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Graphic Policy’s Top Comic Picks this Week!

Posted on June 7, 2016 by Graphic Policy Team

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.

Anthony

Top Pick: Island #8 (Image Comics) – Island has been a great ride from the beginning featuring a very wide, eclectic array of comic creators in this anthology series. Each issue has some stories that continue in segments with some one shot shorts as well that are brilliantly organized and curated by creators Brandon Graham and Emma Rios. Island has yet to disappoint with content that can be eye-popping visually, psychologically provoking, and socially relevant. This issue features stories from Johnnie Christmas and Simon Roy.

Empress #3 (Icon/Marvel) – Mark Millar, hate him or love him, has always released some titles with a refreshing perspective and some gorgeous artwork in this sci-fi based story of a man that has taken on the task of helping a wife and her three children escape from an overzealous husband/leader. This time around, Stuart Immonen has been killing it on pencils with some added detailing on inks by Wade von Grawbadger and expressive colouring by Ive Svorcina. The second issue really kicked up the action a notch and ended with quite the cliffhanger. It will be exciting to see what kind of adventures the group gets into this time around and will hopefully have some calming periods to get to know a bit more on the characters as well.

The Fix #3 (Image Comics) – The Fix is one of the funniest comics put out in 2016 that should be no surprise to fans of the creative team of Nick Spencer and Steve Lieber. Adding colourist Ryan Hill to the mix has really created this neo-noir vibe with a dash of anti-hero douchebaggery and a tinge of unexpected splashes of violence. This series has sold out of both the first two issues (with this week releasing the third printing of Issue #1) so it has proven itself to be a pleaser thus far that is sure to continue its hilarity and ridiculousness. Corrupt cops Ray and Mac have found themselves in quite the junction of scenarios so one can only imagine what will happen now that a police dog named Pretzels has been thrown in the mix.

The Wicked + The Divine #20 (Image Comics) – The Gods have been consistently fighting against one another over the last few issues ever since Laura has come back and it appears as if the buildup will keep getting higher and higher. Deaths are abound for sure. Wic Div has one of the most impressive creative teams for Image that keeps the readers guessing as to what exactly is going to happen next. As long as Kieron Gillen, Jamie McKelvie and Matt Wilson grace the cover and interiors (with the occasional striking guests) Wic Div should be on your monthly pull list.

Wolf #8 (Image Comics) – Ales Kot is one of the most intriguing, complex, labyrinthian writers working in comics today. Wolf has been a bit of an up and down ride but the last issue really put the train back onto the tracks. The artwork by Ricardo Lopez Ortiz and colours by Lee Loughridge‘s give this title a real punk edge to it and will hopefully push the limits after the ending to Issue #7.

Alex

Top Pick: Voracious #4 (Action Lab: Danger Zone) – Man discovers he can travel through time. Instead of using it to become rich with gambling, he decides to become a dinosaur hunter and open a restaurant. This is why I love comics; because this actually works.

4001 A.D.: Bloodshot #1 (Valiant) – 4001 A.D. has been a brilliant event so far, but the stand alone tie ins from Valiant can always be hit or miss depending on how big a fan of the specific character you are. I’m a middling fan of Bloodshot, so this should be interesting.

Howard the Duck #8 (Marvel) – One of the more fun series that Marvel is putting out these days (at least that I’m reading), this is usually a snark filled comic that usually one of the best I read in the week it’s released.

Mr. H

Top Pick: The Flash: Rebirth #1 (DC Comics) – Yes, yes, yes the real West is back! I have been so pumped and still coming off the high that was the Rebirth special. My conduit to comics is back in full force. I don’t care where this goes. I just want to be in the fast lane for it!

Action Comics #957 (DC Comics) – Like Wally returning so has the real Kal-El. I am thrilled for this and who says you can’t have family in comics? I am intrigued on where Lex will fit, will they try to keep him a true Man of Steel or is he plotting the one true Superman’s downfall.

Detective Comics #934 (DC Comics) – The road to the mega epic #1000 starts here! Truth be told I’m not on fire about this title but it has enough solicited elements to pique my interest. A new Bat-Team could be what Gotham ordered. However with a title like Detective Comics I’d rather see Ralph Dibney on the billing, but hey time will tell…

Brett

Top Pick: Sheriff of Babylon #7 (Vertigo) – One of the best comics on the market right now. Absolutely amazing storytelling that’s a murder mystery set in modern Iraq. There’s actually not as much politics as you’d think, just fantastic pacing and subtle details that add to the complete package.

