusted, beacon of awesomeness. And I’m still not. When I game, I do most of it in a digital manner, some on the PC, and some on a platform (mostly Xbox 360). There was a time (mostly the 90′s) where the only digital gaming I did, was in the rare form of playing Dungeons & Dragons, or Shadowrun on a local dial-up BBS (if any of those words are foreign to you, just look them up on Wikipedia, they’re from the dark ages of the internet). My preferred method of gaming, was tabletop. Yes, dice: D4′s and D20′s, and everything in between. Also, we used our imagination for a lot of things. I know I sound like a grumpy old man when I say things like that, but still. There were places you would go to buy the new rule books, or the expansion packs, females were a strange and rare commodity, and you would hang out, and probably argue with, the guy who worked behind the counter. And he was kind of a prick, and definitely a know-it-all. And you may or may not have turned in to him.

My Local Pick - BattleZone Games

4. Local Bakery/Chocolatiers - Sure, the packaged baked goods that were made a year ago, and will last for a millennia are cheap and easy. How about trying something that’s like home-made, only you don’t have to do any of the work? If you get tired of bringing bags of Cheetos’ to your weekend LAN parties, bring a batch of fudge instead. Trust me, your fellow gamers will thank you, and the sugar buzz is much more intense!

[Editor's Note - With the current situation at Hostess, shopping locally for your sugar and snack needs keeps you from having to take a side in the unions versus corporations argument]

My Local Picks – Jules Bakery, The Chocolate Shop

5. A Local Photography – Here’s an interesting one. Most photographers (unless they work for Sears, or one of those creepy kid’s places in the mall) are most likely a small and local business. Even if you don’t need portraits of you and your brood for the holidays, there are often lots of other things you can use them for. Wedding pictures, business advertisement and marketing solutions, even for your band’s next album cover.

My Local Picks – mGphotography, Bill Stevens Photography

This is just Part 1, Part 2 is here. Feel free to post comments or links about your favorite local and small businesses tomorrow.

If you follow along here, or on one of the social media sites I’m on, you will know that in addition to covering the mainstream, I also like new and independent media. When I find something new that I think is interesting, I turn around and introduce it to my readers, because that’s what I do. This short comic anthology from Small Batch Comics is a great example of this. As they state in their introduction from Jonathan Duran, the note from the editor Hardstein, and the guest column from Chris Roberson (yes this Chris Roberson of Monkey Brain Comics) the comic book industry is following the trend of other art mediums with regards to creator-centric rights, methods of delivery and payment. Roberson even goes on to explain the Creator’s Bill of Rights (originally drafted in 1988 by Scott McCloud).

Small Batch Comics is a home for first time comic book writers and artists, and this collection of seven short comics, showcases the pros and inevitable cons that go with that refreshing kind of naïvety and freedom.

The topics of the stories run the full spectrum with sci-fi, space adventure, suspense, horror, absurdism and fantasy. The styles of art do as well, from the traditional comic book fare in Engine Whispers (art by Alex Dunn, story by Dylan Faraday) to monochrome in GODDAMNIT! (art and story by Hardstein), with strange and witty fake advertisements (by Tudor Morris) interspersed.

My only criticism is the kind of stuff that I would expect from new creators. If this were in a mainstream comic house, a good story might be rejected because of less than perfect art, or good art ignored because a story needed a little more editing. I’m also going to pick on one story in particular, because it is my favorite in this collection, and I think the art and writing are wonderful and it’s one of my favorite types of stories. In Darren Hupke and Vincent Tang’s A 12 Minute Revolution in Just Reading, the outline font clashes strangely with the black and white art of the comic. As I said, I’m picking a bit, but only because I’m so impressed with the rest of the comics quality (besides, if I liked everything, how much fun would that be?).

Small Batch Comics’ The Great Unknown #1 is available now for free, online here, and will be available in physical form at a later date. You should definitely give them a chance, the stories are fun, strange, and worth your time and effort. If you like them, you should share them with a friend, like I’m doing with all of you.

If you liked these indie comics, or know of some others that I should review, leave a comment or get a hold of me through Facebook, Twitter and now Google+.

I’m not sure how I missed this from Comic-Con International in San Diego, but Thomas Jane gets to reprise his role as Frank Castle, aka ‘The Punisher’. This time in a 10 minute,  fan-film directed by Phil Joanou and written by Chad St. John, named Dirty Laundry. It is brutal, and I can’t believe I had not heard of this sooner.

