Major Spoilers Staff Picks for May 20, 2015

IT’S NEW COMIC BOOK DAY!

But what to read?

Fortunately, the Major Spoilers Staff have comic book recommendations for you!

A-FORCE #1
Writer: Marguerite Bennett, Willow Wilson
Artist: Jorge Molina
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: Marvel’s Mightiest Women finally get their own explosive series! In a secluded corner of the Battleworld, an island nation is fiercely protected by a team of Avengers the likes of which has only ever been glimpsed before… Fighting to protect the small sliver of their world that’s left, the Amazing A-FORCE stands shoulder-to-shoulder, ready to take on the horde!

CHRIS: Finally, another high profile book starring female heroes. I wish such a big deal didn’t need to be made since it should be common place but I’m extremely excited. I have a feeling this will be great since C. Willow Wilson is writing. Her Ms. Marvel work has been really good. Hopefully this will be the next Fearless Defenders minus the cancellation.

ROB: This is the big news of the week, what more do I get to say than I’m looking forward to it and you should probably check it out.

ARCHIE VS PREDATOR #2
Writer: Alex De Campi
Artist: Rich Koslowski, Fernando Ruiz
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: Archie and the gang head back to Riverdale, but the vicious extraterrestrial Predator is in hot pursuit! When the kids determine that Betty and Veronica are the targets, they devise a secret weapon-Jughead in drag!

CHRIS: Do you like the Archie characters? No? Then this is a comic for you. Not only do you get the Predator, but you get to see all the classic characters get horribly slaughtered. There’s nothing funnier (or as distrubing) as seeing violence drawn in the original Archie style. Plus, Jughead in drag. How can it go wrong?!

STEPHEN: I’ve said it before, but this is the best subversive move that Dark Horse and Archie could make with their properties. Done in the Archie style, and featuring a lot of killing, it screams “PICK ME UP OR I’LL CUT YOU!”

CONVERGENCE: FLASH #2
Writer: Dan Abnett
Artist: Federico Dallocchio
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: STARRING HEROES FROM CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS! Barry Allen lashes out against the heroes of the Tangent Universe as he tries to protect Gotham City from Convergence! This extra-sized issue includes a sneak peek at what’s coming up in the DC Universe!

CHRIS: One of the few Convergence titles that I’ve enjoyed. Issue one was simple and fun and I’m hoping that issue two is the same. I’m a little concerned that it won’t have a satisfiying ending as I’ve heard that’s been a trend with these lately.

CONVERGENCE GREEN LANTERN CORPS #2
Writer: David Gallaher
Artist: Ande Parks, Steve Ellis
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: STARRING HEROES FROM CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS! The Green Lantern Corps is revived when Hal Jordan, John Stewart and Guy Gardner power up and race to take on Hercules Unbound and Anti God from the Great Disaster!

ROB: Guy Gardner is still one of my favorite characters in the DCU, so this was always going to be one of my top picks. That said, the first issue was probably my favorite that week, so this should be fun.

DIRK GENTLY’S HOLISTIC DETECTIVE AGENCY #1
Writer: Chris Ryall
Artist: Tony Akins
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: An all-new comic series based on Douglas Adams’ beloved holistic detective! Dirk arrives in San Diego to face a new country, new cases and new threats: reincarnation, for starters…!

STEPHEN: I think I love the two Dirk Gently books much more than the Hitchhiker’s Guide trilogy. Can’t wait to read this book, and have a discussion with Matthew about it on this week’s Dueling Review Podcast.

EI8HT #4 
Writer: Rafael Albuquerque, Mike Johnson 
Artist: Rafael Albuquerque  
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics 
Cover Price: $3.50 
SOLICITATION: Now imprisoned, Joshua has finally remembered his mission. Unfortunately, his fate is in the sinister hands of the Meld’s most dangerous man, who hopes to control time and space. It’s do-or-die time in the Meld!

WAYNE: This excellent sci-fi story has me breathlessly waiting for the next issue. I love it!

INSUFFERABLE #1
Writer: Mark Waid 
Artist: Peter Krause  
Publisher: IDW Publishing
 Cover Price: $3.99 
SOLICITATION: What happens when your crime-fighting sidekick grows up to be an arrogant, ungrateful douchebag who makes Kanye look humble? Worse, what on Earth could force the two of you together for one last case? Nocturnus and his former protege, Galahad, will find out-if they don’t kill one another first.

