Mike Maillaro
- INTERNATIONAL IRON MAN #1 – Does Tony Stark need a second series? Probably not. Especially since it will be dealing with the whole “Stark is adopted” storyline that just makes no sense and adds nothing to the character. I actually have enjoyed Bendis’s work on Iron Man so far for the most part, I just don’t need to have two Iron Man books though. It seems like they could just double up on the main series if they HAVE to tell this story so badly.
- A&A: THE ADVENTURES OF ARCHER AND ARMSTRONG #1 – So glad to have this series back. A+A (and Quantum and Woody) have always provided Valiant reader with a more ridiculous alternative to some of the more serious comic books out there. Valiant really needs this balance to some of their darker books. Don’t get me wrong, I love pretty much everything Valiant puts out, but Archer and Armstrong is definitely one of my favorites.
- SECOND SIGHT #2 – Aftershock continues to put out some real unique books. SECOND SIGHT was actually the first Aftershock comic I read, and I was immediately hooked by David Hine’s extremely creepy story here. I was reminded of something like Dexter with a more supernatural twist to it.
- BLACK CANARY #9, ROBIN SON OF BATMAN #10, SINESTRO #21 – Three of my favorite DC books, none of which seem to be surviving DC Rebirth. I think that is a huge mistake. DC seems to have gotten rid of a lot of their more unique titles. I am very worried that DC Rebirth is going to have a very homogenized feel to it. I hate to sound this cynical, but it’s exhausting to keep having to say goodbye to innovative books that just can’t find an audience among readers who will buy the same old, same old over and over again.
- POWER MAN AND IRON FIST #2 – Loved the first issue, though I still think the art choice is a bad one. I can’t say this enough, “David F. Walker is one of the best in the business.” You need to buy this book (and Cyborg and Shaft).
- SUPERMAN #50 + SUPERMAN/WONDER WOMAN #27 – I actually have not read last week’s Action Comics #50 when I sat down to write this, but I am assuming these issues will basically be the conclusion or the aftermath with Superman’s war with Vandal Savage. Truth started off good, but actually got better and better as it went on. These are some of the best Superman stories I’ve read in a long time.
- HUCK #5 – Millar has been really at the top of his game on this one. This started out as what seemed like a simple homage to Superman, but there has been a lot of real clever twists and turns than have made this stand out as a strong unique book on its own.
- WILL EISNER’S THE SPIRIT #9 – I had never read much Spirit before, but Dynamite puts out a lot of great books, so I had ended up giving the first issue a look on a whim. While this book has felt a little slow at times, I really enjoy the “updated Silver Age” feel it’s got going.
John Babos
9 of books this week.
- A&A: The Adventures of Archer and Armstrong – Not sure why this title was cancelled and repackaged as a new series, but I love the characters so will try it out.
- Batman and Robin Eternal #24 – The end is almost here. What will this all mean for Batman’s Rebirth?
- Green Arrow #50 – Wonder if Oliver Queen will die and be replaced by his son at this fiftieth issue?
- Sinestro #21 – This is DC Comics’ Green Lantern family book. I’m hoping he’ll continue on in one of the Rebirth books; maybe one of the 2 Green Lantern books of one of the 2 Justice League books.
- Squadron Supreme #5 – Marvel’s multiversal JLA in Weird World!
- Superman #50 – Superman get his powers and costume back finally?
- Superman / Wonder Woman #27 – Tomasi is closing it his run. I hope he’s on more than one title for Rebirth.
- Titans Hunt #6 – I’m really enjoying this series despite its inconsistent art.
- Wrath of the Eternal Warrior #5 – Death isn’t enough to keep Gilad down!
Matt Graham
This week hits me harder than the last few.
- Black Canary #9 – Seeing this book through to the end, which is coming.
- Red Sonja #3 – Marguerite Bennett and Aneka present a great jumping on point for Red Sonja while nailing the episodic pulp nature of the character’s roots.
- Monstress #3 – I’m glad Marjorie Liu returned to comics with her own series. Even happier she brought in X-23 collaborator Sana Takeda for the art. I’ll be the first to admit Kaiju and Steampunk aren’t things that excite me, but the pairing of them in this mature fantasy works to differentiate it. If you’re on the fence, the first issue was a 66 pager with no ads for $5.
- Power Man & Iron Fist #2 – As a longtime fan of Sanford Greene, I’m happy to see his work here. David Walker is one of the best writers out there right now, and the first issue delivered more than most of Marvel’s debuts. Marvel needs more titles like this, that branch from the usual.
- Scarlet Witch #4 –I often wonder if a book like Starman could exist today. Scarlet Witch comes close to James Robinson’s classic, breathing new life and mythos into a well-worn character, but it never feels as free. It’s a wonderfully character centric title that sometimes feels a little too divorced from the character’s more iconic roots.
- Spider-Woman #5 – I think this is my favourite title out of Marvel right now. It has its own voice and style while still doing its own thing away from the usual Avengers loudness. We’ll see how that works with Spider-Women hitting soon.
- Uncanny Inhumans #6 – I like this title even if it feels like X-Men With Inhumans. Inhumans traveling the world protecting Inhumans from a world that hates and fears them seems like a blatant kick in the pants to the Fox Studios vs Marvel Studios feud. Like a lot of Marvel’s relaunched books since last fall, it’s good, but still the same old song that doesn’t quite justify its existence.