WARNING: This is a violent, bloody video. Not intended for anyone under 18, pregnant, squeamish, or has just eaten a large meal, or has the stomach flu!

Wow, I think that we should see Thomas Jane in another Punisher movie, that’s what I think. Also, why was Ron Pearlman’s mustache dyed black, but not the rest of his facial hair??

Normally I don’t include spoilers in my reviews, because I write the reviews to give people an idea of why they would or wouldn’t want to watch the movie. In this case, my thoughts on the movie have a lot to do with the plot, theme and characters, so…

THERE ARE SPOILERS, BEWARE!

It has taken me some time to get all of my thoughts on this movie into a post. I am a huge Batman fan. Huge. Comic books, movies, video games, tv shows, I’ve seen it all. I have always loved Batman because even though he was human, he’s always stood shoulder to shoulder with gods. He’s the symbol of physical and mental (and financial) human perfection. So, when I say that I wanted to love this movie, believe that I was ready to fan-boy out for it. I went to the Batman Movie Marathon at my local theater and enjoyed seeing the earlier Nolan-Batman movies again on the big screen. I enjoyed spending my time in between the movies correcting the people who said things like: “Nolan said there would be lots of Batmen in this one”, or “in the comics Bane is friends with Poison Ivy”. Please never let me hear you say that again, you’re confusing the Schumacher Batman & Robin with the comics and I can’t just stand here and let you do that. Maybe watching the new movie right after The Dark Knight was a horrible idea. That movie still stands as the best Batman movie ever, in my opinion. While I didn’t love The Dark Knight Rises, there were plenty of parts I liked, enough to make me want to see it again.

Let’s start with what I did like: the characters. Not just how they were written for this movie, but as they relate to their comic book counter parts. Nolan did another great job of taking fantasy characters, and sculpting them into nearly believable reality. Bane is a great example. Sure, they could have had him on an “experimental drug” and CGI’d him into a big cartoon monster. Instead they just took a massive Tom Hardy and had him be so much more than masked muscle.  In fact I feel like we only ever noticed how huge he was, when we were directed to by well placed camera angles, or shots of him without much of a shirt on. In the comic books, Bane was the perfect anti-Batman, born in a prison (see what they did there), he was both a strategic mastermind as well as a powerhouse. He wore down Batman mentally and physically before finally breaking his back over his knee. An iconic scene we were allowed to witness in the The Dark Knight Returns. 

Marion Cotillard’s Talia was another dead-on adaptation from the comic books. She was correct parts intelligent and deadly. She pulled the strings in the background, only revealing herself for what she was, when she stepped up and stabbed her enemy in the back. If you’ll remember, this is Ra’s Al Ghul’s advice in Batman Begins.

I remember an interview after Batman Begins came out, in which Christopher Nolan swears he would never have a Robin in his Batman movies. I believe there was a similar statement from Christian Bale, somewhere along the lines of never wanting to be in a Batman movie with a Robin. Well, I am glad they changed their minds. Joseph Gordon Levitt did a wonderful job as Jon Blake. A lot of people have called him an amalgam of the Robins from the comic books, I don’t totally see that. Dick Grayson (the original Robin) was a Gotham City Police Officer for a while after he grew up. Tim Drake (third Robin) was the Robin that figured out who Batman was, all on his own, when he was only a kid. For this movie, whatever his name was, he was the perfect sidekick for Batman. He helped out when he could and he helped Batman gain some perspective. At the end, he even “re-discovered” the Batcave, allowing for a chance to tell new stories with a new Batman (Newsarama talks about that more here). They did such a good job of making me believe that Jon Blake was Batman’s sidekick, when we find out that his real first name is Robin, it’s as though Nolan is sitting beside me at the theater, poking me in the side saying: “He’s Robin, get it? Get it? Do ya get it?”

Yes I got it, we all got it.

