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Graphic Policy’s Top Comic Picks this Week!

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Moon_Girl_And_Devil_Dinosaur_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.

Alex

Top Pick: X-O Manowar #42 (Valiant) – The comic brings the conclusion to a four part story arc that has the potential to be world changing within Valiant’s Universe. I can’t wait to get this in my hands.

All-New Wolverine #2 (Marvel) – I really enjoyed the first issue’s introduction to Laura Kinney as Wolverine, and I’m looking forward to seeing how the story carries on.

Ivar, Timewalker #11 (Valiant) – It’s a comic by Valiant, so I’m already excited for it, but Ivar has been one of the most entertaining comics each month. Well worth adding to your pull list.

Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur #1 (Marvel) – The comic has an intelligent Tyrannosaurus Rex. That sold me on the comic right there, but on top of that there looks to be a lot of soul here that I’m excited for.

 

Ash

Top Pick: Silk #1 (Marvel) – As a Silk fan from the moment we met her in the bunker, Silk #1 has got to be my top pick for this week.  Featuring everyone’s favourite feline, The Black Cat, this first issue promises to be packed with turmoil as we see Silk taking a turn for the sinister.  The artwork is bursting with colour that really strikes, and Silk is looking seriously stunning.

But will she go too far on her new found path? Only one way to find out…

Carnage #2 (Marvel) – Carnage brings chaos, destruction and devastation with him wherever he goes (this issue promises to be no different) so it is really little wonder that the FBI are tracking down this serial Killer with sonic technology, supported by former astronaut John Jameson and a newly reformed Eddie Brock. With a faultless (?) plan to trap Carnage in an abandoned mine, what could possibly go wrong?

 

Brett

Dark Knight III: The Master Race #1 (DC Comics) – The comic has been hyped for quite a while and lets face it, Frank Miller’s previous two volumes are classics and important works (even if you dislike them). The third volume of Miller’s Batman tale hits shelves this week and he’s got the help of Brian Azzarello for writing. I love Azzarello’s work, so his inclusion only makes this more anticipated. Add on top of that, art by Klaus Janson and Andy Kubert.

Archie #4 (Archie Comics) – Archie has been killing it this year, and especially in recent months with their relaunch of their Archie line of comics. This one finally reveals the “Lipstick Incident,” and I know Mark Waid and Annie Wu will knock it out of the park.

Captain Canuck #5/Captain Canuck: Unholy War (Chapter House Publishing) – Are you reading Captain Canuck? Well, you should. The series is a superhero comic in its purest form without the dark and gritty negativity so many others have. This week also has a double dose with a brand new issue, plus a collection of a limited series from 2004 reprinted as a trade. This week is a double dose of Captain Canuck awesomeness!

Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur #1 (Marvel) – The comic looks and sounds beyond cute and awesome. It’s one of the most intriguing new series from Marvel.

Ringside #1 (Image Comics) – I loved wrestling growing up in the 80s. While it’s been a long time since I was a regular viewer, this new series by Joe Keatinge and Nick Barber sounds awesome with interconnected stories exploring the relationship between art and industry from the view of the wrestlers.

 

Elana

All-New Wolverine #2 (Marvel) – This is the best Wolverine comic in a generation. Marvel’s most exciting post Secret Wars title so far. Check these reviews out to see why.

Art Ops #2 (Vertigo) – If you see Mike Allred’s art on this comic and it speaks to you (and it’s trademark Allred pop-art enthusiasm certainly speaks to me) then it’s certainly worth picking up issue #2 to see where it goes.

Black Magic #2 (Image Comics) –  A “witch noir” from one of the top creative teams in comics. I gave the first issue a 9 out of 10 score in my review. This is a brand new series from creators I trust to write fascinating female protagonists in interesting worlds with beautiful art.

The Fade Out #11 (Image Comics) – The best noir comic. Fascinating female characters. Beautiful, era evocative art.

Kaptara #5 (Image Comics) – The funniest and most outlandish fantasy series on the shelves. It’s actually Chip Zdarsky’s best work if you ask me. That’s saying something since I think he’s currently working on 100 different titles, all of which are of some renown.

Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur #1 (Marvel) – One of Marvel’s most anticipated debut issues. A black girl genius and her dinosaur. I know this is going to be a hit and I know you’ll be buying it for all the kids in your life and for yourself.

 

Paul

Top Pick: Guardians of the Galaxy #2 (Marvel) – Kitty “Star-Lord” Pryde and her Guardians, who now include The Thing, have come to Spartax..but is Emperor Peter happy to see them?  The first issue of this relaunch was fun and brought me right back to the Guardians we left before Secret Wars (though now The Thing is a member…which is fantastic!…see what I did there?) and I am looking forward to more space fun with this crew and to see if Quill has let power go to his head.

