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!
BATMAN ETERNAL #8
Writers: Tim Seeley, John Layman, ray Fawkes, James T Tynion IV, Scott Snyder
Artist: Guillem March
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price: $2.99
SOLICITATION: Is Stephanie Brown an assassination target?
STEPHEN: Stephanie Brown!? Man, I need to get caught up on this series quickly! The first month was solid Batman story telling in the New52 (Nu52), so I need to make sure this issue winds up in my digital comic collection bin today!
CHEW/REVIVAL #1
Writer: Layman, John
Artist: Guillory, Rob
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Cover Price: $4.99
SOLICITATION: TWO GREAT TASTES THAT TASTE REALLY WEIRD TOGETHER! Tony Chu heads to Wisconsin in two all-new original tales by the creative teams of both critically acclaimed titles! A great jumping-on point for readers who’ve heard how damn good these titles are on their own, and a twisted delight for those already in the know!
ASHLEY: I’ve loved Revival from the moment I picked it up and I’m super interested to see Tim Seeley’s normally serious psuedo-zombie title meet with the primarily comedic world of Chew.
ROB: I actually haven’t been paying enough attention to hear anything about revival (unless the name is just slipping past me), but anything revolving around Chew is definitely worth a look.
C.O.W.L. #1
Writer: Kyle Higgins, Alec Siegel
Artist: Rod Reis
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price: $3.50/$2.99
SOLICITATION: Welcome to the “Chicago Organized Workers League”— the world’s first Super-Hero Labor Union! While C.O.W.L. once stood as a beacon of hope against an epidemic of organized crime and an unbeatable “brotherhood” of Super-Villains, the union now faces its fiercest foe yet—a disillusioned public. In targeting the last of the great villains, C.O.W.L. attempts to prove its value to the world and to each other, while staving off villainy from both outside and inside its offices.
STEPHEN: A continuation of the short film, The League, Kyle and Alec continue to explore the world of superheroes and labor unions. I’ve already reviewed the book on the most recent Major Spoilers Podcast, and this is a book you should check out right now. Right. Now.
DEADLY CLASS #5
Writer: Remender, Rick
Aritst: Craig, Wesley
Published: Image Comics
Cover Price: $3.50
SOLICITATION: In the throes of a horrible acid trip, Marcus’s grip on reality slips, casting him into the depths of his own past. A past filled with blood and ash. What dark secrets is he hiding? And will he have time to face them before one of the killers out for his blood puts a knife in his heart?
ASHLEY: Deadly Class is one of the only series Rick Remender has written that I enjoy and I’m looking forward to learning more about Marcus and his past through the veil of a frightening acid trip.
DEVIL DINOSAUR BY JACK KIRBY TP COMPLETE COLLECTION
Writer: Jack Kirby
Artist: Jack Kirby
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $24.99
SOLICITATION: The adventures of a boy and his dinosaur! At the dawn of human evolution, during a time when primitive man co-existed with the dinosaurs that dominated the Earth, a unique friendship is born – a friendship that may be the only thing that can save mankind! Meet Moon Boy and his Tyrannosaurus pal – the red-skinned Devil Dinosaur – as they face off against giant spiders, enormous ants, and rampaging dinosaurs of all shapes and sizes! And don’t forget the Small Folk, led by the warlord Seven Scars, who rejected Moon Boy for befriending the fearsome Devil – and who aim to dominate the forest by force! Throw in aliens from outer space, and you’ve got a timeless romp through the ages – delivered courtesy of the imagination of Jack “King” Kirby! Collecting DEVIL DINOSAUR #1-9.
GEORGE: It’s a monkey boy riding a tyrannosaurus, drawn and written by Jack Kirby. The best part is that Devil Dinosaur is both historically and scientifically accurate, making this a great pick-up for any classroom reading collection.
MATTHEW: If you don’t like Jack Kirby, I’m afraid I don’t know what to make of you. This series is all about big ideas, unbridled imagination and fun concepts that don’t worry about being “serious” or “badass.” A must-read for comics fans, no lie…
DOCTOR SPEKTOR #1
Writer: Mark Waid
Artist: Neil Edwards
Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: “TV legend. Wall Street wolf. Internet mogul. Tabloid bad boy. Master metaphysicist. Spiritualist. Monster hunter. Doctor Adam Spektor is all of these things… and less.” For fifteen years, Spektor has traveled the globe to smoke out and defeat werewolves, vampires, ghosts and everything else that goes bump in the night. Yet his success has brought him no peace… some part of him is missing, something he needs but can’t name. But he’s about to find what’s missing… in an unlikely place…”
MATTHEW: Hey, any series where the solicitation abused ellipses as much as I do can’t be all bad! I’m enjoying the relaunched Gold Key intertwined universe, and I’m willing to give this a shot because of that (and also because Mark Waid.)
THE MIDAS FLESH #6
Writer: Ryan North
Artist: Braden Lamb, Shelli Paroline
Publisher: BOOM! Studios
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: IT’S A TRAP! The General has gone mad and is scheming a plan to win back the missing flesh.
