It is odd how things work on comics some times. Last week the list was full of series that were coming to an end while this week a number of series are making new beginnings. Reminder that this list is based solely on my thoughts and opinions so it may differ from other reviews you find on the site.Â
Writer: Geoff Johns
Artist: Marco Santucci
Publisher: DC Comics
Description: SHAZAM! AND THE SEVEN MAGIC LANDS!, CHAPTER 3: THE SEVEN CHAMPIONS Billy Batson’s world is turned upside down by a figure from the past while Mary, Freddy and the rest of the Shazam Family enter a realm of endless amusements, candy factories and friends in the Funlands! Â But what’s the catch? Plus, a shocking development within the Library of Eternity!
Why it Made the List: There is no one better in comics than Geoff Johns at taking the mythos of a character and expanding upon it in a fascinating way. Johns already put his stamp on the character with his previous work with DC, but with this series, the focus has been put upon the world of Shazam and his magical lands. This book has the adventurous spirit that Johns and known for and even with the artist switch to Marco Santucci it has not lost a beat. It is as if they are crafting a modern fairy tale in the world of DC comics.
Writer: Kieron Gillen
Artist: Caspar Wijngaard
Publisher: Dynamite
Description: Humanity is at a crossroads, between life and annihilation. The threat comes not from space, but from a place absolutely inconceivable to anyone other than Peter Cannon: Thunderbolt. Only he can take Earth’s remaining heroes to confront that which threatens us all…but when he knows so much more than they do, should he? Also: strike a light, how hot is Tabu now? This is what happens when you give ‘DREAM DADDY’ as the main artistic direction.
Why it Made the List: Watchmen having a lasting impact on the world of comics is nothing new, however, as of late there seems to be a new renaissance of books touching upon the Watchmen influence. Not only do we have Doomsday Clock even Heroes in Crisis has ties to it as well. With Peter Cannon: Thunderbolt that connections have an extra layer as Thunderbolt was the character Ozymandias was based on originally. Kieron Gillen has not shied away from that fact using the familiarity and leaned into it. Starting off with a narrative that seems familiar only to go into a rather different direction. What is fascinating about this series so far is it is the ultimate game of chess against two of the smartest people in the world. This will be a conflict where might will have no say in the matter.
Writer: Curt Pires
Artist: Antonio Fuso
Publisher: Â Dark Horse
Description: Anarchy in the UK! Wyrd is dispatched to deal with a politician endangering the international order… with black magic! Also: A glimpse behind the curtain of Wyrd’s past. The second chapter of Pires / Fuso’s strange espionage epic is here!
Why it Made the List: It can often take some time for a character to have a major impact even in their own story. For Wyrd, it took the first few pages of his first issue. There are still a lot of questions yet to be answered, but so far we can see Wyrd is the type of person who is unhinged yet not without purpose. Antonio Fuso is not an artist I am super familiar with prior to this but he is doing some intriguing work with this series so far. Some may argue the direction of this book is not super clear after two issues and that may be the case. However, as someone who appreciates when a series just goes for it and relies on visual storytelling and trusts the reader to put together bigger pieces this approach works.
Writer: Nick Spencer
Artist: Ryan Ottley
Publisher: Â Marvel Comics
Description: THE ROAD TO “HUNTED”“ STARTS HERE! The biggest AMAZING SPIDER-MAN story of the year starts next month, so don“t miss this prologue! The Kraven thread gets woven into Spider-Man“s life in a terrifying way that puts Spidey on the road to ruin!
Why it Made the List: When Nick Spencer and Ryan Ottley are working together this book is at its best. The other artists are solid as well, but Spencer and Ottley“s styles just fit together. Ottley also draws one fantastic Kraven and considering the “Hunted”“ storyline is nearly here that“s a good thing. This issue was Kraven“s story as we learned where he has been and what his plans are going forward. It is an idea that has potential, but what made this issue was the moment when Kraven learns about the fate of his family. You can forget how well Ottley is at with selling emotional moments and he nailed it here.
Writer: Steve Orlando
Artist: Â Riley Rossmo
Publisher: Â DC Comics
Description: Detective Diane Meade knows the shocking truth: her partner is not the real John Jones! With a gun to his head, J“onn J“onnz must explain his first horrifying night on Earth, and how he came to wear her partner“s face…but even as they speak, Middleton“s serial killer is back at his bloody work!