All-New Wolverine #2 (Marvel) – This title was a pleasant surprise for me.  I was worried we’d get a typical hack and slash Wolverine book, but issue 1 definitely set Laura up as her own heroine and now she’s facing a problem that looks exactly like her…and she needs to know how and why this is happening; and I will be right there with you.

Graphic Policy’s Top Comic Picks this Week!

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Rasputin07_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

Southern Bastards #10 (Image Comics) – One of the, if not the, best comic out there right now. It’s usually a slow burn, but each issue has more character insights than many comics have in a year. This Southern noir is fantastic on every level.

Captain Canuck #3 (Chapter House Publishing) – Some times you want your heroes to lose the gritty aspect, and just be heroes. This series gets back to that courtesy of some talented Canadian creators. Fun action, that’s entertaining and loses the cynicism of today’s superhero comics.

Invisible Republic #5 (Image Comics) – An amazing series that definitely doesn’t get the attention it deserves. It involves a reporter digging into the revolutionaries that took over a planet, and digs up a bit of dirt. An amazing focus on history being used as propaganda.

Princeless: Be Yourself #2 (Action Lab Entertainment) – The new series hasn’t missed a beat and continues the fun fantasy adventure with a bit of girl power mixed in.

Rasputin #7 (Image Comics) – The first arc focusing on the historical figure was interesting. Flash forward 100 years, and not only is he alive, he’s also advising a Presidential candidate. Now you have my undivided attention.

 

Edward

Top Pick: Hacktivist Vol. 2 #1 (BOOM! Studios) –  The second series dealing with the group of hackers follows on the plot from the first series, and tries to answer some unresolved questions.

Batgirl Annual #3 (DC Comics) – Kind of a catch-all for Batgirl, as she faces off against Helena Bertinelli, a former Batgirl (from No Man’s Land) and Dick Grayson (her pre-new 52 romantic interest).  Throw in a visit to Gotham Academy and this sounds pretty fun.

He-Man: Eternity War #8 (DC Comics) – There has been no missteps in this entire series as the creative team has pushed the envelope of what defines the core group of characters.  This is not your childhood’s He-Man.

Jem and the Holograms #5 (IDW Publishing) – This series has been nothing but fun since its launch.  It doesn’t look likely to stop any time soon either.  One can only hope that the suggested food fight from the cover gets realized inside.

Lazarus #18 (Image Comics) – Lazarus goes to Duluth to win the war, as different plot lines begin to intersect.

 

Elana

Top Pick: Grindhouse: Doors Open at Midnight: Trade Paperback Vol 3: Slay Ride and Blood Lagoon (Dark Horse) – “Books like ‘Grindhouse’ were the reason the Comics Code was invented.” – creator Alex De Campi.

That’s a promise and a warning. De Campi absolutely delivers on grindhouse cinema gratification in comic book form– even better, it comes from a frankly female perspective on the genre. This series is messed up in all the RIGHT ways.

Each trade contains self-contained story arcs so you can pick up volume 3 even if you’ve never read the series before. In Volume 3 my entirely fictional girlfriend, Deputy Garcia is back with her motorcycle and eyepatch. I can’t wait!

Series creator Alex de Campi is our podcast guest next week!

Batgirl Annual #3 (DC Comics) – Cameron Stewart and Brenden Fletcher art by Bengal, David Lafuente, Mingjue Helen Chen, Ming Doyle…. Look at that list of awesome writers and artists! Not only do we get Babs catching up with Dick Grayson but we also see her meet with Batwoman and the Gotham Academy kids! These are all of my favorite things in one place! It is a standalone story you can read even if you aren’t reading the new Batgirl series. But after reading this I’m sure you’ll want to.

Phoebe Gloeckner: Diary of a Teenage Girl (North Atlantic Books) – Considered one of the best graphic novels of last decade it’s probably time that you (and I) finally read it! Plus there’s a movie of it coming out soon and you don’t want to be called a “poser”, right? The book is a combination of prose and illustration reads like autobiography. The press release calls it “a dark story of sex and drugs in the life of a 1970s teenage girl.” You should read Sean T Collins review because I can’t do it justice till I read the book.

1602 Witch Hunter Angela #2 (Marvel) – This is the funniest series in Secret Wars and the prettiest too. Last issue we met Shakespeare, Marlowe and King James (Logan Howlett aka Wolverine) and other Faustians (aka people with superpowers). This issue Angela and Sera will meet “Ye Olde Guardians of the Galaxy.”

