Out this Week: First Wave #1

I'm back from my travels and now trawling through Google Reader for news and previews ... I may be some while! In the meantime, here's one of my highlights from this weeks new releases -

First Wave #1

DC's shocking new pulp universe is finally unveiled! In the shadows of the War, the roots of the Golden Tree cabal grew deep into the heart of a fallen world… and the leaders at the heart of this secret organization see no place in their utopia for heroism. Doc Savage, struggling with the loss of his father, has been blind to their advance – until now. Central City's mysterious Spirit has caught wind of their plans as well. But whose side have the Blackhawks chosen? What is the Red Right Hand? And where is the Batman? Eisner Award winner Brian Azzarello (100 Bullets, Joker) and superstar Rags Morales (Identity Crisis) craft a DC universe like you've never seen before! It's a world with no supermen, only mortal men… Death can come at any moment, and adventure can still be found at every corner of the map! Will Doc Savage be the first to lead the coming world or the last to be crushed under its heel?

[Source: DC]

'Buy it in single issues' ... 'Wait for the trade' ... 'Buy it in single issues' ... 'Wait for the trade' ...

Since reading the First Wave Batman Doc Savage Special late last year and then discovering there was a mini-series to follow, I've been caught in two minds about how to pick the book up - in single issues or in trade?

By rights, this book should (would normally) fall into my 'wait for the trade' category - it appears to be a stand-alone story, it's not impacting on any of the other books I read, it's a mini, it's $3.99 ... up to yesterday I was prepared to wait and pick it up in trades.

Then, this morning I came across some fantastic interior preview pages over at Omnicomic, and I was back to picking the book up in single issues - the artwork looks fantastic.

Brian Azzarello, Rags Morales, Doc Savage, Batman, The Spirit - it can't be anything less than great can it?!

First Wave #1
Written by Brian Azzarello with art by Rags Morales, cover by J.G. Jones with a 1:10 Variant Cover by Neal Adams

DC Comics, 40 pages, colour, $3.99
On Sale March 3, 2010

First Wave #1

This one very nearly passed me by - DC's The Source recently published a number of fantastic black and white interior pages, along with a number of very nice sketch pages ahead of the launch of the first issue of their new title First Wave.

First Wave ...

... an Earth very much like our own, but featuring a collection of pulp and noir heroes that include the Batman, the Spirit, Doc Savage, Black Canary and many more.

In the shadows of the War, the roots of the Golden Tree cabal grew deep into the heart of a fallen world and the leaders at the heart of this secret organization see no place in their utopia for heroism. Doc Savage, struggling with the loss of his father, has been blind to their advance – until now. Central City’s mysterious Spirit has caught wind of their plans as well. But whose side have the Blackhawks chosen? What is the Red Right Hand? And where is the Batman? Eisner Award winner Brian Azzarello (100 Bullets, Joker) and superstar Rags Morales (Identity Crisis) craft a DC universe like you’ve never seen before. It’s a world with no supermen, only mortal men. Death can come at any moment, and adventure can still be found at every corner of the map.

[Source]

Click here to see all of the preview pages.

A couple of months ago I wrote about how much I had enjoyed the Batman Doc Savage Special that for me served as an excellent stand-alone story as well as a nice preview for the new series.

By rights this title would fall into my 'wait for the trade' category but ... I'm just not sure I can wait. The concept is intriguing, the Special was hugely enjoyable, this preview work looks fantastic - I know I'll be picking it up in single issues!

First Wave #1 is released on 3 March.