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You know what is great about comics? Each week I do this I have ten spots to fill and you would think it would be hard, and it is–because it is hard to limit it to just ten! There are not that many other mediums where each week we get so much to enjoy. Of course, the downside is my wallet screams in pain every night. It’s worth it though
Editor note: All Description portions come directly from their respected publishers
With that here are the Top 10 Comics I am looking forward to this week:
10. Blade #4
Writer: Bryan Hill
Artist: Elena Casagrande
Publisher: Marvel
Description: DOCTOR STRANGE JOINS BLADE ON A HIGH-SPEED HEIST! Blade must break into the armored fortress of a weapons collector to steal a sword of unknown power—the key to defeating the Adana. But the fortress isn’t just heavily armored. It’s mobile. Doctor Strange guest-stars in this action-packed heist that gives new meaning to the term “bullet train!”
Why it Made the List: Comic Book Math is putting talented creators on quality characters and it will yield a great comic. Such is the case with Blade thus far. I have been a fan of Bryan Hill for years now due to books like American Carnage and Killmonger. Elena Casagrande caught my eye with her work on Blackwidow and knew right away any book she was on I would be checking out. So it does not surprise me how good this series has been thus far.
9. Midlife (or How to Hero at Fifty!) #1
Writer: Brian Buccellato
Artist: Stefano Simeone
Publisher: Image Comics
Description: RUBEN KWAN is a 50-year-old firefighter who’s been afraid of fire his whole life. Instead of running into burning buildings, he pushes papers, living in the shadow of his father-who died a hero on the job. After 25 years in the LAFD, he’s firmly in the middle of an unremarkable life…until his new wife gets pregnant and a random act of courage reveals that Ruben is FIREPROOF!
New York Times-bestselling writer BRIAN BUCCELLATO (NO/ONE, The Flash, Chicken Devil) teams up with star artist STEFANO SIMEONE (THE LAST DAYS OF BLACK HAMMER, RADIANT BLACK) to tell the totally relatable (sometimes cringey) story of a middle-aged dad who’s about to find out that his new powers have major strings attached.
Why it Made the List: When a new series is coming out typically my interest is based mainly on the creators attached. In this case, I do not have a lot of experience with this team, but this premise has a great deal of promise. Maybe it is a sign of getting old but the idea of a person first becoming a superhero at fifty peaks my interest. Makes me think that maybe there is still time to become a professional athlete. Just need more talent and to grow five inches taller. So suffice to say this is a comic I can relate to already.
Writer/Artist: Wesley Craig
Artist: Gabriel Hernandez Walta
Publisher: Image Comics
Description: STANDALONE STORY! Lord Vox, the robot who ordered the destruction of Kaya’s village, must answer for what happened in the Poison-Lands. The plans of the all-powerful robot empire are revealed when we meet the empire’s supreme leader, the Oracle! Includes a backup story by GABRIEL WALTA and a variant cover by apex predator of art JAMES HARREN!
Why it Made the List: Deadly Class is one of my all-time favorite series so of course I am a big fan of Wesley Craig. Kaya is a much different series. It’s basically been this long chase, but with this issue, we will get something a bit different. A standalone story that can give us some major context of this world. Plus some extra goodness with Gabriel Hernandez Walta! With that talent, this will no doubt be one of the best looking books of the week.
Writer: Jeremy Adams
Artist: Xermanico
Publisher: DC Comics
Description: GUEST-STARRING THE FLASH! NEW CHARACTER DEBUT: SINSON! After Sinestro’s attack on Ferris Air, Hal calls in a fast friend for help. This brave and bold duo comes one step closer to uncovering the mystery of Sinestro’s plans, all while Hal continues to figure out what it means to be the only Green Lantern on Earth! PLUS: Meet the all-new character SINSON, in the first installment of a prelude story the to upcoming Sinister Sons by Peter J. Tomasi and David Lafuente!
Why it Made the List: Dawn of DC has been a big success in my eyes because of series like this. A straightforward Green Lantern story that allows Hal Jordan to be Hal Jordan. Not having a Justice League book makes a special guest appearance from Flash oddly feel special. This is shaping up to have that classic DC comic book feel.
Writer: G. Willow Wilson
Artist: Christian Wildgoose
Publisher: IDW
Description: While humans and orcs mourn their losses and recover from battles on two fronts, all hope for their life-saving union could be lost after a tragic blunder causes Tara to question her post with the Last Men Standing. And her skills are tested again when a new threat stuns the company. As Tara and Callum ice each other out, things heat up in the snowy north when the war against the Vangol ignites a new spark between newlyweds Troth and Faran!
Why it Made the List: Is fantasy making a comeback? Earlier this year we had the Dungeons and Dragons movie and now we have this series. The fantasy I speak of is the type that is not so self-serious all the time and has characters that crack a smile once and a while. Also what’s been great about The Hunger and the Dusk is that it does not get lost in the rules of its own world. This has been character and story first, which has allowed the world-building to come together naturally.
