Nick Fury #6
(W) James Robinson (A/CA) Aco
Rated T+
In Shops: Sep 27, 2017
SRP: $3.99
RETURN TO RAVENLOCK CASTLE!
• The site of a mysterious murder…
• And a mystery the elder NICK FURY left behind!
• But is there a connection between them, or is this simply a trap for the younger AGENT FURY?
• A mission like no other awaits you in Fury’s latest caper!
Nick Fury #4
(W) James Robinson (A/CA) Aco
Rated T+
In Shops: Jul 05, 2017
SRP: $3.99
DEEP BLUE SEA!
• NICK FURY goes undercover and under the sea to uncover a HYDRA spy in ATLANTIS!
• With a limited air supply and time running out, it’s a quick dive-and-surface mission…
• That is, if he can evade ATTUMA’S wrath!
• Take a deep breath, and submerge yourself in THE DEEP BLUE SEA CAPER!
James Robinson pens this premiere issue of Nick Fury’s long awaited solo outing which has our hero in full-on S.H.I.E.L.D. mode on a super secret mission on the French Riviera. There isn’t a whole lot of dialogue but the dialogue we get is reminiscent of a classic James Bond story, minus the straight up misogyny. Fury comes off as a more bad ass James Bond on a mission to take down the bad guys, in a fancy and exotic locale than usual in charge, S.H.I.E.L.D. head. The switch isn’t a bad thing as it plays well with what we already know about Fury and fills in some of the blanks.
In this issue, we have the pleasure of seeing Nick Fury get his hands dirty. There’s a theft, a fight, some HYDRA drop-ins, a bounty, and some surprising mercy. The quips are tight, the writing is effective, and the story is plausible. This comic is full of action and comedy and reads like a classic spy novel and it’s exactly what any Nick Fury fan would want from his solo outing.
Aco‘s artwork is a bit Archer-esque and, thanks to the story and subject matter it makes complete sense. The lines are strong the color has a lot of extra pop making this issue very pretty to look at. There’s also a nice little synopsis on the first page that lays out the story for the reader, like a top secret file. The intro page provides a nice quick primer for the what happens in the pages that follows without having to go into too much exposition in what should be action based, visual panels.
Overall this issue was a character study combined with a fun romp through Nick Fury’s life and exploits and I was all in. The art matched the subject matter and everything tied together nicely to form a cohesive understandable story.
Story: James Robinson Art: Aco
Story: 8.7 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8.6 Recommendation: Buy
Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
The world is a dangerous place. And there’s danger in drawing attention to your plans. When S.H.I.E.L.D. needs a lone agent to infiltrate, capture and remain anonymous, there’s no one better than Nick Fury. An all-new era for the superspy begins here, as Fury is sent on a top-secret mission to the French Riviera. He’ll need to outmaneuver the enemy as the complex dance of espionage begins, but will he meet his match in the mysterious Frankie Noble?
As if the cover of the first issue wasn’t enough of a clue, the new Nick Fury from writer James Robinson and artist Aco is as focused on the flash and imagery as it is the spy story itself. As hinted by the comics shown within Nick Fury Jr.’s suit on the cover, this new series seems to take a lot of its influence from classic Jim Steranko comics featuring the original Nick Fury. And a lot of that work rests on the shoulders of Aco who delivers a style that’s a fantastic homage to the classic run.
Slick. Cool. Full of action. That’s the best way to describe Robinson’s debut issue as Fury is sent to a casino to retrieve a USB stick with some information on it that has to do with Hydra. Like any good James Bond story the gadgets flow allowing him to cause distractions or hack items and eventually, like a good James Bond story that results in a chase scene full of action and thrills.
And that’s the gist of this first issue. It’s the opening segment of a James Bond film before the credits role down to the femme fatale and harrowing escape.
Again, much of the success of this first issue is on the shoulders of Aco along with colorist Rachelle Rosenberg and letterer Travis Lanham. Both make the art and scenes pop, especially Rosenberg whose color choices harken back to the trippy 60s and 70s. There’s a cool about it all that has one foot in the past and the other in the present.
All in all Nick Fury #1 is a fun first issue that puts this new Fury front and center in a series that harkens back to his father and past. It’s all about style and flash, which much like a Bond film, is exactly what I’d expect. Add in trippy color choices and you have a first issue that goes by quickly, but every bit of it is enjoyable fun.
