Tag Archives: prez

Graphic Policy’s Top Comic Picks this Week!

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Cyborg #2 CoverWednesdays 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: Cyborg #2 (DC Comics) – The first issue of the series was a fantastic start, and I’ve been eagerly awaiting the second. Writer David Walker seems to have addresses a lot of past issues with the character in the first issue, while also setting him on an interesting course too. This is a comic I keep checking the release schedule to see if it’s out, that’s how much I want to read it.

Prez #3 (DC Comics) – The first two issues have had me laughing, and they’re turning out to be really prescient when it comes to the future of politics and elections. Not sure if I should keep laughing or be really scared.

Princeless: Be Yourself #3 (Action Lab Entertainment) – Writer Jeremy Whitley nails it issue after issue, in this series which is so far ahead the rest of the comic industry as far as characters and themes. Girl power!

Snowden (Seven Stories Press) – Ted Rall chronicles the history of Edward Snowden and the NSA leak.

Zodiac Starforce #1 (Dark Horse Comics) – A new girl power comic that feels like a mix of Sailor Moon, Jem, and a lot of other series that are just awesome. This was an indie comic, and got picked up by Dark Horse, so it’s fun to see it also go from a small press comic to a full blown one. The first issue is all set-up and pretty entertaining.

 

Alex

Hank Johnson: Agent Of Hydra #1 (Marvel) – The preview pages j have seen of this comic looks absolutely fantastic. The idea of the behind the scenes look at the regular lives of some of henchmen in the worlds premier villainous organisation is really intriguing, and I’m sure there’ll be some interesting. Guest stars.

Old Man Logan #4 (Marvel) – I hadn’t realized just how much I missed reading about Wolverine until this series came out. Whilst I’m glad he hasn’t been resurrected for no reason, it’s nice to get some more time with one of the more interesting incarnations of Wolverine, too.

 

Edward

Top Pick: Hacktivist Vol 2 #2 (Archaia/BOOM! Studios) – The sequel series opened on a high note, and it looks like it will maintain the same tempo.

Batgirl #43 (DC Comics) – A new story arc for this standout series. Not much seems capable of stopping the momentum of this series.

He-Man: Eternity War #9 (DC Comics) – Every issue leads to a bigger turn of the plot. No idea what is coming this time, but it will be big again.

Mulan Revelations #3 (Dark Horse) – The first two issues have been heavy on style and a bit lighter on substance, but the concept is so cool that it deserves a chance to get settled.

Star Wars: Lando #3 (Marvel) – This series has been non-stop fun, proving that Lando should never have been a secondary character.

 

Elana

Top Pick: NEXT Wave: Collected Edition (Marvel) – The hilarious, highly political superhero team satire series featuring Monica Rambeau (formerly Photon or Capt Marvel) is out in a nice complete collection. The biting commentary and creativity of this series is renowned. From dream team Warren Ellis and Stuart Immonen.

Cyborg #2 (DC Comics) – This series is already a standout for having unusually astute analysis of blackness and also about disability. It develops Victor Stone aka Cyborg as a fascinating hero in his own right and as far as I can see it even resolved some of the previously problematic aspects of the character: (read about those problems in Robert Jones Jr’s essential essay “Humanity Not a Included“). I’m ecstatic to have an African-American writer on this title. David Walker’s story is potent scifi that works on metaphorical level and well as on a narrative level. He references Invisible Man– which has needed to happen in a Cyborg story for decades. It’s a can’t-miss series.

Grayson #11 (DC Comics) – In this issue Grayson fights himself. Or someone pretending to be him. I love Huntress in this series acting as his spy master. I totally respect this comic’s dedication to a female and queer male readership that too many series ignore.

Lumberjanes #17 (BOOM! Box/BOOM! Studios) – New story arc featuring our favorite feminist summer camp adventurers. Please get your kids reading this book. It’s groundbreaking and fun and fabulous. And read it yourself for swells of nostalgia for a relatable yet fantastical children’s story that I wish I’d had when I was little.

Review: Prez #2

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Prez #2With the election in chaos and a Congress mired in corruption, Twitter sensation @corndoggirl becomes the first teenaged President of the United States!

