Another month, another collection of comics to anticipate! So, what does April hold for us? We have the return of the Guardians of the Galaxy, the Omega issue of “Avengers Assemble,” and plenty more. So let’s see what comics make the top ten…
10. Oh sh**, there goes the planet.
Marvel has already been publishing comics based off the Alien and Predator movie, so what’s next? That’s right, Planet of the Apes! Well, at least a story in the time leading up to the simian conquest of Earth. It can be tricky creating a story where the outcome is already established, but if David Walker and Dave Wachter can make it a great ride, then it’ll be worth reading regardless. Now the only question is: are you going to root for the humans, or the apes?
Planet of the Apes #1
Written by David F. Walker
Illustrated by Dave Wachter
Cover by Joshua Cassara
Variant covers by Salvador Larroca, Yanick Paquette, Mike McKone, Logan Lubera, and George Tuska• DAVID F. WALKER & DAVE WACHTER BRING PLANET OF THE APES BACK TO MARVEL COMICS IN SPECTACULAR STYLE!
• A new era of apes kicks off with part 1 of “Devolution”! The ALZ-113 virus has rampaged across planet Earth, and humanity is crumbling. While well-meaning researchers hunt for a cure, a fanatical group of humans has their own solution: Kill all apes. Peacekeeper Juliana Tobon is one of the few willing to stand against them, but the crisis is spreading, and soon apes will witness the true depths of human cruelty… Eisner-winning writer David F. Walker (Luke Cage, Bitter Root) joins forces with artist Dave Wachter (Iron Fist: Heart of the Dragon, Star Wars: The High Republic – Trail of Shadows) on one of the most beloved sci-fi franchises in history!
9. Madam, I’m Adam
Adam Warlock is set to make his live-action debut in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 this May, so it’s only natural he gets his own comic in April. And this new story is set to introduce an Eve to Adam, and she’s about to make him obsolete. Will this stir up interest in the character before he appears on the silver screen? With Rons Marz and Lim behind it, it’ll be an exciting addition to the mythos without a doubt.
Warlock: Rebirth #1 (of 5)
Written by Ron Marz
Illustrated by Ron Lim
Cover by Ron Lim
Variant covers by Ron Lim, Alan Davis, and Alex Ross• Adam Warlock was created to be the perfect human specimen. Since then, Adam has gone on to be a cosmic savior, defending the galaxy from the likes of Thanos, the Universal Church of Truth and the Magus. But what will happen when the next evolution of Warlock emerges? Someone who is stronger, faster and smarter than Adam? Don’t miss this untold story of Adam Warlock and the Infinity Watch as Ron Marz and Ron Lim (SILVER SURFER: REBIRTH) introduce a new character that will forever impact Warlock’s legacy!
8. These colors don’t punish
The Punisher, at his core, is a killer. That’s always been his deal. So he fit into The Hand pretty nicely, as long as they let him keep killing people who he thinks deserve it. Now he’s all the way in, complete with a new set of powers, and it’s time for Punisher vs the Marvel universe – starting with Captain America, who he famously respects and often refuses to fight. Well, that’s about to change, so let’s see how his super-powered showdowns are about to go.
Continued belowPunisher #11
Written by Jason Aaron
Illustrated by Jesús Saiz and Paul Azaceta
Cover by Jesús Saiz
Variant cover by Matteo Scalera• Frank Castle has finally embraced the role of Fist of the Beast, the High Slayer of the world’s most powerful clan of murderers, the Hand. And the rest of the Marvel Universe has taken notice. If Frank really wants to end his war once and for all, he’s going to have to fight his way through some old familiar faces.
7. Back in black And white. And red.
What’s black and white and red all over? Darth Vader on the deck of a rebel ship. But also, this comic, featuring Darth Vader.
The “Black, White, and Red” comics have been a stylistic take on many a character, filled with short stories that get to the core of who they are, and now it’s time for Vader himself to get the b/w/r treatment. Only this time, the red is going to be the glow of his lightsaber, which is still pretty dang cool.
