Mike Maillaro
After two relatively small weeks, this week is just about the biggest week of comic buying I’ve had in a very long time!
- SURVIVORS CLUB #1 – As soon as I saw Lauren Beukes’s name on this one, I knew I had to buy it. Beukes wrote two of my favorite books in the last two years Shining Girls and Broken Monsters. One of my favorite things about her is that when I sent her a message about how much I loved that she name dropped Maxx in Shining Girls, she admitted that it didn’t make any sense timeline wise to the story, but she was such a fan she slipped it in anyway. That makes her awesome in my book. Besides, Survivors Club has an awesome concept. What happens to characters who survive at the end of a horror movie? What would happen if they all formed a support group? And what if these horrors were all preparing them for a bigger crisis. CAN’T WAIT TO READ THIS!!
- PAPER GIRLS #1 – While I didn’t really love We Stand On Guard, I still consider myself a pretty big fan of Brain K. Vaughan. Paper Girls has been described as “War of the Worlds” meets “Stand by Me” with four paper girls encountering some kind of major horror in the wee hours of Halloween. It’s looking like there is going to be a theme in October’s comics…
- SECRET WARS – Kind of sad that Secret Wars is still going on…with no real end in sight…even though Marvel started their “All-New, All-Different” relaunch. Most of my favorite SECRET WARS tie-ins have already finished up. Of the ones coming out this week, I am pretty much just looking forward to SPIDER-ISLAND and OLD MAN LOGAN. I don’t even care about the core series all that much. Jonathan Hickman does just about nothing for me.
- JUGHEAD #1 – As much as I’ve enjoyed the Archie relaunch, I am probably more looking forward to this title. Jughead has been given a lot of depth in the Archie series, and now he’s getting his own series by Chip Zdarsky, who I’ve loved on Howard the Duck. He should be a great fit for this title!
- BATMAN AND ROBIN ETERNAL #1 – While it may have gone on a little long, I really enjoyed BATMAN ETERNAL. I was a bit dismayed that all the changes set up in the book have already been retconned out. Gordon on the outs with the GCPD. Catwoman head of Gotham’s crime family. Arkham Asylum temporarily being housed in Wayne Manor. The introduction of Penny-Two and Bluebird (not really retconned, but they haven’t appeared much). So that does kind of temper my expectations for BATMAN AND ROBIN ETERNAL…
- WHAT IF…INFINITY – I didn’t care much for INFINITY (Hickman again), but I love WHAT IF comics. I actually really want Marvel to do another WHAT IF series. The one off specials they do every now and then don’t quite scratch my itch for alternate reality stories. WHAT IF was one of my first favorite comic series back in the 90’s, and I think it’s long past time they gave it another shot.
- TELOS #1 – I can’t help but wonder why it’s taken DC so long to do their CONVERGENCE follow up series. At this point, the events of CONVERGENCE have faded a little. I am really looking forward to TITANS HUNT and Jurgen’s LOIS AND CLARK series. TELOS reminds me a little too much of Silver Surfer, but I am still going to check this series out anyway.
- ALL-NEW ALL-DIFFERENT POINT ONE #1 – That is just one awkward title. Marvel has been a little hush hush about which titles will be featured here. Their website says Carnage, Agents of SHIELD, Daredevil, Contest of Champions, and then CLASSIFIED a few times. But any book that has Al Ewing, Scottie Young, and Charles Soule writing stories will have my attention. Though I am not a fan of the $6 price point. They should do this as a cheaper giveaway to hype their new series, not forcing fans to pay $6 to get the privilege of reading previews. Especially since Marvel has quite a few books debuting today, many of them with 5 or 6 dollar cover prices (Contest of Champions, Avengers 0, and Amazing Spider-Man).
- AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #1 – I can’t believe Slott is still on Spider-Man. That is not negativity, I like Slott’s Spider-Man a lot. I just assumed that Spider-Verse was basically his grand finale. Real curious what he’s going to do with Spider-Man next.
- INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #1 – The only book launching from Marvel this week that is only $4 (which is still damn high). I know Bendis gets a lot of flak from people, but I enjoy his work, especially when he’s doing one character and not a team book. His Alias and Daredevil are among my favorite comic runs ever. I think Bendis can bring something cool to Iron Man, so I will be a customer here.
