Each week, CBR has your guide to navigating Wednesday's new and recent comic releases, specials, collected editions and reissues, and we're committed to helping you choose those that are worth your hard-earned cash. It's a little slice of CBR we like to call Major Issues.
If you feel so inclined, you can buy our recommendations directly on comiXology with the links provided. We'll even supply links to the books we're not so hot on, just in case you don't want to take our word for it. Don't forget to let us know what you think of the books this week in the comments! And as always, SPOILERS AHEAD!
INFINITE FRONTIER #0 (DC)
After the apocalyptic cataclysm of Dark Nights: Death Metal and the grim promise of Future State, Infinite Frontier #0 marks the start of a new dawn for the DC Universe. Built around a Wonder Woman framing story by Joshua Williamson, James Tynion IV, Scott Snyder, John Timms, Alex Sinclair and Troy Peteri, this oversize special takes a brief tour of the DC Universe, setting up or reestablishing status quos for numerous iconic heroes along the way.
As a jumping-on point to DC's various upcoming titles and storylines, this works well. It feels like a cohesive collaboration between the more than 30 creators involved, despite the various art styles and mood the tones the book strikes. While it's very much an introductory piece, stories like Tynion, Jorge Jimenez and Tomeu Morey's Batman segment and Williamson and Porter's Flash short have some surprisingly big moments that make this essential reading for new and seasoned DC fans alike.
BATMAN #106 (DC)
Spinning out of Infinite Frontier #0, Batman #106 sees the Dark Knight jump back into action in DC's flagship title as James Tynion IV, Jorge Jimenez, Tomeu Morey and Clayton Cowles continue their blockbuster run on the series. With Batman still recovering from the lingering effects of "Joker War," this comic sees Batman stepping into his new, relatively more limited status quo with a more limited team behind him as he faces a familiar villain with a bold new plan.
With moody art that strikes the right mix of moody shadows and dynamic action, this comic doesn't shy away from the elements of true horror that have peppered Tynion's run on the title. The title also features a short but fun Robin back-up by Joshua Williamson, Gleb Melnikov and Troy Peteri with a fluid, manga-influenced style that's a good match for the young Damian Wayne's adventures.
NOCTERRA #1 (IMAGE COMICS)
After defining Batman in the early days of the New 52, Scott Snyder and Tony Daniel have teamed up with Tomeu Morey and Andworld Design to introduce a different kind of creature of the night in Nocterra #1. The world of this Image Comics series has been covered in darkness, and any living creature who gets stuck in the dark for more than 10 hours finds themselves transformed into a rampaging creature called a Shade.
While long-way transporter Val Riggs and her brother Emory give the comic a relatable human core, the book has a well-considered world and features an array of sharp character designs for both the creatures and the survivors they hunt. While Nocterra's post-apocalyptic trappings recall The Walking Dead and Undiscovered Country, this action-horror epic feels like the more refined evolution of the kinds of monster-filled books that populated the early days of Image.
DEMON DAYS: X-MEN #1 (MARVEL)
After becoming one of the most in-demand cover artists in mainstream comics, Peach Momoko offers a unique interpretation of the Marvel Universe that's informed by Japanese folklore, with Zack Davisson and Ariana Maher, in Demon Days: X-Men #1. In this world, Psylocke is cast as Sai, a wandering sword-for-hire, who travels with a wolf named Logan. While helping a village populated by other X-Men analogs, Demon Days: X-Men sees Sai encounter a Hulk-like oni and face a beast based on another marvel icon.
While there have been several previous attempts to recast the X-Men in the trappings of folklore, those marriages were only skin-deep, and this integration of Marvel and folklore seems far more intentional. Momoko's interior artwork has all the charm, dynamism and elegance of her cover work. Taken together, those elements make Demon Days a unique, thoughtful book that's not quite like anything else from a mainstream American publisher.
BRZRKR #1 (BOOM! STUDIOS)
While plenty of celebrities have attached their names to comic books in the past, few of them are as fascinating or as well-made as Keanu Reeves, Matt Kindt, Ron Garney, Bill Crabtree and Clem Robins' BRZRKR #1.
Featuring an immortal warrior as he goes on a brutal mission, this comic is almost all action, with a terse script leaving plenty of room for Garney and Crabtree to deliver page after page of stunning, bloody fight sequences. Even though Reeves has made a career out of action movies, this is a shockingly violent comic with more blood and gore than any film the John Wick star has ever appeared in. While the issue takes just enough time to set up a compelling mystery around its protagonist, the epic fight scenes make this a must-read for any action fan.
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