It’s a big week for Marvel as they debut the first issue of their most recent comic book event. Rob Liefeld returns with one of the most bizarre X-Men related titles this year, which is saying a lot. And an established series continues to be a monthly reminder of what makes comic books great.
DC has a slim offering this week, but there are still some strong books among its ranks. Slade Wilson turns the tables on Robin (because of course he does) and a fan-favorite group of teen superheroes deal with the bigger picture. And if that wasn't enough to beef up your pull list, it’s a new period of transition for one of Image Comics’ longest running series this week and the consequences will no doubt be dire.
6 Deathstroke #42
By Christopher Priest, Carlo Pagulayan, Jason Paz, Norm Rapmund, Jeromy Cox, FCO Plascencia, and Willie Schubert
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Slade Wilson might by the toughest customer in the DC Universe. It’s fascinating that a guy who was a villain (and a bad one at that) has evolved into a really deep and often charming anti-hero (still a really bad one). Deathstroke #42 plays to the character’s strengths by diving into his own personal trauma and his complex feelings toward Robin and his father.
Priest is one of the best writers working today and his take on the character continues to be nothing short of stellar. Carlo Pagulayan’s art is also solid in this issue, delivering wonderful phantasmagorias in splash pages, making the second part of "Terminus Agenda" even more entertaining than the first.
5 Young Justice #4
By Brian Michael Bendis, Patrick Gleason, John Timms, Alejandro Sanchez, Alex Sinclair, and Wes Abbott
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Brian Michael Bendis and Patrick Gleason’s Young Justice has been a surprisingly restrained series in terms of pacing. The book doesn’t seem to be in any rush to get to the impending war in Gemworld or rescuing our team from their current predicament. But where the series may seem to lack on hyper-kinetic momentum, it makes up in character pathos.
Young Justice #4 widens the scope of the series by giving readers a glimpse at the inner political workings of Gemworld and how volatile it is as well as some touching reunions and fantastic homage to Old Man Logan with Superboy (you’ll see).
4 The Walking Dead #190
By Robert Kirkman, Charlie Adlard, Stefano Gaudiano, Cliff Rathburn, and Dave Stewart
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The Walking Dead is at its strongest when it’s a meditation on societal norms, and how humanity handles having those norms quickly pulled out from under them. How people try to reinstate a sense of government, community, and peace often causes them to walk down well-worn paths paved in good intentions which ultimately lead to ruin.
The Walking Dead #190 is the beginning of the fall of the Commonwealth in terms of action (it’s been a long time coming in the minds of most readers, however). Kirkman and Adlard are as sharp as ever here and deliver a stunning cliffhanger they have become known for.
3 Major X #1
By Rob Liefeld, Adelso Corona, Dan Fraga, Romulo Fajardo Jr., and VC's Joe Sabini
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It’s impossible to call Major X #1 a good comic, but it certainly is a time capsule and a must read for anyone who grew up loving ‘90s comics. This issue will also entice readers who love it when stories blur the line between bombastic and straight up dumb. Major X #1 lives on that line.
This comic, for better or worse, is quite the experience. And don’t worry, longtime fans: all the Rob Liefeld hallmarks are present. Major X #1 features time travel, bizarre body proportions, swords, weird guns, and Cable’s perpetual battle cry even when he’s speaking in normal conversation, and literally none of that information is a spoiler. It’s a given.
2 Uncanny X-Men #15
By Matthew Rosenberg, Slvador Larroca, Guru-eFX, Rachelle Rosenberg, and VC's Joe Caramagna
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As Cyclops and Wolverine’s scrappy new X-Men team try to fight for their species while also taking out their greatest threats, things go off the rails pretty quick. Uncanny X-Men #15 dives head first into the themes of discrimination, prejudice, and how far some people are willing to take what they perceive as justice into their own hands. Of course, it also has some pretty cool action sequences tossed in for good measure and dramatic effect.
Rosenberg has been deftly handing the mutant flagship title thus far, crafting a story that will appeal to new and old fans alike. Larroca’s art is solid, but it really shines when we get into the action. Overall, this book just keeps getting better issue after issue.
1 War of the Realms #1
By Jason Aaron, Russell Davterman, Matthew Wilson, Arthur Adams and VC's Joe Sabino
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Malekith, the Dark Elf who has been a thorn in Thor’s side in the comics, and was grossly underutilized in the MCU has been marching across the Ten Realms causing quite the kerfuffle. Now the fight is at Thor and all the Heroes of Midgard’s doorstep.
Jason Aaron and Russell Dauterman have taken the high fantasy tone of books like Unworthy Thor and have injected it with your heroes-in-tights tropes, delivering a comic that benefits from its desperate tones and huge cast of character. Marvel has hit some slumps in their event books over the last few years, but this doesn’t appear to be one of them.
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