Mike Maillaro
- THUNDERBOLTS #1 –I actually remember where I was when I read the first issue of the first Thunderbolts series (Waldenbooks at Newport Mall) way back in 1997. While some of the relaunches haven’t quite been up to the level of that awesome original series, I still consider myself a fan, and I’m looking forward to seeing this series spin out of Avengers Standoff.
- 4001 AD #1 – Valiant does some pretty good crossovers. I actually haven’t really loved this new version of Rai all that much, much I am real curious about what the far future holds for the Valiant Universe. I am actually more looking forward to the crossovers than the main series, because those were some of the best parts of last year’s Book of Death crossover.
- AFTERSHOCK GENESIS #1 – Up front I will say that I’m not a fan of comic companies charging readers for promotional material. Instead of charging a buck, Aftershock should have just put this out as a Free Comic Book Day. Especially since they have such strong comics, this seems like it could have been a great way to draw in readers. I don’t know about you, but if someone is telling me “try this out, it’s a buck” it’s not going to be as big a draw for me as “try this out, it’s free.”
- KINGS QUEST #1 – I love when Dynamite does strange crossover like this. This time, Flash Gordon, The Phantom, Mandrake the Magician and Prince Valiant team up. Just for the sheer ridiculousness of that combination, I have to give this one a shot!
- GOLD KEY ALLIANCE #2 – I will admit, I didn’t love the first issue of Gold Key Alliance, which seemed to once again reboot Turok, Magnus, and Solar, but without providing a lot of context for these new versions. It wasn’t a bad comic, just not quite what I was hoping for. Hopefully they can get this back on track because I have been eager to see someone manage to make these characters work again.
- EMPRESS #2 – One of my favorite books to come out last month! Millar seems to have another hit on his hands. He’s been on a huge winning streak lately putting out some of the best mini-series of the last two or three years, and Empress is no exception.
- MOON KNIGHT #2 – Jeff Lemire’s first issue did a great job keeping the reader completely off balance. It’s not at all clear what’s real or what’s just in Marc Spector’s head. This was a great take on the character, and I am real excited to see where this series goes from here.
- SPIDER-GWEN #8 – This Spider-Women crossover might have been a huge mistake as it’s really made the flaws in this book stand out. It hasn’t even been a bad story, just Spider-Gwen is a book I can’t quite figure out why I still buy every month. It’s very likely this will be the last issue I buy. BUY GWENPOOL INSTEAD!
Matt Graham: #TeamGwenpool
John Babos: I wanted to read Gold Key Alliance, but the issue #1 art was terrible despite a decent story that I skimmed (art was unbearable so wasn’t able to sit down and read/enjoy the book). Sadly, not on board for issue #2.
John Babos
Up to 10 books this week.
- 4001 A.D. #1 – Here comes Valiant’s future-set company spanning x-over event. Minimal tie-ins, but big story in main feature like previous mini’s. No company does events like Valiant.
- Batman Beyond #12 – I wonder if DC Comics will start to set up Terry McGinnis’ DC Rebirth return the mantle? I have enjoyed adult Tim Drake in this world though.
- Batman / Superman #32 – The Last Days of (the New 52) Superman arc or “Super League” continues to set-up DC Rebirth’s Superwoman, New Super-Man and more!
- Detective Comics #52 – I’m iffy on this one. Will skim it and see if it has any set-up for DC Rebirth. If so, will buy.
- Flash #51 – I’ve been reading this since issue #1. I’m a huge pre-Flashpoint Wally West fan, so while Barry Allen’s adventures have been entertaining, I wonder if we’ll have a classic and the new Wally West in DC Rebirth.
- Green Arrow #52 – Another one I have been reading since issue #1. Am jazzed for the Rebirth rejuvenation.
- Green Lantern #52 – Not one of I’ve read since Geoff Johns left. Enjoyed the new team’s New Gods event, but have not been a regular reader. Will see if I pick this one up.
- New Suicide Squad #20 – I’ve been a Squad fan since the mid-1980’s Legends mini-series. Looking forward to the movie and DC’s double down as part of Rebirth.
- Rough Riders #2 – Really enjoying this alternative past sci-fi’sh series. Looking forward to some Houdini love with issue #2!
- Thunderbolts #1 – Am curious about the post Avengers Standoff: Assault on Pleasant Hill Omega Thunderbolts with Winter Soldier at the helm.
Matt Graham
- All-New Inhumans #7
- Black Widow #3
- Empress #2
- Scarlet Witch #6
- Thunderbolts #1
- Uncanny X-Men #7
James Fulton
- Beasts of Burden: What the Cat Dragged In – I don’t know a better horror comic than Beasts of Burden, and that’s an odd thing to say, seeing as how it stars a group of dogs and the occasional cat. Jill Thompson’s art for this series is incredible though, so even though we only get the odd one-off issue every year and a half or so, I’m standing at the door with the leash in my mouth excited to get this.
- Heavy Metal #280 – This is the debut of Grant Morrison’s run as editor of this venerable magazine. It might be interesting, but I doubt it will be as good as Brandon Graham’s Islands.
- Punisher #1 – I think it’s interesting that none of my colleagues are mentioning Punisher #1 this week. Sure, the character has become a little tired over the last few years, but I would expect his appearance in Daredevil Season Two on Netflix (which I haven’t gotten around to watching yet) might create a little excitement around his new title. Personally, I think getting Steve Dillon to draw it feels a little regressive; he’s a terrific artist, but he’s done the Punisher before, and should be doing something. I am, however, very excited to see what this title is going to be like with Becky Cloonan writing it. She’s known, as a writer, for her work on Gotham Academy, which is an all-ages-oriented book, her mini comics which embrace swords and sorcery, and her science fiction epic Southern Cross. Getting her to write about the adventures of a murderous vigilante is a strange choice, and I’m curious to see how that experiment goes. Of course, I’d be way more excited were she drawing it…
- Renato Jones: The One %#1 – While I don’t often love Kaare Andrews’s writing (which caused me to drop his Iron Fist), you cannot deny that he is a very impressive artist. That this book is taking on inequality, and is creator owned are both things that make me more excited about it. We shall see how it turns out, I guess.