I’m so glad that he didn’t do the same thing with Anne Hathaway’s Selina Kyle. Another nearly “purrfect” adaptation. Nolan made her a sympathetic character in the same way the comic books portray her. A thief who reluctantly does the right thing. Even when she’s trying to be a greedy burglar, Catwoman is often committing crimes to help someone. In the case of the movie she’s trying for a clean slate, not a completely altruistic goal, but in the end she comes through and proves she’s not just in it for the money. Anne Hathaway also proves she wasn’t just thrown into this movie for star power, but because she can play a believable Batman/Bruce Wayne love interest. Maybe if her life isn’t completely straightened out, we could get her in a proper Catwoman spin-off movie. Speaking of characters with depth, Gary Oldman’s Commissioner Gordon is second only to Batman when it comes to character development. Just as we’ve seen Bruce Wayne grow into the man he was meant to become, so have we seen James Gordon rise from Sargent to Leiutenant, then finally Commissioner. Gordon has always been us, the reader, the audience, the viewer. We’re just normal people, we want to do what is right, but we don’t have the power or the means, just the will. When we discover that he is upset with living the lie about what has really happened with Harvey Dent and Batman, it just solidifies his humanity. Who wouldn’t be unhappy with the circumstances? However, by the end of the movie he no longer seems to be weighed down with that guilt. It is as though when Bane read his speech aloud to Gotham City, he no longer felt burdened by it. Which is all fine and good, but I don’t think it offered the same kind of closure for the audience.

Batman. Christian Bale turns in his last performance as Bruce Wayne, and I just wasn’t feeling it. Batman is not a quitter. Of course, if what is best for Gotham City is to not have a Batman, then he would step down. But, the comic book Bruce Wayne would never stop training, never stop preparing for that day when his city might need him once again. He also wouldn’t need to be convinced when it was time to come back. In the comic books, Bruce Wayne (almost) always knows what is best for Gotham. That’s one of the biggest differences between the comic and Nolan-movie versions of Batman. In the movies, Bruce was always striving for a world that didn’t need him anymore. He has to be, it makes him more human, and makes way for a happy ending that he will never get in the continuous world of the comic books.

Finally, let’s look at where I really had trouble loving this movie. It is based in a time that is extremely similar to our current time. The economy is so bad, even Wayne Enterprises is losing money. Police Commissioner Gordon (and all of Gotham City) is living a lie, but they trek forward in content ignorance. Yet underneath this happiness, there is such discontent, that a man is able to raise an army of poor and disenfranchised, (dare I say blue-collar?) with promises of a city they control. Not run by greedy corporations, “Wallstreet” or politics; that they feel do not represent them. Hitting a little close to home yet? Sound a little like a certain crowd that wanted to “occupy” something? When this man’s plan finally comes together, the horribly mistreated rich, corporate heads, and other establishment figures are saved by Batman.

Wait? What?!?

Whose side am I supposed to be on? Just to make sure that we know who the bad guy is, Nolan gives Bane a nuclear ‘weapon’. Also, try not to think about the fact that the bomb is made out of an idealist, renewable, free energy source that would put Big Oil and Coal out of business. In the end, the status quo is retained, Batman rides off into the sunset AND gets the girl. Maybe that ending made you forget that Batman just spent two hours appearing to champion the wrong people. I am not saying let’s get a militia together, or that I hate rich people, or trying to be too political in anyway. Maybe, Nolan is being much more tongue-in-cheek than we realized. Maybe, his opinion is justice doesn’t care about poverty: if you stole because your family was starving. Maybe he’s saying that justice is black and white.

I’ve been told by many people to “lighten up”. But the themes still sit wrong with me. This movie wasn’t written in a vacuum. Christopher Nolan is aware of the political and economic climate. This moved may have worked better in the 1980′s and early 1990′s when change was not talked about, asked for, and protested in the name of, on a daily basis.

I plan on seeing the movie again, sometime this week. The fight scenes delivered and I loved hearing Bane’s crazy, almost comical voice. Maybe, after another viewing I can not take some things so seriously. This is just a movie, after all. Do you think I’m overreacting? Reading way too much into it? Or do you agree? Let me know in the comments below (or hit me up on Twitter), I’d really love to discuss this, especially if I missed something that would help me enjoy this movie more, the next time I view it.

Among all the great stuff being announced at San Diego Comic Con 2012, my favorite so far is the fact that author, Neil Gaiman (Sandman, Star Dust, Coraline, Anansi Boys) is returning to the character that made him popular (at least in the comic book world). At the Vertigo panel he announced that after 25 years, a new mini series about the Lord of Dreams would be available November of 2013. The prequel will tell the story of what Morpheus was doing before being captured in the first issue of Sandman.

