Welcome to Catch it at the Comic Shop, where the Panel Patter team looks at what's coming out at your favorite store or digital device this week. Each one of us that participates picks up to three single issues and one trade for your consideration, with a little bit about why we like it.
James' Picks:
The Goddamned Book One HC by Jason Aaron, r.m. Guera and Giulia Brusco, published by Image Comics.
For anyone who reads the book of Genesis, this is the comic that answers the question "how bad was the world such that God decided to destroy it not that long after its creation?" Well, the answer is, pretty terrible. The Goddamned is a brutal, ugly, dirty comic, and I mean all of that in the best possible way. What good existed in this world has long since passed, and what's left is sort of like Mad Max, Biblical-style. This is a great, dark, compelling work.
Silver Surfer #14 by Dan Slott, Michael Allred and Laura Allred, published by Marvel Comics.
The Slott/Allred run of Silver Surfer is almost over, and I'm really going to miss it. I have a feeling that this book is going to make its way into my all-time favorites list. What's so great about it? Really, everything. It's funny, it's heartfelt, it's romantic, it's mind-bending, and the art and colors are absolutely stunning. The Allred's art is just really emotional, I've said they have a great way of capturing both happiness and sadness in a facial expression. Anyway, it's a fantastic read.
Copperhead #15 by Jay Faerber, Drew Moss, Ron Riley and Thomas Mauer, published by Image Comics.
Copperhead is fun, smart comics. It's a futuristic space western, with smart political overtones and social commentary. And the art on the book has been consistently good and engaging, whether it's Scott Godlewski or Drew Moss, and Ron Riley has provided consistently strong colors. There's a lot of things going on in the book - you can take it as a fun adventure book, but there's also a lot more social subtext as well. I recommend going back to the beginning.
Eternity #1 by Matt Kindt, Trevor Hairsine, Ryan Winn and David Baron, published by Valiant Entertainment.
When this creative team gets together on a Valiant book, the results are consistently great. I've loved their collaborations on the Divinity books, which have been big, ambitious, entertaining and thoughtful science fiction superhero stories. Eternity looks like it will be a nice addition to those books, as it's got big ideas and mysteries, along with some of the characters from the Divinity stories. I'd recommend reading those books, and picking up this one as well.
Mike's Picks:
If you aren’t familiar with concept behind The Kamandi Challenge, you’re missing out, because this maxiseries has been a blast. The “challenge” is for a new creative team to take the reins each issue to steer Kamandi both away from current jeopardy and into new precarious positions. I trust Pak and Prado will have a wild adventure that looks sharp to boot.
Nightwing: The New Order #3 by Kyle Higgins and Trevor McCarthy, published by DC Comics
This series works so well because Dick isn’t the one you’d pin for a fascist. Bruce, duh. Damian, of course. Kate, I could see it. But not so much Nightwing. Higgins knows this character, which makes turning him on his head so fun. Added bonus: pre-New 52 Red Robin costuming not the “birdman” or “extra r-robin” costumes of recent fare.
Silver Surfer # 14 by Dan Slott and Mike Allred, published by Marvel Comics
Kirby. Moebius. Allred. So ends a phenomenal run. The Slott/Allred saga will go down not only as one of the better runs of this decade, but also as one of the greatest Silver Surfer stories ever told.
The Unquotable Trump by R. Sikoryak, published by Drawn and Quarterly
Part of me feels like I should be promoting Joe Benitez’s Lady Mechanika collection, Geoff Darrow’s Shaolin Cowboy, or even the Nightwing Rebirth Deluxe Edition, but this is 2017, and Trump is our president. R. Sikoryak parodies 45 by inserting Mad King Cheeto into classic comic covers, rife with unforgettable Trump stumblings. What’s that about high art and low culture?
