This fine Wednesday is bountiful with amazing comics from the Big Two publishers and an exciting debut fantasy series from Image Comics. Brian Michael Bendis continues to impress over at DC Comics with a pair of books featuring the greatest detectives known to the medium.
Chip Zdarsky and Kris Anka debut a lush new fantasy world over at Image. Marvel continues its brilliant, bold new direction for the X-Men. Everyone’s favorite wild card character return with a new five-issue miniseries, and one of the most gorgeous series this year continues in stellar fashion.
6 Batman Universe #2
By: Brian Michael Bendis, Nick Derington, Dave Stewart, and Josh Reed
Batman and Green Arrow take on the Riddler in a puzzle that will lead the Dark Knight to some rather unexpected places in Batman Universe #2, which reprints material previous collected in BATMAN GIANT #5 and #6.
The tone of this series is ever-evolving. Batman Universe #2 has turned what started out as a fun, somewhat campy nod to Batman stories of yesteryear and has taken a hard left turn into something else entirely. We won’t spoil anything if this is your first time reading this story, but Brian Michael Bendis and Nick Derington’s take on The Caped Crusader is a wonderful gumbo of all the things that makes Batman great.
5 Event Leviathan #3
By: Brian Michael Bendis, Alex Maleev, and Josh Reed
Who knew reading page after page of the world’s greatest detectives standing in a circle trying to crack the biggest case the DC Universe has seen in a decade would be so harrowing? The team that brought you one of the best runs on Marvel Comics’ Daredevil continue their amazing event series in Event Leviathan #3.
Now, to be fair, this issue isn’t all Aaron Sorkin levels of whirlwind dialogue the entire time -- there’s plenty of action to spare. But the sharp dialogue and the turns this issue threatens to take really make it stand out this week, and that final splash page will have you wondering “well, what now?”
4 The White Trees #1
By: Chip Zdarsky, Kris Anka, Matt Wilson, and Aditya Bidikar
The White Trees #1 is the first half of a two-issue, over-sized miniseries from Daredevil writer Chip Zdarsky and Runaways artist Kris Anka that follows three former warriors on the trail of a possible abduction of their children set in a bucolic fantasy world.
With solid character designs and strong bones of a story, The White Trees #1 may be the first of a one-two punch from a series that will stand above the myriad of fantasy stories on the shelf, especially from Image Comics. There’s enough heart, humanity, and humor to make this the start of something special.
3 Gwenpool Strikes Back #1
By: Leah Williams, David Baldeon, Jesus Aburtov, VC’s Joe Caramagna, Terry Dodson, and Rachel Dodson
Gwenpool is a character that doesn’t always jive with everyone’s taste, but that’s kind of the point, isn’t it? If you are game for madcap, fourth-wall breaking, and (bad) joke-a-panel pacing that have become hallmarks for any comic featuring the bizarre hero, then Gwenpool Strikes Back #1 has got you covered.
Writer Leah Williams and artist David Baldeon dial the Bugs Bunny-level zaniness to 11 and don’t apologize one iota for doing so. This book is a lot of fun and will certainly tap into your juvenile, inner-preteen sense of humor. If that's not your thing, Spider-Man's great guest appearance will be.
2 Power of X #2
By: Jonathan Hickman, R. B. Silva, Adriano Di Benedetto, Marte Gracia, VC’s Clayton Cowles, and Tom Muller
Who isn’t reading this series? It almost doesn’t need to repeating, but what Jonathan Hickman is doing with the X-Men Universe feels like something truly special is brewing. Powers of X #2 continues its time-jumping narrative and it looks like Moira MacTaggert has some serious X-plaining to do.
With stellar art from R.B. Silva, Powers of X is a must read for any fan of the X-Men or any comic book fan who has been looking for the next watershed moment in the medium. No, seriously this series, along with House of X is nothing short brilliant, and will be an event that will most likely influence decades of future stories.
1 Silver Surfer: Black #3
By: Donny Cates, Tradd Moore, Dave Stewart, VC’s Clayton Cowles, and Felipe Sobreiro
Silver Surfer Black #3 continues a cosmic saga unlike anything you’ve ever seen before. This series might be the most visually arresting book Marvel Comics has produced this year so far. Tradd Moore continues to shine as a master visual storyteller and Donny Cates narration and dialogue help drive those visuals to new heights.
Whether you’re a long-time fan of the Herald of Galactus or a casual reader, this series has something for you. The emotional weight of Norrin Radd’s plight is rendered beautifully both visually and narratively. The crazy adventure across the cosmos is just a bonus. Also…c’mon, look at that cover!
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