So the title of the month for March came down to Ghost Rider #33, X-Force #13, and X-Men: Kingbreaker #4. The number one title of the month out of these three for me was a pretty easy choice. While I thought All were really great reads I did feel that Ghost Rider #33 was the third best of the group. While I really enjoyed the art and the story it didn't bring me personally as much excitement as the other two did.

Now the final two were both X-Cellent X-Titles. I'm sorry I know that was wrong but I just had to do it. Just this once. But seriously lets be honest here. Both had some similarities. Both titles involve X-Men doing things that aren't really the norm. You have Kingbreaker with the Starjammer X-Men and X-Force with the stabby stab stabbing of things. Both also act as great lead ins to what are supposed to be pretty important Marvel crossovers. Both have excellent writing (it is Yost on both) and also amazing art. When it comes down to it though I have to say that the winner is...

I chose this over Kingbreaker because this title just seems to be the most relevant X-Title to the Mutant books at Marvel right now. All roads lead through this title if you will. We had plots from all the books in here as well as looks at characters that fans really want to see like Boom-Boom, Prodigy, Hellion, and Surge. It also is the lead in to the second part of what is supposed to be one of the biggest X-Crossover in ages as part of the Messiah Trilogy.

The art is fantastic, the writing was great, the story is important, it leaves us with a hell of a cliffhanger and overall demands to be picked up and eye balled like the dirty little thing it is. All of that is a good thing mind you.

So it's the winner! Agree? disagree? Please bring the praise and the rage. Just click on rant and leave your rant for me. I will respond and defend myself if need be. ;)

Alright so this one is like the writers and artists features. The choice of the top 5 titles is based around how well overall the comic was put together. This includes, cover, art, writing, coloring, inking and anything else that goes into making a comic what it is. So here are the first 5 comics of the week here on Burpee's Comic Book Asylum.

5. The Immortal Iron Fist #23 - This is a title that is consistently good. When Matt Fraction left I was sure the quality would drop at least a touch. That didn't happen and the title has maintained it's unique Kung Fu flavor in a comic universe filled with capes. Helping this title get onto the list was writer Duane Swierczynski. He placed 4th on the writers of the week list this week as well. Clever ideas like morse code messages of blood are something you just don't find in other titles. The art does go back and forth with me on whether or not I really enjoy it but I believe I still just miss Aja's art. Overall this is a consistently solid title that has earned its spot in the top 5.

4. The Invincible Iron Man #11 - World's Most Wanted has been a solid story with solid storytelling. This title also had a writer who made the top writers list with Matt fraction ranking 3rd. It also like the number 5 title has a clever means of communication in the pages. Tony Stark within the pages sets up a gmail account to ping his soldiers in the field. While I wont describe it here, as I wouldn't do it the service the story does, it is well worth picking up in stores to find out yourself. The art as usual with Salvador Larroca is solid as well but unlike the writing there is nothing new or amazing involved.

3. Batman: Battle for the Cowl #1 - Great kick off for a mini. I am not sure if this will wrap up all too nicely as there seems to be more going on then can fit in three issues. It is a great starting point none the less. It also marks the return of Black Mask who Daniels renders in his art superbly by really giving him the creepy evil feel he deserves. Tony Daniel does both writing and art chores here and does a fantastic job with both. His writing and art bring forward that blockbuster feel that this title needs. This title picked up nods in two categories this month. It's nominations being in best cover and best art receiving 3rd and 2nd respectively.

2. Green Lantern Corps #34 - Sitting at number two because of its consistency throughout its 34 issue run and also because of the strong performance of this issue in particular. Peter Tomasi presents a story that has both character moments as well as an epic fight for the ages. Artist Patrick Gleason's pencils bring all of these moments to life with an amazing flair. The stand out scenes of the issue come from the Mongul and Arkillo fight which is done so well you almost wish it had taken up the whole issue. The story also moves along the plot as we get ever closer to Blackest Night which I know a lot of fans including myself are dying to get to. This title also bolsters a stacked list of nods this week. Placing 5th for cover, 1st for writing and 5th for art.