I really liked the first issue of Prez. I officially fell in love with the series reading the second. Writer Mark Russell has put out a comic that had me laughing throughout by depicting a political reality that’s so ludicrous, but at the same time there’s a touch of reality. Russell is brutal in his satire, taking us on a whirlwind tour of political maneuvering where all of the elected officials are just looking for a handout, and none of them are too bright.

It’s post-election and the vote has moved to Congress, so there’s all sorts of jockeying to try to get their (piss poor) candidate elected. How that all goes down is just too funny, and had me laughing (seriously most of the issue had me laughing).

Artist Ben Caldwell adds so much detail that you’ll linger on each page seeing what he’s added. The jokes are as much visual as they are written, and they’re seriously funny. There’s an almost cartoonish quality to the art that gives it a manic/chaotic vibe. That’s a good thing as it ups the fun of the series.

With a real Presidential election going on that seems more and more like the world Russell is depicting, you have to wonder is he actually writing thoughtful satire, or is he just ahead of the times? A great read for those who care even a little about the political world around them.

Story: Mark Russell Art: Ben Caldwell
Story: 10 Art: 10 Overall: 10 Recommendation: Buy

DC Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Graphic Policy’s Top Comic Picks this Week!

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star lord and kitty pryde 1 coverWednesdays 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: Cyborg #1 (DC Comics) – Some things are changing for Cyborg, his armor is evolving some how. The series puts the spotlight on this founding member of the Justice League. The creators have also said they plan on examining real world issues, and how an African-American superhero (who’s literally a weapon) would have to deal with them.

The Blacklist #1 (Titan Comics) – The television show gets a comic tie-in that actually is in continuity. The writers have nailed Red’s quirkiness in what feels like an unaired episode.

Fight Club 2 #3 (Dark Horse) – With each issue it feels like we go down the rabbit hole more and more. That’s a good thing. The third issue makes everything a bit more interesting as we continue our journey through Tyler’s world.

Prez #2 (DC Comics) – The first issue had me regularly laughing as it skewered modern politics and gave us a new celebrity in Corn Dog Girl.

Transformers #43 (IDW Publishing) – Soundwave is building something around Jupiter. Is it a peaceful commune, or is there some other plan? Cosmos is on a mission to find out what’s going on, and the results are intriguing. The series stands out when it gets philosophical and political, and boy does it here.

 

Alex

Top Pick: C.O.W.L. #11 (Image Comics) – One of the best series out there, Kyle Higgins’ C.O.W.L. takes place in the 1960’s in a world where superheroes are unionized. A fascinating take on the superhero genre, Higgins also touches on the corruption that was rife during that period in America’s history. This issue was delayed by a few weeks, and the wait to get it in my hands has been a long one.

Old Man Logan #3 (Marvel) – Old Man Logan is one of the best Wolverine stories this century, and while I was originally nervous about Marvel revisiting it, I’ve been pleasantly surprised at just how good the series has been so far.

 

Elana

Top Pick: Power Up #1 (BOOM! Box/BOOM! Studios) – Kate Leth’s Post Modern queer feminist take on the Magical Girl genre. And it’s cuuuute!

Grayson #10 (DC Comics) – The last issue was my first and this is a new arc. It’s Grayson as a double agent Bond and the return of Huntress in a new role as head of a secret agency Grayson has infiltrated at Bruce’s request. And now Bruce is dead and Dick is on his own. Manifesting my dream casting of Rosario Dawson as Huntress this new 52 incarnation is bi-racial!

The book is suspenseful yet charming. But I’m a bit concerned that it may be engaging in queer baiting with its lead breaking the 4th wall last issue to ask if he was straight (or if that was just his tie). In 2015 its long past time comics stopped queer baiting and started having actual queer representation especially among A List characters.

I’ll delve into these issues in my review of the new issue.

Infinite Loop #4 (IDW Publishing) – Teddy confronts her archenemy: her former boss, Tina, and launches a series of unprecedented temporal attacks to force Tina from her hideout, putting the safety of the world at risk!

Spider Woman #9 (Marvel) – Last issue Jessica made a socially enlightened decision in spite of being brutally attacked by the formerly abused wife of a costumed villain.

Jess is going to let this new Utopia for the escaped families of super villains continue as a safe haven.

Now we are only a few months from Jess being pregnant as her All New All Different cover shows. Let’s see how she gets there. I’m reserving judgement since writer Hopeless’s run has been strong and feminist.