Star Wars: Darth Vader – Black, White, and Red #1
Written by Jason Aaron, Peach Momoko, and Torunn Grønbekk
Illustrated by Peach Momoko and more!
Cover by Alex Maleev
Variant covers by Gabriele Dell’Otto, Jim Cheung, and Kaare Andrews• THE DARK LORD OF THE SITH LIKE YOU’VE NEVER SEEN HIM BEFORE!
• Following the successful black, white and red series produced by Marvel Comics, DARTH VADER now takes the spotlight for tales of terror by some of the industries most talented creators!
• PEACH MOMOKO will spin a story only she can bring to life!
• PLUS, the return of JASON AARON to the world of STAR WARS with Part One of his Vader tale spanning all four issues!
6. Hope you survive the experience
It seems like every X-family comic needs to switch up its team every couple of issues, and “X-Force” is no exception. Now that Deadpool and Omega Red are on the team, it’s about to shift even more, with the addition of a new Wolverine (Laura, not another Logan) and Colossus. Mind you, we’ve seen in previous comics that Colossus is compromised, and he also suffered some public humiliation at the hands of X-Force in the past, so that’s going to add some drama. And that makes this comic all the more exciting.
X-Force #39
Written by Benjamin Percy
Illustrated by Robert Gill
Cover by Joshua Cassara
Variant cover by Geoff Shaw• COLOSSUS AND WOLVERINE JOIN X-FORCE!
• It’s a NEW ERA for X-FORCE, and a new era means new members! Be here as LAURA KINNEY, A.K.A. WOLVERINE, and PIOTR RASPUTIN, A.K.A. COLOSSUS, join the team. Let’s just hope one of them isn’t harboring a SECRET set to destroy their teammates…!
5. Oceans rise, empires fall
When the “War of the Bounty Hunters” began, did anyone expect it would kick off as big a “Star Wars” comic event as it did? Only now are we approaching the end, with “Hidden Empire” hitting its conclusion in April. Like with the “Planet of the Apes” comic, we may know how this story ends (we know Qi’ra can’t win, at least not in any significant way) but it’s been one heck of a ride getting to this point. Now we get to see how it all wraps up.
Star Wars: Hidden Empire #5 (of 5)
Written by Charles Soule
Illustrated by Steven Cummings
Cover by Paulo Siqueira
Variant covers by Steven Cummings, David Lopez, and Declan Shalvey• CHAOS REIGNS!
• The epic conclusion to the trilogy begun with WAR OF THE BOUNTY HUNTERS and CRIMSON REIGN!
• At last, Qi’ra will reveal herself to the Sith.
• At last, she will have her revenge.
4. Bucky, what are you doing?
With two Captains America having their own comics and own issues to deal with, it was only a matter of time until their paths intersected. Steve is dealing with the Outer Circle and Bucky’s plays against them, while Sam is dealing with his own geopolitical conflicts, and now they’re about to come together for a nice team-up. We’ve got multiple dimensions, secret societies, and Bucky possibly going bad but probably running his own long game – there’s a lot, and I can’t wait to see how it all comes together.
Continued belowCaptain America: Cold War Alpha #1
Written by Collin Kelly, Jackson Lanzing, and Tochi Onyebuchi
Illustrated by Carlos Magno
Cover by Patrick Gleason
Variant covers by Daniel Acuña, Marco Checchetto, Steve McNiven, Alex Ross, and Stefano Caselli• THE REVOLUTION STARTS HERE: COLD WAR – PART ONE!
• Bucky Barnes is the Outer Circle’s New Revolution, and he has enacted his deadliest move yet — an alliance with Sam Wilson’s nemesis, the White Wolf. When Steve Rogers’ adopted son, Ian, A.K.A. Nomad, is abducted by someone Steve thought was a friend, he suspects Bucky’s hand at work and calls upon the people who know Ian best — Sam Wilson, Sharon Carter and Misty Knight — to help him get to the bottom of the attack. Has Bucky finally gone too far? Why has Nomad been taken, and what does it have to do with a portal to Dimension Z opening over a secret battleground in Alaska? The Symbol of Truth and the Sentinel of Liberty reunite for a pulse-pounding crossover event that will make them question everything they believe in…and each other.
