Due to the general inability to hit up our local comic shops right now and/or get new issues right now, our usual ‘Comics Should Be Cheap’ format doesn’t really work. But all of us have those comics that we’ve wanted to read, but fo whatever reason, never got around to. So, this week, we present ‘Comics Should Be New,’ where we talk about what new to us books we may read instead of the books on our pull list.
Greg Lincoln’s Pick:
Demon Slayer Kimetsu no Yaiba ($6.99 per digital volume on Viz/Shonen Jump) – As someone who absolutely loves manga it’s sad that in recent years I have not really dove into very many recent series other then “Houseki no Kuni” (Land of the Lustrous), so when the self quarantine started I decided it was time. Koyoharu Gotōge’s shonen demon hunting manga set in early twentieth century Japan at first glance could be more of the usual fare for boys manga but there is a lot of unexpected depth to the story. The story following Tanjiro Kamado and the people that become his companions is almost immediately unexpectedly tragic, heartfelt, touching and compassionate in ways that are refreshing in a genre that sometimes lacks real heart. This is a manga I might have passed over had I not seen people commenting about how surprisingly good it is. Gotōge has a charming familiar style but he has a freshness to his designs and storytelling that makes “Demon Slayer” stand out among the crowd of similar looking stories.
Erik’s Pick:
“Nick Fury: Deep-Cover Capers” ($10.99 on comiXology) – I checked out of Marvel during most of their post- ‘Secret Wars’ years. Looking back through the tumultuous relaunches and renumberings, there are a couple hidden gems that piqued my interest including James Robinson and ACO’s “Nick Fury” series launched towards the tail-end of ‘Marvel NOW 2.0’ and before ‘Marvel Legacy.’ The series looks to be a throwback to the psychedelic Steranko days with some modern upgrades while following Nick Fury Jr. as the eponymous protagonist. Expect titles rendered into landscapes, intricate panel layouts, brilliant colors, and a thrilling spycraft story.
Brian’s Pick:
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Ultimate Black and White Collection Vol. 2 ($9.99 on comiXology) – Like many comic fans of my age, the original TMNT comics were hard to find and greatly prized. Due to their relative scarcity, I had never read anything even close to resembling full runs, or even more than an issue here or there. A few years ago, I picked up the first few volumes of the oversized black and white collections IDW was putting out. The first volume floored me, but volumes 2-4 have been sitting on my shelf just waiting to be explored and enjoyed. This week, I’m going to dig into volume 2.
Jason’s Picks:
Saga Compendium Vol. 1 ($37.99 on comiXology) Yep, I’m going with another famous Image titled Compendium! I’ve never read an issue of “Saga”, yet I’ve seen some pages from friends, and while I worked at my LCS. Funny enough I saw this edition the day of release and was surprised at the price, quality, and page count, so I bought it. It looks damn good on my shelf but would look better once I crack it open!
Kate’s Pick:
“Hip Hop Family Tree” Vol. 1 ($9.49 on comiXology) – I loved Ed Piskor’s “X-Men Grand Design,” so it’s high time I checked out one of his earlier, and most well-known, works.
