New Releases (Golden Rage Variant) (May 2011)

Starting this week, I'll be posting a monthly rundown of available books starring Golden Age characters (and those inspired by the era).

I realize the current incarnations of Batman and Superman aren't technically the same as the ones that debuted in the Golden Age (too many reboots to mention). But they do represent something unique in comic books: characters whose titles have endured from the Golden Age to the present without significant interruptions. (Wonder Woman is part of that exclusive group, too. Barry "The Flash" Allen and Hal "Green Lantern" Jordan are not, despite the fact that their superhero names have origins in the Golden Age.)

By contrast, Captain America and Namor, the Sub-Mariner, despite revamps and retcons, are essentially the same characters that appeared during the Timely/Atlas era. Unlike their DC counterparts, they fell into comic book limbo for many years before being revived by Marvel Comics in the sixties. Since then, both have become integral parts of the Marvel Universe, with Cap having the more consistent presence.

AC COMICS
	FEMFORCE #156 SYNN’S powers create havoc behind the Iron Curtain in an untold story from the 1970′s -- "Illusions In G-Minor.” While the rest of the FEMFORCE fear a recurrence of the SYNN crisis, TARA fights to rescue the missing Janis Lawson. 80 pages of all-new art and story!!
DC COMICS
	ACTION COMICS #901 We can't tell you much about this issue without ruining some of ACTION COMICS #900's surprises, but suffice it to say, Doomsday's back – and you've never seen him like this before! Doomsday's first appearance brought about the "Reign of the Supermen," where four characters – Superboy, Steel, Cyborg Superman, and Eradicator – came onto the scene to try to fill Superman's shoes. Now, with "Reign of Doomsday," it looks like Superman might need to fill their shoes!
	THE ALL-NEW BATMAN: THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD #7 A tale from Batman's past! The young Dark Knight has just begun his war on crime. But if he wants to prowl the shadows, Batman must first withstand the light of Gotham City's original protector: the Golden Age Green Lantern!
	BATMAN #710 Two-Face is back! As an unknown villain targets Two-Face and other Gotham City crimelords for extermination, Batman discovers that Kitrina Falcone, a.k.a. "CATGIRL," is next on the hit list! Can he save the junior mobster in time? And will helping Kitrina force Catwoman to get involved?
	BATMAN AND ROBIN #23 Jason Todd - Batman's one-time sidekick, currently the anti-hero known as Red Hood - has been imprisoned in Arkham Asylum for the past several months. But after a period of good behavior, will a transfer to a lower-security prison mean reformation for Jason Todd . . . or is trouble waiting in the wings for Batman and Robin? Don't miss "The Streets Run Red" part one of three!
	BATMAN INCORPORATED #6 Man-of-Bats is a self-styled hero and community leader who protects his Sioux reservation from crime and disease. His son, Raven Red, can't seem to keep his father's often-embarrassing enthusiasm in check – and he dreams of escaping his father's shadow to become a big time hero. But what happens when this homemade Dynamic Duo become the targets of a sophisticated, well-connected killer from the shadows? Can the intervention of Batman save them before it's too late?
	BATMAN: ARKHAM CITY #1 (OF 5) It's been a year since The Joker took over Arkham, and Gotham is still trying to get back to normal in this all-new, 5-issue miniseries bridging the gap between the hit videogame Batman: Arkham Asylum and the exciting, upcoming sequel, Batman: Arkham City! And now, an attack by a pair of super-powered twins increases the threat level and triggers Gotham City's new mayor to call for drastic measures.
	BATMAN: GATES OF GOTHAM #1 (OF 5) When a mystery as old as Gotham City itself surfaces, Batman assembles a team of his greatest detectives – including Red Robin, Owlman, I-Ching and others – to investigate this startling new enigma. As clues are discovered and the mystery deepens, Batman's team soon finds itself on a journey that explores different eras in Gotham's history and touches upon notable Gotham families including the Waynes, Kanes, and Elliotts. This miniseries spins out of recent events in the Batman titles and sets the stage for several exciting storylines in 2011. Additionally, this limited series touches upon mysterious story elements introduced in Grant Morrison's RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE. Featuring many exciting Batman Family guest stars!
