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.
Today we have a special guest helping us out, Adam P. Knave!
Rob first encountered Adam when he was helping post to a Live Journal parody account called MC Smeagol, and has been following his writing ever since. Adam often works with co-writer DJ Kirkbride, including the amazing Amelia Cole, Never Ending, and more. He's also a prose writer, with This Starry Deep being his most recent book.
What's great about Adam's work is that it has an old school feel but he's very aware of the need to address a modern audience. One of the ways he does this is by ensuring his books have women in them who are awesome. Adam's newest comic, The Once and Future Queen, is a perfect example of this, taking the King Arthur legend and giving it a new spin. Check it out today!
Adam's Picks:
Iceman #7 by Sina Grace and Robert Gill - Marvel Comics -
The new Iceman series just keeps being a joy to read with Sina Grace's sure hand. It's full of good fun hero stuff and, more importantly, great character work as well. Gill's art helps it all go down even easier and Kevin Wada covers sure don't hurt.
Black Lightning: Cold Dead Heads #1 (of 6) by Tony Isabella and Clayton Henry - DC Comics - I am a sucker for Isbella doing new Black Lightning stories. I was a fan of the originals, and then the 90s series and it's great to see Isabella back at the hero he co-created once more. With a TV show in the near future I only hope this gets the wide spread eyes it should.
Bernie Wrightson Artifact Edition by Bernie Wrightson - IDW -
I try to not give in and buy these giant, gorgeous, lovingly crafted tomes. Mostly I succeed. This one is a big test of willpower though. It's Wrightson art, at the size he drew it, spanning his entire career. How do you say no?
Today we have a special guest helping us out, Adam P. Knave!
Rob first encountered Adam when he was helping post to a Live Journal parody account called MC Smeagol, and has been following his writing ever since. Adam often works with co-writer DJ Kirkbride, including the amazing Amelia Cole, Never Ending, and more. He's also a prose writer, with This Starry Deep being his most recent book.
What's great about Adam's work is that it has an old school feel but he's very aware of the need to address a modern audience. One of the ways he does this is by ensuring his books have women in them who are awesome. Adam's newest comic, The Once and Future Queen, is a perfect example of this, taking the King Arthur legend and giving it a new spin. Check it out today!
Adam's Picks:
Iceman #7 by Sina Grace and Robert Gill - Marvel Comics -
The new Iceman series just keeps being a joy to read with Sina Grace's sure hand. It's full of good fun hero stuff and, more importantly, great character work as well. Gill's art helps it all go down even easier and Kevin Wada covers sure don't hurt.
Black Lightning: Cold Dead Heads #1 (of 6) by Tony Isabella and Clayton Henry - DC Comics - I am a sucker for Isbella doing new Black Lightning stories. I was a fan of the originals, and then the 90s series and it's great to see Isabella back at the hero he co-created once more. With a TV show in the near future I only hope this gets the wide spread eyes it should.
Bernie Wrightson Artifact Edition by Bernie Wrightson - IDW -
I try to not give in and buy these giant, gorgeous, lovingly crafted tomes. Mostly I succeed. This one is a big test of willpower though. It's Wrightson art, at the size he drew it, spanning his entire career. How do you say no?
James' Picks:
The Once and Future Queen TP, by Adam P. Knave, D.J. Kirkbride and Nick Brokenshire, published by Dark Horse Comics.
From the team that brought you the terrific Amelia Cole books, this is a modern telling of the King Arthur story. It's a fun series, and this team creates quality, entertaining comics. I like those stories where a modern-day person discovers that they're actually the successor to some sort of ancient secret, or carrying on the legacy of some celebrated figure - I think it makes for some potentially great storytelling, and I'm looking forward to picking this up.
Giant Days #32 by John Allison and Max Sarin, published by Boom! Studios.
I really love this book. Issue 32 is not a great place to start, but this is a book that's always worth highlighting. It's a story of 3 women at University in England, and their trials and tribulations. It's funny and silly and heartfelt and sweet and emotionally honest. I definitely recommend getting into Giant Days.
Black Bolt #7 by Saladin Ahmed, Christian Ward and Frazer Irving, published by Marvel Comics.
Sometimes some of the best books at Marvel are those smaller, weirder books. Silver Surfer, Squirrel Girl, Karnak, etc. Black Bolt fits that category, and its definitely worth a look. It takes the king of the Inhumans, Black Bolt, and traps him on an unknown prison, and along the way he meets an assortment of memorable characters. The first arc is illustrated by the incredible Christian Ward, who brings his insane psychedelic style in full force to this book and it is very effective. This issue is illustrated by the also-excellent Frazer Irving. This is a thoughtful, intelligent, and engaging comic.
