Looking for something to read this week? The Major Spoilers staff ran down the new comic book release list, and made their picks and recommendations on titles they are most interested in this week.
AGE OF ULTRON #1
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Artist: Brian Hitch
Publisher: Marvel
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: For years the heroes of the Marvel Universe have lived in fear that the artificial intelligence known as Ultron would one day evolve to fulfill its desire to wipe out all organic life and take over the Earth — that day has arrived. This massive 10-part Marvel Universe-spanning event is brought to you by Eisner award-winning writer Brian Michael Bendis and comics legend Bryan Hitch.
RODRIGO: Every Marvel villain is going to get their own age. Age of MODOK is going to be particularly disturbing.
ZACH: Do I really want to read Age of Ultron? Probably not, but I don’t want to be left out of cool things like I was when I skipped Avengers vs X-Men last year. So here is to giving another event two issues before deciding to drop it or not.
ALL NEW X-MEN #8
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Artist: David Marquez
Publisher: Marvel
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: Guest-starring the Avengers! How will the Earth’s Mightiest Heroes react to the time-swept X-Men?
ROB: The initial idea of pulling the original X-Men into the present was rather weird to me at first, but Bendis has done a great job of making the out of time characters work within the new context they find themselves and I have been happier with each new issue.
AME-COMI GIRLS #1
Writers: Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti
Artist: Eduardo Francisco
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION:
• All-new digital adventures in print for the first time!
• The new, monthly AME-COMI ongoing series begins here!
• The Ame-Comi Girls team up for the final showdown with Brainiac!
• Starring Wonder Woman, Power Girl, Supergirl, Batgirl, Robin, Steel and The Flash!
RODRIGO: The Ame-Comi Girls make their way to print. I have to say that this is an interesting series. Could something turn out to be good for the wrong reasons? Color me interested.
AVENGERS #7
Writer: Jonathan Hickman
Artist: Dustin Weaver
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: “WORLD BREAKER”
• The Avengers must scramble to deal with the threat of another Universal SYSTEM.
• The New Adam is transformed, and his true self revealed.
• And the most dangerous hero on Earth is created.
GEORGE: Avengers is rolling strong, and making its case as the top Avengers title on the market. The grand cosmic side of the Marvel Universe rarely interests me, but Hickman can make even Captain Universe compelling reading. I’m digging how Hickman structures these stories and they come out quick. Good stuff.
DIAL H #10
Writer: China Mieville
Artist: Alberto Ponticelli and Dan Green
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price: $2.99
SOLICITATION: • This issue marks a turning point in Roxy and Nelson’s quest for knowledge and delves into the mysteries of the H Dials.
• The information contained in the issue will expand your knowledge of the known universe!
GEORGE: Take a look at that cover, then come back to this section. Is there anything I could write here that would convince you more than that cover? In any event, Dial H is arguably DC’s most imaginative, inventive title – and it keeps getting better by the month.
HELHEIM #1
Writer: Cullen Bunn
Artist: Joelle Jones
Publisher: Oni Press
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: A NEW SERIES FROM SIXTH GUN WRITER CULLEN BUNN AND FAN FAVORITE ARTIST JOËLLE JONES! “Once the threshold of Helheim is crossed, not even gods can escape.” During the age of the Vikings, savage wild men and dark creatures beset a small settlement. A brave war party stands as guardians of the helpless villagers, but they are no match for the horrors rising up around them. One of the warriors, a young hero named Rikard, will pay the ultimate price in battle… but his fight is far from over. A gothic horror story of witchcraft, night creatures, and the undead.
ZACH: Oni Press has been putting out great series recently with both The Sixth Gun books and Secret History of D.B. Cooper so why should this one be any different? It is being written by the same scribe of The Sixth Gun after all. And just look at that cover art. Here, just take all my money Oni.
LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT #6
Writer: Jeff Parker, Michael Avon Oeming, Rob Williams
Artist: Gabriel Hardman, Michael Avon Oeming, Juan Jose Ryp
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION:
• Three all-new digital adventures in print for the first time!
• In “Gotham Spirit,” Batman’s unique relationship with Gotham City and her underworld is a gritty and beautiful thing… as four armed robbers are about to find out!
• Then, while investigating a missing persons case, Batman finds himself hot on the trail of a real dragon in Gotham City! Will this legendary beast put an end to The Dark Knight?
• Plus, in “Look Inside,” a terrifying killer comes to Gotham City…will anyone be safe?
STEPHEN: Well, I read these in the original digital format, but for those who are looking for physical comics and know that this was a series that DC should never have cancelled, then LotDK is a must buy book this week. Forget all the rest on the list, Legends of the Dark Knight is the must buy book this week.
LOST VEGAS #1
Writer: Jim McCann
Artist: Janet Lee
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price: $3.50
SOLICITATION: The EISNER AWARD-WINNING team of JIM McCANN & JANET LEE reunite to create a universe filled with intrigue as one gambler-turned-slave has 24 hours to go all in and pull off the greatest heist the universe has seen.
WELCOME TO LOST VEGAS! Aboard this luxurious casino-filled traveling space-station you will find the highest stakes games from every corner of every planet, unheard-of winnings, and the greatest attractions anywhere!
RODRIGO: Space gambling comic! I’m at least a little interested. Honestly I’m thrown off because “lost vegas” is a play on words that happens with some frequency. I’m pretty sure there was an Earth Worm Jim level that happened in Lost Vegas.
PHANTOM STRANGER #6
Writer: Dan Didio, J.M. DeMatteis
Artist: Gene Ha, Zander Cannon
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price: $2.99
SOLICITATION:
• Welcome guest artists Gene Ha and Zander Cannon!
• Phantom Stranger is sucked into a metaphysical poker game against the three sons of Trigon!
• The stakes of this game couldn’t be any higher thanks to the host: Lady Luck, in her New 52 debut!
ROB: I have come to thoroughly enjoy what the New 52 has done for the Phantom Stranger. Given his new context within reality and the nature of his powers I can happily say I will read this first this week.
SEX #1
Writer: Joe Casey
Artist: Piotr Kowalski
Publisher: Image
Cover Price: $2.99
SOLICITATION: FIRST ISSUE – COLLECTOR’S ITEM! Finally, a good reason for you come in the comicbook store — to buy SEX! Simon Cooke has retired from his own “alternative lifestyle” and returned to the city he’d previously sworn to protect. Now he’s just another average citizen — or is he? The term “adult” has never been so appropriate as it is when it applies to SEX.
GEORGE: Joe Casey is always worth checking out. His Automatic Kafka is still one of my all-time favorite titles. While he has a propensity to go overboard with the button-pushing, you can never accuse Casey of being boring. The comic racks need more of his kind of daring. This is my most anticipated title of the week, no question.
STEPHEN: With THAT title, I’m going to bet this book sells out fast… With that in mind, I’m looking forward to my discussion with Matthew over the book on this week’s installment of Dueling Review.
ZACH: The story better live up to the attention Image was trying to generate by calling their latest series Sex. From what I have heard is that there is an interesting aspect that Casey brings to the story so I’m willing to give this a chance to see what happens.
SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN #5
Writer: Dan Slott
Artist: Giuseppe Camuncoli
Publisher: Marvel
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: How many have to die before the Superior Spider-Man will kill a super villain? Spider-Man versus Massacre– with hundreds of lives in the balance.
ROB: How many times will I get to recommend this title? As said before, as long as Slott’s writing, I’m reading and couldn’t be a happier Spidey fan. The dynamic set between the two has become the focus and that is what makes the book.
STEPHEN: After the events of last issue, I just have to see what’s going to happen next. Though he’s been beat up by many, in Dan Slott I trust with one of Marvel’s biggest properties.
