Looking for something to read this week? The Major Spoilers Staff has picked the books they are most looking forward to this week.
THE ANSWER! #1
Writer: Dennis Hopeless
Artist: Mike Norton
Colorist: Mark Englert
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: Devin McKenzie is an insomniac librarian with a knack for solving puzzles. The Answer! is a masked crime fighter with a giant exclamation point on his face. Aside from a penchant for late nights, they share nothing in common . . . until both become embroiled in a deadly mystery surrounding a sinister motivational speaker!
* Eisner Award-winning creator of Battlepug!
* Superhero mystery with explosive action!
* Written by Dennis Hopeless (Cable and X-Force, Avengers Arena)!
RODRIGO: Got a chance to read this one ahead of time and it looks pretty interesting. Although I will say, I’m not entirely sure why this book needs a masked crime-fighter.
AVENGERS #3
Writer: Jonathan Hickman
Artist: Jerome Opena
Publisher: Marvel
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION:
THE GARDEN”
• The birth of the New Adam.
• On Mars, the Battle between The Avengers and the Garden comes to a dramatic conclusion.
• “If you want LIFE and all the good things living entails, then you’ll have to earn it.” –Ex Nihilo
ELIJAH: This has been the Avengers book I have always dreamed of. The art is beautiful, the story is grand, and the characterization of the heroes is spot on. Its only three issues in, so catch up with this excellent series.
BEDLAM #3
Writer: Nick Spencer
Artist: Riley Rossmo
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price: $3.50
SOLICITATION: The First
CHRIS: If you can get past the extremely disturbing nature of this book you’ll find a great story with equally great artwork. Spencer can tell a hell of a tale that’s downright creepy and Riley Rossmo’s art only amplifies that creepiness. Fans of serial killer stories will be at home with this one. Be warned though, not for the faint of heart.
BEFORE WATCHMEN MINUTEMEN #6
Writer: Darwyn Cooke
Artist: Darwyn Cooke
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: “You’ll do what I say or I’ll burn this place to the ground and kill every person you know.”
CHRIS: I’ve been enjoying Before Watchmen (though I think its gone on for too long) and the Minutemen title has been the best. Darwyn Cooke writes old school superheroes well and his artwork matches the period perfectly. If anything, I’ll be picking it up just to see how it all ends.
DANIELLE: Throughout the Minutemen series, I’ve been trying to piece together who’s been behind the grisly murders of various children throughout the city. And each time I think I have a grasp on it, it slips away. Now I’ll finally get to know whodunit and maybe get a more satisfying end to this series than I did with Silk Spectre.
MATTHEW: The last issue took my breath away with a plot point that I never saw coming, one that may be the dumbest thing I’ve ever read in comics or perhaps a stroke of brilliance so far ahead of the game that I can’t even fathom it. Either way, I’m dying to see how this whole mess plays out, and whether they’re actually going to answer one of the last unsolved mysteries of Watchmen in the way that I think they’re going to… I may not expect to like it, but I’m totally looking forward to it.
ROB: The final chapter of what I felt to be the strongest of the BEFORE WATCHMEN series is here, and I couldn’t be more excited. This book gave us the back-story for the only characters we had no back-story on and it did it well. Cooke managed to bring the Minutemen to life with both word and panel and did an impressive job in doing so. And while I’m happy to be getting that final chapter, I am sad to see the series come to a close because of how good a job was done.
BORDERLANDS ORIGINS #3
Writer: Mike Neumann
Artist: Agustin Padilla
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: ‘Mordecai.’ For the millions and millions of fans of the smash-hit video game BORDERLANDS, a lingering question exists: how did the Vault Hunters get on the bus with Marcus in the first place?
The tone shifts to an old-school Spaghetti Western as we find out where Mordecai comes from and what secrets he is hiding in his past.
