IT’S NEW COMIC BOOK DAY!
Major Spoilers runs down the comics we are looking forward to, and recommending, this week.
ANIMAL MAN #23
Writer: Jeff Lemire
Artist: Steve Pugh
Cover Price: $2.99
SOLICITATION: In the shocking conclusion of “Splinter Species,” Brother Blood and a stunning murder have Animal Man on the brink of extinction!
RODRIGO: Ok, lost the trail there for a while, totally catching up on this.
BATMAN 66 #2
Writer: Jeff Parker
Artist: Ruben Procopio, Dean Haspiel
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: From the sands of time and halls of higher learning comes one of Batman’s deadliest foes: King Tut! Tut returns to assert his royal status and challenge the Dynamic Duo with his most far-reaching plan yet to rule the modern Thebes, Gotham City! Also in this issue, doors smash in and jaws crack from the fists of the newest tough in town: introducing the 1966 incarnation of that reptilian rogue Killer Croc! How can Batman battle this brawny brute?
GEORGE: It’s true. King Tut IS Batman’s deadliest foe, with the Joker a very distant second.
STEPHEN: I wasn’t overly impressed with the first issue, but I’m willing to give this issue a once over to see if the hype put behind the digital issue pays off.
BATMAN BEYOND UNIVERSE #1
Writer: Kyle Higgins, Christos Gage
Artist: Thony Silas, Iban Coello
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: “The new series begins here with all-new creative teams and all-new adventure! Now a freshman at Gotham University, Terry McGinnis’s role as Batman threatens his education and his life as a teenager. And when the Mayor is murdered, Terry’s life is thrown into even greater turmoil! Meanwhile, the Justice League must stop Superman when his powers rage out of control!”
WAYNE: I’ve always been a big fan of what I call the “Beyond-iverse,” and the new creators are doing an excellent job of picking up the torches from the folks who brought us wonderful adventures in the past. I’ve seen the digital versions of both strips, and I highly recommend this title! Get in on the ground floor!
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER WILLOW WONDERLAND TP
Writer: Jeff Parker, Christos Gage
Artist: Brian Ching
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Cover Price: $17.99
SOLICITATION: Armed with Buffy’s broken scythe, Willow has entered another dimension and begun a quest to somehow, someway, against all odds, bring magic back to Earth. She must keep her darkest self at bay while she battles demons—the scaly and horned type as well as her own! Collects the five-issue miniseries.
ROB: I’m always happy to see a trade from the Buffy-verse, but when it’s everyone’s favorite witch starring I’m extra excited. I have been looking forward to this since I saw the setup in Angel and Faith some time ago.
DREAM THIEF #4
Writer: Jai Nitz
Artist: Greg Smallwood
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: A murdered gambler, a dead hit man, and a priest who knows too much put John Lincoln in a lethal position. Pinched between the Dixie Mafia and La Cosa Nostra, the Dream Thief finds himself in a Memphis card game where the stakes are his life!
“A stunning debut. Crisp, mysterious, compelling and gorgeously drawn. Don’t miss this book.” –Kurt Busiek
“Dream Team. Dream Book. Wake up to Dream Thief!” —Grant Morrison
RODRIGO: Ok, lost the trail there for a while, totally catching up on this.
JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #23
Writer: Jeff Lemire
Artist: Mikel Janin
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: TRINITY WAR CHAPTER 5! The Justice Leagues continues to fracture as the murder of a hero is solved—and the line between justice and vengeance blurs as they head off to find those responsible!
TRINITY WAR CHAPTER 5! The Justice Leagues continues to fracture as the murder of a hero is solved—and the line between justice and vengeance blurs as they head off to find those responsible!
ROB: I continue to be impressed with this crossover but am happy to see it coming to a swift conclusion. With the end of last week’s Justice League, this should make for a very interesting issue.
WAYNE: I’m enjoying the Trinity War so far, will be intrigued to see how this brings the villains to the front in the DCU. Nice to see Mr. Lemire and Mr. Johns bounce off each other in terms of scriptwriting!
SUPERMAN UNCHAINED #3
Writer: Scott Snyder
Artist: Jim Lee, Scott Williams
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: “Superman’s found out the secret the U.S. Army tried desperately to keep from him—or more specifically, that secret’s found him! But with hijacked drone aircraft tearing Tokyo apart, there’s not much time for mystery…and with Lois Lane on the case as well, what’s in the darkness will come to the light”
WAYNE: It is so great to see a Superman title top the last two month’s sales figures! I expect it to do it again in August! Story and art, it’s a “super” combination!
SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN #16
Writer: Dan Slott
Artist: Humberto Ramos
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: “Run, Goblin, Run!” Part 2 of 2
• How has the Hobgoblin evaded the Superior Spider-Man for so long? And does that hold the key to the Superior Spider-Man’s greatest success — or greatest failure? It’s the end of the line for Hobgoblin, and possibly an end for a big chapter in the history of Spider-Man.
GEORGE: Man, I don’t actually want the end of the Hobgoblin. He’s one of Dan Slott’s best utilized villains, interesting and sneery and scary all at once. But with the cliffhanger of last issue, it’s difficult to see how he can get out of his current squeeze – but it should make for entertaining reading.
STEPHEN: I’m really behind on my Superior Spider-Man reading, but I guarantee I’m buying this issue an devouring this and all past issues in one gigantic superior reading session. Plus, Humberto Ramos on art!
THUNDERBOLTS #14
Writer: Charles Soule
Artist: Jefte Palo
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $2.99
SOLICITATION: • New Ongoing Creative Team!
• While the Avengers are away…the THUNDERBOLTS STRIKE!
• Can they take out all of NYC’s mafia before…anything goes wrong?
GEORGE: A new creative team on Thunderbolts! I checked out this book once or twice, but it never caught me – and for something which features my 90s-infused favorites Deadpool, Venom and the Punisher, that says a lot. Charles Soule has done some solid work on Swamp Thing, and Jefte Palo’s art is nifty. I’m not as happy about this initial storyline starting up with a crossover, but I’m counting on this new team to deliver.
TMNT VILLAIN MICROSERIES #5 KARAI
Writer: Erik Burnham
Artist: Cory Smith
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: Karai, a deadly assassin, is the embodiment of the Foot Clan. But it was not always that way! Explore the shadowy history of this complicated character and see exactly how far her ambition takes her! Secrets from the past and present revealed!
ROB: Ah, Karai, granddaughter of the Master Shredder. This should be another interesting one for the villain microseries.
WONDER WOMAN #23
Writer: Brian Azzarello
Artist: Cliff Chiang
Cover Price: $2.99
On Sale Date:
SOLICITATION: Wonder Woman had no choice but to abandon London to the bloodthirsty First Born—but now it’s time to take the city back! If Diana is truly War’s greatest student, then now is the time to prove it!
RODRIGO: Ok, lost the trail there for a while, totally catching up on this.
