5 Comics To Watch
Age of Ultron #10 (Marvel) – The final issue of the Marvel event that looked like it wouldn’t be good, and has turned out pretty good. By no means a home run, it’s been a solid, if uneven series that looks like it ‘could’ have some impact on the Marvel Universe moving forward.
Avengers #14 (Marvel) – From one Event to the next, Jonathan Hickman has been setting up the dominoes for Infinity since he started on Avengers and New Avengers, and with Avengers #14 we get the prelude. I’m not a big Event guy, but I am a big Hickman guy…so I’m all in on this one! If you’re like me and are usually on the fence when it comes to Events, trust me when I say I have no doubt that this one will be a trip.
Batman and Batgirl #21 (D.C.) – The Batman and partner one-shots continue with a Batman and Batgirl issue. The Red Robin and Red Hood team-ups were very solid, and this format seems to be working…so I have little doubt that this issue will be a fun, interesting and potentially touching story involving Bruce and Barbara.
Indestructible Hulk #9 (Marvel) – After the 3 issue Waid/Simonson arc, we get a new arc, this time teaming Daredevil up with Hulk, with art by Matteo Scalera. I like the idea of short arcs with different artists, and so far this book has been surprisingly good since its launch. And if anyone knows how to write Daredevil, its Eisner Award winner (for Daredevil) Mark Waid. Highly recommend picking this one up, and no prior knowledge is required. The Hulk/Thor team-up arc was a ton of fun, and very well written…and I suspect this will be the same!
New Avengers #7 (Marvel) – I can’t mention Hickman’s Avengers and not mention my favourite of the two, New Avengers. The Illuminati/Black Swan are past the ‘getting to know you’ stage, and it looks like the extremely interesting Black Swan may still have something up her sleeve after the close of Hickman’s first arc. One of my favourite Marvel NOW! books written by one of my favourite writers…what’s not to like. Oh, and it’ll probably play into the Infinity stuff as well…that’s almost a given with how Hickman writes.
Hidden Gems
Batwoman #21 (D.C.) – If you read my blogs for any length of time, you know how long I’ve been a fan of this series. The story has taken its time developing, but it’s really paying off now with Kate under the gun and forced to find a way to unmask Batman in order to save herself and the people she cares about. And when Williams III isn’t on art, his replacement, Franceso Francavilla picks up the torch and runs with it. Easily one of my top 2 or 3 favourite D.C books right now…and probably for a long time to come. Oh, and hands down some of the best covers in all of comics…with this month’s Killer Croc inspired cover one of the most gorgeous yet!
Wonder Woman #21 (D.C.) – Another female hero who’s not getting her due, Wonder Woman is one of the sleepiest of sleeper hits from the NEW 52. This book doesn’t seem like it’s a hit, but quietly its help redefine Wonder Woman’s universe and Wonder Woman herself, while telling an epic Greek God-like story befitting of one of D.C.’s Trinity. One of the few regrets I have is not jumping on this book when the NEW 52 kicked off, because what I have read has been fantastic…and it’s consistently among the best reviewed and bestselling books D.C. has.
Also Out This Week
D.C. has Animal Man #21, Birds of Prey #21, Green Lanterns: New Guardians #21, Red Hood and the Outlaws #21 and Supergirl #21.
Marvel has A+X #9 NOW!, Avengers #14 NOW!, Cable and X-Force #10, Fantastic Four #9, Superior Spider-Man #12 NOW!, Thunderbolts #11 NOW!, X-Men Legacy #12 NOW!, Ultimate Spider-Man #24, Ultimates #26, Wolverine MAX #8 and X-Factor #258.
There’s also the return of 100 Bullets with 100 Bullets Brother Lono #1, Invincible #103, Mind the Gap #11, Revival #11,Witchblade #167, B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth #108, Fables #130, GI Joe #5, TMNT Villains Micro Series #3, Captain Midnight #0 and X-Files Season 10 #1.
Trade Watch
The big one this week is Saga Vol 2 TP. Most of you are probably already reading this hit Image series, but if you’re not…I highly recommend the Vol 1 and Vol 2 TP to catch up. Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples are turning the comic world upside down with this sci-fi space opera, and it absolutely lives up to the hype. There’s also the Teen Titans Vol 2 TP.
– S-1