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 five items due out this week, with a little bit about why we like them. (NOTE: We use solicitation material for this, so if we miss creators, please talk to your publisher!) Sometimes we might only have a few items to share, other weeks, keeping it to five will make for hard choices. Here's what the team wanted to highlight this week...
Neil's Pick:
Jim Henson's The Power of the Dark Crystal Vol 1 by Simon Spurrier, Kelly and Nicole Matthews published by BOOM! Studios
Back in 1982 when I was a mere 7 year old, my parents took me to see The Dark Crystal at the cinema. Never had a movie equally filled me with such wonder and horror, which to this day, still gives me the chills. Thankfully Si Spurrier takes us back to the world of Thra with an official sequel to the much beloved movie. Having held off picking this title up, I look forward to delving into the trade and seeing if Spurrier gave the 35th Anniversary of The Dark Crystal's release (now I feel old) a fitting continuation.
Mike's Picks:
Killmonger 3 by Bryan Edward Hill and Juan Ferreyra, published by Marvel Comics
Let’s be honest. Bryan Edward Hill is on fire right now, and Killmonger is catching him at the peak of his game. On Twitter, Bryan explained that he was influenced by Michael B. Jordan’s portrayal of the titular character in the recent Black Panther movie, particularly the humanity that Jordan brought to the role. That influence indeed shows in this miniseries, as Hill explores the depth of the character without excusing him. This Killmonger series is a great edition to the already expanding world of Black Panther.
Crowded 6 by Christopher Sebela, Ro Stein, Ted Brandt, Triona Farrell, and Cardinal Rae, published by Image Comics
Reading year-end lists reminded me how strong a series Crowded has been. We Panel Patterers have sung the praises of both Crowded and Friendo, and frankly, I think both series should be read together. Issue six ends the first story arc as Sebela leaks out the mysterious elements of his story, while Stein, Brandt, and Farrell create an frenetic atmosphere that feels like a warped afternoon cartoon (in a good way).
Giant Days 46 by John Allison and Max Sarin, published by BOOM! Box
Giant Days was a book I missed at the initial offering, but one that I was fortunate to catch up on via trade. Not that I’m lucky enough to read the book in its serial publication, I relish the short bursts of the longer narrative contained in the essentially self-contained stories of each issues. It reminds me of how the world actually unfolds, in series of events strung together in a longer, deeper narrative.
Detective Comics 995 by Peter Tomasi, Doug Mahnke, and Jaime Mendoza, published by DC Comics
For most of the Rebirth era, Detective has been a de factor team book, but Tomasi and company are already taking the title in a different direction. Tomasi’s ability to balance character with plot, as seen during his Superman and Batman and Robin runs, coupled with Mahnke’s use of shading and expression have already shown this can be the bat-book that effectively complements King’s run.
In Christ There Is No East or West by Mike Taylor, published by Fantagraphics
I’m not incredibly familiar with Mike Taylor outside of his book, No/Future, but I’m definitely intrigued by the concept of this book, especially the line from the solicit reading, “a modern-day Virgil in a hoody traverses the gasping and confusing psychological landscape of right now.”
