This was another solid week of comics with plenty of quality titles that did not quite make it. For example, some new number ones like The Magnificent Ms. Marvel #1 and Assassin Nation #1 that both have promise. A reminder that this list is based solely on my opinion so may differ from other reviews on the site. With that said let’s get to the countdown.Â
Writer: Mark Russell
Artist: Stephen Byrne
Publisher: Wonder Comics
Description: After being exiled from their homeworld, alien, shape-shifting brother/sister duo Jayna and Zan take on the traditional Earth custom of a high school field trip”¦to a local LexCorp prison? If they“re being honest, their after-school assignment from the Justice League is what they“re really looking forward to: taking on vampiric menace Drunkula, a villain from the League of Annoyance! And what“s this guy the Scrambler up to, anyway? Plus: Gleek debuts!
Why it Made the List: With Wonder Twins, Mark Russell is taking the satirical wit he is known for and placing in it the superhero world. Here Russell uses the idyllic world the Twins come from to critique some of the more questionable aspects of our society. The primary focus is our prison system and some of its more problematic practices. As someone who has worked in a call center the utilization of prisoners as Customer Service agents rang far too true. It showcases how the system is designed for failure and how legitimate concerns are ignored for the sake of convenience. This may not be what some thought a Wonder Twins series was going to be, but the book is better for it.
Writer/Artist/Colorist: Eric Powell
Colorist: Rachael Cohen
Publisher: Albatross Funnybooks
Description: The next era in the legacy of The Goon starts here! This all new series marks The Goon’s return to Albatross Funnybooks and is just in time to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the book. Eric Powell takes the series to its humor-based roots as Goon & Franky return from strange adventures abroad to find a horde of unsavory characters have filled the void left in his absence from Lonely Street.
Why it Made the List: (Full Review) The Goon #1 celebrates the two-decade-long legacy for this series by beginning a new with a return to what was. This is not an issue that will wow you with its plot, but by putting the focus on the characters and this world we are able to see what exactly sets this world apart. Fun, funny, and full of life this is a relaunch will satisfy both new and old. Eric Powell’s art is as strong as ever as every character no matter if they are our main heroes or a background player is drawn with so much style and personality.Â
Writer: Vita Ayala
Artist: Raul Allen
Publisher: Valiant
Description: Once, Livewire dreamed of devoting herself to the betterment of humankind. Now, her most steadfastly held ideals are about to be tested like never before as she struggles to stay alive in the clutches of a fearsome new foe! But who is the mysterious psiot mercenary hunting her?and more importantly, who do they work for?
Why it Made the List: (Full Review) I for one love that moment when you put a hero in a situation where everything appears lost with no chance to win but somehow they muster enough internal strength to make a miraculous comeback. Maybe it“s because I loved The Last Dragon as a kid. Either way, this issue has one of those exact moments and of course much more. The one thing with superheroes is they rarely ever make mistakes or lose control, but with Livewire she is still working through the fact that she made a judgment call that caused thousands to lose their lives. It is a massive burden to bare and makes for a great story. No wonder what was set up to be a mini-series is continuing on for more.
Writer: Nick Spencer
Artist: Humberto Ramos
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Description: HUNTED PART 1: We“ve been teasing a huge Kraven story since ASM #1 ”” and “HUNTED”“ is here to deliver it! Sergei Kravinoff and his minions have been kidnapping animal-themed characters for months, but they need one more to complete the collection ”” the Spider. But what does Kraven even want with all of them?! Find out in “HUNTED”“!
Why it Made the List: Nick Spencer did not make things easy for himself with ‘The Hunted’ storyline. Anytime you bring Kraven into a Spider-Man storyline a lot of weight comes with it considering how he is automatically associated with one of the greatest Marvel storylines of all time ”˜Kraven“s Last Hunt”“. Then when you considering this has been slowly building since he took over the book it was going to be a watershed moment for his run. We are still early yet but we are at least starting off strong by building the ultimate challenge for Spider-Man to overcome. You have to love a book that has a big event feel without making you read a ton of tie in issues, and if the HU issues are as good as last week even the odd release schedule won’t hinder the momentum.Â
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Artist: Brandon Peterson, Ivan Reis
Publisher: DC Comics
Description: The secrets of the house of El are revealed as the Unity Saga continues! Traveling through space, young Jon Kent has faced everything the universe could throw at him, but after an accident sends him and his grandfather Jor-El across dimensions, the new Superboy comes face to face with a terrifyingly evil version of his own father: Ultraman and his horrible version of the Justice League, the Crime Syndicate! Find out what happened to Superman“s father and how Jon made it back home from this strange and crime-ridden alternate world.
Why it Made the List: This was one of my favorite issues Brian Michael Bendis has done since he started on Superman. As we learn more about Jonathan“s space adventure we have seen the legacy that goes with you when you are the son of Superman. Here Jonathan experiences the surreal experience of seeing the face of his father, yet that face belongs to a very different person who seeks to do him harm…or does he. This is where Bendis holds back, letting us witness Ultraman going through his own struggle. This is the magic of comics. Where the absurd can not only feel real but carry massive emotional weight.
