It’s New Comic Book Day!
What should you pick up this week? The Major Spoilers Staff runs down the titles they are most looking forward to this week.
ANGEL & FAITH TP VOL 05 WHAT YOU WANT NOT WHAT YOU NEED
Writer: Christos Gage
Artist: Rebekah Isaacs
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Cover Price: $17.99
SOLICITATION: Angel’s quest to restore Giles’s life has entered its last stage. As he and Faith prepare to carry out their task and resurrect an old friend, Season 9’s Big Bads enter the last phase of their own plan to restore balance to earth.
ROB: Oh wow am I behind on this. Still, was definitely enjoying this book last time and I’m usually happy to get more of the Buffy-verse, so I’ll probably try to catch up here and think most others would be happy to as well.
CAPTAIN MIDNIGHT #8
Writer: Joshua Williamson
Artist: Fernando Dagnino
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Cover Price: $2.99
SOLICITATION: “On a mission to catch up with his future, Captain Midnight reunites with his long-lost love to learn how his hardware has made it into so many enemy hands. Revealing her own hunt for the Nazi Fury Shark, Cap’s old sweetheart turns his world upside down when she discloses the fate of his best friend!“
WAYNE: This keeps me gripped from month to month! If you like Mr. Williamson’s scripting on Ghosted, you should also give this great book a try!
CHEW #40
Writer: John Layman
Artist: Rob Guillory
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price: $2.99
SOLICITATION: This is how you kill the Vampire…
ROB: Final issue of this arc and Tony is off to take on the Vampire, or at least learn how to do so thanks to his late sister Toni. With only 20 issues left after this I am excited to see the buildup to the final showdown and who all is going to be involved.
DEAD BOY DETECTIVES #3
Writer: Toby Litt
Artist: Mark Buckingham
Publisher: Vertigo
Cover Price: $2.99
SOLICITATION: Dead British schoolboys Charles and Edwin finally locate their old bones, but what secrets do they hold? New detective Crystal is the only one who can find out by way of her major tech skills. But it might involve a trip inside a computer game called Yonda, where all is not as bright and colorful as it seems.
ASHLEY: Charles and Edwin are already dead, so I’m betting on another attempt on Crystal’s life this issue or the next. I’m also betting that the boys will have to speedily reveal themselves to her. I’m looking forward to the first meaningful interaction of all three child protagonists.
DEADLY CLASS #2
Writer: Rick Remender
Artist: Wesley Craig
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price: $3.50
SOLICITATION: It’s Marcus’s first day at the Kings Dominion High School for the Deadly Arts. A locker full of death threats, a schedule full of brutality, and whispers in the hallway about his mysterious past…which is fast catching up to cut out his freshly broken heart.
GEORGE: The first issue of Deadly Class is one of the best debuts I’ve read this year. But it focused mostly on Marcus’s life on the street, only getting to the idea of a school for assassins in the final few pages. If Remender and Craig can keep up that level of quality in the second issue as they delve into the meat of the story, this will be a fantastic series.
EMPIRE OF THE DEAD ACT ONE #2
Writer: George A. Romero
Artist: Alex Maleev
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: IT’S ZOMBIES VS VAMPIRES-WITH HUMANS CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE- AS THE LEGENDARY GEORGE ROMERO UNLEASHES HIS NEXT UNDEAD EPIC! Welcome to New York years after the eruption of an undead plague-a city not only teeming with roaming zombies, but also ruled by vampires! Meanwhile, in the pit of the bloody Circus Maximus, can anything stop the unchained fury of the zombie gladiator known as Zanzibar? Plus: It’s a terrorizing team-up in variant cover form when the Zombie Godfather George Romero unites with the Zombie King Arthur Suydam!
CHRIS: Issue one was really good and I actually have faith that George Romero is going to give us something fun. I’m eager to see his take on vampires and hope he can bring something new to the table. Working with the comic medium may be working to Romero’s advantage as he isn’t limited by a budget, which may have attributed to his last few films lacking in quality.
FANTASTIC FOUR #1
Writer: Robinson, James
Artist: Kirk, Leonard
Publisher: Marvel
Cover Price:
SOLICITATION: “THE FALL OF THE FANTASTIC FOUR” PART 1
The world’s greatest comics magazine begins anew with Marvel’s First Family, the Fantastic Four! But as the brilliant MR. FANTASTIC, the compassionate INVISIBLE WOMAN, the ever lovin’ THING & the hot-headed HUMAN TORCH embark on a strange mission, they aren’t met with new beginnings, but an untimely end! As the family of cosmic explorers head towards their darkest hour, who could possibly be behind their downfall? And how is one of their oldest enemies, the sadistic dragon known as Fing-Fang-Foom involved? Prepare for the fantastic!