Green Lantern: Edge of Oblivion #6 (DC Comics) – This miniseries wraps up and I can’t wait to see how it ends, especially since its been a veiled allegory about modern day terrorism and religious extremism. Plus… who gets back to modern times and how!?

Lumberjanes/Gotham Academy #1 (BOOM! Box/DC Comics) – The first issue is a cute combination of the two series as the groups come together to solve a mystery. There’s a weird “Scooby Doo” vibe about it all, but the first issue works really well and this should be a fun miniseries.

Prometheus: Life and Death #1 (Dark Horse) – I’m a fan of Dark Horse’s new Alien/Predator/Prometheus universe and their intertwining miniseries have been fantastic. This one has been an interesting build so far and with this first issue, we finally get the beginning of the last piece of the puzzle.

Star Wars: Poe Dameron #3 (Marvel) – If you enjoyed Star Wars: The Force Awakens and want to get even more of the story about Poe, this is the comic for you. It peals back the curtain a bit on this newer aspect of the Star Wars universe, and answers some questions left dangling by the film.

Paul

Top Pick: All-New X-Men #10 (Marvel) – I’ve been enjoying this Apocalypse War storyline running through the X books, and I am looking forward to seeing Evan, now in the past, coming face to face with En Sabah Nur, who will one day become Apocalypse. Can Evan change the past, and stop Apocalypse from ever being? Will this take Evan down the path to becoming the next Apocalypse? Can I possibly use the word Apocalypse anymore in this blurb? I am looking forward to seeing where this leads.

The Vision #8 (Marvel) – Uh oh…the Avengers know everything that has happened with Vision and his family; the violence, the deaths and the lies. And now they’re coming to find some answers. I don’t see this going very well, but as with every issue in this series, I’m sure it’s going to be a hell of a read.

Wacky Raceland #1 (DC Comics) – Do you remember the Wacky Racers from Saturday morning cartoons? I do too…and this is not them! The world has gone to hell and racers trek across the remains of their word for survival. It’s Death Race meets Hannah-Barbera and I for one will be strapping in for this crazy ride. Just check out Muttly on the cover! This is NOT the cartoon I remember.

Around the Tubes

Posted on May 30, 2016 by Graphic Policy Team

Today is Memorial Day in the States. It’s a special day to remember those who sacrificed their lives in the service of the nation. Take a moment to honor them in some way today.

For those spending the day at work, here’s some comic news and reviews from around the web in our morning roundup.

Around the Tubes

Kotaku – The Blue Beetle Series from 2006 is the Best Thing You’ve Probably Never Read – Good comic recommendation.

RT – First Kickstarter, then Hollywood: Russian comic book heroes look to invade America – Very interesting.

Wired – 5 Comics You Must Read Before Watching X-Men: Apocalypse – None of these are musts, but a good list for those wondering.

BET – Making of a Superhero: How Shawn Martinbrough Went from the Bronx to Comic Book Legend – A great read focusing on someone you should know!

ICv2 – Disney Acquires Film Rights to Webcomic/Graphic Novel – A good pick up!

The Outhousers – The Top Ten Things Wrong With CBR’s Captain America Interview With Tom Brevoort – Where do folks go when the want softball questions without follow up? Not our site.

Loser City – DC Rebirth: Judge A Cover Not, Lest Ye Be Judged – What do you all think of these covers?

Around the Tubes Reviews

Talking Comics – DC Universe: Rebirth #1

Comic Attack – Divinity II #2

Comic Spire – The Fix #2

CG Mag Online – Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 1

CBR – Justice League #50

CBR – Rachel Rising #42

Comic Spire – Scooby Apocalypse #1

Catholic Herald – The Shadow of His Wings; a graphic biography of Fr Gereon Goldmann

The Outhousers – Tokyo Ghost #7

Around the Tubes

Interview with ‘The Fix’ Artist Steve Lieber

Posted on May 29, 2016 by Anthony Spataro

Steve Lieber has been involved with multiple projects alongside a wide array of high quality creators. From Whiteout with Greg Rucka to his other collaboration with The Fix co-creator and writer Nick Spencer in Superior Foes of Spider-Man, Lieber’s expressive, sharp art style stands out and is intrinsic to the variety of comics he has been a part of. His newest title The Fix, with writer Nick Spencer, colourist Ryan Hill, and letterer/designer Nic J. Shaw, is a hilarious and depraved story of two desperate corrupt police officers. Lieber was able to answer some questions via email regarding the multiple ideas around the comic.

