In this week’s Comics Should Be Cheap, we have a first for the column: neither writer picks any common book. Every single penny of our writers $20 goes to different books, and if that doesn’t say this is a pretty damn solid week of books, I don’t know what else would.
Find out our picks after the jump.
Silver Surfer #1 ($2.99) – I’ve always been a bit of a fan of the Silver Surfer, and the idea of a book about him from Greg Pak and Stephen Segovia sounds like a surefire hit in my book. Plus, Segovia’s art looks absolutely incredible. I can’t wait to read this book!
Wolverine and Jubilee #2 ($2.99) – The first issue of this mini-series from Kathryn Immonen and Phil Noto was hugely entertaining and perfectly captured the spirit of this classic partnership. It’s an exceptional update of Jubilee as a character as well as a great rendering of the ol’ Canucklehead.
Wolverine #6 ($3.99) – Speaking of people handling Wolverine well, Jason Aaron is throwing down one incredible run with the character and has been for the past couple years. Throw in some sweet, sweet Daniel Acuna art and a new arc that finds a mindless Wolverine sparring with his fellow X-Men, and I think we’ve got some potential for this book to just keep getting better.
Thunderbolts #153 ($2.99) – Thunderbolts in the hands of Jeff Parker and Kev Walker has been one of the best books in the Marvel line-up. I love what Parker has done with each and every character, and holy crap, Kev Walker’s art is some of my absolute favorite out there. The dudes are killing it here, and I’m looking forward to see what happens after the cliffhanger from the previous issue.
Jennifer Blood #1 ($3.99) – Oh hell, this one is easy. It’s Garth Ennis writing something that is vaguely similar to The Punisher. Of course I’m going to buy it.
DMZ #62 ($2.99) – We’re into the last year of Brian Wood and Riccardo Burchielli’s epic series, and it’s firing on all cylinders. I feel like Wood will wrap the series up in a way that is every bit as good as every issue that preceded it. Here’s hoping I’m right, but either way, this book is an absolute must-buy every month.
Total: $19.94
Walt’s Picks
S.H.I.E.L.D. #6 ($3.99) – I don’t have much to say about this that hasn’t been said before. Jonathan Hickman is awesome. Dustin Weaver is awesome. Despite the delays, S.H.I.E.L.D. has been awesome. Let’s see how Act I (if you can call it that) wraps up.
Green Lantern #62 ($2.99) – I’ve been enjoying the post-Blackest Night Green Lantern about as much as I did earlier in Geoff Johns’ run. “The New Guardians” has been fun, entertaining superhero action, but this last issue is Johns’ final chance to convince me to buy into The War of the Green Lanterns. Sure, his Green Lantern is good, but is it good enough to make me add two more books to my pull? We’ll have to see.
Memoir #2 ($3.50) – I absolutely loved the first issue of this mini, and I’m ready for the rest. Actual horror and suspense stories seem to have fallen on the wayside in the comic medium, their vacant spaces filled with gore-fests that lack anything resembling cleverness or intricate plotting. Memoir is bringing the suspense back, and how.
Who Is Jake Ellis #2 ($3.50) – The final slot on my list this week was a tough choice, this new mini from Image won out. I decided to read the first issue of Who Is Jake Ellis? on a whim the day of its release, without hearing anything about it, and I was very pleased with my decision. I’m not sure if I have read anything else by Edmondson, but if his writing is as great as that first issue, I will have to find more.
Continued belowSupergirl #61 ($2.99) – I’ve been supporting this book for a while, now. The previous issue, co-written by Nick Spencer and James Peaty, was a solid start for a new run, but now it’s time to see whether or not Peaty can continue to make it rain without the aid of comic-dom’s latest golden boy. If not, at least you’re getting some great art by Bernard Chang.
Amazing Spider-Man #654.1 ($2.99) – So far, Marvel’s .1 issues have all been worth a read, and not just a shoddy marketing gimmick. For once, my unrealistic optimism hasn’t been shot down in flames! This whole issue features Venom, so it leads me to wonder whether this will actually be a good introduction for new readers to Amazing Spider-Man or if it would work better as a lead in to Remender’s new Venom ongoing. Either way, Slott hasn’t disappointed me with Big Time yet, and I doubt he will now.
Total: $19.96
Matt’s Picks
Fables #102 ($2.99) – When I was in college, Fables was one of my favorite titles. I’m no longer in college, and about two years later the book has dropped down in my eyes due to the past 25 or so issues. #100 was a great return to prominence of the book, and I’m hoping that with this new arc – featuring Fables becoming superheroes – that it’ll pick back up again. Fingers crossed.
Uncanny X-Force #5 ($3.99) – This one time I read a Punisher issue by Rick Remender, and as the comic opened he had a character drown a kitten. I’m a huge fan of cats and I said, “Ok, I don’t think I’ll read Remender anymore.” Of course, time passed, I got over it, I met Remender and talked to him, and here we stand at issue #5 of Uncanny X-Force. All cat killing aside, the man is a powerhouse writer, and if you aren’t buying/reading everything he writes, you are certainly missing out. Uncanny X-Force #4 was tremendous, and I can’t wait to see what happens in the next arc.
I also hope it doesn’t involve cats.
Hulk #30 ($3.99) – I don’t want to love this book. I really don’t. I picked it up on a complete lark just to give Parker a shot at the title (since he kicked so much ass in Thunderbolts and the last volume of Atlas), and now I can’t get enough of Parker’s Rulk. Damn you, Jeff Parker!
SHIELD #6 ($2.99) – Best series Marvel puts out, second to none and hands down.
Supergirl #61 ($2.99) –I love Supergirl. No, not in that way. When Sterling Gates took over the title, it was phenomenal, and his departure has resulted in what the Smashing Pumpkins (and Scott Pilgrim) like to refer as The Infinite Sadness. However, the first issue from Peaty (co-written by Nick Spencer) was really good, and I’m interested to see what Peaty flying solo will look like. Supergirl and Damian? Let’s do this.
Wolverine and Jubilee #2 ($2.99) – Another title I didn’t expect to love, but Kathryn Immonen’s writing and Phil Noto’s art resulted in a great first issue. I want to see more of both. Convenient that this second issue is here then, yes?
