Remember that Telltale Fables game?

Well, that game now has a name, and that name is The Wolf Among Us.

According to IGN, the game takes place before the comic begins, and players will play as Bigby Wolf as he tries to keep Fables undetected.  Originally announced in 2011, I have eagerly been awaiting this game, and it seems like I only a few more months as this game (well, episode 1 probably) is released this summer.  Also by Telltale, make sure to play The Walking Dead, if you haven’t already.  The game is fantastic.

Fables: Werewolves of the Heartland

Well, I finally got around to reading Fables:  Werewolves in the Heartland, written by Bill Willingham with pencils by Craig Hamilton and Jim Fern, even though I think it came out sometime in the Fall.  And it is unusual for me to take so long to read something Fables related.  Sure, I didn’t buy either of the Cinderella mini-series, but I did pick up the trades the moment they were available and immediately read them.  So, it is odd that I have taken so long to read this.  But, maybe subconsciously I knew something.  Maybe deep down I had my doubts about this book.  So, whatever the reasons for waiting, I had my single issue read pile down, and took some time to read it.

In short, I didn’t like it.  Actually, let me qualify that statement.  I didn’t like it as much as most other Fables story.  No, it’s not on the level of The Great Fables Crossover, but I just found it boring.  I’ll go into more detail, and there will be spoilers after the break. 

Maybe It’s Not the End of Vertigo

Back at the beginning of November, DC Comics announced that Hellblazer, published with the Vertigo imprint, would be ending with issue #300.  This would “clear” the way for a new Constantine title set in the DC Universe.  To me, it seemed unnecessary since John Constantine had been appearing in Justice League Dark since the beginning, but otherwise, I didn’t think much of it.  I saw it as a simple publishing decision.  However, others saw it as a sign that what they feared was coming true.  Vertigo would be no more.

Then, at the beginning of December, the “end of Vertigo” believers saw another sign.  (Because that’s what believers do, they see signs that they use to justify their beliefs.)  Karen Berger, the Editor that launched the Vertigo imprint back in 1993, would be stepping down in March 2013.  In her statement, she said that she wanted to move on to different things (paraphrasing).  But obviously, she was forced out by the evil executives at DC Comics and Warner Bros.  If that weren’t true, then it would mean that she chose to leave, and thus chose to abandon “us.”

And so, these two things, to many, pointed to the end of Vertigo. 

Top 5

This month’s edition of “Top 5″ includes my top 5 favorite titles I’m currently collecting.

5.  Justice League Dark.  This was the last book that I decided to pick up at the launch of the New 52.  And I am glad I did.  I have enjoyed this book immensely since issue 1.  And more amazingly, that run includes a writer change at issue 9.  Peter Milligan left the book, and Jeff Lemire took over.  And the book has gotten even better.  Plus, it’s my monthly fix of Zatanna.  So, that’s good, right?

4.  Action Comics.  It’s Grant Morrison doing whatever the hell he wants to in his own little Superman sandbox, and it’s been a fun ride.  The thing that I think makes this a successful comic is that it has managed to tell a grounded, emotional Superman story, while not sacrificing any of the more fantastical elements involved with Superman.

3.  Batman.  Scott Snyder’s Batman has been terrific.  I consider the Court of Owls storyline to be a must read Batman story.  I am greatly looking forward to what the “Death of the Family” has in store for us.

2.  Fables.  Just because this long-time #1 title of mine is now #2, doesn’t mean I like it any less.  Without exact calculation, this book may be the longest continual run I have.  I will admit, shortly after the war with the Adversary, things may have dipped for a little bit, the past 2 story arcs have been absolutely fantastic:  Inherit the Wind and Cubs in Toyland.  But, these two stories show Bill Willingham’s new emphasis on Snow White and Bigby Wolf’s cubs.

