Major Spoilers Staff Picks for August 31st, 2016 #NCBD

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.

AFTERLIFE WITH ARCHIE #10
Writer: Roberto Aguirre Sacasa
Artist: Francesco Francavilla
Publisher: Archie Comic Publications
Cover Price: $4.99

SOLICITATION: “Betty, RIP,” Part 5: “Interlude with the Pussycats.” Before the end of the world began, a female pop trio was setting charts on fire. But in a world of TMZ and paparazzi-driven media, somehow these women kept their private lives a secret from everyone – until now. A full-access interview promises to show the tragic and terrifying origin story of Josie and the Pussycats.

CHRIS: What should you read this week? The answer is always Afterlife with Archie. And holy mother, this has Josie and the Pussycats! Finally!

STEPHEN: Josie and the Pussycats have been around since 1906. No. Really. I can’t really say anything more, so you’ll have to buy the issue to get the whole story.

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #17
Writer: Dan Slott
Artist: Humberto Ramos
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: BEFORE “DEAD NO MORE”! The Prowler (and our readers) meet the new Electro! Who is this woman and what does she have to do with the Man in Red?!

ROB: Slott and Ramos means I’m picking up Spider-Man. Also, the new lady Electro seems awesome, so this has that going for it too.

FUTURE QUEST #4
Writer: Jeff Parker
Artist: Steve Rude, Aaron Lopresti
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price: $2.99
SOLICITATION: An earth-shattering power has come to life in the jungles of South America, and Team Quest and Birdman race the forces of F.E.A.R. to reach it first! There they find time ripped apart in a lost valley where dinosaurs and cavemen run wild once more as the ancient legend of Mightor is revealed! Only the shipwrecked aliens Jan and Jace hold the secrets of what fate awaits our world, but as a force led by Jezebel Jade attacks, what new hero will rise?

WAYNE: It’s always a great week when this title arrives at the store! Cannot wait!

GOTHAM ACADEMY ANNUAL #1
Writer: Becky Cloonan, Brendan Fletcher
Artist: Karl Kerschl
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price: $4.99
SOLICITATION: When the Gotham Academy student body comes down with a mysterious disease, Pomeline and Colton disagree on the origin of the threat, causing a fissure in Detective Club! The team fractures to get to the bottom of the case…but who will solve it first? Will Maps be able to reunite her friends? Will they ever eat pizza together again?! Join the search for clues in the first ever Gotham Academy Annual, precursor to Gotham Academy: Second Semester!

CHRIS: It might just be me, but it seems like its been a long time since we’ve gotten some Gotham Academy goodness. Luckily this week will be delivering an extra sized helping. Can’t wait!

MATTHEW: Part of me seemingly thought that Gotham Academy was canceled during the Rebirth mishigas, but on this rare occasion I’m glad to find that my memory was wrong. Also glad to hear that this will launch a new semester with the kids of the Academy…

WAYNE: This solid comic continues to entertain, and I’ll even pay the higher price tag for it’s annual! Good title!

HOWARD THE DUCK #10
Writer: Chip Zdarsky
Artist: Joe Quinones
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: The person behind all of Howard’s troubles is revealed! Who could it be? Is it Spider-Man? Wolverine? Thor? Ms. Marvel? Am I just mentioning these characters on the off chance that some retailers will just skim the catalogue looking for character names and will accidentally order this?
• Who knows???

MATTHEW: With Zdarsky’s Howard coming to a close, I’m looking forward to every issue just a bit more, but the reveal of who’s behind all Howie’s travails is doubly worth the wait…

MAE #4
Writer/Artist: Gene Ha

Publisher: Dark Horse Comics

Cover Price: $2.99
SOLICITATION: On a quest to rescue their father, Mae and Abbie venture deeper into the fantasy world that Abbie has called home for the past ten years. “Mae is a beautiful, riveting work of comics art that I would recommend to anyone.”-Mark Waid (Kingdom Come) “The actual reading of the story was pure joy, since I was already won over, and fully confident that I was once more in the hands of an expert storyteller.”-Bill Willingham (Fables)

WAYNE: This is a terrific book! I read the first three issues at Wizard World Chicago, talked with Mr. Ha about it, looking forward to chatting with him on my podcast sometime soon. Highly recommended!