Why it Made the List: I could see Martian Manhunter as a series that rubs longtime fans the wrong way as it is making some major changes to his origin. Personally, feel it is making him a stronger character by showing his road to becoming the hero he is now had many more bumps than previously thought. This issue focuses on his second origin when he decides to become John Jones. It is a choice that is rather complex with a nearly endless amount of ramifications. Steve Orlando and Riley Rossmo put together a reason that does not ignore the negative ramifications but also does not diminish the heroic aspects as well.
Writer: Jeff Lemire
Artist: Dean Ormston
Publisher: Â Dark Horse Comics
Description: The Eisner Award-winning superhero saga returns! Coming off the heels of the world-shattering revelations of the last issue, the Black Hammer team all are out of their element, literally.
Why it Made the List: With this issue of Black Hammer we return to the main story for the first time in a few months. This is a resetting the stage issue as the next chapter of this story begins. For the first time, we are ahead of the characters as they are back in Sprial City living what appears to be normal lives. Since the first issue, this has been a book where nothing is what it seems and what seems different here is that we may not be waiting as long for answers this time. This has been one of the best series in comics and this issue only continued that trend.
Writer: David Barnett
Artist: Â Martin Simmonds
Publisher: Black Crown
Description: Teenage geek Fergie Ferguson and his BF Sid, the ghost of a punk rocker who only Fergie can see or hear, are on the lam for a murder they didn’t exactly commit. They’ve made it to London but on their tail are the police, the quirky paranormal investigation agency the Department of Extra-Usual Affairs, and some really freaky magpie monsters, so there’s not (much) time for sightseeing.
Why it Made the List: Sometimes admitting you were wrong can be to your benefit. The first issue of Punks Not Dead did not work for me. There was an idea there but did not come through as well realized. Perhaps it was me or perhaps it just improved, either way with this new mini-series the concept has evolved into something well beyond what I first expected. Martin Simmonds has some splash pages within this issue that were jaw-dropping. Black Crown books just love to soak in their weirdness and this series is no different.
Writer: Cullen Bunn
Artist: Jonas Scharf
Publisher: Boom! Studios
Description: Even as they wage war on multiple fronts, the Winters family can’t help but fracture from within following their shocking loss.
Why it Made the List: Bone Parish is a supernatural horror story with the tone of a hardnosed crime thriller. One that consists of some bad people doing some truly bad things. The ashes of the dead are now the most hostile drug being sold, and this issue steps it up even further with one of the most twisted mind games I have read in a comic. One that involves using the unexpected death of a loved one to provide some ingeniously evil mental torture. Bunn has long proven he knows how to write an effective horror story. With this title, he is showing how well he can craft deeply woven drama within a tense crime tale.Â
Writer: Chip Zdarsky
Artist: Marco Checchetto
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Description: KNOW FEAR. Daredevil is picking up the pieces from the last issue as his situation has gone from bad to worse. He is wanted for murder but the question is who framed him.
Why it Made the List: Daredevil #1 was the number one book when it came out and this was extremely close to making it a repeat. Daredevil has had so many great runs it is easy to take it for granted. Just assuming all you need is his name on the cover and you are halfway there to a great story. Chip Zdarsky and Marco Checchetto show it takes more than that. So far a lot of the boxes are being checked, like a well-executed machine, everything you need in a great Daredevil story is there on the page. Clearly, that familiarity is purposeful as Zdarsky is ever so slightly circumventing expectations. All of which is centered on the simple question of what happens when a superhero makes a mistake.
Writer: Michael Moreci
Artist: Â Hayden Sherman
Publisher: Vault Comics
Description: Reunions and betrayals! Our reckless heroes stage a rescue mission to save Rex-and secure the nuke still threatening to kill everyone. Along the way, Billy and Molly make a pit stop at a galactic gas station, where they discover brain-freezes and morality, and past demons catch up to Dust and Fury.
Why it Made the List: Sometimes it is the small things that can go a long way. Too often comic issues are randomly chopped story bits that are clearly designed to be read in a larger trade. Issue #6 of Wasted Space bucks that trend as it is a complete story within itself that properly builds to a larger hole. This issue works as an evaluation of morality and many of its different nuances within a story about stopping the end of everything. Comic book publishers tend to acquire a certain personality. So when you a reading an issue you can assume who the publisher is without even looking at the cover. When it comes to Vault comics that personality appears to be cultivating books made by creators who are eager to push the medium forward. They only consistent element between their books is that each is uniquely its own unlike anything else being made today. Such is the case with Wasted Space and this issue.
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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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