Last week gave me just enough time from my reading schedule to catch up on some non-weekly reading, and some real people books. Now that the week us coming to a close, so too must my time away from my worthless picture books. It’s okay, I always come back. They always want me back. Follow me into my dungeon. Mind the slime. It’s time for Top of the Stack.
Age of Ultron vs. Marvel Zombies #2 (Marvel)
James Robinson (W) Steve Pugh (A)
This series is really interesting. The first issue introduced some cool new iterations of a few classic characters and then threw them into hell. After Airboy I have a weird softspot in my heart for Robinson, that being said, I expect a lot from this series to come.
Auteur: Sister Bambi #3 (Oni Press)
Rick Spears (W) James Callahan (A)
This series will offend most people. I mean, it has offended me a few times already and it’s only two issues in. That’s a good thing in my book, I mean as long as you aren’t being offensive through ignorance. This series is meant to shock you, and that it does. Welcome to the underbelly of the film industry.
Material #3 (Image)
Ales Kot (W) Will Tempest (A)
There are a lot of things going on in this comic. I mean a whole lot. Often times I feel like I am just a step behind Kot’s writing, which does wonders for the ego, but I’m sure he’d love that. It’s intense and definitely has some powerful messages woven into the fabric of every page. That along with the calm, color coded panels from Tempest, make this a brilliant read.
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina #4 (Afterlife with Archie)
Roberto Aguirre Sacasa (W) Robert Hack (A)
Speaking of brilliant read. This series along with its predecessor, and namesake of the new press, Afterlife with Archie, has been a brilliant trip so far. I mean to think something so strange, an Archie comic with intense horror themes, would be such a success would have seemed bonkers just a few years ago. Now here we are, challenging everything we know because of this comic.
S.H.I.E.L.D #8 (Marvel)
Mark Waid (W) Greg Smallwood (A)
This issue seems to be dealing more with some of the characters established in the TV show, namely Mockingbird and Agent May. Good ole fashioned robot beatdown everybody? I think it’s about time.
Black Widow #20 (Marvel)
Nathan Edmondson (W) Phil Noto (A)
This series is ending and I am very sad to see it go. It has been one of my favorite Marvel ongoings in the past few years. Edmondson and Noto have really made one of the best comics of the year and that is a feat of it’s own. With the run ending, I really hope to see them doing more for Marvel after Secret Wars. If this ends anything like The Punisher did, expect a gratuitously satisfying close.
Copperhead #9 (Image)
Jay Faerber (W) Scott Godlewski (A)
This comic started with some intense buzz and some crazy-high expectations. Even with all of that weighing on it, this team has managed to make this comic live up to everything that was promised of it. I am captured, you win, you get all my money.
Thors #2 (Marvel)
Jason Aaron (W) Chris Sprouse (A)
This series lends itself to goofiness and in such a serious landscape of comics coming out of Secret Wars, everything that doesn’t take itself so seriously is appreciated. I already loved the idea of Thors from across the multiverse acting as cops for this new land, but the humor and mentality behind this series is great.
Rasputin #7 (Image)
Alex Grecian (W) Riley Rossmo (A)
This series has slowly been crawling up my list. Every time this comes out, I feel like it’s a little closer to the bottom, and that’s a good thing. It really manages to enthrall me. Maybe I have a love for all fictionalized history comics. Rather niche, I suppose.
Low #8 (Image)
Rick Remender (W) Greg Tocchini (A)
The last issue gave us a new story about the second daughter that our wonderful heroine had lost to pirates. Holy shit, it was dark. Dark and sad, incredibly sad. God, I missed you Low.
Southern Bastard #10 (Image)
Jason Aaron (W) Jason Latour (A)
Man, this comic hits something deep and primal in my soul. That along with whispers that a show is going to be developed based on this comic means that if you are planning on getting into this comic, it’s time to git while the gittin’s good.
Sex Criminal #11 (Image)
Matt Fraction (W) Chip Zdarsky (A)
I feel like this comic and the last comic are almost polar opposites, and that isn’t a bad thing at all. I love how honest this comic is. How unabashed it is while taking on the awkward uncomfortable things about sex, having a relationship, and just being a human being in a world with so many other functioning, thinking people-folk. Truly close to my heart.
Manhattan Projects: Sun Beyond the Stars #2 (Image)
Jonathan Hickman (W) Nick Pitarra (A)
Damn you Hickman. Damn you for teasing me with your comic and then disappearing for months before giving me the pleasure of reading the second issue. As will be the case with the rest of the Manhattan Projects comics, this one focuses solely on one storyline from the original comic. We will follow cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin and his talking (now humanoid) dog, Laika. Remember that thing I said about fictionalized history comics… yeah.
There you go! Are you happy now. Look what you’ve made me do. This was your mother’s favorite suit and now it’s ruined. Are you going to explain this to her? No, I didn’t think so. Now go back to your mostly materialized portal to the over-kingdom and don’t come out until supper. Don’t let the mind-melders in either, you need to stay smart, got it?
