Before we start a new week of comics let’s take a look back at the week that was. Another great week of comics as coming up with just ten was quite hard. Books like Murder Falcon #4, By Night #8, and James Bond: Origin #6 all had a chance of making the list but ended up in honerable mentions. Reminder that this list is solely based on my opinion so it may differ from other reviews on the site.Â
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Artist: Brandon Peterson, Ivan Reiss
Publisher: DC Comics
Description: The epic secrets of Superman continue to unfold! Â A few months in space with his paternal grandfather Jor-El changed Jon Kent forever. Â With Jon now seeking help from his father, the Man of Steel must learn about the war his son and father fought together and set right the wrongs his father may have unleashed on other worlds. Â See what changed Superboy in such radical ways as the Unity Saga continues.
Why it Made the List: Brian Michael Bendis has excelled at finding challenges for Superman that he could not ”˜punch his way out of“ or in this case do anything about. Now that Jonathan is back from his space adventure he has to deal with the fact that he was not there for some key years of his son“s life based on a decision he made. Watching him deal with that fact was a big reason this issue worked, but also getting into the exact reason Jonathan wanted to go in the first place. There was also quite the cliffhanger that should lead to an exciting next issue.
Writer: Cullen Bunn
Artist: Juan Doe
Publisher: Aftershock
Description: The monsters of Shrae“s Ark are being hunted for sport. With Shrae missing, Khalee, Janris, Orrin and a small cadre of monsters set out to stop the hunters from killing them off one by one. But these monsters have never trusted each other, and the dangers they face may push their uneasy alliance beyond its limits.
Why it Made the List: Right when you think Dark Ark is heading to its natural conclusion it enters into a brand new world that rewrites everything we have assumed before. Often that can derail a series as it can feel like an unnecessary extension. Here it works due to the intriguing layer of mystery it adds. The image of angel wings populating the forest like some form of divine trophy was jaw-dropping and immediately increases the stakes and makes these new creatures a major threat. Also shows how underappreciated Cullen Bunn is as a writer. When looking at the best writers today series like this show his name belongs on those lists. Â
Writer/Artist: Terry Moore
Publisher: Abstract Studio
Description: Using the help of her new friends from Manson, Katchoo races cross-country to save Francine and the kids from violent gunmen in their home. Tambi and Sam (a.k.a. Motor Girl) are on the scene, ready for action, when they get a helping hand from a brave little girl determined to save her family. Don’t miss the stunning conclusion of this story that celebrates the 25th Anniversary of Terry Moore’s groundbreaking series and ties all of his books together into one epic saga!
Why it Made the List: Strangers in Paradise has quite the trajectory as a series. It started as this quant personal drama and evolved to be so much more. This marks the possible end for the book (At least for now) and with that ending many of the different worlds Moore has created combined into one. That alone wouldn“t cause it to make the list, but the way Moore did it may it feel natural without feeling like forced fan service. Moore has such a gift for crafting characters and finding new ways for them to develop in unexpected ways.
Writer: Alex Paknadel
Artist: Martin Simmonds
Publisher: Vault
Description: Thanks to an obscure piece of legislation, Jerry and Leo are now above the law. As they rob big-box stores up and down the west coast with The Manufacturer’s blessing, their violent exploits are livestreamed to millions of disaffected consumers who’ve been told “no” one too many times. Beginning to tire of their new status as folk heroes, Jerry and Leo’s final heist takes a brutal turn when corporate assassin ZajÃXek the Cremator gets them in his sights.
Why it Made the List: Alex Paknadel and Martin Simmonds“s Friendo has been this unabashed takedown of materialistic values a capitalistic society can yield. Throughout the series, there have been many nods to Wizard of Oz, which is fitting considering Henry Littlefield historic take of Oz being a Parable on American Populism. This is following a similar format, although a bit more pointed with its allegories. This issue also included one of my favorite pages of the week where a character has what looks like the ”˜Best Day Ever“. What makes it work is the complete emotionless stare he has as he moves throughout each scene. A great example of how to use comedic timing to great effect.
Writer: Vita Ayala
Artist: Raul Allen
Publisher: Valiant
Description: On the run! Fleeing from more than just the law, Livewire’s about to find out whether she has the strength to survive on her own in a world that hates and fears her, with only her memories of better days to rely on? but if she’s not careful, even those can be snatched away by the mercenary hunting her down!
Why it Made the List: I always admire a writer who has the guts to look at a major aspect of a character and take it away. Reminds me of when Jason Aaron took away magic from Doctor Strange and now Vita Ayala is putting Livewire on the run without the use of her psiot powers.You make the character rely more on their ingenuity to see who they are outside of the very thing that has defined them up to this point. Right away Livewire is faced with an unwinnable challenge causing tensions to sky rocket. Also, Raul Allen“s is Valiants best current artist as the ”˜Boom“ panel was downright genius.
