IT’S NEW COMIC BOOK DAY!
But what to read?
Fortunately, the Major Spoilers Staff have comic book recommendations for you!
ALL STAR WESTERN #34
Writer: Jimmy Palmiotti & Justin Gray
Artist: Darwyn Cooke
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: FINAL ISSUE Time has finally caught up with Hex as he battles to the death against his worst enemy: Jonah Hex!
MATTHEW: It’s a shame to see one of the original New 52 titles go down, but it’s even worse when it’s the sole remaining non-super-duper title, and even more so when it’s the culmination of a 100+ issue run by the same writers. Jonah Hex’s fortunes are on the downswing, and I’m interested in seeing how the whole schmageggi wraps up…
BOB’S BURGERS #1
Writers: Rachel Hastings, Mike Olsen, Justin Hook
Artists: Frank Forte, Brad Rader, Bernard Derriman
Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: A new series from the hit TV show “Bob’s Burgers,” created by Loren Bouchard! All right! The very first Bob’s Burgers comic book, a new series from the creator of the hit TV show, created by Loren Bouchard! Now you can read about the Belcher family (parents Bob and Linda, and their children Tina, Gene and Louise) in brand-new in-canon stories created by the TV show’s producers, writers and animators creating all original stories appearing exclusively in this comics series. Each comic includes hilarious installments of: “Louise’s Unsolved Mysteries,” “Tina’s Erotic Friend Fiction,” “A Gene Belcher Original Musical,” “Letters Written by Linda” and “Bob’s Burgers of the Day.” Bob’s Burgers is an American animated sitcom that airs on Fox television with other hits such as The Simpsons and Family Guy!
RODRIGO: There’s a long, proud tradition of animated sitcoms making terrible comics. But I’ll definitely give Bob’s Burgers a chance before passing judgement.
CAPTAIN MIDNIGHT #14
Writer: Joshua Williamson
Artist: Manuel Garcia, Bit
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Cover Price: $2.99
SOLICITATION: “Time is running out for Captain Midnight, as Tempus ups the stakes by taking a small town hostage. Faced with an awful choice, Captain Midnight can only protect the innocent townsfolk by releasing his dangerous inventions to a lunatic. It’s the good of the many or the good of the few, and Cap doesn’t have much time to decide: Save the hostages or protect the world?.”
WAYNE: Captain Midnight has been excellent since it started, and it hasn’t lost a step! Mr. Williamson and crew have been challenging this “fish out of water” hero well, and I am always ready for the next issue. If you haven’t been reading it, I highly recommend it!
FANTASTIC FOUR (2012) #9
Writer: Matt Fraction
Cover Artist: Mark Bagley
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $2.99
SOLICITATION: Did a good-natured prank-gone-wrong mean Ben Grimm caused the accident that led Victor Von Doom down his wicked path? As the sickness spreads to the other members of the family, their attention turns to righting this past wrong — could saving Victor be the only way stop Dr. Doom?Before they answer that, however, they have to deal with the Council of Dooms who treat the day of the Incident as a kind of nativity — and dozens of Dooms from dozens of realities have come to witness the birth of the Alpha Doom… oh boy that dorm room is gonna get crowded fast.
RODRIGO: It’s a hard line to draw. What is too ridiculous even for superhero comics? I think the idea of a multiverse of Doctor Dooms converging in one place may reveal that proverbial line.
GROO VS CONAN #2
Writer: Mark Evanier, Sergio Aragones
Artist: Sergio Aragones, Thomas Yeates
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Cover Price: $3.50
SOLICITATION: Diana Dane is being transported by Darius Dax in the hunt for the mysterious Ethan Crane. It’s a car ride that takes her a lot further than she expects: out into the nature of the universe itself.
MATTHEW: I wasn’t sure what to make of this book before the first issue, but I was pleasantly surprised about what came of it. Will this issue keep up the excellence? (Fingers are crossed.)
