We are two weeks out in the ocean that is Secret Wars and I am pretty excited for some of the things that are going to be coming out this week in regards to that. As usual, creator owned rules the roost, funny how when you have ultimate control over your idea it seems to turn out better. Not funny “haha”. Strap on your shuttle hat and walk out into the street, it’s time to call forth the ancient gods of Top of the Stack!
Secret Wars Journal #1 of 5 (Marvel)
Pru Shen/Matthew Rosenberg (W) Ramon Bachs/Luca Pizzari (A)
Like with Battleworlds last week, this series is an anthology of shorter stories that take place in the newly christened realm of Battleworld. The only reason that this series is so high up on the list is that, after I read a preview of the first issue, I was a little unimpressed by the first story. That being said, it was only a few pages of the first story of the first issue, so really it wasn’t much of a first impression.
Ivar, Timewalker #5 (Valiant)
Fred Van Lente (W) Francis Portela (A)
I really enjoy this series, it’s very fun, but I feel as if maybe this series relies too much on the tropes of time travelling. Maybe it’s that or maybe I just want a bit more from this series. I put too much pressure on fledgling series. I should just let them spread their wings.
Inhumans: Attilan Rising #1 (Marvel)
Charles Soule (W) John Timms (A)
I really love Charles Soule’s Inhumans series and this is “the comic to read” if you were reading that series before the colossal Secret Wars switch up. What I’ve gathered, and we all know I am a scavenger feasting on the dead bits of information lying by the side of the information highway, is that this series deals with a revolution of Inhuman people against King Doom. Sounds good to me.
Material #1 (Image)
Ales Kot (W) Will Tempest (A)
Ales Kot has a new series, I’m down. He has been one of those writers who has continued to pop up on my radar and I don’t think he has any intention of slowing down. This series, much like the first series I read by him, Change, follows the stories of many different people in many different walks of life and how their lives are all connected by material existences.
Black Widow #18 (Marvel)
Nathan Edmondson (W) Phil Noto (A)
I am really interested in where this comic is going to go before the last days of Black Widow. The last issue went in a direction that I could never have said I was expecting. Something that I think is very interesting when a comic is slated for “cancellation” and the writer knows ahead of time, is that they seem to go places that they may otherwise never have. I feel this is one of those cases.
Frankenstein Underground #3 of 5 (Dark Horse)
Mike Mignola (W) Ben Stenbeck (A)
This series has turned out to be really cool. Not what I was expecting at first, being that I was expecting a retelling of Frankenstein via Mignola, but what this comic turned out to be was something arguably much cooler. Mignloa injects his sensibilities into a character that feels right at home in his Hellboy universe
S.H.I.E.L.D #6 (Marvel)
Mark Waid (W) Paul Renaud (A)
While my friend may argue the opposite, this series is a breath of fresh air to me. Centering around Shield as they come face to face with problems they can’t solve on their own and a cast of heroes at their disposal. This series ends up feeling more like the glue of the Marvel universe, ironic because it stars Coulson, the proclaimed “glue” of the Avengers. This is also one of the only series that will not be affected by Secret Wars, so read on!
Old Man Logan #1 (Marvel)
Brian Michael Bendis (W) Andrea Sorrentino (A)
This comic is a little bit of a sore spot among a couple people here at the site. Some think that the original series was fine the way it was and question Bendis’s abilities rebuilding this world, and I think that this story is going to be hugely fun. Bendis is like the Spielberg of comics, bombastic, large, simplistic and very very entertaining.
They’re Not Like Us #6 (Image)
Eric Stephenson (W) Simon Gane (A)
I feel like there is a lot brewing underneath the surface of this comic. I believe I said he same thing last week, but the same is still true. Last issue we got a better taste of who The Voice is and it wasn’t so nice. It seems there is trouble in not-so-paradise.
Divinity #4 of 4 (Valiant)
Matt Kindt (W) Trevor Hairsine (A)
This series has been nothing but a complete and total shock for me. This is one of the most thoughtful, smart comics I have read in recent years and to think it takes place in a shared universe filled with awesome superheroes. I am curious if our main character will take a place in the Valiant universe or if something more dire calls for him.
Where Monsters Dwell #1 of 5 (Marvel)
Garth Ennis (W) Russel Braun (A)
The guy at my local comic shop said this about Where Monsters Dwell, “This is one of those comics that is going to be fantastic, but no one is going to pick it up.” Don’t be one of those foolish fools, pick this comic up. Who doesn’t want to know what becomes of the WWII fighter pilot who is suddenly faced with hordes of beasts and dinosaurs?
Life After #10 (Oni Press)
Joshua Hale Fialkov (W) Gabo (A)
This series is brilliant. Seriously, why doesn’t anyone seem to be talking about this one? I think it’s one of the biggest sleeper hits of the year and I really just want everyone to read it. Please read it, imagine The Divine Comedy as written by Douglas Adams. Now go read it.
Outcast #9 (Image)
Robert Kirkman (W) Paul Azaceta (A)
There were some rather depressing realizations in the last issue that I can only imagine will have our main characters busy for quite a while. This series is fantastic, sometimes it feels as if it is losing its pace but just when you think that it is slowing down, they throw in a curve ball to mix things up again. Definitely one of my favorite new comics.
Deadly Class #13 (Image)
Rick Remender (W) Craig Wesley (A)
In this issue we finally get back to the root of the name, you know, that assassins school? That being said, some pretty insane things have gone on while they’ve been away from campus. Things that I’m sure the headmaster won’t be too pleased with. This series is a straight shot of adrenaline. I love it to pieces, no pun intended.
