4 KIDS WALK INTO A BANK #4
Written by: Matthew Rosenberg
Illustrated by: Tyler Boss
Lettered by: Thomas Mauer
In Stores: May 17
Things go wrong. Things begin to fall apart. Time to arrange a date with a trucker.
2016 was a good year for comics. Sure, there was some bad, but overall, it was a good year for the industry. A lot can happen in 365 days, so there is bound to be ups and downs, and this year was no different. As with every year, we saw good series end too soon, bad series go on too long, and new series, whether good or bad, enter the ring.
There were new series like Black Hammer, 4 Kids Walk Into A Bank, and Animosity. Even existing characters were given new and fresh takes like The Vision by Tom King. Doom Patrol returned in a very fun and weird way. Both Detective and Action Comics continued their fantastic legacy. Superman, Wonder Woman and more DC books returned to great storytelling and adventures. We got two new characters taking the mantle of Iron Man in Dr. Doom and Riri Williams, and watched as a few more Marvel legends lost their lives.
Like every year, there were also big events. There were the good like fantastic events like DC Rebirth and disappointing ones in Civil War II. Inhumans fought with X-Men. Spider-Man started having a clone conspiracy. There were major controversies that crossed into mainstream media with Hydra-Cap. Sad moments like Chelsea Cain with Mockingbird. And to close out the year, the release of the beautiful and emotional Love is Love.
We saw more diversity in comics, both in characters and creative teams. Moon Girl, Riri Williams, and Amadeus Cho all shot up the ranks of Marvel’s brightest heroes. New titles like Alters, and Black were released. Gay superheroes Midnighter and Apollo have a six issue run that is still going. Ta-Nahesi Coates joined Marvel to write Black Panther, as did Roxanne Gay on World of Wakanda. It is apparent the industry is changing, and there’s still a lot that needs to be done, but this year was an improvement, and a step forward.
We also lost famed Preacher and The Punisher artist Steve Dillon. 2016 was a year, like any year that saw comics released in it, so let’s give you another unnecessary ranking list based off of my opinions!
This could be in best surprises too. Tom King really took the comic world by storm this year, and this was one of the reasons why. He had other fantastic titles released as well, and they will be mentioned in this article, but The Vision was something so refreshing and so different for Marvel. A perfect run that didn’t feel too short, or too long, is something I don’t always say for Marvel books. The Vision truly felt perfect in almost every way.
It wasn’t just King that made this title so great, as Gabriel Hernandez Walta provided some wonderful art that captured some horrific and heartbreaking moments. It is amazing to realize that a book about synths had some of the most human moments of the year. That’s the power of an amazing creative team, and I bow to the both of them, and to Marvel for taking a chance on such an odd and awesome book.
Runners Up:
While I struggled with picking my top comics since I love all of these, Saga takes the cake due to consistency, most memorable moments, and my deep investment Saga takes the cake due to consistency, most memorable moments, and my deep investment to this incredible series. This comic is the one I constantly cannot wait to read, and that is due to the amazing work by Brian K. Vaughn and Fiona Staples. We all know how good they both are, but they just kept the ball rolling in my opinion this year. Sure we had some slower arcs, but the overall big picture to this book just keeps getting bigger, and crazier.
There were so many moments that made me smile, tear up, and cliffhangers that left me with my mouth hanging open. Not a lot of comics do that to me, and Saga did it countless times. There is a reason this series is so popular, and is still going. It is just fantastic storytelling, with awesome world building. You don’t just care about the mother, father, and daughter, but the prince, his child, the lying cat, and so many others. You truly feel invested in these people, their actions, and their lives. I cannot wait to see where it goes next.
Runners Up:
You know you’ve got something good on your hands when you’ve released three issues in 2016 and you’re making this much of a splash. Matt Rosenberg and Tyler Boss gave us those three issues and they were packed with awesome adventures and incredible nostalgia to my childhood era. This book is already a classic to me, and there’s a few issues still to come.
I have reviewed the comic, and gave it a ten across the board, and I am sure the final issues will earn those scores as well. Hats off to Black Mask Studios, to Matt Rosenberg, and to Tyler Boss for making something so special, so raw, and so damn good. Remember, this is just about 4 kids who catch one of their fathers doing sketchy stuff with sketchy people. This isn’t some deep time travel plot, or fantasy adventure. It is a simple premise executed with brilliant creative fashion. It is in the writing, the panels, and the lettering. I cannot wait for the last few issues!
Runners Up:
I could have gone with Tom King, or the other three excellent writers on my list, and none of them would have been wrong. Even someone like Rosenberg who made two of my favorite limited series could have been here. None of these lists are easy, as you see I keep saying, but if I had to pick just one writer this year, it would be Rick Remender. It isn’t just the quality of the content he made, which is very high, but the volume of it as well.
