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 #3 (Valiant) – Quite frankly, this is one of the best miniseries you’ll read all year. And I’m saying that having only read half of it.
Rai #14 (Valiant) – Another tie-in to Valiant’s summer 4001 A.D.event, and this one is sure to she some light on the recent(ish) past of New Japan. It should be fun.
Red Thorn #8 (Vertigo) – A new arc? Oh, twist my rubber arm, why don’t you? I took this off my pull list five issues ago, but yet I just can’t stop buying it…
Anthony
Top Pick: Bitch Planet #8 (Image Comics) – Kelly Sue DeConnick and Valentine De Landro have been proving, issue by issue, that Bitch Planet is one of the most important titles on the comic stands. It continues to jab and stab at the patriarchy with an exploitative, 1970s aesthetic to De Landro’s art style, heightened by Kelly Fitzpatrick’s nuanced colours. The comic alone is worthy of the price tag so it is a bonus, and a great treat at that, in which every issue includes a back essay analyzing particular issues from a feminist approach. How could you not pick up the next part to the arc entitled ‘President Bitch’?
Autumnlands Tooth and Claw #11 (Image Comics) – The recent issues of Autumnlands has done a solid job at exploring more parts of the world, encountering a wider variety of anthropomorphic groups and the towns/lands they belong to. Kurt Busiek is one of the best in the business at world-building, making those slower-paced issues hit their mark instead of feeling like an unnecessary breather. Benjamin Dewey has been doing a beautiful job at capturing the variety of environments and characters in this fantasy series. Dewey’s visuals naturally pop through another wonderful creator in Jordie Bellaire and her colours. Not only is the world of Autumnlands being further explored, more knowledge is being provided on the mysterious past history as well.
I.D. (GN) (Image Comics) – Originally printed in the Island anthology magazine from Image, I.D. tells the story of three people whom are in the midst of a transformation into another body, maintaining their mental selves upon the transition. Emma Rios poetically questions ideas of identity and how comfortable or uncomfortable we are in the bodies we are born in and thus grow up in. The visual style is unique in that it focuses on a glowing red within the detailed panels. Rios crafts a beautiful, thought provoking tale that points at the dilemmas of gender and identity conformity.
Divinity II #3 (Valiant Entertainment) – Though Valiant has been releasing a steady flow of great, entertaining titles for years now, the Divinity titles easily stand out. Divinity II has picked up right where the last series left us, in terms of quality of storytelling through Matt Kindt’s flowing scripts, Trevor Hairsine’s striking, emotional pencils with Ryan Winn’s inks, and David Baron’s purposeful colour palette. Taking the perspective of Valentina, this title is taking a different direction from the one guided by Abram Adams. Judging by the jaw-dropping last few pages of the last issue, including a little time travel, it will be really interesting to see the journey this creative team has in store for Valentina and her Stalinism values.
Javier
Top Pick: Lucas Stand #1 (BOOM! Studios) – Kurt Sutter, that guy behind Shield and Sons of Anarchy, makes his comic book writing debut.
Divinity II #3 (Valiant Entertainment) – This book took me by surprise with the introduction of the Russian cosmonaut Myshka, who battles with Divinity for control of the Valiant Universe.
Mr. H
Top Pick: Action Comics #958 (DC Comics) – The twice monthly epic continues! I am really enjoying this story so far. Everything from Luthor trying to be the new Man of Steel, to the return of Doomsday and finally the apparent return of a de-powered, possibly amnesia Clark Kent. Everything seems to be really hitting on all cylinders and I am just so glad the Real Superman is back.
Detective Comics #935 (DC Comics) – The Bat-Family cometh. In a new way though. I like the boot camp style of sidekick training that Batman and Batwoman are putting the young heroes through. The only odd mud ball out for me is Clayface, which hasn’t sold me yet. Bringing the Wayne and Kane heritage back into the title is gold though. Team Batman could just be it’s best yet.
The Flash #1 (DC Comics) – The introduction of a new villainous speedster : Godspeed. I want a front row seat to this race. Probably standing room only.
Justice League #52 (DC Comics) – Aftermath of the “Darkseid War.” After one of the most incredible tales in League’s history and all the bombshells dropped, where do they go from here? I have to find out.
Paul
Top Pick – Ultimates #8 (Marvel) – I’m hoping this book shows us what happened between the Ultimates and Thanos that cost the team dearly, and set Iron Man into motion to choose his side in the Civil War. Also hoping the tie ins give us more insight, and not just “filler” stories to slog the main story along.
Civil War II: Choosing Sides #1 (Marvel) – This could be interesting. Sure, we’ll see how the main heroes deal with this new Civil War, but what about the lesser seen players? Everyone will be affected by this latest skirmish between the heroes, and I’m curious to see the impact on those around them.
Uncanny Avengers #10 (Marvel) – Hank Pym IS Ultron? Ultron IS Hank Pym? Curious to see what’s going on with this story. And excited to see the return of Janet (aka The Wasp).
Brett
Top Pick: Lucas Stand #1 (BOOM! Studios) – While Kurt Sutter has had his works turned into comics, the creator of The Shield and Sons of Anarchy makes his comic writing debut in this new series from BOOM!. The concept is a vet who’s recruited by Lucifer to send demons back to hell. I feel like we’ve seen this before, but I’m sure Sutter and co-writer Caitlin Kittredge will make it unique.
Acton Man #1 (IDW Publishing) – The British version of GI Joe is getting a new comic series and for those who read the Free Comic Book Day release, you’ll know why this should be interesting. Action Man is dead, long live Action Man!
Bitch Planet #8 (Image Comics) – It feels like forever since the last issue, but every one of this series has delivered and no matter how long between issues, it’s a warm welcome back.
Princeless: Raven, the Pirate Princess #9 (Action Lab Entertainment) – Speaking of a series that delivers… this is a female centered kick-ass comic that also delivers with every issue. You want diversity and to break from the comic “norm?” Well, here you go.
Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye #54 (IDW Publishing) – It’s the Autobots versus the Decepticon Justice Division and I’m expecting a lot of death.
For our first Euro Thursday, I’ve debated for a few weeks as to exactly what I’d like to do. I was thinking I’d keep it simple and just do a review or two… but why make things simple? Thinking through the long term I came to a realization that other than receiving review copies from publishers like Titan Comics or Humanoids (and a few others) I really have no idea about European comics, so I should probably learn to better inform me going forward.
