IT’S NEW COMIC BOOK DAY! #NCBD
The best day of the week just got a lot better with a new round of awesome comics arriving in stores this week. Staff members at Major Spoilers are here to help you with your comic book selection this week, with their roundup of comics they recommend.
ACTION COMICS #964
Writer: Dan Jurgens
Artist: Patrick Zircher
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price: $2.99
SOLICITATION: “WHO IS CLARK KENT?” part 2! Superman comes face to face with Clark Kent, and he wants answers! But first the Man of Steel must protect his former alter ego. Clark Kent tells all in this shocking issue! And don’t miss the return of a ghost from Smallville past…
JON: The second arc of Action Comics post-Rebirth started off strong in issue #963. Dan Jurgens is the perfect writer for this title and out of the three rotating artists, Patrick Zircher is by far my favorite. This is definitely worth picking up.
ASTRO CITY #39
Writer: Kurt Busiek
Artist: Carmen Nunez Carnero
Publisher: Vertigo
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: In the 15th century, the Hanged Man made a promise. Today, he needs a lawyer. A look back in at Marta Dobrescu, and her life in Shadow Hill, Astro City’s occult enclave-a life dealing with ghosts, demons, family, romance, and other horrors. And the Hanged Man won’t be her only new client, either. Part 1 of a 2-part story drawn by guest artist Carmen Carnero (Adventures of Supergirl, Dragon Age, Cyclops).
MATTHEW: A return to one of the most haunting (literally) of the original Astro City tales, with the promise of a deeper look into the mystical side of Astro City? Sold, American!
BLUE BEETLE #1
Writer: Keith Giffen
Artist: Scott Kolins
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price: $2.99
SOLICITATION: Jaime Reyes is back home, but just when he thought he had a grasp on this alter-ego, the Blue Beetle, he discovers everything he believed about his scarab is a lie according to the mysterious Doctor Fate. With dire warnings about the symbiote that is fused to Reyes’ spine, Kent Nelson, the original wielder of Doctor Fate’s power, seemingly on verge of insanity, has he come to save Jaime as he claims…or will he try to eliminate the Blue Beetle, no matter the cost?
MATTHEW: I’m cautiously optimistic about Jaime Reyes getting another shot, and although I’m worried about the Ted Kord factor (DC is notoriously bad about reverting to Silver Age identities), this book seems like a lot of fun. That cover is a bit unnerving, though… STOP STARING AT ME, BLUE BEETLE!!!!
ROB: Ted’s almost back! And he’ll be working with Jaime! I get the best of both worlds here!
STEPHEN: Forget everything you’ve ever known about Blue Beetle. Seriously, forget it. Otherwise, you’re going to be totally confused as to why DC is rehashing/changing stories you remember reading a decade ago. This first issue is good, and we get to see the Posse enter the fray once again.
CAPTAIN CANUCK 2015 ONGOING #9
Writer: Kalman Andrasofszky
Artist: Leonard Kirk
Publisher: Chapterhouse Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: It’s Redcoat versus Bluefox to the death, with Captain Canuck caught in the middle! ‘Nuff said! Also available with a photo cover variant with Laura Vandervoort (Smallville’s Supergirl) as Blue Fox.
WAYNE: I find it great fun to read comics about superheroes from other countries, and this one is a favorite! Highly recommended,eh?
CAPTAIN KID #2
Writer: Mark Waid, Tom Peyer
Artist: Wilfredo Torres
Publisher: AfterShock Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: While local government, business and media conspire to destroy the city with weather machines, a hero from the future gives Captain Kid a clue to his origin.
WAYNE: I loved the concept when I first heard it, enjoyed the debut issue, now anxious to find out more as the series continues! Great book!
DETECTIVE COMICS #941
Writer: James Tynion IV, Steve Orlando
Artist: Andy MacDonald
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price: $2.99
SOLICITATION: “Night Of The Monster Men” part 3! Batman and Batwoman take to the streets in a motorcycle death race against a monster that transforms faster than they can keep up! And at Blackgate, something truly terrifying is growing in the prison’s darkest depths…and its eggs are hatching!
JON: DC’s first post-Rebirth crossover event started last week and seems to be off to a good start. I’m interested in seeing if “Night of the Monster Men” can maintain its momentum as it crosses over into Detective Comics. Steve Orlando and James Tynion IV are both solid writers so I’m sure it won’t disappoint.
JOSIE & THE PUSSYCATS #1
Writer: Marguerite Bennett, Cameron Deordio
Artist: Audrey Mok
Publisher: ARCHIE COMIC PUBLICATIONS
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: Grab the latest, surefire, top-of-the-charts new Riverdale series! Friends, countrymen, lend me your long tails and ears for hats – the Pussycats are back! In this series kick-off, Josie’s getting the band together to help achieve her dreams of musical stardom. But for the group to last, it needs a strong foundation of friendship and trust. Can the girls get going, or will Alexandra’s plotting put a stop to the whole thing? Don’t miss comics’ supreme songstresses’ return to the limelight in this exciting first issue!
