IT’S NEW COMIC BOOK DAY!
But what to read?
Fortunately, the Major Spoilers Staff have comic book recommendations for you!
AGE OF REPTILES: ANCIENT EGYPTIANS #1
Writer: Ricardo Delgado
Artist: Ricardo Delgado
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: The Eisner Award–winning series returns!
Ricardo Delgado’s gorgeous and brutal Age of Reptiles series returns, marking a bold new direction in wordless storytelling! The steaming swamps of Cretaceous Africa teem with prehistoric life and primordial danger in a tale filled with villains, victims, and one of the most dangerous and unpredictable protagonists ever created: the lonely antihero Spinosaurus aegyptiacus!
RODRIGO: Age of Reptiles is a great series for a lot of reason; The main one being dinosaurs. The secondary one is that you don’t have to read any actual words.
AIRBOY #1 (MR) $2.99
Writer: James Robinson
Artist: Greg Hinkle
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price: $2.99
SOLICITATION: When acclaimed comics author JAMES ROBINSON (Starman, Fantastic Four) is hired to write a reboot of the 1940s action hero Airboy, he’s reluctant to do yet another Golden Age reboot. Just what the hell has happened to his career-?! His marriage?! His life?! Hey, it’s nothing that a drink can’t fix.
It’s after one such night of debauchery with artist GREG HINKLE that the project really comes into its own. Quite literally. Because Airboy himself appears to set the two depraved comic book creators on the straight and narrow.
But is the task too much for our hero?
MATTHEW: How can you resist that solicitation? Even if this is awful, we’re ahead of the game…
ARCADIA #2
Writer: Alex Paknadel
Artist: Eric Scott Pfeiffer
Publisher: BOOM! Studios
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: In Arcadia, a child psychologist assesses Giacomo, the son of the digital Lee and Sam, and discovers there’s something very different about him. Lee is pulled out of a plastic surgery procedure by officials and flown to Beijing to examine a Homesteader’s corpse. Officials believe that the real world is conspiring to introduce death into Arcadia. In the real world, Valentin confronts Lee about his illegal midnight calls to his suicidal daughter Coral in Arcadia.
GEORGE: Arcadia #1 was one of the surprise debuts of 2015, presenting a fresh sci-fi world with confident art and writing. I am excited for the follow-up.
THE AUTUMNLANDS #6
Writer: Kurt Busiek
Artist: Ben Dewey
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price: $2.99
SOLICITATION: The (literally) shattering showdown with the Bison Tribes that tears all alliances apart and sends the series in a whole new direction. Finale of the hit series’ first arc!
GEORGE: I love the Autumnlands. With several big twists already, I cannot wait to see what the promised new direction is. The art and writing are on point, and this is a series well worth reading.
BAT MITE #1
Writer: Dan Jurgens
Artist: Corin Howell
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price: $2.99
SOLICITATION: Bat-Mite is here to fix the DC Universe – one hero at a time! Convinced that he’s the imp that put Batman on the map, he’s spreading his expertise all over the DC Universe, eager to boost the careers of heroes he thinks need his “help.” Don’t miss the start of this six-issue all-ages miniseries!
MATTHEW: The pitch on this was good enough that I’m even willing to brave the wilderness that is the writing of Dan Jurgens (JURRRRGEENNNNNS!!!) to check it out, as Bat-Mite has long been a fave-rave of mine…
WAYNE: I never thought I’d ever see Bat-Mite in a DC Comic again. Since he’s back, I have to know what’s going on. I also enjoy Mr. Jurgens’ art AND writing, so since he’s scripting this title, I’ll be there with bells on!
BIZARRO #1
Writer: Heath Corson
Artist:Gustavo Duarte
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price: $2.99
SOLICITATION: “Hate HARLEY QUINN? Then you will super hate BIZARRO! Bizarro star of worstest comic ever! Go ahead and miss it! If there’s one thing this issue not have it these two things: Jimmy Olsen and Chupacabras!” Don’t miss the start of this six-issue all-ages miniseries!
RODRIGO: Generally speaking, my interest in the DC Universe wavers between a 0 and 10 (in a scale of 100) but there are characters that I’m always interested in, mostly because they allow writers a little more leeway in execution.
STEPHEN: I really hope this turns into a comedy classic that sells millions of copies. I’m picking this up on the art alone.
BROKEN WORLD #1
Written by: Frank J. Barbieri
Art by: Christopher Peterson
Publisher: BOOM! Studios
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: What’s to Love: We’re thrilled to publish the one new original series co-created and written by Frank J. Barbiere (Five Ghosts, Avengers World) in 2015. Broken World is a gripping sci-fi thriller and survival adventure great for fans of Y: The Last Man or The Massive. Barbiere and co-creator/artist Christopher Peterson (Grindhouse, Mayday) will explore the lives of people left behind in the apocalypse.