Star-Lord and Kitty Pryde #1 (Marvel) – This better be mostly Kitty…

 

Mr. H

Top Pick: Grayson #10 (DC Comics) – Agent Dick Grayson. Super Hero Lex Luthor Nuff round two. Nuff said. This should be fantastic!

Cyborg #1 (DC Comics) – New team, New tech, New Start and art by superstar Ivan Reis. This one is worth at least a beta test.

Deathstroke #8 (DC Comics) – Slade contracted to kill some gods and Diana interferes. Just some good ol’ beat em up, slash em up action! Grab the popcorn and let your brains go for this one.

Old Man Logan #3 (Marvel Comics) – Basically Clint Eastwood with claws roaming the desert kicking ass. 1-2-3 Snikt!

We are Robin #2 (DC Comics) – Social Media Super Saviors? We shall see. It takes more than a color scheme and pinning a letter on yourself. Time to see if the kids got what it takes.

 

Paul

Top Pick: Star-Lord and Kitty Pryde #1 (Marvel) – I have been following this couple in Guardians of the Galaxy and All New X-Men, so naturally I’m excited to see this title.  But what really has me interested is the cover showing Shadowcat from Age of Apocalypse…is Kitty with Peter, or against him?

Magneto #20 (Marvel) – This title is showing how Magneto is trying to deal with the incursions, wanting to be the saviour of the planet so mutants can carry on.  Polaris is also along for the ride, helping her father but also looking after the humans her father is stepping over while he tries to save the day.  This title will more than likely be ending when the Marvel Universe gets its reboot, and I am looking forward to see how Magneto goes out.

Marvel Zombies #2 (Marvel) – Issue 1 was fun, and I really enjoyed Elsa Bloodstone as the main character we follow.  I only know her from the stories she’s guest starred in, and I’m glad to be seeing more of her and what kind of character she is.  Plus, who doesn’t like zombies?

 

Pharoah

Top Pick: Fables #150 (DC Comics/Vertigo) – I heard that this world shattering story was coming to an end in a big way during last year’s SDCC, this is one of those stories that every comic book reader needs to read yesterday and am interested to see if this ends in typical Fables fashion….

Archie vs Sharknado #1 (Archie) – It has been quite a few months for Archie. He has fought zombies, died, fought Predator and now he fights Sharknado !!!! Nothing else to be said

JLA: Gods and Monsters : Batman #1 (DC Comics)- I loved the prequel series on Machinima, and can’t wait for the movie, but will settle for prequel comic book set in this alternate world, where Kirk Langstrom ( known to Batman devotees as Man-Bat) is Batman, should be interesting!!

Star-Lord and Kitty Pryde #1 (Marvel )- longtime readers know them as , *insert pun* “star crossed lovers”, but this takes place within Battle World, so one is curious to see if their love is the same or are they mortal enemies?

Wolf #1 (Image) – I love hardboiled detectives, but hardboiled detectives who deal with the supernatural, (i.e., John Constantine, Harry Dresden) is a special breed, enter Antoine Wolfe.

Around the Tubes

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It’s new comic book day! What’s everyone excited for?

Around the Tubes

SKTCHD – Too Many Books: DC Comics and Its Struggle to Find the Right Mix – An interesting analysis.

Nothing But Comics – 270 Needed to Win: A Close Look at the Election Map in Prez – My one issue with the comic. Texas is projected to go Blue at some point.

Nothing But Comics – When Can We Read the Iron Man Phantom 3 Promotional Comic? – Bwahahahaha.

Kotaku – What Happens When You Try To Kill People In Batman: Arkham Knight – Um, k.

GamePolitics – Report: Steam version of ‘Batman: Arkham Knight’ suffering technical issues at launch – Doh!

 

Around the Tubes Reviews

ICv2 – The Divine

Talking Comics – The Fiction #1

Around the Tubes

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It was new comic book day yesterday. What’d everyone get?

Around the Tubes

CBDLF – Connecticut Middle Schooler Investigated by State Police for “Death Note” List – Calls for a ban in 3…2…1…

Kotaku – Batman’s Big Collector’s Edition Cancelled At Last Minute – Well that sucks.

The Full Bleed – What Movie Producers Can Teach You About Selling Comics – An intriguing read.

Newsarama – Fantastic Four Hits Denny’s … No, Seriously – Interesting.

