Rob's Picks:
Devil Within #3 by Stephanie Phillips, Maan House, Dee Cuniffe, and Troy Peteri, published by Black Mask
The story begins to reveal itself as we learn that there's a connection to the house and the mysterious occurrences there. Despite the lies, true love remains...but it could prove deadly. This horror mystery has been awesome so far, balancing the slow build against wondering who is going to die. House's linework is spectacular at balancing the horror with normality, too. A hidden gem, in my opinion.
By Night #8 by John Allison, Christine Larsen, Sarah Stern, and Jim Campbell, published by Boom! Studios
By Night #8 by John Allison, Christine Larsen, Sarah Stern, and Jim Campbell, published by Boom! Studios
This was on my shortlist last year and continues to be a ton of fun. Allison wraps up some of the current threads here, such as the stolen information and repairing the transporter. But really, the main reason to read this is the hysterical dialogue among the characters, which males me laugh out loud, while Larsen keeps the visuals matching the humor. Oh yeah, and the troll is back, too. Yay!
Dick Tracy, Dead or Alive #4 by Lee Allred, Mike Allred, Laura Allred, and Rich Tommaso, published by IDW
Dick Tracy, Dead or Alive #4 by Lee Allred, Mike Allred, Laura Allred, and Rich Tommaso, published by IDW
I don't usually put a final issue on the list here, but this series was so much fun and needs to be read far and wide. Of course Tracy saves the day, but the real story here is Tommaso's ability to make Gould's world his own, and yet at the same time familiar to anyone who has been reading the strip for decades. He draws the characters timelessly, opting to blend modern and classic elements, and his villains are pitch perfect for this world. A great love letter to Dick Tracy. I hope this team gets another arc soon.
Wizard Beach #3 by Shaun Simon, Conor Nolan, George Schall, Chad Lewis, Meg Casey, and Mike Fiorentino, published by Boom! Studios
A beach where wizards chill out in outlandish art? Yes, please! I came late to this one, but it's a silly story primarily about teaching a young, uptight wizard that there is far more to life than grand, epic battles on Dungeons and Dragons planes. This is just silly from start to finish, with complex panel work that contains details worthy of Sergio Aragones. It's a lesson about how we approach life, too, but it's mostly about seeing wizards surf, party, and enjoy their powers for once.
James' Picks:
One of the best comics of the past few years, this is a comic that really id live up to the hype. King and Gerads (the team from the spectacular Sheriff of Babylon) are in top form, bringing a story that's alternately moving, frightening, and hilarious. It's a story about superheroes (kind of) but it's also a story about parenthood, living with depression, and the tenuous nature of reality. Gerards is always great but goes to a whole other level here, as he does some incredible, unsettling work.
I really enjoyed the first issue of this comic. Thompson is a fantastic writer, who does spectacular dialogue and great storytelling. And I didn't know Carnero's work at all but after only one issue I'm highly impressed. They have (along with the very strong Life of Captain Marvel miniseries) succeeded in resetting Carol/Captain Marvel and righting the ship on what is a terrific character gone wrong.
This may be the last issue of Ms. Marvel from G. Willow Wilson (I'm not sure) but if not, I know that her time writing the character she co-created is nearing an end, and I'm sad. Wilson has (with the collaboration of many talented artists) really set the bar incredibly high for creating a new character that's funny, engaging, has a ton of personality, and has really grown and evolved over the past 5 years. It sounds weird to say about a fictional character, but I'm proud of Kamala Khan and all the ways in which she's grown over the last 5 years. That's a tribute to Wilson, bringing so much life and heart and verisimilitude to the character. It cannot be overstated how important it is that this character is a Pakistani-American that lives in a real place (Jersey City), practices a real religion (Islam) and has a family and friends that are as fully realized as human beings as I've seen in a superhero book in a long time. That Kamala's religious faith has been a source of strength for her, and that the adults in her life are not just portrayed as idiots but with something useful to offer. It's all been a wonderful ride. I know that Saladin Ahmed and Minkyu Jung (whose work I am only just now getting familiar with but who seems super-talented) will do a very good job, but I'll miss Wilson's voice on Kamala Khan and all the other fun people that populate her world.