IT’S NEW COMIC BOOK DAY! It’s the one day of the week that you look forward to the most (except maybe Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and of course those Mondays that are part of three day weekend holidays). The worst part about New Comic Book Day? The moment when you realize you have no idea what to pick up this week. Fortunately, Major Spoilers has you covered as members of the writing staff give you a rundown of titles they recommend this week.
A1 #1
Writer(s): Dave Elliot, W.H. Rauf
Artist Name(s): Barnaby Bagenda, Sami Basri, Sakti Yuwono, Jessica Kholinne, Garrie Gastony, Rhoald Marcelius
Publisher: Titan Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: The exciting return of the award-winning graphic anthology series, this time in a new format. Three great on-going strips: Weirding Willows, by writer Dave Elliott and artists Barnaby Bagenda, Sami Basri, Sakti Yuwono & Jessica Kholinne, sees the worlds of Wonderland, OZ, Neverland, Mars, Pellucidar and Elysium leak through portals into the little English town of Willow Weir, as Alice and her allies defend her world from the things that would come through those portals to destroy them!
Odyssey, by writer Dave Elliott and artists Garrie Gastonny and Sakti Yuwono, follows an immortal military superhero, out of place and time, who finds himself in the middle of an eternal war for mankind between Angels and Demons!
Carpe DIEm, by writer W. H. Rauf and artist/creator Rhoald Marcelius, follows an offbeat group of the world’s seven greatest assassins: one for each day of the week! Their leader is always a Sir Monday… but the rest of the team always hate Mondays! A riot of colour and concepts in a Tank Girl vein.
MATTHEW: Wanna make me happy? Give me some weird European comics to read. It’s why I always loved Heavy Metal and Epic Illustrated, how I got into Marvelman, Judge Dredd and Lola Cordova, and a large part of why Milo Manara is one of my heroes. So, when you bring back one of my fave-rave anthology series with that aesthetic? Sold American!
APHRODITE IX #2
Writer: Matt Hawkins
Artist: Stjepan Sejic
Publisher: Top Cow
Cover Price: $2.99
SOLICITATION: TOP COW’S HOTTEST CYBORG ASSASSIN RETURNS IN HER OWN SERIES!
Straight out of her Free Comic Book Day first issue debut, the saga of the cyborg assassin Aphrodite IX continues in her first original series in over a decade! Writer MATT HAWKINS (THINK TANK) and artist STJEPAN SEJIC (RAVINE, ARTIFACTS) take you to a dystopian future where technology and evolution have merged and a cyborg killer searching for meaning is the most human individual left!
RODRIGO: Why do I do this to myself?
AVENGING SPIDER-MAN #22
Writer: Christopher Yost
Artist: David Lopez
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
Cover Image:
SOLICITATION: • The Punisher and Spider-Man have never seen eye to eye, but this is the Superior Spider-Man! What does Frank Castle think about Spider-Man’s new, hard edged attitude?
• Plus, Mysterio is BACK! Or is he? The Superior Spider-Man has a few questions for ol’ fishbowl head, but the Punisher has something else for him: bullets.
GEORGE: Normally I eschew these sorts of team-up books. They can have a tendency to be inessential, slight, and forgettable. But I am loving the new Superior Spider-Man, and this book is tailor-made to show how other characters in the Marvel U perceive him. I am especially curious about how he’ll get along with the Punisher. Will Frank Castle approve of Spider-Man’s new, hard edge? Or will he view the webcrawler as merely another criminal in need of punishment? I’ll find out soon enough.
BATMAN #21
Writer: Scott Snyder, James TynionIV
Artist: Greg Capullo, Jonathan Glapion
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: Witness The New 52 origin of The Dark Knight in BATMAN: ZERO YEAR! Twists and turns are around every corner as Bruce Wayne takes the final steps toward his destiny! And in the backup story, learn more about how different Gotham City was at this dangerous point in time.
CHRIS: Once again Batman is on my list because I just love what Snyder has been doing. This issue will show us “The New 52 origin” which I’m sure is almost exactly the same as before. Still, I’m sure Snyder will write a great story nonetheless and Greg Capullo’s art is always fantastic.
STEPHEN: Top of my list this week, which is kind of a surprise since I haven’t been reading this series for a while (going to have a lot of reading to do). Though I can’t believe DC is doing Zero Hour, It’s high time we had another origin story of our favorite heroes.
THE BLACK BEETLE: NO WAY OUT #4
Writer: Francesco Francavilla
Artist: Francesco Francavilla
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: The epic conclusion to Black Beetle’s first series! Colt City’s caped crusader goes head to head with the mysterious villain Labyrinto! Can Black Beetle make it out of this maze of matched wits and matched blows alive?!
MATTHEW: Pulp-inspired antics with a cool character and wonderfully moody art… It’s a win/win situation for me, like Batman without all the troublesome elements or a new-fangled tech-savvy Shadow. Check it out!
