Matt Graham
- Rogue and Gambit #4 – This mini series is one of the best X-Men related things Marvel is putting out. Kelly Thompson packs more development, action, and drama in one issue than X-Men Gold manages in an arc. She must have grown up on the same 80s and 90s X-Men multimedia (Chris Claremont, the cartoon, Fabian Nicieza, and Scott Lobdell) I did, because she gives me what I look for in X-Men:
People who can punch through walls and throw playing cards at moving targets with ease, but struggle opening up and owning up to each other . Over the top sci-fi plots driven and tempered by relatable human moments. Acknowledging decades of old continuity and character development without miring down the reader in the unimportant details or holding back the new story moving forward.
X-Men was always at its best to me when it felt like a soap opera where people happened to have powers. I want Kelly Thompson to write Uncanny X-Men.
- New Mutants #2 – Matthew Rosenberg’s New Mutants title sees Karma recruit Magik, Rictor, Wolfsbane, Boom Boom, and Strong Guy to face paranormal threats. This doesn’t deviate from the New Mutants branding that much, as the team has a rich history with demon bears, demons from Limbo, horrifying techno-organic aliens, and Asgardian legend. Adam Gorham’s intense and inky brushwork (the violence had to be toned down for print) captures Rosenberg’s signature fast moving, stripped back and aggressive storytelling through tense set up and banter, and brutal action.
Like Rogue and Gambit, the first issue was packed with content and potential on top of a genuine enthusiasm for the source material that makes the new story possible.
- Venomized #1 – I bought into Venomverse because I have a soft spot for Venom and I liked how the main series and supporting titles played to the fact the whole Spiderverse flip was absurd. It gave us MJ Watson as Venom along with my favourite, The Host Rider. The Poison-X crossover with X-Men Blue ended with a Poison corrupted Jean Grey.
The first preview of Venomized #1 shows a Poisoned X-Force taking out the X-Men Gold team. That’s an opener that keeps me on Cullen Bunn’s wild ride. Also, it should keep Hasbro fueled with Marvel Legends figure ideas for decades, so it’s hitting me on all sides, here.
- All-New Wolverine #33 – Old Woman Laura kicks off.
- Astonishing X-Men #10 – Charles Soule (with this issue’s artist showcase, ACO) unleashes Proteus. Like New Mutants and Rogue and Gambit, I enjoy this book more than the mainline X-Men teams, even if the continuity isn’t adding up (see Magik in Gold vs Magik in NM). The Inception adventure with the Shadow King was well thought out, and the Proteus follow-up has had its share of surprises and attention to X-Men history.
The Man Called X hasn’t won me over, though, even if these arcs are good canvases to study his character.
- Dejah Thoris #3
- Red Sonja #14
- X-Men Gold #25
James Fulton
- Deathstroke #30 – Priest is writing a Batman/Deathstroke face-off with this new arc. The last issue had Slade incarcerated at Arkham, so this is probably going to be pretty interesting. DC’s most consistent title should get a sales bump from this, and I hope that means that it’s going to last as long as Priest wants to write it. (His Justice League, which is sadly ending soon, comes out this week as well).
Really, that’s the only book I’m really excited about, but I am looking forward to reading Sex Criminals, The Walking Dead, The Wicked + The Divine, Marvel 2-In-One, The Punisher, and Star Wars as well.
John Babos
8 books this week.
- Amazing Spider-Man #798
- Astonishing X-Men #10
- Batman #44 (both wedding covers)
- Black Lightning Cold Dead Hands #6
- Curse Of The Brimstone #1
- Deathstroke #30
- Green Arrow #39
- Monstro Mechanica #5
Mike Maillaro
- MARVEL TWO-IN-ONE #5 – I’ve really been enjoying this Thing and Human Torch team-up series. I am assuming the current arc is going to be leading into the new FANTASTIC FOUR series coming in a few months. Definitely looking forward to that.
- JETSONS #6 – While JETSONS wasn’t quite as groundbreaking as the FLINTSTONES reboot was, I have still enjoyed this series quite a bit. I am definitely hoping we get another mini-series or even an ongoing coming soon.
- NEW MUTANTS DEAD SOULS #2 – The first issue of NEW MUTANTS DEAD SOULS was just terrific. Where else can you have a character talking about the great victory at the Alamo (since Rictor’s heritage is Mexican)? Still bummed that we aren’t getting the movie for way too long, but at least we have a great NEW MUTANTS comic to read.
- CURSE OF THE BRIMSTONE #1 – I am not even sure what this series is about…and to be honest, SILENCER is the only new DC book that has really grabbed me as a reader. But I have been giving all of these new DC books a try, so I will check it out.
- VENOMIZED #1 – VENOMVERSE was pretty fun, and I am curious where they are going with this whole Poison vs Symbiote storyline. Not sure if Venom needs all these events, but at least they have been entertaining.
- BETHROTHED #2 – Kind of fantasy Romeo and Juliet with aliens! I absolutely loved the first issue here, so looking forward to seeing where this series goes from here.
- Backways #4
- Brilliant Trash #5
- Monstro Mechanica #5
- Archies #6
- WWE Wrestlemania 2018 Special #1
- Astro City #51
- Batman #44
- Batman White Knight #7 (Of 8)
- Black Lightning Cold Dead Hands #6 (Of 6),
- Exit Stage Left The Snagglepuss Chronicles #4 (Of 6)
- Green Arrow #39
- Green Lanterns #44
- Nightwing #42
- Superman #44
- I Hate Fairyland #18
- Spawn #284
- All-New Wolverine #33
- Amazing Spider-Man #798
- Astonishing X-Men #10
- Avengers #687
- Iron Fist #79
- Marvel’s Ant-Man And The Wasp Prelude #2 (Of 2)
- Punisher #223
- Rogue And Gambit #4 (Of 5)
- Runaways #8
- Spider-Man #239
- Star Wars #46
- X-Men Gold #25