Story: James Robinson Art: Aco Color: Rachelle Rosenberg Letterer: Travis Lanham
Story: 8.10 Art: 10 Overall: 8.75 Recommendation: Buy
Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
Nick Fury #1
(W) James Robinson (A/CA) Aco
Rated T+
In Shops: Apr 19, 2017
SRP: $3.99
FURY. NICK FURY.
The world is a dangerous place. And there’s danger in drawing attention to your plans. When S.H.I.E.L.D. needs a lone agent to infiltrate, capture and remain anonymous, there’s no one better than NICK FURY. An all-new era for the superspy begins here, as Fury is sent on a top-secret mission to the French Riviera. He’ll need to outmaneuver the enemy as the complex dance of espionage begins, but will he meet his match in the mysterious FRANKIE NOBLE? Grab the edge of your seat and don’t let go – this caper’s just getting started!
The hardest hitting mutants. The biggest villains. And now, the best artists in the business! Some of the biggest names in comics are gearing up to bring the highly anticipated Astonishing X-Men to life, and Marvel has revealed the first artists attached! Beginning this July, blockbuster writer Charles Soule headlines a prestigious new series that will team him with a new A-List artist each and every issue for an epic story that will reshape the mutant landscape in the Marvel Universe!
Kicking off in July’s oversized Astonishing X-Men #1, Charles Soule teams with red-hot artist Jim Cheung to unite a team of fan-favorite X-Men the likes of which you’ve never seen before! Future issues of Astonishing X-Men will feature artwork by Ron Garney, ACO, Phil Noto, Greg Land, Ramon Rosanas with more artists yet to be revealed!
Old Man Logan, Archangel, Mystique, Rogue, Gambit, Bishop, Psylocke and Fantomex. Assembled, they are the Astonishing X-Men. But what brings this eclectic collection of heroes together? A familiar menace has once again reared its ugly head – reborn, renewed and resurrected. To defeat one of their deadliest foes and rescue one of their own, the X-Men’s greatest will assemble for a mission that will take them places you never thought they’d go!
The first can’t-miss issue of Astonishing X-Men hits this July.
Deathstroke Vol. 1 The Professional
Written by: Christopher Priest
Art by: Belardino Brabo, Mark Morales, Joe Bennett, Jason Paz, Carlo Pagulayan
Cover by: Aco
Confronted by his own troubled past and challenged to reinvent himself before he loses everything and everyone in his life, Slade Wilson, a.k.a. Deathstroke, finds himself and those he values most in the crosshairs—stalked by an unseen enemy. Collects DEATHSTROKE #1-5 and DEATHSTROKE: REBIRTH #1.
Midnighter and Apollo #6
(W) Steve Orlando (A) Fernando Blanco (CA) Aco
In Shops: Mar 01, 2017
SRP: $3.99
Midnighter always knew it wouldn’t be easy to fight his way out of Hell… but did he ever consider that it might be impossible? Even with Apollo’s strength by his side, some wars just can’t be won… is this never-ending battle finally over?
The world is a more dangerous place than ever. It needs dangerous men to keep it safe. That’s where he comes in. When you need a lone agent to infiltrate, capture, uncover or destroy – there’s no one better than Fury! Marvel has announced Nick Fury #1 – the all-new series launching this April! Eisner Award-winning writer James Robinson joins visionary artist ACO for a high-octane spy-thriller full of action and dripping with style!
An-all new era for Marvel’s premier super spy begins here as Robinson and ACO bring you single-issue spy-fy adventures! Whether it’s aboard a speeding train, in the underwater city of Atlantis or even the surface of the moon – Fury gets the job done! His first mission? A trip to the beautiful French Riviera! Only this is no vacation. Amid the bright casino lights and beautiful picturesque vistas, there’s something foul at play. Let the complex dance of espionage and spy craft begin! Only, Nick Fury may have finally met his match in the form of the mysterious Frankie Noble, Agent of Hydra!
Every issue: New mission. High-tech weapons. Higher stakes espionage. Non-stop action. He’ll dare any danger. He’ll fight any foe. He is…Nick Fury!
Some amazing comics came out in 2016 from both the Big Two and the indie ranks. This was the year that I had a lot of fun reading the books that came out in the “margins” of Marvel and DC that didn’t feature their top characters, but had idiosyncratic, top notch visuals, or just a good sense of humor. Black Mask continues to be my go-to for hard hitting indie work, and the whole BOOM! Box imprint continues to be as fun as ever.
Without further ado, these are my personal favorite comics of 2016, the ones that stimulated and entertained me the most in this difficult year.
