This Wednesday is all about checking in on legends both old and new. From DC Comics, we see the slow decent of Batman’s mental health as he tries to combat the spider-web of conspiracies and betrays that have become his life. Meanwhile Arthur Curry meets a new aquatic friend (and it’s not cute…like, at all). And a new hero gets a beautifully detailed origin story.
Over at the Marvel Comics camp, everyone’s second favorite red spandex-wearing, New York crimefighter is having a crisis of faith (again), the X-Men loss a member of the team (again), and Star Wars: Age of Rebellion shines a light on a scoundrel with a heart of gold (again). Another Wednesday means another great day for new comics to add to your stack.
6 Aquaman #48
By Kelly Sue DeConnick, Viktor Bogdanovic, Jonathan Glapion, Daniel Henriques, Sunny Gho, Clayton Cowles, Robson Rocho, and Alex Sinclair
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Kelly Sue DeConnick continues her fantastic run in Aquaman #48, this time with artist Viktor Bogdanovic. Arthur Curry may not remember who he truly is, but the ocean and all its dark secrets do, specifically the Mother Shark (which is exactly what you think it is).
DeConnick and Bogdanovic have leaned way into the more mythological and fantastical elements of the character and have sent Arthur on something of a vision quest this issue to reconnect to the hero he once was and of course, still is. With gorgeous art and beautiful narration, Aquaman continues to shine as one of DC Comics’ best offerings.
5 Batman # 71
By Tom King, Mikel Janin, Jorge Fornes, Jordie Bellaire, Clayton Cowles, Andy Kubert, and Brad Anderson
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Tom King has done a pretty admirable job at exploring the mental health issues that have plagued Bruce Wayne since… well, since forever, and he has done so by putting the Dark Knight in some pretty terrible situation that only exacerbate his surprisingly frail state of mind.
As the story arc “The Fall and the Fallen” continues, King, along with the amazing Mikel Janin and Jorge Fornes give us a glimpse of what happens when one of the worlds greatest analytical minds it up against something he can’t fully understand or prove to the rest of the world. Batman #71 continues to be arguably the consistently best comic DC has to offer and issues like this are the reason why.
4 Naomi #5
By Brian Michael Bendis, David F. Walker, Jamal Campbell, and Wes Abbott
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Naomi #5 is simply awesome. Sure it’s basically one big explanation, but it’s handled so well and told wonderfully on a visual level, it doesn’t feel like a speed bump or an exposition dump for the sake of pandering to the audiences.
Writing duo Brian Michael Bendis and David F. Walker and the absolutely incredible artist Jamal Campbell have created something truly special, and Naomi #5 feels like a fledgling moment for the character. We’ve finally been introduced to the truth, and our young, charismatic hero has owned it and has embraced the possibility of what I all could lead to. The future is bright and Naomi is the light.
3 Daredevil #5
By Chip Zdarsky, Marco Checchetto, Sunny Gho, VC's Clayton Cowles, and Julian Totino Tedesco
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The Man Without Fear has seen better days… well, maybe seen isn’t the right word, but you get our drift. Matt Murdock is grappling with the awful things he’s down and how it has challenged not only his righteous quest to combat evil, but his own personal faith.
Chip Zdasky and Marco Checchetto’s Daredevil #5 is a prime example as to why this new series starring the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen is so perfect. The angst feels earned. The action is dynamic and exciting. All the crime-drama or cops-n-robbers stuff is gritty and intriguing. And of course the book is amazingly funny when it needs to be (which isn’t terribly often). From the opening fight between Matt and the Owl’s goon squad to the somber intervention moment near the end, this issue is simply wonderful.
2 Star Wars: Age of Rebellion - Lando Calrissian #1
By Grek Pak, Matteo Buffagni, Tamra Bonvillain, VC's Travis Lanham, Terry Dodson, and Rachel Dodson
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Han Solo isn’t the only scoundrel with a heart of gold in the Star Wars franchise. Any time Lando gets some shine, it’s a welcomed change of pace. Star Wars: Age of Rebellion - Lando Calrissian #1 is another great story behind the inner workings of how Cloud City stay afloat (pun totally intended) and the lengths their leader is will to go to keep it that way.
Writer Greg Pak continues his hot streak in scripting these Age of Rebellion one-shots and they seem to be getting better has he goes. Matteo Buffagni art is solid here and has an almost impressionistic vibe that keeps the visuals moving at a fast clip even when characters are just debating what amount of credits they’re owed for pages at a time.
1 Uncanny X-Men #18
By Matthew Rosenberg, Carlos Villa, Juan Vlasco, Craig Yeung, Guru-eFX, VC's Joe Caramagna, Whilce Portacio, and Erick Arciniega
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Scott Summers’ ragtag group of mutants has been facing one loss after another in the pages of Uncanny X-Men. This fact has been especially devastating considering how thin the ranks of heroic mutants already are. They are an endangered species and all the plans Scott and his team have cobbled together may never come to fruition.
The downward spiral continues in Matthew Rosenberg and Carlos Villa’s Uncanny X-Men #18. Another heavy-hitter is struck down by a classic X-Men villain and one of the most famous mutants to ever grace the page bows out of Cyclops’ crusade. This issue is pretty harrowing and is packed with so many crazy moments, it’s impossible to predict what's to come...but we're pretty certain the Hellfire Club is going to be involved in a big, bad way.
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