- Sheriff of Babylon #6 – The last issue of this Vertigo miniseries, which featured an American soldier tasked with security in the Green Zone sharing a bottle of vodka with the Muslim Iraqi wife of a Hussein-regime Baghdad cop next to a ruined swimming pool was one of the best single comics I’ve read in ages. Tom King and Mitch Gerads are on the next level with this book.
I also want to take a moment to discuss Free Comic Book Day, which is this coming weekend, but which doesn’t seem to generate half the excitement it used to. I’m looking to pick up:
- Serenity/Hellboy/Aliens – I miss Firefly.
- Rom: Space Knight #0 – Like this week’s issue of Micronauts, I’m all in for the IDW published series that use toy licenses for toys I never played with that became some of the best Marvel comics I ever fished out of quarter boxes as a kid.
- Valiant 4001 AD – It’s weird that the prelude is being released three days after the first issue, but whatever.
- We Can Never Go Home/Young Terrorists – I hope this is new material and not reprints from two books I’ve already read.
Phil Allen
Just a few for me this week, some light weeks before Rebirth it seems.
- A-Force #5 – I’m a couple issues behind but I’m still trying to figure out if I like this series. I did like the previous series, so I’m willing to give this a longer try if need be.
- Beasts of Burden: What the Cat Dragged In – I haven’t read much Beasts of Burden but I’ve always wanted to get more into it. This sounds like a great place to start for new readers.
- Hellboy in Hell #9 – I haven’t read any of this series yet myself, but my wife has and she says it’s great. I’ll get to it one day soon.
- Batman Beyond #12 – I’m glad to see this series continuing through Rebirth, the recent issues have been much better than the first few. Plus, (spoilers) the return of Terry McGinnis is coming!
- Green Arrow #52 – I haven’t been enjoying this series as much since Lemire & Sorrentino left, especially the most recent arcs. Hopefully things will turn around after Rebirth.
- Other issues I’m looking forward to:
- Detective Comics #52
- Howard the Duck #7
- Injustice: Gods Among Us, Year Five #9
- Rat Queens #16
- Rocket Raccoon and Groot #5
- Sons of the Devil #7
- Star Wars: Poe Dameron #2
- The Spirit #10
- The Wicked + The Divine #19
Paul Miranda
- 4001 A.D. #1 (of 4)
Valiant’s blockbuster summer event kicks off!! Same creative team. Master storytelling. Multiple covers. Status-changing. Complete checklist!!
- LEGEND #1
Z2 Comics ventures into the post-apocalyptic genre with anthropomorphic individuals. I’m continuing to appreciate the wide variety of indies by sampling like a gourmet.
- AFTERSHOCK GENESIS #1
One buck gets you a sampler of the publisher’s greatest hits.
- DAREDEVIL/PUNISHER #1 (of 4)
- PUNISHER {9th Series} #1
The former is a digital series finally in print. It’s a no-brainer given Jon Barenthal’s tour-de-force performance on the sophomore season of the Netflix series.
Frank Castle is flushed out by Becky Cloonan. Steve Dillon is reunited with the character and on board with a new collaborator. Declan Shalvey does covers.
- TRUE BELIEVERS: CHEWBACCA #1
- TRUE BELIEVERS: DARTH VADER #1
- TRUE BELIEVERS: DROIDS #1
- TRUE BELIEVERS: KANAN #1
- TRUE BELIEVERS: LANDO #1
- TRUE BELIEVERS: SHATTERED EMPIRE #1
- TRUE BELIEVERS: STAR WARS #1
- TRUE BELIEVERS: STAR WARS CLASSIC #1
- TRUE BELIEVERS: STAR WARS COVERS #1
- TRUE BELIEVERS: VADER DOWN #1
Ten one-dollar books parading the original series as well as the freshly-painted franchise. An excellent way to explore the fictional universe. Plus, these are ‘variants’ and may go for higher in the near future in a galaxy far, far away.
- 18 DAYS #11
- HENCHGIRL #7
- KLAUS #5 (of 7)
- The VIOLENT #4
My man Adam Gorham returns!!! Perhaps I shouldn’t spoil things but he let me know that this is a five-issue run. The trade has been advance-solicited for that entirety. This series has been bloody good!! Vancouver has such a seedy side.
- BATMAN/SUPERMAN #32
I had no intention of buying let alone reading “Super League” despite the emphasis that it ties into ‘Rebirth’. Well, I’ll ashamedly admit that I’m a bandwagonner at times. Part 5 already!! The best part is that Peter Tomasi is helming all eight parts.
- LEGEND of WONDER WOMAN #5 (of 9)
There’s no better time to be an admirer of the Amazing Amazon!! Renae De Liz and Ray Dillon are making the most modern magic!!
- SCOOBY-DOO TEAM-UP #16
SHAZAM!! The Marvel Family mix it up with Mystery, Inc. Will the lightning pass on to one of them??
- AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #12
- BLACK WIDOW #3
- CAPTAIN AMERICA: SAM WILSON #9
- INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #9
- MOON KNIGHT #2
- SCARLET WITCH #6
- SPIDER-GWEN #8
- STAR WARS: POE DAMERON #2