1.  Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.  I became a fan of TMNT back with the original cartoon, and had a couple collections of the original comic series.  As a kid, I read those over and over, until eventually the covers came off.  Not sure where they are now, which is one reason I’m picking up the Color Classics as well.  And while there have been many volumes of the comics in the past, this is the first one that has begun since I began collecting.  So I had to pick up.  And sure, some of the tweaks in the origin may irk some people, I love that sort of thing.  I love seeing how someone can keep the basic story, while putting their own spin on it.

Honorable Mention:  Green Lantern, Demon Knights, Batman and Robin.

Weekly Readings

Welcome to this week’s edition of “Weekly Readings.”  This week includes:

• Team 7 #0, in which the team is gathered as part of the Majestic project.
• Justice League #0, in which Billy Batson receives the power of Shazam.
• Wonder Woman #0, in which Wonder Woman is trained by War.
• Nightwing #0, in which Dick Grayson becomes Robin.
• Fables #121, in which we learn if Dare’s actions were successful.
• Batwoman #0, in which we learn of the training that Kate Kane went through.

As always, spoilers are below the break. 

Top 5

This month’s edition of “Top 5″ features my 5 favorite Juao Ruas’ Fables covers.  If you have your own favorite, please share.

5.	Fables #120
4.	Fables #105
3.	Fables #96
2.	Fables #100
1.	Fables #98

Weekly Readings

Welcome to this week’s Weekly Readings.  Here’s what we cover this week:

• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Color Classics #4, in which the Turtles find something relating to their origin.
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Micro-Series #8, in which we’re told the tale of Fugitoid.
• Detective Comics #0, in which we learn about who was Bruce Wayne’s last teacher.
• Before Watchmen:  Silk Spectre #3, in which Silk Spectre seeks out revenge for a drug trip.
• Action Comics #0, in which a boy steals Superman’s cape.
• DC Universe Presents #12, in which we get a fun Kid Flash story with dinosaurs.
• Hawkeye #2, in which Clint Barton and Kate Bishop team up to stop a group of robbers.
• Green Lantern #0, in which we are introduced to a new Green Lantern named Simon Baz.
• Fairest #7, in which we’re told the tale of Lamia.
• Earth-2 #0, in which we get a tale involving the Trinity.
• Dial H #0, in which we learn about the power of the dial.

Spoilers after the break. 

Weekly Readings

Welcome to this week’s “Weekly Readings,” where I go through what I read during the week.  Well, really, what I bought.  Although, I may toss in the odd collection if I happened to get it read during the week.  This week includes:

• Fables #120, in which Darien tries to avoid his own destiny.
• The Fury of Firestorm #12, in which Jason Rusch fights to save Ronnie Raymond.
• Justice League Dark #12, in which the search for the Books of Magic begins.
• Superman #12, in which Superman fights another alien, just because.
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #13, in which everyone takes a moment to prepare for what comes next.
• Saucer County #6, in which we get a history of alien encounters.

As you can probably guess, there are spoilers past this point. 

Thursday’s DC News from San Diego

Most of DC’s panels dealt with simple discussion of thing that had already been announced.  However, there was one big announcement during the Vertigo panel.  Near the end of it, there was a video of Neil Gaiman talking about how he had never told the story of what happened to Morpheus before being captured by Burgess in issue #1, and now seemed like a good time to do it.  So, Gaiman will be writing a new 6-issue series that will be drawn by J. H. Williams III, and is to be released sometime next year.

Now, I don’t have the slightest idea of what this means, because I’ve never actually read Sandman.  It’s something I keep meaning to read, but just have never gotten around to it.  But this new announcement has piqued my curiosity.  I am a big fan of J. H. Williams III, and will be greatly tempted to get this mini-series.

The other thing that was briefly touched upon that I’m looking forward to is Scott Snyder’s upcoming Joker story in Batman.  I had never read anything Snyder has written before his pre-New52 run on Detective Comics, and was surprised by how much I enjoyed his writing.  Of what I’m getting, I consider Batman to be the best DC title being published.  I look forward to seeing what he’s going to do with the Joker in the New52.

Other tidbits after the break. 

Panel of the Month

The “Panel of the Month” for May 2012 comes from Fables #117, written by Bill Willingham and drawn by Mark Buckingham.