It’s a busy week post-Thanksgiving for new comics. And there’s plenty of good stuff on the stands, so let’s dig into the top 25!
1) The Sheriff of Babylon #1
Tom King, a former intelligence operative, brings his experience in the Iraq War to bear in a look at the larger factors driving everyone, from the Americans who don’t want to be there to the jihadists who want them out. Mitch Gerads’ clean, carefully detailed art creates a genuinely tense atmosphere, especially early in the book where our hero tries to save not just himself but a young woman in a suicide vest. Insightful, complex, and thoughtful, this is definitely a book worth reading.
2) Star Wars #13
Han and Chewie go to rescue Luke and R2 from a vicious bounty hunter and her serial killer protocol droid… and both sides promptly run into Murphy’s Law. Repeatedly. This is a bit more lighthearted than usual for the Vader Down crossover, but Jason Aaron and Mike Deodato clearly enjoy stretching their comedic muscles, and it does the book good.
3) Jim Henson’s The Storyteller: Dragons #1
Daniel Bayless and Fabian Rangel retell a Native American legend about a father and his son, and the horned serpent who comes between them. It’s a well-done take on a classic bit of folklore, and ideal for all-ages reading; Bayless’ careful interpretation of Northwestern tribal art in particular takes what could feel stale and fills it with life.
4) Howard the Duck #2
Chip Zdarsky and Veronica Fish take a break from producing the funniest book Marvel has on the stands to punch you hard in the feels with the origin story of Linda the Duck and Shocket. Yes, the female versions of Howard and Rocket Raccoon. Fish in particular deserves credit for making the weeping of a cartoon duck so sad. It’s a great issue and a reminder that this book has some real pain behind its hijinks.
5) Unfollow #2
Rob Williams and Michael Dowling continue their very strange thriller by introducing a stand-in for, of all people, Japanese novelist Yukio Mishima. It’s still cohering as a story to some degree; it’s not entirely clear why, exactly, 140 Twitter followers are coming to a desolate island, although it’s clear they’re not going to be happy when they get there. Nonetheless, it’s intriguing and the many threads Williams works into the plot are engaging, especially with Dowling and Quinton Winter doing just gorgeous work.
6) Tet #4
This war drama from Paul Tucker and Paul Allor wraps up in a surprisingly sad place, even for a book set in the last days of Vietnam. A heavy read, obviously, but a well-thought-out and smart one, and worth reading.
7) Plutona #3
Jeff Lemire and Emi Lenox’s mix of Stand By Me and superheroes takes a fascinating turn, here. Lemire is more interested in how the four teens who discover the body of Plutona interact than Plutona’s death, which gives the book an odd creepy vibe… especially when you read the end. Highly recommended.
8) Totally Awesome Hulk #1
Goodbye, Bruce Banner. Hello, Amadeus Cho. While Banner may have been nearly overcome by the “monster” inside of him, Cho seems to embrace it with the unfettered enthusiasm of a teenager. Despite being the “eighth smartest person in the world, according to Pym,” Cho doesn’t yet have the maturity to grasp the gravity of what it means to have Hulk powers. Still, Frank Cho’s art leaps from the page and Greg Pak of Planet Hulk nails the tone of a snarky teen who just wants to chase girls and be a superhero, man. It’s a fairly light start, but it sure is fun. Plus, Marvel working to diversify their roster of mostly white dudes is a good thing. While the issue does have a relatively hefty price tag of $4.99, this is one to check out. — Alyssa Fikse
9) Gotham Academy #12
Becky Cloonan, Brendan Fletcher, and Karl Kerschl pay off this book’s Gothic themes in grand style with this issue, which inverts a lot of Gothic tropes to dramatic and sometimes comedic effect. This is always a smart book, but this is a particularly good climax to Olive’s character arc, and an ideal read if you’ve got preteens who need some great comics.
10) James Bond #2
James Bond is up to his classic tricks in the second issue of VARGR, being lured into a “compromising” situation by a beautiful woman with murder on her mind and immediately charming nameless ladies in the Berlin offices. The notorious 00 Agent does cut an impossible to resist figure, and the story finally gets underway when Bond gets his gun back and meets with the mysterious Slaven Kurjak, a Bond villain if there ever was one. This issue doesn’t have the thrilling opening sequence that the first issue did, but the bloody conclusion makes up for the lack of action. As Bond comes closer to finding the creator of this horrifying drug (his name probably rhymes with Shmurjak), the bodies will probably continue to pile up. — Alyssa Fikse
11) Daredevil #1
Charles Soule and Ron Garney have a tough act to follow, in light of Mark Waid and Chris Samnee’s excellent run on the previous series. Their response is to go darker and more like the Netflix series, with a few crucial differences: For one, Matt Murdock is now an ADA for New York City, and for another, he’s got a sidekick. Garney’s angular, scratchy art and Matt Milla’s color work are the real stars here: You can practically feel the grit of the story rub off on your fingers. If the story can continue to hold up to the art, this will be a great follow-up to one of Marvel’s best books.
