One of the hardest things about getting into comics or trying to branch out to new series is knowing when to start. There are so many titles and so much history finding the right starting point can be a chore. That is where this series comes in. That is where this series comes in as I will highlight ongoing series starting new arcs, new series debuting, graphic novels being released, and end with my personal pick of the week.
Ongoing Series Starting New Arcs
Description: The major leagues are calling! Now that Eric and Woody Henderson know they have what it takes to save the day, they finally have a shot at going pro ”“ and they“re in luck, because UNITY might just be making a comeback! But the brothers aren“t ready for primetime just yet…they still have to audition for their spots, under the watchful eyes of G.A.T.E. and X-O Manowar!
Why Start Here?: As a major fan of Valiant comics, I look for as my opportunities as I can to recommend their books. It is a little odd recommending this issue as it appears to be the last book in the series for now. However, being this see’s Quantum and Woody joining Unity it is a great chance to experience many of the Valiant characters in one place. Unity is basically the Justice League or Avengers of the Valiant world while Quantum and Woody tend to be more comedic. They are the preferable odd couple with Quantum playing the role of straight man. So if you enjoy what you read you can go back and read past Quantum and Woody stories along with current ongoing series like X-O Manowar.
Description:Â The Teen Titans bring the house down in this issue””and it just might crush them to death! Set up by the mysterious villain known as the Other, the Teen Titans find themselves trapped beneath a crumbling building. The only thing between them and a dirt nap: Crush“s bench-pressing the entire complex. But how long can she hold out? The Titans race the clock against gravity, muscle fatigue and getting squashed like a bug. Plus, Damian“s secret mentor is revealed, and Robin realizes there“s a traitor in their midst!
Why Start Here?: Who does not love a great bottle episode? For television bottle episodes are a great way to cut costs, while for comics they are a great way to allow for time to build your characters. Instead of constantly just pushing the plot forward more and more you take some time to focus on one key threat and have the team figure out a way to overcome that challenge. If you are a person who has been joying the Titans show on DC universe and what more for those characters this is a great chance to do just that. Of course, this is a different cast of characters altogether but they at least exist within a similar spirit.Â
Description: Carl Creel was just trying to live. But sometimes trying isn“t enough. Now, to save the life he built for himself ”” and maybe everything else ”” Carl Creel has to do the impossible.
The Absorbing Man has to kill the Immortal Hulk.
Why Start Here?: The Immortal Hulk #9 has been Marvel’s best and most consistent book since its debut. Al Ewing and Joe Bennett have put together a special series that is unlike anything else at Marvel at the moment. Its more episodic nature has allowed for more jumping on points than you typically get with an ongoing title. Now Hulk is facing a new treat this time in the form of Absorbing Man and anytime those two hook up it usually leads to a fun time. Considering what this new ‘Devil’ Hulk is capable of there might not be much left of Absorbing Man after everything is said and done.Â
New Series Debuting
Description: The lands between the coasts are vast, slow to change, and full of hidden magics. Mistakes have been made, and in this NEW ONGOING SERIES, an unwitting adventurer searches for answers to quell a coming storm that knows his name. From author SKOTTIE YOUNG (I HATE FAIRYLAND, Deadpool) and artist JORGE CORONA (NO. 1 WITH A BULLET, Feathers, Big Trouble in Little China: Old Man Jack) comes the tale of Abel, a young boy who must navigate an old land in order to reconcile his family’s history.
Why Start Here?:Â It was sad to see Skottie Young bring his series I Hate Fairyland to an end early this year, but that ending has led to a few new beginnings. Recently the series Bully Wars debuted and it had the insane fun we expect from Young with more of an all-ages appeal. Now with Middlewest #1 he is further stretching himself as a writer by going back to his routes. Based on the description of the series this appears to become from a more personal place. Although he is not drawing the series Jorge Corona is an artist to look out for. No. 1 With a Bullet was a gorgeous looking book so having a creator with the experience of Young behind him will only bring more out of him as an artist.Â
American Carnage #1
Description: A new, thrilling crime saga from the writer of WILDSTORM: MICHAEL CRAY and the artist of The Old Guard! Disgraced FBI agent Richard Wright is offered a chance for redemption when his old mentor sends him undercover to infiltrate a white supremacist group believed to be responsible for the death of a fellow agent.
Why Start Here?: DC is trying with all their might to make Vertigo mean something again. The best way to do that is by giving up and coming talent the opportunity to tell the stories they want to tell unfiltered. Calling Bryan Hill and up and coming talent may be doing his previous work a bit of a disservice as he has done a lot of great work for some time, however, DC is giving him more and more high profile work. Considering that success there is a reason to get excited for what he can do with a Vertigo title.Â
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Description: Noir meets horror as small-time Vegas hustler Chris Dundee finds himself tangled in a web of danger and the occult. He’s been on the wrong end of a pair of brass knuckles plenty of times, but this time he might be dealing with the devil himself. Special extra-long first issue at regular price! From the mind of VJ Boyd, co-executive producer of S.W.A.T. and producer of Justified, comes a fantastic new noir-ish tale!
