It’s New Comic Book Day! I know we are excited, and you should be too, as there are a number of titles you will want (and should) pick up. But where to start? The staff members at Major Spoilers have shared a list of comics they are most looking forward to this week.
ATOMIC ROBO KNIGHTS OF THE GOLDEN CIRCLE #2
Writer: Brian Clevinger
Artist: Scott Wegener
Publisher: Red 5 Comics
Cover Price: $3.50
SOLICITATION: Atomic Robo is trapped in the year 1884. When he comes face-to-face with a plot that threatens to shatter the Americas, he’s forced out of seclusion to become the Old West vigilante hero ‘Ironside.’
CHRIS: It’s Atomic Robo man! If you haven’t listened to Stephen and read this yet, well I’m sorry. Stephen may wear weird hats and all but he’s right on this one.
STEPHEN: This series really surprised me! Atomic Robo in the old west? Picking this up for sure!
BATMAN 66 MEETS GREEN HORNET #2
Writer: Kevin Smith and Ralph Garman
Artist: Ty Templeton
Publisher: DC Comics/Dynamite Entertainment
Cover Price: $2.99
SOLICITATION: The reunion of the greatest TV team-up of the 1960s continues! The Fearless Foursome struggle to escape General Gumm’s sticky death trap, while the gloating Gumm assumes the worst and plots to take his criminal activities to the next level. His plans for expansion require some expert help from an unexpected source! Assuming our heroes escape, will they be able to overcome this new, deadly duo?
MATTHEW: I enjoy the retro stylings of Batman, but when you add in a Dozier-inspired Green Hornet crossover that’s a direct sequel to their one TV outing, you know I’m in. Ty Templeton’s art is stellar in issue #1, you should check this one out!
CINDER & ASHE TP
Writer: Gerry Conway
Artist: Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price: $14.99
SOLICITATION: Cinder and Ashe are a team of private investigators – one, a veteran of the Vietnam war; the other, the daughter of another U.S. soldier and a native Vietnamese woman. They’ve been hired to find a kidnapped girl – but as they travel across the U.S. on her trail, their own traumatic pasts come back to haunt them. Collecting the four-issue miniseries for the first time!
MATTHEW: A serious blast from the past here, with a series that even *I* had forgotten about. It’s a precursor to today’s more realistic and issue-oriented story telling, though, and while it may not have aged well, it does about as well as most adults-only fare of the era. Worth a look…
HACK/SLASH SON OF SAMHAIN #1
Writer: Michael Moreci, Steve Seeley
Artist: Emilio Laiso
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price: $3.50
SOLICITATION: Your favorite slasher hunter is BACK! When a mysterious cult of monsters arises, Cassie is forced to return to the life she thought she’d left behind. Coupled with a new partner and faced with enemies unlike any she has battled before, Cassie must confront the darkness in the world-and in her own life-in new ways. The agents of evil never rest; unfortunately for them, neither does Cassie Hack.
CHRIS: I love me some Hack/Slash. Maybe it’s partly my love of punk rock girls and horror mixed together but this series speaks to me. I’m interested to see how someone other than Tim Seeley will handle the story and Cassie without Vlad is quite a change. Excited, if somewhat worried.
MAGNETO #6
Writer: Cullen Bunn
Artist: Javi Fernandez
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: • Magneto is on a one-man mission to safeguard the future of mutantkind by any means necessary. So far, he’s done so by eliminating human threats…
• But what happens when it’s MUTANTS who pose a threat to their own species?
• Will Magneto cross a line and raise his hand to his own kind? And if so, just how far will he go?
GEORGE: Magneto has become one of my favorite books. Bunn’s story is a moody, magnificent showcase for the Master of Magnet. It’s the sort of solo series that really works, with Bunn nailing Magneto’s voice, while providing an interesting take on the character.
ROCKET RACOON #1
Writer: Skottie Young
Artist: Skottie Young
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: ALL-NEW, IN-CONTINUITY SERIES! As defenders of the cosmos go, Rocket Raccoon has faced his fair share of galactic battles. He’s been a hero to the weak, a champion of good, a protector of the innocent, a heartthrob to the many intergalactic female species and now–a raccoon on the run?! ( I’m sorry, I’m sorry, a ‘formidable-and-expert-Guardian’ on the run. Rocket is NOT a raccoon, okay?) Rocket’s high-flying life of adventure and heroism may soon be a thing of the past when he becomes a wanted man-and the authorities are not the only one on his TAIL! (We’ll definitely be overusing that pun!) Superstar creator Skottie Young brings his A-game as writer and artist on the series we’ve been waiting decades for. Because let’s be real, this is the only Guardian of the Galaxy you actually care about. Am I right?
CHRIS: The character that’s sure to sell a lot of toys after the movie comes out now gets his own series. Perfect timing, huh? I can’t help but get suckered into this one mainly because of Skottie Young’s art. I’m just eager to see him draw something other than babies for a change.
GEORGE: Man, I just wanna see Skottie young draw (and write) a comic about a talking raccoon. (He is a raccoon, it’s totally part of his name and everything, I don’t care what he says)
SATELLITE SAM #9
Writer: Matt Fraction
Artist: Howard Chayking
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price: $3.50
SOLICITATION: The clock runs out to save the network from scandal as Michael makes the biggest mistake of his life—and the only friend he has left behind the scenes has to face his father’s killer alone.
MATTHEW: Fun stuff, with a unique and oddly sexy premise. Not for children or the faint of heart!
VAMPIRE HUNTER D NOVEL #21: RECORD OF THE BLOOD BATTLE
Writer: Hideyuki Kikuchi
Artist: Yoshitaka Amano
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Cover Price: $11.99
SOLICITATION: D accompanies a convoy delivering a vampire Noble to face public trial for his crimes against humanity. However, the Noble’s enemies have targeted the men and women of the convoy, and they are out for vengeance! Can D bring himself to kill humans in order to protect the Noble under his charge?
GEORGE: BLOOD BATTLE