10. Kim and Kim #1-4 (Black Mask)
Writer: Mags Visaggio Artist: Eva Cabrera Colorist: Claudia Aguirre
Kim and Kim was a super fun sci-fi miniseries with some wild and wacky worldbuilding, rollicking action scenes, and lots of hilarious interactions between the two leads, Kim Q and Kim D. Writer Mags Visaggio put their friendship front and center giving the comic a strong emotional through-line between bounty hunter shenanigans. Also, Eva Cabrera excels at drawing attractive humans as well as strange aliens, and I enjoyed Claudia Aguirre’s pastel-filled color palette. It was also nice to have a story starring two queer women not end in senseless death.
9. Jonesy #1-8 (BOOM! Studios)
Writer: Sam Humphries Artist: Caitlin Rose Boyle Colorists: Mickey Quinn, Brittany Peer
Every year, the BOOM! Box imprint seems to churn out a new title that captures my heart. Jonesy is a fire cracker of a comic starring a teenage girl, who can make anyone fall in love with anything. Unfortunately, that power doesn’t work on her personally, and it gets her into a lot of trouble. Sam Humphries’ writing has as little chill as his protagonist, and Caitlin Rose-Boyle’s art evokes the zines that Jonesy loves to make about her favorite pop star, Stuff. The hyper-stylized plots and faces that Jonesy pulls kept me laughing while Jonesy’s struggles with finding someone to love her and her strained relationship with her mom in the second arc gave me the feels. Her and her friends’ unabashed passion for life is kind of inspiring too.
8. Ultimates #3-12, Ultimates 2 #1-2 (Marvel)
Writer: Al Ewing Artists: Kenneth Rocafort, Christian Ward, Djibril Morrisette-Phan, Travel Foreman Colorist: Dan Brown
Ultimates and Ultimates 2 were the gold standard for team superhero book at both Marvel and DC, and not even Civil War II could stop this title’s momentum. The Al Ewing-penned comic was more of a science fiction saga that happened to star a diverse cast of superheroes than a straight up team book as they tried to find productive solutions to problems like Galactus and the Anti-Man instead of just punching things. And like all good team books, there’s some great interpersonal tension like when Black Panther puts Wakanda before the team, Ms. America defies Captain Marvel, and Spectrum and Blue Marvel start smooching. Ultimates also has some wonderful tapestry-style double page spreads from artists Kenneth Rocafort, Christian Ward, and Travel Foreman that match its multiversal scope. It’s an entertaining and esoteric comic.
7. Deadman: Dark Mansion of Forbidden Love #1-2 (DC)
Writer: Sarah Vaughn Artist: Lan Medina Colorist: Jose Villarrubia
In 2016, DC really stretched its wings genre-wise with the Young Animal imprint and comics, like a satirical take on the Flintstones. But, the best of this quirky bunch was a Gothic romance take on Deadman from Fresh Romance‘s Sarah Vaughn, Fables‘ Lan Medina, and atmospheric colorist Jose Villarrubia. The main character, Berenice, can see ghosts, including Deadman, who are trapped in a haunted British mansion. There are secret passageways, mysterious backstories, and an epic, bisexual love triangle, but mostly, Deadman is a meditation on mortality and relationships, both platonic and romantic with some jaw-dropping scenery from Medina and Villarrubia.
6. Patsy Walker AKA Hellcat #2-13 (Marvel)
Writer: Kate Leth Artists: Brittney Williams, Natasha Allegri Colorists: Megan Wilson, Rachelle Rosenberg
Patsy Walker AKA Hellcat is a comic that acknowledges how annoying getting your life together can be for twenty-somethings, who live in the city. Kate Leth, Brittney Williams, Megan Wilson, and Rachelle Rosenberg also throw injourneys to Hell, guest appearances from Jessica Jones and Jubilee, telekinetic bisexuals quoting Hamilton, and nods to the old Patsy Walker romance comics to a quite relatable comic. Brittney Williams’ Magical Girl and Chibi-inspired art is great for comedy purposes, but she and Leth also had some emotional payoffs throughout Hellcat thanks to the relationships developed between Patsy, Ian Soo, and She-Hulk, especially when she reacts to She-Hulk’s injury in Civil War II. Hellcat is fierce, high energy comic that is the best of both romance and superhero comics with the occasional trippy scene shift from Williams, Wilson, and Rosenberg.
