Strategically, publishers released plenty of number ones to coincide with last week’s Free Comic Book Day. I was too busy working on my Avengers Spotlight series, but I figured I would revisit some of these titles anyway....

Dinosaurs vs. Aliens

By Grant Morrison, Barry Sonnenfeld, and Mukesh Singh
Liquid Comics
Free!
This isn't a number one but a sneak preview for Free Comic Book Day.
For most people, I'm sure a book called Dinosaurs vs. Aliens doesn't need much set-up. Pessimistic nerds like myself might be disappointed to find that the short story is...well, too short. I had to run book's extras for some sort of meat and potatoes. There, I discovered that Barry Sonnenfeld and Grant Morrison intend to treat the dinos as Native Americans and the aliens as invaders fueled by an extra-terrestrial manifest destiny. 
Sounds like a neat idea. And with the addition of some super-sexy dinosaur art by Mukesh Singh, Dinosaurs vs. Aliens deserves at least another pick up.

Avengers Prelude: Black Widow Strikes

By Fred Van Lente and Wellington Alves
Marvel
$2.99
After seeing Marvel's The Avengers this week, I am far more into the idea of a ScarJo Black Widow film than I would like to admit.
This movie tie-in isn't great, but it hints at the potential fun to be found within the "Marvel Cinematic Universe."
The first issue of this 3-part series is loaded with quips, breezy, and action-packed. Come to think of it, it has a lot of things that are missing in the regular Marvel Universe...

Fury: My War Gone By #1

By Garth Ennis and Goran Pavlov

Marvel/Max
$3.99

Nick Fury in Viet Nam. Garth Ennis writing Nick Fury in Viet Nam. Garth Ennis writing Nick Fury in Viet Nam with a former Nazi as his main opposition. Sold.

Yeah, comics probably SHOULD be for kids, but certain characters like Nick Fury work best if you slap a "Mature" label on the cover. Besides, why would you let Garth Ennis' dark humor and intensity go to waste?

Earth 2 #1

by James Robinson and Nicola Scott

DC Comics 
$3.99
I hate parallel universes. I also hate the fact that the "New 52" is re-introducing a parallel "earth" only a few months after streamlining its own continuity. All this makes it difficult to digest Earth 2, DC Comics' ridiculous alternate world "epic."
I will give credit where credit is due, writer James Robinson tries desperately to load issue 1 with sincerity and intensity. More over, Robinson is supported by some solid, Perez-esque art in Nicola Scott. 
By the end, the artist and writer have almost convinced me that I should be concerned about the fate of alt-world Huntress and Powergirl. Then I remember that it's a parallel universe and none of it will effect the larger continuity.