- Wynonna Earp #2 – I like Westerns and monster hunters. Done.
James Fulton
- Clandestino #2 – This book is insanely late (originally solicited for November 2015), especially considering that the writer/artist, Amancay Nahuelpan completed it a few years ago. Black Mask must be having some serious cashflow issues. Anyway, the first issue of this series really caught my eye because of the strength of Nahuelpan’s art, and I’m looking forward to getting deeper into the story, which is about a Central or South American country and the man fighting to free it from dictatorship (I think – I don’t really remember that well now). Hopefully this means Young Terrorist #2 is on the way too?
- Injection #8 – The second arc of Warren Ellis and Declan Shalvey’s series has been a lot more fun than the first one, with its sexual ghosts, human ham, and Holmesian central character.
- International Iron Man #1 – What is it with Bendis that whatever he writes, he needs two titles at the same time? I don’t know how he’s going to differentiate this book from the Invincible one, nor do I expect that Alex Maleev will be able to stick to a monthly schedule (especially since the pair are soliciting Scarlet again), but I’m curious to see what this is about.
- Low #12 – This series went from being the Rick Remender title I was most likely to drop, to being one of my favourites of his.
- Starve #7 – Brian Wood and Danijel Zezelj are doing some very cool things with this series about a cooking show in the near future.
Phil Allen
DC titles continue to hit #50 this month, meaning “Rebirth” is right around the corner. I’m still getting caught up on a few series (seriously, I’m so close I will be caught up before the end of the month!)
- Avatar: The Last Airbender Vol. 12: Smoke and Shadow, Part 3 – I’m very excited for this series to wrap up, I just read Vol. 11 (Part 2). These series are so good and remain true to the show, I’m hoping it isn’t too long until we get the next volume. It seems like there is one volume per calendar year, and this one technically started in 2015 so hopefully we’ll have another before 2016 is out. (One source said this book may have been pushed until the 30th of this month, so if you’re interested spend the next two weeks picking up the rest of the series!)
- Batman and Robin Eternal #24 – Things are wrapping up on the Bat-family’s latest action-packed mystery, hopefully the events of this series will carry over into Rebirth! (i.e. Cassandra Cain mostly)
- Doctor Fate #10 & Martian Manhunter #10 – I’ve said it before and I’ll probably say it many more times, these two series have been some of my favorite, post-Convergence. Hopefully we’ll see the characters, solo-titles, and/or respective creative teams return once Rebirth settles in.
- Legends of Tomorrow #1 – Another series I hope won’t be cut off by “Rebirth”. #1 is just starting this week, but that leaves only three issues until June, then what? The idea of bringing in classic creators to tell stories of classic characters to potentially new fans is one I think will bode well for DC among all these changes, so I hope this will continue through June. Unless it’s only been planned for three issues, but I guess we’ll soon see.
- Rat Queens #15 – Though I’m really enjoying this series, I’m bothered by all the delays. This is the last issue of the arc, and the previous issue was out at the end of December. But don’t get me wrong, this is still a great series, one of my favorites in fact.
- James Bond #5 – I’ve only read the first couple of issues, but this is a very interesting series so far. I’m interested to see where it goes from here.
- Other issues I’m looking forward to:
- Black Canary #9
- Captain Marvel #3
- Huck #5
- Injustice: Gods Among Us, Year Five #6
- Robin: Son of Batman #10
- Superman #50
- The Spirit #9
Paul Miranda
- SECOND SIGHT #2
- IRWIN ALLEN’S LOST in SPACE #1
- CLANDESTINO #2
- FUTURE PROOF #10
- JONESY #2 (of 4)
- KLAUS #4 (of 7)
- ALL-NEW CLASSIC CAPTAIN CANUCK #1
- BATMAN & ROBIN ETERNAL #24 (of 26)
- BLACK CANARY #9
- DR. FATE #10
- MARTIAN MANHUNTER #1
- POISON IVY: CYCLE of LIFE and DEATH #3 (of 6)
- ROBIN, SON of BATMAN #10
- SUPERMAN: AMERICAN ALIEN #4 (of 7)
- LEGENDS of TOMORROW #1
- GREEN ARROW #50
- SUPERMAN #50
- SHIKARI: FORCE HUNTERS #2 (of 4)
- DOORMAN #1 (of 4)
- 13th ARTIFACT
- HUCK #5
- MONSTRESS #4
- SABER RIDER and the STAR SHERRIFS #1 (of 5)
- ASTONISHING ANT-MAN #6
- SCARLET WITCH #4
- SILK #6
- SPIDER-WOMAN #5
- INTERNATIONAL IRON MAN #1
- ELASTICATOR #1 (of 8)
- DUSU: PATH of the ANCIENT #2 (of 4)
- A+A: the ADVENTURES of ARCHER & ARMSTRONG #1
- DC COMICS ESSENTIALS: SUPERMAN UNCHAINED #1
- MARS ATTACKS #1 IDW’S GREATEST HITS ED.
- STAR TREK #1 IDW’S GREATEST HITS ED.
