Another week, another round of comics we think you should pick up. Don’t believe us? Take the jump and see what we are most looking forward to the most this week.
ACTION COMICS #15
Writer: Grant Morrison
Artist: Rags Morales
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: Superman is on trial for his life – and the jury is the Anti-Superman Army! It’s the ultimate villains springing the ultimate trap at the end of time itself! And the mystery that has built since issue #1 is resolved as the Little Man’s true identity is revealed – with grave consequences!
JIMMY: I believe issue #16 is the conclusion of Grant’s run, which has been one of the weirdest and most enjoyable Superman stories I’ve read in a long time. We’ve been some odd places, with issue 14 being a Doctor Who riff that led into some bad news for the Man of Steel, and I can’t wait to see how this all climaxes in the final two issues!
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #699
Writer: Dan Slott
Artist: Humberto Ramos
Publisher: Marvel
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: This is the MUST READ issue that turns over all the cards and reveals secrets that have been set as far back as ENDS OF THE EARTH, SPIDER-ISLAND, and 99 issues ago in ASM #600! • Doctor Octopus has hours left to live. He knows Peter Parker’s secret. He has no master plan—all he wants is vengeance. Which members of Spider-Man’s rogues gallery will heed Ock’s call to arms? • Special appearances by the Lizard, the Spider-Slayer, Morbius the Living Vampire, and some surprising Spidey Foes!
ROB: This is it guys, just two issues left and Doc Ock is in control. This promises to be a huge story leading into the grand finale. With Dan Slott at the helm and Ramos back on art duties I can’t wait to get my hands on this issue and find out what Ock is truly up to and how Spidey could potentially achieve success.
STEPHEN: AAAAAHHHH. It’s times like these, when something so big and important happens, that I know what it feels like to be Adriana during a recording session of Critical Hit. Can. Not. Wait.
ZACH: TWO-ish ISSUES LEFT! The twist in ASM #698 still has me reeling about what the future is for Peter Parker and Spider-Man. Dan Slott has been saying for quite some time that he is going to go into hiding once #700 releases and with the way things are shaping up I believe him. Some readers will certainly be upset about these issues but I for one love them.
AVENGERS #1
Writer: Jonathan Hickman
Artist: Jerome Opena
Publisher: Marvel
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: The greatest heroes in comics together on one unbeatable team! Now shipping twice a month, the Avengers “go large,” expanding their roster and their sphere of influence to a global and even interplanetary level. When Captain America puts out his call – who will answer? Big threats, big ideas, big idealism – these are the Avengers NOW!
GEORGE: Not so sure why Marvel is so proud that it is double-shipping this (and most of the other Marvel NOW! titles). I am loving the reshuffling of the creative teams, but forcing these titles out twice a month means I am simply not going to be able to afford every book that I am interested in. So titles where I like the writer and not the artist? Goodbye, Iron Man. But hello, Avengers. Jonathan Hickman is one of the most exciting talents in comics today, and Jerome Opeña’s art helped make Uncanny X-Force one of my all-time favorite books.
MATTHEW: On the one hand, it’s another Avengers #1. On the other, it seems like they’re ready to try and do something different after ten years of Bendis-vengers. Don’t get me wrong, I like a large portion of what BMB did with Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, but the last couple of years have seemed to be an endless cycle of new lineups that never actually appear together and stunt-casting of heroes. (Also: Quake? Seriously?) The appearance of Nova and Cannonball on this cover alone have me intrigued, even though it looks like they’re going to continue shoving the new Captain Marvel down our throats.
STEPHEN: Ok… I’m ready to give yet another Marvel title a try, and see if the company can get me hooked on yet another book from the company. Lot’s of good buzz coming out about this one, and spending some time getting in on the ground floor – THE GROUND FLOOR – is always appealing.
ZACH: Based on his run on Fantastic Four and FF Hickman automatically earns a check out from me. And with his announcement that the cast of characters would stat to rack up my interest is piqued about what he has planned.
BLACKACRE #1
Writer: Duffy Boudreau
Artist: Wendell Cavalcanti
Publisher: Image Comics
Price: $2.99
SOLICITATION: 100 YEARS AFTER THE FALL… A NEW GREAT GAME BEGINS.