Writer: Darcy Van Poelgeest
Artist: Ian Bertram
Publisher: Image Comics
Description: Director/screenwriter DARCY VAN POELGEEST boasts a long list of awards and accolades for his storytelling prowess and brings the same writing finesse to IAN BERTRAM’s breathtakingly detailed artwork in the gorgeous, hyper-detailed miniseries LITTLE BIRD. With the same limitless scope as a new EAST OF WEST or SAGA and the drama and surrealism of Akira, LITTLE BIRD follows a young resistance fighter who battles against an oppressive American Empire and searches for her own identity in a world on fire.
Why it Made the List: (Full Review) With Little Bird Darcy Van Poelgeest and Ian Bertram are building something and doing it quickly. One issue in and this world is already massive in scope and ideas Typically when you have a first issue that focuses so heavily on world building character is left behind, but that is not the case here. Who populates this world is just as important as that chaos that is occurring. That fact leads to one of the biggest surprise endings I read in comics all of this year.
Writer/Artist: Mateus Santolouco
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Description: Oroku Saki’s hellish journey continues. As his twisted path leads him deeper through the underworld, will he be able to survive an onslaught of demonic forces? Or, more importantly-the truth revealed about his own soul?! Fan-favorite artist Mateus Santolouco returns to the world of TMNT! The most infamous villain in the TMNT universe gets his own mini-series!
Why it Made the List: As someone who is well behind the current Teenage Mutant Ninja run I was hesitant to read this series and the ”˜In Hell“ plotline did not give me faith it was something I needed to rush to catch up with. Still, I am a believer in any concept or idea can work in the right hands and Mateus Santolouco is demonstrating his hands are correct. As both artist and writer, he is in full control as he is building an epic stage. His art is smooth and crisp as the action moves with intensity. Storywise he is using this as an opportunity to drive into who Shredder is and what made him that way. If you are like me and dismissed this title you should also right that wrong.Â
Writer/Artist: Daniel Warren Johnson
Colorist: Mike Spicer
Publisher: Image Comics
Description: For those about to shred, we salute you! Magnum Khaos is one step closer to enslaving our planet, and the only hope for Brooticus lies within the newest member of the band!
Why it Made the List: (Full Review) Comics favor the bold, and that is exactly what Daniel Warren Johnson has been with his Extremity series and now Murder Falcon. Issue six brings with it the massive action you would expect with this series along with an emotional journey centered on the power of support and how to weaponize empathy for the power of good. Never would have imaged one could tear up from a book about a giant humanoid Falcon who is powered by Metal, but here we are. It is books like this that remind you of why comics are awesome.
Writer: Christopher Sebela
Artist: Shawn McManus
Publisher: Black Crown
Description: Ten-year-old twin Dylan Sandifer is now in the driver’s seat of more than the converted old school bus her family called home for a summer murder spree. Will she turn on her family and the sacred bond between twins and break free from the shared madness? Conspiracy theories, organ thieves, and secret histories collide in the explosive final issue!
Why it Made the List: Christopher Sebela and Shawn McManus made quite the series with House Amok. Throughout you never know what is fully real or not but it is clear something was horrifically wrong. They took the uncanny to examine the challenge of overcoming the family bond no matter how toxic it may be, and yet despite that there can be this desire to follow those you are supposed to trust. This was never going to be a series that ends with sunshine, but there is an element of hope in the horror.
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Artist: David Mack
Publisher: DC Comics
Description: The first volume of one of the best-reviewed series of the year comes to its shocking conclusion! It“s an industry dinner in New York City, and comic book creator Max finds himself juggling his responsibilities as a spy for the United States government and his role as a member of the creative community! This unique, genre-bending look at the comics industry has received rave reviews for Emmy and Eisner Award-nominated artist David Mack and Peabody Award-winning writer Brian Michael Bendis! COVER will return next year””but this shocking conclusion will have people talking about what is””and isn“t””true in this “based on a true story”“ story.
Why it Made the List: When Brian Michael Bendis came over to DC most of the talk was centered on him taking over Superman, which makes sense considering the legacy of the character. As this list shows I have enjoyed his Superman work, however, it is his off-brand series that Bendis is finding new life. To be fair David Mack deserves a ton if not even more credit. Mack is doing some masterwork shifting styles and tools with ease. This is a book that could only be made by industry veterans as they take the authenticity of that world and mesh it with being a low key secret agent. Obviously, some real-life connections can be made, which makes everything all the more surreal. This might be nothing more than just projection but you do get the sense moving over to DC gave Bendis new life to explore concept and ideas he has been building for years, and when David Mack adds in some of his career best artwork you get one hell of a series.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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