3. Are we finally done assembling?
To say Jason Aaron has been busy with his “Avengers” comics would be an understatement. Every time we think it’s all about to reach a shocking conclusion, something new happens to shake things up even more. But this time, it really does come to an end in “Avengers Assemble Omega.” We’ve had five years of buildup with the prehistoric Avengers, variants of the Avengers from multiple worlds and timelines, more Mephistos than any team can handle, and of course, the “Avenger Prime” behind it all. Now it gets a massive conclusion, and the only thing we know is that there’s undoubtedly more surprises left for us.
Avengers Assemble Omega #1
Written by Jason Aaron
Illustrated by Javier Garron, Aaron Kuder, Jim Towe, Ivan Fiorelli, and more
Cover by Aaron Kuder
Variant covers by Steve Skroce, Stefano Caselli, and Alex Ross• AVENGERS ASSEMBLE: THE FINAL CHAPTER!
• The grand, oversized finale of the most epic battle in the history of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. Along with being the final issue of Jason Aaron’s five-year AVENGERS run, this features an all-star cavalcade of artists, a veritable smorgasbord of Avengers and a few last emotional gut punches in the Mighty Marvel Manner.
2. Spider-Voice?
While “Marvel’s Voices” always gets a high spot on this list, using it for a “Spider-Verse” comic feels a bit odd. The “Voices” comics typically highlight creators and characters from underrepresented groups, but that’s not exactly the case with anything “Spider-Man” related.
But you know what? As long as it maintains the style of the “Marvel’s Voices” comics that allows creators to give us character-driven looks at some of our favorite heroes, then I’m not going to complain. With the latest jaunt through the Spider-Verse comic to an end, we get this issue to catch up on all sorts of Spideys, and see what comes next for them all.
And hey, it’ll probably build hype for the next Spider-Verse movie as well, and that’s a plus too!
Marvel’s Voices: Spider-Verse #1
Written by Cody Ziglar, Jeremy Holt, Steve Foe, J. Holtham, and more
Illustrated by Jahnoy Lindsay, Eric Koda, Luciano Vecchio, Ken Lashley, and more
Cover by Leinil Francis Yu
Variant covers by John Giant, Phil Jimenez, and InHyuk Lee• AN AWESOME ASSEMBLY OF MARVEL’S MIGHTIEST!
• An all-new selection of interdimensional adventures from some of Marvel’s freshest and finest creators, each bringing their own unique perspectives and stylings to the Web of Life and Destiny! What new spiders will find their way to the Marvel Multiverse, and what familiar faces will join them for this titanic and oversized issue?!
1. Howdy, guardians
Of course we’re getting a new “Guardians of the Galaxy” comic with the third movie approaching. But if you thought this was going to be your typical “group of misfit heroes in space” comic, think again. We’ve got betrayal, a lawless frontier in space, and judging by the cover, very little in the way of pants. What brought the team to this point? What drove them to start cosplaying as post-apocalyptic cowboys? Only one way to find out.
Guardians of the Galaxy #1
Written by Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing
Illustrated by Kev Walker
Cover by Marco Checchetto
Variant covers by Derrick Chew, Aaron Kuder, Kael Ngu, Skottie Young, and Alex Ross• WHO ARE THE GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY?
• One year ago, the Guardians of the Galaxy were destroyed. Their optimistic future shattered by the betrayal of one of their own. Now they ride the space lanes of a lawless corner of the galaxy, trying to outrun their tragedy. Can they rediscover their heroism and humanity on the bleakest frontier? Can they forgive the failures of their past? Or will they fade into the dark, eternally unforgiven? Writers JACKSON LANZING and COLLIN KELLY (CAPTAIN AMERICA: SENTINEL OF LIBERTY) team up with artist KEV WALKER (PREDATOR) for a Guardians story like no other!
Check out the full solicitations over at CBR.com.
