[images & words is the comic book pick-of-the-week at OL. equal parts review and diatribe, the post highlights the most memorable/infuriating/entertaining book released that wednesday]

Have you ever loved a series? Not enjoyed or flirted with, but truly loved a series? If you have, you’ll know it.

When you’re enamored of a narrative, the viewing of every episode isn’t just a desire, but a gahddamn need. After all, if the L-word’s being tossed around then you’ve become personally invested. Characters are no longer the fabrications of creators, but representatives of your own struggles. As symbols that have entrenched themselves within your own imagination, the characters are not caricatures, but as archetypal placeholders.

At that point, it’s not just about entertainment. It’s also about self-discovery.

What brings about this rumination? A cold brew and the realization that I’m in love with Sweet Tooth.

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Marvel’s released the official Captain America poster, as well as dropping the first high-res look at the costume. Hit the jump to dive on in.

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Oh don’t you love shortlists and speculation? I mean, weren’t you getting worried with the hammering out all the details of The Dark Knight Rises would leave us in Speculation Limbo? Fear not, true mouth breathers such as myself! And innocent bystanders. Coming off of Samuel Jackson stating on Jimmy Kimmel that he’d be screen testing actresses for the role of his sidekick, today we have a purported list.

You ready for this shit?

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I’ve never really had much investment in Wonder Woman. Outside of her storyline playing off of Clark in Kingdom Come, and her bad ass neck snapping of Max Lord, she’s never done much for me. This is probably good news, given the details that have come out about the forthcoming Wonder Woman television show. If I was a fan of hers, I would probably be vomiting up blood somewhere.

Head inside for the details.

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For a good amount of time last year, it was speculated that Joseph Gordon-Levitt was going to be in the next Batman flick. I was stoked. There were senseless rumors being thrown around, that he’d be the Riddler and such. These rumors were seemingly quashed last year when it was announced that Inception co-star Thomas Hardy was going to be in The Dark Knight Rises. While I love the dude, I was bummed. Lucky for me, hope springs fucking eternal.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt is officially in talks to join Batman 3 / The Dark Knight Rises / Get Me A fucking Bat-Burger, Alfred.

This evening, Slashfilm reported the following:

Deadline has confirmed something that has been suspected for some time — Joseph Gordon-Levitt is in talks to reunite with his Inception director Christopher Nolan in The Dark Knight Rises. No one knows what role he will play, but rumor sites have been suspecting that Hugo Strange is part of the threequel story.

Where there’s fire, there’s apparently smoke! Sexy, JGL smoke. Joey as Hugo Strange? Sign me up. But I’m calling it now, JGL as fucking Robin.

Do completionist douchebag asshole geeks still exist? I’m going to say Yes!, but I’m not fucking certain. But if you douchebag completionists are out there, get ready to head down to Taco Bell! That’s right! Put on your fat kid sweatpants, beat back the fear that you’re a creepy virgin pedophile, and get ready to order some kids’ meals!

What sort of shit can you look forward to? Hit the jump!

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Abandon hope all ye who enter! This is Variant Covers, the column where I tell you what’s coming out in comic book land this week.  I’m penning this from what I previously thought was the Boston area in the United Empire. It has come to attention now that I have been living a lie, that I am actually firmly  ensconced  in Hoth. What can you do? I’m killing time in this world of continual snowfall through copious amounts of caffeine, and funny books.

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Daytripper TP.
The ten-issue series by Fábio Moon & Gabriel Bá caught my eyes on the racks while it was still coming out. Of course, I hadn’t heard about it until it was six issues deep, and I faced a financial decision: spend the money to catch up, or wait on my ass for several months and grab it as collected. What’d I do? Well, I’m picking it up tomorrow, so there’s that. Still though, I have a good suspicion that the thing is going to be fantastic. The twins’ artwork is always gorgeous, and I’m hard pressed to pass up anything they do. The premise is a bit on the surreal tip, but can be described as a work that “tells the life story of an obituary writer and the many potential paths (and deaths) that could color his existence.” It’s a roll of the dice to recommend something that a) I haven’t read, and b) isn’t cheap, but it’s a ten-dollar or so gamble. Take a risk! And if you hate it? Uh, kindly forget that I pimped it.

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Sweet Tooth #18. [Jeff Lemire Title #1 of the Week]
In a less propserous time, Sweet Tooth would be my favorite monthly. Easily. These days, it’s fucking complicated. It’s a great time for comic books. But whether or not it’s my favorite title, it’s fucking  excellent. The title began as a somber trip through a post-apocalyptic world, and its followed that with some bizarre shared collective unconscious between a couple of characters, and eerie biblical references. Jeff Lemire, I love you. The last issue hit with the emotional impact of nothing less than a fucking atomic bomb with the wrapping up of the  Animal Armies storyline.

This month our cadre of characters begin a long march, towards a world of snow and answers, and I’m interested to see where Lemire continues to take the storyline. It continues to open up, and the oddness and complexity that once was, continually is surpassed by what he thinks up next.

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We were raised by glowing boxes and nourished by the aluminum teats of sugar-liquids. Now adults, at least in the eyes of the law, we cannot help but look at the workweek as an adversary. Just as the Spartan gazed upon the wolf.

To thwart this formidable foe, we summon the spirits for help. Music. Comics. Movies. Caffeinated beverages. And the like.

Welcome to the Monday Morning Commute. I’m going to tell you which weapons I’ll use to parry the workweek’s devastating ennui. If you care to join the battle, hit up the comments and show me your wares.

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Readin’ / ORC STAIN vol. 1

Holy shit! This comic is damn amazing! I spent Saturday evening reading the first trade of Orc Stain (collecting issues #1-5) and I’ve been drooling over it ever since. In one fell swoop, James Stokoe demonstrated that he’s a creator whose name is going to carry some serious weight in the next few years.

Orc Stain tells the tale of One-Eye, an orc with a knack for unlocking not just safes and treasure troves, but anything – with a whack of his hammer, he can dismantle an entire building. In five issues the series establishes its own vocabulary, mythology, and visual language. If you have even a fleeting interest in fantasy, blood-feuds, or hilarious castrations, this is for you.

POXA GRONKA, BITCH!

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This is not Anne Hathaway as Catwoman. It’s some photoshopping glory. However, it does seem like the perfect picture to accompany this article. In an article by Brendon Connelly at Bleeding Cool it’s dropped that, “Kevin McCarthy of Washington DC’s Kevin and Josh Movie Show this week had a good long chat with Wally Pfister, Chris Nolan’s regular cinematographer.” Invariably and understandably, the conversation turned to the next Batman flick. That’s when Pfister let it slip that he’s seen Anne Hathaway. As Catwoman.

Jealousy, I know you well.

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I don’t know if the final boss of MvC3 is known to the world, or a spoiler. So Imma not drop who it is directly, but it sure looks fucking cool. If you’re so inclined, hit the jump to check out the son of a bitch in action. If not, you spoiler prude! I resent your willpower.

Goddamn, I need this game.

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