JASON: While I’m not a super fan of the new red costumes, I’m very excited to see what James Robinson will do with the FF. Maybe they’ll go through a rift and meet Alien Blue Starman?
GHOSTBUSTERS #13
Writer: Erik Burnham
Artist: Dan Schoening
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: Lucky issue 13 is here, and with it, the first installment of the eight-part event that will shake the boys and girls in grey to their core! Gozer the Gozerian, the Destructor, was once drawn to Manhattan, but could not complete his work. That’s the good news. The bad news is that he isn’t the only god who has taken notice of Earth… MASS HYSTERIA and our 30th anniversary tribute to the Ghostbusters begins here!
ROB: It’s issue 13 of the Ghostbusters, who doesn’t want to pick this up? If that isn’t enough, consider the fact that the last 12 issues have also been pretty fantastic and I’m looking forward to a nice big story involving the entire team.
HAWKEYE #15
Writer: Matt Fraction
Artist: David Aja
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $2.99
SOLICITATION: The brothers Barton double down against the bad guys as the Clown lays siege to their building. Can Hawkguy keep everyone safe against a killer nobody’s even seen yet? What happens when you’re locked up with your loser big brother for like a week straight? You go nuts, right? Clint goes a little nuts. Plus…two free staples!
CHRIS: Yes Hawkeye is still awesome and yes you should be buying it. Other than its recent release schedule, this book is damn near perfect.
STEPHEN: BUY THIS BOOK! Great story. Awesome art. There is nothing in this book you won’t like… except the release schedule.
WAYNE: I really didn’t expect to like this comic, but I did a quick catch-up and am now a regular reader. I always wish there was more superhero action, but the dramatic parts do keep my attention!
THE MANHATTAN PROJECTS #18
Writer: Hickman, Jonathan
Artist: Pitarra, Nick
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price:
SOLICITATION: “GAME THEORY”
The Manhattan Projects are in peril as the Great Game of the Infinite Oppenheimers is revealed.
JASON: This is the big issue that is set to reveal what is the master plan of the Infinite Oppenheimers. Something I’ve been waiting to read since issue number one. It should be Hickman crazy and mind blowing.
MASS EFFECT: TURIAN CRUISER SHIP REPLICA
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Price: $34.99
SOLICITATION: The turians are a race in Mass Effect, members of the Citadel Council and known for their military role, particularly their contribution of starships to the Citadel fleet, making the Turian Cruiser a logical next addition to the popular Dark Horse line of Mass Effect starships.
Packaged with an insert card with a unique code that will enhance the Mass Effect game experience.
RODRIGO: The good thing about getting into Mass Effect is that now I’m clued into a cool spaceworld. The bad thing is that now I want things. Also doesn’t this model kinda look like an R-Wing from Starfox?
MIRACLEMAN #3
Writer: TBD
Artist: Leach, Garry
Publisher: Marvel
Cover Price:
SOLICITATION: Face-to-face with a shocking enemy — can Miracleman survive, or will London burn?A mysterious man with a sapphire grin stalks Michael Moran. Meet the sinister Mr. Cream. Try not to scream.A glimpse into the future introduced the Warpsmiths. Now, see these strange warriors battle on their world in “Cold War, Cold Warrior.”Including the Miracleman stories from WARRIOR #6-8 and the Warpsmith stories from WARRIOR #9-10, plus bonus content.
JASON: I am loving every single issue of this series! It’s like the Criterion Collection of comics!
MY LITTLE PONY: FRIENDS FOREVER #2
Writer: Jeremy Whitley
Artist: Tony Fleecs
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: The Cutie Mark Crusaders have done everything they can think of to get their cutie marks. But there’s one creature of chaos who might have some ideas they would never think of… Discord! When our pint-sized heroines start working with the unpredictable trickster, the results are bound to get unusual! Will Ponyville be able to survive their friendship?
RODRIGO: Time to check in on what’s going on in equestria. Discord’s face turn in the show was really unexpected for me. So I’m interested to see what they do with it here.
