CABLE #23: We’re getting close to the end here, and Duane Straczynski brings his run on the title full circle. Cable and Hope are jumping through time, avoiding Bishop, and trying to get back to the present – something they’ve been doing since the first issue. But here, it’s given an extra sense of urgency, just because we’re so darn close to the finish line. There’s some fun action beats and visits with old friends in this issue, and here’s hoping the whole thing ends with a huge, huge bang. Whatever happens, next issue, the conflict between Cable and Bishop is over, and I can’t wait to see how Straczynski will tie up two years of increasingly dangerous cat and mouse. He hasn’t disappointed yet.

DEADPOOL TEAM-UP #896: Deadpool teams up with U.S. Ace, and fights a biker gang of genetically modified raccoons. Especially when the script is written by Stuart “reliable” Moore, what’s not to love? The whole thing is as fun as you’d want it to be, and you even get a pretty soulful U.S. Ace story as a bonus, so there you go. Plus, Deadpool being, you know, Deadpool. Fun, silly stuff, just as it should be.

GHOST RIDERS: HEAVEN’S ON FIRE #6: And with that, at least for now, Jason Aaron finishes up the best run on Ghost Rider, ever. Did you miss the whole thing? Because if you did, do yourself a favor, and pick up the back issues, pick up the trade when it comes out, pick it all up. Not only did Aaron get how a dude with a flaming skull riding a bike should be bad-ass, but he also realized how ridiculous it was. There’s a new character introduced in this issue that made me laugh out loud, and then on the next page, that same character appears in a two page spread that kicks so much butt its unbelievable. For those of you – like me – who avoided Ghost Rider because of ’90s-itis: we were all wrong.

INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #23: We’re almost at the end here, too, and suffice to say not only do we continue to build Tony Stark back up with Dr. Strange’s help, not only is Ghost as villainous as ever, but we get a – sort of – resolution to two different story points in previous issues, that repaints Tony Stark as the rake we all know he is. It’s a great moment, and I’m looking forward to how – if at all – it pays off in upcoming issues. I don’t really think I need to tell you to read this, right?

MARVEL HEARTBREAKERS #1: The real winner here is the art, which perfectly illustrates these stories of loss and loneliness by some of Marvel’s more up and coming creators. However, the real stand-out is Jim McCann’s story featuring The Beast and Dazzler. And while we ALL KNOW that Bruce Banner is the one true love of Allison Blaire (right? RIGHT?), once again, McCann delivers a heartfelt and true conversation between two comic book characters. It’s nice, and simple, and complete, and perfectly channels Ann Nocenti’s original Beauty and the Beast story.

REALM OF KINGS SON OF HULK #1: Hiro-Kala is a curiosity, a character still finding his definition in the Marvel Universe. The end of the last Son of Hulk series found him in a far more interesting place than where we picked up with him, and this new series continues to develop who that character is now. Plus, some fun continuity stuff from Marvel U past, and this is a series that, at the very least, is intriguing enough to pick up the next issue. There’s some nice action moments, and great set-up. I’m certainly on board for the duration.

SIEGE #2: Okay, that was super sweet. Everything I was missing from Siege #1, every criticism I had was pretty bunch washed away by this kick ass second issue. The siege of Asgard is in full swing, and Olivier Coipel draws his action on a big, bold canvas, amply provided by Bendis current predilection for two-page spreads. It’s full of villains being villains, heroes being heroic, and everybody standing up for what they believe in. As promised, there is a shocking death in this issue that one-ups Geoff Johns on gore factor, and a last page that put a smile on even my jaded face. The first issue was set-up… Here’s where it all starts to pay off.

SIEGE: EMBEDDED #2: Brian Reed is clearly having a ton of fun with this book, even more so this issue than the last. It basically plays like a carton starring Volstagg, Ben Urich, and another dude, and is amply helped by Chris Samnee’s adorable art. In a weird way, this seems to match the slightly less serious tone of the main series, which stands in stark relief to previous, deathly serious Marvel events. Siege is an action movie, and Embedded is the comedy feature that plays before it. And I’m loving every second of it.

WOLVERINE WEAPON X #10: Jason Aaron keeps finding new ways to play with Wolverine’s past, and here we get a fun, though mature tale about Logan getting back into a relationship. It hits some pretty familiar story beats (I won’t spoil ‘em, but let’s just say whatever you think Wolvie’s problems with being in a relationship are, that’s what they are); but the joy here is how Aaron delivers, by having Mr. Howlett take a trip through some of the women in his past. It follows up on the ongoing series, but works just as well as a one-shot. With the title below, this is a good week to be a Wolverine fan.

WOLVERINE: SAVAGE #1: This is easily the most creative, fun Wolverine story I’ve read in a long time – possibly, ever. Action Philosophers’ Ryan Dunlavey is no stranger to humor, a skill he amply showed off in the equally fun M.O.D.O.K. – Reign Delay. Here, we get a story mixing two of my favorite things: comics, and cooking. Hardcore Wolvie fans will probably be scratching their heads as to how sushi mixes with Wolverine, but there’s enough chopping (and not just of vegetables), action, and fun even for them. As a nice little palate cleanser after Jason Aaron’s far more intense and adult Weapon X, pick this up.