This year, we saw Black Science, Deadly Class, Low, Seven to Eternity, and Tokyo Ghost. The crazy part, is all of those comics were fantastic. You constantly hear that so many writers are taking on too many titles, and that their writing takes a major hit. I do not think that was the case this year for Remender, and actually, I think it was one his best years, which is saying a lot. The beautiful thing is that all of these series will still be going into 2017, as even Tokyo Ghost which will be returning.
Runners Up:
For the longest time, the background of my phone was The Mighty Thor #1. Now that I am typing this, I will be putting it back to that amazing artwork, because it is that good. Russel Dauterman is one of those artists in comics that you can just stare at his panels and pages for so long and see tiny details that just blow your mind. You will see me say things in reviews like, you are getting some real art here, as in pieces you could hang on your wall, and that is true of Dauterman’s work. The work is that good. Every panel could probably be framed and catch someone’s eye every time.
The way he draws his characters with such emotion is fantastic. Not to mention the way he draws frost giants, or the more modern version of Loki, or Jane, or Odinson, or Odin, or everyone in this comic! His work is fantastic, and he deserves to have it recognized. This is one of those artists, that when they take an issue or two off, you get sad. It’s that good.
Runners Up:
Marguerite Bennett wrote one hell of a story this year in Animosity. This awesome title from Aftershock had one of the best first issues of the year, and the issues that followed kept that momentum up every time. Sandor is a hound protecting his owner, Jesse, a little girl who is scared when all of the other pets and animals in the world begin killing and targeting humans. We are only four issues in, and I feel like so much has happened. There is no doubt that this is one of the best new series of the year, and in my opinion, the best.
The art by Rafael de Latorre is fantastic, and the scenes in the book are filled with action, and keep you on the edge of your seat. The first issue alone had me yelling expletives in excitement, and the art as well as the storytelling is a big reason why. When a much scarier animal is trying to hurt Jesse, I love how protective Sandor is. He pulls no punches to protector his girl, and has the personality of an old and wise man mentor type. I think this is one everyone should check out, even if you have to wait for the trade, as it is hard to come by in many local comic shops.
Runners Up:
Moments like these are why I love this medium. Comic books are just a platform. Just like television, books, movies, etc. You can make whatever you’d like, and this is a fantastic example of that. After the horrible Orlando Pulse shootings, getting a book like this where the proceeds are donated to the families of those lost that day won’t fix the horrors, but maybe it can help us grieve and understand a little better. It can put a face not to the evil person who did this to these people just living their lives, but it can be a voice for the people who died that day.
In this anthology book we get so many amazing creators, not just in the comic industry, but from other mediums as well. This book choked me up more than once while reading these beautiful stories, or the powerful images in them. I don’t want to single any of them out, as there are too many to mention that are fabulous, and Logan from our site already did a fantastic job of that in his review, but as a whole, this book is so important, and so incredible, and while it makes me sad it has to exist, it is necessary that it does.
Runners Up:
Now while this may not be defined as a genre, I read many fantastic comics this year that dealt with societies that had fallen to different degrees. There are groups of people that live on their self governed 100 acres in Briggs Land from Dark Horse by Brian Wood and Mack Chatter. The animals took over the world from the humans in Animosity from Aftershock by Marguerite Bennett and Rafael de Latorre. And there was the land of Zhal that was taken over and run by the God of Whispers in Seven to Eternity from Image Comics by Rick Remender and Jerome Opeña. We also saw titles like Shipwreck from Aftershock by Warren Ellis and Phil Hester, and Warlords of Appalachia from BOOM! Studios by Phillip Kennedy Johnson and Jonas Scharf.
Maybe I am cynical, but I really enjoyed spending times in worlds that fell in some form. Some of these stories had the people choose to live off the land and govern themselves, saw their animals take their society from them, or saw them rise up against their government as their own militia. Either way, they provided some of my favorite moments in comics this year, and these were just a few of them.
Runners Up:
I tried to defend the event after the first few issues, and the art by David Marquez is fantastic, but I can no longer defend this series. I like Brian Michael Bendis, even if I don’t like every series he has written lately. I think that Infamous Iron Man is very promising, and it was odd to me that one of my least favorite comics that released the week of Civil War #8 was written by the same person that wrote one of my favorites in Infamous Iron Man #3. So I don’t want to just make this about Bendis as a writer, because I know he is a good one.
But for whatever reason, be it delays, lack of editorial work or poor planning, this event did not do it for me. The way it ended felt wrong on so many notes, and leaves so much not settled. I also scratch my head at Captain Marvel being loved for what she did, and how they depicted her. I like her as a character, but I felt that this book really messed with who she was, and made her look horrible. While I enjoyed many things Marvel did this year, like Moon Knight, Power Man and Iron Fist, and Old Man Logan, this would be one of my least favorite.
