Sex #1

Simon Cooke has retired from his own “alternative lifestyle” and returned to the city he’d previously sworn to protect. Now he’s just another average citizen — or is he?

Going into reading Sex #1, I knew it was about a former hero returning home after something happened. And most of that was pretty opaque in the first issue. To say, the first issue is a slow build is an understatement. You get some hints as to Cooke’s past life, but for folks who want things laid out, this isn’t it.

But, that slow build is fascinating. Cooke is clearly a character hiding something, and maybe we see that at the end of this first issue. Because without those events, I’m not quite sure why this series is titled what it is.

I think to me, that was the biggest mystery of the comic, more so than why Cooke has given up superheroing. Why is this the title of the book? I’m guessing that’ll be clearer as we get further into the series.

The first issue left me a bit frustrated as I wanted to read more, but that just wasn’t the case. It’s good the comic had me this way, I want to read the second issue, like now. This is one of those series that plays mystery well and could be one of the best adult series of 2013, so far it’s one of the more interesting psychological studies of the super hero.

Story: Joe Casey Art: Piotr Kowalski

Story: 8.5 Art: 8.25 Overall: 8.5 Recommendation: Buy

Lost Vegas #1

The Eisner Award-Winning team of Jim McCann and Janet Lee reunite to create a universe filled with intrigue as one gambler-turned-slave has 24 hours to go all in and pull off the greatest heist the universe has seen.

Welcome to Lost Vegas! Aboard this luxurious casino-filled traveling space-station you will find the highest stakes games from every corner of every planet, unheard-of winnings, and the greatest attractions anywhere!

McCann and Lee have released some of my favorite comics and it’s a team that instantly gets to be a part of my buy pile. The series is a futuristic heist movie in a world that feels like it could be out of Fifth Element.

There’s something so interesting and creative about the comic. The story is pretty straight forward, a heist, but the world is so creative, so interesting, I’m sucked into the comic. Lee’s art also is just amazing. She always knocks it out of the park, and this is no exception.

McCann and Lee is a pairing that’s one of the best in the business and you should do yourself a favor and find out out why.

Story: Jim McCann Art: Janet Lee

Story: 8 Art: 8 Overall: 8 Recommendation: Buy

Mara #3

Seeing her friends and supporters abandon her, and instead of trying to suppress her newfound powers, Mara goes public. Openly displaying her rapidly developing abilities, she challenges the bias and discrimination. People start to see her as not a freak, but rather someone who can’t be stopped, and that starts to make a lot of very serious people very concerned.

This is socially-aware superheroics in a world we’ve never seen. Wood in just three issues has made a series that’s a brilliant commentary on modern athletics and corporate sponsorship and challenges the notion of what it means to be a super hero.

The story has been a fascinating read, a contender for best mini-series of 2013. The art by Ming Doyle and Jordie Bellaire is fantastic as well with great minimal use of colors.

This is a series that makes you think, but entertained at the same time, a signature of any series by Wood. In Mara, we have one of the best new female characters in a long time. A mix of strength and vulnerability, she’s a character unique, much like the series she embodies.

One of the most interesting comics on the market, it shows comics can be more than just spandex, even when it’s about a person with super powers.

Story: Brian Wood Art: Ming Doyle and Jordie Bellaire

Story: 8.25 Art: 8.25 Overall: 8.25 Recommendation: Buy

Image Comics provided Graphic Policy with FREE copies for review