This Week's Essential Comics: 03/13/13

This week is sure to make our wallets cry. Most of us are working with a limited budget and that makes this hobby an incredibly difficult one. So many titles, so little cash. Narrowing down the options from an overwhelming amount of new comics definitely isn't easy, so we'll do our best to help you out every week. We've picked five comics that we think we'll enjoy, and hopefully, you will as well. And because there's a gargantuan amount of comics this week, we've provided a rather lengthy honorable mentions list, too. 

AGE OF ULTRON #2

You had my curiosity, Brian Michael Bendis. But now you have my attention. Despite being hugely similar to previous event *cough* Age of Apocalypse *cough* Bendis did a solid job with the first issue. Instead of taking our hands and walking us through the traditional course of events, we were tossed right into the middle of this dark world. Focusing on a new take on classic characters and plenty of action, AGE OF ULTRON is something we're definitely looking forward to.   

 Enjoy an extended preview below.

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BATMAN #18

Head on over to TODAY News for the rest of the preview.  

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BATMAN AND ROBIN #18

Peter J. Tomasi warmed our hearts with his Damian stories... now it's time for him to crush them. Grant Morrison has killed the little dude, and now this series will dedicate itself to how Batman is coping. This silent issue is sure to be a tearjerker, so have a box of tissues on standby. 

Go to USA Today for a preview of the silent issue.  

BLOODSHOT #9 

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STAR WARS #3

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Honorable Mentions

• ARCHER & ARMSTRONG #8
• AVENGING SPIDER-MAN #18
• FANTASTIC FOUR #5
• FEARLESS DEFENDERS #2
• GREEN LANTERN CORPS #18
• DEATHSTROKE #18  
• THE WALKING DEAD #108  
• THOR: GOD OF THUNDER #6
• UNCANNY X-MEN #3  
• SECRET AVENGERS #2
• ULTIMATE COMICS WOLVERINE #1
• WOLVERINE #1

Gregg Katzman is a freelance writer for Comic Vine and IGN Entertainment. This is the part where he shamelessly plugs his Twitter page in hopes of getting a new follower or two.  

I'm getting Batman, Green Lantern Corp, and Thor God of Thunder. I'm tempted to pick up Wolverine. But I probably won't get it.

I can't wait for Age of Ultron!

Batman and Batman and Robin for me this week. Cant wait to see the outcome from Robins death. Although I see Batman 18 is unfortunately gonna be Harper Row focused :-/

One of the worst parts of Damian's death is that it got me into reading Batman & Robin again.

SOOOO gonna get Fearless Defenders 2!

Though, you listed it as issue 8...

Harper Row focused? Ugh, why do I have a feeling that'll lead to her becoming Robin....

@Jacobin_Wisdom said:

Harper Row focused? Ugh, why do I have a feeling that'll lead to her becoming Robin....

My thoughts exactly

Batman #18

Batman and Robin #18

Deathstroke #18

Team 7 #6

@Dark_Guyver said:

@Jacobin_Wisdom said:

Harper Row focused? Ugh, why do I have a feeling that'll lead to her becoming Robin....

My thoughts exactly

At least it's Andy Kubert on art!

@SmashBrawler said:

One of the worst parts of Damian's death is that it got me into reading Batman & Robin again.

woah woah WOAH! You don't like B&R?

@Dark_Guyver said:

@Jacobin_Wisdom said:

Harper Row focused? Ugh, why do I have a feeling that'll lead to her becoming Robin....

My thoughts exactly

It won't. Snyder and Tomasi both talked about it in interviews. They each said that Batman was going to be alone for a while. I think Higgins said the same. I could be mixing up some people, but it was Bat-people.

Anyhow, I am surprised to see Harper in the solicits for Detective rather then Batman.