Runners Up:
It is hard to give this award to one publisher, as multiple publishers had so many great books this year. Though I will pick one, and that is DC. From the fantastic launch of DC Rebirth as a title, and then the great books that came out of it, to Young Animal, and Vertigo, their imprints and the books that came out of those, they have had one hell of a year. Detective Comics, Action Comics, Superman, Wonder Woman, Doom Patrol, The Sheriff of Babylon, and so on were all such fantastic and consistent titles for them, and while they have always been producing get content, it is great to see them get back to such focus.
They signed some amazing talent with writers Tom King, Tim Seeley, James Tynion IV, and artists like Liam Sharp, and Mitch Gerads to exclusive contracts. Not that they are the only talented people working on their books, because there are definitely more. Mikel Janin and Riley Rossmo both blew me away with their art this year. I was pleasantly surprised by DC this year, and I hope that trend to continue. I hope Marvel is paying attention to them, and while I do not want them to copy them, I would like to see somewhat of a Rebirth type event that can tie their legacy characters to their newer characters a little better, and give fans the best of both worlds.
Runners Up:
It’s the first day of a new year and so that means I’m posting my “best of” listing of the top comic books for 2016. Generally these are comic books that came out in 2016, though some are from earlier times and I got around to reading them, or limited series that continued. Keep in mind, this is what I have read (and does not reflect what other contributors to this site might think, they’ll hopefully have their own lists). If it’s not on here, I just might not have read it.
This was a particularly tough year of choices with some categories easily having their own top ten or twenty-five and some I struggled to even come up with one. 2016 was a year that ongoing, maxi-series, and limited floppies seemed to blend more and more and for me as a reader I found myself shifting away from one publisher to another and as a whole enjoying graphic novels and indie comics a hell of a lot more than I have in the past.
What stood out to me? Check out below what made the cut!
A new publisher, but still absolutely amazing. The Paybacks by Donny Cates, Eliot Rahal, Geoff Shaw moved from Dark Horse to Heavy Metal for its second volume, but it didn’t lose any steam in doing so continuing to deliver hilarity and upping the action.
The concept of the comic is that there’s a repo crew who have to deal with all the superheroes who can’t pay back the loans they take for all of their fancy gadgets. To pay off their debts those heroes then join the ragtag team.
A send-up of so many familiar characters and lets face it creators too, the comic has more jokes in each panel than some series have their entire run. It’s funny, action packed, and in this volume actually is somewhat timely with news with a focus on a data breach.
My biggest wish in comics for 2017 is someone is smart enough to invest in this series because I know it’ll pay off in the log run. Everyone who I’ve turned on to it falls in love and whole there were some issues with the second volume, it still is the one “superhero” comic I devoured as soon as possible.
Runners Up:
I said above that 2016 was the year of Tom King, and guess who wrote this one! Tom King! The Sheriff of Babylon is another max-series that wrapped up, but we’ll get a second volume some time in 2017.
The comic is based on King’s experiences working for the CIA in Iraq taking place in the Green Zone after the recent Iraq war. The comic is brutally honest showing a world where there’s so little right and so much wrong and it all comes together in a muddied brown and gray.
That dirtiness of it all is helped by Mitch Gerads‘ art and the smart use of colors. The detail, every body movement, the framing of the panels, Gerads’ art adds so much to every issue. That’s saying something considering how amazing King’s scripts are!
This is a comic series that shows comics are political and can question the world we currently live.
Runners Ups:
We got three issues of this series in 2016 and holy crap do I wish we got more. In those three issues we did get some of the best storytelling in any comics. I’m assuming this is a limited series since it is a “crime caper in five parts” but hopefully we get more after this volume wraps up.
The series involves a bunch of kids that find out one of their dads is possibly a criminal and has some buddies who plan to rob a bank. Their idea is to rob the bank before them.
But, it’s not the heist that’s the drawn it’s the kids themselves. Each one feels so real with so many quirks their personalities jump off the page. Everyone is relatable and each feels like real people we knew growing up. It’s absolutely amazing.
The art by Tyler Boss is top notch and the writing is why Matthew Rosenberg is one of the hottest writers in comics right now.
More please!
Runners Up:
The best thing to be released in 2016 for comics. This is an absolutely amazing finish to the award winning trilogy. The winner of the National Book Award among other things the graphic novel focuses on Congressman John Lewis’ experiences during the Civil Rights movement.
Written by Lewis, Andrew Aydin, with art by Nate Powell this is the crown jewel of comics showing that they’re more than tights and has been adopted by schools to teach about this time in American history.
As I read the graphic novel from cover to cover, I found myself filled with emotions, as Lewis’ life was there in print for those to see and read. The story is a complicated one, but it’s presented in a way that feels honest and open, both good and bad. This is an inside look at one of the most important, and turbulent times in American history from not just someone that was there, but a leader of the movement. And that’s a fascinating part of this third book, is its focus on Lewis’ role as a leader.
This third volume somehow leapfrogs the other two. Whether it’s due to learning or the material within, something about it created an emotional reaction I haven’t felt by any media in quite some time. And most importantly it got me to think about where we as a people and nation have been, where we are, and where we’re going.
