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This Month in Comics: June 2015

By | June 30th, 2015
Posted in Columns | % Comments

We’re already halfway through 2015 and you know what that means? It means it’s time for solemn reflection on how you didn’t realise it was already July and how there was so much you wanted to do this year, but just have gotten to yet. You suddenly realise there’s no time left in the year to complete it all. You compartmentalise your disappointment with the understanding that we’re halfway through another year closer to the grave…

Nah, I’m just kidding, it’s actually time for This Month In Comics! This is where we at Multiversity sit each month and look back at all the comics that came out that month and highlight the ones that stood out to us the most.

We also sometimes do a little preamble about the big news pieces that came out this month like Marvel Studios and Sony casting their new Spider-Man, Jon Bernthal being cast as Frank Castle in Daredevil Season 2, and James Wan directing Aquaman. See? Just like that.

Best Issue: “The Fiction” #1

Surprise, surprise, the comic I picked as my Pick Of The Week this month gets my choice for the best issue of the month. But can you blame me? Curt Pires and David Rubin put together a stunning first issue that ably juggled introducing readers to a fantastic, gorgeous world brought to life by Rubin’s beautiful art while keeping the story focused on very real, very human characters. If, by any chance, you missed this book consider this a reminder to go track it down.

Best Writer(s): Ming Doyle & James Tynion IV (“Constantine: The Hellblazer” #1)

Reviewing every episode of NBC’s Constantine was a pretty gruelling exercise in watching a show get so close and yet so far to being a great adaptation of a great character. When I heard that DC were relaunching John’s series as part of their DCYou initiative, I was a little hesitant as I didn’t want to sit through the comic equivalent. Then Ming Doyle and James Tynion Iv happened. Crafting a first issue that introduces readers to John’s multiple facets of bastardness while hint at a much larger, much darker, much more supernatural world around him and I’m finally excited for a John Constantine comic since “Hellblazer” ended.

Best Artist: David Rubin (“The Fiction” #1)

I’m going to keep this one brief as I covered most of it in my review of this issue, but David Rubin’s art in “The Fiction” is some of the most gorgeous artwork I’ve seen in my time reading comics. It is simply fantastic as it blends a very European style in attention to detail when creating the world that manages to blend a very rigid structure of storytelling in the real world while letting things get more abstract in the world of The Fiction. Truly beautiful.

Best Cover: “The Fiction” #1

Yeah, yeah, I know, if I love “The Fiction” why don’t I go marry it? Well, you know what, I just might. This cover is gorgeous and eye-catching in its use of a bright, attention grabbing red while while keeping the two figures on the cover in contrasting blues and yellows. It also tells you everything you need to know going into the book while keeping it abstract enough that you don’t realise that fact until after you’ve finished reading the issue. If only all covers were as great as this one.

Most Surprisingly Good DCYou Debut Of The Month: “Consantine: The Hellblazer” #1

I covered why this issue was so great to me like two paragraphs ago, but I’ll just reiterate that I was very worried about this issue. I didn’t want another watered down version trying to ape what worked in “Hellbalzer” without the guts to go out and try something new. This issue tried something new and I think it might be DC’s best new book right now.

Most Surprisingly Good “Secret Wars” Tie-In Of The Month: “Future Imperfect” #1

Let me break down why this was surprising: I didn’t care about the Maestro character going into this book. Hulks that aren’t the traditional Bruce Banner character have never been all that interesting to me. Add on top of that the fact that Greg Land drew this book and I was actively dreading having to read it. Then, by halfway through the issue, a twist happens that genuinely shocked me and had me emotionally invested in the story and wanting more. I can’t believe I enjoyed this issue so much, but it’s one of my favourites to come out of “Secret Wars”.

Continued below

Best Team-Up: Thorlief and Beta Ray Thor in “Thors” #1

Speaking of “Secret Wars”, there’s an issue where Ultimate Thor and Beta Ray Bill are buddy cops in Battleworld tracking down a serial killer killing every version of Jane Foster across all the realms of Battleworld.

#TrueDetectiveSeason3

Most “Wait, What?” Moment Of The Month: Ales Kot shows up in “The Surface” #3

This is a moment that didn’t surprise me as much as I wanted it to as I guessed this was going to be the resolution of this issue pretty early on. Still, what this means for the series as a whole and where it’s going to go next issue and how this will completely change how I will read the first and second issues? That’s the reason this moment gets a shout out.


//TAGS | This Month In Comics

Alice W. Castle

Sworn to protect a world that hates and fears her, Alice W. Castle is a trans femme writing about comics. All things considered, it’s going surprisingly well. Ask her about the unproduced Superman films of 1990 - 2006. She can be found on various corners of the internet, but most frequently on Twitter: @alicewcastle

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