(art by Mike Perkins)
This morning on The View, the panel was given the great honor of being the first to announce Marvel’s most important wedding in years! In Astonishing X-Men 50, out this week, we will be seeing Northstar’s (Jean-Paul Beaubier) proposal to longtime boyfriend Kyle. Thank you Marjorie Liu, Marvel, and the great state of New York! Be sure to follow along in the book, it’s been a solid run so far.
Cover by Dustin Weaver: Marvel.com
And don’t forget to save the date for issue 51!
That adorable Doctor Who piece up there is from none other than Josh Adams, multi-talented illustrator and inker well known for his work on IDW’s Doctor Who and his contributions to the Astonishing X-Men motion comics. We had the privilege to interview him briefly at Dallas Comic Con 2012 today and were completely taken with him. Not only were his prints and portfolio eye-catching but one of his current projects, Adam, Eve & Steve (name in progress) is one of the most inventive pitches I’ve heard in years.
Essentially, the biblical story remains much the same with Adam & Even being created for each other but the quintessential couple is thrown a curveball when a time-lost guy from the future (Steven) finds his way into the Garden of Eden and becomes the cause of some sexual awakening in our first man. Such a simple and intriguing line already has me hooked but there is no definitive start date at this point, sadly.
That shouldn’t stop you from checking out the homepage for the comic and bugging the heck out of the creators with your love until they get this great concept in motion! Be sure to check out Josh’s Doctor Who continuing series artwork as well (and check the handsome man himself out below).
Josh Adams: www.whatwouldjoshdo.com
(Cover by J. G. Jones, DC Comics)
My winner of the week is Mister Terrific 5 by a wide, life-affirming margin! Mister Terrific is captured in the ninth dimension and only a combination of his heroic prowess and compassionate soul can save the day. In the character of Pylothia we are given a being that doesn’t fit in with the gender roles their society clings to and finds themself shipped off to alien slavers, viewed as the lowest of the low. Michael is able to share with Pylothia the lessons of our planet’s more terrible points in history and how we’ve grown from them. He inspires Pylothia to accept themself and ultimately to save the day and find a sense of self-worth. The comic is pure fun, action and heart the whole way through and is one of my favorite comics I can remember reading ever. With the series tragically concluding with issue 8, I strongly suggest everyone collect the individual issues and any trades that come out as well.
(Cover by Jamal Igle, DC Comics)
The Ray 2 continues the new mini-series written by Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti which started off so refreshingly upbeat, humorous and light-hearted that I simply can’t wait to see what they pull off in issue two! Lucien Gates is the Ray of the DCnUniverse and he’s quite a unique voice in modern comics already. Mixed in to some classic super-heroism, Lucien’s world is full of real and diverse people and the drama reflects that fully. Every piece of dialogue either brought a smile to my face or taught me who the character was in issue 1. If you like superheros, you will like this comic.
(Cover by Tony Harris, DC Comics)
The Shade 4 is James Robinson’s first “Times Past” comics of this limited series and is illustrated by the should-be-amazing team of Darwyn Cooke and J. Bone! It’s WWII and Shade – in the midst of his rise to villainous stardom – is helping an industrialist on the side of the Allies survive an assassination attempt in what is slated as Shade’s new origin! Should be an excellent ride as the last three issues have been, for Starman fans or not.
(Cover by Nick Bradshaw, Marvel Comics)
Wolverine and the X-Men 4 sees the addition of two new students to the Jean Grey Institute as well as the news of a pregnant mutant in the school? I just fully got on board with this title last issue after not feeling the first two as much as I thought I would. Kid Krakoa got me on all the right levels and now I can’t wait to see how Jason Aaron continues to steer this strange, new (and old) ship going forward.
(My remaining comics this week are Batwoman 5, Buffy the Vampire Slayer – Season 9 5, Demon Knights 5, Green Lantern 5, Mister Terrific 5, Superboy 5 and Ultimate Comics X-Men 6)
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(Cover by Cliff Chiang, DC Comics)
Wonder Woman 4 is pure, Greek insanity and it is such a great read! Diana has had enough of the parental lies and sets out to find herself once more just as Hera arrives on Paradise Island to beat up some Amazons. Even if I’m not all about the changes to her birth circumstances, I see the wisdom in creating that extra layer of drama. Especially so when that drama is used so masterfully! Top of the heap forever.
(Cover by Mahmud Asrar, DC Comics)
Supergirl 4 has our Woman of Steel trapped on board a space station in the clutches of her very own Lex Luthor, fighting for survival and for all these damn earth creatures to leave her alone! Mahmud Asrar is on fire in the art department and Michael Green & Mike Johnson are crafting a Kara that I can instantly and permanently relate to. Another book with a strong woman not to be missed!
(Cover by Kaare Andrews, Marvel Comics)
Ultimate Comics Spider-Man 5 returns the ever-fabulous (Ultimate) Spider-Woman to the limelight and I am a ball of ecstasy over the news! Jessica Drew in the Ultimate universe is a clone of Peter Parker and has almost a copy of his personality as well. We had some pretty great flirting between her and Bobby Drake in the past as well as a few heroic moments of her own but having her talk to young Miles as he tries to make sense of his powers, his life and his responsibilities is just the perfect move for Brian Michael Bendis to pull from his idea cap. “Sara Pichelli on art” makes any worries about price point disappear; buy this comic!
