Mike Maillaro
Kind of just winding down the year here. Lots of books I’m reading this week, but very few new series or anything that really jumps out at me. Let’s see what we can find to talk about…
- PATSY WALKER AKA HELLCAT #1 – Initially, I didn’t have any plans to pick this one up, but I’ve enjoyed so much of All-New, All-Different Marvel I’ve been pretty much trying all the number 1’s. I don’t really know Hellcat all that well, but I really did enjoy her in Charles Soule’s She-Hulk series.
- DAREDEVIL #2 – While the new Daredevil series didn’t hook me as quickly as Waid’s run, I still enjoyed the first issue quite a bit. I was a little bummed out by the huge ret-cons of a lot of the last run (EVERYONE HAD FORGOTTEN MATT MURDOCK IS DAREDEVIL), but I still think this has the potential to be a real good series anyway.
- BATMAN AND ROBIN ETERNAL #12 – We’re almost halfway through this series now. It’s definitely been a lot stronger than Batman Eternal. Part of it is that the story is much tighter and there aren’t as many loose threads running through the book. This series deals with a woman named Mother who seems to have a lot of ties to the Robins and Batman.
- ROBIN: SON OF BATMAN #7 – Robin War has been a real great story. I have been enjoying the Batman books, so I was expecting it to be good, but it’s really gone above and beyond. I’ve loved seeing the Robins interact with the Robin movement. We’ve also gotten to see how serious Grayson takes his legacy, something we haven’t seen in a long time now.
- CYBORG #6 – Cyborg is probably my pick for sleeper hit of 2015. One of the things I’ve really loved about New-52 is that they have really made Cyborg an important character, and David Walker has done a great job with this series.
- GOTHAM BY MIDNIGHT #12 – WHY IS THIS SERIES ENDING?? While I did think it got off to a slow start, Gotham By Midnight has become one of the best series over the last few months. I think it shines a light on some forgotten corners of Gotham City. I hope that we get more of these characters and stories someplace.
Matt Graham
- DEADLY CLASS #17 – Ever since this book was recommended to me, it has become the drug I push on others to give comics a taste. Hogwarts for Killers should have been something Marvel saw in the Hellions decades ago, but that makes Remender’s tale all the more impactful. I was old enough in the 80s to be immersed in the political and social landscapes that define the broad tones of this title, and when you factor in how ageless the anxieties of adolescence are, it’s easy to pick a classmate and invest yourself in this title. Between the art and drama unfolding on every page, this is one of the best series I’ve read in the past 10 years. This is one of those comic books that proves some things are best executed as comic books and nothing else.
- PRETTY DEADLY #7 – I didn’t love the first arc as much as I felt I should have. As I’ve told James at Pulse before, there isn’t a damn thing in here I shouldn’t like. A writer I enjoy and an artist that inspires me working on a supernatural Western with a tortured posse of gunslingers steeped in Southwestern mythology. It’s like I wrote it. It didn’t leave me with much by the final issue. I found the visual storytelling poorly captured and directed and frustrating to follow. The story yawned before us at a leisurely pace and then snapped shut as if everything had to be in under a certain page count. It disappointed me, not enough to lose faith. I’m back in again because I like the surreal Western morality play DeConnick and Rios crafted to see if it improves on the flaws of the first arc. With the characters and concepts established and room to gallop, I think this book can be something special.
- PATSY WALKER aka HELLCAT #1 – Those who know me know I’m drawn to the underdog C-listers at Marvel. If you put Hellcat, Cloak & Dagger, Deathlok, or Firestar in a book, I will be there. Patsy, it is your time to shine. I have no idea how this book is going to work when put against Patsy’s show stealing appearance in the cinematic universe, but I support Patsys of all types.
- DAREDEVIL #2 – The status quo reset elicits an eyeroll, and what can be said about my favourite vigilante after Miller, Bendis, Brubaker, and Waid? I’m not sure, but last issue secured my attention to find out.
- EXTRAORDINARY X-MEN #4 – I said I’d give this book six issues. I’m not sure I can make it. It all feels like an editorial mandate and not creators enjoying the concept. Maybe the leash comes off in the next arc, but with All-New X-Men and All-New Inhumans doing X-Men better, why bother?
- SPIDER-WOMAN # 2 – Like Hellcat, there are characters I will follow through hell or high water. This time out I’m following Jessica Drew threw one of the best creative teams to handle one of the most refreshing approaches of all the superhero relaunches we’ve had in the past five years.
John Babos
7 will-do purchases this Christmas week.
- Aquaman #47 – Going to miss the creative team when the arc is done. I didn’t expect to reading this book since #1, but despite creative team changes, it’s been an entertaining ride.
- Batman and Robin Eternal #12 – We’re now almost at midway point of this anniversary weekly series. Dick Grayson, and DC’s Robins and Batkicks (Batman sidekicks) get the spotlight.
- Bloodshot Reborn #9 – Bloodshot vs Bloodshot. An amazing arc where Bloodshot and a rival are collecting his nanintes… leaving a trail of bodies.
- Dark Knight III The Master Race #2 – Likely will pass on this and wait for the tpb. I have the other DK’s in collected edition, I know I’ll get this one too. Will read better in one sitting I think. I stand to be corrected by those of you that read and enjoyed #1.
- Deathstroke #13 – Enjoying Slade’s continued misadventures despite creative team change.
- Sinestro #18 – Writer Cullen Bunn and artist Brad Walker deliver the best Green Lantern book on stands. Compelling stuff.