Writer: Christopher Priest
Artist: Lee Weeks
Publisher: DC Comics
Description: Superman is confronted with the specter of his own possible future when his way home is blocked by an alternate version of himself. Meanwhile, Lois employs the nuclear option to help Clark out of his malaise by making a deal with the devil—Lex Luthor!
Why it Made the List: Superman’s borning! He is just too powerful! Nothing can hurt him! Complaints I often hear being a major fan of the character. Well for those detractors you have a series like Superman: Lost, because even Superman struggles when it comes to the sheer size of space. I know with Green Lantern I mentioned how it had the classic DC feel, and that is not the case with Superman: Lost. This has a much more serious tone and is dealing with some hefty issues like PTSD. Now I would not want every Superman comic to be like this, but characters are best when you can get different flavors. Right now when I look at DC’s line of Superman books every flavor is available and they are delicious.
4. Space Usagi: Yokai Hunter #1
Writer/Artist: Stan Sakai
Publisher: Dark Horse
Description: Fans of legendary swordsman and wanderer Usagi Yojimbo have enjoyed countless tales told of his exciting adventures-tales told over hundreds, perhaps thousands, of years. Someone in the far future enjoys another classic adventure featuring the rabbit ronin, and Stan Sakai’s Space Usagi universe returns with a unique, new story.
Why it Made the List: I was not sure where to put this since this is actually a reprint but will include new colors. I have read a good amount of Usagi but this was a run I had failed to catch up with so excited to get another chance. The great thing about Usagi is you can pick out a new issue that came out last week or one from thirty years ago and have no issue understanding the story. Plus it is ninjas in space? What’s not to love?
Writer: Jordan Thomas
Artist: Shaky Kane
Publisher: Image Comics
Description: This is it. The conclusion to the greatest mystery to ever hit Stellar City. It’s the showdown to end all showdowns as every killer, criminal, and gun-for-hire converge on our battered and bruised heroes. The only thing to be certain of is that bullets are going to fly and all good intentions get you in Stellar City is a target on your back.
Why it Made the List: I am often asked who are some creators I see becoming major stars in the next few years. After his work on Frank at Home on the Farm and now Weird Work Jordan Thomas is unquestionably on that list. He’s been putting out some creative books that are unlike anything else out there. It also helps when you have artists like Shaky Kane working with you as well. Sadly this is this series’ last issue, but this team will be teaming up once more this year with the The Man From Maybe series which looks really intriguing.
Writer/Artist: Christian Ward
Publisher: DC Comics
Description: VISIONARY CREATOR CHRISTIAN WARD UNLEASHES A COSMIC-HORROR EPIC, FEATURING THE COURT OF OWLS! Buried deep beneath Gotham City there exists another Gotham. This Gotham Below is a living nightmare, populated by twisted mirrors of our Gotham’s denizens, fueled by the fear and hatred flowing down from above. For decades, the doorway between the cities has been sealed and heavily guarded by the Court of Owls. But now the door swings wide, and the twisted version of the Dark Knight has escaped…to trap and train a Robin of his own. Batman must form an uneasy alliance with the Court and its deadly allies to stop him—and to hold back the wave of twisted super-villains, nightmarish versions of his own nemeses, each one worse than the last, that’s spilling into his streets! Visionary writer-artist Christian Ward unleashes his cosmic-horror take on Batman’s world, in a tribute to disturbing Dark Knight classics like Batman: Arkham Asylum and Batman: Gothic! You’ll never look at Batman’s villains the same way again…you simply won’t have the stomach for it!
Why it Made the List: I have not been digging the majority of the Batman books lately but I think that will change with this series. Christian Ward on a horror-focused Batman book is a great idea. Ward’s style should fit well into the genre, and we have seen Batman used rather well in horror stories in the past. Also with it being Black Label it leaves so much more room for chances to be taken.
Writer: Simon Spurrier
Artist: Charlie Adlard
Publisher: Boom! Studios
Description: For the first time since his explosive disappearance, Ellie confronts her ex Cillian, but she receives a proposal that she never expected!
Meanwhile, Dora continues her search for memories lost during the heist on Theo’s base, but the answers she’s looking for hide in an unlikely place…
Why it Made the List: I told you last week that I would not have a new number one at the top spot each week, and that promise paid off. I loved Simon Spurrier’s Hellblazer run from a few years ago despite it ending far too soon. With Damn Them All he gets to continue a lot of those ideas with brand-new exciting characters. Charlie Adlard is well known for his work on The Walking Dead and his knack for character design and storytelling has made its way into this series. So if you are a John Constantine fan like myself and sad he does not have his own book this will give you everything you are looking for plus more.
