John Babos
- Batman #45 – Is Bruce Wayne Batman yet? The march to Batman #50 continues.
- Batman and Robin Eternal #2 – Wow. That ending to #1 has me intrigued!
- Earth 2 Society #5 – Loving this alternate universe JSA series. A very new status quo with the sky as the limit for creativity.
- Journey to Star Wars The Force Awakens Shattered Empire #3 – The set-up for Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens continues.
- Ninjak #8 – Valiant’s techno assassin strikes again!
- Star Trek / Green Lantern #4 – An unlikely team-up with compelling results.
- Superman: Lois and Clark #1 – Very curious how this older pre-Flashpoint, post-Convergence, in-continuity Superman, Lois Lane and son will exist alongside the New 52 / DC You Superman et al.
- Unity #23 – The book, Valiant’s Avengers and JLA rolled into one, marches to its 25th issue finale.
Mike Maillaro
- SUPERMAN: LOIS AND CLARK #1 – I was a huge fan of Jurgens’ Superman work in the 90’s, and CONVERGENCE: SUPERMAN was kind of bittersweet for me. I enjoyed the comic, but it just bummed me out that it was memories of a reality that we just can’t see any more. Kind of like AMAZING SPIDER-MAN RENEW YOUR VOWS. So I was thrilled when they announced we would get a comic series telling us what happens to this version of Superman, Lois, and their newborn son. I am really looking forward to this.
- BATMAN AND ROBIN ETERNAL #2 – For anyone aspiring to be a comic writer, I have a word of advice. Instead of creating new characters and stories, the secret to success is “come up with a dark secret from an already existing character and you’re golden.” I enjoyed the first issue of BATMAN AND ROBIN ETERNAL, but I am just tired of these stories that ret-con the characters pasts instead of telling us a new story.
- G.I. JOE A REAL AMERICAN HERO – COBRA WORLD ORDER PRELUDE – GI JOE has dragged a little the last few months since the “Death of Snake Eyes.” It’s really felt like it was just biding time for the next big arc. Well, the next big arc is here FINALLY, so hopefully that will help get things rolling again. I have been a fan of GI Joes for a while now, and no one does them better than Larry Hama at the top of his game.
- I HATE FAIRYLAND #1 – I love Skottie Young! This new series from Image just looks hilarious and disturbing. Definitely on my must read list!
- SECRET WARS – Only a very small handful of SECRET WARS titles this week, but it’s all books I am looking forward to. A-FORCE, CIVIL WAR, MS MARVEL, and MARVEL ZOMBIES.
- JOURNEY TO STAR WARS THE FORCE AWAKENS SHATTERED EMPIRE #3 – Issue 2 just came out last week. I actually hadn’t even had a chance to read it yet before I am typing up next week’s picks. I kind of hate when comics come out in back to back weeks, it puts a real burden on the wallet. But for the most part, I have been enjoying Journey to Force Awakens, so I will definitely be picking this one up.
- CHEWBACCA #1 – I am still a little weirded out that Chewbacca is getting his own mini-series. Was there a big demand for this? But as I have said quite a few times now, Marvel has been doing a great job with their Star Wars comics, so I am curious what they can do with the walking throw rug.
- CAPTAIN AMERICA SAM WILSON #1 – Not trying to knock Rick Remender, but he just never seemed to get rolling on ALL-NEW CAPTAIN AMERICA. He seemed more interested in writing about Nomad than Sam Wilson. But, with Nick Spencer taking over this book, I am hoping we will finally get to see some great stories with Sam as Cap. And I always like Daniel Acuna’s art. He is one of the most underused artists in comics.
- SPIDER-MAN 2099 #1 – I have been a Peter David fan as long as I can remember. I started reading superhero comics around the time he started writing X-FACTOR, way back in the early 90’s. AndSPIDER-MAN 2099 is one of my all-time favorite series. I have said this before, I don’t quite love the new costume, but I am still looking forward to this series.
- UNCANNY AVENGERS #1 – Oh man, it’s going to sound like I am hating on Remender again. UNCANNY AVENGERS is another idea that looked great on paper, but the execution just felt off to me. It seemed like the stories were just a little too big and out of control, which made it hard for me to enjoy the character interactions that should be the heart of this book. I don’t know if this series will be any better, but I still think it has a ton of potential, so I will give it a fair shot to win me over.
- SWORDS OF SORROW #6 – My favorite summer crossover comes to an end. Gail Simone and company have done a great job bringing together a lot of cool female characters and making them all work into one solid story. I did think it was odd when they started adding a few too many fairy tale twists (Snow White and Prince Charming seem like strange fits), but that hasn’t taken away from my enjoyment of SWORDS OF SORROW.
- STARFIRE #5 – This book has kind of flown under the radar, but it has been one of my favorite DC books. I have no idea if this book is sustainable, but I definitely hope it gets more attention!
- NEW AVENGERS #1 – I am having problems telling all the new Avengers books straight. I had almost skipped this one, but then I remembered this is the book starring Sunspot. I am a huge fan of the original New Mutants. Seeing Sunspot leading a team of Avengers definitely has me hyped up. And I don’t just get hyped. I STAY HYPED!
- WHAT IF INFINITY X-MEN #1 – The two What If books that came out last week were pretty good. I didn’t like INFINITY all that much, but the What If’s were entertaining, especially the one about Thanos weaseling his way into becoming an Avenger. Thanos using Captain America’s shield after being responsible for his death was just disturbing on so many levels.