WAYNE: This series has been a favorite of mine on the Thrillbent.com website. If you’ve never read it before, it’s the ultimate Batman versus Robin-kind of story told only as Mr. Waid can do it!

JEM AND THE HOLOGRAMS #3
Writer: Kelly Thompson
Artist: Sophie Campbell
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: Hot off their video win, Jem and the Holograms perform at the Starlight Foundation’s annual fundraiser—but the Misfits, anxious the Holograms’ overnight success, plan to bring them down.

RODRIGO: I really like this new Jem. I definitely like it more than what I saw in the trailer for the movie.

MAD MAX: FURY ROAD: NUX & IMMORTAN JOE #1
Writers: Mark Sexton, Nico Lathouris, George Miller
Artists:Leandro Fernandez, Riccardo Burchielli
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price: $4.99
SOLICITATION: In a fallen world ravaged by oil and water wars, humanity exists without law or mercy. All those who wander the Wasteland are ruled by a single imperative…survive!

Among them is Max Rockatansky, a Road Warrior haunted by his turbulent past…

“It’s hard to know who is more crazy.

Me or everyone else?!”

In this first issue, witness the rise of Colonel Joe Moore, a war hero turned tyrannical warlord…The Immortan Joe!

And don’t miss the story of Nux, one of the Immortan’s “War Boys,” who knows only the chaos into which he was born.

From the mind of George Miller, the creator of the Mad Max trilogy, comes a brand new epic tale that serves as a prelude to the upcoming film, Mad Max: Fury Road!

GEORGE: Mad Max: Fury Road is just as good as everyone says, and having seen it, I am all about Mad Max more so than usual. I am looking forward to spending some more time with Nux and Immortan Joe, two of the stranger characters to be featured in a big-budget Hollywood flick.

JACK: If this features Doof and the Doof Machine, sign me up! This world has really been built up, and I think the only way to get the needed backstory I need is to read this series.

RODRIGO: I had a good time watching the movie, so hopefully this will be a good time too. At the very least it has a pretty rockin’ cover.

RESIDENT ALIEN: THE SAM HAIN MYSTERY #1
Writer: Peter Hogan
Artist: Steve Parkhouse
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: The stranded, curious alien known as Dr. Harry tends to patients in the sleepy town of Patience, Washington. Questions about the town’s previous doctor arise when a strange briefcase is found. And does Harry’s favorite mystery writer live in Patience too? Peter Hogan (Tom Strong) and Steve Parkhouse (Milkman Murders) return to their unique science-fiction/mystery series!

RODRIGO: I read the first volume of this and I really liked it. I’m looking forward to see where the series goes.

WAYNE: This wonderful book has a Concrete-like sense of drama, making it something I cherish each time an issue comes out! Highly recommended!

SECRET IDENTITIES #4
Writer: Brian Joines, Jay Faerber
Artist: Ilias Kyriazis
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price: $3.50
SOLICITATION: Punchline must uncover the truth when she and Vesuvius find themselves pulled into battle against a super-powered stalker. Meanwhile, Crosswind continues manipulating one of his new teammates, bringing him one step closer to learning the secrets of the Front Line.

GEORGE: Secret Identities surprised me. I’d passed it over at first, but after a recommendation or two, I gave it a look. What I found was an interesting, original take on superheroes, with good characters and intriguing mysteries. Secret Identities is a good thing to get into.

SPIDER-VERSE #1
Writer: Mike Costa
Artist: Andre Aruajo
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: Spinning out of the SPIDER-VERSE event, a team of Spiders finds themselves face-to-face with Battleworld! Starring SPIDER-GWEN, SPIDER-MAN NOIR, SPIDER-MAN: INDIA, MAYDAY PARKER, SPIDER-UK and SPIDER-HAM

ROB: Spider-Verse was my favorite story in comics last year, so getting to see more of the Spiders going into Secret Wars is exciting, and somewhat hopeful considering the gist of the story line.

SECRET WARS BATTLEWORLD #1
Writer: Joshua Williamson, Ed Brisson
Artist: Mike Henderson, Scott Hepburn
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: • When the Marvel Universe and the Ultimate Universe collide, there is only… Battleworld!
• Featuring the fights, battles and blow-ups that are just TOO BIG for Secret Wars!
• When a Dr. Strange-possessed Punisher goes on the run, only Spider-Man, Wolverine, Hulk and Ghost Rider can track him down!
• Question: What happens when M.O.D.O.K. recruits every single M.O.D.O.K. ever for his evil schemes? Answer: M.O.D.O.K. M.A.D.N.E.S.S.!