IT’S NEW COMIC BOOK DAY! #NCBD
The best day of the week just got a lot better with a new round of awesome comics arriving in stores this week. Staff members at Major Spoilers are here to help you with your comic book selection this week, with their roundup of comics they recommend.
BATMAN AND ROBIN ETERNAL #2
Writer: Tim Seeley, James Tynion IV
Artist: PauL Pelletier
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price: $2.99
SOLICITATION: Five years ago, Batman and Robin worked the most disturbing case of their crimefighting careers—bringing down the organization of the ultimate human trafficker, the mysterious woman known only as Mother. At the time, Dick Grayson never quite understood the scope of that case, but now its darkest secrets are coming back to haunt him and everyone else who ever worked with Batman! With Bruce Wayne now lost to them, Dick and all his allies are out in the cold! Who can they trust? Is someone among them not who they say they are? And who is the deadly, silent young woman in black who’s come to Gotham City looking for Batman?
STEPHEN: The first issue wasn’t bad, so picking up this issue ins’t the worst thing you’ll do this week.
THE BIG GUY AND RUSTY THE BOY ROBOT NEW EDITION HC
Writer: Frank Miller, Geof Darrow
Artist: Geof Darrow
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Cover Price: $19.99
SOLICITATION: Front and center, America! Here comes action! Here comes adventure! Here comes The Big Guy and Rusty the Boy Robot—a roller-coaster ride through the minds of Geof Darrow and Frank Miller, the tag team that set you reeling with their hard-hitting series Hard Boiled! Everything you remember about being thirty-eight years old and watching monster movies is right here, but with all the magnified detail that you always wanted to see.
RODRIGO: Big Guy and Rusty was something I always wanted to get into but never could, mostly due to scheduling, I just never caught it when it was on tv. There is something both charming and weird about this property, and I am very interested. I’m not going to lie, though, seeing Frank Miller’s name on this is not really a bonus. Still, I’m very curious.
EVE: VALKYRIE #1
Writer: Brian Wood
Artist: Eduardo Francisco
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: Superstar writer Brian Wood tells the origin of Rán, founder of the Valkyrie—the deadliest space-fighter pilots in the EVE universe!
This series leads into EVE: Valkyrie, one of the most hotly anticipated video games of all time, a groundbreaking virtual reality space-dogfighting shooter from the creators of EVE Online.
RODRIGO: I’ve never played EVE, but I’m definitely into supercool space battles. Hopefully ignorance of the source material won’t be a hindrance.
I HATE FAIRYLAND #1
Writer: Skottie Young
Artist: Skottie Young
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price: $3.50
SOLICITATION: Superstar SKOTTIE YOUNG (Rocket Raccoon, Wizard of Oz) makes his Image debut with an ALL-NEW SERIES! The Adventure Time/Alice in Wonderland-style epic that smashes its cute little face against Tank Girl/Deadpool-esque violent madness has arrived. In an adventure that ain’t for the little kiddies, (unless you have super cool parents, then whatever), you’ll meet Gert—a six year old girl who has been stuck in the magical world of Fairyland for thirty years and will hack and slash her way through anything to find her way back home. Join Gert and her giant battle-axe on a delightfully blood soaked journey to see who will survive the girl who HATES FAIRYLAND.
RODRIGO: I’m a big fan of Scottie Young. And this is pure uncut Scottie Young. I’ve seen the previews for it and it look absolutely ridiculous in the best possible way.
STEPHEN: I’m very interested to see how this book turns out. It could either be solid gold or gold plated, but either way, it should be gold.
JEM AND THE HOLOGRAMS #8
Writer: Kelly Thompson
Artist: Emma Vieceli
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: “Viral,” Part 2! JEM AND THE HOLOGRAMS finish their new video with holographic supercomputer SYNERGY’s help and prepare for a house party celebrating the video’s world wide launch. Meanwhile, THE MISFITS bristle under the new management of… ERIC RAYMOND!
CHRIS: Are you a long time Jem and the Holograms fan and want to read a Jem comic that stays true to its roots while also updating elements for modern day? This is the comic to read. Are you wanting to show someone why Jem is awesome? This is the comic to give them. Fantastic stuff.
NEW AVENGERS #1
Writer: Al Ewing
Artist: Gerardo Sandoval
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: In the wake of SECRET WARS, the old order changeth – and Bobby DaCosta, Sunspot, is just the man to changeth it. Welcome to AVENGERS IDEA MECHANICS – a super-scientific global rescue squad of tomorrow’s heroes… today! America doesn’t want them! S.H.I.E.L.D. doesn’t know what to do with them! But Earth might not survive without… the NEW AVENGERS!
