It’s a brand new week for comics, and that means you have choices to make. If you are looking for comic book recommendations, you’ve come to the right place, as the Major Spoilers staff runs down titles they are looking forward to this week.
BATMAN #20
Writer: Scott Snyder
Artist: Greg Capullo
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: A strange visitor comes to Gotham City when tragedy delivers the team-up you’ve been asking for since the start of The New 52!
STEPHEN: Every staff comic book list is better with Batman. Plus, this is Scott Snyder Batman with Greg Capullo art. The series continues to push forward, and the promise of the team-up I’ve been asking for since the start of the New 52 has me itching to see Batmight and Etrigan finally bring the fists of justice to Gotham City.
BTVS SEASON 9 TP VOL 03 GUARDED
Writer: Andrew Chambliss, Jane Espenson, Drew Z. Greenberg
Artist: Georges Jeanty, Karl Moline, Ben Dewey
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Cover Price: $17.99
SOLICITATION:
In a bold move to give disenfranchised Slayers a meaningful societal role (with pay), Kennedy recruits Buffy to act as bodyguard for high-profile clientele. But unlike the other recruits, Buffy struggles to abandon her Slaying instincts and looks for demony threats where none lie (much to Kennedy’s dismay). So it’s only natural that her first job is to protect a tech mogul who just so happens to be running from demon assassins! Collects Buffy Season 9 #11–#15.
* Executive produced by Joss Whedon!
* Introduces Billy the vampire slayer!
* Guest writers Jane Espenson and Drew Greenberg!
ROB: Never quite being able to get caught up on the monthly issues, I’m always happy to see a new Buffy-verse trade come out, and this one is no exception. With the return of an entertaining character I’d almost forgot about I’m quite happy to be picking this up this week.
CONSTANTINE #3
Writer: Jeff Lemire, Ray Fawkes
Artist: Renato Guedes
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price: $2.99
SOLICITATION: John Constantine’s quest to find the last piece of a powerful mystic artifact before his enemies do brings him to a city that could kill him the moment he sets foot in it: London!
ROB: The first two issues were about as good as expected, which was pretty high given the character and the writer, and this looks to be another very solid title to add to the magic-y corner of the New 52.
FEARLESS DEFENDERS #4
Writer: Cullen Bunn
Artist: Will Sliney
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $2.99
SOLICITATION: In a world where some villains became heroes instead Warrior Woman teams up with…Caroline LeFay? The connection between the Fearless Defenders greatest foe and Morgan LeFay is finally revealed! (And it’s true in our world too!)
CHRIS: I’m not sure why I enjoy this book as much as I do. I’m completely ignorant as to who the characters are, but the story is fun and it’s always nice to see a book with an all female cast. So far, Cullen Bunn has me hooked, showing me why these ladies are cool and Will Sliney’s art is nice to look at too!
FEVER RIDGE MACARTHUR JUNGLE WAR #3
Writer: Mike Heimos
Artist: Nick Runge
Publisher: IDW Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: Fever Ridge returns to the main characters’ saga of World War II in the Southwest Pacific Command. Alone and deep in a still-contested region of New Guinea’s Huon Peninsula, the Scouts come across the remains of a massacred Japanese patrol and meet the men who both perpetrated the ambush, and which would change their lives henceforth…
GEORGE: I’ve trumpeted this book before, but I’m not going to stop now. There aren’t a lot of war comics on the stands, but Fever Ridge stands tall on top of a short heap. This is a book made with a lot of love, and it’s well worth your attention.
HELLBLAZER VOL. 5 DANGEROUS HABITS
Writer: Garth Ennis
Artist: Will Simpson
Publisher: Vertigo
Cover Price: $19.99
SOLICITATION: This new edition of a classic HELLBLAZER collection features several tales never before collected, including a look at John Constantine’s rough and tumble childhood and the beginnings of his unique skills. Then, in early stories from PREACHER writer Garth Ennis, John Constantine is dying. As a sorcerer literally haunted by the demons of his past, John is no stranger to mystic bedevilment or supernatural horror. But it’s his chain smoking that ultimately brings death to Constantine’s door. Collecting HELLBLAZER #34-46.
CHRIS: I’ve been getting into Hellblazer and Mister Constantine recently thanks to these new editions coming out. It’s neat to see the character’s beginnings and this trade paperback collects the classic Dangerous Habits story. I originally didn’t like this story when I first read it as it was my first introduction to the character (aside from the movie). I’m looking forward to reading it again from a different perspective.
ROCKETEER: HOLLYWOOD HORROR #4
Writer: Roger Langridge
Artist: Jason Bone
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: Betty in deadly danger! The great and the good of Hollywood under the control of Otto Rune! And the Rocketeer without the jet-pack he’s come to depend upon! And, just when Cliff Secord thought things couldn’t get any worse… enter the Dark Lord himself, Sh’oggoth! The thrilling climax… in the grand pulp tradition!
STEPHEN: Cthulhu meets the Rocketeer… what’s not to like?
STAR WARS #5
Writer: Brian Wood
Artist: Carlos D’Anda
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
SOLICITATION: When Princess Leia is caught between two squadrons of TIE fighters, her undercover scouting may be at an end. But Luke Skywalker is doing his best to disobey Leia’s own orders, and to once again save the princess. Time is short and the Empire is closing in!
GEORGE: Four issues in, and this is close to the best Star Wars comic I’ve ever read. If you’re a fan of the saga, this is a book you should be reading, plain and simple. It’s a great adventure featuring the classic characters, full of action and intrigue, executed with great art and writing. Check it out.
KEVIN: I have always been a big Star Wars fan and this comic is the perfect blend of nostalgia and new expanded universe material. It will remind you why you love the original movies so much (and hate the prequels). Enjoy this piece of classic science fiction before J.J. Abrams and Disney get their hands on the franchise the next few years.
UBER #1
Writer: Kieron Gillen
Artist: Canaan White
Publisher: Avatar Press
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: From the jaws of defeat, the Nazi war machine is resurrected by walking battleship superhuman soldiers who turn the tide of World War II. Kieron Gillen unveils his epic new monthly series, which rewrites history with a horrifying twist! Super soldiers now turn the machinations of the Twentieth Century’s greatest madman into reality. The Ubers are here and the world will tremble at their feet. But a deeply entrenched spy could be the difference in seeing the world remade in the Nazi vision and the Allies finding a way to stem the tide.
CHRIS: I still haven’t read #0 but want to pick this up, as the premise is intriguing. The art looks awesome and I’ve enjoyed Kieron Gillen’s writing in the past. Here’s hoping for some of the ‘ol ultra-violence Avatar usually provides.
GEORGE: Issue #0 had me cautiously optimistic for this title, which I think has a lot of potential. If Gillen can plumb the depths of the themes he promised in the zero issues, this could be a magnificent title. But if you’ve got a weak stomach, you should probably pass this one up.
UNCANNY AVENGERS #8
Writer: Rick Remender
Artist: Daniel Acuna
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: Xavier is dead, now begins the age of The Apocalypse Twins! Now begins Ragnarok and it’s all Thor’s fault! S.W.O.R.D. Peak station is attacked by Apocalypse’s Ship! A Celestial’s fate so shocking, so impossible, it will rock the Marvel Universe to its core. This is it, Ragnarok is now and not even the Uncanny Avengers can hold it back!
ROB: With the cast being filled out a bit more after the initial arc, Uncanny Avengers has become something I can be wholly invested in, and the new story plays with quite a few pieces of Marvel lore, both modern and a bit less so, that stand to either make or break this title.
ROBOT OVERLORD: What are you picking up this week?