12) Seduction of the Innocent #1
Despite the… ah, provocative title, if you know your comics history, Ande Parks and Esteve Polls are actually concerned with reviving the EC-style thriller. It’s an interesting take, not least because Jennings, our hero, is far from the square-jawed two-fisted noir archetype you’d expect, but Parks and Polls seem more interested in subverting those cliches than delivering a comic. Still, an interesting first issue and worth a read for fans of books like The Fade Out.
13) Black Jack Ketchum #1
Claudia Balboni’s art is absolutely gorgeous, here, but Brian Schirmer’s script, while intriguing, is a little too vague to have the impact he wants. Still, it’s a fun book with an intriguing concept, and worth picking up from the beginning.
14) Gotham By Midnight #12
Ray Fawkes and Juan Ferreyra begin wrapping up this book with a monster made out of every soul that was murdered in Gotham without justice. Yeah. It’s a big monster. Ferreyra continues to prove he’s the best horror artist in the business while working in witty nods to everything from giant monster movies to Fantasia, while Fawkes has a few clever plot twists in the wings. I’ll be sad to see this book go, but until then, it’s well worth a read.
15) Paper Girls #3
Paper Girls keeps getting weirder and weirder in the best way possible. Sh*t is going down in Stony Stream, and while readers are still left with more questions than answers, Paper Girls only gets more compelling. As the world’s toughest 12-year-olds (seriously, how are they so hardcore?) try to get one of their own to safety and medical care, they are brought face to face with the mysterious forces that threaten them at every turn. Whether it’s an alien invasion or some sort of rapture like Alice’s stepmom seemed to think, it’s safe to say that it will only get more bizarre as each layer gets peeled away. Brian K. Vaughan continues to be the best of the best, and Cliff Chiang and Matt Wilson’s brutish art perfectly matches the dark tone. This series continues to be a can’t miss. — Alyssa Fikse
16) Mystery Girl #1
Trine just… knows things. It doesn’t matter what you ask her: The location of a set of dog tags, who’s giving a stripper hundred dollar bills, or where to find a good pizza, she knows, instantly. It’s an interesting idea, and Paul Tobin has fun with it, but it can feel a bit slight in places, even with Alberto Alburquerque keeping things light with his stylish art. Still, if you like cozy mysteries, albeit bizarre ones, it’s a good read.
17) John Flood #5
This oddball book, about a private detective who can see deep connections in everything, gets a tense issue, with Jorge Coelho packing each page with well-designed and unnerving action as the villain of the piece shoots up a police station. It pays it off well, however, and the ending makes you curious to see how it all plays out.
18) Dark Corridor #5
Rich Tommaso’s two-pronged noir finally twines into one story in this issue. As always, Tommaso’s isometric design and Chester Gould-esque drawing give the book a unique character and the hard-nosed writing make it a thrill to read.
19) Johnny Red #2
Garth Ennis and Keith Burns continue their revival of a classic British WWII comic, and it’s a lot of fun. But it could stand to do more with its killer concept of a disgraced British pilot defecting to Russia to fly against the Nazis, and definitely to do more with the Night Witches, a legendary Russian squadron that deserves more than what they get here. Still a fun read, and if you’re a fan of war comics, it’s a must buy.
20) Midnighter #7
When most people break up, it’s full of crying and recrimination. When Midnighter has a breakup, it’s a heavily violent action scene. What stands out most about this issue, aside from Aco thrilling to pushing this book right to the edge with stylized layouts and artwork, is Steve Orlando’s rather sensitive take on how Midnighter handles his romantic life falling apart. One of the fundamental strengths of this book is that Midnighter’s personal life is central to who he is, and he struggles with his emotional failures like anybody else. He even does a kind thing for an ex-boyfriend, which is a nice touch. As usual, one of DC’s best superhero books and a blast to read.
21) Bob’s Burgers #6
With a simple “get out of my dreams and onto my horse,” Bob’s Burgers gives readers the only Romeo and Juliet worth rooting for with Tina’s latest Erotic Friend Fiction masterpiece. Between a food based masquerade ball and a debate about what a ducat even is, the Erotic Friend Fiction portion continues to be the highlight of this comic series. Louise continues to sniff out the exterminator conspiracy and the “Tale of Captain Geno” improves upon the last issue. Honestly, the art in the final few pages is some of the most vivid and beautiful that we’ve seen in the series, so be sure to pick up this light read when you get the chance. — Alyssa Fikse
22) All-New All-Different Avengers #2
Mark Waid continues to put the band back together in what’s a fairly straightforward, if entertaining, team book. Adam Kubert also delivers his usual clean, polished artwork, but I’m hoping these guys get more of a chance to challenge themselves: There’s a lot of talent here.