MATTHEW: A team of young heroes, led by Sunspot? With Songbird finally in the Avengers mix? With Al Ewing, the guy behind Mighty Avengers?
Sold, American!
RED SONJA CONAN #3
Writer: Victor Gischler
Artist: Roberto Castro
Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: For years, the old blind Seer has helped the wizard Kal’Ang climb to power, but just when Kal’Ang needs him the most, the Seer tells the wizard he must now deal with a final threat on his own. What final threat? The wrath of Conan and Red Sonja of course. Recognizing that the scourge of blood root has risen again, the Cimmerian and the red haired hellion go after Kal’Ang with a vengeance. But what of the Seer and his secret motivations?
STEPHEN: The series hasn’t disappointed yet, so this is definitely a must buy for me this week.
SEX CRIMINALS #13
Writer: Matt Fraction
Artist: Chip Zdarsky
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price: $3.50
SOLICITATION: Bwakka-chikka-wakka-chikka-wakka-chikka-wakka-chikka-wakka-chikka-wakka-chikka-wakka-chikka-wakka-chikka-wakka-chikka-wakka-chikka-wakka-chikka-BWOMP
CHRIS: Still top of my read pile every time it’s released, Sex Criminals never disappoints. Always good for a laugh, a cry or a way to make you feel dirty, it’s the perfect book for immature mature readers.
SPIDER-GWEN #1
Writer: Jason Latour
Artist: Robbi Rodriguez
Publisher: Marvel
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: BECAUSE YOU DEMANDED IT! Gwen Stacy is back in the webs and has an all-new, all-different mystery to solve: the reappearance of The Lizard! Spider-Woman was convinced that the Lizard died in her arms along with Peter Parker. But when a similar monster goes on a reptilian rampage, she’s left with doubts not only about Peter’s life, but his death as well. And witness the debut of the Osborns of Earth-65! Fan-favorite creators Jason Latour, Robbi Rodriguez & Rico Renzi are back for more with a story that every Spider-Fan will be talking about! Rated T
CHRIS: Hey, Spider-Gwen has her own title everybody! Again! I’m glad to see that this is by the same creative team because they were killing it before the book went on hiatus/was cancelled/rebooted/whatever Marvel calls it nowadays. The art alone makes this book a winner, but the stoytelling is fun as well. Pick this up.
SUPERMAN: LOIS & CLARK #1
Writer: Dan Jurgens
Artist: Lee Weeks
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: Following the epic events of CONVERGENCE, here are the adventures of the last sons and daughter of the Krypton and Earth as they try to survive in a world not their own. But can they keep this world from suffering the same fate as their own? Can this Superman stop the villains he once fought before they are created on this world? What is Intergang, and why does Lois’s discovery of it place everyone she loves in jeopardy? What will happen when their nine-year-old son learns the true identity of his parents? Make way for the original power couple, for better, for worse, in sickness and in health, until death do them part!
MATTHEW: I’m puzzled about this book, but still interested in finding out what it has to say. Jurgens did good work on Superman back in the day, and having DC Editorial admit that a superhero can be married seems like a step forward. Here’s hoping the final product is up to snuff…
SWORDS OF SORROW #6
Writer: Gail Simone
Artist: Sergio Dávila
Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: IT ALL ENDS NOW. The planet-crushing finale to this epic crossover ends here! With a key player down for the count, can the remaining warriors (and their Swords of Sorrow) hold the tide against Purgatori and the other CHAOS women, AND the Prince of All Dimensions as the universe collapses around them? Featuring the greatest pulp heroines of all time in the adventure no one ever imagined could happen!
STEPHEN: Rather sad that this is the last issue of a series that has bee the best crossover event of the year. On the plus side, if you haven’t read this series, a trade paperback should be just around the corner.
THE WICKED + THE DIVINE #15
Writer: Kieron Gillen
Artist: Stephanie Hans, Jamie McKelvie
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price: $3.50
SOLICITATION: STEPHANIE HANS’s Amaterasu alternate cover was so stunning we figured doing a whole issue of that would be a good idea. Plus JAMIE and MATT on a back-up, obv.
MATTHEW: Telling a fascinating story on it’s own terms, in its own time, and featuring a fascinating gallery of characters, this book is just plain ol’ good comics.