Graphic Policy: Though it is still relatively fresh to the comic stands, The Fix has a similar tone to Superior Foes: fun, fast paced, with anti-hero characters but with a darker sense of humour. Was this a direction that you both envisioned early on in the stages to developing The Fix?

Steve Lieber: Absolutely. I think Nick and I knew something really good was happening in our collaboration on Superior Foes. I came into it looking forward to doing all the exciting, inventive things we did at Marvel, while taking advantage of the remarkable creative freedom that we have at Image. We can go a lot darker than we ever could on a corporate-owned franchise. This is a crime story as well as a comedy, and there’s a lot of stuff in our story that isn’t appropriate for kids.

We also have a level of control that Marvel and DC will never give a storyteller. No one is telling us we have to ship twice in the same month, or tie into a cross over, or work around a house-ad stuck in the middle of a story with no regard for narrative flow. We get to make choices that serve the story and the characters, not the marketing department.

As for why anti-heroes, for me it comes down to learning that Nick and I have a knack for them. Some of the funniest people I’ve ever met are irredeemable narcissists. You wouldn’t want to depend on them in a crisis, but they tell great stories, and their lack of any sort of moral compass tends to lead them in interesting directions.

GP: There is definitely something about a well put together anti-hero story that I really love, especially with the kind of buddy-cop vibe that is going on in The Fix as well. There is something political being said here by having main characters Roy and Mac as police officers. Without digging into your intentions, how important is it to you to mirror the current hot societal topics through the comics medium?

SL: Police issues are certainly in the news right now, but I don’t really approach this as topical. The systems that make it easier for a cop to break the law have been with us for as long as we’ve had law enforcement. If we wanted to so archers and men on horseback, we could do a knucklehead criminal-cop comedy about the sheriff of Nottingham.

GP: The keen sense of comedic timing with the panel layouts is really well done. The whole sequence with Donovan in Issue #1 as well as the death by banjo string in Issue #2 come to mind. Steve, are there are any key aspects to your approach to visual storytelling to maintain the energy through the heavy dialogue?

SL: It’s figuring out what’s funny about a scene. Where are the laughs? Where’s the pain? With Donovan’s burger story, the dialogue Nick wrote was so great, so over-the-top, that I could underplay Roy’s reactions. It was fun taking a guy who has been just monstrously cocky throughout the comic and turning him into a Bob Newhart character, barely coping with an awful social situation he can’t escape.

If I have a key approach to making the humor work visually, it’s that I try to never, ever let a flashy or impressive drawing upstage the joke. This was hard. In superhero comics, the prevailing aesthetic is creating big, exciting images. Flipping through the comic is like watching the trailer for a Hollywood blockbuster. Artists are rewarded for creating eye-catching, show-stopper pages. If I did that on The Fix, the pacing would be ruined, the jokes would fall flat, and our readers would be thinking “Wow, Steve can really draw.” rather than “Wow, Roy is complete moral garbage.”

GP: Can you talk a bit on working alongside colourist Ryan Hill? His colours provide a very warm, atmospheric touch.

SL: I love working with Ryan. His color choices are gorgeous, and he’s 100% focused on telling the story. Every choice he makes is about evoking the appropriate mood, getting the minutiae right, and creating a hierarchy of focus that guides the reader’s eye correctly. It’s a tough to strike the balance between aesthetic and practical considerations, but Ryan nails it every time.

Color has changed significantly in comics in the 25 years since I got out of comic-book art school. My teachers taught me that drawing for color meant drawing so that poorly-chosen color couldn’t screw things up too badly. Things have gotten a lot better since then. Working with someone as good as Ryan, my job is to leave him plenty of room to make his own choices, and let his color take its place as an integral part of our storytelling.

GP: I am a bit leery with all of the comic books being adapted to film nowadays. Some are rather well done and stay true to the characters. The Fix to me has a very Shane Black vibe. How do you feel about the influx of these adaptations and would you be open to having some of your respective work make this transition?

SL: The Fix could be a great movie or tv series, but I honestly try not to think about that stuff at all. My entire focus is on making the best comic book I can, and I’m already doing that right now, with a supportive publisher and three wildly talented collaborators.

GP: What are your thoughts on Battlebots?

SL: Jizzmotron’s unstoppable this year.

The first two issues of The Fix are available now from Image Comics, with the first issue going into a third printing and the second going into a second printing. The third issue is out June 8th.

Sell-Outs and New Printings

Posted on May 15, 2016 by Graphic Policy Team

Check out some of this week’s announced new sell-outs and new printings.