Paper Girls #17 by Brian K. Vaughan, Cliff Chiang, Matt Wilson and Jared Fletcher, published by Image Comics.
If you're not reading Paper Girls you're missing out on one of the very best books on the stands. I probably don't need to tell you what a gifted storyteller Brian K. Vaughan. He's better than just about anyone at telling grounded, relatable stories even in the most fantastical or ridiculous of circumstances, and his stories are full of great, memorable characters. Paper Girls is no exception, and that is in significant part due to the incredible art team of Cliff Chiang (art) and Matt Wilson (colors) and Jared Fletcher (letters, design). This is always a visually inventive, incredible-looking comic. If you think ET meets Stand by me meets The Goonies meets Arthur C. Clarke, you have some idea what this story is like.
Mike's Picks:
Usagi Yojimbo #163, by Stan Sakai, published by Dark Horse
After a two part mystery, “The Body in the Library,” Sakai returns the traveling rabbit ronin to more familiar territory, specifically the characterization of a righteous samurai driven by his ethics and sense of duty. In the past two issues, Miyamoto Usagi took a little bit of a back seat, but he looks to be front and center in this next arc.
Spiritus # 2 (of 5) by Tim Daniel and Michael Kennedy, published by Vault Comics
I’ve been waiting for this issue for a while. Vault has been releasing great sci-fi comics that manage to be both action-packed and thought-provoking, and Spiritus is no exception. This series is equal parts slave rebellion and post-human cautionary tale. If you like Blade Runner or Ann Leckie’s Ancillary Justice, this will be right up your alley.
Power Pack # 63 by Devin Grayson, Marika Cresta, and Mike McKone, published by Marvel Comics
I have no idea what’s going on at Marvel. I’ve bought two trades since the end of Secret Wars and the de facto sacrifice of the Fantastic Four at the altar of movie rights. Until December’s launch of Marvel Two-In-One featuring The Thing and Human Torch, this is the closest we’ll get to a Fantastic Four book. Mostly, I’m just hoping Franklin and Val make some token guest appearances. 63 is an odd number for a relaunch, right? Why not 1? 62 was no milestone before. Marvel is weird.
Batman: The Dark Prince Charming by Enrico Marini, published by DC Comics
There’s a lot of good Batman on the stands this week, but I’m going with this original graphic novel by Enrico Marini, a Swiss-born Italian artist whose published work has been almost exclusively in French. I’m not incredibly familar with Enrico Marini’s work, but I’m entirely intrigued by this book because (1) his work looks like it would complement Batman very well and (2) I love to see foreign takes on American icons. Franco-Belgian genre comics tend to lean towards adventure, and I’d like to see that contrast with Batman’s pulpy noir roots.
Mike's Picks:
Usagi Yojimbo #163, by Stan Sakai, published by Dark Horse
After a two part mystery, “The Body in the Library,” Sakai returns the traveling rabbit ronin to more familiar territory, specifically the characterization of a righteous samurai driven by his ethics and sense of duty. In the past two issues, Miyamoto Usagi took a little bit of a back seat, but he looks to be front and center in this next arc.
Spiritus # 2 (of 5) by Tim Daniel and Michael Kennedy, published by Vault Comics
I’ve been waiting for this issue for a while. Vault has been releasing great sci-fi comics that manage to be both action-packed and thought-provoking, and Spiritus is no exception. This series is equal parts slave rebellion and post-human cautionary tale. If you like Blade Runner or Ann Leckie’s Ancillary Justice, this will be right up your alley.
Power Pack # 63 by Devin Grayson, Marika Cresta, and Mike McKone, published by Marvel Comics
I have no idea what’s going on at Marvel. I’ve bought two trades since the end of Secret Wars and the de facto sacrifice of the Fantastic Four at the altar of movie rights. Until December’s launch of Marvel Two-In-One featuring The Thing and Human Torch, this is the closest we’ll get to a Fantastic Four book. Mostly, I’m just hoping Franklin and Val make some token guest appearances. 63 is an odd number for a relaunch, right? Why not 1? 62 was no milestone before. Marvel is weird.
Batman: The Dark Prince Charming by Enrico Marini, published by DC Comics
There’s a lot of good Batman on the stands this week, but I’m going with this original graphic novel by Enrico Marini, a Swiss-born Italian artist whose published work has been almost exclusively in French. I’m not incredibly familar with Enrico Marini’s work, but I’m entirely intrigued by this book because (1) his work looks like it would complement Batman very well and (2) I love to see foreign takes on American icons. Franco-Belgian genre comics tend to lean towards adventure, and I’d like to see that contrast with Batman’s pulpy noir roots.
