This Week in Comics - 12/19

What’s new in comics for Dec. 19:

I can not start this week without sending thoughts and prayers to Newtown, CT.  Normally, I try not to share opinions that are not comic related, but I have to relate this, one of my best friends, who introduced me to my first comic book store, his daughter lost one of her friends in Sandy Hook.  A tragedy like this, thankfully, is not as common as the nearly daily shootings the President referenced.  When we witness mass destruction in whichever current story we happen to be reading, there’s no emotion, as it’s usually just a backdrop to the struggle between the main characters.  Real life hurts like hell, and I sincerely hope the day we find peace with ourselves comes sooner rather than later.

Out of Dark Horse Comics this week comes Black Beetle Night Shift, $2.99, by Francesco Francavilla, and he did all the work, including the coloring.  Originally published in three parts earlier this year in Dark Horse Presents, Hitler sends his fearsome Werewolf Korps to the Colt City Natural History Museum for a powerful totem of dark magic, but unfortunately for the fuhrer, Black Beetle is on the case…

Marvel Comics has shipped All New X-Men #4, $3.99, by Brian Michael Bendis and Stuart Immonen.  The original five X-Men come face to face with their counterparts and it isn’t pretty.  Issue #3 left me eagerly anticipating this one…

Matt Fraction and David Aja are responsible for Hawkeye #6, $2.99, and I’m hearing a lot of good talk out of this book.  The ace archer, Clint Barton, faces DVR-Maggedon…

Here’s the final issue of Uncanny X-Force written by Rick Remender, with art by Phil Noto and a cover illustration by Julian Totino Tedesco. Uncanny X-Force #35, $3.99, Final Extinction concludes with one of the most shocking moments in X-Force history…

The best of the rest offers up Country Ass Whuppin Tornado Relief Anthology One Shot, $5.99, from 12 Gauge Comics and a whole bevy of the industry’s finest creators, all with roots or ties to the south, including Jason Aaron, Sean Patrick Flanery, Cully Hamner, Brian Stelfreeze, and many others. They’ve all donated their time and talents for for a truly southern experience. 100% of the proceeds from this book will go directly to the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund…

Harbinger #7, $3.99, from Valiant Entertainment and Joshua Dysart, Barry Kitson, and Lee Garbett introduces Charlene Dupre, Flamingo, to the Renegades as Project Rising Spirit closes in on Peter Stanchek, the most dangerous boy in the world…

The conclusion to the smash story arc establishing X-O Manowar in the Valiant universe is from Robert Venditti and Lee Garbett.  X-O Manowar #8, $3.99, features the uneasy alliance between Aric and Ninjak as they unearth the Vine’s ultimate endgame – to wipe humanity off the map…

And plenty more that’s not listed.  For a more complete list, feel free to visit your local comic store or favorite site.  If you’re interested in more of what I think, follow me on Twitter at Mycomicstore001 or like my Facebook page.

Michael R. Murray is a full time Letter Carrier for the United States Postal Service who has nothing at all to say this week.