Runners Up:
Is it a “genre”? We can argue about that, but lets face it, 2016 was a year we saw major creators continue to shrug off the big two, instead launching creator-owned series at other publishers, digitally or through Kickstarter. We saw more comics, in more varieties, on more subjects and more ways to consume them, than any time before. It really wasn’t the year of the Big Two, this was a year that we as consumers could continue to find something that would fit our varied tastes.
With more channels for distribution and more ways to produce comics, we’re in a golden age where the old ways of publishing no longer hold back the creativity that abounds.
I named Indie Comics “it” in 2013, 2014, and 2015 and nothing changed in 2016. There’s a massive opening for someone to step in and be a mainstream breakout, maybe 2017 will be the year we see it.
2016 was a year that had everyone shaking their head when they heard DC was shaking things up again and “rebooting.” Except, their reboot was anything but.
In “Rebirth” the publisher blended the old with the new bringing back legacy characters and also pushing forward some of the newer ones too. They even moved away from grimm and gritty and gave us a bit of hope and fun in it all!
While Batman has always been strong for the company, Superman, Wonder Woman, and more all all returned to greatness with a new positive energy about them that could be felt.
But even better, sales increased and while they’ve leveled off and dropped quite a bit from the initial launch, the publisher is stronger and in a better position than it has been in a long time.
The company continued to expand upon its digital first program, and has begun to look towards expanding its market with its DC Super Hero Girls line.
They also did this as their movie output was mixed and television output strong. Now to get everything to line-up and the DC brand as a whole could be unstoppable.
The dots are all there, now we’ll see if the company has the vision to connect them all.
Last year’s disappointment continued to be so, as projects were delayed, vapor ware, or not as advertised. Also add in issues on the creator end of folks pledging high amounts and then disputing the charges, at times getting the goods. Add in the platform’s unwillingness to step in to deal with either situation and you get a tech company showing off it’s greed. What was once the toast of the town has shown its cracks which will only get worse.
The crowdfunding platform became a way for creators to raise funds for projects, only to get picked up by publishers, at times delaying projects and leaving bad tastes in the mouths of fans. If all creators were held to the standards of some of the best users of the system, there’d be no issue, but over 90% of the projects I’ve pledged to have been delayed or non-existent only creating angry backers and fans.
These issues have lead this site to rethink what we promote and how we do so, no longer choosing comics to promote, as we feel some responsibility for things gone wrong and your dollars being held hostage.
Kickstarter continues to be tone-deaf, and it’s only a matter of time before someone stands up and challenges the platform with a system that’s fair to creators, and protects those who pledge.
Oh how the mighty continue to fall.
This one I’ve thought about the most out of all of the categories on the list. I keep going back and forth between Image, BOOM! Studios, Valiant, Action Lab, IDW, First Second, and so many more. For each strength one brings to the table, they also have major weaknesses. Whether it’s a focus on a genre, pigeonholing themselves with adults, failure in digital, a mix of quality of comics, none of them are at least good everywhere. But, the comic industry has really grown in 2016 with no one breaking out as THE publisher to rival the big two. Partially that’s because so many have stood out with some of what they’ve done, but none have stood out for their whole.
Of the big two Marvel has stumbled… a lot. Entire articles can be written in that department, but the company is not the juggernaut its been in quite some time and I’d expect their to be some big shake-ups in 2017.
DC on the other hand came really close to being named for this. They’ve done some amazing stuff in the year with Rebirth being a smash hit. There’s still something slightly off, but out of every publisher, they’ve gotten most improved.
Image has become of the home of amazing indie comics by big name creators, but they generally lack a kids line that gets the next generation of readers and the sales just aren’t their in floppies. BOOM! has had a great mix of comics, but they’re missing that ongoing series that goes on for 30 to 50 issues. Valiant is quality all around and have tried some interesting market tactics, but you have to like superhero comics, Action Lab is a solid up and comer with good consistent releases. IDW has shown its possible to do great licensed comics, while First Second has fantastic graphic novels of all sorts. Aftershock has quality and so has Black Mak Studios.
Out of all of that, where’s the standout above everyone else? They’re all good in their own ways, but each have some flaws, with some of those flaws being pretty big. After a lot of deliberation, I couldn’t decide on one, so I chose none.
Each publisher is close to going huge, it’s just taking someone to connect those dots. Or maybe no one will, and it’ll be up to the individual creators to fill up the gap.
This is the new series I’ve missed the most— but it’s finally back and it was worth the wait! 4 Kids Walk Into a Bank from Artist/Aesigner Tyler Boss and writer Matthew Rosenberg is a fantastically funny caper comic staring pre-teen characters you can’t help but love for all their utterly believable eccentricities. Think Stranger Things except the monsters are just adults and the kids are funnier.