 

Around the Tubes Reviews

CBR – Black Canary #1

Comic Vine – Black Canary #1

Flickering Myths – Burning Fields #5

Comic Vine – Deadpool’s Secret Wars #2

The Outhousers – The Fiction #1

CBR – Ghostbusters: Get Real #1

Comic Vine – Ghostbusters: Get Real #1

Talking Comics – Gotham Academy #7

Comic Vine – Ms. Marvel #17

The Outhousers – Negative Space #1

Comic Vine – Old Man Logan #2

Comics Alliance – Prez #1

Comic Vine – Runaways #1

The Outhousers – The Strain: The Night Eternal #10

Comic Vine – X-O Manowar #37

We Talk Prez with Mark Russell

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Prez 1 CoverMeet Beth Ross, the first teenaged President of the United States. In a nation where corporations can run for office, the poor are used as human billboards, and tacos are delivered by drone, our only hope is this nineteen-year-old Twitter sensation. But the real question isn’t whether she’s ready for politics – it’s whether politics is ready for her.

DC Comics‘ Prez is a twelve part miniseries is written by Mark Russell, the rather brilliant satirist behind God is Disappointed in You. Russell is now setting his sights on politics with this series set in the future that still nails many of the issues that we deal with today.

We got a chance to talk to Russell about the series and the state of politics.

Graphic Policy: How did you get involved with Prez? Did you pitch it to DC Comics? Did they come to you?

Mark Russell: They approached me strangely enough. I had written a book God is Disappointed in You which condenses the bible into parts that are two to three pages each. It’s told in an irreverent way and they really liked the tone of that book. So when they were asking who would want to write a satirical series for DC, my book had been around their office, so that’s how it  came up.

GP: Were you familiar with the previous miniseries that came out?

MR: Yeah, I read the four issue series after I got the gig. They sent it to me along with Ed Brubaker’s Smells Like Teen President. And I read Neil Gaiman’s adaptation that he did for Sandman.

GP: Do you consider yourself politically active? Do you regularly vote, volunteer, stuff like that?

MR: I don’t know how active I am, but I do vote and I have definite opinions about politics. And more than about politics, but philosophy, the state of planet Earth, and human potential. And I think that’s what I want this to be more about than isolate political issues. It’s really about how we are squandering human potential about things that really matter and how we’re using politics to not talk about the important issues that confront the human race.

GP: I know the series goes twelve issues which has it ending in July of next year. It spans pretty much the entire primary season for the 2016 Presidential election. Was that intentional, did that weigh in at all as far as the plans for the series?

MR: I think so. I think, and these decisions are made internally at DC, but I think they wanted to reboot Prez because of how relevant it’d be at the beginning of the 2016 election. That it’d be interesting to have a political comic running simultaneously as the election unfolds.

GP: The series takes place in the future. Was that your decision or DC’s?

MR: That was my decision. I thought it’d be easier to do a satirical comic set in the future because you can take the issues and problems in the present and make them more absurd by putting them in a futuristic concept.

GP: I also noticed in the first issue was devoid any mention of political parties, or parties making decisions. There’s definitely party bosses but there’s no labels. I’m guessing that was intentional.

MR: Yes. In fact there’ll be no mention of parties during the twelve issue run of the comics. And that is intentional. I want this to be about issues, not partisan politics. That’s one of the problems that prevents us from talking about honest solutions.

GP: Beth Ross is the main character, but in politics and campaigns there’s usually a large cast of characters. How much of that behind the scenes world will we see?

MR: The election process only occupies the first three issues of Prez, so there’s not a lot of behind the scenes stuff as far as the electoral politics. There is a lot with the cabinet and the decision making that goes on in the actual Presidency. One of the advantages that Beth Ross has as President is that she’s so completely foreign to politics, she was in politics or in Congress for 20 years or a Governor before, so she has nobody to draw upon from that world to help her in her decision making. Her cabinet is filled with actual experts. People who work in the field, not other politicians. That’s one of the things that makes her decision making and politics a lot different than what you’d see in a Presidency as we’d know it.

GP: The first issue you take on a lot of issues that are going on today like corporate person hood, corporate influence in elections, there’s the backroom decisions. You’ve done religious satire. What got you interested in political satire?