1. Ghost Rider #33 - I must admit this was a title that a year ago I really contemplated dropping. What a mistake that would have been as this is easily one of my most looked forward to titles every month. Ghost Rider has never been a character I much enjoyed beyond his obvious visual appeal but Jason Aaron has really made this character shine. He has done the same with this single issue that focuses on Caretaker. It really sets her story into motion and makes her less of a background character and more of a main cast member. Tony Moore on art is fabulous as usual as well. His rendering of the different ghost Riders in this issue were great and left me wanting to see more of each of them. I almost wish they would have a tales of Ghost Rider book that covered some of the Ghost Riders of past. This title received nominations in all three categories this week. Placing 4th in covers, 2nd in writing and 1st in art. A well rounded performance that demanded this title be placed on the list.

So this is obviously like the top 5 Writers list but with artists for the books in which I read for the week of 3/11/09. Not all are always going to be from that shipping week but instead what I have purchased and read that week. So without further ado here we go.

5. Patrick Gleason (Green Lantern Corps) - So Gleason in Green Lantern Corps #34 provided us with one brutal fight scene between Mongul and Arkillo. Leveling cities, rubble falling around them and blood oh yes there was blood. He also gave us great character interactions. He did a great job of conveying Sodam's anger. The green glowing eyes and chest on the opening page would not have been as effective had Gleason not provided such a great figure. I also really enjoyed his Kryb stuff. Very creepy with the crying children left alone. Although we have to go back to the fight between Arkillo and Mongul. The final shot with Mongul triumphant holding Arkillo's tongue is amazing. What a shot. Mongul looks as dominant as ever and clearly comes across as no joke.

4. Jorge Molina w/ Adrian Syuf (Nightcrawler Manifest Destiny One-Shot) - While the one shot itself was anything but revolutionary the art was quite enjoyable. Molina is credited as getting help from Syuf but I am not sure who did what. For the purpose of this I am going to give credit to Molina as he seems to be the main guy according to the credits. Molina did a great job of capturing Nightcawler's swashbuckling spirit. It has been a long time since I have seen a Nightcrawler I liked this much. I would love to see him tackle something a little more high profile to see what else he has to offer.

3. Ron Lim (Skaar Son of Hulk) - I gotta say Lim's art on this title is one of my favorites monthly. Not sure what exactly it is but his art mixed with the wonderful coloring job done on this book make it very stunning to flip through. It definitely brings with it that fantasy feel that I usually am not as big into but for me it really works here on this title.

2. Tony Daniel (Batman: Battle for the Cowl) - I know that Daniels art isn't something you would find in a art house. It is that big blockbuster event kind of art. Clean lines, dramatic poses and things of that sort. That is exactly what kind of book Battle for the Cowl is so it works wonderfully. He definitely seems to be channeling some Jim Lee here but it looks great. His rendering of Black Mask just might be my favorite of the character as he just looks fucking terribly evil.

1. Tony Moore (Ghost Rider) - This is another title that utilizes more of a muted color palette and I enjoy it a great deal. The detail in Moore's art is what really does it for me. Every time I read it I am absolutely enthralled with the environments of the panels. His ability to capture emotion is something else that seems to set him apart from many of his peers. I strongly believe that Moore is at the beginning of a meteoric rise at Marvel and if they don't utilize him correctly over time DC will. Until that time he is a solid fit for Ghost Rider. I wouldn't mind seeing him on Iron Fist for a stint.

Stay tuned weekly as we continue this feature. At the end of the month an artist will be declared artist of the month. For this month Tony Moore is the first nominee. Here's looking forward to next week.

Starting here we kick off a weekly feature where I rate the top 5 writers of the week. The format will change slowly over time as I decide how best to do these so stick with me and I'll get it down.

So here are this weeks Top 5:

5. Greg Pak (Skaar Son of Hulk) - Pak has done such an incredible job building the world of Sakar that it will be a shame if once the upcoming event which sees Skaar come to Earth finishes he doesn't return back there. To let such a world that is a character unto itself go to waste would be a great disservice to the stories told by Pak. From his Hulk run that started there to the current issue of Skaar Son of Hulk #8 Pak has consistently added new and compelling elements to the story of the planet and its inhabitants. This is a title that I think if done by anyone else would have floundered in a large and disastrous way. Pak though having created it has such a wealth of stories it seems that he has a genuine love for the creations he has put to page. Personally at some point I would like to see him get a crack at Thor and the gods of Asgard.