STEPHEN: Francesco Francavilla. Francesco Francavilla. Francesco Francavilla. Seriously, you will buy this book for the story and art by the wonderful Francesco Francavilla.
BREATH OF BONES: A TALE OF THE GOLEM #1 Breath of Bones: A Tale of the Golem #1
Writer: Steve Niles, Matt Santoro
Artist: Dave Watcher
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: The giant clay monster from Jewish legend goes on a Nazi-killing rampage in order to protect the inhabitants of a small Jewish stronghold and an injured British pilot.
“Dark Horse and Steve Niles have published some outstanding horror titles, like Criminal Macabre, The Nail, Freaks of the Heartland and City of Others.” —Comics Bulletin
FROM THE CREATOR OF 30 DAYS OF NIGHT STEVE NILES!
Art by 2012 Russ Manning Award nominee Dave Wachter!
Steve Niles! Dave Wachter!
RODRIGO: This looks interesting… but I have to wonder who the protagonist is going to be in this story…
BUBBLEGUN #1
Writer: Mark Roslan
Artist: Mike Bowden
Publisher: Aspen Comics
Cover Price: $1.00
SOLICITATION: The future is here with Aspen’s latest ’10 for 10′ series debut, BUBBLEGUN! They like the tech, but live for the high stakes! Sisters Molli and Devyn, along with teammates Roman and Kyo-and a stockpile of cutting edge, cyber-punk technology, form a confident team of mercenary thieves able to take on the most formidable jobs around. Yet, when one cyber heist turns out to be more than they bargained for, as a mysterious package and its contents threaten to unravel the group to its core, the menacing worlds of corrupt industry and deadly espionage is unleashed upon them! Join creator and writer Mark Roslan (Broken Pieces), penciler Mike Bowden (World of Warcraft, Ame-Comi Girls), and colorist David Curiel (Idolized, Avenging Spider-Man) on what’s sure to become Aspen’s next hit sci-fi, action adventure series! Strap yourselves in because BUBBLEGUN is gonna take you on a wild ride!
CHRIS: I’ve read this already (look for my review soon!) and it was crazy fun. If you’re a fan of futuristic cyberpunk sci-fi then I highly suggest you check this out. Plus it’s only a dollar! What is there to lose? (Other than a dollar of course)
GREEN LANTERN CORPS #21
Writer: Joshua Hale Fialkov
Artist: Bernard Chang
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price: $2.99
SOLICITATION: It’s nonstop action as the Green Lantern Corps faces attacks on Oa and Earth…and Guy Gardner is presented with a choice that could change the balance of power between the different Lantern Corps forever!
ROB: Fialkov is setting up Guy’s title move here, and I’m happy to follow along. I’m looking forward to both Guy’s new status and to see if John Stewart can carry the title himself (I’m sure he can) so this should be a proper issue.
HARBINGER WARS #3
Writer: Joshua D. M. Dysart, Duane Swierczynski
Artist: Clayton Henry
Publisher: Valiant Entertainment
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: Enter: H.A.R.D. Corps! Las Vegas is burning, and the situation on the ground is about to go from bad to worse. With the firefight between the Harbinger Foundation, Bloodshot and the Renegades spiraling out of control, Project Rising Spirit has only one desperate option left to prevent the conflagration from spreading. It’s time to bring the deep-black weapons development project – designation H.A.R.D. Corps – back online. But are they a scalpel or a sledgehammer? And can they be trusted with the enormous power they wield? What happens in Vegas may just destroy the rest of the Valiant Universe!
CHRIS: Valiant is doing some cool stuff with their characters and I’ve been enjoying Harbinger Wars a lot. The Valiant universe has been tied together in a way that doesn’t feel forced. It will be interesting to see how this one ends and I’m looking to enjoy the ride all the way there.
SIX GUN GORILLA #1
Writer: Si Spurrier
Artist Name: Jeff Stokely
Publisher: BOOM! Studioes
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: Inspired by an obscure public domain character, SIX-GUN GORILLA is created and written by Simon Spurrier (X-MEN: LEGACY, CROSSED: WISH YOU WERE HERE) with interior art by Jeff Stokely (FRAGGLE ROCK, THE REASON FOR DRAGONS) and featuring a cover by Eisner Award-winning artist Ramón Pérez (A TALE OF SAND, WOLVERINE & THE X-MEN), SIX – GUN GORILLA is a pulpy mash-up of Western weirdness and lo-fi science fiction unlike anything else on the stands!
MATTHEW: Wanna make me happy? Give me a $&$@ monkey with a gun. That alone sells this book, but the fact that Spurrier’s ‘Wish You Were Here’ has made the world of Crossed approachable and human, and I think this has the potential to be a big winner. But, will it win the competition for this week’s Dueling Review? Only time will tell!
