Mike's Picks:
Quantum and Woody #1 by Christopher Hastings, Ryan Browne, Ruth Redmond, Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou, published by Valiant Comics
Quantum and Woody was one of the last books I collected in my high school years before I strayed away from the hobby, and I’m always excited when I see the characters make their return for another series. Valiant has been good about producing shorter series and letting them run just as long as they need. Such a model fits perfectly for a book like quantum and woody because it allows a writer like Hastings to exploit the absurdity without holding back for fear of running low on gags. Hastings is more than familiar with this dynamic from his work on his wonderfully wonky Dr. McNinja, Marvel’s Unbelievable Gwenpool, as well as Boom’s Adventure Time Series.
Protector #1 by Daniel M. Benson, Simon Roy, Artyom Trakhanov, Jason Wordie, and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou, published by Image Comics
James wrote a great advance review for this book that you can find here. I’m on the hook for this series from the get go. The premise itself is right up my alley. I like the kind of science fiction that speculate about far flung times or places not only because I finds that it allows for more intricate commentary but v because I think it also produces a richer world building. Trakhanov’s art is deep and pulpy and it’s further brought to life but one of the best colorists in the business and perhaps the best choice for such a series, Jason Wordie.
James' Picks:
I haven't yet picked up any of these "The End" comics from Marvel but I like the concept. We get to see the very last Captain Marvel story, decades in the future. The chief draw for me though is the combination of Kelly Thompson (who is still writing the main series) and Carmen Carnero (who drew the first 2 main arcs of the story). Carnero is an absolute artist to watch, she does terrific, detailed, fun art and really brings the emotions of the characters to great life as well. And Kelly Thompson is one of Marvel's very best writer right now, and she's brought a ton of fun and action and drama to the Captain Marvel story.
This is a great book that I want more people reading and talking about. This is really smart science fiction, that follows the crew of a ship and a religious acolyte on the run. They live in a galaxy dominated by a religion and a giant company that sells you everything. And they're on the run from both. So there's adventure, tension, smart discussion of politics, and some fascinating ideas about religion and gender. Plus the book is drawn by the amazing Christian Ward, who's capable of ultimate cosmic weirdness, but also does a great job bringing to life the lives of all of our main characters. This is a wonderful book.