MR: Well I think they’re all the same in the sense that if we’re living active lives, we have opinions of things around us, the big things around us. How we’re squandering human potential. About how people are believing the things they do, and they are being led to do things they wouldn’t do except by this belief system. You always have to be sensitive to the things about the world that hurt you. We write about the things that wound us. If you don’t have have things in the world that you think are wrong and need to be fixed, I don’t understand why you’re writing.

GP: Who came up with Corn Dog girl?

MR: That was me. It was the best I could do with the time constraints as to why she would go viral on the eve of the election.

GP: I work in politics as my day job. I took it as skewering how politicians have turned into celebrities. Was that on purpose?

MR: Yeah. A lot of politics is celebrity culture.

GP: Is that something that’ll play throughout the series as a theme? Or was that something that’s more towards the beginning with the election?

MR: The Corn Dog thing is just an explanation of how becomes President. The idea of celebrity culture invading ever facet of our lives is a theme that will be throughout the series.

GP: There’s a scene where a candidate goes on a YouTube channel to get votes. I think that’s probably pretty prescient. How long before you think this will actually be a thing?

MR: I think by the time 2036 roles around, most of the things I predict will look dated.

GP: The series is going on during a Presidential election year along with all of the other races. Are there thoughts about doing something in the real world, like get people registered in a Rock the Vote sort of way? Or is it just going to be a fun comic?

MR: I’m not really trying to… it’s not a call to arms. It’s also not really fun either. I’m trying to talk about things that bother me about how the world exists, not just politically but also about how society creates hierarchies that don’t allow ideas to flow from the bottom up. And, to me, it’s more of a call to arms in a more encompassing way, about how we use human beings who are blessed with these amazing brains to train them to ask people if they want fries or clean up gym floors as opposed to really unlocking the potential of a function human brain. To me, that’s one of the craziest things today. We have so much brain power dedicated to such menial tasks. And I think that’s more of the central problem of the world. And I think it’s much more about that and finding the value of people than about isolated issues.

GP: Did you do any research into the world of politics and elections?

MR: I didn’t do a lot of research into politics. I follow politics pretty regularly as is. The one thing I have been researching is near future technology. How near future technology will impact the way we live. How ecological and paleontological will impact how the human race will have to live in the next twenty years. I did research more along those lines than the political stuff.

GP: The main lead is Beth Ross. Was it your idea for a female protagonist?

MR: It was my idea. It wasn’t my intention to make a statement with a female character as a lead. I really thought about the character and the more I thought about her, the more she took on this female form in my mind. So it just felt organic to me to make her female.

GP: A thing that stood out to me was Anonymous screwing around with the election. Where did the idea come from using them as opposed to another group?

MR: Yeah. Well I think one of the realities that are changing in the world is that nation states, or geographically defined entities, are less important the more we’re connected online. The really nations are less important than these groups and collectives we form voluntarily with other people who are like us or have similar objectives online. In fact in the future of Prez, Anonymous is recognized as a non-geographical entity by the United Nations. So, I wanted to make that point. How we work more cohesively as sort of these non-geographical entities where we connect online, than we do as an actual land based polity.

GP: Have you heard from the actual Corn Dog Twitter handle at all?

MR: No. There is an actual Twitter handle, but I’m not going to sweet it too much. Because it only is relevant for the first three issues. After that, the whole corn dog thing doesn’t come up a lot.

GP: It’ll be fascinating to see what happens to that Twitter account, when the issue comes out. Thanks a lot for the time talking with us.

Review: Prez #1

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Prez 1 CoverMeet Beth Ross, the first teenaged President of the United States. In a nation where corporations can run for office, the poor are used as human billboards, and tacos are delivered by drone, our only hope is this nineteen-year-old Twitter sensation. But the real question isn’t whether she’s ready for politics – it’s whether politics is ready for her.

This twelve part miniseries is written by Mark Russell, the rather brilliant satirist behind God is Disappointed in You. Russell is now setting his sights on politics with this series set in the future that still nails many of the issues that we deal with today. He rips on internet celebrity, Anonymous, corporations… the general political process. As someone who works in politics, it all hits a bit close to home.

There’s just so much here, and so much to discuss, I could dissect the issue piece by piece… I really should probably do just that. The series is truly fantastic, and in a year that’s seeing the 2016 Presidential race begin, it’s a series that’s a bit of fresh air.

Russell is joined by Ben Caldwell whose style nails down the hyperactive future. It looks like the future, but not so much we can’t relate. Also great is the small details Caldwell puts in throughout every single page. You have to linger and read all the small items, and look at the various items added. The first issue is a great read, and great to look at.