- STAR WARS – Another huge week for Star Wars comics with four of them coming out at once. SHATTERED EMPIRE, DARTH VADER, LANDO, and STAR WARS. They definitely could be spread out better since I am sure most fans (like myself) are buying most if not all of them. But, Marvel has done a great job with STAR WARS, so I can’t complain all that much. My wallet sure is though…’
- PLUTONA #2 – I wasn’t sure what to expect from Plutona, but I really enjoyed the first issue. The characters were really well done, and I immediately wanted to know the rest of the story. Jeff Lemire can be a little hit or miss at times for me (loved Animal Man, hated Descender, Justice League United is very up and down), but Plutona seems like it will be a good one.
- POWERS #5 – I can get a little weird about keeping lists. Every month I go through Previews, and keep a log of each comic I will plan on buying on Google Docs. And when the New Release List comes out, I cross each book off the list to remind myself to buy it. Powers 5 was supposed to come out in April of this year. I typically enjoy Powers, but it’s real hard to stick with a book with this bad a release schedule.
BTW, I want to point out some other books that were on that list that still have not come out:
April – Velvet 12, Afterlife with Archie 9
May – Uncanny X-Men 600, Powers 6, Velvet 13
June – Shield 1 (From Archie’s Black Line)
John Babos
This seems like my largest week in 6 months as 11 books intrigue me!
- Adam.3 #3 – Scott Kolins is a gem of an artist-writer. This is a must read book for fans of sci-fi, super-heroes and Edgar Rice Burroughs.
- Amazing Spider-Man #1 – Writer Dan Slott ushers in a new series with Marvel now fully embracing adult Peter Parker. What is the new post-Secret Wars 2015 status quo?
- Batman and Robin Eternal #1 – This abridged weekly should be fun. Too many Robins in DC now. Is a culling coming?
- Batman Beyond #5 – An adult Tim Drake as future Batman by writer Dan Jurgens and artist Bernard Chang. What’s not to like?
- Bloodshot Reborn #7 – Still love this character. And, in the hands of writer Jeff Lemire it’s evolved from its grim and gritty roots to become a grim romp!
- Green Arrow #45 – I’m starting to question this book. While I applaud it’s efforts to evoke 1980’s Mike Grell Green Arrow, at the same time channel some of CW’s Arrow TV mythos, there’s something missing and I can’t quite put my finger on it. Oliver Queen is one of my fave heroes, so I’ll give this another month or two.
- Journey to Star Wars The Force Awakens: Shattered Empire #2 – The prequel to the upcoming Christmas movie blockbuster!
- Lobo #11 – Getting this for the Sinestro Corps angle. Writer Cullen Bunn is a master despite this book being on DC’s chopping block.
- Omega Men #5 – The most criminally under-read DC book on the stands. It’s a great yarn, with solid art, delivering a cosmic whodunit with Kyle Rayner and the Omegas.
- Secret Wars #6 – The end is not with issue #8. Curious about what’s what, who’s who, as we march to the All-New All-Different Marvel post Secret Wars status quo…. that actually starts this week too.
- Telos #1 – A romp through the new post-Convergence multiverse? Don’t mind if I do.
James Fulton
- All-New All-Different Marvel Point One #1 – You know, after a few months of barely buying Marvel Comics outside the Star Wars line, the news that so many titles are launching starting this week does not have me excited at all. I’ve preordered a number of new titles, but am starting to think that I’m not going to give many of these books much of a chance to impress me, especially with all the $4.99, $5.99, and double-shipping shenanigans that appear to be in the works. This book is going to give me a peek at a few new titles (and, probably, the way that Secret Wars is going to end, since that still has a few issues to go), and I might be amending my pull-file because of it.
- Avengers #0 – I was looking forward to Mark Waid’s new Avengers title, especially since it features characters I really like, such as Miles Morales, Kamala Khan, and Sam Alexander, but finding out that Adam Kubert is going to be one of the main artists on the title left me feeling a little cold. I don’t know who’s drawing this zero issue (which is probably going to have to spoil Secret Wars a little, right?), so I’m not entirely sure how to feel about it.