Here’s the video where Gaiman announced the project:

When I watched that video, I was on the edge of my seat. I am a huge fan of the Sandman series, and I’m starting to get caught up on Gaiman’s novels as well. He brings the same kind of detail and poetry to his prose work that he does in the dialog of his comic books. He also mentioned that his artist would be J.H. Williams III, who is now co-authoring and drawing Batwoman (the Vol. 1 collection: Hydrology was on the New York Times best seller graphic novels list). Williams’ art is THE reason I originally started buying the Batwoman books, so I see this partnership as an All-Star lineup.

If you’re not familiar with the Sandman series (from Wikipedia):

“The Sandman’s main character is Dream, the Lord of Dreams (also known, to various characters throughout the series as Morpheus, Oneiros,…) who is essentially the anthropomorphic personification of dreams. At the start of the series, Morpheus is captured by an occult ritual and held prisoner for 70 years. Morpheus escapes in the modern day and, after avenging himself upon his captors, sets about rebuilding his kingdom, which has fallen into disrepair in his absence. Gaiman himself has summarized the plot of the series (in the foreword to Endless Nights) as ‘The Lord of Dreams learns that one must change or die, and makes his decision.’ “

I know some people will say that DC/Vertigo is just returning to an old property to make money like they did with Before Watchmen. Well, they might be right. The Before Watchmen books are top-selling, and the issues I have collected have been well made. On the other hand, Neil Gaiman has made plenty of money, and seems like the kind of artist who doesn’t have to return to a character unless he has a new story to tell.

If you would like to get familiar the Sandman series you can pick up the paperback collection: Sandman Slipcase Set. It comes out in November and gives you almost a whole year to read up before the new books come out. You should check out J.H. Williams Batwoman as well. You can go with the previously mentioned first New 52 Volume:Batwoman Vol. 1: Hydrology (The New 52), or go with the first collection of Batwoman in Detective Comics: Batwoman: Elegy, when she was written by Greg Rucka (J.H. Williams III is still the artist). This is the one I recommend, it’s what got me hooked.

Can you wait a whole year? More than a year, actually. I guess I’ll have to reread all my Sandman and Endless books while I wait for Gaiman’s next classic.

Tomorrow is the Fourth of July and I am just as patriotic as the next geek, but I am still going to miss my new books that come out that day. However, the employees of your Local Comic Shop deserve to celebrate and have a day off too. So, in common geek blog fashion, I have put together a short list of alternative (and possibly neurotic) things to do this Wednesday:

1. Show up at your Local Comic Shop anyway. Hang out in the parking lot, randomly running up to a glass window or door and pressing your face against it, just to make sure that there’s no one in there that could get you your new comic books.

2. Stay inside in your air conditioning. Where I live, it has been around 100 degrees (F) for the past few days, and it looks like it will continue to be that way. Since I also do not have to work, by not going out to pick up my new comic books, I have no real reason to leave the house until the sun goes down. At which point the temperature should be down to a mild 90 degrees (joy).

3. Go outside, enjoy a BBQ with friends or family. Do the opposite of #3 (how long has it been since you’ve seen the sun, really). The Fourth of July is a great opportunity to catch up with friends and family. Or, to sweat off a couple of pounds while you stand around a grill in the previously mentioned 100 degree weather. I’m sure your successful cousin with the convertible and the hair plugs would LOVE to hear about how you think Batman and Catwoman are “really going to make it work this time”.

4. Reorganize your comic book collection. Be warned, every time I set out on such an undertaking I find it usually takes more hours than I had planned. Like, 12 more hours than I had planned.

5. Check out your favorite blogs and websites where people who have gotten their comic books on time discuss them. Let your mouse arrow hover over *SPOILER* links, until you calm down and just realize you only have to wait until the next day to get your own.

6. Blow things up. With fireworks I mean….yes…fireworks.

Notice I didn’t suggest a couple of things, like beating your head against a brick wall until they open up, or going to a chain book store to spend your hard-earned money on their sparse offerings.

Happy Fourth of July Everyone!

Yes. It’s that special. For the super geek in your family, or if you’re like me and you haven’t bought any of these movies on DVD yet (because you just KNEW they were going to put something like this out); Marvel has announced a limited box set of the Marvel Cinematic Universe: Phase One – Avengers Assembled.

You Get:

• Marvel’s The Avengers (Blu-ray 3D and Blu-ray)
• Captain America: The First Avenger (Blu-ray 3D and Blu-ray)
• Thor (Blu-ray 3D and Blu-ray)
• Iron Man 2 (Blu-ray)
• The Incredible Hulk (Blu-ray)
• Iron Man (Blu-ray)
• Bonus Disc – “The Phase One Archives” (Blu-ray)
• Collectible packaging with exclusive memorabilia from the Marvel Cinematic Universe

Release Date:

None. There is no official release date, but Amazon.com says they’ll have more information on July 15th.