A retired soldier on a secret mission… sent out from the walled city and the only life he’s ever known into the violent wilderness of the world after the fall! Tribal cults, roaming bands of barbarians, vicious warlords! A startling new take on the post-apocalypse and the most auspicious comics debut of the year!
RODRIGO: Post apocalyptic comics are now officially a thing. Here’s where we start to see how many the market can actually support. The solicitation isn’t telling us much, but I’m still interested.
DEADPOOL #3
Writer: Gerry Duggan, Brian Posehn
Artist: Tony Moore
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $2.99
SOLICITATION: Deadpool vs. Dead Presidents. This time, TRICKY DICK NIXON! Can even Doctor Strange help the M w/the M? This is the Deadpool series you will marry someday!
JIMMY: I’ve enjoyed Deadpool off and on since Daniel Way’s run, and with the Marvel NOW! relaunch with Gerry Duggan and Brian Posehn it gave me the perfect opportunity to add this to my pull list. If you haven’t been reading this and are a fun of smart comedies, go buy issues 1, 2 and 3 this Wednesday at your local comic shop, or pick them up on Comixology. You won’t regret it. Tony Moore’s delightfully gory art is also a nice bonus.
DETECTIVE COMICS #15
Writer: John Layman
Artist: Jason Fabak
Publisher: DC
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: A “DEATH OF THE FAMILY” tie-in!
• What has The Joker done with The Penguin?
• Guest-starring Poison Ivy and Clayface!
• Plus: In the backup story, learn the secret way to make it as a super criminal in Gotham City.
GEORGE: John Layman has reinvigorated Detective Comics so now there’s TWO essential Batman titles. The Joker might be the big thing right now, but how is Layman going to handle him, the Penguin, Poison Ivy AND Clayface all in one issue?
ZACH: Detective Comics #15 is a “Death of the Family” tie-in issue, but it does seem like the storyline that Layman began at the start of his run is going to flow naturally in and out of this crossover event. This fills me with joy because I love the Bat and Penguin story that has been happening. Detective has been completely worth the $3.99 price tag with extra story after the main section.
HAWKEYE #6
Written by MATT FRACTION
Art & Cover by DAVID AJA
Publisher: Marvel
Cover Price: $2.99
SOLICITATION: THE TAPE CONCLUDES! • Someone has a deadly secret that will change the course of Hawkeye’s relationship with the Avengers. Issue 6 – • David Aja returns to the most critically acclaimed comic of 2012! • The Ace Archer Clint Barton faces DVR-MAGEDDON!
MATTHEW: It’s Hawkeye. If you’ve been paying attention to what I say (as I’m certain at least 1/3 of you occasionally do) you shouldn’t be surprised by this one. This is the second half of Clint Barton’s first multi-part story in this volume, and it promises to be something truly awesome. Just buy the book, already…
STEPHEN: Sold. All it took was one issue, and I’m in agreement with Matthew, you need to buy this book.
HELLBOY IN HELL #1
Writer: Mike Mignola
Artist: Mike Mignola
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Cover Price: $2.99
SOLICITATION: After saving the world in The Storm and The Fury, but sacrificing himself and Great Britain, Hellboy is dead, cast into Hell, where he finds many familiar faces, and a throne that awaits him.
Mike Mignola returns to draw Hellboy’s ongoing story for the first time since Conqueror Worm. It’s a story only Mignola could tell, as more of Hellboy’s secrets are at last revealed, in the most bizarre depiction of Hell you’ve ever seen.
• Mike Mignola writes and draws the next phase of Hellboy’s story.
• Dark Horse horror gets under your skin!
GEORGE: The BPRD line has always benefitted from some great artists, but there’s still no substitute for Mike Mignola. Mignola promising “the most bizarre depiction of Hell” I’ll ever see? I’m sold.
ROB: IT’S HERE! Probably the biggest event ever to happen in a Hellboy comic and it comes out this week. Time for a quick re-read of everything else so I know I’m caught up. And with the work being 100% Mignola, you can’t ask for anything better for the winter holidays.
