IT’S NEW COMIC BOOK DAY!
Major Spoilers runs down the comics we are looking forward to, and recommending, this week.
ANGEL & FAITH TP VOL 04 DEATH & CONSEQUENCES
Writer: Christos N. Gage
Artist: Rebekah Isaacs
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Cover Price: $17.99
SOLICITATION: When a demon from Giles’s past emerges in London, Angel has his chance to capture the final piece of Giles’s soul. But when Faith’s innocent Slayer friends end up standing between the guilt-ridden vampire and his prize, Angel is unwilling to sacrifice new lives for one that was already lost-even if it destroys his quest altogether!
ROB: Always happy to see more in the Buffy-verse, especially as another trade. We know the end of this story is coming soon too and that has me excited to see how we get there.
BATMAN BEYOND UNIVERSE #2
Writer: Kyle Higgins, Christos Gage
Artist: Thony Silas, Iban Coello
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: “Batman is stretched thin when a breakout at the new Arkham Institute puts his greatest foes back on the streets! Plus: One of Superman’s greatest foes returns! You do NOT want to miss this!”
WAYNE: The “Beyond-iverse,” continues to shine with the new creative teams. I’m enjoying both stories, so if you aren’t already getting the digital versions, be sure to pick up this printed edition!
BATMAN THE DARK KNIGHT #23.3
Writer: John Layman
Artist: Cliff Richards
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: It’s the biggest audition of Clayface’s life as he attempts to impress the Secret Society and join their ranks. Desperate to prove himself more than a monster, Clayface sets a scheme into motion that quickly unravels! Will he make his mark-or dig his own grave?
CHRIS: I’ve always found Clayface to be a bizarre but slightly terrifying villain, especially after seeing his first appearance in the Batman Animated Series. I also find John Layman’s Chew to be bizarre and slightly terrifying, so this should be a good read.
B.P.R.D. Hell On Earth #111
Writer: Mike Mignola, John Arcudi
Artist: Tyler Crook
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Cover Price: $3.50
SOLICITATION: While the young psychic Fenix stumbles upon a monster worshipping version of Burning Man, Liz Sherman finds herself stuck in a ruined hospital and pitted against a mad doctor and his monster-sized, mutated feline!
GEORGE: If you tell me you aren’t interested in a B.P.R.D. comic about a “monster worshipping version of Burning Man,” I wouldn’t know what to say. Sometimes, I feel like I just don’t know you anymore.
BUBBLEGUN #3
Writer: Mark Roslan
Artist: Mike Bowden
Publisher: Aspen Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: They like the tech, but live for the high stakes! The team squares off against Craine and his cybernetic ninja assault squad, as Vitadrone’s deadly powerhouse brings the fight down upon their headquarters. Along the way, the team learns the tragic sacrifice that their line of work costs, including a pair of life or death choices for Molli and Roman! Creator and writer Mark Roslan, along with penciler Mike Bowden and colorist David Curiel invite you to take part in what’s sure to become Aspen’s next hit sci-fi, action adventure series, BUBBLEGUN!
CHRIS: Cyberpunk-rock. That’s how I would describe this comic. The first two issues amazed me and I doubt the third will be a let down. This is fun, futuristic storytelling on all fronts. Great writing, gorgeous art, wonderful book. I highly suggest sci-fi cyberpunk fans pick this one up.
DAREDEVIL #31
Writer: Mark Waid
Artist: Christ Samnee
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $2.99
SOLICITATION: The Jester returns! And it is no laughing matter.
. Plus: Meet Matt’s new law partner!
. Plus…News from Hank Pym!
MATTHEW: It’s slipped off the radar, but Waid’s DD is still a winner, especially in a week of slim pickins. Check it out, you won’t be sorry!
GREEN LANTERN #23.3
Writer: Charles Soule
Artist: Alberto Ponticelli
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: In a world with no heroes, death lies behind every turn! Black Hand arrives to take advantage of Forever Evil, and he may be the most dangerous player yet! And when last we saw him, Black Hand was a pile of dust in the Dead Zone! How did he manage to return?
