Rob's Picks:
Fantagraphics has a long history of publishing great anthologies, and Now is no exception. Moving into its 9th issue, the series, like any good collection, has regulars (including Noah Van Sciver, who is apparently doing a Basil Wolverton homage!!) and brings in a rotating cast. I'm not familiar with any of the new people, Hartley Lin, Ethel Wolfe, and Emil Friis Ernst, but given past issues, I am sure they will be good fits for the aesthetics of this series. There's also going to a be a 40-page feature comic by Raquelle Jac, who is said by Fanta to be "a remarkable new voice." Now is definitely the time, so to speak, to start reading if you haven't picked up an issue yet.
The Mirror Universe gets a look at its version of Khan, courtesy of one of my all time favorite writers, J.M. DeMatteis, and Panel Pal Matthew Dow Smith. Given his strong use of philosophy in his comics, DeMatteis is a natural pick for the Mirror Universe, where moral quandaries abound, and a figure like Khan is a perfect foil for his musings. What happens when "our" Kirk's greatest foe is matched against Mirror Kirk's brutal nature might just surprise you. Featuring great art work by Matthew, who adjusts his style slightly to better capture likenesses, this is a one-shot that makes me hope it's not DeMatteis' last visit to IDW's version of Trek.
Without a lot of fanfare, Black Mask puts out some of the best genre comics on the stands. I'm excited to see Devil Within get a trade so more people can read it. A happy lesbian couple moves into an old house, and because they're in a horror comic, the house slowly drives one of them crazy. It is because of actual spirits? Or is Michelle just a disturbed individual who might not make a great spouse after all? The great thing about this one is that Phillips does a really good job of keeping the reader off-balance and House' art is nice and spooky. Highly recommended for your dose of horror this week.
Mike's Picks:
2000 AD 2196 Regened Edition by Mike Carroll, Luke Horsman, Roger Langridge, Brett Parson, et al. Published by Rebellion/2000 AD
2000
AD returns with another all ages special, and this one features a
teenage Dredd in addition to a story written by Roger Langridge. If
you’ve ever been intimidated by jumping into the 2000 AD realm, progs
like this are a great way to dip your toes without fear. This prog is
available digitally this Wednesday. Print pack purchasers will have to
wait another month.
Killadelphia 7 by Rodney Barnes, Jason Shawn Alexander, and Luis NCT, published by Image Comics
James' Picks:
Don't miss out on The Plot. It's a fantastic horror story about family and legacies and not being able to outrun the past (my review here). It's also about a house that is creepy AF and monsters that are really terrifying. Fantastic story from Daniel and Moreci, brought to life by the incredible pair of Hixson and Boyd, whose art has a completely timeless feel to it. Really terrifying and totally great.
I really loved Giant Days and was sad to see it end. I loved the combination of heart and humor and drama and real life crossed with absurdity. Well, great news. Wicked Things is here, from the same creative team, set in the same universe. Lottie Grote is a fantastic character. A teen detective who's been accused of MURDER and must clear her name, and maybe crack some other cases while she's at it.
That Texas Blood is off to a very strong start. From writer Jacob Condon and artist Jacob Phillips, this is a story of murder in a small town, and the complicated lives that people lead. It's a compelling tale, and it's brought to life by the very talented Phillips, who's carrying on the excellent family tradition (his father being artist extraordinaire Sean Phillips). This is quality crime comics, and you should really give it a read.
Beth's Picks:
When the Buffyverse was relaunched by Boom! last year, I was skeptical. Did we really need a contemporary reimagining of the Scooby Gang? Turns out, yeah, we did. It was good, better than it had any right to be, and the subsequent reboot of Angel wasn’t bad either. While the Buffy update was more of a leap (technology has made the high school experience of 2020 vastly different than that of 1997), the new world of Angel doesn’t seem quite as revolutionary Still, the series feels fresh, thanks to characters like Fred and the now co-starring Spike coming on-stage earlier than in the original run, and sharp writing from Bryan Edward Hill. This issue by Adam Smith is a “times past” untold story of Angel in Hollywood in the 1960s. It’s done-in-one, and if you’re looking to try Boom’s take on the vampire with a soul, it’s a good place to start.
Free Comic Book Day came and went months ago, but this title looks worth the wait. (And seriously, does the passage of time still hold any meaning anyway? Is summer over? Did it ever start? I digress.) This anthology—wrapped in a beautifully detailed cover drawn by Hellblazer and Preacher artist Glenn Fabry—features a new Judge Dredd story by Al Ewing and Erica Henderson. The Squirrel Girl creator isn’t the first name who would spring to mind for Judge Dredd, but her expressive art looks like a great fit. (Plus, it gives me a reason to type the names “Squirrel Girl” and “Judge Dredd” in the same sentence, which now makes me really, really want to see that team-up.
![Sweat and Soap [Ase to Sekken] by Kintetsu Yamada](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMnQltxjWqGS1_duhCp9Er1a0NbALuSFrqvjaV4_PjN_w67xCGghYt-l0qKyqTH7Ei7gbq_mxVq8aPAuOiyaArwAMLJWhpGmOYaARUBnwvjmv2-ZIe20m_zR5CvKnPdI6US_AuOnmi3gSX/w680/57525895-BA7E-4EF8-9FE4-89F9C164E1A4.jpeg)