(The rest of my titles this week are Batman 4, Birds of Prey 4, DCU Presents 4, Generation Hope 14, Justice League 4, T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents 2, Wolverine and the X-Men 3 and Xenoholics 3)
(Cover by Jamal Igle, DC Comics)
Seriously, what is up with DC’s new miniseries? It’s like they’re the new Vertigo imprint or something, they can practically do no wrong! We have Penguin, Huntress, T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents and now The Ray! Justin Gray & Jimmy Palmiotti are two of the most creative writers in comics today and they’re proving why that’s true with this title. Only four issues long, I can already feel myself aching for more of Jamal Igle’s and Rich Perrotta’s beautiful cityscapes and superpowers. The characters are full to the brim with wit, warmth and love and it shows in every action or sentence. I have to add that this is EXACTLY how you insert diversity into your publishing universe, comics publishers! I love the cast with only 20 pages to get to know them and that is true storytelling. Absolutely one to read!
(Cover by Travel Foreman, DC Comics)
Have y’all seen that meme “Perfect ______s don’t exi…” and then they show you an image of something that is perfect? WELL BOOM BECAUSE CHECK OUT THIS COMIC! Jeff Lemire and Travel Foreman are meme-ing me hard right now and it feels so good. They’re hitting all the high points from the Veitch run but in a totally new, refreshing way. The art is bilious and bulbous and so alive with its jagged lines. The characters are endearing (hard to do in a 20 page comic) and the horror is visceral. The crossover with Swamp Thing (also on top form!) feels natural and raises my curiosity and enjoyment of both titles. Basically, read or die, please.
Animal Man 4/Swamp Thing 4; I am totally cheating this week in a BIG way by choosing 5 top picks as opposed to 3 but DC is totally killing me with my options! Animal Man and Swamp Thing, while very different in feel, are completely at the top of their game AND even managing to be in the midst of a mini-crossover between the two books. Jeff Lemire, Scott Snyder, Travel Foreman & Yanick Paquette are doing Grant Morrison and Alan Moore proud because they are truly making magic with both titles.
Huntress 3/Penguin: Pain & Prejudice 3; Again with the cheating but I am finding so very much to love about both Huntress and Penguin. Marcus To is bringing a Helena Bertinelli that not only moves and looks like a real woman but kicks ass and has a sense of fashion! All thumbs up on that book even if there were slower moments last issue. Penguin is, as I’ve said, a graphic novel that almost doesn’t need the graphic part (though Szymon Kudranski is bringing a stylized take that breathes new life into Penguin’s story). Every panel is a dark and twisted joy but a joy nonetheless. Both are things everyone should read!
X-Club 1 is a title that should press all my happiness buttons (sarcastic super-scientists! space elevators! mutant mayhem!) but I just don’t know a thing about Simon Spurrier or Paul Davidson. The X-Club is absolutely one of my favorite pieces of X-Men cosmology and Dr. Nemesis never fails to make me laugh. Science hoooooooooooooooo!
(The rest of my titles this week are Action Comics 4, Detective Comics 4, Green Arrow 4, iZombie 20, Stormwatch 4 and Sweet Tooth 28)
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(Cover by Kaare Andrews, Marvel Comics)
Jonathan Hickman and Esad Ribic’s new take on The Ultimates has been quite refreshing up to this point. Nothing that really rocked the boat or blew my mind…until the ending of this issue! It brings it all together and CERTAINLY marks this as a comic that takes what has come before and pushes it into something new. Not only will this make you want to go back and read your old trades of Ultimate comics but re-read this series to see if there were any clues to the big reveal at the end of issue 4! If you were ever an Ultimates fan or been interested in a Marvel universe that was easy to jump into, check this series out before it gets too far along!
(Cover by Andy Kubert, DC Comics)
T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents 1! IT’S BACK! Nick Spencer may be a Marvel exclusive but the publishing gods have thankfully allowed him to wrap up a few of his ideas from his original run in this 6-issue mini-series. Espionage, triple-crosses and super powers that kill are sure to be the highlights of the series and I can’t wait!
(Cover by Dario Brizuela, DC Comics)
Green Lantern: The Animated Series 0 is my first foray into the Johnny DC titles and I couldn’t be happier for this to be the one! I’m not sure how the print stories will relate to the new show but if they’re anything like the special/first episode that aired a week or two ago, I’ll be hooked! It’s going to be green vs. red on the frontier of Guardian space and plenty of ring-slinging action.
(Cover by Steve Morris, Darkhorse Comics)
Angel & Faith 4 means more creepy Wonder Twins and wonderful, perfect, well-researched characterization by Christos Gage! Seriously, this guy knows how Faith AND Angel feel and think and just how to test and grow them as characters. Both do so much better when they’re forced to live in moral grey and we’re right in the thick of it here. If you’ve ever liked Angel or Faith in the show, this is the series you should be reading.
(Ultimate Comics Ultimates 4 and Uncanny X-Men 2 are my only other two books this week! Uncanny, indeed.)
