This Week in Comics: 07/12/10

Right now I’m listening to Spank Rock. He is a rapper who has some quite, um, “risqué” lyrics — for example, “Coke on the tip will make a bitch go numb” — but he is, in reality a very shy guy. A friend of a friend actually went on a blind date with him once and he was apparently very nice and quiet.

Which makes me wonder: how many rappers are serious when they rap about downright heinous sexual stuff are just goofing around in the studio? When my friends and I say stuff like that we’re intentionally trying to come up with the most ridiculous stuff.

Or maybe they just have more interesting sex lives than I do.

Welcome to This Week in Comics, where every day is a comic book and — aw f*@k, I can’t redo the Casanova gag from last week with Scott Pilgrim this week, can I?

MONDAY

First Issues

Lady Robotika #1/Sweets #1 (of 5)

(Jane Wiedlin/Bill Morrison/Tone Rodriguez)/(Kody Chamberlain)

Image Comics

Lady Robotika is another celebrity comic, this time by Jane Wiedlin of The Go-Go’s — y’know, the one that was on ”The Surreal Life.” It’s about a lady who gets abducted by aliens and turned into a cyborgish superhero. What tickles me about this is that the protagonist is actually Jane Wiedlin of The Go-Go’s.

Also didn’t Tone Rodriguez draw Tyrese Gibson’s Mayhem?

Sweets is a crime story that takes place in New Orleans in the days leading up to Hurricane Katrina as a grieving detective tracks a killer as the evidence washes away in the storm. I doubt that writer/artist Kody Chamberlain stars as himself.

TUESDAY

New Manga Day

Hyde & Closer Volume 1

(Haro Aso)

Viz Media

He’s the grandson of the King of Sorcerers who must overcome his low self esteem to effectively use magic.

He’s a teddy bear come to life.

They fight crime.

WEDNESDAY

Mainstream Superhero Stuff

Superman #701

(J. Michael Straczynski/Eddy Barrows/J.P. Mayer)

DC Comics

In which Superman pulls a Forest Gump and walks across America to find himself. I gotta say, as much as I am not a fan of Straczynski’s comics, nobody’s come in and done a big, important Superman story in the regular books in a long while (All-Star Superman is a standalone thing). Granted, this story sounds a lot like a Green Lantern/Green Arrow “Hard-Traveling Heroes” sort of thing.

THURSDAY

Not Quite Friday, but Still Exciting

Man With The Getaway Face: A Prelude To The Outfit

(Darwyn Cooke)

IDW Publishing

Two dollars for a Darwyn Cook story? About Richard Stark’s Parker? With the most badass title I’ve ever read? You spoil me, IDW Publishing.

FRIDAY

TGIJ(oe Casey)

Officer Downe

(Joe Casey/Chris Burnham)

Image Comics

There are two Joe Caseys. One is the guy who write stuff like Avengers: The Origin — a solid wordsmith, but clearly cashing a paycheck. Guy never captured an audience in the mainstream the way his other indie compatriots have, even though he’s produced some interesting work there (Uncanny X-Men, Superman). Then there’s the Joe Casey who writes original stuff like The Intimates and Automatic Kafka and Godland — the one who tries to push the boundaries of the medium. I love The Intimates.

Recently, Joe Casey announced that he was putting that first guy to rest in favor of the second guy. You see, he has that Ben 10 money and can do that. This is exciting.

Granted, Officer Downe looks like a fun comedic farce than a medium-advancing work of serious art, but original stuff is way more interesting than for-hire work. Usually.

SATURDAY

Essential Reading

Scott Pilgrim’s Finest Hour

(Brian Lee O’Malley)

Oni Press

You know how I had a huge boner for the return of Casanova last week? Well, repeat that, but for Scott Pilgrim. I’d tell you what’s so good about it, but you’ve probably seen the movie trailer. It’s like that, but drawn. And even crazier.

Get excited, Internet.

SUNDAY

Last Issues

Girl Comics #3 (of 3)

(Colleen Coover/Kelly Sue DeConnick/Abby Denson/Lea Hernandez/Marjorie Liu/Carla Speed McNeil/Ann Nocenti/Molly Crabapple/Carla Speed McNeil/Emma Vieceli)

Marvel Comics

Unfortunate title, but what are YOU doing to advance the presence of women in mainstream comics?

But seriously, there’s some exciting talent in there. I never expected to see Molly Crabapple drawing for Marvel Comics. Weird.

Danny Djeljosevic