Another month of comics ahead, with a fair amount of new series or one-shots. There’s plenty to choose from, but here’s the top ten for April:
10. On The Rise
“Oh look, another comic with Squirrel Girl, no wonder it’s on the list,” I hear the more skeptical among you saying. Well you’re only partial right, hypothetical reader, because that’s only one of the reasons I gave this comic a spot on the list. This comic is meant to tie-in to the upcoming Marvel Rising: Secret Warriors animated movie, so it’s not likely to be entirely canon, but I still love the idea behind it. Young, smart heroes teaming up and working together is always worth reading, and it’ll give more time and focus to characters like Inferno and Patriot, who haven’t exactly had chances to shine for some time.
Oh, and it’s free, which is always nice.
Marvel Rising #0
Written by Devin Grayson
Illustrated by Marco Failla
Cover by Helen Chen• KICKING OFF MARVEL RISING!
• This April SQUIRREL GIRL meets MS. MARVEL – for the very first time! When Doreen Green (also known as the unbeatable Squirrel Girl) volunteers as head counselor for an extra-curricular computer programming camp, little does she know that junior counselor Kamala Khan moonlights as crime fighting super hero Ms. Marvel! But this coding camp is more than just ones and zeros when A.I.M. makes an appearance! Will our heroes be able to save the campers without blowing their secret identities? Join Ms. Marvel, Squirrel Girl, America, Inferno, and Patriot as they learn exactly what it means to be a young hero in the Marvel Universe – and what it means to be a hero to each other.
• 32 PGS./RATED T …FREE
9. Avenge Me!
Okay, so there’s a lot of Avengers comics coming out this month, as the “No Surrender” arc continues on through at least fifteen parts. Yeah, that’s a long-running event. But it’s bringing in pretty much every Avenger team, there are mysteries growing, and sacrifices to be made.
But mostly: I just love the cover for this issue.
Avengers #688
Written by Al Ewing, Jim Zub, and Mark Waid
Illustrated by Kim Jacinto
Cover by Mark Brooks
End of an Era Variant Cover by Chris Sprouse• THE AVENGERS WEEKLY EPIC CONTINUES!
• NO SURRENDER Part 14
• As the final battle for Earth begins, one Avenger will sacrifice everything to give his teammates a fighting chance.
• 32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
8. Good Times in Hypertime
Look, we all know by now that “Unbeatable Squirrel Girl” has consistently earned a place on this list. Every month they hint at some crazy new idea and story concept that reaches into the wide breadth of the Marvel universe to create something new and clever. This issue is no different. We’re seeing hypertime being brought into Doreen’s life, and Nancy gets caught up in it, so undoubtedly hilarity and excellent writing will ensue.
The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl #31
Written by Ryan North
Illustrated by Erica Henderson• Have you been doodling “I wish they’d do an issue where Squirrel Girl got a new super-power, and Nancy Whitehead ALSO got a super-power” in your diary? WE HAVE SOME GOOD, INCREDIBLY SPECIFIC-TO-YOU NEWS: That is happening! In this special stand-alone issue, when Doreen and Nancy are blasted into hypertime, they’re moving so fast as to be invisible to everyone. So of course they decide to fight crime at super speed! But are there downsides to moving really fast? (Yes, there are.) Can anyone in regular time get them back? (Nope.) Will they be trapped there… FOREVER?? We’re not answering that last question because you’ll have to buy the issue to find out!
• 32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99
7. Cast Change
I haven’t exactly been a fan of the recent “Champions” run, because I felt like it really wasn’t getting its maximum potential. However, with Jim Zub bringing in new teammates and a new character, I’m intrigued enough to give it another chance. The team is expanding, and that means new story potentials and new ways the characters can bounce off each other, so let’s see where this leads.
Continued belowChampions #19
Written by Jim Zub
Illustrated by Sean Izaakse• A WIDER WORLD Part 1
• IRONHEART and THE UNSTOPPABLE WASP join the Champions at last! The team has grown but the mission stays the same – the Champions fight to make the world a better place for all!
• Writer Jim Zub (AVENGERS: NO SURRENDER) and artist Sean Izaakse (UNCANNY AVENGERS) reunite to push the Champions beyond their limits with any icy Antarctic adventure that will challenge everything they believe in!
• Don’t miss this first chapter of a new era of Champions – and the birth of a brand new hero!
• 32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
6 Farewell to the Mightiest.
Last month, I talked about the Mighty Thor coming to an end, but I should have phrased it better: it’s not the comic that’s ending, but Thor herself. With the battle over, the cleanup begins, and Jason Aaron isn’t done yet. Will he find a way to revive Jane after all the comic’s been doing to build up to her death? Probably not; this may even be a return to the former status quo for Thor Odinson. No matter how it goes, this is an amazing arc that should not be missed.
Mighty Thor #706
Written by Jason Aaron
Illustrated by Russell Dauterman
Cover by Russell Dauterman
Variant Covers by Marco Checchetto and TBA• AT THE GATES OF VALHALLA!
• THE DEATH OF THE MIGHTY THOR finale
• The battle against the Mangog is finished. And the losses have been profound. So what – if anything – remains of the story of Jane Foster, Goddess of Thunder? And where do the other gods possibly go from here?
