For new releases 12/22/21!
That's right folks, just in time for more holidays this holiday season, Joe is BACK! We've BOTH got our top 4 comics picks of the week just for y'all! Woooo-hoo!
Happy Holidays to everyone and we hope you are having a safe and healthy end to your year! Mask up, wash your hands, and keep reading comics :)
Lauren’s Picks
HONORABLE MENTION: Nightwing #87 and the Jamal Campbell Variant Cover!
DC Comics
Writer: Tom Taylor
Artist: Bruno Redondo
Colorist: Adriano Lucas
Wes Abbott: Letters
I had to mention this comic! Even though it didn’t quite make my top 4, it basically made my top 5. What an incredible achievement these creators accomplished, making each page of this all one continuous image! AND THAT COVER? PLEASE! One of the best covers I’ve seen all year. The balance between me crying over Bitewing and crying over how attractive Dick Grayson is, is perfect!
Marvel Comics
Writer: Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly
Artist: Carlos Magno
Colorist: Espen Grundetjern
Letterer: VC’s Joe Caramagna
Listen, I know, “they only did this because Kang is coming to the MCU”- but guess what? IT’S FANTASTIC YALL! If you slept on this series, you need to pick it up and have it as your nightly bedtime story till you finish it, because this will take you on a huge journey. If you’re a fan of insanely flawed characters, time travel, and tragedies, this one is a can’t miss! Timeless is coming soon and I couldn’t be more pumped for it after this series, even after having my heart ripped in two a few times. Very excited to see more Kang in the near future!
DC Comics
Writer, Artist, Colorist, Letterer: Cliff Chiang
When one creator does EVERYTHING (or almost everything) for a comic, I get REALLY excited. It takes so much to be able to write a comic OR draw it OR letter it OR color it, so when someone does it all, I’m blown away. This series is a perfect example of that. I LOVE that DC is embracing more AU’s in their world- it’s so great to see what happens to not only heroes but even villains as they age. Maybe it’s just because I’m older now, but I love it. Cliff doesn’t skimp on anything. When he does it all, he DOES it all. Furthermore, I’m a huge fan of the magazine prestige format. This book definitely deserves to be bigger and brighter. Pick this one up; it’s worth the extra money and space!
DC Comics
Writer: Stephanie Williams and Vita Ayala
Artist: Alitha Martinez and Domo Stanton
Inker: Mark Morales
Colorist: Romulo Fajardo Jr.
Every page of this issue got me more and more invested, holy crap! I absolutely LOVE that we finally have a series focusing on the Amazons and Nubia herself and their leader! The dialogue is magnificent, the characters are *chef’s kiss*, and the art??? THE ARTTTT?!?!? WOMEN!! I can’t say enough how delighted I am with this series. DC, keep this creative team on the next Nubia/Amazons title you do, yes?? (Cause you’re gonna make an ongoing, right?? >.>)
DC Comics
Writer: Tom King
Art: Bilquis Evely
Colorist: Matheus Lopes
Letterer: Clayton Cowles
They weren’t kidding when they said how important this issue was going to be. Holy shit. We FINALLY have Kara’s origin story from HER POV and everyone can now see directly that the destruction of Krypton is her story, not Clark’s. (No hate to Clark, love him). We are seeing the first truly GREAT Kara Zor-El story peeps, and I could not be more thrilled! Bilquis Evely’s art has warmed up to my cold heart nicely and her art this issue? WOW! If you didn’t like her style before, I guarantee you this issue will change your mind. I’m still too stunned, as I write this, at how phenomenal this issue is. If you haven’t been reading this line, you NEED to read it, or at the very least this issue. Wow. This is the first classic Supergirl story. (I know others have their favorites, but imo there’s never been an agreed upon “great Supergirl story” before- at least, until this story.) Mr. King, you may be hit or miss in your writing, but this is a HUGE hit. Thank you so much. This issue and series mean the world to me. This is only the start of great new beginnings for Kara Zor-El (at least, I hope).
