I know, I know, it’s Friday night. But I’ve already decided that Thursday is a better day for me to write these (so I don’t rush), and last night I had an AWFUL sinus headache. I apologize for the delay.

Adventure Time #3 Written by Ryan North, Art by Shelli Paroline

Adventure Time is the greatest cartoon in the world right now. If you haven’t seen it yet, yes, you should consider that a bad thing.  Personally, I stumbled into it via a marathon while I was in a hotel room over the summer, and I’ve been able to see more via the magic of DVD.  Since I don’t have cable at home, I don’t get the option of the weekly episodes - but luckily for me, there’s now a monthly comic which is just as good.  Written by webcomic wiz Ryan North of Dinosaur Comics fame, and drawn by former Muppet Show artist Shelli Paroline (who, full disclosure, has appeared on a Super Art Fight show in the past), I’m pleased to say the comic is just as good. The art is simple but perfect, the writing is on point, and there’s all sorts of fun within the book, like entertaining backup stories, “alt-text” on every pages, and even comics within the comic.  This really is a fun book that perfectly captures the silly, 4th wall breaking fun of the cartoon, and I dare say is as essential to any Adventure Time fan as the show itself. Highly recommended.

America’s Got Powers #1 Written by Jonathan Ross, Art by Bryan Hitch

The first major post-Marvel work by artist Bryan Hitch, and written by known UK celebrity Jonathan Ross, it’s safe to say that Image’s America’s Got Powers is a “big deal”.  That said, the book really could stand to be better.  You have what feels like a warmed over plot of a superhero based reality show (think American Idol meets the Running Man, or Hunger Games), a lead who “has no powers” that SURPRISE! discovers them at the end of the first issue, and even Hitch kinda feels like he’s on autopilot, with pages that appear to be well…Hitch by Numbers.  I do think the book has the potential to go to some unique places, but from this first issue, I’m not terribly impressed. Lets see what happens through the rest of the series, yeah?

Avenging Spider-Man #6 Written by Greg Rucka & Mark Waid, Art by Marco Checchetto

The first part of a 3 parter which mixes my favorite Spider-Man book with the current, great, Daredevil book by Mark Waid and…oh yeah, Punisher as well, Avenging Spider-Man #6 is a fun, breezy read.  Waid nails Spidey’s voice and tone (which makes me wonder, has Mark Waid EVER written a Spider-Man book?), this is a nice continuation of the current Daredevil arc, and…uh, I guess Punisher is cool? He kinda looks like Solid Snake for some reason now. I don’t really know why.  Marco Checchetto draws well enough (his Spidey eyes, while more realistic, sure are weird, though), but this issue is mostly setup and ninja fighting.  I sure hope that Daredevil’s issue in this stands alone, as I don’t think I’ll be grabbing the Punisher part.  As a normal issue of Avenging Spider-Man, I do really miss Zeb Wells from the writer’s chair, but this story could play out well enough.

Batwoman #8 Written by J.H. Williams, III & W. Haden Blackman, Art by Amy Reeder

Oh, Batwoman - you are a book which is dropping off hard for me.  I absolutely loved the first six issue arc, written and drawn by JH Williams, but the current arc kinda bores me.  Amy Reeder is a great artist for the series, retaining a clean style while mixing in the unique panel stylings we’ve come to expect from the Batwoman comics, but this arc is doing nothing for me.  I suppose it’s because I’ve never really been too into mystical, sorcery based characters (like Dr. Strange), so building an arc about a villain in that style isn’t really going to draw me in.  Batwoman was a book I really loved as the DC New 52 began, but if we continue on this track, I’ll be dropping it soon.

Daredevil: Season One Written by Antony Johnston, Art by Wellington Alves

The Marvel Season One series, for those unaware, is a new initiative by Marvel to give new comic readers an easy access point to the classic origins of different characters.  They aren’t really re-imagined versions of the origins, but instead, mostly faithful retellings done in a modern style, whether it’s with a new perspective, refreshed character designs, or streamlined storytelling.  The series started with both Fantastic Four and X-Men, each of which was really quite stellar (and surprisingly, in both cases, written from a lead female perspective), and continues this week with Daredevil: Season One.  As you know, I’ve only recently gotten into Daredevil with the current run, so to get his origins was actually a nice thing for me.  Antony Johnson (Oni Press’s Wasteland) does a great job scripting the book, giving us a weaving tale including clashes with classic DD villains The Owl and the Purple Man, and it’s matched nicely by clean art from Wellington Alves.  It’s a really enjoyable, fun read, and as far as I’m concerned, Marvel Season One is 3 for 3.

Saga #2 Written by Bryan K. Vaughn, Art by Fiona Staples

I’ve written in the past about how much I was looking forward to this book, and just two issues in, Saga is delivering in spades.  The storyline, which seems to meld Star Wars-esq scope with a Romeo & Juliet tale of warring alien lovers who have a child and are now on the run, is unfurling slowly, but providing just enough details to draw you in.  Fiona Staples is an absolutely amazing artist, and each panel just draws me in with the clean linework and superb coloring.  Also, how inventive are the alien races in this series?  This might be my absolute favorite book on the stands today, and is totally my pick of this week. Get in on the ground floor, everyone - this could end up amazing.

Scarlet Spider #4 Written by Chris Yost, Art by Ryan Stegma

Taking what could be an awful concept (the return of Kaine and the Scarlet Spider character from the much disliked Clone Saga storyline from Spider-Man) and turning it into an interesting story has been no easy job for the team of Yost and Stegma, but four issues in, I’m getting into this book.  Making a meaner, rougher, more violent Spider-Man is a unique enough idea for the series, but supplanting him into a region like Texas gives him a definite difference from the normal web-swinging action, and removes it from the rest of the Marvel U, giving the comic it’s own world.  I still think Kaine’s motives and the overall story for the book needs to be fleshed out a bit more for my tastes, but considering I thought this was an awful idea for a series, I really need to give this team credit - this may end up being a pretty damn good comic after all.

That’s this week in comics - not a bad one at all. If I tell you to get anything this week? Saga, Adventure Time and Daredevil Season One.

What’s on tap for next week?

• Batman #8
• Rocketeer Adventures 2 #2
• Prophet #24
• The Walking Dead #96
• Amazing Spider-Man #684
• Avengers vs. X-Men #2
• Invincible Iron Man #515
• Wolverine and the X-Men #9