IT’S NEW COMIC BOOK DAY!
But what to read?
Fortunately, the Major Spoilers Staff have comic book recommendations for you!
AFTERLIFE WITH ARCHIE #8
Writer: Roberto Aguirre Sacasa
Artist: Francesco Francavilla, Jack Morelli
Publisher: Archie Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: ‘Ghosts of Christmas Past.’ Contrary to popular belief, the current zombie outbreak is not the first time a shadow fell across Riverdale and its citizens. As the survivors hunker down in a hotel to wait out a snowstorm, Hiram Lodge and Mary Andrews relive the darkest chapter of their town’s history. Ten years ago, the adults of Riverdale struck a terrible bargain with the witches of Greendale, setting the stage for the present-day apocalypse. With a regular cover by Francisco Francavilla and a ‘Cheerleader’ variant by Andrew Pepoy.
CHRIS: It’s about time! I’m going to tear into this like a zombie into intestines! Seriously, by now we’ve all told you how great this book is. There is no excuse to not be reading it. Except maybe a zombie apocalypse.
STEPHEN: Such a great series, and to see them riff on The Shining, makes this one of the best books of the week!
ANT-MAN #5
Writer: Nick Spender
Artist: Ramon Rosanas
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: • The explosive first arc finale! There aren’t actually any explosions – but there IS a big showdown with our poorly lit villain, and plenty of heartbreak to go around.
• Nothing will be the same again! Except you’re still aging. That’s not going anywhere.
GEORGE: With Secret Wars starting, I’m not sure how many more Ant-Mans we’re going to get with the reshuffling of the Marvel line. Nick Spencer’s take on Scott Lang is so spirited and good, I’m hoping it lasts forever. At the very least, I’ll enjoy it while it lasts.
BATMAN: EARTH ONE VOL. 2
Writer: Geoff Johns
Artists: Gary Frank, Jonathan Sibal
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price: $24.99
SOLICITATION: It’s here – the sequel to the #1 New York Times bestseller and critically acclaimed BATMAN: EARTH ONE by the superstar creative team of writer Geoff Johns and artist Gary Frank! While Gotham City is plunged into terror by an enigmatic anarchist and killer calling himself The Riddler, the Dark Knight must reconcile the increasingly conflicting ideologies of Detective Jim Gordon and Bruce Wayne’s head of security, Alfred Pennyworth. But there are many more mysteries lurking within Gotham City, including the secret agenda of Harvey Dent and the bizarre creature prowling the sewers – Killer Croc!
STEPHEN: While Main DCU is concerned about getting rid of the multiverse, the Earth One graphic novels continue to be big sellers.
WAYNE: I enjoyed the first one of these, so I’m really looking forward to this second volume. Highly recommended!
BIG BANG UNIVERSE #1
Writer: Gary Carlson & Various
Artist: C. B. Cebulski, Jeff Austin
Publisher: AC Comics
Cover Price: $9.95
SOLICITATION: Big Bang Comics is back! Original creator Gary Carlson returns with 80 pages of all-new material! The Knight Watchman in “Skeletons In The Closet”, a 48-page contemporary novella drawn by Kerry Talbott! Solo Galahad by C.B. Burk, featuring Shutterbug and a Retro-60’s KW adventure by Bobby Nash and Jeff Austin!
MATTHEW: I remember the original Big Bang Universe back in the 90s, a loving retro look at heroic archetypes of the previous decades. While Knight Watchmen was never my fave-rave, his Batman-ness makes him the perfect way to relaunch this book, and I hope that we’ll see lots more out of Big Bang.
CONVERGENCE SPEED FORCE #2
Writer: Tony Bedard
Artist: Sean Parsons, Tom Grummett
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: STARRING HEROES FROM THE PRE-FLASHPOINT DCU! Wally West desperately tries to protect his children and his city from the brutal assault of the Flashpoint Wonder Woman as the next phase of Convergence begins!
ROB: As month 2 of Convergence begins I get to determine which book each week was my favorite. Round one was Speed Force, as Wally and his kids being gone was one my personal losses with the New 52 and them being back has been great.
CONVERGENCE: QUESTION #2
Writer: Greg Rucka
Artist: Cully Hamner
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: STARRING HEROES FROM THE PRE-FLASHPOINT DCU! Renee Montoya’s final stand as The Question comes to a head as she helps Two-Face battle Flashpoint’s Harvey Dent…but will her world live on? This extra-sized issue includes a sneak peek at what’s coming up in the DC Universe!
CHRIS: Even though Convergence has been a bust, there have been a few diamonds in the rough. I enjoyed the first issue of Convergence: Question and was happy to see Renee Monyoya in action again. There’s that old nostalgia kicking in…
DESCENDER #3
Writer: Jeff Lemire
Artists: Dustin Nguyen
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price: $2.99
SOLICITATION: As the brutal robot-hunting Scrappers close in on TIM-21, the events that first brought him to the mining colony on the outer edges of space are revealed.
GEORGE: A comic that’s as beautifully written as it is drawn, Descender is something that needs to be appreciated. Plus, it’s at a price point that can’t be beat.
WAYNE: I continue to be a big fan of Mr. Lemire’s writing, and this series has been one of his best, in my opinion. Don’t miss this series!