 

Mr. H

Top Pick: Thors #2 (Marvel Comics) – The case is heating up as the murder mystery of the Gods continues. Blood, Hammers, and Justice shalt be served!

Daredevil #17 (Marvel Comics) – The last days of The Man Without Fear? Could be. This creative team has been white hot so I know Matt is in good hands, but I want to see the payoff.

Red Sonja Vol.2 #17 (Dynamite Entertainment) – Red hot chick swinging a sword, as usual all over this one. The 1973 one shot gave me a rejuvenation for this title. Hope the momentum doesn’t wane.

Superman #42 (DC Comics) – I am actually enjoying the prelude to the “Truth” storyline a lot more than the actual crossover. I’m interested to see just what it was that made Lois out Clark’s ID to the world? This intrepid reporter needs some answers. By Rao, I need them now!

TMNT Ongoing #48 (IDW Publishing) – The Stockman Swarm, The Shredder and Karai all move in for the kill. How could this not be good?

 

Paul

Top Pick: Thors #2 (Marvel) – the first issue of this story was fantastic; a crime story following the ‘police’ of Battleworld, the Thors.  Law and Order meets Asgardian officers, working on the orders of Lord Doom to keep the peace, and the foundation of Battleworld, in one piece.  Excited for what happens next.

Top Pick: X-Men ’92 #2 (Marvel) – the first issue totally brought me back to Saturday mornings, watching Marvel’s merry mutants as most of us remember them, complete with colourful costumes and Wolverine and Cyclops sniping at each other.  I am looking forward to see more from Cassandra Nova and what her rehabilitation facility for mutants is really all about.

1602 Witch Hunter Angela #2 (Marvel) – This was a very interesting first issue, following Angela hunting ‘witchbreed’, which turns out to be mutants.  The second issue puts Angela on the path to see dire omens not come to pass, and also introduces use to “Ye olde Guardians of the Galaxy”.  Looking forward to this.

S.H.I.E.L.D. #8 (Marvel) – I am a huge fan of the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. tv show, and just as big a fan of the comic book treatment of the show.  It’s fun to see the tv agents paired up with various heroes from the Marvel universe an work together to solve the problem of the issue.  This issue has Agent May and Mockingbird setting out to kick some ass….sign me up!

 

Steven Attewell

Batgirl #42 (DC Comics) – despite not being remotely in the target demographic for this book, I’ve been enjoying the hell out of this series’ exploration of fame and identity.

Conan the Avenger #16 (Dark Horse) – Dark Horse’s Conan run has been one of the most consistently enjoyable comics for me in recent years (with the exception of that odd bit where Belit went to Cimmeria), so if given an option I’ll always pick one up.

Copperhead #9 (Image Comics) – Read the first trade of this unusual space-western/single-mom comic and really enjoyed the strange little world that Jay Faerber and Scott Godlewski have thrown together, so I’ll keep following this story.

Rasputin #7 (Image Comics) – A really strange little gem, this series posits a revisionist history of the infamous Russian mystic in which Grigori Rasputin’s powers not only are quite real and extend to genuine resurrection and clairvoyancy, but he’s also secretly a prince in communion with the forces of Russian folklore.

Southern Bastards #10 (Image Comics) – having really enjoyed Scalped, I eagerly anticipated Jason Aaron’s new series. Took me a while to get into the first trade – something about the way Jason Latour draws mouths threw me off until I got used to it – but the second trade’s revelation of Coach Boss’ backstory was mesmerizing and made this a must-read for me.

Review: Captain Canuck #1

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Captain.Canuck 1 coverBorn of the True North and tested in war, Captain Canuck is a soldier granted a choice of how to use incredible power that could alter the fate of the world. Thrust into battle at the head of the global crisis intervention agency called Equilibrium, Canuck must find his way as warrior, leader and ultimately, hero in order to save humanity.

I grew up in Buffalo, not far from the Canadian border, and thus spent a lot of time in the country, and interestingly also reading some Captain Canuck. The classic character is back, with a new series, and updated look. I have to say, the first issue is awesome.

Captain Canuck #1 is full of action, infused with enough that makes it “feel” Canadian. That means more than just references to locations, there’s use of French, and a general vibe that just feels like our friends up North. It’s those small touches that writer Kalman Andrasofsky (who also does double duty on art) adds that makes the comic feel more than an American super hero with a Canadian skin over top.

Since I first heard this series was coming, and especially after reading the Free Comic Book Day release, I’ve been looking forward to this debut issue, and it didn’t disappoint at all.

You’re thrown directly into the action as Captain Canuck learns about his new suit on what seems like his first mission out. You’re in the center of action, and it doesn’t let up at all. You learn as you go through the comic, things aren’t explained overtly, you need to pick up things as the story progresses, which makes this issue feel much further along than a debut.

