For new releases 6-1-22!
30 WEEKLY ROUND-UPS?! HOLY CRAP! Thank you to all that check this out every week. Means the world that we can help influence your comic pull list!
What can we convince you to check out from last week? Let's get into it!
Lauren’s Picks
AWA Upshot
Writer: Gregg Hurwitz
Artist: Mike Deodato, Jr
Colorist: Lee Loughridge
Letterer: Andworld Design
“This Black Mirror-style anthology examines the rapid proliferation of technology, the cultural and political polarization of the country, and the technocrats that have driven us to such extremes of thought that we need to present the present as something...futuristic. Each of the five issues is a stand-alone tale with its own art team”
This first issue takes head-on how much screens have consumed our lives. Even now, as I type this, I’m looking at a screen. Have you ever found it hard to balance your screen time with “real”, in-person time? You might relate to the people in this issue, who have quite literally become slaves to their screens.
The art alone on this issue is beyond phenomenal! It’s the perfect mix of sci-fi and realism. Two connecting splash pages in particular that focus on human anatomy and physiology mesmerized me for at least 5 minutes! What does anatomy and physiology have to do with screens? Read and find out!
If you’re a fan of stories like Not All Robots, this title is for you. AWA Upshot is killing it!
DC Comics
Writer: Brandon Thomas
Penciller: Denys Cowan
Inker: Bill Sienkiewicz
Colorist: Chris Sotomayor
Letterer: Rob Leigh
THIS is how you write a series finale folks!! Holy shit!!
Listen- I had never heard of Hardware before Milestone Returns came about. I know, I know, shame on me! But I definitely know now and I can’t wait to see what DC does with Hardware next! Damn, this series hits it on all marks, and this last issue alone read like a TV show finale. The stakes were high, the action was through the roof, the emotions were beyond 10- I was hooked from the first page!
Thomas did the perfect job of balancing 90s narration with modern dialogue, while Cowan, Sienkiewicz, and the entire creative team perfectly captured the 2020’s era in 90’s style. This Hardware series is like watching a 90’s cartoon made today in the best way possible!
DC is right to continue Hardware in Milestones In History and I hope they continue another of his own series after that. This issue is all the evidence they need!
Marvel Comics
Writer: Kelly Thompson
Artist: Juan Frigeri and Alvaro Lopez
Colorist: Jordie Bellaire
Letterer: Clayton Cowles
This series is always so FUN! Every issue feels like a hug and a high five! With Carol Danvers now missing, the new Binary is the focus of this issue and I have 0 problem with it! She reminds me Carol’s sister- not understanding simple things and remaining matter of fact in the most innocent way possible. Furthermore, it’s a treat to welcome artist Frigeri and Lopez on board. Their transition to being artists on this book feels seamless in the best way. This series is the Marvel book I have been pulling the longest - over 2 years and counting, and I do not plan on stopping anytime soon!
Scout Comics
Writer: Markisan Naso
Artist: Jason Muhr
Colorist: Steve Canon
Letterer: Jason Muhr
I am so thrilled that this series is back! By The Horns is easily one of my top 3 fantasy comics out there. It’s the perfect mix of comedy, high-action, fantasy, and real human moments (despite all the non-human characters)! If you haven’t read the first volume yet, that's okay- you can start here and backtrack later if you wish.
This issue puts us right back into the action almost immediately while re-introducing long-term fans back to characters like Elodie herself, Sajen the deer-fox, and Evelyn, the floating eyeball. It’s great to immediately jump into familiar characters as we delve into a new plot. Naso, Muhr, and Canon remain an unmatched team!! Issue 2 can’t come soon enough!
You can find Lauren, Your Friendly Neighborhood Bi, at all her links here:
Joe's Picks
4. Little Monsters #4
Image Comics
Writer: Jeff Lemire
Art & Colors: Dustin Nguyen
Letterer: Steve Wands
There's not a whole lot going on in these issues, but whenever I consider trade waiting it, I read the latest issue and I just can't. It's so intriguing, on the surface it doesn't seem like anything too complicated, but as the issues go on I feel like I'm seeing Lemire and Nguyen expand this mysterious version of our world more and more.