DRAGON AGE: THE WORLD OF THEDAS VOLUME 2 HC
Writer: BioWare
Artist: BioWare
Genre: Fantasy
Publication Date: May 06, 2015
Format: FC, 224 pages; HC, 9″ x 12″
Price: $39.99
SOLICITATION: BioWare’s newest game, Dragon Age: Inquisition, will expand the universe of their epic series in profound ways. This comprehensive book of lore features exclusive art and information, exploring every corner of this dark fantasy masterpiece!
Newcomers will appreciate how this volume covers everything they need to know about the world and characters of these smash-hit games! Dedicated fans will revel in the abundance of never-before-revealed secrets in this perfect companion toDragon Age: The World of Thedas Volume 1! From heroes and villains to songs and food, and everything in between, this book puts the breadth and depth of this inimitable fantasy at your fingertips.
* Filled with original art and lore by the creators of the games!
* Up to date through the events of the upcoming game Dragon Age: Inquisition.
RODRIGO: I haven’t played Inquisition yet, but that almost doesn’t matter. I like big video game art books and this one looks really good.
FEATHERS #5
Writer/Artist: Jorge Corona
Publisher: BOOM! Studios
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: Feeling alone and betrayed by Bianca and Gabriel, Poe finds a humbled and apologetic Z, who tells him that all the Mice have been taken by the Scarf Man.
WAYNE: A terrific miniseries that I’ve come to love, Feathers is something very special that you should be reading, too!
INHUMAN ANNUAL (2015) #1
Published: May 06, 2015
Writer: Charles Soule
Penciller: Ryan Stegman
Price: $4.99
SOLICITATION: All the threads of the first year come to a head in this epic oversized Annual! Medusa! Lash! Ennilux! Reader! Lineage! What will be left standing before Secret Wars pulls it all crashing to the floor?!?!?
RODRIGO: The current run of Inhumans may tell us more about the future of the MCU than any other source.
RETURN OF THE LIVING DEADPOOL #4
Writer: Cullen Bunn
Artist: Nicole Virella
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: Oh man – there’s a zillion Deadpools and a zillion zombies!
I have no idea how this is going to end. I hope Cullen does. You do, right Cullen?
CHRIS: Want to know how I came to love this book? Last issue Deadpool woke up from a nightmare exclaiming “I dreamed they cancelled Fearless Defenders!” Not only that, there’s a cult of Deadpools worshipping every writer that’s ever been on a Deadpool book. Pretty funny stuff.
SPIDER-GWEN #4
Writer: Jason Latour
Artist: Robbi Rodriguez
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: Learn what really happened the day that Peter Parker died! Gwen comes face to face with Ben and May Parker!
ROB: I was just generally happy to see a new issue of Spider-Gwen in the list this week. Seeing the actual summary has me downright intrigued as to what Peter’s motivation was in this universe.
SWORDS OF SORROW #1
Writer: Gail Simone
Artist: Sergio Davila
Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: DYNAMITE’S FIERCEST FEMALES IN THEIR BIGGEST EVENT EVER! Fan favorite GAIL SIMONE (RED SONJA, BATGIRL) and rising art star SERGIO DAVILA (LEGENDERRY) combine to tell the ultimate pulp adventure, featuring Vampirella, Dejah Thoris, Red Sonja, Kato, Jungle Girl, and many, many more! Villains and heroes from a dozen worlds and eras face off against a legendary evil that threatens all their homelands. Don’t miss this thrilling epic tale, an event supported by related adventures written by the hottest writers today, including G. Willow Wilson, Marguerite Bennett, Nancy Collins and more!
MATTHEW: I’m not the pulp hero fan that Stephen is, but this appeals to me on more than one level. I’m not sure I’m in for every single crossover, but this has my attention…
STEPHEN: Gail Simone? Pulp Characters? Dynamite Entertainment? Crossover event? TAKE MY MONEY!
TMNT MUTANIMALS #3
Writer: Paul Allor
Artist: Andy Kuhn
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: The Mutanimals’ ranks have swelled, and they are ready to rumble! Null has a couple of surprises in store though!
ROB: The more the new TMNT universe is explored, the more I enjoy it. The only part I don’t like about this is it’s past the halfway point on this latest series and I want to see more from the Mutanimals.
THE WICKED & THE DIVINE
Writer: Kieron Gillen
Artist: Jamie McKelvie
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price: $3.50
SOLICITATION: Ragnarock is finally here. The show to end all shows promises to be a lovely experience for all the gods… wait. Oh noes! Jamie and Matt have drawn Baphomet drenched in blood on the cover. What a hilarious internal communication error. I’m sure it’s a mistake and nothing to do with the story whatsoever.
GEORGE: The Wicked & The Divine is popping off once again. Last issue revealed the final god in the Pantheon, and what a surprise it was. In spite of that coy solicitation, rest assured that Baphomet is up to something huge.
WONDER WOMAN 77 SPECIAL #1
Writer: Mark Andreyko
Artist: Drew Johnson
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price: $7.99
SOLICITATION: Take a trip back to the days of disco with everyone’s favorite Amazon Princess. Wonder Woman hits the dance floor in pursuit of an escaped Russian spy.
MATTHEW: Hell, yeah, I’m gonna read this book. You should, too…
RODRIGO: Studio 52!? That’s cute. I wonder if this was originally slated to be part of convergence but then they decided that old school Wonder Woman fans wouldn’t pick it up.