My usual large week:

1. Age of Ultron #2
2. Alpha: Big Time #2
3. Batman #18
4. Batman and Robin #18
5. Fantastic Four #5
6. Scarlet Spider #15
7. Secret Avengers #2
8. Thor:God of Thunder #6
9. Walking Dead #108
10. X-Men Legacy #7

Age of Ultron feels very similar to Age of Apocalypse. That's not a bad thing in my opinion though. I know I'm getting Batman, Batman & Robin and Star Wars off the list here. Plus Walking Dead and Clone.

DC

BATGIRL #18 BATMAN #18 BATMAN AND ROBIN #18 BEFORE WATCHMEN OZYMANDIAS #6 DEATHSTROKE #18 DEMON KNIGHTS #18 GREEN LANTERN CORPS #18 KATANA #2 RAVAGERS #10 SUICIDE SQUAD #18 SUPERBOY #18 TEAM 7 #6 MARVEL

AGE OF ULTRON #2 AVENGERS ASSEMBLE #13 AVENGING SPIDER-MAN #1 FANTASTIC FOUR #5 NOW FEARLESS DEFENDERS #2 SECRET AVENGERS #2 THOR GOD OF THUNDER #6 THUNDERBOLTS #6 ULTIMATE COMICS WOLVERINE #1 UNCANNY X-MEN #3 WOLVERINE #1 WOLVERINE AND X-MEN #26 X-MEN LEGACY #7 X-TREME X-MEN #12

IMAGE

DARKNESS #111

From here: Age of Ultron, Batman, Batman and Robin, possibly Bloodshot, Avenging Spider-Man, Fantastic Four, Green Lantern Corps, Deathstroke, Thor: God of Thunder, Uncanny X-Men, Secret Avengers, Wolverine, Ultimate Comics Wolverine.

Batman #18

Deathstroke #18

.....and that's all folks!

Superboy #18

Thor god of thunder

Bloodshot

Uncanny.x men

WALKING DEAD

BATMAN

DEATHSTROKE

UNCANNY XMEN

At least there's some diversity in this choices.

Thor, Uncanny X-Men, and AU.

Maybe the Hawkeye TPB, too.

@ccraft said:

@SmashBrawler said:

One of the worst parts of Damian's death is that it got me into reading Batman & Robin again.

woah woah WOAH! You don't like B&R?

Not exactly. I dropped B&R some time before Death of the Family. The title was ridiculously boring after the great first issues it had so I decided to read Layman's Detective Comics instead. However, I kept hearing that the series got better and better but I didn't have the money to see it by myself. I did read the Annual, but that's about it. So now they've suckered me in again, and not only am I going to buy this issue, I'm going to buy all the stuff I missed and will probably keep reading this series. Which sucks, because I don't have enough money for this. I'll probably just drop Nightwing.

Getting archer and armstrong too

@Dark_Guyver said:

Batman and Batman and Robin for me this week. Cant wait to see the outcome from Robins death. Although I see Batman 18 is unfortunately gonna be Harper Row focused :-/

Only the backup homie.

Am I the only one who has been affected in the opposite manner of most people, in that Damian's death has caused me to become less interested in reading Batman?

Age of Ultron 2

Avenging Spider-Man 18

Fantastic Four 5

Uncanny X-Men

Wolverine 1 (maybe)

Batman 18 (maybe)

Batman and Robin 18 (maybe)

From the list I am getting Age of Ultron, Batman, Batman and Robin, Fantastic Four, Ultimate Comics Wolverine, and Wolverine

@TimeLordScience: I didn't know it was just the backup story. Thanks!

Age of Ultron, both Batman issues, and Star Wars are my pics!

Gee, 2 Batman comics this week. One written with Harper Row, and one written by the guy behind the amazing B&R Annual....

For me:

• Probably Batman
• B&R
• Before Watchmen
• Green Lantern Corp
• Superboy

Batman and Batman & Robin for me. Didn't read B&R before this, but in wake of recent events I'm interested in seeing what happens in that series!