• 32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
5. The Most Dangerous Game
Wolverine is back, we’ve know that since the last page of “Marvel Legacy.” But he hasn’t exactly just popped up like nothing’s wrong, so a new arc begins to get him re-integrated.
Which shouldn’t be too hard, considering Old Man Logan has just been taking his place. Still, let’s see what Charles Soule has planned for the revived man with adamantine claws, and what horrible secrets will be revealed along the way.
The Hunt For Wolverine #1
Written by Charles Soule
Illustrated by David Marquez
Cover by Steve McNiven
Variant Covers by Steve McNiven, Elizabeth Torque, Mike Deodato, Adam Kubert, and Marco Checchetto• The RETURN OF WOLVERINE begins here, providing the first piece of a mystery that will leave no corner of the Marvel Universe untouched. Just as the X-Men have finally come to terms with Logan’s death, they learn a terrible secret. Old wounds will be re-opened, truths questioned, and an epic quest begun. The earliest clues to the mystery of Wolverine’s return are laid down here… who will solve it first?
• 56 PGS./ONE-SHOT/Rated T+ …$5.99
4. Coronation Day
700 issues! Now that’s a lot of times Captain America has had to save the day. Cap is stuck in another time travel story, and found yet another of those post-apocalyptic futures the Marvel universe keeps getting. So while I’ve heard it’s good to be the king, we’ll see if he’s a fair and benevolent ruler (mostly because we’ve already seen what it’s like with him as a cruel and oppressive dictator, and that event was awful). At least until he gets back to the present, which we all know will happen sooner or later.
Continued belowCaptain America #700
Written by Mark Waid
Illustrated by Chris Samnee
Cover by Chris Samnee
Variant Covers by John Cassaday, Alex Ross, Jim Steranko, and Jim Lee• OUT OF TIME CONCLUSION!
• Cap is finally “OUT OF TIME”!
• Frozen in time, awakened in a decimated future and once again a man out of his era, there is only one way for Steve Rogers to restore order and rebuild civilization—and that’s to rule it as King Captain America! No dream, no hoax, no lie, this IS Cap and this IS happening, believe it or not!
• PLUS: Mark Waid delivers an untold tale from Captain America’s past, featuring the classic artwork of Jack Kirby!
• 56 PGS./Rated T+ …$5.99
3. I’d Ship It
Karolina is one of my favorite members of the Runaways team, and she’s been through so much as a character, in terms of development and trials. Now we get to see how her life has changed since the last run, and we learn she’s dating a member of the Power Pack.
I’ll be honest, I know next to nothing about the Power Pack, but I still find this awesome. Whoever the fearsome invading super villain is doesn’t really matter compared to this development, and I want to see where it goes.
Runaways #8
Written by Rainbow Rowell
Illustrated by Kris Anka
Cover by Kris Anka• “BEST FRIENDS FOREVER” STARTS NOW!
• The Runaways welcome Karolina’s girlfriend, JULIE POWER of the POWER PACK! Well, most of them do. Some have mixed feelings… They’ll all be glad to have an experienced hero around when one of the Universe’s most fearsome super villains invades the hostel!!!
• 32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
2. Multiversal Mutant Madness
If there’s one thing the X-Men teams love messing with more than time, it’s the multiverse. And why not? So many alternate versions of characters, so much potential to explore, and… is that a miniature cartoon Wolverine? Okay, I’m sold.
Exiles #1
Written by Saladin Ahmed
Illustrated by Javier Rodriguez
Cover by David Marquez
Variant Covers by Javier Rodriques, Jesus Saiz, and Mike McKone• INTRODUCING THE ALL-NEW VALKYRIE!
• DON’T BLINK – THE EXILES ARE BACK!
• Fan-favorite X-Man Blink once joined a team destined to save not just the world, but the entire Multiverse. And now, her teleporting talents are needed once again! When a mysterious threat begins eating away at the fabric of the Multiverse, the Unseen – the man once known as Nick Fury who now can only observe Earth from a lofty post on the moon – must recruit a champion to save it. But she can’t do it alone. Who will join Blink’s new team – and can they ever go home again?
• 32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99
1. Get Lucky
Gail Simone is one of my favorite comic book writers, and having her taking Domino on a solo run sounds absolutely fantastic. The idea of her luck powers turning against her sounds like it will make for a rather fun storyline, and you know Gail will be bringing in a wide supporting cast of interesting and entertaining characters. David Baldeon’s artwork will undoubtedly add some flare and excellent visuals to the comic, so I’m very much looking forward to seeing where this goes.
Domino #1
Written by Gail Simone
Illustrated by David Baldeon
Cover by Greg Land and Frank D’armata
Variant Covers by J. Scott Campbell, Elsa Charretier, Rob Liefeld, David Balderon, and John Tyler Christopher• BAD LUCK AND TROUBLE Part 1
• Impossible curves. Impossible shots. Impossible targets. Marvel’s #1 soldier of fortune is back in an explosive new ongoing series! The product of a failed super-soldier program, Neena Thurman always made her own luck as the sharpshooting mercenary known as Domino… but what happens when her own powers betray her? The hunter becomes the hunted as every mercenary in the game smells blood in the water! Plus: A pair of beloved Marvel characters return!
• 32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
Check out the full solicitations over at CBR.com.