	DETECTIVE COMICS #877 Batman plunges deeper into the mystery surrounding the brutal murder of a young woman whose body was found in the belly of a killer whale. But his detective skills lead him into a deadly trap set in motion by some of the Gotham Underworld's newest and most fearsome players. Don't miss the finale of "Hungry City!"
	DOC SAVAGE #14 Doc and his team may be out of luck this time, up against the notoriously brutal Egyptian police, a horde of angry Mongols and a scheming Russian blonde. But leave it to Doc to find the bizarre secret that connects all their foes – and to find it while surrounded by ravenous, mind-controlled crocodiles!
	FREEDOM FIGHTERS #9 They've saved America countless times, but there's one national crisis the Freedom Fighters are powerless to combat: a troubled economy. The recession hits home as our heroes find themselves among the ranks of the unemployed and facing an uncertain future.
	JSA ALL-STAR #18 The All-Stars have followed the disturbingly powerful Prince to the lair of his archnemesis, Doctor Hate– but all they appear to have found is an innocent woman under siege! Has the team been deceived by a madman? Or is it reality itself that has gone insane? Either way, the consequences could prove disastrous for the team's future!
	JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #51 Doctor Fate thought he was doing the right thing by separating Lightning's soul from her dying body, but he wasn't quite sure what step two of that plan would be! It may be beyond even his power to get them out of the forgotten realm they've stumbled into!
	THE SPIRIT #14 The creator of beloved comic-book super hero Strongman is dead – and his assistant, Alabaster Cream, is on the run from his murderers! But are they looking to finish off a witness or find the map to the dead artist's buried treasure? What kind of treasure does an artist have to hide, anyway? And is The Spirit willing to die to protect it? It's an ingenious tale from guest-writer Matthew Sturges with stunning art by Victor Ibañez (OUR ARMY AT WAR, RATCATCHER)!
	SUPERMAN #711 Superman meets Sin City as the "Grounded" storyline takes The Man of Steel to Las Vegas! But waiting there for Superman is an out-of-control Livewire, who has become more powerful and erratic than ever. Can Superman (with the help of Jimmy Olsen) shut her down before she shuts all of Vegas down, and more important, is Superman somehow responsible for her condition?
	SUPERMAN/BATMAN #84 Superman must help the JLA of the future – Aquaman, Klarion the Warlock, Traci 13, Stanley and His Monster, Scream Queen and Jason Blood – in preventing Morgaine le Fey from traveling back in time to our era and destroying the sun! But Batman insists that you can't change the past, and, well, Batman is kind of always right, so . . . hello, eternal darkness? Cullen Bunn (The Sixth Gun) and ChrisCross bring "Sorcerer Kings" to a sun-shattering conclusion!
REPRINT COLLECTIONS: Batman: Brave and the Bold - Emerald Knight Tom Strong and the Robots of Doom
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT
	THE GREEN HORNET: AFTERMATH #2 Green Hornet and Kato dodge the cops and the feds while a new masked duo makes a violent splash on the streets. Can Green Hornet and Kato clear their names when everyone thinks they are criminals? Oh, and did we tell you about the million-dollar price on their heads from the Triad drug lords?
MARVEL COMICS
	CAPTAIN AMERICA & BUCKY #618 CO-FEATURING STEVE ROGERS, SUPER-SOLDIER! Steve Rogers races against time to uncover the international conspiracy that trapped his ex-partner in a web of intrigue and lies. Meanwhile, Bucky Barnes fights for his life in a Russian Gulag. With everybody gunning for Bucky and Steve fighting the clock, is there any hope for either of these two super-soldiers?
	CAPTAIN AMERICA: FIRST VENGEANCE #1 & 2 (OF 4) The OFFICIAL comics prequel to the Marvel Studios summer blockbuster begins here! As Captain America, Steve Rogers is the inspiration for millions during the dark days of World War Two -- but where did he get his inspiration from? How did he meet his best friend, "Bucky" Barnes? And what set him on the path to becoming the First Avenger?