The aforementioned four kids have not yet walked into a bank together but as of this latest issue we now know how and why they will. Kids getting in over their heads to save adults who are also in it over their heads is a staple of entertainment but everything about the series feels fresh and fun. It’s a Coen Brothers movie in comic book form which combines great comedy and real feelings of sadness and loss in the same story. You know the characters are headed for some form of fiasco be it from fire or spilled orange soda. However, unlike a Coen Bros movie there are multiple characters of color and in fact, one of them, a young girl, is even the protagonist.
The four kids are a rag tag group of relatable nerds and outcasts lead by the short-fused, wise beyond her years Paige (currently the best little girl in a comic) who is struggling with her mother’s suicide, somber and possibly love struck Stretch, shy science wiz Walter who always role-plays as a female characters (good call) and the nasty, brutish, Jewish and short Berger (who I swear I knew growing up and whom I’ve never seen portrayed in media before because of existing Jewish stereotypes, I suspect writer Matt Rosenberg being Jewish has something to do with this fun bit of representation).
The town the story is set in feels very recognizable a to me as an old New York town. Graphic Policy’s publisher Brett thinks it’s his home town Buffalo. I think it’s Glen Cove Long Island, but that gives you a sense of how real the setting feels. The story is timeless, if by timeless you mean it could be any time between the 80s and today.
Penciler Tyler Boss actually knows how to draw kids. Drawing a pubescent girl believably without sexualizing her is still sadly rare. The art is spare and cartoony, reminding me of the styles of newspaper strip cartoonists and there’s a lot of David Aja’s stark graphics from Hawkeye in Boss’s art. The character’s faces are rendered into icons but still successfully emote
The visual jokes come rapidly but their pacing is so precise you just need to read them in context for them all to land with ease. But here’s Lance Cardinal Death, Stretch’s video game character— he’s a skeleton pope. It’s awesome.
Each issue has an opening scene that shows of the kids playing a game first in a Dungeons and Dragons role-playing game, then a zombie arcade game called “I Hear It’s Bad Everywhere,” (how prescient that now seems) and in issue 3 it’s remote controlled cars. The games show the kids interacting in their most natural environment and hilariously illuminates their relationship dynamics and personalities.
It’s this sort of smart writing that is going to make sure Matt Rosenberg stays at the top of lists of comics rising stars. This is also one of the few series that I’m going to try to get my Dad to read. The only other comic he likes so far is Saga. So yeah, this is high praise on the quality and how accessible I think it is to new audiences.
The humor is huge but the relationships behind it all are why we care.
Story: Matthew Rosenberg Art/Design: Tyler Boss Wallpaper Design: Courney Menard
Flatting: Clare Dezutti Lettering: Thomas Maur
Overall: 9 out of 10 Recommendation: Buy!
Black Mask Studios provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
Wednesdays are new comic book day! Each week hundreds of comics are released, and that can be pretty daunting to go over and choose what to buy. That’s where we come in!
We’re bringing back something we haven’t done for a while, what the team thinks. Our contributors are choosing up to five books each week and why they’re choosing the books.
Find out what folks think below, and what comics you should be looking out for this Wednesday.
Joe
Top Pick: 4 Kids Walk Into A Bank #3 (Black Mask Studios) – You know you’re onto something when you wrote two issues and people are begging you for the next issue. Rosenberg has taken 2016 by storm and it shows. After the success of this awesome comic, and Civil War II: Kingpin, he will now be writing ongoing titles at Marvel for Rocket Raccoon, Secret Warriors, and Kingpin. Find this comic, with the first two issues if you can. It is one of the top books of the year, from one of the best writers of the year.
Ether #2 (Dark Horse) – After a fantastic first issue, I cannot wait to continue the adventures of Boone and the crazy world of Ether. Fans of Doctor Strange and even Sherlock Holmes will love this quirky original book.
Batman #13 (DC Comics) – The last issue was controversial, and I loved it. Now that Tom King has let us know what “I Am Suicide” is about, I want to see where he takes us to end this arc. I love what he has been doing with the character. Will he break Bane’s back this time around?Black Hammer #6 (Dark Horse) – It feels like it has been forever since I’ve read this book, but maybe it’s because I want it to come out every week. This comic has such an original and refreshing way to tell super hero stories and turn the tropes on their head.
Black Hammer #6 (Dark Horse) – It feels like it has been forever since I’ve read this book, but maybe it’s because I want it to come out every week. This comic has such an original and refreshing way to tell super hero stories and turn the tropes on their head.
Dept. H #9 (Dark Horse) – Will we get some answers on who’s sabotaging the base? I love this slow burn of a book that builds its slow tension with each issue. So far so good from the Kindt duo. One of the best books of the year!
Alex
Top Pick: Divinity III: Stalinverse #1 (Valiant) – When this year started I hadn’t read Divinity. Then I went on vacation and had time to read the first trade, and after scraping my jaw from the floor I realized that Divinity II was just about to drop in stores, which meant I had to scrape my jaw up again. Needless to say, I have my jaw scraper ready as we head into the Stalinverse.
