IT’S NEW COMIC BOOK DAY!
But what to read?
The staff at Major Spoilers offers up its list of books they are looking forward to, and recommend you do, too!
8HOUSE ARCLIGHT #2
Writer: Brandon Graham
Artist: Marian Churchland
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price: $2.99
SOLICITATION: Two knights hunt an alien creature using blood magic.
GEORGE: The first issue of 8House Arclight was weird, dreamy, not a little confusing, and very beautiful. I expect the same from issue #2.
AIRBOY #3
Writer: James Robinson
Artist: Greg Hinkle
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price: $2.99
SOLICITATION: The drug, booze and sex fueled actions of JAMES ROBINSON and GREG HINKLE have pushed Airboy to the brink. And, in order to straighten these two degenerates out, he’s taken them to his world: a steampunk arena of Allies vs. Nazis. But will the experience change James and Greg for the better? Will they finally see the light? Or will they corrupt this world too?
CHRIS: The depravity that James Robinson and Greg Hinkle get up to in this book is at a whole other level. This book is so self-referential it’s hard to tell where reality ends and fiction begins. Robinson is making a hilarious story while also putting his emotions and thoughts out for the world to see. Wonderful book for those who can deal with the horrible actions of the main characters.
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN RENEW YOUR VOWS #3
Writer: Dan Slott
Artist: Adam Kubert
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: The most controversial Spider-Man story of the year continues! There are some lines Spider-Man won’t cross. Right?
ROB: Put Dan Slott on Spider-Man and I will ALWAYS read it. And for good reason, he just gets Spidey. And this story is showing that even more so.
BARB WIRE #2
Writer: Chris Warner
Artist: Pat Olliffe, Tom Nguyen
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: To keep her struggling club off the auction block, Barb Wire hunts one Wyvern Stormblüd, a human wrecking ball with a serious bounty on his head. But Wyvern is a psychotic drunk, even more dangerous soused than sober, who plans to set loose every caged gangster in Steel Harbor!
MATTHEW: The first issue of Barb’s triumphant return made for a pleasant read, and uses the bits of Dark Horse’s old CGW imprint to great effect. I’m pleased to say that I’m looking forward to this one, even if part of me misses the hot pink biker chaps…
STEPHEN: The series started off strong enough, and the second issue seems to keep the high octane action going, and for fans of Barb Wire, high octane is the name of the game.
BERKELEY BREATHEDS ACADEMIA WALTZ & OTHER TRANSGRESSIONS HC
Writer: Berke Breathed
Artist: Berke Breathed
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Cover Price: $39.99
SOLICITATION: A treasure-trove of Berkeley Breathed’s pre-Bloom County archives, artwork, strips, political cartoons, and much more!
MATTHEW: Berke’s back, and he’s releasing some of his earliest works for the first time! Though we’ve seen bits and pieces of ‘Academia Waltz’ in previous collections, I’ve wondered if they were as awful as he has said they were. Now we can all know their true awfulness!
Wait…
DARTH VADER #8
Writer: Kieron Gillen
Artist: Salvador Larroca
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: • Bounty Hunters on the attack-against the Empire!
• Darth Vader and Aphra continue their alliance – but how long will it last?
• Plus: Who is Tagge’s mysterious new agent?
GEORGE: Darth Vader has been the best of the new Marvel Star Wars books, in no small part due to Kieron Gillen’s typically excellent character work. Seeing Darth Vader navigate the murky politics of the Empire is a treat, and Gillen’s original characters fit well into the established setting.
DEADLY CLASS #15
Writer: Rick Remender
Artist: Wesley Craig
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price: $3.50
SOLICITATION: There is a battle coming. A battle royale if you will. But Marcus is in no shape for a fight
CHRIS: Another book where the writer is mixing fiction with reality, Remender’s Deadly Class blends stories from Remender’s teen years in with a story about kids going to school to become assassians. It nails the teen angst emotions perfectly and the art is gorgeously violent. A must read.
GIANT SIZE LITTLE MARVEL AVX #3
Writer: Skottie Young
Artist: Skottie Young
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: • Playtime is serious business in the land of Marville and our tiniest heroes are putting in work to prove to their new neighbors which crew toughest. • The smaller they are, the harder they brawl–this is BATTLEWORD after all.
ROB: I don’t see how anyone would not enjoy Skottie Young’s hilarious take on the young Marvel Universe. It’s just too adorable not to love.
POWER MAN AND IRON FIST EPIC COLLECTION TP HEROES FOR HIRE
Writer: Various
Artist: Various
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $39.99
SOLICITATION: Marvel’s stronger-than-steel man of the streets, Luke Cage, partners with the mystic kung-fu master Iron Fist in the beginning of one of the greatest teams in comic-book history! Together, Power Man and Iron Fist are heroes for hire, taking on any any job, any challenge – so long as their clients can meet the price. But both heroes have long pasts and old foes out to destroy them. Between those menaces and making ends meet, it’s a life short on downtime and long on action! This inaugural Epic Collection features the beginning of our heroes’ partnership; guest appearances by the X-Men, and Colleen Wing and Misty Knight – the Daughters of the Dragon; and classic villains including Nightshade, Bushmaster and Sabretooth!
MATTHEW: Two characters born of different film crazes, who teamed up to last far longer than either of the genres that spawned them. Take that, logic! With Luke and Daniel making their way to Netflix, this is a perfect time for Marvel to let folks catch up on their lost history… Plus, that excellent Dave Cockrum cover!
SPIDER-ISLAND #2
Writer: Tom DeFalco Christos Gage
Artist: Paco Diaz Ron Frenz
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: The Spider-Queen has turned Manhattan into an island of Spider-Madness and Peter Parker has lost, thanks to Spider-Scribe CHRISTOS GAGE (AMAZING SPIDER-MAN, SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN) & rising star artist PACO DIAZ (WOLVERINE, SCARLET SPIDERS). With Spider-Man defeated and captive, does Flash Thompson, A.K.A. VENOM stand a chance? All this, plus visit the MC2 patch of BATTLEWORLD! Mayday Parker and her Spider-Family are back courtesy of classic Spider-Girl team TOM DEFALCO, RON FRENZ & SAL BUSCEMA!
ROB: The first issue of this was not what I was expecting, and ended up so in a very good way. The Monster Avengers here seems like an idea that has probably been done, but I’m excited either way.
SPIRE #2
Writer: Simon Spurrier
Artist: Jeff Stokely
Publisher: BOOM! Studios
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: The mysterious killer hunting the citizens of the Spire strikes again, and Sha will be the one to blame if she can’t track them down!
GEORGE: Spire #1 introduced a strange fantasy world, explored via elements of police procedurals and political thrillers. Stokely and Spurrier have a proven track record together and the first issue of Spire promised great things.
