Catch it at the Comic Shop November 29th, 2017

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.


Mike’s Picks:


Super Sons Annual # 1 by Peter Tomasi, Paul Pelletier, and Jorge Jiminez, published by DC Comics
This book has Krypto, Titus, and according to Peter Tomasi’s Twitter feed, Bat-Cow. Pete Tomasi is, in my opinion, DC’s strongest writer dating back to around the time of the New 52 relaunch. If you don’t necessarily agree, you should still probably agree that any book with Krypto and Titus on the cover is a must buy, right?


Reactor # 1 (Interceptor Vol. 2) by Donny Cates and Dylan Burnett, published by Vault Comics
There have been some very interesting mecha comics published recently. In addition, Vault has been releasing excellent sci-fi comics, and the company really seems to be hitting its stride. If you haven’t had the chance to read the first volume of Interceptor, this issue still offers a great introduction into a world of sci-fi, horror, and fantasy genre bending.


Batman: Creature of the Night # 1 by Kurt Busiek, and John Paul Leon, published by DC Comics
I love that DC has felt revitalized by Rebirth to the point that the company has opened itself up to the odd Elseworld(ish) tales that captured my attention so strongly in the 90s. Does this fit into a multiverse of 52 worlds? Who cares? Kurt Busiek is writing a metaphorical Batman story!

I Am Not OK With This by Charles Forsman, published by Fantagraphics.
Forsman is one of those cartoonists whose core ethos speaks to a certain inclined niche, but who also manages to bend genres and motifs around in a way that transcends a specific audience. I’m inclined to like to sardonic, sometimes flippant wink-wink analysis of teenage angst and repression. Forsman is adept at a style of satire that deftly toes the line between stoic an soulful. 



James' Picks:



Eternity #2 by Matt Kindt, Trevor Hairsine, Ryan Winn and David Baron, published by Valiant Entertainment.
I really like when this creative team gets together, as they have for the various Divinity miniseries. Those are among my favorite Valiant books. This is the progression from those books.  Don't try reading this series unless you've read the Divinity books, but when you do, you'll be treated to some big, weird, engaging science fiction comics. 


The Ghost Fleet: The Whole Goddamned Thing by Donny Cates, Daniel Warren Johnson and Lauren Affe, published by Image Comics.
Thi comic went mpletely under my radar when it was coming out in single issues. I wasn't familiar with either of the creators (Donny Cates and Daniel Warren Johnson) at the time. But now?  Now I'm very excited to check it out. Cates wrote one of my favorite comics of the year in God Country, and Johnson is the writer-artist of the fantastic Extremity, one of the year's other noteworthy books. I'm very interested to see what they made together.



Batman: Creature of the Night, Book One, by Kurt Busiek and John Paul Leon, published by DC Comics.
I loved Superman: Secret Identity. I loved the way that it told a kinda-Superman story but set in the ostensibly "real" world. I'm excited to see Kurt Busiek tell that sort of story again, this time about Batman. As with Superman: Secret Identity (where Busiek's artistic partner was Stuart Immonen), Busiek is working with a wonderful artist in the talented John Paul Leon. Leon's work is very much in the school of Mazzuchelli-Phillips-Epting-Aja, and should provide a great, gounded look for the story.



Silver Surfer Vol. 5: A Power Greater than Cosmic, by Dan Slott, Michael Allred and Laura Allred, published by Marvel Comics.
I've spoken here before about how much I love this book, and I recently reread the first 4 trade paperbacks, and it affirms that it really will end up being one of my all-time favorite books. It is just filled with such joy and a sense of wonder. A really fun and emotional story, and incredible art from the Allreds. 


Scott's Picks:

Batman Annual #2 by Tom King, Lee Weeks and Michael Lark, published by DC Comics.  
Oh no, we're turning into a Batman site!!!!!!  The team behind what is possibly the best single-issue of the year, Batman/Elmer Fudd, add in Michael Lark to tell a story about the early days of Batman and Catwoman's courtship.  Can King and Weeks recapture the magic that they had in a crossover with Batman and Elmer- *#&*!ing- Fudd?  If they do, I think we write them in as creators of the year.

John Wick #1 by Greg Pak and Giovanni Valletta, published by Dynamite.
C'mon, aren't you the least little bit curious about this?  I'll admit that I wouldn't really give this a second glance but it's Greg Pak so this book deserves a look through at the very least.  Valletta's artwork looks like early Stuart Immonen so this book could be quite a surprise. 


Kill or Be Killed #14 by Ed Brubaker, Sean Phillips and Elizabeth Breitweiser, published by Image Comics.
I think that Brubaker and Phillips have been producing comics together for so long that we maybe take them a bit for granted nowadays but KoBK shows that the two creators are still producing great crime comics. 


I Am Not OK With This by Charles Forsman, published by Fantagraphics.
I hate to say this but I prefer Charles Forsman in this cartoony-but-introspective mode rather than in his Slasher mode.