CHRIS: Another DC Villain’s title on my list. What I’ve read I have enjoyed so far and I’m interested to see how someone other than Geoff Johns handles Black Hand. Hopefully I’ll be able to get my hands on a cheaper 2-D cover.
HAWKEYE #13
Writer: Matt Fraction
Artist: David Aja
Publisher: Marvel
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: Fraction and Aja continue the surprise comic hit of the century! After a lifetime of decisions both good and bad, Clint and Barney Barton have to realize they are brothers and ultimately, they’re the only ones who can save one another. I mean if they don’t kill each other first.Good luck with that, Barton brothers.
ROB: Barton brothers are fun. Fraction has done a great job of building up these characters and I really want to see how Barney works since coming off of the teams he was on.
JUSTICE LEAGUE #23.3 DIAL E
Writer: China Mieville
Artist: Mateus Santalouco & Various
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: You can’t stop dialing! In a special VILLAINS MONTH coda to the fan-favorite DIAL H series, a lost E-dial is discovered by four young criminals on the run in Littleville. But who is chasing them? And will they figure out how to control this nefarious dial before it’s too late? Hindsight is twenty-twenty when you’re sprinting through dark alleys! This issue features 20 new villains, 20 pages of creative insanity-and 20 top artists, each drawing a page of the action!
GEORGE: One last ride for the immortal Dialers. I’m usually underwhelmed by books where each page is from a different artist, but for something like Dial H (or E?) it could very well work. I’ll miss this series so much.
KISS ME SATAN #1
Writer: Victor Gischler
Artist: Juan Ferreyra
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: Cassian Steele is the boss of the werewolf mafia in the Big Easy, and he’s got a problem. The old witch Verona knows his secret and has gone into hiding. Cassian wants her dead. So he sends out the word: An open contract. The first monster to dust Verona gets a big payday. What no one realizes is that Barnabus Black, a demon desperately trying to regain his halo, is her protection.
RODRIGO: I’m interested in the world of Kiss Me Satan, it actually looks pretty good despite the absolutely groan-worthy character names.
RED SHE-HULK TP VOL 02 ROUTE 616
Writer: Jeff Parker
Artist: Wellington Alves/Carlo Pagulayan
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $15.99
SOLICITATION: Red She-Hulk is S.H.I.E.L.D.’s most wanted, and Machine Man has joined her on a deadly chase across the Marvel Universe! But Jennifer Walters, the original She-Hulk, is hot on their trail! Red She-Hulk goes deep underground to find the secrets of the ancient order of the Shield – but there’s a new ruler of the world below, and he may never let her leave! As Jen Walters strikes a deal with the military, Red She-Hulk discovers that others have also taken the path before her. Others named Dr. Doom, the Red Skull, Ultron and Loki! Is Red destined to become a villain as well, or can she prevail in her race against time?
MATTHEW: A highly under-read and under-rated offering from Marvel NOW!, but one that more people can check out in the collection. For my part, they had me at Machine Man…
SECRET SOCIETY OF SUPER VILLAINS TP VOL 01
Writer: A Buncha Guys
Artist: A Buncha Other Guys
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price: $19.99
SOLICITATION: Don’t miss DC’s greatest villains of the 1970s all in one title – and finally back in print! When the evil New God Darkseid schemes to take over the earth, he employs 10 devilish villains to carry out his plan to eradicate the planet’s Super Heroes. But it doesn’t take long for the team to realize they can do better on their own and break off their employment with Darkseid in this thrilling series made up of a revolving door of lead characters. Old-school fans and new readers will love this title starring such favorites as Gorilla Grodd, Sinestro, Star Sapphire, Mirror Master, Captain Cold and many more as they take on the likes of Superman, Green Lantern, Hawkman and other DCU heroes. A hidden gem of its era, THE SECRET SOCIETY OF SUPER-VILLAINS paved the way for future villain-centric series and gave fans more bad guys than they could handle in one title.
MATTHEW: A retro gem, so long as you don’t take things too seriously. When a group of villains combine forces, it’s up to Captain Comet (??) to oppose them. This is a book I first read out of the nickel bins at Pat’s Book Nook, and one that very much deserves to be reprinted, even if it is a spiritual parent of ‘Identity Crisis’ (Ugh.)
