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: Logan (yes, my top pick is a movie) – Wolverine has always been my favourite Marvel character, and is the reason I read comics today. On the week that I turn another year older I get both Old Man Logan and Logan – it almost feels like Marvel are wishing me a happy birthday.
Old Man Logan #19 (Marvel) – Alex’s Week of Wolverine continues with Jeff Lemire – I don’t remember if his Brood storyline is over or not (I’ve read a lot of Wolverine comics over the past couple days), but this series has been strong for a long time and I can’t wait to get my hands on it.
Faith #9 (Valiant) – A one-shot story that seems to be more of a day-in-the-life than anything else, which I’m super happy about because I love reading about the other side of a superhero’s life.
Batman #18 (DC Comics) – I didn’t expect to be looking forward to reading a comic from this series again, but I’ve been cautiously optimistic about what Tom King has been doing here after the last couple of issues. While I think there’s more chance than not that this’ll disappoint, when it’s good King’s Batman is really good.
Joe
Top Pick: Royal City #1 (Image) – Jeff Lemire has been one of the best creators in comics the last few years. I love his work on Black Hammer, Old Man Logan, Moon Knight, AD: After Death, and much more. He is one of the few talents that can write and draw, and here with this book we are getting both. Royal City tells the tales of middle America and a real family. There’s also some interesting mystery to discover. I cannot wait!
Extremity #1 (Image) – From the minute I saw the art style on this book I wanted it. The premise is about a child that has their drawing hand chopped off by oppressive tyrants that have taken over their lands. While they learn to draw with their other hand, it isn’t the same. This is about rising up to fight oppression, and finding your identity when the thing you loved to do most is taken from you. It has a powerful metaphorical message, and I think this book will be something special as we get deeper into the story.
Superman #18 (DC Comics) – We are finally going to get some answers! Mr. Oz, fake Clark Kent, and more will seemingly be explained over the next few issues of Superman and Action Comics, two of DC’s best series. This along with the upcoming button issues for Batman and Flash have me excited to know more about our heroes lost time, and who this Superman and other fake Clark Kent are.
Batman #18 (DC Comics) – Tom King has been building a powder keg of a story with Bane, Catwoman, and Batman. I am hoping this is where it all explodes, and by the last few pages of Batman #17, it will. Bane knows where to hurt Batman the most, the people he cares for. I like the twists King has given us so far, and am wondering where he goes from here.
Moon Knight #12 (Marvel) – Sadly, one of the best things Marvel has going for it is coming to an end in a few issues. I still have no idea what is happening, but have faith Lemire will give us a great ending to a great book. Is he losing his mind? Or has all of this been real? Perhaps a combination of the two. Great series, and it appears it will go out on a high note.
Shay
I couldn’t pick a top pick this week. It’s all so damn good! From socially conscious comics to girl-powered comics, to straight up anarchy and good old fashioned action, it’s a great week to be all about that comic life!
Harley Quinn#15 (DC Comics) – Harley breaks her peace with the Mayor to save the homeless, fight gentrification and, more.
The Dregs #2 (Black Mask Studios) – Dig deeper into this socially conscious detective drama as we are taken on a journey to find out the fate of the homeless population.
X-Files Deviation 2017 (IDW Publishing) – Mashing up X-Files & Orphan Black and a lady Mulder! Shut up and take my money!!!
America #1 (Marvel) – It’s heeeeeree and, I’m here for it!
Bullseye #2 (Marvel) – Bullseye is on a mission to rescue a mobsters son, he’s in the murder business and business is good!
Paul
Top Pick: Champions #6 (Marvel) – This has been a fun, action packed series right from the beginning. These characters make up a great team, and the writing has been on point, spotlighting issues that readers can relate to but also bringing in humour and fun between the characters. I’m excited for this issue, seeing the team go up against another team of teens calling themselves The Freelancers. I’m looking forward to see who makes up this new team and what their beef is with the Champions.
Batman #18 (DC Comics) – This is one of the few DC titles I have stuck with since the Rebirth, and it has consistently delivered. I’m really enjoying this current story arc with Bane, especially when Batman put together his own suicide squad (a great couple of issues!) And now, as the solicit says, Bane is in Gotham and looking for some payback. Definitely not one to miss.
Brett
Top Pick: Motor Girl #4 (Abstract Studios) – Easily my favorite comic on the market right now. Terry Moore’s writing and art are just plain fun. Every issue has delivered and then some.
America #1 (Marvel) – A fan favorite character gets her solo series. I’m intrigued to see what it’s like and if it delivers. This is the comic that has the highest bar to get over.
Savage Things #1 (Vertigo) – Justin Jordan does Vertigo… you need more?
Agents of PACT #1/Freelance #1 (Chapterhouse Comics) – These two first issues I feel really kick off Chapterhouse’s superhero universe. So far most of their comics have been fun, so more to the part is awesome
All Time Comics Crime Destroyer #1 (Fantagraphics) – Another superhero universe launching. This one is a bit retro.
Smoketown #1 (Scout Comics) – Phillip Kennedy Johnson’s new series from Scout Comics. Johnson does solid comics and so does Scout, so the combo is something I’m looking forward to reading.
Rather than picking up right in midst of some astounding action after the events of issue #1 of Quantum Teens Are Go from Black Mask Studios, writer Magdalene Visaggio plops us into the mundane. We’re reminded that, for all the theoretical science action and weirdness going on, our protagonists Nat and Sumesh are still very much teenagers in high school. They still have teenager worries on top of whatever went down in Sumesh’s garage and that includes friends, teachers, and their relationship. They’ll work things out, we all know how easy things were when we were teenagers. … Or maybe not.
Writer Tini Howard, artist Devaki Neogi, and colorist Jen Hickman bring their Cold War con artist alternate history romance comic to a close in Skeptics #4. Mary and Max, who don’t actually have superpowers, and Evgenia and Vasily, who actually do, have hatched an ingenious plan to stop World War III by pretending to not have them and make it one big misunderstanding. It’s a clever, bloodless plan that shows that sometimes cooperation and using one’s wits can win a battle or at the very least a skirmish against brute force, which is President Nelson Rockefeller’s nuclear option idea. Skeptics #4 abounds with love and friendship, especially for this dark time in history, but it’s all bittersweet in the end because sadly four bright young people can’t end the Cold War.
