Weekly Comic Book Recommendations – 4/6/16 (Comics)
Welcome to my new weekly column featuring my pull-list (the comics to which I subscribe and have set aside for me at my local comic shop, for the uninitiated) and recommendations, titles that might not float my proverbial boat, but might be interesting to some of our readers. Every Wednesday a load of new comics is delivered to your local comic shop (or Comixology, if you prefer reading digitally). This Wednesday is no different, except that there is a lot of great content being released this week. As such, I’ll be skipping the recommendations and going straight for the juiciest morsels. Let’s get to it!
Starting out with a huge new release! Black Panther #1 reportedly pre-sold 300,000 copies, making it the largest debut issue since Star Wars #1 in January, 2015. Needless to say, a lot of people have very high expectations for this one. Written by Ta-Nehisi Coates, the MacArthur Genius and National Book Award winning author of Between the World and Me, and columnist for The Atlantic. It is illustrated by the phenomenally talented Brian Stelfreeze, renowned for his work on Day Men. The first arc, ‘A Nation Under Our Feet’ is a story about dramatic upheaval in Wakanda and the Black Panther’s struggle to do right by his people as their ruler. T’Challa, The Black Panther, finds the indomitable will of his country tested by a superhuman terrorist group called The People. He knows the country must change to survive, but will the Black Panther survive the change? Published by Marvel, $4.99, FEB160736
Black Widow #2 continues under the expert guidance of new marvel super-team Mark Waid, Chris Samnee, Matt Wilson, and Joe Caramagna. S.H.I.E.L.D.’s top brass gather to bury one of their own, making them an attractive target. Fortunately for them, the recently disavowed person non grata, Black Widow, hasn’t forsaken her former teammates, but that could make it harder for Natasha to watch her own back…. Published by Marvel, $3.99, FEB160842
Dreaming Eagles #4, written by Garth Ennis, art by Simon Colby, continues the story a Tuskegee Airman is recounting to his activist son in 1960’s Chicago. New aircraft give them the capability to escort American bombers deeper into the heart of the Nazi Reich, but the German air force is far from defeated, and its pilots will fight tooth and claw to protect their homeland. In the war-torn skies of occupied Europe friends can prove just as deadly as the enemy…. Published by Aftershock, $3.99, JAN161025
Next up is Empress #1 from mega-stars Mark Millar and Stuart Immonen (a long-time favorite artist of mine). Imagine you’re married to the worst bad guy from your favorite sci-fi movie. An alien dictator feared throughout the universe, who will kill you if you leave, but you need to escape for the sake of your three children. All you have are your wits, your bodyguard, and three guns. Welcome to Empress. Published by Marvel’s Icon imprint, $3.99, FEB160939
Fix #1 is a new offering from Image Comics, brought to you by the creative team behind the hilariously brilliant Superior Foes of Spider-Man, Nick Spencer and Steve Lieber. Fix is a story of the crooked cops, scheming mobsters, and corrupt politicians that run things—and the sex toy that can bring them all down. Oh, and the hero is a drug-sniffing beagle named Pretzels. Bad people do bad things to each other in this frenetic, outrageous, sometimes off-putting new caper! Published by Image, $3.99, FEB160465
Hellbent on keeping his future from coming to pass, Logan is on a one-man mission of murder across the Marvel Universe. But hoping to end his friend’s rampage, Logan’s oldest friend comes to his aid… Can Steve Rogers hope to stop Logan and convince him that this world isn’t the alternate past he remembers? Old Man Logan #4 is written by Jeff Lemire (who seems to have his hands in half of Marvel’s line-up and Valiant, as well), with art by Andrea Sorrentino (Green Arrow). Published by Marvel, $3.99, FEB160903
Replica #5, by Paul Jenkins and Andy Clarke, in which we meet Number 5, a legal genius who was undercooked during the cloning process and came out half-baked. In which Trevor and the gang at the Precinct run afoul of the dreaded Scarlet Empire. In which our trusty heroes go for a “round of golf” and decide instead to undertake a naked assault on an alien Embassy. Because, you know… Tuesday. Replica has been a surprise dose of sci-fi comedy gold in my monthly pulls. In case you hadn’t picked up on it, each issue features a clone of Trevor, the character. Published by Aftershock, $3.99, FEB161050
In Rough Riders #1 a young Theodore Roosevelt leads a motley crew of soon-to-be American legends who must work together to solve a mystery that threatens all of existence. Harry Houdini – street magician and master of misdirection. Annie Oakley – a washed-up entertainer, eager for a chance to prove herself in a real war. Jack Johnson – an undefeated brawler and the son of ex-slaves, determined to get his shot at the heavyweight championship… When a terrifying alien technology destroys the USS Maine, these unlikely allies set sail for bloody Cuba, into the heart of a brewing conflict, to wage a shadow war against the greatest threat mankind has ever known. Before they were famous, they were… ROUGH RIDERS. Written by Adam Glass, with art by Pat Oliffe. Steampunk historical figures versus aliens? Count me in! Published by Aftershock, $3.99, FEB161044
Next on the block, we’ve got a brand new Star Wars ongoing that I am dying to get my hands on. Star Wars: Poe Dameron #1. Poe Dameron, former Republic flyer turned Resistance fighter, is the best pilot in the galaxy. Hand-picked for the resistance by General Leia Organa to lead a squadron on a top secret and vital mission. Poe sets off investigating sites of historical importance to the Force. Revealing backstory leading directly into The Force Awakens, follow Poe and his X-Wing squadron on covert missions against the First Order, brought to you by writer Charles Soule (Star Wars: Lando, Daredevil) and artist Phil Noto (Star Wars: Chewbacca, Black Widow)! Published by Marvel, $4.99, FEB160747
Now, what could get me even more excited than Poe Dameron’s own solo title? The answer is simple: The Wicked + The Divine is back! The book about incarnated gods as rock idols has been on hiatus since the 3rd arc ended a couple months ago. Also, back is Jamie McKelvie, returning from drawing the final arc in the Phonogram series. Writer Kieron Gillen channels all of his love for mythology and Brit-pop into Wic+Div, and it really shows. Persephone has returned from the dead to put on an epic concert (and maybe get back to exposing Ananke, the caretaker of the pantheon, for the bitch she really is). The question is, will it be for more than one night? Don’t call it a comeback, as The Wicked +The Divine returns for the most rock-and-roll, everything-explodes arc of this stellar series! Published by Image, $3.50, FEB160561
