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.

Brett

Top Pick: The Realist (Archaia/BOOM! Studios) – Israeli cartoonist Asaf Hanuka’s weekly strips commenting on everything from marriage to technology to social activism through intimate moments of triumph and failure.

Divinity #3 (Valiant Entertainment) – Valiant I think has the best superhero universe right now in comics. It helps that they’re willing to try new things as far as the characters, tone, and direction series go. This one is one of their more audacious comics to date, and it has been a wonderful read so far.

Drones #1 (IDW Publishing) – Two former predator drone operators face insurgency and insanity on the Las Vegas Strip in the surreal surroundings of the world’s first terrorism-themed hotel!

Kaptara #1 (Image Comics) – A space expedition goes horribly wrong because if it didn’t there would be no story! Reluctant explorer Keith Kanga and his crew crash land on KAPTARA, a world filled with danger and weird danger and dangerous weirdos! And if he can’t survive, then Earth, the place where YOU live, is doomed! From Chip Zdarsky, do you need another reason to check it out?

Transformers: Windblade Combiner Wars #2 (IDW Publishing) – IDW has been knocking it out of the park when it comes to their latest Transformers events which brings worlds together, as well as Transformers.

 

Edward

Top Pick: Suicide Risk #24 (BOOM! Studios) – This series should be at the top of every comic fan’s list.  Its version of the superhero genre is astounding.

Little Mermaid #3 (Zenescope) – Zenescope’s under the radar series has veered a bit towards the expected, but it is still a fresh take on the fairy tale.

Manifest Destiny #14 (Image Comics) -The strange adventures through middle America continue, but will Sacajawea reveal something soon?

Postal #3 (Image Comics) –  The series has managed to be extremely gripping in its first couple of issues.  Secrets abound in the town of criminals.

Satellite Sam #13 (Image Comics) – The medium’s standout crime noir title returns with possibly some answers to the questions on the way.

 

Elana Levin

Top Pick: Convergence: New Teen Titans #1 (DC Comics) – The original Wolfman/Perez run of New Teen Titans was glorious soapy teenage hero wonder.   And now we get more of it and with Nicola Scott on pencils– a fantastic artists whose work I first fell for when she drew Secret Six. She draws attractive people but with real characterization and “acting” shining through in a way very few artists do. I don’t care about Tangent universe, which provides the characters they are fighting. But this old school Titans line-up and combination of classic and new talent have me sold.

I’d hazard to guess that fans of Claremont’s X-Men & the various Young Avengers series would enjoy the young characters’ soapy exploits if these books are anything like the original.

Velvet #10 (Image Comics) – Stylish as ever and unique. Complex, sexy and mature female characters are still rare in comics, and anywhere. Velvet is always a pleasure. A film version of her would make Brubecker a wealthy man and would be doing the world a favor. We need Velvet!

Lazarus #16 (Image Comics) – Lazarus is the scifi dystopia our world needs. Smart work that goes where no others dare. I should’ve proposed a session on this series for Left Forum or maybe get Jacobin Magazine to do an in depth review. I’d have ranked this higher but the story works better in tradepaperback.

The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl #4 (Marvel) –  Adorable, zany and feminist as hell. I love the way Erika Henderson draws Galactus.

 

Nevada

Top Pick: Harvey Kurtzman: The Man Who Created MAD & Revolutionized Humor in America (Fantagraphics) – I’m a fan of MAD and can’t wait to read this fascinating account of Mr. Kurtzman’s life and work, from the founding of MAD and then his early departure, to an investigation with the FBI during the McCarthy Era and beyond.  Packed with interviews by friends and family, this promises to be a revealing look at a great American humorist.

MAD Magazine #533 (Mad Magazine) – Speaking of MAD, I’ll have to catch this issue featuring Weird Al Yankovic along with Alfred E. Neuman on the cover. Whether you remember Weird Al’s work from the ‘80’s or you’re just now discovering his genius, this pairing on the April cover is truly inspired!

Miami Vice Remix #2 (IDW Publishing) – Oh, speaking of the ‘80’s, if you weren’t around to experience the fashion/ cultural/ musical phenomenon that was the original TV show, Miami Vice, here’s a Remix! This looks great—and quite bad-ass! Read this comic-book update and check out the original show that’s been playing on Esquire and Cozi networks and pretty soon you’ll be rolling up the sleeves of your pastel blazer and sporting a five o’clock shadow (guys), or slipping into a leather mini-skirt and double-processing your hair (chicks).

The Cartoon Introduction to Philosophy (Hill & Wang) – A canoe trip with Heraclitus through the great debates of Western thought? Sounds like the cruise of a lifetime and a fun way to try and wrap your head around the mysteries of life and the universe, or vice versa.

Unbeatable Squirrel Girl #4 (Marvel) – I’m new to Squirrel Girl comics but this looks like a winner! I always knew squirrels were clever, agile, resourceful, and brave; add to that true Girl-Power and Squirrel Girl has to be an unbeatable addition to the super hero pantheon.