Nguyen's art is a great and refreshing change from his usual style (see the gorgeous painted covers) and that limited use of color only adds to the mystery of the whole thing.
Great stuff so far, looking forward to seeing where this goes!
3. What's the Furthest Place From Here? #6
Image Comics
Writer: Matthew Rosenberg
Art & Colors: Tyler Boss
Letterer: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
Okay I feel like this series is the complete opposite to Little Monsters, there's a lot that has been going on here. A lot. The first few issues were intriguing but didn't really reveal too much. These past few though, as we got into the back half of this first arc, ooh boy.
The complex dynamics and politics of this new world. There are still so many questions we have no idea of the answers to, but with this issue ending in the... dramatic fashion it did, I've never been more excited to keep on reading and hopefully find out some of those answers!
One of my absolute favourite series at the moment for a reason, check it out if you haven't already!
2. Step By Bloody Step #4
Image Comics
Writer: Simon Spurrier
Artist: Matias Bergara
Colorist: Mat Lopes
Letterer: Jim Campbell
Gorgeous. Enchanting.
There's not a whole lot I can't say about this series that I haven't already said. One of the things it did do was move Coda, by the same creative team (writer and artist at least, not sure if it's the same colorist) higher up on my to-read list.
I mean, talk about some great fantasy art. The world just feels so new, wild, fluid, and vibrant, and yeah can't say enough good things about it. Which, in a comic book without any dialogue at all, is obviously extremely important.
That's right, if you haven't heard of this series already, yeah it has no dialogue at all. The visual storytelling in this has been so fun to read through these 4 issues.
I've heard some people that didn't like the ending, and honestly, I can see that, but personally, I did. I liked the whimsical quality it had. The idea of everything coming full circle. Metaphorically, or literally? Well, you'll have to read the series and find that out for yourself.
I thought this whole book was really neat, and I'm glad I made the decision to check it out. Definitely grab the trade when that comes out and see what you think for yourself, this was really something special to enjoy.
1. The Closet #1
Image Comics
Writer: James Tynion IV
Artist: Gavin Fullerton
Colorist: Chris O'Halloran
Letterer: Tom Napolitano
This was one of those books I had absolutely no idea what to expect. But at this point with Tynion on a horror book you know at least in part what to expect.
I loved it. It's not going to be for everyone, as there wasn't too much plot progession, but between what there was and the other elements here, it was absolutely enough to hook me in for the other two issues of this short mini-series.
This never fails to amaze me, but for some reason Tynion and the artists he works with manages to make just seemingly normal speech scenes between characters so captivating. Thinking specifically about the dynamics between Erica and others in SITKC, the exposition sequences in DoT awesomely drawn by Simmonds, and here with the initial scene in the bar.
The art style alone is rough enough, which already puts you on edge. Then you carry on reading, and find out more and more about him and the situation he's in. I just found it really intriguing. If you've read Ice Cream Man (which you really should if you haven't) you might recognise the name of Chris O'Halloran on colors.
Something about his colors is always so grimey and grounded, it feels so real, but more in a rough textured way than say a photorealistic way. The darkness of the outside making the inside of the bar stand out that much more, the color scheme of the lighting feeling awkward and off, making it all that much creepier.
There's nothing complicated in this issue, it's all pretty simple plot wise, but I just thought it was executed so well. Parents arguing, packing up to move away, being young and the fear of the dark. Of the unknown monster in your closet, in the emptiness of your room in the night.
By the time we actually see any monster? Yeah, I'm fully creeped out all right. This was seemingly simple, but so effective. It was tense, atmospheric, nicely setup the characters, their dynamic, and the overall situation really well.
Really enjoyed this first issue, excited and intrigued to see where it's going to go over the next couple issues!
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.
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