STEPHEN: It’s been a while since I’ve read anything from the Hellboy Universe, but now that the lost son has returned home, things are about to get really interesting… Considering this work is written and illustrated by Mike Mignola, you know things are going to get crazy.
HOUSE OF FUN
Writer: Evan Dorkin
Artist: Evan Dorkin
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Price: $3.50
SOLICITATION: Evan Dorkin’s sick and twisted sense of humor unleashes itself with a new Murder Family episode, multiple pages of Fun gag strips, and the return of The Eltingville Comic Book, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror, and Role-Playing Club, and new Milk and Cheese strips. Collecting stories from Dark Horse Presents #10-#12.
* Eisner and Harvey winner Evan Dorkin (Superman: The Animated Series, Beasts of Burden)!
* A must for Milk and Cheese fans and new readers!
“I adore what Evan Dorkin does. I think he’s the funniest guy in comics.” —Frank Miller
“Dorkin is a powerful man, and this is powerful stuff.” —Bryan Lee O’Malley
RODRIGO: Dorkin’s stuff is great in small doses. And this dose looks just right.
INVINCIBLE #98
Writer: Robert Kirkman
Artist: Ryan Ottley
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price: $2.99
SOLICITATION: ‘THE DEATH OF EVERYONE,’ Part One
The countdown to issue #100 begins here – with the story that will change EVERYTHING for Invincible! Mark’s powers have finally returned, just in time for every life on Earth to rest in his hands. But what will happen when everyone learns that what is happening… is Mark’s fault?
JIMMY: If you’re not reading Invincible, DON’T start here. But if you have been reading Invincible this is the big one. It feels like it’s been a LONG time coming (considering how early they started the “DEATH OF EVERYONE” teasers), but the wait is over and this will be the first book I read on Wednesday for sure.
STEPHEN: When other companies promise that someone is going to die, it usually means the repairman has done the yearly maintenance on the company’s revolving door, but when Robert Kirkman says people are going to die, I shudder to think what he has up his sleeve.
KEVIN KELLER #6
Writer: Dan Parent
Artists: Dan Parent, Rich Koslowski
Publisher: Archie Comics
SOLICITATION: “By George!”
When the gang gets a school assignment to write about a person who has inspired them, Kevin chooses George Takei, the legendary Star Trek actor who came out several years ago. When Kevin hears that he’s at a local convention, he recruits Jughead to go with him, unaware that Mr. Takei, moved by Kevin’s article, has made a trip to Riverdale to pay him a visit. Kevin rushes to meet up with his idol, but will he make it in time? Oh my!
MATTHEW: Okay, I admit it. I’m here for the stunt-casting. Archie Comics has been making a quiet show of itself lately, with interesting publishing strategies, some fun stories, and an understanding that comics can be more than just the distance between two earth-shattering events. I want to see how this one plays out, even if it’s nothing more than a gimmick, mostly because I enjoy the hell out of George Takei and the current Archie direction…
MAGIC THE GATHERING PATH OF VENGEANCE #1
Writer: Matt Forbeck
Artist: Martin Coccolo
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Cover Price: $4.99
SOLICITATION: Dack Fayden returns to Ravnica!
Dack knows that the malevolent Sifa Grent has something sinister planned for the city of Ravnica, but he must uncover her plot while being pursued by Rakdos cultists and Boros soldiers.
Not only that, but someone from Dack’s past may just put an end to the Planeswalker thief!
ROB: I for one am still enjoying Dack Fayden’s adventures and am happy to see yet another series coming out. Though Dack has not been seen within the game yet, getting more out of the Magic multiverse is still interesting and you always get a promo card to boot, which have usually been quite worthwhile.
WOMANTHOLOGY: SPACE #3
Creators: Rachel Edidin, Leigh Dragoon, Renae Deliz
Publisher: IDW Publishing
SOLICITATION: You can’t travel through space without a ship, and these 3 stories take you on 3 very different adventures. Dreamy, creepy, and just plain fun, explore the infinite in this strange and galactic issue!
RODRIGO: What I’ve managed to catch of this series looks really good. And I do like anthology books.