Image Comics

The Fix #1 and #2 are going back to new printings. This is creative super-team Steve Lieber and Nick Spencer reunited for their first creator-owned project together—and they’re blowing readers away with this instantly popular, humorous crime comic. The Fix #1 is being rushed to a third printing, while The Fix #2 is simultaneously being sent to a second printing. Both will be in stores June 8.

Marvel

The hit comic series continues! Two of the biggest names in comics have joined forces for a sweeping sci-fi epic that has to be seen to be believed! That’s right – star creators Mark Millar and Stuart Immonen bring you the next chapter in their explosive intergalactic adventure Empress!

Did you miss out on the first two issues? Not to worry! Empress #1 and Empress #2 may have sold out, but it’s not too late to jump on board! Empress #1 returns for a second printing on May 11, while Empress #2 gets a second printing on June 15.

Around the Tubes

Posted on May 13, 2016 by Graphic Policy Team

The weekend is almost here! What’s everyone doing? Who’s going to see Captain America: Civil War (again)? Sound off in the comments!

While you decide on that, here’s some comic news and reviews from around the web in our morning roundup.

Around the Tubes

Kotaku – Sources: The Ambitious (Now Cancelled) Plans For Disney Infinity’s Future Included Rogue One, Bigger Figures – That’s a shame.

iO9 – The One Superhero Comic I Always Read When I’m Depressed – A very good read.

Around the Tubes Reviews

CBR – The Fix #2

Comic Attack – Queen #1

CBR – Southern Bastards #14

Nothing But Comics – The Vision #6

Around the Tubes

Review: The Fix #2

Posted on May 11, 2016 by Madison Butler

Good news for people who love reading comics about bad people: The Fix #2 is out, and it’s just as great as the first issue.

Writer Nick Spencer keeps up the same witty rapport and artist Steve Lieber adds in a healthy dose of visual humor as the story picks up right where #1 left off. Roy and Mac work toward getting past Pretzels, the ferocious (adorable) beagle (protagonist) that stands between them and getting paid. Meanwhile, readers learn a little more about the kombucha and kale loving Josh, as well as the other members of the department.

As with Superior Foes of Spider-Man, the main characters–not quite protagonists–are the kind of idiots you can’t help but root for. Roy and Mac may be terrible people, but they have (some) morals, and while their aforementioned idiot qualities have gotten them into some hot water with a bluegrass-loving stay-at-home dad, it doesn’t make the story hard to read. Rather, both the characters and story are, above all, smart. This particular brand of cleverness from Spencer and Lieber isn’t unexpected, and they use it to maximum efficiency with Roy and Mac, whose smarts are used to keep readers guessing about what will happen next.

Lieber’s art is a wonderful counterpoint to the narrative, often helping to successfully convey the wit of the story, which isn’t an easy task. The visual humor is just as hilarious as the textual humor, one thing that makes the story work so well. The facial expressions and body language of the characters are spot on, setting a lighthearted tone for a comic about felons. Ryan Hill nails the colors, and Nic J. Shaw’s lettering and design ensure that all jokes are told in the most humorous way possible.

The Fix hasn’t lost any of its hilarity as it delves deeper into the story, and is absolutely worth a pull list spot. If you didn’t get a chance last month, both issues #1 and #2 are worth checking out–and the #1 second printing variant now features none other than the heroic Pretzels.

Story: Nick Spencer Art: Steve Lieber Colors: Ryan Hill Lettering: Nic J. Shaw
Story: 10 Art: 10 Overall: 10 Recommendation: Buy

Image Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Graphic Policy’s Top Comic Picks this Week!

Posted on May 10, 2016 by Graphic Policy Team

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: A&A: The Adventures Of Archer And Armstrong #3 (Valiant) – This series is such a blast to read. I absolutely love how much fun it is, and yet there’s also a message underneath the booze jokes. I’ve loved every page thus far.

Ninjak #15 (Valiant) – What happens when you take everything from one of the most deadly men in England? Well, I assume he’ll want revenge of some kind…

4001 A.D. X-O Manowar #1 (Valiant) – It’s a full Valiant week this week, eh? I’ve been looking forward to 4001 A.D. for a couple of months, and I’m ready to devour all of the tie-ins as well.

Paul

Top Pick: All-New X-Men #9 (Marvel) – This has been a fun book and I’m really enjoying seeing these younger X-Men venture out into their new world, experiencing their new present and learning more about themselves. This issue has the team jump into the Apocalypse Wars and Evan himself will come face to face with the villain many fear he will become. I’m looking forward to seeing if he can write his own destiny, or is set in stone…and his genetics.