SUPERIOR CARNAGE #3
Writer: Kevin Schinick
Artist: Stephen Segovia
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: IT’S ALIVE! The Wizard finally unveils Carnage’s BRAND NEW LOOK and releases his personal AGENT OF EVIL out into the world. But can the new FRIGHTFUL FOUR control their newest member? Or will the team be destroyed from within? KEVIN SHINICK (Robot Chicken, Avenging Spider-Man) and STEPHEN SEGOVIA (X-treme X-Men) strike at the heart of their own creation with an electrifying story that shouldn’t be missed!
CHRIS: This is a ridiculous book, but it’s fitting for a character as ridiculous as Carnage. The tone shifts from humor to horror frequently but it’s so much fun I find myself unable to resist reading. I can’t wait to see where this creative team is taking the title next.
SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN #18
Writer: Dan Slott
Artist: Ryan Stegman
Publisher: Marvel
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: Superior Spider-Man vs. Spider-Man 2099. Who will be the most superior Spider in the Multi-verse?Plus: secrets uncovered in time!
ROB: First issue with Spidey 2099 was entertaining, especially getting to see some of the supporting cast that has been overshadowed lately. This one should focus on the fight, which will also be fun.
SUPURBIA ONGOING #11
Writer: Grace Randolph
Artist: Russell Dauterman
Publisher: BOOM! Studios
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: “Gio makes a daring escape from the techs’ hideout, just as Night Fox and Marine Omega battle their way in. Tia, Dion, Batu, and Eli confront Hector in his magic realm, but is it too late to save Zari from the evil growing inside her? And Eve discovers a shocking secret that stretches all the way back to the series’ very first issue.”
WAYNE: I wish there were more women scripters in comics these days! But of the ladies who tell comics stories, Grace Randolph is one of the very best! Supurbia is an fascinating mix of superheroics and the characters’ person lives. I highly recommend it!
T.H.U.N.D.E.R. AGENTS #2
Writer: Phil Hester
Artist: Andrea Di Vito
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: “Dynamo’s first day on the job as a T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agent leads to a disastrous encounter with the beautiful but deadly Iron Maiden. Guy Gilbert, consummate T.H.U.N.D.E.R. veteran, scrambles to keep the secret base from the attention of warring local clans. What lies behind The Demon’s Smile?”
WAYNE: I enjoyed the first issue and am seriously looking forward to the second this week. I have heard that we might actually find out just who the Iron Maiden is this go-round. Knowing this creative team, it’ll be great on every level!
TRANSFORMERS REGENERATION ONE #0
Writer: Simon Furman
Artist: Jeff Anderson & Various
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: Zero Point! Adventure in the time stream, as Hot Rod desperately attempts to identify the rogue elements that are leading him, and the entire Cybertronian race, inexorably towards the catastrophic end of time itself. What hidden stories do the Deathbringer, Boltax, Buster Witwicky, and Galvatron have to tell, and what-if any-solutions are there? Or is it already too late?
RODRIGO: A NEW TRANSFORMERS SERIES! Count me in for just enough issues to get confused over which transformers series things did or didn’t happen in.
ZERO #1
Writer: Ales Kot
Artist: Michael Walsh
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price: $2.99
SOLICITATION: SAVING THE WORLD. ONE MURDER AT A TIME.
Edward Zero is the perfect execution machine – a spy who breaks the rules to get things done. When a stolen device appears in the center of a long-running conflict, Zero comes to retrieve it. The problem is, the device is inside a living, breathing, bio-modified terrorist and there’s an entire army after it.
GEORGE: I loved Ales Kot’s mindbending Change, and was warming to his take on Suicide Squad before DC did what it does best and took him off the book after three issues or so. Kot has said that each issue will be a self-contained mission, with a different artist coming on each issue. I expect good things from this weird spy title.
RODRIGO: I rarely ever stick with issues like this unless they have a big team or heist component. I don’t know if I’m going to like it, but I’m willing to give it a shot.