Black Hammer #6 (Dark Horse) – Narrowly missing out on my top spot this week is this underrated gem from Jeff Lemire. There has been a lot of scene setting over the last five issues as Lemire takes his time to really delve into the story of the missing heroes turned civilians. It’s such a fantastic journey that I’m not at all concerned we haven’t really done too much more than set the stage right now. Miss this at your peril.
Bloodshot USA #3 (Valiant) – While there may be some debate over whether or not this should have been a separate miniseries or a continuation of Bloodshot Reborn, the end result is pretty fantastic. I’m stoked for this issue (or I would be had I not already read it – review spoiler: it’s good).
Harbinger Renegade #2 (Valiant) – After I read the first issue of Harbinger Renegade I went back and read the first Harbinger series. I still haven’t read Imperium yet, but I will. I have the issues and some time off over the holidays, so I’ll be making a dent in the next chapter of the Toyo Harada and Peter Stanchek story. As for this issue? I’ll add it to the pile to reread once I finish Imperium.
Klaus And The Witch Of Winter (BOOM! Studios) – I loved the Klaus miniseries released last year, and somehow I missed the announcement that this was coming out. Needless to say, I’m excited about it.
Elana
4 Kids Walk Into a Bank #3 (Black Mask Studios) – 4 Kids Walk Into A Bank is back! 4 Kids Walk Into A Bank is back! It’s like a Coen Bros movie meets The Goonies but with a female protagonist and more diversity. Which means it’s actually better than The Goonies. Yes I SAID IT. It’s charming and funny and insightful caper comic and I’m going to make everyone read it goddamnit.
Shay
Top Pick: Harley Quinn #10 (DC Comics) – It’s Harley! It’s holiday short stories! It’s going to be awesome, dark and deranged! If you’re looking for a gateway comic for your non-comic book friend this holiday season, this might be the one!
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 11 #2 (Dark Horse) – Buffy and her teams are trying to put San Fricisco back in one piece and that might be harder to do with the start of a magical powered “human” registration act. This season should be interesting because we all know how well registration of people with powers works in the other comic book universes.
Dead Inside #1 ( Dark Horse) – A new comic with a female lead, murder, and corrupt county jails. It’s like all of those murder shows and docs you love in comic book form.
Justice League vs Suicide Squad #1 (DC Comics) – The Justice League has found out about our fave group of bad guys and are out to shut them down. This is going to be the best damn six-episode series ever and I can’t wait to see how it all shakes out. Time to root for the bad guys!!!
The Punisher Vol. 1: On Road TP (Marvel) – Frank hits the road after a bad raid and Condor and Face are waiting to scoop in and take him out . Time to cheer on one of your favorite bad good guys! Let the battle royal begin!
Honorable Mention: Throwaways TP Vol. 1 (Image Comics) – It’s the fist collection of this new comic book. It’s had some bumpy clunky issues but, overall it’s been an interesting reads I think that being able to have all of the early ones in one package might bring it all together.
Brett
Top Pick: Divinity III: Stalinverse #1 (Valiant) – The second volume ended with an interesting hint as to what was to come (but we already got the announcement of this series) but who knows how it’d all shake out. The first two volumes of this series have been amazing and this third which has a Russian take on the Valiant universe has me beyond excited.
4 Kids Walk Into a Bank #3 (Black Mask Studios) – The first two issues we damn near perfection and I’ve been waiting for this third one. Hopefully, the wait pays off, but this series is one of the best things to come out this year in comics.
Justice League vs. Suicide Squad #1 (DC Comics) – The exact silly fun I’d expect it to be.
Warhammer 40,000: Will of Iron #3 (Titan Comics) – It’s been a while since I was regularly paying 40K, but this series has got me wanting to dive back in. Fans of the Games Workshop game should absolutely check this out.
Hook Jaw #1 (Titan Comics) – It’s a story about a giant shark… and some scientists… and the CIA… As a fan of Jaws, sign me up.
4 Kids Walk Into a Bank #3
Written by: Matthew Rosenberg
Art by: Tyler Boss
Lettered by: Thomas Mauer
In Stores: December 21, 2016
Next Wednesday sees the release of the thrilling-ish but much delayed third issue of breakout hit 4 KIDS WALK INTO A BANK. As plans begin to form (sort of), and dangers are overcome (sort of), this issue finally brings readers the thing they oddly have been clamoring for– The Bank!
The third issue of 4 Kids Walk Into a Bank #3 will hit comic shop shelves on December 21st, but a few folks will have the chance to get it a bit early. The 4 Kids Walk Into a Bank team are continuing their tradition of trying to raise money for charity and having books with a lot of different covers.