5. Mockingbird #1-8 (Marvel)
Writer: Chelsea Cain Artist: Kate Niemczyk, Sean Parsons, Ibrahim Moustafa Colorist: Rachelle Rosenberg
Mockingbird was experimental, unabashedly feminist, pretty sexy, and just happened to star a former West Coast Avenger and be published by Marvel Comics. Thriller novelist Chelsea Cain plotted a pair of mysteries, involving cosplay cruises, doctor waiting rooms, corgis, and Marvel Universe deep cuts that were engaging thanks to detail filled art from Kate Niemczyk and inker Sean Parsons. Loaded with background gags and subtle foreshadowing for future issues, Mockingbird certainly has “replay” value as a comic and is triumphant, messy, and funny just like its lead character, Bobbi Morse and was a coming out party for Marvel’s next great colorist, Rachelle Rosenberg.
4. Love is Love (IDW)
Writers: Various Artists: Various
I just reviewed this comics anthology a few days ago, but Love is Love is the 2016 comic that affected me personally the most as it showed the effects of The Pulse shooting on the LGBTQ community in a variety of ways. I latched onto stories about the vibrancy of the queer community in Orlando, the sanctuary effect of gay clubs that provided some of the anthology’s best visuals from Jesus Merino, Alejandra Gutierrez, and Michael Oeming, and the use of superheroes like Batman, Midnighter, and Supergirl as simple analogues of hope in the middle of heartbreak. Love is Love saddened me, but it also inspired me to continue to uplift my LGBTQ siblings as the racist, sexist, homophobes Trump and Pence take the office of president and vice president. It was also cool to see so many talented creators using their gifts to help raise money for Equality Florida.
3. The Wicked + the Divine #18-24, #1831 (Image)
Writer: Kieron Gillen Artists: Jamie McKelvie, Stephanie Hans, Kevin Wada Colorist: Matthew Wilson
In WicDiv‘s third year, Kieron Gillen, Jamie McKelvie, and Matthew Wilson went a little blockbuster with big battles, splash pages, and an unexpected character death. But, the comic is still about the journey of Laura (Now Persephone.) from fan to artist, and how it has changed her life and relationships. And, in time honored tradition, WicDiv wasn’t afraid to get experimental with an issue featuring a Pantheon of Romantic poets and writers, like Mary Shelley and Lord Byron with lavish guest art from Journey into Mystery‘s Stephanie Hans, or the magazine issue with professional journalists interviewing Kieron Gillen roleplaying as Fantheon members with beautiful spot illustrations from Kevin Wada. As WicDiv enters its “Imperial Phase”, McKelvie and Wilson’s art is both opulent and disarming while Kieron Gillen has started to expose the personalities behind the explosions and drama of “Rising Action”.
2. Giant Days #10-21, Holiday Special #1 (BOOM!)
Writer: John Allison Artists: Max Sarin, Liz Fleming Colorist: Whitney Cogar
Giant Days is funny, true, shows the value of a good inker in Liz Fleming to nail a face or gesture, and reminds me of a weekend I spent in its setting of Sheffield over two years ago. John Allison and Max Sarin have developed the personalities and mannerisms of the three leads: Susan, Esther, and Daisy that any situation that they’re plugged into from music festivals to housing selections and even cheating rings is pure entertainment. Allison, Sarin, and the bright colors of Whitney Cogar nail the ups and downs of college life with a touch of the surreal, and the series continues to be more compelling as we get to know Susan, Esther, and Daisy better as people.
1. Midnighter #8-12, Midnighter and Apollo #1-3 (DC)
Writer: Steve Orlando Artists: David Messina, Gaetano Carlucci, ACO, Hugo Petrus, Fernando Blanco Colorist: Romulo Fajardo Jr.
Steve Orlando’s run on Midnighter and Midnighter and Apollo has the most bone breaking action, the coolest panel layouts from David Messina, ACO, and Fernando Blanco and yes, the hottest kisses and other sexy stuff as Midnighter and Apollo are back in a relationship. Orlando shows his passion for the DC and Wildstorm universes by bringing in obscure or neglected characters, like Extrano, and making them instantly compelling or frightening in the case of Henry Bendix. Watching Midnighter skillfully take down opponents from the Suicide Squad to subway pirates or demons is an adrenaline rush, and Orlando tempers these action scenes with plenty of romance and personal moments. Midnighter and Midnighter and Apollo aren’t just the best superhero comics of 2016, but the best ones period. Come for the one-liners and shattered limbs and stay for the self-sacrificing love.
