For new releases 4/27/22!
We are back with your Weekly Round Up, our top 4 picks of the week! Did Marvel make an impression last week? Let's get into it!
Lauren’s Picks
DC Comics/Image Comics
Writer: Ram V / Christian Ward
Artist: Mike Perkins / Patric Reynolds
Colorist: Mike Spicer / Heather Moore
Letterer: Aditya Bidikar / Hassan Otsmane-Elahaou
The Swamp Thing continues to be one of the BEST comic books out, especially with the overarching themes and visuals. I can’t express enough how much I adore the pencils and colors in this series. These splash pages are to DIE for! Ram V does such a great job continuing this second arc, showing that this series wasn’t just continued to be continued, but because Ram V and the entire creative team had more story to tell. Right now, there are no plans for a season 3, but I sure hope that changes!
Blood Stained Teeth is quenching my thirst for more vampire comics that focus on the vampires as a whole. I adore the almost-vintage style brought to the art and the new twist on what rich vampires do versus others. I’m excited to see how this continues to develop!
DC Comics
Writer: Becky Cloonan, Michael W. Conrad, Vita Ayala, Stephanie Williams, Joelle Jones
Arist: Elena Casagrande, Laura Braga, Skylar Patridge, Adriana Melo, Joelle Jones
Colorist: Romulo Fajardo Jr., Jordie Bellaire
Letterer: Pat Brosseau
Let me tell you, this event is the only event I’ve truly cared about, invested in, and FULLY stuck with since… 2006’s Civil War?? The ending does NOT dissapoint. Thought more could’ve been done story wise, I don’t believe it was the right time to do so. We are just building the Wonder/Amazonian-Verse back up. As a reader, I don’t want it all built up too fast. All creators involved in this event did such a great job creating an event that matters. You can tell all these creators worked together because they wanted to tell a phenomenal story with this verse, rather than just do an event just to do one. Trial of The Amazons is a HUGE triumph for DC Comics and I can’t wait to see what’s next!
DC Comics
Writer: Stephanie Phillips
Artist: Riley Rossmo
Colorist: Ivan Plascenia
Letterer: Andworld Design
Every month I open a new issue of this series and I get the absolute BIGGEST smile on my face, even issues with sadder themes. Why? Because THIS is Harley Quinn at her best. Not only is her characterization magnificent, but she now is finally getting her OWN friends, her OWN villains, all outside the Bat-Fam! Yes, she still works with the Bat-Fam (Hi Batwoman!!), but she’s also her own person. FINALLY! Kevin and Waffle are the best additions and I hope they stay with Harley forever. Riley Rossmo does the greatest job capturing the visuals of this series; though the art style may be off putting to some at first, it is 1000% perfect for this series. It’s perfect for Harley. It’s PHENOMENAL! I am thoroughly hype to see how this new arc fleshes out, so if you’re just catching onto this ongoing, now is a great time!
P.S. I am SUCH a whore for this cover. WOW!
Aftershock Comics
Writer: Erica Shultz and Van Jensen
Artist: Aneke
Letterer: Cardinal Rae
You know when a piece of art/work comes out and it just seems so timely, without necessarily trying to be? Bylines In Blood is exactly that. A story set in the future, it’s focus is on investigating a significant death, how it happened, WHY is happened, and uses the lens of journalism and what it means to search for the truth as a lens. This could not be more timely with our country, our world, today. I’m terribly sad this was only 4 issues, because I would love to see this story and world continue in another arc or two. The visuals are magnificent, the story unfolds with great pacing, and almost every character can be relatable in some way. Even the worst ones. Insane! PLEASE pick this series up if you missed out on it!
You can find Lauren, Your Friendly Neighborhood Bi, at all her links here:
Joe’s Picks
Image Comics
Writer: Brian K. Vaughan
Art & Colors: Fiona Staples
Letterer: Fonografiks
Part of the joy of Saga, to me, and I'd argue lots of other people would agree, is the interpersonal relationships, and seeing the effects of how the actions of our characters reverberate into the larger universe.
I really enjoyed this issue as I thought it was a great example of both of those things.
When this series first came back, I was loving it. But last issue, a few issues back, I thought it took a bit of a dip. Which granted, for Saga, isn't say much, but still. I could understand it though as it was a very middle of the arc issue, setting some things up for the rest of the arc and moving forward.
Here we already start to see the pay-off of one of those things. From Alana's latest mission and the interaction she has there, to Bombazine, Hazel and the rest of the band holding down the fort, and those final few pages I thought this was a really well done issue. I also appreciated how I felt like this issue gave some clear sense of direction for the series for where it's going to go next, in those last few pages, which I think has been something missing since it's return.
I loved how the Comics Collective Podcast put it that the beauty of Saga is in the quiet moments, and there are definitely moments in this issue which demonstrates that. But there's also been lots of cliffhanger endings and the theme of actions coming back to haunt characters. And without spoiling anything, needless to say I think everyone is on the edge of their seat after that ending.
Overall, another great issue of one of the best series on shelves, just ever, such beautiful art as always, you definitely need to read Saga if you haven't already you won't regret it!
Boom! Studios
Writer: James Tynion IV
Artist: Werther Dell'Edera
Colorist: Miquel Muerto
Letterer: AndWorld Design
I said it in my review of #21 and I'll say it again, if there's one thing I love about this series it's the atmosphere that the whole team manages to build up.
A couple issues back to the present, and has a lot happened? Not particularly. Is it somewhat of a retread of the first arc? In some ways, but honestly that's not a bad thing to me. Because it feels like that same first arc but with a twist.
Without spoiling anything, we open the issue with a look at the people that are going to be on Erica's trail in issues to come, and then the way the whole team builds up the new environment she's in over the rest of the issue was just fantastic to me.
The writing feels grounded and genuine, as does the artwork, but both still have that fantastical flair to it that makes it that much more compelling and entertaining.
Fantastic series, very excited to see where this new arc goes!
DC Comics
Writer: Joshua Williamson
Art: Roger Cruz
Inker: Norm Rapmund
Colorist: Luis Guerrero
Letterer: Troy Peteri
Considering how the Abyss arc played out, I had no expectations for Shadow War, but it's been a lot of fun so far!
I was excited to see not only how this played into the event as the next chapter, but also how it stood on its own as the next issue of Robin, and honestly I think it did really well!
Very action packed, fast paced issue, the art was dynamic, vibrant, all round awesome issue really enjoyed it!
Also I adore that cover.
DC Comics
Writer: Joshua Williamson
Artist: Rafa Sandoval
Inker: Jordi Tarragona
Colorist: Matt Herms
Letterer: Josh Reed
Hell. Freaking. Yeah.
Loved this!
Glorious blockbuster action packed comic book storytelling. I know some people are understandably burnt out on this sort of thing, but I'm an absolute sucker for it!
So excited for Dark Crisis, can't wait to see how that plays out!
Marvel, where you at??? Get back on our top 4!! 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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