RAT QUEENS #5
Writer: Kurtis J. Wiebe
Artist: Roc Upchurch
Publisher: Image
Cover Price: $3.50
SOLICITATION: ‘Gold, Guts and Grog,’ Part Five Well, Palisade has seen better days. It stinks like orc blood. There are bits of troll all over the place. Worst of all, the famous booze ship, Drowned Sorrows, sank to the bottom of the harbor in the attack. This era of Palisade will forever be known as THE DRY SPELL.
ASHLEY: This book needs to show up and I’ll be pleased. Now that the overarching narrative has settled in I’m interested to watch the Queens grapple with their ever-growing list of enemies … I’m equally interested to see which of the four can drink the most and remain standing.
SAMURAI JACK #8
Writer: Jim Zub
Artist: Andy Suriano
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: Martial artists, warriors, nobles, monsters and more… Samurai Jack has defeated them all in his quest to gather the Threads of Time. Now, one last strand remains in the lair of Aku the demon wizard. Can Jack defeat his greatest foe and return back to the past?
RODRIGO: End of the arc! I’m really interested to see where this goes. My guess is, Jack’s going to finally succeed and go back to the past. AND UNDO THE FUTURE THAT IS AAAAAAAKUUUUU.
SERENITY LEAVES ON THE WIND #2
Writer: Zack Whedon
Artist: Georges Jeanty
Publisher: Dark Horse
Cover Price: $3.50
SOLICITATION: Forced out of hiding, Serenity’s crew gets separated, and it becomes clear that everyone looking for the outlaws is on the verge of finding them. River offers to uncover the secrets that are hidden within her in the hope that the crew might have something to bargain with. Buffy’s Season 8 and 9 artist conquers the galaxy! Zack Whedon returns to Serenity! The story finally continues after the film! o Executive producer: Joss Whedon! Firefly
ASHLEY: Since I’ll never get my beloved Firefly back on the screen Leaves on the Wind carries the responsibility of updating me on the happenings of the ‘verse. I’m holding out for more Simon in this issue, will report back with findings.
SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN #28
Writer: Dan Slott
Artist: Giuseppe Camuncoli
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: “Goblin Nation” #2 (of 5)
• Goblins! Spiderlings! Super villains! Giant robots! It can only mean one thing: ASSAULT ON SPIDER-ISLAND!
• If you want to see people standing around talking, read another comic. Want to see heroes having a fist fight, go somewhere else?
• You are IN the GOBLIN NATION and this is ALL-OUT WAR!
GEORGE: Enjoy Doc Ock Spider-Man while he lasts, which isn’t much longer. But I actually do like reading about people standing around talking…
THUNDER AGENTS #6
Writer: Phil Hester
Artist: Roger Robinson
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: “A now-powerless Dynamo is at the mercy of the mysterious Dr. Sparta somewhere in South America. When NoMan, Lug, and Weed set out to rescue him, they find themselves caught in a brutal civil war, but just which side is Dr. Sparta on? Also, Kat Kane discovers the true nature of the Judgment Towers, will her sanity be the price of knowledge?”
WAYNE: This comic is one of my very favorite team books! I love the fact that the power each hero gets also has a serious downside, something you don’t see much of these days! Great book, I highly recommend it!
WAKE #6
Writer: Scott Snyde
Artist: Sean Murphey
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price: $2.99
SOLICITATION: “My name is Leeward, and this is where my story begins…”
Our story jumps two hundred years into a flooded future where nothing is the same. The second half of THE WAKE starts here!
GEORGE: After a brief hiatus, Wake is back – and jumping forward a few hundred years. It looks like the story is shifting from claustrophobic, Abyss-like horror to something with a more science-fictional, post-apocalyptic bent. And with hang gliders and dolphins, so, yeah, I’m gonna be reading.
X-FILES CONSPIRACY TRANSFORMERS #1
Writer: Paul Crilley
Artist: Dheeraj Verma
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: The Lone Gunmen’s trail of secrets leads them to evidence of extraterrestrial life – mechanical extraterrestrial life! Will OPTIMUS PRIME and his allies trust these human interlopers – and what secret conspiracy could involve CYBERTRON, anyway?!
CHRIS: I love Transformers and X-Files but damn if I see how this can possibly work. Regardless, I’m always down for checking out potential train wrecks. I’m trying to keep a positive attitude toward this one but it’s not working.
ELIJAH: I didn’t even know I wanted this cross-over. I didn’t know I wanted Mulder and Scully to team up with Optimus Prime. I didn’t know anything. But now IDW has shown me the light, and is giving me what I need. Honestly, I can’t think of a single reason not to read this book.