The Price:

$219.00 152.99 (30% off for a limited time)

From Marvel.com:

“The 10-disc, six-movie collection brings “Marvel’s The Avengers” together with the five films that led up to the blockbuster event, and now you can own it all in an exclusive set. You can pre-order it now at Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble, but don’t delay–there are only a limited number of sets available!”

My Thoughts:

I have waited for this box set, since I found out that they were going to make an Avengers movie. Since the scene after the credits of Iron Man, where Tony Stark meets Nick Fury for the first time. Do I need it in 3D? Probably not. I’m still just expanding my Blu-ray collection right now. I’m probably another couple of years away from owning a 3D television. But I don’t own a Lord of The Rings box set (I’ll just wait for the Hobbit movies to come out), and no one has bought me the Star Wars Blu-ray box set I asked for, for Christmas yet. So, Yes. Yes I need this.

Now I can’t wait for “Phase Two”.

If you are a reader of DC Comic’s New 52 and you’ve been following along and slowly putting together which parts of previous comic book continuity still apply and which parts of have been thrown out (example: Batman still had 3 previous Robins, but now Bruce is younger, so how long they all worked with him is unknown), then you will be interested in “Zero Month”. When DC recently released their preview for the comics that would be coming out in September, they announced that all of the New 52 comics would be a #0 issue, that is, an origin issue.

In a couple of instances, new titles will be spun off of their #0 issue. In other cases, they’ve connected books to feature more details. I read through all the solicits for you and picked out what I thought was most interesting.

Here’s My “10 Things to Know About DC Comics #0 Month”

1. Four New Titles! Talon #0 will feature Calvin Rose, the only Talon to escape the Court of Owls. This ties into the current storyline running in the Batman Family comic books. It is written by Scott Snyder, who has been writing (very well!) the current volume of Batman books. I’m a fan of his, so I might be picking this one up. Phantom Stranger, Sword of Sorcery and Team 7 will also be new ongoing’s after their origin issues.

2. Shazam’s Origin! Justice League #0 will be the (former Captain Marvel) New Shazam’s origin story, as well as the origin of Pandora. She’s the purple hooded woman who ushered in the New 52 after Flashpoint.

3. Superman Begins! Action Comics #0 will be Grant Morrison’s story of Clark Kent’s early days in Metropolis.

4. Krypton’s Back Story! Superman #0 is the story of how Jor-El (Superman’s dad…the one who sent him to Earth as a baby in a rocket ship) learned of Krypton’s impending destruction. Both of those books are straying away from just retelling Superman’s origin for the 100th time (not really 100, but still).

5. Building Batman Inc! Batman Inc. #0 retells the story of how Batman recruited the major players for his “war” with Leviathan. I feel like we already read that…last year…in Batman Inc. Vol. 1. They must be planning on changing things if they feel they need to revisit that.

6. Batman Begins 52 Style! Batman #0 picks up with Bruce Wayne returning from his journeys and beginning his vigilante career. They’re going to reveal how he assembled his headquarters, his vehicles and his gadgets.

7. Bat-Geeks rejoice! Detective Comics #0 will be about young Bruce learning to master martial arts and introduce a villain.

8. Batman’s Origin! Batman: The Dark Knight #0 will be introducing us to the Wayne’s murderer, Joe Chill as Batman tries to figure out who murdered his parents.

9. Why is Jason Todd Alive Now?? Red Hood and the Outlaws #0 will be about how Jason Todd came back to life after being killed by the Joker. Hopefully we get something better than Superboy punching the walls of reality. Personally, I hope it is close to the Red Hood animated movie, it was a pretty well written story.

10. Cancelled Books! Okay, so the exclamation point isn’t needed here, but look on the bright side: If you are collecting Captain Atom, Resurrection Man or Voodoo, you will now have some extra month every month.

There, I did my job (I was a geek so you didn’t have to be) and sifted through over 52 solicits to bring you the good parts. Now do your part, tell me what you’re picking up from DC’s “Zero Month”. (If you want to look through the new previews yourself, head over to DC’s blog and find them)

[Edit 07/14/12]: I just found out that they are going to be collecting all the DC Issue Zero comics into one hardback book. You can pre order it here: DC Comics: The New 52 Zero (The New 52)