1. Thor Mighty Avenger #8
“Grab the book that ComicsBulletin.com says “just keeps getting better and better, and it started out great.” Our hot-headed Asgardian has battled his way through a sea of robots…but he never expected there to be a MAN inside one of them! It’s THOR and IRON MAN together, for the very first time!”
I don’t ask a lot of you, Comics Nexus readers, but please buy this book. This is the last scheduled issue, but the book is written through issue #12. Maybe with a big enough turnout we can get the last few issues of this seriously phenomenal book. I cannot state this strongly enough- this book deserves to live. If you’ve ever complained about comics being the same or too dark or not as good as they used to be, get this book. It deserves to live.
2. Black Panther: The Man Without Fear #514
“Luke Cage guest stars as T’Challa’s new adventure in NYC continues! The former King of Wakanda has sworn to protect the mean streets of Hell’s Kitchen, and while battling the mob is one thing, how does he stop a killer targeting innocent people? It’s a deadly game of cat-and-mouse, as T’Challa hunts ruthless new crime lord Vlad the Impaler, while Vlad concocts a desperate and bloody scheme to entrap the mysterious new vigilante that’s ruining his plans. T’Challa learns what it really means to be a man without fear, courtesy of award-winning thriller novelist David Liss and the pulp-tastic art of Francesco Francavilla!”
Can we please give Panther back to Chris Priest? Or at least Jason Aaron? Everything else has been an affront to a proud character’s heritage. Vlad the Impaler? Defender of a tiny part of NYC? Ugh. I’m a big Panther fan and this is just not why I read Panther.
3. Amazing Spider-Man #651
“The HOBGOBLIN’S fight for power continues! Which side will SPIDER-MAN and the BLACK CAT be on… and why? Also: a surprise for AUNT MAY, and the SPIDEY versus KINGPIN rematch you’ve been dying to see! Included in this issue: an 8 page story featuring the return of Mac Gargan… as THE SCORPION!”
So, we’re just going to ignore the new costume thing. Why does it light up? And why do we get Spidey and Kingpin again? Is it the 80s? Oh wait…
4. Daredevil: Reborn #1
“The apocalyptic events of SHADOWLAND have left the once-proud legacy of Daredevil in tatters. Now, far from the mean streets of Hell’s Kitchen, a new evil is rising, and the only man crazy enough to face it is a man with nothing left to lose. The road to Hell was paved with good intentions, but the long road to redemption is the far.”
Marvel forgot to solicit this one, but unlike #7, this will sell itself (but like 7, Comixology came through). It shouldn’t sell itself. They just tore Daredevil down. It’s far too soon for him to return. And its cute that they’re pretending this is a play on Frank Miller’s “Born Again” and not Geoff Johns numerous DC Reborn books.
5. Heroes for Hire #2
“Starring Ghost Rider and Silver Sable! Hello, hero…are you for hire? Can you stop the distribution of lethal combat weapons on the streets of America’s cities? What happens if the weapons are cursed? Can you fight a demonic force? Who are you going to call for help? Howzabout…Silver Sable, Paladin, Misty Knight, Satanna and….Ghost Rider? The non-stop action and the mysterious shadowplay continues in this smash new street level book from the creative team that changed the face of Marvel Cosmic!”
Wow, of all the characters in issue #1, they chose Ghost Rider and Silver Sable to highlight? Still, Abnett and Lanning means a buy, in these parts. If you don’t know, now you know.
6. Incredible Hulks #620
“Great loves and horrifying enemies return in the battle royale for the souls of the Hulks — and the life of every mortal on Planet Earth! The Hulk faces his darkest demons — literally! — all hell breaks loose — literally! — and there’ll be the devil to pay — literally! And if you thought the Hulk’s battles with his sons were personal, you ain’t seen nothing yet.”
Hulk vs. Dad and Abomination, for the zillionth time. It’s fine if you’re a relatively new Hulk reader, but I lived the David run. As good as this may be, and Pak is excellent, I have no desire to see it revisited.
7. Casanova: Gula #1
“CASANOVA is back. Or is he? Actually Casanova is gone. Gone from space, gone from time. The burning question WHEN IS CASANOVA QUINN hangs over the entire world as E.M.P.I.R.E. and W.A.S.T.E. alike race toward the horrible, inevitable, answer…The second staggering volume of CASANOVA starts here by the Eisner-laden team of Matt Fraction (THOR, UNCANNY X-MEN, THE INVINCIBLE IRON MAN) and Fabio Moon (DAYTRIPPER, SUGARSHOCK) taking over art duties. Never before collected! Never before reprinted! Never before understood! In gorgeous full 4-D psychocolor! Worth a million in prizes! Change your shorts, change your life, change into a nine-year-old Hindu boy! Guaranteed!* *not actually guaranteed”
Marvel, showing their caring side, forgot to preview this must-read book, so I had to search elsewhere. Well, I read it when it was independent and it’s excellent. Be sure to get all the Casanova you can. The first trade is out this week, as well. Buy it now, thank me later.
8. Chaos Wars: Dead Avengers #3
“CHAOS WAR tie-in! This is it! The last stand of Earth’s Mightiest Fallen Heroes, the “late” Avengers against the combined might of Grim Reaper, Nekra, and the war machines of the Chaos King. They’ll learn the hard way: EVEN THE DEAD CAN DIE! The Vision makes his last stab at humanity! Will Dr. Druid be seduced again by Nekra’s charms? Will Captain Mar-Vell sacrifice all for his comrades? The Swordsman makes his final choice between heroism and villainy! All this and the most poignant ending of the year!”
Seriously, Incredible Hercules is one of the best Marvel books ever, and this is about as bad as the ending of it could have gotten with these writers. I love Van Lente and just don’t have the energy for this one whatsoever given how rushed and lacking in fun the main book has been. And really, we couldn’t get Genis-Vell? No one cares about Mar-Vell anymore!
9. Avengers Academy: Meet the New Class #1
“This Marvel Must Have edition collects issues #1-#3 of the brand-new ongoing Avengers title! Determined to keep the tradition alive, founding Avenger Hank Pym leads a core team of veteran heroes in creating a place where the next generation of Earth’s Mightiest can be trained by the greatest of those who preceded them. An institution where everyone who has ever been an Avenger can share their skill, knowledge and experience. The future is in their hands…and in the hands of the six young superhumans chosen to make up the inaugural class. But who are they? And what dark secret will turn their world — and potentially the entire Marvel Universe–upside down by the end of the issue? If you think this is just another teen hero book… the last page shocker will prove you wrong! Writer Christos Gage (Avengers: The Initiative) and superstar artist Mike McKone (Amazing Spider-Man) unite to bring you a bold new era of greatness!”
I didn’t really like this book, but for $4, this is a fan-freaking-tastic idea. If you didn’t try it, well, now’s the time to try it. Venerable editor Grey Scherl swears by it.
10. Daken: Dark Wolverine Empire #1
“This Marvel Must Have edition collects issues #1-#3 of the new series starring Daken, the son of Wolverine. For decades, he remained hidden in the shadows of the Marvel Universe, methodically plotting how he would one day dominate the world around him. And now, with his father’s soul hanging in the balance, that day has come. This is the beginning.”
Highlighting this twice since it’s such a good idea. Interestingly, the series picks up on its own story around issue #4, where this would work better. Collecting 4, 5, and 6 would give the reader a better idea of what to expect going forward. Still, again, if you want to sample something, this is a great new way to do so.