ROB: If this is even anywhere as good as the Archie series that started last year it will be worth grabbing. Besides, who doesn’t like ears for hats?
STEPHEN: Archie Comics has really given its titles a kick in the pants, and ever new series has been wonderful. I expect great things will happen with Josie and The Pussycats #1, so this is probably one you need to grab today before it is sold out.
M.A.S.K. REVOLUTION #1
Writer: Brandon Easton
Artist: Tony Vagas
Publisher: IDW
Cover Price: $3.99 USD
SOLICITATION: The origin of M.A.S.K.! Miles Mayhem’s decades long plans are finally coming to fruition, but will the revealed secrets he has hidden from Matt Trakker create a new enemy bent on Mayhem’s undoing? A special story tying directly into REVOLUTION!
ETIENNE: Nostalgia is a powerful force, even when you know it is misplaced. MASK was always my second favourite cartoon as a child, and one that came with a theme song that just will not quit running round and round in my head whenever I see a picture from that show. The premise of the series was so much weaker than the Hasbro inspired, Marvel developed Transformers, but perhaps with a modern take on the series, this will become a really strong part of the IDW shared universe.
NORTHGUARD #2
Writer: Anthony Falcone
Artist: Ron Salas
Publisher: Chapterhouse Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: Northguard further investigates the deadly Aurora Dawn but an unexpected obstacle gets in his way: Kebec! It’s spy vs sniper in a fight to the finish!
MATTHEW: I’m the guy who loved Northguard during my early college years, and I’m pretty psyched to see him back in action, especially in complex, exciting stories…
SAGA #38
Writer: Brian K Vaughn
Artist: Fiona Staples
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price: $2.99
SOLICITATION: “THE WAR FOR PHANG,” Part Two. When your babysitter’s a ghost, death is never very far away.
ROB: This has still been going great and I doubt I will ever fail to recommend it when it comes out. Looking forward to continuing this epic read.
STAR TREK WAYPOINT #1
Writer: Donny Cates
Artist: Mack Chater
Publisher: IDW
Cover Price: $4.99 USD
SOLICITATION: A blockbuster bi-monthly anthology to celebrate 50 years of STAR TREK, featuring short stories across all Treks. First, a TNG story by Donny Cates and Mack Chater; unable to decipher a mysterious ship’s coded messages, Starfleet has enlisted its two greatest scientific minds, Captain Geordi La Forge and his best friend Data, to investigate. What they discover will alter the course of scientific human history as we know it! Then, a TOS story by Sandra Lanz, where a crewmember, stranded on a strange planet, encounters a bizarre alien creature. They must learn how to interact, but how?
ETIENNE: The new Star Trek Discovery series has had me on a TV binge watching my way through all of Trek in chronological order. Although I was worried I would not be finished by the time the new series started, its premiere’s delay now means I am trying to slow down my watching, or risk running out early. I’m up to The Next Generation and going strong and I will read anything to sate my interest in the series, even if it comes with a slightly lacklustre cover.
WAYNE: Even though the anniversary day has passed, I’m still in the mood to celebrate Star Trek’s 50th! Looking forward to this series as it explores Trek’s various incarnations!
SURGEON X #1
Writer: Sara Kenney
Artist: John Watkiss
Publisher: Image
Cover Price: $3.99 USD
SOLICITATION: Part One What do you get if you cross a far-right British government with an antibiotic apocalypse and a gruesome murder? The birth of Surgeon X and her renegade practice. Extreme times call for extreme medicine. Sara Kenney and master artist John join to produce this unique, darkly comic medical thriller, which will horrify and delight in equal measure.
ETIENNE: Far-Right British Government and gruesome murder, sounds like a typical day where I live. What really interests me is a book drawn by John Watkiss, his art is never boring, although not always to my taste. I hate ‘average’ so good or bad, this should be a fascinating book.
WONDER WOMAN #7
Writer: Greg Rucka
Artist: Liam Sharp
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price: $2.99
SOLICITATION: “THE LIES” part 4! One god down-how many more to go? Diana takes another step closer to the truth, and Steve Trevor confronts his past!
JON: Greg Rucka has been doing an incredible job straightening out the Amazon Princess’s muddled continuity in both interchanging arcs of the series. Still, the major selling point of “The Lies” has to be Liam Sharp’s incredible art. I highly recommend grabbing this issue.
ROBOT OVERLORD: WHAT WILL YOU BE BUYING THIS WEEK? USE THE COMMENT SECTION BELOW!
1 Comment
I’ve picked up prog (issue) 2000 of that great British comic 2000ad today. Worth a read for new/old/lapsed readers