Graphic Policy’s Top Comic Picks this Week!
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.
Alex
Top Pick: Divinity II #4 (Valiant) – The first Divinity miniseries didn’t really click for me – oh, I understood why it was held in such high regard, but the series never resonated with me as much as it does with other people (don’t get me wrong, I really enjoyed it). I probably need to read it again, because Divinity II can apparently do no wrong in my eyes. The final issue of the four issue miniseries is bitter sweet, because this has been so good I just don’t want it to end.
4001 A.D. #3 (Valiant) – Hands down the best event this summer. I can’t wait to read this.
Action Comics #960 (DC Comics) – There’s something about the frenetic energy of this comic that has just clicked with me, and for the first time in twenty years I am beyond excited at the thought of a Superman comic.
Howard The Duck # 9 (Marvel) – An underappreciated gem, this series is one of the most effortlessly entertaining comics on the racks today.
X-O Manowar #47 (Valiant) – Valiant’s longest running series is coming to a close with issue #50, and for the duration of this arc the company are giving away free art prints (or original artwork if you’re lucky) with each issue. Which is great value on its own, but the story itself has also been pretty great, making the art print a happy bonus.
Anthony
Top Pick: Divinity II #4 (Valiant) – The end is unfortunately here (at least before the upcoming December release of Divinity III!). Divinity II, just as its predecessor series did, has been building towards a clash of titans that weighs heavily between two very different ideals and moralities. Myshka and Abram are set to face off to decide the fate of the world in which reality would alter into a Stalinverse or set back onto its rightful course.
East of West #28 (Image Comics) – Lines are being divided, alliances are being formed and death lurks around every corner. After the chaotic, violent end of last issue, multiple characters’ motives and respective ‘cards’ have been revealed. It will be very interesting to see where this series goes from now as it has reached a pinnacle (at least as of right now) to its multiple layered conflicts.
Black Panther #4 (Marvel) – Ta-Nehisi Coates has been crafting a rich script that covers a wide spectrum of folklorish tales, environments both real and metaphysical within Wakanda and Africa as a whole, as well as presenting a real understanding to both T’Challa’s position and Tenzi and The People. Brian Stelfreeze’s illustrations with Laura Martin’s colours have been providing a very imaginative and detailed look that blends the backdrop clash of technology and nature. The conflict that has been building up is about to come to a head as this first arc concludes.
Indoctrination #2 (Z2 Comics) – Like the dirty, demonic brainchild of True Detective and its H.P. Lovecraftian imagery, Michael Moreci, Matt Battaglia, and Jim Campbell present a story that fuses FBI agents, the American South and a serial killer to question the power of ideology. Moreci looks to continue his moulding of politics with violence and the horrific with the dim, atmospheric images of Roche Limit fellow creator Matt Battaglia.
Paul
Top Pick: Mighty Thor #9 (Marvel) – This book has been consistently good from the get go. The art is great and the stories have been exciting and showing a lot of character from Thor, both as Jane and the Goddess of Thunder. But I am very interested in this new development of a secret organization of corporations pulling strings from the shadows. Curious to see what their purpose/end game is. Pick this one up, you won’t be disappointed.
Civil War II #4 (Marvel) – To be honest, I’ve felt this new civil war has just been lukewarm. Sure, there have been a few casualties (a couple surprising ones) and sides are being chosen, but for me at least it feels like ‘yeah ok, we’ve done this’. The last issue was a surprise, and the consequences of one characters actions will be decided. It’s an ok read, and it does have it’s moments but I am hoping things ramp heading to the conclusion.
Civil War II Choosing Sides #3 (Marvel) – I have been enjoying this Civil War II tie in. It’s a book of three shorter stories focusing on 3 characters and their place/thoughts/opinions in this new civil war. It’s nice to see things from characters not directly tied to it in the main books and see how this fallout will affect the MU as a whole.
Red Hood and the Outlaws: Rebirth #1 (DC Comics) – I read this title for a time when the new 52 came to be, with Jason Todd, Arsenal and Starfire teamed up and facing down mystical and alien threats. Now we have Red Hood who stumbles into a team up with Artemis (the Amazon, not the Young Justice character) and apparently Bizzaro; yup, sounds strange to me too, but I have to say I am curious to see what this trio is going to do together.
Brett
Top Pick: Divinity II #4 (Valiant) – This miniseries just like the previous volume has been absolutely fantastic. Every issue delivers and the resolution of how two god-like beings end their battle makes sense and is satisfying. I can’t wait for the third volume later this year and this issue leaves some clues that has me even more excited.
4001 AD #3 (Valiant) – Epic is how I feel about this one. This has been a fantastic event as Valiant keeps delivering.
Batgirl #1 (DC Comics) – Barbara hits the road and the concept of that sounds WAY too interesting to not check out. Something different is good.
Captain Kid #1 (Aftershock Comics) – Mark Waid has a new superhero comic and the premise sounds interesting enough. Waid does some excellent comics, especially of the superhero genre, so a new one has me at least interested in seeing what the first issue is like.
Tomboy #6 (Action Lab: Danger Zone) – If you’re not reading this series, you’re missing out. It’s a dark and brutal vengeance story featuring a teenage girl. Charles Bronson in the form of a tween.
Patsy Walker AKA Hellcat #8 works as both a Civil War II tie-in while also exploring Patsy Walker’s relationship with She-Hulk and slightly shifting her status quo as she gets a new office, new assistant, but still has support from her friends. There’s not much in the way of plot, but writer Kate Leth and artist Brittney Williams go for maximum emotion and show how much Jennifer Walters’ friendship has inspired and meant to Patsy, who doesn’t care about the wars between heroes and crossover events, but just wants to get her temp agency off the ground.
It was new comic book day yesterday! What’d everyone get? What’d you like? What didn’t you like? Sound off in the comments below!