This is me, is there any shock that I wouldn’t enjoy the series? So far, out of all of the new DC series I’ve read, this one is my favorite, and thankfully we have a year to enjoy it.

Story: Mark Russell Art: Ben Caldwell
Story: 10 Art: 9 Overall: 9.5 Recommendation: Buy

DC Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

 

Graphic Policy’s Top Comic Picks this Week!

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black-canary-1-promo-121636Wednesdays 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: Prez #1 (DC Comics) – A teenager is elected President by Twitter in this future send-up of the state of politics. Working in politics I found myself laughing, and cringing at how accurate the series was, especially in its more satirical moments. It hit close to home, which is a good thing. A fantastic send-up perfectly timed for the 2016 Presidential race.

The Kitchen #8 (DC Comics/Vertigo) – I’ve loved this series since the start. It’s a take on the mob genre, except set in the 70s, and it’s the women in charge. The last few issues have had twists and turns of double crosses and all sorts of deals. This final issue of the miniseries is going to be explosive and entertaining.

Letter 44 #17 (Oni Press) – It’s WWIII people!!! Writer Charles Soule has gone all out in this series focused on a President dealing with first contact with aliens, and the crew that’s doing so. The story has been amazing and when I think I have things down, the series throws a curve.

Princeless: Be Yourself #1 (Action Lab Entertainment) – It’s a new volume of the fantastic series that has a young princess saving herself, as well as her sisters. Destroying tropes, pointing out the idiocy of some accepted things in entertainment, and doing it while entertaining too!

Southern Bastards #9 (Image Comics) – One of the best (if not the best) comic on the market right now. The writing, the art, all of it is beyond amazing. It’s the homecoming game, but there’s also been a murder. It’s never too late to hop on and check out this Southern noir series.

 

Chris

Top Pick: Ei8ht # 5 (Dark Horse Comics) – Travelers lost in time, check. Selfless heroism, check. A merciless opposing force, check. This time travel thriller has its bases covered. The art style consisting essentially of black and white shading with contrasting color to provide surface texture may drive away those interested in other titles with bright colors and intense detail. However they would be missing out  on an intriguing tale of time travel where the character connection across time and place are more than meets the eye.

Archie vs. Predator #3 of 4 (Dark Horse Comics) – Even without reading the previous two issues this comic immediately called out to me as a must read. I have to admit that my love for Predator and comic mash-ups is to blame for that. Right away I could see this is not the Archie I was expecting. This issue has it all classic Archie humor,  blood and gore, and a captivating storyline complete with satirical introspective of those stuck in a horrific movie like situations.

Ghostbusters: Get Real #1 (IDW Publishing) – The beginning of a 4 part series where our heroes are unknowingly transported to an alternate dimension when the will of a God is thwarted. To return home they must work with their counterparts from this dimension who luckily just so happen to have experience with this sort of adventure. Reference Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles / Ghostbusters. This issue lays the ground work for what I expect to be yet another great series from the Burnham, Schoeing and Delgado team over at IDW.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Casey & April #1 (IDW Publishing) – Love TMNT but tired of the Turtles then this comic is for you. Take all the turtle powered action and replace it with a teenage love story between Casey and April. While this reviewer is not regretting the time spent reading this issue, it did not rouse much more than a fleeting interest in the series. This issue is a definite pass in my book.

 

Edward

Top Pick: Prez #1 (DC Comics) –  DC is committed to trying something new, and while that hasn’t necessarily worked so far, this new #1 looks like an intriguing updates on the short-lived series from 1973, as a teenage twitter sensation becomes the next President of the United States.  Hopefully it is equal parts social commentary and Bartgirling.

Alex + Ada #15 (Image Comics) –  The finale to this engaging series is here and we get to find out the final fate of the unlikely lovers.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad #4 (Marvel/Disney) –  Did you ever watch a Disney movie and think to yourself that it is pretty entertaining despite the G rating?  That same feeling permeates this series.

Doomed #1 (DC Comics) – Another DC #1, this series looks at a person that can change into Doomsday.  Part of the problem of the appeal of Superman stories is that they lack the street level outlook that some readers like (with the present Truth storyline only sort of helping that.)  Maybe this series is DC’s way of finally shaking up its Superman mythos.