Writer: Jeff Lemire
Artist: Andrea Sorrentino
Publisher: Image
Description: “ORIGINAL SINS,”“ Conclusion In this pulse-pounding conclusion to “Season Two”“ of the hottest supernatural horror story in comics, it“s a surreal nightmare as Father Fred and Norton finally come face-to-face.
Why it Made the List: For this series to work, this issue had to work. All the build-up would be stilted if once they entered the Black Barn it was anticlimactic.  I do not know this for certain, however, I have a big suspicion that when Jeff Lemire gave Andrea Sorrentino the script for Gideon Falls #11 it basically just said, “Do you thing”“, because that is exactly what he did. For those who love surreal horror, this offers a cavalcade of mind-bending imagery. There is not another artist today that can do what Sorrentino did with this issue. With the ending of this issue the future of this series is forever changed.Â
Writer: Jason Aaron
Artist: Michael del Mundo
Publisher: Marvel
Description: For months, the realms have burned with the flames of Malekith“s war, while Almighty Odin did nothing. Now Asgardia is lost in the sun, the Rainbow Bridge is shattered and the All-Father sits alone in the empty ruins of Old Asgard, drunk on mead and despair. If Odin is going to save what“s left of the realms, he“ll have to undertake the most difficult labor of his very long life. Not by being the omnipotent All-Father, but by finally being just a father to the mighty Thor.
Why it Made the List: As mentioned with Superman #8 this was a big week for father and son relationships. With this issue, Thor and Odin literally battle once again. What makes it more than you typically spat is the inner monologue of Odin, and how his actions do not speak truth to this feelings. It spoke volumes about not only the stubbornness of Odin but the general difficulty of expressing emotions, and the desires of not wanting your children to fall the same way you did but not knowing how to make that happen. There are a lot of reasons why Jason Aaron is a great writer, but the biggest is how consistent he is at developing characters to show their multiple sides.
.Writer: Mark Russell
Artist: Stephen Byrne
Publisher: DC Comics
Description: Exiled from their home planet, alien heroes Zan and Jayna must navigate life as teens on Earth at South Metropolis High School, where they“re even bigger outsiders than the typical awkward young adults. Â Under the watchful eye of Superman, the brother and sister pull monitor duty at the Hall of Justice as interns, while also trying to overcome the pitfalls of Zan“s brash confidence and Jayna“s shy but streetwise persona. Â If you think you know the Wonder Twins, think again””this book takes the form of the unexpected.
Why it Made the List: Comics today are full of great writers that are doing amazing things. I do not know if Mark Russell is the best writer in comics today, however, I cannot think of a more consistent creator in comics. From his run on Prez, to the Flinstones, to his current run on Lone Ranger, to now Wonder TwinsI have greatly enjoyed everything he has done. Wonder Twins has a lot of what makes him a strong writer; his clever humor, original takes on characters, and knack for working against comic tropes. With much of DC comics filled with dour stories, the Wonder comic line has come at the exact right moment to remind us all that these characters can be fun too.
Writer: Ryan O’Sullivan
Artist: Andrea Mutti
Publisher: Vault
Description: After the tragic events of the third issue, the villainous Henry Henry finds himself… No! The advertising copy provided here by the publisher will not do! The events of our third chapter (please refrain from calling them issues) are hardly tragic. Our brave hero bested two villains, yet his reward is to be libeled against in marketing copy? -HH
Why it Made the List: I would be lying if I said I know everything Fearscape is about as I figure it will be impossible to fully grasp until it is complete and you can reread through it a few times. Typically a lack of understanding of this nature would be frustrating, however, it works because of the key character story at the center of everything. There is a lot going on and it can be easy to get lost in all the machinations but by keeping that character story front and center it keeps everything together. I love how it makes the reader an active participant in the story, and how its structure is unlike anything I have read before in a comic. Ultimately though it is the personal drama that adds validity to that commentary.
Writer: Ed Brubaker
Artist: Sean Phillips
Publisher: Image Comics
Description: Archie Lewis was the artist“s artist in his heyday, although that“s not what he“s famous for. He“s famous for being a nightmare to work with””and dangerous. So when an old assistant is forced to chaperone his one-time mentor to receive his lifetime achievement award, well”¦ let“s just say things don“t go well. As always, CRIMINAL contains back page art and articles only found in the single issues.
Why it Made the List: In my opinion, there is nothing harder in storytelling than writing a great first issue of a comic, especially when it is a brand new series not tied to past comic history. Comics are already an extremely compressed version of storytelling and with a first issue, a creator is burden with trying to do a lot with very limited space. So it is remarkable that Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips have made two great first issues back to back with this series. Ed Brubaker is king at using his narrative as a natural extension for his character development. There is a natural flow to his progression that you never realize how much is being done on the page. The use of first-person narrative is a key in that of course as it allows for an organic telling on information. So that is why this was my favorite comic of the week. No book gave me more of a complete story and a better surprise as this was a complete curveball from where I thought the story was going to go. With The Fade Out, Kill or Be Killed, and now the return of Criminal Brubaker and Phillips just prove time and time again they are the best creative team in comics today.
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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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