23) Insufferable #8
Mark Waid and Peter Krause wrap up their first arc of an entitled Robin parody and his screwed-up Batman-esque father in surprisingly touching fashion. There’s even a little bit of personal growth for Galahad and Nocturnus. Just a little.
24) Black Science #18
Why is our nominal hero in Rick Remender and Matteo Scalera’s neo-pulp SF story such a raging dick? This issue explains it, to some degree, albeit in a more abstract way than entirely lines up with how the book’s unfolded so far. A fun read, but I’m glad they’re getting into the action again.
25) Saga #31
SAGA’S BACK!!! Whew. Had to get that out of the way. Anyway, no sign of Marco or Alana, but Hazel, her grandmother, and Klara stow away on a rebel ship to avoid total destruction. There’s been a bit of a time jump, leap frogging over Hazel’s toddler years into whatever their equivalent of elementary school is. It’s probably for the best, focusing instead on the fear that has plagued little Hazel forever and how it constantly weighs on her. As usual, Brian K. Vaughan’s words are sharp as knives, and Fiona Staples continues to create a brutal and beautiful landscape. While they’ve both been doing excellent work on other projects like Archie and Paper Girls, it is a real treat to have them back together on Saga, which continues to be an absolute must read. — Alyssa Fikse
This Week’s Other Books
DC:
Robin War #1: DC’s new crossover could stand to feel a little less rote.
Batman and Robin Eternal #9: Bane enters the mix as this book continues to be some fun meat-and-potatoes superheroics.
Prez #6: This satire wraps up its first arc just when it was getting good.
Lobo #13: Cullen Bunn’s bounty hunter story ends rather abruptly, but at least amusingly.
All-Star Section Eight #6: Garth Ennis’ take on loser superheroes has an ending that’s simultaneously uplifting and kinda depressing.
Marvel:
Doctor Strange #3 : This run of Doctor Strange continues to be utterly bizarre, this time with Strange battling magic eating slugs while he’s absolutely naked, stripped of his powers, and with no idea how he got into this situation. The Sanctum Sanctorum continues to be one of the most gloriously portrayed locations in comics these days, with Chris Bachalo making sure that the magic oozes through the seams in every scene. As we find out more about the Empirikill, things are sure to stay strange, and that is a very good thing. — Alyssa Fikse
Invincible Iron Man #4: This book really needs to put the newly handsome Doom front and center; he’s easily the best part.
Red Wolf #1: Disappointingly, this book picks up straight where 1872, Marvel’s western miniseries, left off, and promptly goes through every cliche in the book.
Spidey #1: This is a fun retelling of Spidey’s origin… but did we really need yet another one of these?
All-New X-Men #1: It says something that Cyclops is the most interesting character here.
Image:
They’re Not Like Us #10: This book continues to be a dark take on the classic superhero team story, but it’s beginning to fade into all the others.
Dark Horse:
Joe Golem: Occult Detective #2:: This book has a cool setting, an alternate ’50s New York flooded like Venice, but it doesn’t really do enough with it or its title character.
This Damned Band #5: This book took entirely too long to get to the obvious ending, but when it lingers on the costs of being a rock star to wives and friends, it becomes interesting.
Lara Croft and The Frozen Omen #3: Pretty much, this is a comic book version of the game.
Barb Wire #6: AKA Barb Wire Begins. Which should be more interesting than it comes off, here.
Dead Vengeance #3: This story of a zombie detective hits pretty much every cliche in the noir handbook.
BOOM! Studios:
Toil and Trouble #4
The issue with Toil and Trouble has not been the ideas, but rather the execution. The tone was always a little too light for the dark subject matter, with Kelly and Nichole Matthews’ art a little too cartoonish for the unsettling nature of Macbeth. However, this issue stands above the rest, as the conflict between the three sisters comes to a head, with Cait trying to hinder Riata from controlling Lady Macbeth, and Smertae’s violent and visceral transformation into a being to be reckoned with. As the murder of Duncan looms large, Toil and Trouble may have finally found its feet. — Alyssa Fikse
Rowan’s Ruin #3: A solid horror book that nonetheless feels a bit dragged out.
The Woods #18: It would really help this book if the bad guys weren’t so incredibly flat and obviously evil.
Valiant:
X-O Manowar: Commander Trill #0: Mostly a recap for the story behind Valiant’s armored hero, told from a villain’s perspective, it’s a solid bit of background but eclipsed by the superb arc its mothership book is currently unfolding.
Dynamite:
Doc Savage: The Spider’s Web #1: Great two-fisted pulp, but really only for fans of two-fisted pulp.
Aliens/Vampirella #4: A bit too long and a bit too unoriginal, this book needs to do more with its concept.
A Train Called Love #3: Garth Ennis’ take on Hollywood sleaze is sometimes funny, but mostly ho-hum in its Hollywood Babylon-esque cliches. Similarly, the cartoony art doesn’t quite jibe with the dirty jokes.
CageHero #2: This book feels like a lost ’90s cartoon show, for both the good and the bad aspects of that pitch.