	CAPTAIN AMERICA: HAIL HYDRA #5 (OF 5) Captain America has fought the immortality-seeking scientists of Hydra since World War II and has handed them some of their most crushing defeats, and yet has never able to destroy this ancient evil. Now, Hydra stands poised to embrace their dreams of godhood and ultimate power – but not if Commander Steve Rogers, has anything to say about it – and he's brought some friends: Thor, Spider-Man, Wolverine and an army of Avengers! Captain America has fought the immortality-seeking scientists of Hydra since World War II and has handed them some of their most crushing defeats, and yet has never able to destroy this ancient evil. Now, Hydra stands poised to embrace their dreams of godhood and ultimate power – but not if Commander Steve Rogers, has anything to say about it – and he's brought some friends: Thor, Spider-Man, Wolverine and an army of Avengers!
	NAMOR: THE FIRST MUTANT #10 The Fire Down Below continues! After last issue's shocking death, Namor sets out for revenge against Commander Krang and his lackey, Selach. But as Selach prepares to destroy both New Atlantis and the X-Men's island Utopia, Namor must accept help from an unexpected ally. The wild card: a mysterious cloaked figure who knows an awful lot about Namor. But who is he?
	NAMOR: THE FIRST MUTANT ANNUAL #1 "Escape from the Negative Zone" The Annual Event of 2011 comes to a conclusion! The X-Men! Steve Rogers! The Negative Zone! Blastaar is after our heroes, but what if we told you he wasn't their biggest problem? What if we told you that the lack of water and bizarre physics of the Negative Zone had driven Namor crazy? What if we told you he was so crazy that he's destroying everything in his path, even his friends? THE ANSWER IS THAT YOU WOULD BUY THIS BOOK!
REPRINT COLLECTIONS AND OTHER ITEMS: Avengers, Thor & Captain America: Official Index to the Marvel Universe #13 Captain America and the Korvac Saga Captain America Omnibus Vol. 1 Captain America Poster Book #1 Captain America Spotlight Captain America: Allies and Enemies Captain America: Forever Allies Captain America: Official Index to the Marvel Universe The Marvel Project
MOONSTONE BOOKS
	PHASES OF THE MOON #1 - DOMINO LADY/THE SPIDER A story arc so encompassing, it spans three flip comics, six Moonstone titles and several decades! A serial killer is terrorizing the city, but while The Spider investigates, all clues lead to his involvement and Domino Lady plans to stop him in his tracks. All is not as it seems, as the killer operates with equipment not of this time. Book One of three low priced, all color comics!
	PHASES OF THE MOON #2 – HONEY WEST/KOLCHAK A story arc so encompassing, it spans three flip comics, six Moonstone titles and several decades! Honey investigates a serial killer and discovers links to drugs, cults and political corruption. The heinous murders seem similar to serial killings of years past, but they are so grotesque Kolchak is sure they are supernatural in nature. Can he be far off? Book Two of three low priced, all color comics!
	PHASES OF THE MOON #3 – SHEENA/CAPTAIN ACTION A story arc so encompassing, it spans three flip comics, six Moonstone titles and several decades! A powerful figure with a troubled past quickly re-organizes in the jungle. Sheena defends the populace from acts of evil, but when A.C.T.I.O.N. pinpoints a cache of alien weapons in that very jungle, Captain Action finds pieces to a complex puzzle and needs to put it all together. Book Three of three low priced, all color comics!
RED5 COMICS
	MOON GIRL #1 Based on the character created by Golden Age legends Gardner Fox and Sheldon Moldoff! In the pulp New York of the 1950s, Moon Girl looks to a life beyond her role as champion of the counter-culture and social revolution. However, she is forced back into action when fanatics, inspired by her adventures, begin enforcing their own brand of justice. It's 'Mad Men meets The Dark Knight' in this beautifully painted series featured in the FCBD 2011 issue!
	MOON GIRL #2 Masked vigilantes wage class warfare from the roof tops of 1950's New York. Moon Girl is at the mercy of Sugar Plum Fairy and the fate of New York City hangs in the balance. The secrets of Moon Girl's royal heritage, heartbreaking loss and struggle to survive is revealed here at last!

Did I miss anything? Let me know.