5 Comics To Watch

All New X-Men #14 (Marvel) – One of the biggest and most popular of the Marvel NOW! books, All New X-Men is really beginning to pick up steam and the ‘original’ X-Men are now settled into our time period, and are beginning to figure out where they fit in…or don’t.  Brian Michael Bendis seems to be having a lot of fun writing this series, especially as it pertains to Jean Grey.  This issue in particular could be the beginning of something big!

All-New X-Men #14

Avengers #16 (Marvel) – So far this ‘prelude’ to Infinity has been two for two, with this being the third issue leading up to the Jonathan Hickman Summer Marvel Event.  I’ve been following both Avengers and New Avengers since the beginning…and to see the seeds planted in those books now bearing fruit has been great to witness!  And if the sold out back issues of both series are any indication, others are feeling the same way.  Trust in Hickman and ye shall be rewarded!

Avengers #16

Batman ’66 #1 (D.C.) – Nana-nana-nana-BATMAN!  If you’re of a certain age, you grew up with the old Batman TV Show as quite possibly your first exposure to the (not so) Dark Knight.  The fact that this colourful, comically tinged series is getting its own comic book is just too enticing a proposition to pass up…even for the most jaded of comic book fans.  Will we see any Bat shark repellant in this series?  Will The Joker still have a semi-visible moustache?  Will Egghead make a return?  This one should be a lot of fun!

Batman `66 #1 (SDCC Variant Cover)

Deadpool #13 (Marvel) – Speaking of fun…there is nothing wrong with a book that tries to put the ‘fun’ back in comic books.  Like Batman ’66, Deadpool certainly qualifies as such a book.  Take this month’s issue for example.  A retro ‘one shot’ where Deadpool sports an afro in a Blaxploitation style story with the tagline ‘Talking jive and Taking Lives’.  Sold.

Deadpool #13

Thor: God of Thunder #10 (Marvel) – Jason Aaron and Esad Ribic’s epic 3 Thor’s vs. Gorr the God Butcher storyline comes to its penultimate chapter as the ‘Godbomb’ is close to being ignited.  This book is easily my favourite Marvel NOW! book, and has been nothing short of incredible from a writing and artistic standpoint since issue #1.

Thor: God of Thunder #10

 Hidden Gems

Batwoman #22 (D.C.) – One of my personal favourite books month after month.  Kate Kane continues to cut a new path for the Bat franchise as she is now tasked with unmasking the Dark Knight himself for the Gotham D.E.O.  Throw in a new baddie for this issue, and it looks like things are going to get even dicey-er for Batwoman and Co.  Always top-notch art, and a new perspective on Gotham make this one a winner in my opinion.

Batwoman #22

Also Out This Week

D.C. has Animal Man #22, Batman and Catwoman #22, Birds of Prey #22, Green Lantern New Guardians #22, Legion of Superheroes #22, Supergirl #22, and Wonder Woman #22.

Marvel has A+X #10 NOW!, Avengers Assemble #17 NOW!, Cable and X-Force #7 NOW!, Fantastic Four #10 NOW!, FF #9 NOW!, Iron Man #13 NOW!, Nova #6 NOW!, Savage Wolverine #7 NOW!, Superior Carnage #1 NOW!, Thanos Rising #4, Thunderbolts #13 NOW!, Uncanny X-Force #8 NOW!, What If AVX #2, Wolverine MAX #9 and Ultimate Spider-Man #25.

There’s also 100 Bullets: Brother Lono #2, Fables #131, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe #4, Scarlet #7, Star Wars: Darth Vader and the Ninth Assassin #4, Conan the Barbarian #18, X-Files Season 10 #2, TMNT Villain Micro #4, Revival #12, Prophet #37 and Artifacts #29.

