Graphic Policy’s Top Comic Picks this Week!
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: Book Of Death #4 (Valiant Entertainment) – This has been one of the most entertaining series I’ve read over the past few months, and this issue is somewhat bitter sweet; I don’t want it to end, but I really want to see how it ends… if you haven’t read this series, then grab the trade.
The Black Hood #6 (Dark Circle Comics) – A drug addicted cop and a brutal vigilante. The Black Hood is both of those, struggling to take the fight beyond the law as he battles his own demons. Duane Swierczynski has been praised for his portrayal of addiction with this series, and I can’t wait to find out why.
Brett
Top Pick: Howling Commandos of S.H.I.E.L.D. #1 (Marvel) – One of the most intriguing All-New, All-Different Marvel releases, what’s drawing me is a group of of characters that make me smile (Hit-Monkey!) being written by Frank Barbiere with art by Brent Schoonover. Comics are supposed to be fun, and that’s exactly what this one seems like it’ll be to me.
Black Magick #1 (Image Comics) – Greg Rucka writing, Nicola Scott on art. Ruck doing a gothic-noir series with a female lead? Yeah, this is a no-brainer for me.
The Black Hood #6 (Dark Circle Comics) – This darker line of superhero comics from Archie have been knocking it out of the park. A dark noirish hero, this comic begins a new story arc. Every issue has been entertaining mixing a modern sensibility with its pulp roots.
Cyborg #4 (DC Comics) – One of DC’s best recent releases, each issue mixes superhero antics, but also has given me thought about the character of Cyborg himself and how reflects upon me and my life. Entertainment as a reflection of ourselves, a definite read.
Prez #5 (DC Comics) – I love my politics, and of course this is on my list. The satire series hits WAY too close to home, and the 2016 Presidential election doesn’t feel that far off from this political send-up set in the future.
Elana
Top Pick: Black Magick #1 (Image Comics) – The first ever “witch noir”! A new series from Greg Rucka and Nicola Scott. Both excel at writing and drawing (respectively), fascinating, believable female characters. This dream team is can’t miss and the genre sounds like fun.
Angela Queen of Hel #1 (Marvel) – Look at these beautiful queens! Look at the adorable queer women in flawlessly painted art by Stephanie Hans! The best new couple in Marvel is back in black. In hell.
Batgirl #45 (DC Comics) – Big Queer Wedding Issue! This is a comics first: an Asian-American bisexual trans woman marrying her redheaded activist fiancée. And Dick Grayson will show up. Get ready to throw rice and munch on popcorn at the same time.
Captain America: Sam Wilson #2 (Marvel) – Captain America has always been a progressive hero (listen to our podcast for more on that) and this new series has African-American war vet superhero Sam Wilson in the drivers seat making his own political statements. Good.
Cyborg #4 (DC Comics) – The surprise hit comic full of socially aware sci-fi. Can Vic make peace with the people who KILLED him? Why does society always expect black men to make piece with their oppressors? Also, the highly silver-age and adorable Metal Men showed up last issue.
Island #4 (Image Comics) – Out there art. Multiple Warheads. A new story about a city kid with wings that kinda made me cry.
Kenny
Top Pick: Colder: Toss the Bones #2 (Dark Horse Comics) – I don’t like scary things but, this comic is so good I keep coming back to it. The psychological horror of Nimble Jack keeps has me peeking through my blanket to see what he’s going to do next. If you like horror, this is one of the better comics out today.
Justice League: Darkseid War Batman #1 (DC Comics) – I’m not normally a fan of spin-offs for large crossover events like the Darkseid War. But, I’ve enjoyed the main series a lot and Batman as the god of knowledge is a concept I am really excited to see fully play out.
Unbeatable Squirrel Girl #1 (Marvel) – There is no real logic behind why I am excited for the new Squirrel Girl comic. It could be it’s very self aware cover claiming this is only it’s second #1 so far this year (well played Marvel), or it could be that I am excited to take a flyer on a quirky and fun looking new story. Sometimes, the latter is all you need.
Mr. H
Top Pick: Justice League: Darkseid War Batman #1 (DC Comics) – The true itteration of the almighty Bat-God is here. I couldn’t be more pumped for this. An all knowing and stubborn Batman on Metron’s chair. I think I just squeaked. Hopefully we get good use of the ultimate knowledge and maybe even the Joker’s real name. Just coolness x2.
Batman and Robin Eternal #4 (DC Comics) – Hoping this is the week we get an answer to that cliffhanger bomb from issue #1. At the very least I want to see bearded Bruce Wayne kick some ass. I know it’s going to be a slow burn for this epic but I want some good stuff on the plate now.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #51 (IDW Publishing) – New era. New Direction. What awaits our half-shelled heroes going forward? Well I can’t wait to find out. Gonna read this one with a hot pie!
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!
Much buzz has been made about the NBC show, Blindspot, as it revolves around a woman, who has lost her memory, and has tattoos all over her body which leads to her uncovering a huger mystery about not only herself but ultimately a great evil. This concept, although interesting, is not wholly original; in fact, it has been replayed in movies and TY many times. As this same concept I heard about at the Archie Comics booth at New York Comic Con last year, when they were talking about The Shield, as this was about a superhero that has no idea who she is or why she is doing what she is doing. I remembered thinking then just how interesting the concept was and how excited I was. So when Archie Comics imprint, Dark Circle, finally announced the release of The Shield, I admittedly had to Google exactly what the plotline was.
If you thought one of the most acclaimed crime comics of 2015 couldn’t get any grittier, you’d be wrong.