James Fulton
- Captain America: Sam Wilson #1 – I was disappointed when Secret Wars cut short the work that Rick Remender was doing on Sam Wilson as the new Captain America. He was setting up a big storyline, and now that he’s left Marvel and passed the character on to Nick Spencer, I’m curious to see whether the Hydra stuff is going to be picked up or just abandoned. Either way, Sam as Cap is an interesting proposition, and I’m hoping we get at least a full story or two out of it before the eventual return to the decades-strong status quo. I’m not all that excited about Daniel Acuña drawing this book, although I do enjoy his art.
- Clandestino #1 – Black Mask Comics is increasingly on my radar, and this new series by the artist of Young Terrorists (which should have had a second issue by now) sounds interesting. I hope it’s not hard to find, as I never preordered it.
- Strange Fruit #2 – I found the first issue of Mark Waid and JG Jones’s “Black Superman in Jim Crow Days” to be interesting, and have been eagerly waiting for this second issue, which is now two months late.
- Twilight Children #1 – I’m passing on most of Vertigo’s new offerings, but I’m very excited about a comic written by Gilbert Hernandez and drawn by Darwin Cooke. These are two highly respected creators, and I’m sure whatever they’re doing with this book, it’s going to be great.
- Two Brothers – I’ve been looking forward to this new graphic novel from Gabriel Bá and Fábio Moon since it was first announced. Actually, since their excellent Daytrippers finished, and I wanted to read more from them. This book features two twin brothers who are very different from one another, and it will be interesting to read knowing that it is made by two twin brothers (I have no idea if the brothers are similar to one another or not; their art styles are very complimentary, but that’s all I know about that). Daytrippers remains one of my favourite comics of all time, so this book has some big shoes to fill.
Paul Miranda
- BAD MOON RISING #1 (of 6)
Michael Bay has put his hands into comics!! His brand-new company 451 Media Group launches with the first of four titles. The title is a giveaway. This series is described as a mash-up of The Wolfman and Sons of Anarchy.
- KING TIGER #3 (of 4)
Kicking butt alongside magic!
- TWO BROTHERS
Gabriel Ba and Fabio Moon are my “cousins” (they are Brazilian, I am of Portuguese descent). After reading their extensive interview at NYCC, I’m at full attention to devour this honest portrayal of life in South America’s largest country. - CLANDESTINO #1
Black Mask is producing quality comics. I love their transgressive approach! Another surefire hit. - JUSTICE LEAGUE UNITED #14
JLA is one month late. Tsk tsk. Well, it is an enormous chore to do the writing and drawing. JLU ends in two months. That is unfortunate since I am enjoying the rotating unpredictable membership. - JUSTICE LEAGUE of AMERICA #4
- BATMAN/SUPERMAN #25
- BATMAN & ROBIN ETERNAL #2
- BATMAN #45
- EMPIRE of BLOOD #1 (of 4)
- SADHU: BIRTH of the WARRIOR #4 (of 6)
Rah rah, Graphic India!!
- JEM and the HOLOGRAMS #8
- GREEN LANTERN/STAR TREK #4 (of 6)
Franchises never felt fresher!! Ideas need to be taken out of their elements from time to time.
- I HATE FAIRYLAND #1
Skottie Young has a wicked sense of humour. Literally!! He’s unapologetic at bashing the genre in this new series even though I like fairy tales well enough thanks to Once Upon a Time.
- CAPTAIN AMERICA: SAM WILSON #1
- GUARDIANS of the GALAXY {4th Series} #1
- NEW AVENGERS {4th Series} #1
- SPIDER-MAN 2099 {3rd Series} #1
- SPIDER-GWEN {2nd Series} #1
- UNCANNY AVENGERS {3rd Series} #1
FalCap is here to stay!! Kitty Pryde is Star-Lord, um, Lady of the GG. Benjamin J. Grimm also finds camaraderie with the space-farers. Deadpool is officially an Avenger!! Heaven help the ne’er-do-wells!!
- A-FORCE #5
- CIVIL WAR #5
- MARVEL ZOMBIES #4
- Ms. MARVEL #19
SECRET WARS is definitely petering. Battleworld begins to crumble. Down with Doom!!
- CAPTAIN AMERICA: WHITE #3 (of 5)
- DEADPOOL vs. THANOS #3 (of 4)
Thank you Mssrs. Loeb & Sale for putting some colour into my world. I wasn’t thrilled to have reviewed the first issue of the crimson-clad kook against the purple-puss but I’m finding it comical and cosmical
- CHEWBACCA #1 (of 5)
The woovable Wookie walks alone!! Those guttural noises are legendary! Forget Groot!! This is the original item!
- JTSWFA: SHATTERED EMPIRE #3 (of 4)
I’m surprised at the accelerated schedule for this mini. Revelations continue as two months are left before the big screen debut!!
- BLACK WIDOW: FOREVER RED
If you were smart enough to pick up the MOCKINGBIRD: S.H.I.E.L.D. 50th ANNIVERSARY one-shot, you saw Red Widow in the four coloured walls. Her full-fledged debut happens in this prosaic hardcover novel. I’ll gladly drop my money at the local bookstore to investigate!!
- NINJAK #8
- UNITY #23
My education in the Valiant universe continues. It’s never too late to learn. Sadly, UNITY is only sticking around for another two months. Ninjak remains relentless against the Shadow Seven!