What It Is: With a meteor days away from causing an extinction-level event on Earth, time is running out for Elena Marlowe. While most of the planet’s population and her family were approved by the government to escape on one of the giant spaceships headed to another planet, her application was denied due to her mysterious past. With the meteor fast approaching, Elena desperately tries to find a way to fake her way onto
WAYNE: Mr. Barbieri has delivered many a good story since I discovered his writing. I can’t wait to see what he offers us next!
FEATHERS #6 of 6
Writing/Art by: Jorge Corona, Jen Hickman
Publisher: BOOM! Studios/Archaia
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: Final issue! When he tracks the Scarf Man to his secret lair, and with Bianca, R, and Z’s lives at stake, Poe comes face-to-face with the man who’s been kidnapping the Mice from the Maze.
WAYNE: This creative miniseries has had me from the very first panel, so I’m breathlessly waiting for this issue! From what I understand, reading this issue will be worth the wait, so I highly recommend it!
THE HUMANS #5
Writer: Keenan Keller
Artist: Tom Neely
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price: $2.99
SOLICITATION: NEW STORY ARC!
The Humans ride protection for two truckloads of dope as they charge down CA I-5 dodging curious cops and hell-bent hijackers on a violent drug run from Oakland to L.A.! ‘Nuff said.
GEORGE: After a brief hiatus, my favorite 1970s exploitation throwback series about primate bikers has returned. Not for the faint of heart or the easily affronted, Humans is a gleeful exploration of trash culture and should appeal to those who felt those guys from Sons of Anarchy just didn’t have enough body hair.
SAMURAI JACK #20
Writer: Jim Zub
Artist: Andy Suriano
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: A scribe named Mako has heard many strange stories of the great hero known only as “Jack.” Mako’s journey to record the truth of the samurai reveals a fascinating look at his legacy and possible future: Jack the King. Jack the General. Jack the Legend.
ROB: The continued adventures of my favorite Samurai have been great, and this seems like it’ll be a new way to see what Jack has done in the future.
SECRET WARS BATTLEWORLD #2
Writer: Donny Cates, David Walker
Artist: JJ Kirby, Marco Turini
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: BLADE is on the trail of the dreaded Count Drakula, but not if HOWARD THE DUCK has something to say about it! (Spoiler: He Does!) Rising star David Walker (SHAFT) and JJ Kirby tell the tale of the Daywalker trapped in a city of ducks! The death of his daughter has made gladiator Thaddeus Ross a true WAR MACHINE, but will he ever find vengeance in the ring or become the monster he hates? Donny Cates (BUZZKILL, GHOST FLEET) and Marco Turini (CYBERFORCE) bring the pain and the glory!
ROB: While the main Secret Wars book has been a bit confusing for me (apparently there was a lot of build up) the side books are showing me a lot of what I enjoy with the extra weird alternate settings. And Battleworld gives us the most of that.
SWORDS OF SORROW #2
Writer: Gail Simone
Artist: Sergio Dávila
Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: Gail Simone (Batgirl, Red Sonja) and rising star Sergio Davila (Legenderry) team to bring you this epic tale, featuring the most amazing, most beloved, and fiercest pulp heroines of all time! All the great Women of Dynamite are united against an unbeatable horror, and this historic issue features, for the first time ever, characters from the worlds of Edgar Rice Burroughs and Robert E. Howard as Dejah Thoris and Red Sonja clash! The SWORDS OF SORROW series is also supported by several companion one-shots, written by some of today’s hottest talents, like G.Willow Wilson, Marguerite Bennett, and Erica Schultz!
STEPHEN: Probably the best comic publisher crossover you will read this year.
TMNT MUTANIMALS #4
Writer: Paul Allor
Artist: Andy Kuhn
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: The climactic showdown between the Mutanimals and Null! Surprises await both sides of the conflict!
ROB: Hobb’s Mutanimals has geen the most interesting part of the new TMNT stories and while I want to see the conclusion to this arc I am very sad to see the group go back to side characters in the primary series.
WICKED & DIVINE #11
Writer: Keiron Gillen
Artist: Jamie McKelvie
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price: $3.50
SOLICITATION: The end of Fandemonium. The end of Ragnarock. The end of the arc. The start of something else. Everything’s going to be okay.
MATTHEW: The creators have promised us a big ending as TW+TD enters it’s new arc, and given how weird and entertaining it’s been thus far, I’m both psyched and afraid…
WONDER WOMAN ANNUAL #1
Writer: Meredith Finch
Artist: David Finch, Jonathan Glapion
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price: $4.99
SOLICITATION: The epic finale to the “War-Torn” storyline is here! Wonder Woman faces off against Donna Troy, who’s destined to become her ultimate nemesis, in a battle that will seal the fate of Paradise Island! Plus, in the backup story, discover the circumstances of Hippolyta’s rise to queen as an ancient threat pits the Amazons against the Spartans!
RODRIGO: I haven’t been keeping up with Wonder Woman, but I’m curious to see what all this Donna Troy business is about.
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