Daredevil #500

2nd Printing

Toward the end of the summer, Ed Brubaker’s run on the phenomenally written “Daredevil” ended with this Giant-Sized issue.

I’m not usually a “Daredevil” reader, but this edition boasted a lot of extra features – even an extra comic book – so I had to buy it to keep on file, but before I could, it was sold out.

Now that it’s being re-issued, not only am I going to get it, I’m also going to boast about how interesting I thought it was.

Ed Brubaker picked up writing “Daredevil” after Brian Michael Bendis’ magnificent run on the series and made it his own.

Brubaker is known for his noir style of writing as seen in “Sleeper” and “Criminal,” and I guess this is what “Daredevil” needed because it works extremely well.

Although this issue is more than a month old, it probably got sold out on its first printing because it’s one of the best comic writers’ last books.

If you missed it, I’d advice you to get it.

Crossed #7

Garth Ennis’ and Jacen Burrows’ “Crossed” begins where it always leaves off: the survivors are being chased by the infection that seem to be getting smarter and using actual hunting strategy. This might seem like a simple story, but along with Garth Ennis’ weird sense of humor and writing style, it’s very entertaining.

With “The Boys,” Ennis promised to “out-preach The Preacher” in terms of violence and his disgusting and black sense of humor. For those of us who read “The Boys,” he hasn’t held up to that promise, instead, he does that with this comic book, which is one of the most disturbing things I have read.

To be honest, I don’t actually buy any of these issues, I just hide behind one of the racks at the comic book store and flip through each issue. I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with Ennis writing or Burrows art, it’s just the violence, gore and sexual deviance that is a little too much for me.

If you are a hardcore Garth Ennis fan, then you might like this. If not, READ IT AT YOUR OWN RISK!!!

Strange Tales #2

“Strange Tales” is what happens when Marvel decides let indie comic book writers recreate their iconic characters in their own “indie” way.

This three-issue series showcases the talents of most indie faves working in the industry today, from Paul Pope (“Heavy Liquid”) to the famous New Yorker cartoonist Michael Kupperman.

The stories contained in each issue are not to be taken seriously and many other reviewers have compared it to MAD magazine, which I must say fits perfectly.

It’s always enjoyable to poke fun at famous serious Marvel characters like Wolverine and the Incredible Hulk.

To be honest, the first issue of this unusual comic book had me giggling like a little girl.

Despite its steep $4.99 price, this edition is still a great book to own.

Also, it only has one more issue left in the series so I would advise comic book fans to pick their copy up before it’s too late.

Osi Aken’Ova is a film and video studies senior.