This exclusive edition, limited to 105 copies, features a brand new cover by series wallpaper designer Courtney Menard and some bonus process pages that will not be featured in the regular issues. All of the proceeds from this edition will be donated to The National LGBTQ Task Force.
Instead of just doing a variant, the creators will actually be donating money from the sales of the comic.
Written by Matthew Rosenberg, with art by Tyler Boss, lettered by Thomas Mauer, cover by Menard, and flats by Clare Dezutti will have 3 different version on sale direct from Courtney Menard’s webstore.
The first version is just the comic for $10, second is comic + sketch for $20, and third is comic + sketch + script + original page for $300.
The regular edition will be in stores December 21st.
Black Mask Studios has announced that the comic market continues to gobble more books than currently printed, with Jade Street Protection Services #1 and 4 Kids Walk Into a Bank #1 Second Printing *both* selling out.
Jade Street Protection Services written by Katy Rex, with art by Fabian Lelay, colored by Mara Jayne Carpenter, and lettered by Taylor Esposito has sold out. The all-ages book about five lovable delinquents who discover a secret conspiracy at their high school for magical girls, will return in Second Printing.
4 Kids Walk Into a Bank written by Matthew Rosenberg, with art by Tyler Boss, and lettered by Thomas Mauer has also sold out. The very dark and kinda funny story of four children who decide to pursue a life of crime, will return in Third Printing.
Wednesdays are new comic book day! Each week hundreds of comics are released, and that can be pretty daunting to go over and choose what to buy. That’s where we come in!
We’re bringing back something we haven’t done for a while, what the team thinks. Our contributors are choosing up to five books each week and why they’re choosing the books.
Find out what folks think below, and what comics you should be looking out for this Wednesday.
Mr. H
Top Pick: Captain America: Steve Rogers #2 (Marvel Comics) – With all the controversy over the ending of issue one, how could it be anything but? Is Cap really a HYDRA agent? Or is there something much larger at play? I love anything that gets us fans talking and draws attention to our joy. So depending on how this is written it could be a good thing. I remember when Brubaker brought Bucky back as the Winter Soldier and now, he’s absolutely beloved. I refuse to believe this is our Steve but I am looking forward to finding out more.
Dark Knight III: The Master Race # 5 (DC Comics) – Well this comic and I are completely love hate. I hate that it’s always late, but I love the train wreck that unfolds in the pages. I’ve long decided that Miller’s master work is the Dark Knight Returns and he will never top it. These attempts at trying just get even more ridiculous. As a die hard Superman fan, it’s a macabre curiousity at seeing what ol’ Frank is going to do to tear down the Superman legacy even more every time he touches the character since it highlights how out of touch he is. Plus I love cranky Bruce Wayne and Carrie Kelly. After this Frank needs to stay the Hell away from DC Heroes. He just can’t write them, and obviously Azzarello is taking his cues from Miller. If not, it’s a bigger cluster than when Singer made Superman Returns to honor Richard Donner. I know it’s awful but it’s almost satirically bad that I can’t wait to see it even worse. Remember folks, Jersey Shore was popular for a spell there too. Sometimes you just have to enjoy the insanity.
Cryptocracy #1 (Dark Horse) – What’s this? A non DC or Marvel book on my list? That’s right true readers. This one caught my eye. Nine clandestine families that secretly control and manipulate reality? Hmmmm sounds interesting and I’m getting in on the ground floor. Seems cool enough to give it a shot, but I am not expecting anything world bending here.
Alex
Top Pick: 4 Kids Walk Into A Bank #2 (Black Mask Studios) – The first issue was a brilliant start to a crime caper about four kids walking into a bank. A charmingly intelligent comic that deserves your attention, the first issue was amazing, and if you can find it you should snap it up. I’ve been waiting for the second issue for awhile, and I am so excited for this.
Lobster Johnson: Metal Monsters Of Midtown #2 (Dark Horse) – Lobster Johnson is one of those characters that evokes the feel of the pulp heroes from the late 30’s, which is already something I’m a fan of, and then when you add in the fantastic period art work and the steampunkish element of the Metal Monsters and you have a miniseries that is right up my alley.
Will Eisner’s The Spirit #12 (Dynamite Entertainment) – This has been one of the most entertaining series of the last year, hands down. Every week this comic comes out is a good week.
X-O Manowar #47 (Valiant Entertainment) – Pound for pound, Valiant have the best superhero universe out there, but when the premier title in the Valiant universe is coming to a close with an explosive story… I can’t wait to see where this is going. Plus, there’s a bonus print with the physical comic, so that’s also cool.
Anthony
Top Pick: 4 Kids Walk Into a Bank #2 (Black Mask Studios) – Matthew Rosenberg already knocked it out of the park with We Can Never Go Home and returns with another series for Black Mask Studios with Tyler Boss’s imaginative and playful artwork. The first issue was an amalgamation of so many awesome things (with an array of wonderful movie poster-inspired variants) and proved to be one of the most endearing reads of the year so far. This is a must buy.
