For new releases 3/30/22!
We are back with your Weekly Round-Up, our top 4 picks of the week! My god, did the big two come to play this week! Let's get into it!
Lauren’s Picks
I enjoyed both these issues quite a bit!
Dark Ages was INTENSE and went to an extent I could’ve only imagined before reading it, but the ending felt rather… unsettling for me. It felt too sudden and like there were too many loose ends. However, again, this was an incredibly intense and brutal issue and a last to read!
Shadow War Alpha #1 was a great start to the SHADOW WAR event, but it was more of a setup issue than anything. There are some intense as hell moments between Bruce and Damian that I actually loved seeing (RIP my heart), but I didn’t dig how [REDACTED] died. It felt… weird and insulting, and the sudden change in his character was odd. However, still, a great read, and I’m looking forward to the rest of this event!
Now, let’s check out my top 4 picks this week!
DC Comics
Writer and Artist: Sean Murphy
Colorist: Dave Stewart
Letterer: Andworld Design
It is such a treat to have this world back! This issue’s purpose serves mostly to introduce us back to the world and set up the stakes for future issues, but it WORKS. If you’re worried about where this story is going- don’t be. It’s both familiar and unfamiliar in the best of ways. The time jump is a bit unsettling at first, but it settles in nicely. It’s nice to see a world where some things went different for certain members of the Bat Family. If you haven’t given this world a try yet, you need to!
DC Comics
Writer: Ram V
Art: Mike Perkins
Colorist: Mike Spicer
Letterer: Aditya Bidikar
This is one of the best comics out right now. Full. stop. I am so thrilled that DC had the sense to give it a season 2, and if it keeps going the way it’s going and Ram V has more story to tell, I’m hopeful we will get a season 3. This run is going to be the blueprint for Swamp Thing for years to come. The mythology and lore Ram V is bring to this world is unbelievable and the art from the Mikes accompanying it? My LORD. Some of the best page spreads I’ve EVER seen. This team cannot be stopped and I hope they never are!
Marvel Comics
Writer: Kelly Thompson
Artist: Julius Ohta
Colorist: Ruth Redmond
Letterer: Clayton Cowles
I am in LOVE with the way Kelly Thompson writes these characters. Seriously, I couldn’t stop smiling this entire issue. Yes, I love the books that rip my heart apart, but sometimes it’s nice to have issues that hug you and remind you why life and people are wonderful. This issue was all that and so much more! Thompson’s way of writing Binary is all-too-relatable and I can’t get enough of it. The art continues to shine with new artist to the series, Julius Ohta. As someone who has been reading this run since around issue 18 or so, I didn’t blink when I opened this issue to read it. Ohta does a great job making sure this book still feels like Thompson’s run without sacrificing their own individuality in the art of this new arc. If I ever have to drop this book, I think it’ll break my heart. Truly a gem.
Marvel Comics
Writer: Kieron Gillen
Artist: Lucas Werneck
Colorist: David Curiel
Letterer: Clayton Cowles
To no one’s surprise, this is my number 1 pick. But, it deserves more praise than that: This might be the best X-Men issue I’ve read since I read HoX/PoX. In case you don’t know, that book changed my life view on the X-Men, so to have something be nearly as great as that in ONE issue? Utter insanity and I am SO grateful for it. I love the approach Gillen took to this issue, particularly whose perspective it is from. And that ENDING?!? Holy shit. They’ve finally found a way to explain why Krakoa is still going plot-wise (beyond the X-Office not wanting to end the era). And IT WORKS!! And Werneck doing the interiors of this book?? I just… man, I am in it to win it with this book. If you are reading any X-Books right now, pick the ones you want to read and then add this to it. This is a MUST READ for X-Fans and anyone that loves quality storytelling!
You can find Lauren, Your Friendly Neighborhood Bi, at all her links here:
Joe’s Picks
Boom! Studios
Writer: James Tynion IV
Artist: Werther Dell'Edera
Colorist: Miquel Muerto
Letterer: AndWorld Design
There’s not much else I can say about this issue that I didn’t already say in my review of it over on The GWW, so go check that out!
DC Comics
Writer: Joshua Williamson
Artist: Viktor Bogdanovic
Inker: Daniel Henriques
Colorist: Mike Spicer
Letterer: Troy Peteri
I love a good variety in my comic reading, as much as anyone I would say. But there are some issues where you just think, “Damn, that was just a good fun solid superhero read” and that’s exactly what this issue was to me.
I’ve been really enjoying Williamson’s Robin, and thought his Deathstroke Inc. was a lot of fun when I caught up on that the other day, but I had no expectations for this event. But this was very promising and makes me excited to see where it’s going to go.
Great character moments, action, emotion, just an overall very interesting and compelling setup, with some great art, that makes me hopeful this event is going to be a fun ride.
DC Comics
Writer, Artist and Colorist: Jock
Letterer: Clem Robins
This was just a fantastic read, almost entirely done by Jock. If you are a fan of his art style at all you need to check it out! It's an idea I've brought up before and mentioned most recently in my review of Something is Killing the Children #21, but this issue was just so damn atmospheric, and it's something I loved about the first issue as well.
I thought that first one was a good start, but being that it had a fair bit of setup. With that out of the way this issue wastes no time getting into the meat of the story and it's so good. Just the idea of Batman doing whatever he can to complete his journey, against all the obstacles that are in his way, it's such a simple idea but it's so compelling.
Jock's almost painted looking style is so gorgeous to me, and I adore the showcase that it gets here. Grand, wide-screen pages, with bright, vibrant colors that manage to be that while still maintaining the darkness of the comic. They just stand out and work so well, it makes for such an awesome and just epic read.
I know the higher price and awkward format is understandably off-putting to some, but if you can, this is absolutely worth a read. Can't wait to see how this story wraps up when the final issue comes around in a few months from now.
DC Comics
Writer & Artist: Sean Murphy
Colorist: Dave Stewart
Letterer: AndWorld Design
I feel like I might have mentioned this before at some point, but where there's a certain joy in reading something from your pull list and enjoying it, it's another kind of pure joy altogether in picking something up off the shelf you weren't expecting to buy and just absolutely loving it.
I mean, don't get me wrong. I follow Murphy on Instagram and knew this was coming out. But I read White Knight in trade when that came out, and since I haven't read anything from this universe since then, I was sort of holding out for an eventual omnibus of it all at this point.
But, I'm a sucker for Batman Beyond. I just adore the design the idea of the character whenever I see it. And this universe is so fresh and still so new and exciting, not to mention the artwork by Murphy with perfect colors by Stewart is just so gorgeous and awesome to look at.
So when I saw one last copy of the Cover A on the shelf at my LCS when I went in, I knew I had to grab it. And yes, I just loved it. I adore these sorts of books that take these popular universes, and put almost an indie feeling spin on them. I know I said that about Strange Academy recently and the feel of that book, and I get a similar feeling here. In terms of, in this case, reinvigorating the existing ideas and characters and making something new, exciting and truly special.
Great stuff, very excited to see where it goes!
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 onTwitter for (albeit shorter) thoughts on comics he loves.
Kommentare