But our crew has some tricks up their sleeves as well. Who will outwit who in this issue of THE MIDAS FLESH?
PAIGE: The characters of The Midas Flesh have been playing cat and mouse for ages. Now that the series is coming closer and closer to its conclusion, I’m absolutely addicted. The Midas Flesh #6 is at the top of my list this week for sure.
MS. MARVEL #4
Writer: Wilson, G. Willow
Artist: Alphona, Adrian
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $2.99
SOLICITATION: * Marvel’s breakout hit, Ms. Marvel, continues as Kamala Khan discovers the dangers of her newfound powers.
* And unlocks a secret behind them as well.
* Don’t miss the boldest (and adorable-est!) hero to make her Marvel debut!
ASHLEY: This is one of the best comic books from a major publisher being printed today! Kamala’s realization of the ramifications of being a superheroine I consistently look forward to these issues and they focus on an incredibly imporant character in the world of contemporary comics.
PARIAH #4
Writer: Aron Warner, Philip Gelatt
Artist: Brett Weldele
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: Nukes are sent out to destroy the Vitro satellite. Will our heroes make it back to Earth in time?
* Created by Academy Award winner Aron Warner (Shrek).
* Art by Eisner-nominated painter Brett Weldele (The Surrogates).
* Written by Philip Gelatt (Petrograd).
”I was hooked by the fifth page.”–Fanboy Comics
PAIGE: The continuing struggle of the Vitros has me hooked. I’ve been devouring these since their inception.
ROVER RED CHARLIE #6
Writer: Garth Ennis
Artist: Michael DiPascale
Publisher: Avatar Press
Cover Price: $5.99
SOLICITATION: The FINAL issue is a super-sized concluding chapter to the story of Rover, Red, and Charlie. The boys made it from New York to the big splash, but things are far from good. Herman is back for vengeance and as the world falls down around them, these three canine best friends must face his wrath. And even the bonds of friendship can’t stop the inevitability of the long sleep. GARTH ENNIS delivers three of his most beloved characters to the end of the world and tells a gripping story through the innocent eyes of dogs. Available with a Regular, Wraparound, and a Dog Days Order Incentive cover by series artist Michael Dipascale.
GEORGE: Man, there’s no way this will end well for our furry canine protagonists, is there? This miniseries has been wonderful, but I really am worried about how gut-wrenching the finale may be.
SAMURAI JACK #8
Writer: Jim Zub, Andy Suriano
Artist: Andy Suriano
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: Jack reflects on his odyssey to return to the past, but he won’t like what he finds staring back at him. A special silent issue illustrated by Samurai Jack character designer Andy Suriano!
ROB: I was sold when I saw another issue of Jack coming out. Then we get to find out it’s going to have my favorite gimmick of being wordless and I’m even more excited.
SECRET ORIGINS #2
Writer: Scott Lobdell, Ray Fawkes, Jeff Parker
Artist: Paulo Siqueira, Sean Parsons, Paul Pelletier, Various
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price: $4.99
SOLICITATION: Batman headlines the second big issue of SECRET ORIGINS, which also features The New 52 origins of Aquaman and Starfire!
ROB: This is exactly the type of book I have been wanting since the New 52 began. Of course, this is the last character whose origin story needed to be told again, but maybe we’ll get a bit more at the start of his career instead.
TREES #1
Writer: Warren Ellis
Artist: Jason Howard
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price: $2.99
SOLICITATION: Ten years after they landed. All over the world. And they did nothing, standing on the surface of the Earth like trees, exerting their silent pressure on the world, as if there were no-one here and nothing under foot. Ten years since we learned that there is intelligent life in the universe, but that they did not recognize us as intelligent or alive. Beginning a new science fiction graphic novel by WARREN ELLIS and JASON HOWARD.
GEORGE: Warren Ellis doing a riff on The Happening and/or Day of the Triffids? I am in.
PAIGE: I’ve heard the term “invasive species” being used to describe aliens and plants but never like this! Science fiction stories like this tend to suck me in immediately, and with a premise like this one, I’m eager to see how the story begins.
STEPHEN: A spooky solicitation, a creepy cover, and Warren Ellis? I’m in!
TWILIGHT ZONE #5
Writer: J. Michael Straczyinski
Artist: Guiu Vilanova
Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: For three years, Diana Tyler has been working at a small café in the shadow of Wall Street, putting in long hours to pay for her college education. She’s level headed, strong, not given to flights of fancy…until the day when she suddenly finds herself able to listen in on the thoughts of other people. Suddenly a new world is revealed to her, with mysteries and wonders and an unforeseen threat that could mean the death of millions.
MATTHEW: At it’s best, the Twilight Zone shines a light on the things that we all fear, the things that make us all alike. Straczynski isn’t Rod Serling, but the first four issues were a respectable take on the central mythos of the Zone, hoping this arc is even better.
ROBOT OVERLORD: There you go, puny humans comic books you are expected to buy this week. I know these meatbags pick good comics, but what have they missed? What else are YOU going to buy this week?
