Sean's Picks:
After reading the first issue of Bronze Age Boogie on a whim during advance screenings I made it an absolute point to purchase it at my local shop. I picked up the last copy on the next new comic book day and the shop owner congratulated me on such unique taste in first issues. We shared a few laughs and agreed that modern comics are in desperate need of more talking apes. Bronze Age Boogie is at the forefront of this ridiculous romp of a comic book shtick. Move over multiverse fads, this comic has got you beat.
Wasted Space #9 by Michael Moreci, Hayden Sherman & Co., published by Vault Comics
What am I to say other than the fact that I will never stop recommending this book as long as it is ongoing. Wasted Space is as close of a case you can make to claiming it a modern literary classic in the making without sounding carelessly presumptuous. Each issue of this comic peels one more layer off of the elaborate story being told. I’m not sure where exactly this exploration of society is taking us, but I am damn well along for the ride until the end.
What am I to say other than the fact that I will never stop recommending this book as long as it is ongoing. Wasted Space is as close of a case you can make to claiming it a modern literary classic in the making without sounding carelessly presumptuous. Each issue of this comic peels one more layer off of the elaborate story being told. I’m not sure where exactly this exploration of society is taking us, but I am damn well along for the ride until the end.
I was first introduced to Barnett’s writing style with Punk’s Not Dead from last year. He has recently teamed back up with his illustrator and collaborator on that title for the second chapter of the story, but it is this one of Barnett’s that has me coming back for more of his work. It’s a story of an amnesiac-for-hire with nothing to lose, and advance reviews are calling this a high-octane sci-fi field trip worth a look for anyone looking for fast paced adventure stories. First issues are always difficult to recommend, not knowing who intended audiences are or how the narrative voice will sound. Recommendations from this level of a story should be of pure gut reaction based on premise, and résumé content from the creative team. Regardless, I’m gonna give this one a shot. There’s no doubt about it.
Section Zero #2 by Karl Kessel, Tom Grummett & Co., published by Image Comics
Silly superhero genre stories seemingly are making a bit of a comeback, or maybe it’s my recent hyper attention to what’s new causing the attributed nature to that statement. Nonetheless, I blindly recommended Section Zero issue 1 last month with only a mild bit of knowledge on the title. A quick half read of the advance I was graciously succumbed to had my interest peaked to the perfect amount of wanting to know more. This time, after a solid knowledge rebound of what this title features, I can assure you out there that this is quite the fun read. It reads much more indie than other Image books do, and this might be because of it being on the Skybound imprint.. but that is entirely up for debatable interpretation.
Silly superhero genre stories seemingly are making a bit of a comeback, or maybe it’s my recent hyper attention to what’s new causing the attributed nature to that statement. Nonetheless, I blindly recommended Section Zero issue 1 last month with only a mild bit of knowledge on the title. A quick half read of the advance I was graciously succumbed to had my interest peaked to the perfect amount of wanting to know more. This time, after a solid knowledge rebound of what this title features, I can assure you out there that this is quite the fun read. It reads much more indie than other Image books do, and this might be because of it being on the Skybound imprint.. but that is entirely up for debatable interpretation.
This is another comic that I will recommend every issue until it is no more. Though, I do admit that I have failed to mention this book in recommendations in the past here.. I have recovered IRL because this comic always finds itself in forced conversation I have with those who enjoy the genre. Horror has made its way back in mainstream pop culture thanks to many creators on both large and small screens. It’s such a treat to see new scary stories being told that are actually good. I could list out some of my current favorites… but now is hardly the time. The time here is for a comic recommendation.. and Ice Cream Man issue 12 is the choice. Every issue of this comic is pure storytelling perfection. Mostly standalone stories beyond the title character’s standard cameo appearances with only vague hints at an overall story arc, this book is a consistent hit. It reads well in all formats, single issue and trade.. and for the sake of transparency, I’ll be picking up both as they become available.
Mike's Picks:
Finally! It seems like we've been waiting a year for Bryan Hill's Outsiders book to drop. Hill is a major talent who has deserved to be on a high profile book for quite some time. His Black Lightning/Batman team-up in Detective Comics (original designed to be a launching point for this book) was excellent, and Hill has already proven he can write long form stories in books like Postal, American Carnage, and Michael Cray. We haven't had a good Outsiders run in many years, and since Detective shifted from the Gotham Knights format, we've mostly seen Batman acting on his own, so I'm completely stoked for this book.
I was nervous about Ahoy when it first launched because I wasn't sure how another small independent press with a science fiction bent would fare in a crowded landscape where the more established Aftershock, Black Mask, and Vault still often exist in the shadow of Image. But what Tom and the crew at Ahoy have done is find a niche with unique meta-fictive properties that can appeal to a wide array of readers. Bronze Age Boogie 1 was a solid debut issue, and it's concept is just kitschy enough to be engaging without becoming either too corny or too self serious.
Did I just say I was nervous about the amount of small press science fiction publishers? Scout has also been releasing increasingly interesting books looking for something to catch fire. Metalshark Bro is the first in their series of "Binge" books, in which the first issue is released prior to the entire series (or arc, I guess) arriving in collected form a month later. This is a cool concept, if not as enticing as the TKO model that both offers free first issues and the immediate ability to purchase the entire story. Nonetheless, this story is an absolute blast, and will definitely scratch your itch if you've enjoyed Murder Falcon or New Lieutenants of Metal. Also, Kevin Cuffe was at Third Eye Comics for FCBD signing issues and talking up the book, and he seemed like a great guy.
I've been reading interviews and press clippings about Excellence this week, and perhaps the best description of the book that brings black characters into the world of black magic is, "this isn't just Harry Potter with black people." If you haven't noticed, some of the best and certainly the most inventive science fiction in both graphic and prose form has been coming from a pool of extremely talented black authors. I'm not terribly familiar with Brandon Thomas, but I love Khary Randolph's work. This could be a hot series that I think you should try to hop onto early.
Picking my last book of the week, and thereby leaving out two great Vault books, The Last Space Race, and Blackbird, was very difficult. I mused over this pick for a while, but what made me pick Section Zero is because Karl Kesel put together a great setup in the first issue of the series. Section Zero is a throwback to inventive 90s and early 2000s conspiracy tales like X-Files, or Planetary. It's inventive and fun while feeling just nostalgic enough.