Grimm Fairy Tales 10th Anniversary Special #2 Red Riding Hood (Zenescope) –  Zenescope’s least celebrated superhero, Britney Waters, gets another chance to shine here.  Just when will they give her an ongoing series?

 

Elana

Top Pick: Black Canary #1 (DC Comics) – Spinning off of the hip, young Batgirl series is a new series featuring one of the all time best characters in comics. It’s about time she gets a solo series. The book’s premise is that our super powered vocalist becomes the singer of a rock band, goes on tour and fights bad guys on the road. The awesome rock and roll outfits get my approval.

Wu’s art is hip as hell– the line at her booth at Special Edition was enormous.  Fletcher star is rising fast (see hits like Gotham Academy & Batgirl for starters). This is a creative, modern duo writing for an inclusive audience. The future of super hero comics. So I was pleasantly surprised to read in an interview with Fletcher that some of the legacy of the great Silver Age social issues comics series Green Lantern/Green Arrow is continued in this book. Here’s to a new generation’s “hard traveling heroes“.

Ms. Marvel #16 (Marvel) – The multiverse at stake so who will take care of Jersey City? Kamala is breaking my heart with this cover. Who needs a hug!?

Runaways #1 (Marvel) – Noelle Stevenson’s series Nimona is a runaway hit on the Internet that appeals to a younger and often female Fanbase. This is her big two debut. Her work on Lumber Janes is going to win an Eisner. Having her write a Runaways story about kids with super powers sounds like a match made in heaven. And boy do I miss these kids.

Secret Six #3 (DC Comics) – I need to know what the hell is happening! Gail’s original Secret Six series is kind of the best thing ever. The new series had a good premise but it’s been a rough go. I will keep giving this a series chance. I still have faith!

Thors #1 (Marvel) – Because unlike the Highlander there CAN’T be only one. Most excited for of course our female Thor and Storm. Cute detective story premise seals the deal.

 

Mr. H

Top Pick: Thors #1 (Marvel) – Jason Aaron has been on fire lately and if he’s that good with one God of Thunder, I’m dying to see what he does with a whole roster! In brightest day, in blackest.. oh wait. Nope just pumped for this book! Go Thors!

Justice League of America #1 (DC Comics) – It’s by Bryan Hitch, the man who brought us the cinematic epic which was The Ultimates, I’d like him to take the true Ultimate team in comic books, let him cut loose and see what he can do.

Old Man Logan #2 (Marvel) – Wolverine is dead. Long live a more cranky, aged and badass version of Wolverine. Dystopian futures always bring me a semblance of hope. All I can say is, yes.. and SNIKT!!

Robin: Son of Batman #1 (DC Comics) – First off it’s got Damien Wayne, A Giant Pet Man-Bat, it’s written and drawn by Patrick Gleason. Umm did I mention a Giant Pet Man-Bat??

Wonder Woman #41 (DC Comics) – So far the Finch’s take on the Iconic Amazon have intrigued me. While I don’t think they are at the top of what they could do, I’d like to see what they have further in store. This book has been a guilty pleasure of mine and my gf Ms. B too. Plus, I hope to get some reasoning behind Diana’s new costume.

 

Pharoah

To Pick: Ms. Marvel #16 (Marvel) -This is my top pick of the week just because this character has been nothing but fun since she entered the universe, and it looks like Secret Wars, has come to Jersey City, definitely curious to see how Kamala Khan will be tested!!!

Astronauts In Trouble #1 (Image Comics) – As a company, Image is basically the Jerry Bruckheimer of the comics world, producing blockbuster after blockbuster, and with Charlie (Walking Dead) on this, it definitely has high hopes.

Black Canary #1 (DC Comics) – Brenden Fletcher (BATGIRL) and Annie Wu (HAWKEYE) bring this character to the forefront, after her much needed exposure on the show, Arrow, she finally gets her own shot in this DC reboot.

Mad Max: Fury Road: Furiosa #1 (DC Comics/Vertigo) – After watching the newest Mad Max movie, it definitely has one curious about that whole universe and this comic aims to explore the origin of The Furiosa and it definitely has cred, as it is written by mad Max creator, George Miller himself.

Ghostbusters: Get Real #1 (IDW Publishing) – this sounds so cool, as the film versions and cartoon versions become part of the same world in what can only be interesting chaos

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