The action too is solid, and fun, having a bit more down to Earth vibe than going out and battling some super villain. Instead Captain Canuck is thrown into a burning refinery. I know that might sound boring, but it isn’t there’s some surprises he has to deal with while there. Forgoing some stereotypical villain fight for the first issue also makes the comic a bit more grounded. In reality, what Captain Canuck goes through would be much more realistic if heroes existed.

The art is fantastic the updated look of the new character is awesome, a design worthy of the Big 2. The design is cool, makes sense in many ways, and use of color is just fantastic. The interiors are solid with great coloring, and angles of some of the poses. What really stood out to me was the use of panels, especially in some of the two page spreads.

As if the main story wasn’t enough, writer Ed Brisson and artist Marcus To team-up bring us a story of an earlier Captain Canuck case file involving some mysterious monsters and a drilling platform. This story too is fantastic, and To’s art is amazing. The two are top talents so it shouldn’t be a surprise at all. The back-up story actually makes me want a “sister series” following earlier adventures of Captain Canuck with these two at the helm.

It’s a first issue and you get two stories from three top-notch creators. I’ve waited for this first issue, and I wasn’t disappointed at all. It was a fun first issue, with a mix of classic and modern sensibilities about it. It also presents a super hero that can stand with the Big 2, and that’s not easy to do. Can’t wait for the second issue to hit.

Story: Kalman Andrasofsky, Ed Brisson Art: Kalman Andrasofsky, Marcus To
Story: 8.5 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8.5 Recommendation: Buy

ChapterHouse Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Graphic Policy’s Top Comic Picks this Week!

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Fight Club 2 #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: Fight Club 2 #1 (Dark Horse) – Fight Club is both a fantastic book and movie. When I heard a sequel was being made as a comic, I was initially apprehensive, even with it being written by Chuck Palahniuk. But, after the first issue, I’m beyond all in. The first issue is absolutely amazing, both in story and art.

Captain Canuck 2015 #1 (Chapter House Publishing) – I grew up mostly in Buffalo, right along the Canadian border. And due to that, I’ve known about Captain Canuck for a while. A new updated version? Hells yes!

Fubar: Mother Russia #2 (Alterna Comics) – The Fubar series of comics gives us a zombie twist on history. The latest volume puts us in Russia during World War II, where a zombie outbreak is causing the Russians some issues.

Material #1 (Image Comics) – A man comes home from Guantanamo Bay, irrevocably changed. An actress receives an offer that can revive her career. A boy survives a riot and becomes embedded within a revolutionary movement. A philosopher is contacted by a being that dismantles his beliefs. Ales Kot‘s latest sounds fascinating.

You Don’t Say (IDW Publishing/Top Shelf) – Nate Powell‘s latest release from Top Shelf. All you need to know is it’s Nate Powell. That should be enough for you to pick this one up.

 

Edward

Top Pick: Surface Tension #1 (Titan Comics) – This new series puts a twist on the zombie/post-apocalyptic genre by taking a look at the world’s oceans and the environmental impact of our actions there.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad #3 (Marvel/Disney) – This Disney adaptation is doing what the best adaptations do – remind nothing of the original material (in this case a theme park ride) while capturing the same spirit.

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina #3 (Archie Comics) – Archie’s darker comics have been pretty fun so far.  Sabrina is not getting as much attention but she returns here for some more dark tales of sorcery.

He-Man Eternity War #6 (DC Comics) – Fantasy and Sci-Fi meet here and produce the best in the genre at the moment.  Those with inhibitions about He-Man should let go of the past and hop in for a wild ride.

Inhumans: Attilan Rising #1 (Marvel) – There has hardly been a misstep in Marvel’s relaunch and rebranding of the Inhumans.  It continues here with a big development.

 

“Big Daddy Cool” Johnny Dellarocca

Top Pick: Convergence: Shazam #2 (DC Comics) – It’s Steampunk vs. Dieselpunk! Plus the creative team of Parker and Shaner is an unbeatable combination.

Captain Midnight #23 (Dark Horse) – One of the best monthly series out there, and it looks like it’s coming to an explosive end with issue 24!

King Flash Gordon #2 (Dynamite Entertainment) – If all of the Dynamite King titles this has been the best. The creative team of Acker and Blacker has done a great job of continuing the amazing work of Parker and Shaner and have preserved the pace and fun of what went before. This has become one of favorite monthly titles.

Where Monsters Dwell #1 (Marvel) – As a Dieselpunk fan it really doesn’t get any better that flying ace The Phantom Eagle taking on monsters and dinosaurs! Sign me up!