ROB: Do you like Borderlands? Then this book is for you. Do you like ridiculous, over-the-top action? Then this book is for you. Do you like learning of great characters’ pasts? Then this book is for you. Do you ever think to yourself, “Meh, why not?” Then this book is for you. Heck, I would find some way to recommend this to anyone just so more people would enjoy something I find so much joy in, because it’s that much fun.
CHEW #31
Writer: John Layman
Artist: Rob Guillory
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price: $2.99
SOLICITATION: The second half of CHEW starts here. With a funeral.
ROB: Tony Chu, cibopath, eats stuff and learns its history. Look, at this point it doesn’t matter what the hook is any more, the story and world Layman has created is just that good and Guillory’s art is at least as if not more impressive than the story, pick this book up as we start to wind to the end.
DEADPOOL #4
Writer: Gerry Duggan & Brian Posehn
Artist: Tony Moore
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $2.99
SOLICITATION: • The grudge match you’ve been waiting for: DEADPOOL VS. LINCOLN!
• Deadpool de-undead-ifies AT LEAST twelve Presidents, easy.
• Guaranteed to make you better looking to potential mates!
32 PGS./Parental Advisory …$2.99
GEORGE: Finally – a Deadpool monthly that’s worth reading again. In their brief run, Posehn and Duggan have only improved on their already-good debut, and Tony Moore is brilliant as always. I always enjoy fictional brawls involving the Great Emancipator – one of the weirder pieces of trivia concerning Lincoln was his proficiency as an amateur wrestler. His frontier wrestling skills, coupled with his prodigious height, makes Number 16 one of the more intriguingly physical presidents to match-up with Deadpool.
FF #3
Writer: Matt Fraction
Artist: Laura Allred
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $2.99
SOLICITATION: The new FF take to the streets to celebrate 2013! How does the world respond?
How do the kids of the Future Foundation feel about these new grown-ups running the show?
And what does Scott Lang have in store for Doom? The war begins…
CHRIS: This is a truly bizarre book all around. Bizarre premise, bizarre art all making it a surreal read. Matt Fraction’s writing recently has been superb with both this and Hawkeye cementing him as one of Marvel’s best writers. I really hope lots of people are reading this because we need more unique superhero comics like this.
MATTHEW: Fraction’s take on Marvel’s First Family has been a big hit with me, and I’m a sucker for Allred’s art (and She-Hulk.) It’s quirky, the character bits are fascinating, and the end of last issue has me wondering what in the world is going on. If you’re not reading this book, you’re missing one of the most unique revamps of the Marvel NOW! project, as well as some lovely Kirby riffs in both art and story. Check it out!
GODZILLA ONGOING #9
Writer: Duane Swierczynski
Artist: Simon Gane
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: The end is NIGH! Space Godzilla and other interstellar enemies arrive on Earth and they’re here to stay… and destroy humanity! Boxer, with his team decimated, realizes just how over his head he is. There’s only one possible ally he can turn to… his greatest enemy, Godzilla!
$3.99
RODRIGO: I don’t think I need to give you or anyone else any actual reason to pick up a Godzilla comic. Why are we even still having this conversation?
JUDGE DREDD #3
Writers: Duane Swierczynski
Art: Nelson Daniel and Paul Gulacy
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: • ‘We’ve Got You Now!’
In Mega-City One, kidnapping of the rich is a thing of the past, thanks to personal security droids. But a ruthless team of high-tech snatchers has come up with a cruel twist on the oldest racket on the books. They don’t nab you. Just a certain part of you. But the kidnappers may regret holding one of the city’s most prominent citizens for ransom, because Judge Dredd’s just signed on to be the bagman! Plus: A shocking backup story with art by Langdon Foss that will leave you seeing double!
THOMAS: Once again an IDW title gets first pick for me. Although the second issue of the newest TMNT miniseries is out this week, a book I gushed over recently, I am more interested in Judge Dredd #3. Despite my lukewarm response to issue #1, the second issue of the relaunched Dredd was, I felt, a much stronger read. First impressions mean a lot, but as a longtime reader of Dredd books I am all about second chances, and I remain hopeful that this series continues to elevate its game. Therefore, it’s at the top of the pile for me to read this week.