Guardians of the Galaxy #8 (Marvel) – Jaunting through space; helping those who need it; and the ever loving blue eyed Thing among their ranks, the Guardians of the Galaxy is a fun, exciting read I look forward to. This issue has Groot and Venom facing off against Skrulls. Lots and lots of Skrulls. See? Fun!

Vision #7 (Marvel) – A new story arc starts for Vision. This issue is described as a story about Vision and Scarlet Witch 45 years in the making, and it does not sound like a story book romance. This has been a great book, showing the dark side to Vision’s idea of a normal family life. Throw in Scarlet Witch and this is a story I’m ready to dive into.

Mr. H

Top Pick: Action Comics #52 (DC Comics) – Past meets present and future as Superman meets Superman! Been waiting for this one a long time and rumors abound what will happen to the current Man of Steel are rampant. Apparently Superman’s greatest foe is not Lex Luthor, Doomsday or Metallo. It’s time. The bell tolls for thee.

Batman #52 (DC Comics) – Last issue before the new direction. A presence from Bruce Wayne’s past comes back to haunt him. While that’s not entirely new, hopefully we get some more insight to his new 52 roots. Last stop before some dramatic changes to the Bat-Universe.

Brett

Top Pick: The Fix #2 (Image Comics) – I love a good cop drama, and especially crooked cop drama. The first issue by Nick Spencer and Steve Lieber absolutely blew me away and is easily one of the best debuts of 2016. I’ve been counting down the days until the second issue, thankfully it’s here. The humor is amazing and mixed with the story itself, it’s just a damn near perfect combo.

American Monster #3 (Aftershock Comics) – Brian Azzarello, nuff said. He’s one of the few writers that I’ll devour whatever he writes. It’s not all perfect, but it’s at least interesting.

Grizzly Shark #2: Grizzly Shark Returns (Image Comics) – The concept is as bizarre as the title. The first issue had me laughing through almost the entire thing. It’s absolutely hilarious in a completely absurd way.

Pacific Rim: Tales From the Drift #4 (Legendary) – Big robots and Kaiju. I’m a huge fan of anything Pacific Rim and its been a bit of a break between the last issue and this one, but I’m sold no matter the wait.

Southern Bastards #14 (Image Comics) – One of the best comics on the market is back for a new arc. Always a must read.

Listen to Steve Lieber Talk The Fix with Graphic Policy Radio on Demand

Posted on April 12, 2016 by Graphic Policy Team

On demand: iTunes ¦ Sound Cloud ¦ Stitcher

This Monday Graphic Policy Radio welcomed first time guest Steve Lieber to talk about his comic career and his current comic series The Fix published by Image Comics. Released last Wednesday, The Fix has sold out and is going back to print. The series is a story of “crooked cops, scheming mobsters, and corrupt politicians that run things – and the sex toy that can bring them all down.” Lieber joined hosts Brett and Elana to discuss the new series which has been praised by fans and critics alike.

Steve Lieber studied art at the Joe Kubert School. His comics have been published by DC, Marvel, Dark Horse, Image, Valiant and many other publishers, but he’s best known for his work on Whiteout, a graphic novel adapted as a feature film, and Superior Foes of Spider-Man, a cult favorite published by Marvel. His current project is The Fix at Image comics.

His various projects have received nine Eisner Award nominations, and he won the Eisner for Best Limited Series for Whiteout Volume 2: Melt. Steve’s a founding member of Periscope Studio, the largest studio of comic book artists in North America. He lives in Portland, Oregon with his wife Sara Ryan.

Steve Lieber Talks The Fix with Graphic Policy Radio LIVE this Monday

Posted on April 11, 2016 by Graphic Policy Team

This Monday Graphic Policy Radio welcomes first time guest Steve Lieber to talk about his comic career and his current comic series The Fix published by Image Comics. Released last Wednesday, The Fix has sold out and is going back to print. The series is a story of “crooked cops, scheming mobsters, and corrupt politicians that run things – and the sex toy that can bring them all down.” Lieber will join hosts Brett and Elana to discuss the new series which has been praised by fans and critics alike.

The show airs LIVE this Monday at 10pm ET.

We want to hear from you! Tweet us your questions @graphicpolicy.

Listen to the show LIVE tonight.

Around the Tubes

Posted on April 11, 2016 by Graphic Policy Team

It’s a brand new week and another weekend is over and more conventions are wrapped up. Any news that you all thought was excited? Sound off in the comments!