LETTER 44 #9
Writer: Charles Soule
Artist: Alberto Jimenez Alburquerque
Publisher: Oni Press
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: “Isobel Blades, First Lady, pays a visit to Congressman Chris Higgins, a former love interest rumored to be plotting Stephen’s impeachment. In the asteroid belt, the purpose of the Chandelier becomes clear, as it powers up for the first time. Earth’s solar system will never be the same.”
WAYNE: Coming to a television near you sometime in the coming months! This book mixes sci-fi with political intrigue in a way I’ve never seen before, so it’s something I can’t wait to read when the new issue comes out! Don’t miss it!
LOW #2
Writer: Rick Remender
Artist: Greg Tocchini
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price: $3.50
SOLICITATION: The underwater city of Salus, humanity’s last refuge, is running out of air and time. Poverty, disease, and corruption are rampant, and the church of Optimolgy can offer no solace as powerful as hard cream, the strange drug that keeps the bleak realities at bay. Police Inspector Marik Cain has sunk so low into that haze; should an opportunity for hope present itself, can he rise again?
GEORGE: I hated Greg Tocchini on Uncanny X-Force, but I loved him on Low #1. The weird underwater world of Low is perfect for his talents. That said, can we have a moratorium on characters named Cain?
POP #1
Writer: Curt Pires
Artist: Jason Copland
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: What if the world’s pop stars and celebrities were literally products, grown by the world’s wealthiest (and most depraved) minds—and one of them escaped?
As unique as it is entertaining, POP is a white-knuckled thrill ride through the marketing-mastered, technologically tethered tragicomedy we call life.
GEORGE: I’m not familiar with these creators, but they have cooked up a killer concept here. I’ll be interested in the execution. I’ll also be interested to see if they accurately depict the Illuminati influences that construct our crop of current pop stars.
RODRIGO: Haven’t seen a novelty use of the UPC in a while, it’s well executed, though. This Looks like good old fashioned, eight minutes into the future, cultural commentary sci-fi. Count me in.
RAI #4
Writer:: Matt Kindt
Artist: Clayton Crain
Publisher: Valiant Entertainment
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: “The most daring comic book launch of the year unleashes a cascade of shocking revelations as Rai rockets toward its second arc! In 4001 A.D., as the nation of Japan soars above the Earth, Rai unravels the mystery of the first murder in a thousand years … and discovers his own profound connection to the crime. Everything Rai knows – about his existence, about his country, and about the benevolent Father he serves – is about to to be thrown out of orbit. Do not miss this masterpiece in the making … Matt Kindt and Clayton Crain’s Rai!”
WAYNE: Valiant produces a lot of excellent product, and this is one of their very best! It’s great when a book set in a country outside the U.S. is as gripping as this one is to Americans, and I think this diverse title is going to be one of 2014’s stand-out hits. Action, character, mystery.. Rai has it all!
SILVER SURFER #5
Writer: Dan Slott
Artist: Michael Allred
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION:
• The demon, Shuma Gorath, is ready to cast the Earth into Eternal Chaos!
The problem is, if the Silver Surfer, the Hulk, and Dr. Strange CAN find a way to stop him…
• …it’s Dawn Greenwood who will have to pay the price… with her life.
MATTHEW: It’s a Defenders reunion with Mike Allred art. You think I’m not gonna buy this thing, we’re not friends anymore…
TRANSFORMERS VS GI JOE #2
Writer: Tom Scioli, John Barber
Artist: Tom Scioli
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: BOOTS ON THE GROUND! The war has begun-and no bars will be held! SCARLETT’s forces go head-to-head with MEGATRON’s hordes-and the most off-beat adventure in comic book history hits a new level of dangerous alliances, deadly invasions, and devastating betrayals!
GEORGE: I thought the first issue of this was fantastic, with strong writing bolstered by Tom Scioli’s retro (and hilariously ingenious) stylings. It’s a strange tale, less aligned with the grimness and grit of today’s comics and more in tune with the anything goes atmosphere of a kid breaking out all his action figures in a sandbox. Which is a good thing.