4. Duane Swierczynski (Immortal Iron Fist) - The story of the weapons traveling to the Eighth City has been a lot like everything to come from this title since its inception in that it has done nothing but kick ass. Great ideas here and ways to have the characters interact without necessarily having them come face to face. From taping Morse code through walls to having it written in blood on the arena floor to build a plan of escape Swierczynski finds inventive ways to make a compelling and action packed story. In a matter of two issues he has made an old man who just might be the first Iron Fist into a three dimensional character by giving us his origin as well as showing his need to gain his freedom. All of this while still moving the main story along and showing us that Davos is still the bastard we knew he was all along.

3. Matt Fraction (The Invincible Iron Man) - So the story so far is that Tony is on the run from Osborn and Pepper now has an Iron Maiden suit I suppose you could call it. While the story isn't anything revolutionary the way in which Tony orchestrates his soldiers by having them use a soccer mom email account to ping each other is a brilliant fucking idea. Where he came up with this is beyond me but I can assure you I am jealous. Word is he set up the email as well but someone dicked it up and it is now inaccessible. If Fraction can keep this title as creative and fun as he has since he joined it we may be seeing a long run with him as the mouth of Tony Stark.

2. Jason Aaron (Ghost Rider) - So here Aaron does a great job of introducing many new Ghost Riders that could easily have their stories told all while giving the Caretaker character focus, purpose, and a voice. While she will surely remain a secondary character in the title her she assumes the role of star. Front and center throughout the title she poses as the voice and Aaron builds her into a believable character that I am excited to follow. Ghost Rider is consistently one of the crazier more inventive titles challenging religious stand points and using incredibly unique characters to do so. Gun carrying, motorcycle riding nuns. Need I say more. Great stuff from a guy who is about to launch a new Wolverine title. His stock is on the rise to say the least.

1. Peter Tomasi (Green Lantern Corps) - Tomasi was able to add character development to the new Ion as well as further a relationship (which had me thinking well guess we are going to need another freezer). Oh and there was also this huge badass battle in which Mongul expressed his dominance by ripping out Arkillo's fucking tongue and declaring that Arkillo was not to be heard from from here on out. Great sequence at the end of a visceral fight. Tomasi does get the added benefit of working within the buildup to Blackest Night but much credit to him for making Green Lantern Corps feel like a primary title and not a backup to Green Lantern proper. This tends to be what happens to titles like this but Tomasi has consistently made this title just as entertaining as GL. All these things combined make Peter Tomasi the writer of the week.

Stay tuned weekly as we continue this feature. At the end of the month a writer will be declared writer of the month. For this month Peter Tomasi is the first nominee. Here's looking forward to next week.

Here are my favorite 5 covers from this week. I have picked them based upon a few factors. Each factor is worth 5 points and the points are totaled to give the cover a rating Some of those factors are:

Style - Is it unique and something new or just classic and clean.
Pop - How much does it pop out to the readers eyes when it's sitting on the shelf.

So without further ado here are the top 5:

5. Green Lantern Corps #34 (Cover By Patrick Gleason)

• Style - It's gritty as all hell that is for sure. Love seeing Arkillo is still missing his finger. Very brutal very well done. Nothing to unique though. 3/5
• Pop - It definitely jumps out to you and says hey look at me some shit is going on here that you really should see. It is an action cover that draws the eye. 4/5
• Relevance - The cover features a great fight from the issue. It portrays the viciousness of that battle and does not lead the reader astray from what to expect inside. 5/5
• Iconic Value - While it is a great cover it does not have the lasting ability to be remembered as one of the greats. In the end it is just another fight cover despite its great quality. 0/5
• SPRI Total 12/20