• Avengers Arena
• Clone
• Comeback
• Uncanny X-Men

*cough* Age of Apocalypse *cough* is exactly right.  But, I like me some Ultron so I'll give it another chance.

I don't understand this hate for Harper Row, of everything i read about her she seems fine. She's smart, clever and strong willed. If there were to be another Robin I personally would choose her or she could make a good Oracle. So can someone please explain to me why everyone pretty much hates Harper Row?

Ultimate Comics Wolverine???? What's that about?

@Owie:

That plus Ultron is generally a bigger threat in this event then Apocalypse was in that event (seriously he gets punked by Magneto)

I have to add my two cents, I like the idea of this article, but I wouls focus my attention on the books that flying below the radar, "best books your not buying"? This could very easy slip into a " hot-list" type of list. But if your goal is to provide spotlight on books that are high quality and worth our money to invest in, I don't think you have to twist anyone's arm to by Batman 18, but maybe mention indie books or small press books instead?

Slow week in comics for me. It's just going to be Avenging Superior and (regular ass) Batman. Sort of want to read Batman and Robin to see more of the aftermath. I only read The Walking Dead in trades. I want Katana to be good but have no interest in reading it.

Among those listed, Star Wars #3 for sure!

So, according to Age of Ultron, Washington D.C. is gone as in reduced to nothing.

WHAT?!? THE?!?! HELL?!?! This SCREAMS alternate reality cop out!

Also, where's Spider-Man getting 7,000 heroes? Marvel has never had that many heroes in their entire history and did they seriously expect us to believe they counted? And all 7,000 in New York? SERIOUSLY?!?

I just really don't understand what Marvel's deal is anymore.

Well these are already on my pull so that's good. Look forward to reading them.

@Miss_Garrick said:

So, according to Age of Ultron, Washington D.C. is gone as in reduced to nothing.

WHAT?!? THE?!?! HELL?!?! This SCREAMS alternate reality cop out!

Also, where's Spider-Man getting 7,000 heroes? Marvel has never had that many heroes in their entire history and did they seriously expect us to believe they counted? And all 7,000 in New York? SERIOUSLY?!?

I just really don't understand what Marvel's deal is anymore.

It's caalled dialogue, he's exaggurating. He's saying there's a lot. It's what normal people do hen they speak, jesus..

uncanny xmen should have been one of the headlines CKYE VS CAP PART II

The fact that DC gives the previews to mainstream rags rather than actual comic sites reeks of desperation and makes Damian's death all the more ridiculous.

Age of Ultron feels very similar to Age of Apocalypse. That's not a bad thing in my opinion though. I know I'm getting Batman, Batman & Robin and Star Wars off the list here. Plus Walking Dead and Clone.

• Avengers Arena
• Clone
• Comeback
• Uncanny X-Men

Wait so which Spidey is this, Parker-Parker or Ock-Parker? Because Age of Ultron implies Parker-Parker while Superior Spider-Man impiles Ock-Parker. This is probably another reality

Even though I was disappointed with issue 1 I want to read Age of Ultron #2 already.

Getting the End Times of Bram and Ben #3 and the High Ways #3 and some other stuff but these two I'm most excited about. Bram & Ben is hilarious and High Ways is quite intriguing and like the solicit says I really need to know just what IS the relationship between Cagney and Megan? 
 
Age of Ultron will get another chance, too, but just one more chance! Issue #2 has got be more exciting than issue #1.

@SexualLobster:

THANK YOU! It's nice to see SOME people keep there head straight during an event comic. (A rarity on this site when it comes to it.)

I have a feeling i wont make it through the whole of B & R 18. Even the preview alone almost got me.

1. Batman #18
2. Uncanny X-men #3 (is bachalo leaving uncanny?? or will he return after irving? or later?)
3. X-men Legacy #7

I'm poor, that's it

• Batman
• Age of Ultron
• Uncanny X-Men

I was going to pick up TMNT Secret History of the Foot also, but they pushed it back a week: /