You can find Lauren, Your Friendly Neighborhood Bi, at all her links here:
Joe’s Picks
Boom! Studios
Writer: James Tynion IV and Tate Brombal
Artist: Chris Shehan
Designs & Development: Werther Dell’Edera
Colorist: Miquel Muerto
Letterer: AndWorld Design
This issue y'all! It had absolutely EVERYTHING I've been loving about this series! A further look into the House of Slaughter? Always interesting. Some horrifying monster action that has become quintessential to a book literally named Something is Killing the Children? Absolutely! I mean man sometimes you forget just how graphic they go, but I would expect nothing less at this point. THEN we have AARON and JACE! In both the past and present everything comes to a head for their relationship, and it was perfect. I just love their development and dynamic in this series. What else could you want other than a series with all the best parts of SITKC but more gay?! Great series, only a few issues in so check it out if you can!
Comixology
Writer: Scott Snyder
Artist & Colorist: Francis Manipul
Letterer: AndWorld Design
From wrapping up Death Metal with Greg Capullo, to Nocterra with Tony S Daniel, to these Comixology Originals with various artists, Scott Snyder has been on fire all year and that only continues here!
But this has been my absolute FAVORITE so far because of the STELLAR work of Francis Manipul! He co-wrote and drew the first comics I ever read, so his work will always be special to me, but this is TRULY GORGEOUS! Seriously! I might even go as far to say the best of his career! Here he has full control, and it clearly shows. The range of colors he's able to use to create such a smooth style and enchanting futuristic atmosphere perfect for this story is just incredible. It's so bright and so vibrant.
That's not even mentioning the story which is exactly the sort of thing I'm into. It's such a simple but intriguing sci-fi concept that I just adore, and the mystery only deepens with this issue! Another great read, it's free with Comixology/Kindle Unlimited or an Amazon Prime subscription. Definitely recommend checking it out, as well as some of the other Comixology Originals they have on there!
Marvel Comics
Writer: Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly
Art: Carlos Magno
Colorist: Espen Grundetjern
Letterer: Joe Caramagna
Earlier in the week I wrote a review for this on The GWW so I won’t say too much about it, but to quote myself, “what could have been a somewhat hollow cash in to his appearance in Loki, is actually a brilliant Kang character study.”
Seriously, there’s so much character and emotion here! I never would have thought this could break my heart, but man! The perfect blend of such wild time traveling shenanigans, grounded with such a fascinating character. The study throughout this series on a young him wanting to break the cycle, hoping to escape, the way it all culminates here is so well done. It’s tragic, it’s heartbreaking, it’s been one of my favorite series and I can’t wait to see where he goes with Timeless! Definitely a trade to look out for when it comes out!
DC Comics
Writer: Tom Taylor
Artist: Bruno Redondo
Colorist: Adriano Lucas
Letterer: Wes Abbott
THIS ISSUE! I was really excited and looking forward to it, and it did not disappoint!
For me it deserves the pick of the week spot based purely on the sheer brilliance of it’s execution! There’s a fine line between genius and gimmicky, but this issue lands firmly in genius. Tom Taylor’s writing is on point as always, but of course the real showcase here is the fantastic art by Bruno Redondo and the gorgeous coloring by Adriano Lucas! It’s just impeccable. What was most fun about this issue was reading the pdf on my tablet, and when holding it landscape, two splash pages at a time got put next to each other. Perfectly lined up. Making full use of the concept, reading it as four epicly long spreads together showing one continuous image as promised. And what an image it was! Nothing was spared. There was so much detail it was utterly a treat to read through and observe! It’s very rare I’ve felt as immersed in a comic as I did with this issue, it was so easy to just get lost in all the little details, that endlessly added it to the experience and made this feel so real. I know phrases like “You don’t want to miss out on this” get thrown around a lot, but man what an issue. Highly recommend you give it a read if you can!
What were your top picks this week? Let us know what we missed! You never know; your recommendation could end up on our lists in the future!
Come find us both on Twitter and let's talk comics and good times :)
You can find Lauren, Your Friendly Neighborhood Bi, at all her links here: beacons.ai/friendlynbhdbi
You can follow JoeLovesComics over on Twitter for (albeit shorter) thoughts on comics he loves.
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