East of West #27 (Image Comics) – Jonathan Hickman is a long form, comic book version of a mad scientist. His titles are consistently well crafted and can take their time to manifest, but when they do bloom, it is certainly worth the wait. East of West is Hickman at his best with the striking visuals of Nick Dragotta to put to life this futuristic American backdrop. Things have been really heating up as tensions continue to rise between the numerous factions.
Jupiter’s Legacy Vol. 2 #1 (Image Comics) – Mark Millar and Frank Quitely return to Jupiter’s Legacy! Millar has done a pretty solid job at deconstructing the superhero genre with recent titles like Huck, Jupiter’s Circle and the first volume of Jupiter’s Legacy so it will be interesting to see the direction that the creative team will be taking in this sequel series. Frank Quitely’s art will surely be worth the price of admission alone.
Bloodshot Reborn #14 (Valiant Entertainment) – Jeff Lemire has continued to present a more nuanced, emotional and humanized tale of Bloodshot that proves the character is more than just a government controlled killing machine. The new arc entitled ‘Bloodshot Island’ sounds like a Doctor Moreau-esque storyline that will feature Mico Suayan’s incredibly detailed line work and Valiant’s reliable colourist David Baron.
Jade Street Protection Services #1 (Black Mask Studios) – If Black Mask Studios is releasing a new series, it is an absolute must buy. The publisher has been releasing a steady flow of confident, gritty and fun titles over the last couple of years and Jade Street Protection Services looks to aim to be among those books. Judging by the solicitations, Fabian Lelay’s illustrations with Mara Jayne Carpenter’s colours are going to provide a vibrant, manga-like pop to the words of Katy Rex.
Paul
Top Pick: Extraordinary X-Men #11 (Marvel) – It’s a throw down with the X-Men fighting in the future against Apocalypse’s horsemen. The Apocalypse Wars have been a fun read, and I’ve been really enjoying this title exploring another possible future, with the younger students grown into X-Men. Nothing earth shattering happening, just a fun read.
Captain Marvel #6 (Marvel) – A Civil War II tie in…and Carol is pissed! She has clearly chosen her side in this new civil war, and the stakes are getting high. It’s going to be interesting to see how far she’ll go to for what she believes in.
Mockingbird #4 (Marvel) – This is just a guilty indulgence for me, being a long time fan of Bobbi’s. The missions are exciting, the humor is fun and this issue she’s off to save her ex, Hawkeye. It’s also interesting to see her check ups and monitoring of her health after receiving the infinity formula and the super soldier serum. I’m just waiting to see something big happen. Fun all around.
Uncanny X-Men #9 (Marvel) – Magneto and Psylocke are trying to save Archangel from being taken over by Apocalypse; Sabretooth and M are exploring the Morlock tunnels and come across a ghost from M’s past. Again, nothing earth shattering happening here, just a fun read with decent action. Psylocke and Fantomex meeting up should be good.
Javier
Top Pick: 4 Kids Walk Into a Bank #2 (Black Mask Studios) – The first issue was amazing, and I wasn’t the only one to think so. It has a large and well-deserved mass appeal.
Jade East Protection Services #1 (Black Mask Studios) – So far Black Mask’s line of books have failed to disappoint. There’s already a lot of buzz out there, I hope it lives up to the hype.
Indoctrination #1 (Z2 Comics) – Another indie title with possibilities. It has all the apocalyptic themes I’m into.
East of West #27 (Image Comics) – Even more end times lore, set in a dystopian alternate timeline.
Brett
Top Pick: 4 Kids Walk Into a Bank #2 (Black Mask Studios) – It says something when so many of us have this series as our top pick. The first issue was absolutely amazing and was a damn near perfect set-up with characters that are some of the most relatable in comics. It’s been a bit since that first issue, but that doesn’t diminish my excitement for this second issue.
Chum #3 (ComixTribe) – I’m a sucker for a good noir/crime story and this surf crime comic has been entertaining for the first two issues.
DC Super Hero Girls: Finals Crisis (DC Comics) – Am I the demographic this graphic novel is aiming for? Probably not, but that hasn’t stopped me from enjoying my advance review copy. It’s a solid debut comic that’s perfect for the audience intended, younger kids.
Indoctrination #1 (Z2 Comics) – I read the first issue some time ago and it’s a weird mix of X-Files and occult story. Really good and can’t wait to check out future issues.
Jade Street Protection Services #1 (Black Mask Studios) – A new series from Black Mask? Yes please! All ages badassness? Yes please!
4 KIDS WALK INTO A BANK #2
Written by: Matthew Rosenberg
Art by: Tyler Boss
Lettered by: Thomas Mauer
In Stores: June 29th
Our story resumes shortly after the events of issue one, so we can watch our four protagonists descend further into a life of crime and juvenilia, and move ever closer to maybe, in a later issue, coming near a bank. Suspense!