Trade Watch

There’s the finale to Rick Remender’s Uncanny X-Force Vol 7 TP, Deadpool Vol 1 TP, Ed Brubaker’s Captain America Vol 4 TP, Wolverine MAX Vol 1 TP, recent multiple Harvey Award Nominee Revival Vol 2 TP, Think Tank Vol 2 TP and Batman The Dark Knight Vol 1 TP and Vol 2 HC.

5 Comics To Watch

Batman #22 (D.C.) – Part two of Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo’s Zero Year arc, where we see Bruce’s first days as Batman mixed in with the mystery of what the heck happened to Gotham?  This time The Riddler looks like he’ll be the one pulling the strings.  Part one was great, and after 21 issues of excellence, I’m anticipating a gem of a story.

Batman #22

East of West #4 (Image) – Jonathan Hickman and Nick Dragotta are creating one heck of a series here. Three issues in and I am about as rabid about this book as I have been for any book in the last 3 years.  My early pick for Best New Series of 2013.  You heard it here first folks!  Still time to jump on the bandwagon…if you don’t mind second (and fourth) prints of previous issues!

East of West #4

Indestructible Hulk #10 (Marvel) – I am really digging this series.  The Thor/Hulk 3 issue arc with Walt Simonson really got me on board…and now it’s the Daredevil as Hulk’s Lawyer storyline that is keeping me at the party.  The first issue was ridiculously good, with one of the better team ups I’ve read in a while.  I guess that should be expected when the same writer (Mark Waid) works on both characters solo books.

Indestructible Hulk #10

Justice League #22 (D.C.) – Trinity War kicks off this week.  By now you know how I feel about ‘Events’ (not really a fan) but when the talent and the characters pass the initial taste test, you’ve got to at least see what the creators have up their sleeves.

Justice League #22

Superman Unchained #2 (D.C.) –  Issue number one from Snyder and Jim Lee was a Superman book that even I could get excited about.  Great plotting, suspense, action, playing with alternate history elements, and some great art have me firmly on this bandwagon.

Superman Unchained #2

Hidden  Gems

Astro City #2 (Vertigo) – Being unfamiliar with the original series, I was intrigued by its past credentials as well as the look and themes of the series.  Issue #1 was quite good, and I’m very interested to see where this book goes with its main cast of characters.  Probably won’t be a hit series, but sometimes smaller books like this have occasional moments of brilliance that make it worth the trip.  I have a feeling Astro City will be one of those books.

Astro City #2

Daredevil #28 (Marvel) – Issue #27 wrapped up the series’ overarching storyline with Daredevil finally coming face to face with the villain pulling the strings on his recent troubles.  With that done and dusted, it’s time for a  one shot where Matt takes on the case of a former bully from his childhood. I’ve been toying with the idea of dropping this series for a while now…but honestly, its just too good to drop.  Consider me a Daredevil fan for the foreseeable future.

Daredevil #28

Also Out This Week

D.C. has Batgirl #22, Batman Lil Gotham #4, Demon Knights #22, Green Lantern Corps #22, Katana #6, Nightwing #22, Suicide Squad #22, Smallville Season 11 #15 and Worlds Finest #14.

Marvel has Avengers Arena #12 NOW!, Fearless Defends #6 NOW!, Hawkeye #12, Secret Avengers #6 NOW!, Superior Spider-Man #13 NOW!, Uncanny X-Men #8 NOW!, Wolverine #6 NOW!, Young Avengers #7 NOW! and Ultimates #27.

There’s also Walking Dead #112, Peter Panzerfaust #12, Chew #35, America’s Got Powers #6, Sheltered #1, My Little Pony Micro Series #6, Star Wars #7, Buffy The Vampire Slayer Season 9 #23, X #3 and True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys #2.

Trade Watch

There’s Before Watchmen Comedian/Rorschach HC and Before Watchmen Nite Owl/Doctor Manhattan HC, Justice League Dark Vol 2 TP, Supergirl Vol 2 TP, Prophet Vol 2 TP, FF NOW! Vol 1 TP and Gambit Vol 2 TP.

– S-1