STAR WARS #6
Writer: Brian Wood
Artist: Carlos D’Arda
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Cover Price: $2.99
SOLICITATION: When he and Chewbacca are cornered by Imperials, Han Solo resorts to an improvised plan-with the most dangerous results imaginable! Meanwhile, half a galaxy away, Princess Leia and Wedge Antilles prepare for certain death, unaware that Luke Skywalker has an improvisation of his own. And Darth Vader is watching . . .
KEVIN: Brian Wood knows his Star Wars. Set between A New Hope and the Empire Strikes Back, Dark Horse’s Star Wars does not miss a beat. It has all the characters and themes of the original trilogy in a new series that is as good the movies. This is a must read for all Star Wars fans.
SUPERMAN UNCHAINED #1
Writer: Scott Snyder
Artist: Jim Lee & Various
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price: $4.99
SOLICITATION: When thirteen satellites fall from the sky in one day, the logical suspect is Lex Luthor-even though he’s still locked up in prison! But a stranger question remains: If Superman didn’t stop the last satellite from falling, who did? There’s a mystery hidden where even Superman can’t see it-Can The Man of Steel drag a decades-old secret into the light? Don’t miss the debut of this red-hot new series from two of comics’ brightest superstars: SCOTT SNYDER and JIM LEE!
CHRIS: This is it. The one I’m sure most will be picking up this week. Honestly, I’m not looking forward to it that much but I figured I’d ad it ‘cause I’m curious, so I’ll be buying it. Scott Snyder is writing and from the solicitation, the story looks like a mystery. Snyder’s good at writing those so maybe I’ll be surprised. Jim Lee art is usually nice to look at too.
ELIJAH: Maybe its just all this hype for Man of Steel, but I am pumped for this. I want this to be the kick-ass treatment that Superman deserves, one that will bring him into the comic-nerd spotlight, and so far all signs point to it being just that.
GEORGE: Benn looking forward to this one for while. I know the bloom is off the rose for some with regards to Snyder, but I have definitely enjoyed everything of his that I’ve read. That said, most of what he’s done for DC is of the darker ilk; batmans and swamp things and vampires. I am chomping at the bit to see what he can do with a character like Superman.
THUMBPRINT #1
Writer: Joe Hill, Jason Ciaramella
Artist: Vic Malhotra
Publisher: IDW
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: Private Mallory Grennan had done terrible things as an Abu Ghraib prison worker. After being discharged from the army, Mal thought she was leaving her sins behind to start a new life back home. But some things can’t be left behind — some things don’t want to be left behind. By Joe Hill and Jason Ciaramella, the writing team that brought you the Eisner-award nominated one-shot, The Cape, with art by Vic Malhotra. Thumbprint will turn your guts inside out.
GEORGE: Joe Hill writes Locke & Key, a comic that our own Stephen Schleicher speaks quite highly of. I haven’t read Locke & Key yet, but Joe Hill is deservedly an already legendary horror talent and any new comic from him is a cause for celebration. This is the first part of a three issue miniseries – let’s hope it’s another success.
TMNT SECRET HISTORY OF THE FOOT CLAN TP
Writer: Mateus Santolouco
Artist: Mateus Santolouco
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Cover Price: $17.99
SOLICITATION: Demons, ninjas, and hostile takeovers-what more can you want from a TMNT comic? Secret History of the Foot Clan collects the thrilling mini-series and reveals a story never told before about the original founder of the Foot. Join the Turtles as they get a history lesson that they will never forget!
ROB: If you missed the individual issues, this is a great chance to get caught up on what this version of the Foot Clan is all about. And it’s an interesting idea as well.
TRANSFORMERS PRIME: BEAST HUNTERS #2
Writer: Mairghread Scott, Ken Christiansen
Artist: Agustin Padilla
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: THE WORLD BELOW! Deep beneath the surface of CYBERTRON, the last vestiges of life struggles to survive. Their only protectors: GRIMLOCK and his loyal DINOBOTS-who find themselves at the center of a dark mystery!
RODRIGO: I’ve slowly come around to the Transformers Prime TV show, so I’m curious to check out what’s going on in the comics.
WOLVERINE AND X-MEN #31
Writer: Jason Aaron
Artist: Nick Bradshaw
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: HELLFIRE SAGA PART 1! Welcome to the Hellfire Academy, there’s little chance you’ll survive the experience.The most villainous school you’ve ever seen has its grand opening. With teachers like Mystique, Sauron, Mojo, Wendigo and Master Pandemonium there’s no limit to the terrible things you’ll learn.Can Wolverine and the X-Men find the school before their kidnapped students are turned into villains?
ROB: I thought I was finally over my surprise that a Wolverine title was something I was very much looking forward to repeatedly until this week, when it was the only Marvel title I was looking forward to for the week. Aaron has repeatedly surprised me with great story telling and fun new characters, so at least the one title I’m getting is very much worth it.