4. Ghost Rider #33 (Cover By Arthur Suydam)

• Style - Nice dark style for the cover. The Caretaker appears very haunting and focused. Classic Suydam work. 4/5
• Pop - It definitely stands out to the reader but it isn't bright and flashy so it wont draw all the eyes. It will be appreciated by those who like Suydam's art though as it is one of his recent best. 3/5
• Relevance - Great static pose with the main character of the issue. Does not tell us a lot of what happens inside but it lets us know that the main character is Caretaker. 3/5
• Iconic Value - It all depends on how the character of the Caretaker evolves and whether or not she becomes a larger part of the Marvel tapestry. As it stands now though it is the most iconic of her. 3/5
• SPRI Total 13/20

3. Astonishing Tales #2 (Cover By Kenneth Rocafort)

• Style - This is a unique style that I really enjoy. It takes the sketchiness of Lenil Yu and makes it a tad cleaner but keeps the grit. The way the characters are posed really makes for a great layout. 4/5
• Pop - It doesn't really pop out all that much. It has the Punisher and Wolverine though which will surely draw readers eyes to it. Interestingly and too its credit instead of having Wolverine (Marvel's cash cow) front and center they use the Punisher. 3/5
• Relevance - This is a hard one to rate based on the fact that it is an anthology. It really is only relevant to one story in the whole thing. This sadly hurts it's overall rating. 3/5
• Iconic Value - It has some iconic value for sure. It is a great static image. It has two great Marvel characters that everyone loves to see together. Will be people remember this always? Probably not. Will people remember it when they see it? Most certainly. 3/5
• SPRI Total 13/20 Despite the tie with Ghost Rider I gave this the nod for the 3rd spot because I prefer it over the other just barely.
  

2. Batman: Battle For The Cowl #1 (Cover By Tony Daniels)

• Style - I really like the cover it is Daniels style but definitely feels as though it is playing off Jim Lee's Hush covers a bit. This time though Nightwing is at the forefront of the Bat troops. Nothing to unique here though very mainstream. 3/5
• Pop - It stands out in that it has a lot of Bat characters that we all love. Nightwing standing in the foreground with everyone behind him really stands out and makes him look like A-List character he is and should be treated as. 5/5
• Relevance - It really isn't a moment from the comic but it sets the tone for what we are bound to see which is a lot of characters from the Batman titles as we get a new status quo. So in that regard it has relevance but nothing that can be literally taken from the interior. 4/5
• Iconic Value - High iconic value here. This is Nightwing as he presumably gets ready to take up the mantle of Batman. This is the beginning of what many assume is Nightwing running the show and these supporting characters falling in behind him. Add the riff on Lee's Hush cover and this is a great iconic Dick Grayson. 5/5
• SPRI Total 17/20

1. Action Comics #875 (Cover By Andrew Robinson)

• Style - This one has some great painted style. Love the colors and the figure placement. Overall this one comes across as very unique compared to the others that I got this week. 5/5
• Pop - I think the blue and red colors used in this cover really give everything a great sense of pop. It grabs you and makes you look it all over. It is another one that grabs you and makes you want to thumb through it. 5/5
• Relevance - It is the beginning of an arc that puts Flamebird and Nightwing as the new protagonists of the title so it does a good job of placing them in the front with the evils they face in the back. Not a literal scene from the title but still quite relevant. 4/5
• Iconic Value - It has a very iconic feel but really doesn't accomplish much but looking very cool. It will be remembered as a cool cover but not one of the coolest of all time I think. 3/5
• SPRI Total 17/20 Again despite a tie with Battle for the Cowl I gave this one the edge because it seemed more unique and different. Something about it I really enjoy and stayed with me as I read my books this week.

So there you have it my favorite covers this week. Stay tuned next week as we do it all over again. Then at the end of the month I will take the top covers from each week and crown a best cover of the month. Then again at the end of the year as we do cover of the year.

Action Comics #875
Batman: Battle for the Cowl #1
Booster Gold #18
Green Arrow/Black Canary #18
Green Lantern Corps #34
Titans #11
Astonishing Tales #2
Captain Britain and MI: 13 #11
Ghost Rider #33
Guardians of the Galaxy #11
Immortal Iron Fist #23
Invincible Iron Man #11
X-Men Noir #4
X-Men: Nightcrawler One-Shot