James' Picks:
Infinite Dark #1 by Ryan Cady and Andrea Mutti, published by Image Comics/Top Cow
This is dark, psychological sci-fi with an intriguing premise. There are about 2000 people left, at the end of the universe. Literally, the universe is dying, and this is all the life that's left. All of the anything that's left. Why even hang on at that point? Well, if that weren't hard enough, there's a murder aboard the station. This is a promising, dark first issue with great art from the talented Andrea Mutti (whose work I discussed just a few weeks ago in Fearscape). This is one to pick up.
This is a comic about a guy who can summon a crazy falcon-warrior guy with the power of heavy metal. If you're not interested in this you might be doing comics wrong (or need medical attention). It looks ridiculous and fun and totally great (and the premise reminds me a little of Bill &Ted's, so that's always a good thing). I loved Johnson's Extremity. He's an incredible artist and also just an incredible storyteller overall. I'm excited to crank up some of of my old Anthrax cassettes and give this as listen.
My Heroes Have Always Been Junkies by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips, published by Image Comics
Any week you get new comics from Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips, it's a good comics week. This new novella is a quiet, emotional story of two people for whom rehab goes terribly wrong. It's an engaging story in its own right, but it also fits into the larger Criminal universe (which is a fantastic series of crime stories they've been telling over the course of many years). They've revisited the Criminal stories periodically over the years, and every time is a treat. This is no exception. It's an interesting, moodier, more contemplative piece, but it definitely packs an emotional punch. Brubaker and Phillips really know how to captue doomed characters, people who are themselves doomed, or they doom the people around them. As you can imagine, it's an absolutely gorgeous book, with colors a little different than you might be used to (it's not Betty Breitweiser), a little more abstract and ethereal. But it's a strong read. Give this one a look.
If you kinda like the concept of Wolverine (metal claws, exciting action, healing factor, weird mutant stuff), but have been turned off by brooding, moody "Bub"-spouting-Logan in the past, then I've got a comic for you, called X-23. I'm not typically too much of a Wolverine fan but I loved Tom Taylor's All-New Wolverine. Laura Kinney took over the mantle of Wolverine after the "death" of Logan, and has been, frankly, my favorite Wolverine. I think she's a more interesting, fun character, the way she's dealing with both legacy, and the fact that she was made as a clone with the purpose of being a killing machine. Seeing her progress has been great. As has the addition of her clone sister Gabby. So, when I found out that she was losing the Wolverine designation I was pretty disappointed, but I needn't have worried, as Laura has continued to be in fantastic hands, with writer Mariko Tamaki and artist Juan Cabal. This X-23 book has been wonderful so far - engaging, funny, emotional, and fantastic art. It' really worth a read.
Sean's Picks:
Crowded is a fast-paced, light-hearted good time whose premise is completely terrifying (and plausible, when you consider it). Chris Sebela and company are only getting started with this spin on a reality not too distant from today. Our two main characters have some of the best chemistry in print right now. The dialogue is fresh and witty all while giving the creative team an opportunity to provide insight toward a version of our future that could actually come true...given some fairly obscene and unlikely paramount societal developments.
Nathan Bright in The Weatherman is flat-out, high-octane good times. This modern space saga is gut wrenching with every page turn. I hate to spoil the obvious developments for anyone who hasn’t been reading this comic, so I’ll save it and merely recommend this for new and returning readers alike. If you are current with your weather reports from Mars then you are fully aware of the intensity that is about to come in this next issue. It's probably a bit late to jump on here, but make sure you pick up the trade as soon as it's released, and know for those who like Weatherman that it needs to stay on your pull list.
Quantum Age is one of several spin-offs of the Eisner-winning series Black Hammer. It isn’t necessary to read each of the spin-offs in conjunction to the backbone story in Black Hammer, as they each have their own individuality to them as a standalone. Quantum Age could be labeled Lemire’s pulpy satire on the love letter to super heroes he’s crafted in Black Hammer. This comic is still relatively early in stages and with its sporadic release dates it translates to easy catch up for the reader who was left behind. It’s been a couple weeks since I’ve recommended a book by Jeff Lemire, but I'm a total sucker for most everything he writes.
I cannot express the amount of anticipation that I hold for this series finale. This story has been so swift, so subtle, so brutally honest, and painfully heartbreaking. It will be difficult to see this story come to an end but I am anxious to see the ending to which it decides to develop into and how it sets up its second arc, which was announced recently
The Moth. The Whisper. Rivals? Collective unit? The debut issue of this comic had me so mesmerized by its captivating art and the manner in which it took upon itself to lay out the foundation of its story. It was a strong first issue. Stronger than most. I am eager to discover how this second issue navigates itself. The sophomore issue is more important than the debut when speaking of longevity.
Rob's Picks:
DC continues its line of seasonal one-shots with an obligatory horror issue that looks to be homaging the old EC Comics line, based on the trade dress and promo text, which includes "Horror! Death! Uh...Face-punching! Witness ten all-new stories that promise to be the most terrifying, most shocking and most horrific comic that DC Comics has ever published!" The ghost of William Gaines smiles down on this, and I can only hope that this thing is "hosted" by either Cain or Abel or at least the Phantom Stranger. Thank you, DC, for making a comic book just for me.
With great power comes great responsibility to end crime once and for all? What would Uncle Ben say? The idea of taking Peter Parker, who has (almost) always stood against everything Frank Castle represents, and making him a grim, teenager murderer is a really interesting concept. I'm not sure if it can work, but I have a feeling the long tradition of "Spider-Man dies in What if stories" will continue here. I also can't remember the last time Carl Potts wrote a story for Marvel. This is an odd duck, but they have my interest!
Johnson and Pleece return to their news reporter who can pass for white in a story of how New York in the Jim Crow era wasn't much kinder to anyone black. A murder of a black author in a white author's home, along with a mysterious manuscript lands Zane in his first crime-solving caper. Zane can go where other black people can't, and he's not the only one in this engaging mystery that really brings home America's racism, past and present. The art (in black and white) is slick and has a good sense of the period and Johnson's sharp wit shines through even as he does a good job keeping the plot moving--and hard to solve. One of my favorite comics from Berger Books, and that's saying something.