- Teen Titans #15 – This book is fading from my joy radar, but I’ll read this this Robin War tie-in.
- Titans Hunt #3 – LOVE this book! A must for any Titans fan.
James Fulton
This is the second week in a row without any debuting titles for me. That’s kind of weird. As the year winds down, I guess everyone is holding off on releasing things in slower weeks?
- Captain America: Sam Wilson #4 – I’ve been rereading the old JM DeMatteis/Mike Zeck issues of Captain America for my retro review column (expect a new one right around Christmas Day), and seeing how Cap was handled in the 80s gives me an appreciation for some of the things that Nick Spencer is doing with this title today. I like that, in a time when America is becoming more and more divided (at least from this Canadian’s perspective) along ideological and common sensical fault lines, that Spencer has made Cap a controversial figure in the Marvel Universe.
- Darth Vader #14 – I guess I’m not immune to the hype, because I’ve really been enjoying the Vader Down crossover event, and like the rest of the developed world, have Star Wars on the brain this week.
- Deadly Class #17 – I love this comic for pretty much all the reasons Matt Graham listed above. Wes Craig’s art on this comic is phenomenal, and I really feel for a lot of these characters.
- Gotham by Midnight #12 – Yet another DC comic I actually enjoy is biting the dust. Much like Gotham Central was years ago, this has been a unique look at the city of Gotham, and has featured some great characters, art, and storytelling. I’ll miss it.
- Island #5 – The best thing about comics in 2015 was the launching of this anthology title curated by Brandon Graham. I don’t know who is contributing to this issue, but I already know it’s the thing I’m most looking forward to this week.
Paul Miranda
- SELF STORAGE #3 (of 6)
- BATMAN MEETS the MAN from U.N.C.L.E. #1 (of 6)
The 60’s were swinging, swanky, and snazzy!! Two TV properties team-up for the first time!! Jeff Parker captured the essence of the campy series and carried it through to the comics. It’ll be an interesting balance – the serious countering the comedic.
- BATMAN & ROBIN ETERNAL #12 (of 26)
- DARK KNIGHT III: the MASTER RACE #2 (of 8)
SPOILER!! Carrie Kelley is Batman?! Bruce Wayne is nowhere to be found gasp emoticon Her stint as Gotham’s vigilante protector doesn’t sit well with the GCPD. As brutally as they are going to treat her, she’ll return the favour in spades!!
- DEATHSTROKE #13
- GOTHAM by MIDNIGHT #12
- JUSTICE LEAGUE of AMERICA #6
- SUPERMAN #47
- LAST GANG in TOWN #1 (of 7)
Vertigo caps its debut dozen with this last entry. Great Britain faces unemployment, rising crime, and punk rock!! Take a trip back to the 70’s. This mini will progress to modern-day.
- ROBIN, SON of BATMAN #7
- TEEN TITANS #15
“Robin War” rages on!!
- GRUMPY CAT #3 (of 3)
- HIP HOP FAMILY TREE #5
- CHAKRA, the INVINCIBLE #6
- SHADOW TIGER #4 (of 4)
- ISLAND #5
The odd gets odder each and every time in this bi-monthly anthology from Image.
- AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #5
- ASTONISHING ANT-MAN #3
- DAREDEVIL #2
- MOON GIRL & DEVIL DINOSAUR #2
- SPIDER-WOMAN #2
- PATSY WALKER, a.k.a. HELLCAT! #1
SPOILER!! If you haven’t watched “Jessica Jones” on Netflix yet, what the hell are you waiting for?!? Trish is there, I mean Patsy. Oh, forget it!! An all-female creative team propelling a beloved C-list character?? What’s not to gush over???
- DARTH VADER #14
If you have not yet had the good fortune to watch “The Force Awakens”, you fail miserably on the geek culture scale. The devilishly delightful star shines every single issue. “Vader Down”, pt. 4 of 6.
- HENCHGIRL #3
- DEATH-DEFYING DR. MIRAGE: SECOND LIVES #1 (of 4)
I missed out on the first mini but I’ll be damned if I become foolish a second time!! The critically-acclaimed take on an old character returns. My passion for Valiant came out of nowhere earlier this year but I don’t regret it one bit.
- RAI #12
Phil Allen
- Batman ’66 Meets The Man from U.N.C.L.E. #1 – Though the main series has ended, the ‘66 spinoff is here with U.N.C.L.E.! The previous series was very good, and I really enjoyed The Man from U.N.C.L.E. movie from this year. While the series will probably be based more on the respective TV shows it should still be a lot of fun.
- Deadly Class #17 – It just keeps. Getting. Better! I’m still a couple issues behind but Remender and Craig keep reminding me why this is one of Image’s most critically acclaimed series out now.
- Gotham by Midnight #12 – The final issue! I’m bummed this series is going out, but hopefully it will go out on a high note.
- Patsy Walker, a.k.a. Hellcat #1 – Marvel has had a lot of success with their recent solo-series, and Patsy Walker is next on the list. I don’t actually know much about her, but with Kate Leth at the helm, I’m on board.
- Saga #32 – Again, because it’s Saga.
- A few other issues I’m looking forward to:
- Batman and Robin Eternal #12
- Dark Knight III: The Master Race #2
- Darth Vader #14
- Fight Club 2 #8
- Jupiter’s Circle Vol. 2 #2
- Pretty Deadly #7
- Robin: Son of Batman #7