Why Start Here?:Â With all the different licensed books that IDW puts out people can forget that they have some great creator own titles as well. VJ Boyd does not have a great deal of comic experience, however, work on a fantastic show like Justified can do a lot to strengthen your storytelling ability. If you are a type of person who likes to find new talent to get excited about this provides an additional jumping on point.Â
Graphic Novels/Trade Paperbacks
Description: A stranded alien continues to hide in plain sight in Patience, Washington, posing as the small town’s doctor. He has no intention of leaving-unless it’s to get back to his home planet! When a startling new mystery catches his attention, he takes a trip to New York City with the hope of finally finding away to communicate with his home world. Collects the four-issue series.
Why Start Here?:Â Resident Alien is such an underrated series. Perhaps because of its more low-key approach but it is this strange amalgamation of ideas that somehow works. It’s part alien story, part noir tale, all original. This does tie into past installments but even if you never read a Resident Alien issue before you willl be able to understand everything major just reading this trade.Â
Description: Visionary author Scott Snyder makes his mark on DC“s most legendary team in Justice League Vol. 1. Spinning out of the cataclysmic events of Dark Nights: Metal and the universe-defining No Justice, the core members of the Justice League””Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, The Flash and more””are finally reunited! The cosmos suddenly opens up to new threats that the Justice League could not imagine! As Lex Luthor and Batman race to solve a mystery going back to the beginning of the DCU, the rest of the League dive deep into new corners of their own mythologies!
Why Start Here?: DC Rebirth saw a lot of titles get new life over the last few years. The one book though that could never quite catch fire was Justice League, and DC is better when Justice League matters. How did they fix that? Well, you add one of the biggest names of comics as your creator. Scott Snyder has been building this massive story that began in DC’s Metal than to Justice League: No Justice, and now Justice League proper. Considering all those connecting pieces it does help if you read them but it is by no means required. For those who greatly enjoyed the Cartoon Network Justice League cartoon, you will find much to appreciate with the team lineup.Â
Description: An ancient and primordial evil has been awakened beneath the streets of New York. With it, something equally evil has been awakened in that most wicked of web-slingers: Venom! The symbiote may still be a Lethal Protector of innocents in New York, but this never-before-seen threat could possibly force Venom to relinquish everything it holds dear – including its human host, Eddie Brock! As Eddie and Venom summon the strength to defend New York against the most powerful foe they’ve ever faced, there’s one more thing standing in their way: Miles Morales, Spider-Man! Two of the hottest creators in comics today, Donny Cates and Ryan Stegman, join forces to deliver a Venom adventure a thousand years in the making! Collecting VENOM (2018) #1-6.
Why Start Here?:Â Venom is one of those characters that seems to have as many fans as he does detractors. If you consider yourself the latter do not dismiss this series because of your preconceived notions of the character. There is no such thing as a bad character as the right creative team can make any character work, and for Venom the right creative team is Donny Cates and Ryan Stegman. In this first volume, they have woven a story that forever changes the history of Venom and the Marvel universe as a whole. Stegman is doing the work of his career and Cates continues his hot streak yet again.Â
Venom Vol. 1 – Rex
Description: Anywhere and everywhere – hang on! Dan Slott and Mike Allred take the Sentinel of the Spaceways on his wildest ride yet – with a very special companion! Meet Dawn Greenwood, the Earth girl who’s enabled the Silver Surfer to see the universe with all-new eyes – and push its boundaries like never before! But that way leads to incredible dangers – like the Never Queen, Warrior One and Jumbonox the Giganormous! From perfect planets to wrathful warriors, from the end of reality to an all-new beginning, they’ll travel the length and breadth of space and time – and beyond! But what could ever make Norrin Radd willing to once again serve Galactus? Slott and Allred weave a cosmic-powered story of triumph, tragedy and boundless imagination! This collection includes the 2016 Eisner Award-winning story “Never After”! Collecting SILVER SURFER (2014) #1-15, SILVER SURFER (2016) #1-14 and material from ALL-NEW MARVEL NOW! POINT ONE.
Why Start Here?:Â With the recent passing of the great Stan Lee why not go back to a character he helped co-create with The Silver Surfer. Obviously, this is not written by Lee but this series by Dan Slott and Mike Allred have a similar timeless spirit. Slott and Allred took a framework similar to that of Doctor Who and made it work for Galactus’s first herald. The Marvel cosmic universe is a rich one to pull from and they do just that. It’s also the best romance I plainly ever read in a superhero comic. If you are not moved by the end you may just be dead inside. Being an Omnibus it is not a cheap buy. Perhaps check out the first volume or two from your local library before you shell out the full $75. If you end up enjoying it only gets better from there.Â
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- A fan of all things comics. Growing up on a healthy diet of 90's Batman and X-Men cartoon series ignited a love for the medium that remains strong today.
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