JUSTICE LEAGUE #16
Writer: Geoff Johns
Artist: Ivan Reis & Joe Prado
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: • “THRONE OF ATLANTIS” continues! • Aquaman can barely hold on against Ocean Master even with the League by his side! • The United States loses faith in the Justice League and enters the battle against Atlantis, setting in motion the creation of the Justice League of America! • More on the Superman/Wonder Woman alliance! • Plus: In the backup story, the origin of SHAZAM! continues!
DANIELLE: After their last epic issue of watery apocalyptic proportions, I’ve been eagerly awaiting the next installment to the Throne of Atlantic story arc. With Aquaman torn between two worlds, Superman and Wonder Woman having their ‘secret’ romance and Batman just being Batman, this series has taken a turn for the intense that it hadn’t had previously and I can’t wait to get my hands on the next issue. Plus, Shazam just makes me smile.
PROPHET #33
Writer: Brandon Graham & Simon Roy
Artist: Simon Roy
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price:$2.99
SOLICITATION: The Prophet clone with the Dolemantle from issues 21-23, New Father Prophet returns to Earth. As Prophet brothers from all over the universe assemble he must prove his worth among their ranks.
GEORGE: My pick for the best comic of 2012 is still going strong, just as good and mysterious as ever. I know Saga is flashier and gets more attention (and I love it too), but Prophet is even better. This is a great time for science fiction comics, but if you’re missing Prophet, you’re just plain missing out.
UNCANNY X-FORCE #1
Writer: Samuel Ryan Humphries
Penciler: Ron Garney
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: Psylocke and Storm lead a new team of outcasts and scoundrels, including fan-favorite Puck, the villainous Spiral, and the mysterious Cluster. Their first adversary? X-legend Bishop!
DANIELLE: I was genuinely sad when the previous incarnation of the Uncanny X-Force ended and then genuinely happy when I found out they were making another series. Though I can’t help but wonder whether Storm is going the Wolverine route and joining every possible X-team out there, I’m excited to see Psylocke and other new faces. Plus Puck!
YOUNG AVENGERS #1
Writer: Kieron Gillen
Artist: Jamie McKelvie
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $2.99
SOLICITATION: Legacy isn’t a dirty word… but it’s an irrelevant one. It’s not important what our parents did. It matters what WE do. Someone has to save the world. You’re someone. Do the math. The critically acclaimed team of Gillen/McKelvie/Wilson (with added Norton Sauce) decide to reinvent the teen superhero comic for the 21st century, uniting Wiccan, Hulkling and Hawkeye with Loki, Marvel Boy and Ms. America. No pressure. Young Avengers is as NOW! as the air in your lungs, and twice as vital. It’s the book that knows Hyperbole is the BEST! THING! EVER!
GEORGE: Young Avengers reunites Kieron Gillen (one of my favorite writers at Marvel) with artist Jamie McKelvie, who did great work together on the imaginative Phonogram. The Marvel NOW! initiative has done a pretty good job of pairing great talents together. This cast of characters isn’t one I would be interested in normally, but with Gillen and McKelvie together, I’m willing to read just about anything. I have stupidly high hopes for this debut. Plus it’s at $2.99 and doesn’t seem to be double-shipping (yet)!
MATTHEW: With the dissolution of the original Young Avengers squad (and the death of two of their number), I had expected that the team was gone forever. When I heard that Kieron Gillen was retooling the Y.A. AND bringing his Kid Loki character with him, Marvel had one guaranteed sale. I have high hopes that this title will take the place in my heart that was left when Avengers Academy went under (especially since Avengers Arena is kind of a joyless slog for me.) I’m seriously hoping that this is the same Miss America Marvel already had in play, though, and not a new one to complicate matters further.
