James' Picks:
Black Hammer is simply one of the very best comics I'm reading these days. It's a riff on classic superhero types, but it's so much more than that. It's sad and lovely and weird and emotionally haunting, and each issue is a real treat. The art from David Rubin is just wonderful and dynamic and engaging.
Matt and Sharlene Kindt have succeeded in telling a terrific and very different follow-up to Matt's amazing Mind MGMT. Dept. H is claustrophobic and weird and really dives (pun intended) into the lives of the group of characters that are stranded in an undersea base that turns into something of a deathtrap. The Kindts really convey the alien nature of the world down there, and the alienation that all of the characters are feeling for various reasons.
This one is exciting and really out-there. This is a future world where there are no more people and the animals have evolved in some unusual ways. This is one of the more original, interesting comics I've read in a while. I'm not 100% sure what to make of it yet, and that's a good thing. Spurrier's story and the terrific art from Casper Wijngaard make this unlike most other books you might read this week.
I'd drifted away from Ales Kot comics for a while, but I've been drawn back with Generation Gone, which is a compelling take on the story of millennial hackers getting super powers, and where the story goes from there. It's got great art and a compelling hook, and Kot remains a talented writer and storyteller.
[Editor's note: Welcome to Mike, one of our new writers, making his debut with this entry!]
Mike’s Picks:
Amazing Age #3 (of 5) by Matthew David Smith and Jeremy Massie, published by Alterna Comics.
I have loved everything I’ve read in the Alterna Comics family since they launched their “bringing back newsprint” campaign roughly six months ago. Amazing Age is my favorite. It bleeds just enough nostalgia, and reminds us of the simpler days when we imagined we were the superheroes in our favorite books. And, it’s only $1.50. Right?
Bug: The Adventures of Forager by The Allreds, published by DC Comics/Young Animal
The Allred Family Kirby homage is easily the zaniest book on the stands. I’ve been re-reading the set of published issues the day each new book arrives in stories because of the cavernous narrative Lee Allred has built. This series has been heavy on reference, and certainly stands as a testament to the forgotten creations of Kirby’s Silver Age DC runs. More than anything else, though, it exists as a meditation on the nature of creation and the afterlife, the revolving door of death, and most notably, the ability to construct one’s own reality.
Super Sons # 8 by Peter Tomasi and Jorge Jiminez, published by DC Comics
Grant Morrison may have created Damian Wayne, but Peter Tomasi has defined the character for years. Super Sons has been one of my favorite reads since it debuted. Tomasi knows how to strike a balance in tone that is absolutely crucial to a serious book starring somewhat goofy kids. Jiminez also possesses a somewhat more intricate take on “cartoon” style art that allows the reader to slide into the proper visual setup. Tomasi is ultimately a character writer, and this series has been wonderful for the development of both Damian and Jonathan.
DC Meets Hanna Barbara TPB, by Marc Andreyko, Steve Lieber, Ariel Olivetti, et. al., published by DC Comics
My recommendations this week are as heavy on the DC side as they are on overt nostalgia. While Rebirth has been a remarkable success, DC’s reimagined series and crossover work with other Warner properties has shown that the company all too synonymous with dark, gritty storylines (many of those absolute classics) has discovered the benefits of a more lighthearted approach. This collection brings together such charming mash ups as The Suicide Squad/Banana Splits, and my personal favorite, James Tynion and Ariel Olivetti’s Space Ghost/Green Lantern story that should have already served as a launching pad for an ongoing series or at least a mini-series by now I mean come on DC are you listening to the people or not?! Whew – things got weird there for a minute.