- Doctor Strange #1 – Jason Aaron and Chris Bachalo are pretty much just the team to get me interested in this title (although I’m hoping that Marco Rudy will come along at some point when Bachalo needs a break). Of course, so far as we all know, Strange was killed by Doom in Secret Wars, so this comic might not be about anything…
- Paper Girls #1 – This is a comic by Brian K. Vaughan and Cliff Chiang. Even though the premise sounds a little more YA than would usually interest me, these are two creators that get a guaranteed first story arc with me, because they are both brilliant.
- Secret Wars #6 – I’m glad to see that another chapter of this is coming out, and I’m going to be sure to read it before any other Marvel book this week, so there is a slightly less chance that the new Marvel launches are going to spoil things.
Paul Miranda
- JUGHEAD #1
Chip Zdarsky shoots for the stars! He’s joined by red-hot illustrator Erica Henderson to offering a more hip, redefined reboot of Archie’s bestie. This man has a bottomless appetite, and so do the fans!!
- BATMAN & ROBIN ETERNAL #1
The year-long prequel revs it up from the get-go. How far back does the legacy of Robin extend? Is Batman that heartless in recruiting apprentices?? The ‘villainess’ Mother has his number and intends to expose him. This series is to honour Robin’s 75-year career. The Boy Wonder deserves to be on equal footing with the Dark Knight!
- CYBORG #3
- DETECTIVE COMICS #45
Jim joins the Justice League!! That in itself is historic! How long before the Bat is out of the armour?
- MIDNIGHTER #5
Grayson continues to kick butt alongside his frenemy. Can Midnighter exercise restraint in staring at Dick’s butt?
- SENSATION COMICS feat. WONDER WOMAN #15
- TELOS #1
Post-CONVERGENCE delivery! Who is this mysterious individual? Even he doesn’t know! Free from Brainiac’s thrall, he sets a course to find his true identity.
- ADAM. 3 #3 (of 5)
Scott Kolins is the modern-day Jack Kirby. I applaud him to high heaven!!
- GRUMPY CAT #1 (of 3)
I’m purposely jumping on the bandwagon like everyone else. There’s just so much hype regarding this character and series, that I have to see for myself.
- 18 DAYS #4
- AXCEND #1
- TET #2 (of 4)
- WE STAND ON GUARD #4 (of 6)
- PAPER GIRLS #1
BKV performs a hat trick at Image. The release of this issue sizzles so much that copies will evaporate from the shelves.
- ALL-NEW ALL-DIFFERENT MARVEL POINT ONE
- AMAZING SPIDER-MAN {4th Series} #1
- AVENGERS #0
- CONTEST of CHAMPIONS {3rd Series} #1
- DR. STRANGE {4th Series} #1
- INVINCIBLE IRON MAN {2nd Series} #1
Here we go! The wait is finally over!! An insane amount of 64 titles (and counting) will be released over the next five months. Don’t get me started on the amount of various variants. The Big Guns are released first, logically. I don’t care what Axel Alonso’s mission statement is! Spidey is the face of Marvel and my number one hero!!
- MARVEL SUPER HERO SPECTACULAR
An all-ages book tying in to the Animated Universe.
- SECRET WARS #6 (of 9)
- 1602: WITCH HUNTER ANGELA #4
- OLD MAN LOGAN #5
- SIEGE #4
- SPIDER-ISLAND #5 (of 5)
I find amusing the overlap with this lingering six-month event. The launch of ANADM defeats the purpose of these titles existing, giving the lateness of the main mini-series and the decision to postpone the tie-ins. No reason necessary IMO. Either way, the four side-series wrap up. The proper book is three weeks late and there’s no double-shipping of it this month.
- DARTH VADER #10
- SHATTERED EMPIRE #2 (of 4)
- STAR WARS #10
- STAR WARS: LANDO #5 (of 5)
This franchise is kicking butt all across the galaxy!! It was just revealed more multiple printings for the two main titles as well as LANDO! The Journey to The Force Awakens continues, offering more insight into the upcoming cinematic release.
- GROOT #5 He’s still branching out!! He will be paired with his BFF come December. Maybe the creative team will squeeze out one more issue before then.