SAGA #37
Writer: Brian K. Vaughan
Artist: Fiona Staples
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price: $2.99
SOLICITATION: “THE WAR FOR PHANG,” PART ONE
SAGA is back with its most epic storyline yet, and to celebrate, FIONA STAPLES graces this issue with a gorgeous wraparound cover! Finally reunited with her ever-expanding family, Hazel travels to a war-torn comet that Wreath and Landfall have been battling over for ages. This arc is a self-contained “event” we’ve been building to since our very first issue, so now is the perfect time for readers who love SAGA’s bestselling collections to join our monthly adventures!

MATTHEW: NEW SAGA, Y’ALL! IT’S NEW SAGA!!!!

ROB: Saga is one of the most interesting stories coming out currently. And a new story arc can mean just about anything as the different story-lines coalesce.

SUICIDE SQUAD WAR CRIMES SPECIAL #1
Writer: John Ostrander
Artist: Gus Vasquez
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price: $4.99
SOLICITATION: When a retired American politician is taken to Europe and tried for alleged war crimes, the USA must recover him from an allied nation before terrible truths are revealed. Enter the Suicide Squad, who storm the Hague itself to save America from her own dark secrets. The writer who started a revolution, John Ostrander returns to the Suicide Squad for the first time in a decade to tell one of his boldest and bloodiest stories ever.

JON: The Suicide Squad would not be what it is today if not for John Ostrander. I’m really excited to see what he brings to the table as he returns for this one-shot featuring the team he helped establish as one of the most popular concepts in the DCU.

THUNDERBOLTS #4
Writer: Jim Zub
Artist: Jon Malin
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: The Squadron Supreme delivers justice to an unjust world. Their new target – The Thunderbolts. Someone call Damage Control, ’cause this is gonna get ugly…
Rated T+

JON: This series has a lot of potential but hasn’t quite hit the mark in every issue. However, I’m eager to see how things play out with the inclusion of the Squadron Supreme and anticipate plenty of hard-hitting action.

TMNT UNIVERSE #1
Writer: Paul Allor, Kevin Eastman, Tom Waltz
Artist: Damian Couceiro, Kevin Eastman, Bill Sienkiewicz
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Cover Price: $4.99
SOLICITATION: Introducing a new era in TMNT! This series will explore characters and story-lines that are pivotal to the IDW TMNT universe! When a mysterious new mutant targets Baxter Stockman, it will be up to the TMNT to reluctantly save him. Little does everyone know that a larger trap is being laid by a new arch-foe! Plus a back-up story from TMNT co-creator Kevin Eastman and comics legend Bill Sienkiewicz!

CHRIS: I am woefully out of touch with the current iteration of the Turtles but I love me some Bill Sienkiewicz art. And who knows, maybe this will be a good jumping on point?

ROB: More Turtles for ROB! Building further on the already great world-building that’s been going on should make for some good reads. And give us some quicker stories as well.

TOKYO GHOST #10
Writer: Rick Remender
Artist: Sean Murphy
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price: $4.99

SOLICITATION: MINISERIES FINALE The final confrontation for the future of mankind is here. It’s Debbie Decay, Mother Nature’s own samurai savior, vs Davey Trauma, the Living Singularity. Critically-acclaimed creators RICK REMENDER and SEAN GORDON MURPHY wrap up their tale of tech addiction, unintended consequences, and love in a world populated by the disenfranchised and isolated.

CHRIS: What should you read this week? The answer is always Tokyo Ghost. After Afterlife with Archie, of course.

UNCANNY AVENGERS #13
Writer: Gerry Dugan
Artist: Ryan Stegman
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
SOLICITATION: CIVIL WAR II TIE-IN!
• Deadpool risks his Avengers status on a secret mission to rescue another Avenger!
• The aftermath of an explosive CIVIL WAR II event reverberates through the Avengers.
• Plus, Cable and Steve Rogers face off, with the future of the Unity Squad at stake.
Rated T

JON: Uncanny Avengers has been a little hit-or-miss but with the previous arc having just wrapped up, I’m curious to see where things go from here. Ryan Stegman’s art is always on point so either way, I recommend giving this issue a shot.

ROBOT OVERLORD: WHAT WILL YOU BE BUYING THIS WEEK? USE THE COMMENT SECTION BELOW!

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