Once again, we have a strong week of releases that look to put a healthy dent in your wallet. Hopefully, this list makes things a little easier as you try to sort out what looks bad, and what looks good.
Amethyst #1 (DC Comics | Wonder Comics)
(w/a) Amy Reeder
Sword of Sorcery was one of the true hidden gems of The New 52, and to see Amethyst and Gemworld come back is exciting news to me. Pair that with the talents of Amy Reeder, who’s Halloween Eve is one of my favorite October reads. – Dan Gehen
DC Comics’ Wonder Comics imprint has released a few good series, so I have high hopes for this. Plus, I liked the original comic years ago. – Jason Jeffords Jr
Following her triumphant reintroduction in the pages of Young Justice, the new Amethyst miniseries follows teenager Amy Winston—a.k.a. Princess Amethyst—as she returns to her magical kingdom to celebrate her 16th birthday in style. The only problem? Her kingdom is missing, her subjects have vanished, and none in the realm of Gemworld—even her best friend, Lady Turquoise—remain loyal to her house! Alone and dejected, Amy’s forced to find new allies and confront dark secrets on an all-new quest to the farthest reaches of Gemworld.
John Constantine: Hellblazer #4 (DC Black Label | Sandman Universe)
(w) Simon Spurrier (a) Matias Bergara
The new Hellblazer has managed to satisfy those readers looking for a taste of vintage Vertigo. Matias Bergara’s preview art is vastly different from what Aaron Campbell has delivered thus far, but it looks to remain true to the journey Si Spurrier has crafted. – Dan Gehen
I was given the opportunity to read this one early and bloody hell. Hellblazer #4 may be one of my favorite issues of this series so far and may top my years Top 5. I’m excited to see what Dan has to say! – Jason Jeffords Jr
John Constantine was missing for years—and in that time, England needed a mystical protector, a guardian at the gates. Heroically, the young man known as Tommy Willowtree stepped into the breach! This cosmically attuned mage has held evil at bay with the force of his positive white magic, unlocking a new era of peace for the citizens of London. He is a gentleman, a scholar, a clean-living, vegan acolyte of love.
So naturally, John Constantine hates his effing guts. And now they have to team up. Great.
Justice League Dark #20 (DC Comics)
(w) Ram V (a) Kyle Holtz
So Ram V begins his solo run on JLD by reintroducing Animal Man. I’m excited to see if he is able to incorporate elements of the New 52’s “Rotworld” saga in with the current narrative. Either way, JLD has been arguably the best of DC’s core universe titles, and that should hopefully continue here. — Dan Gehen
The Floronic Man’s unintended rise to power has thrown The Parliaments of Life into chaos. Even though the villain lies deep in the cells of the Hall of Justice, life itself is being warped by his reach! With Swamp Thing gone, the Justice League Dark must join forces with some of the most powerful avatars, like Animal Man, to help set things right. But the magical team’s troubles are just beginning, as an old evil from a familiar swamp casts its shadow over them all, waiting for the perfect time to strike!
Giant-Size X-Men: Jean Grey and Emma Frost #1 (Marvel)
(w) Jonathan Hickman (a) Russell Dauterman
I’m picking this up solely for Dauterman’s art. The dude is amazing. — Dan Gehen
HICKMAN & DAUTERMAN TAKE ON GREY & FROST! The first of five essential X-tales specially designed to showcase some of Marvel’s best artists! First up, Russell Dauterman, superstar artist of THOR and WAR OF THE REALMS! When Storm is in danger, it’s going to take two of the most powerful telepaths on Earth working together to make things right. Jean Grey and Emma Frost, together again for the good of Krakoa!
Hidden Society #1 (Dark Horse)
(w) Rafael Scavone (w/a) Rafael Albuquerque (c) Marcelo Costa
Dark Horse’s original books, stand toe-to-toe with the best that the industry has to offer. That combined with the duo of Rafaels should be reason enough to at least give this first issue a try – Dan Gehen
A new series from Rafael Albuquerque and Rafael Scavone, the team behind Neil Gaiman’s A Study in Emerald! Hidden from ordinary eyes, there is a world alongside our own full of deities, demons, and danger-where magic wins out over science and dark secrets lie in wait. Ulloo, the last wizard from the Hidden Society, enlists the aid of a blind girl and her demon, a young magician, and a cursed bounty hunter in order to stop a group of nihilist warlocks from waking the Society’s greatest nemesis: a primeval force that, unchecked, will scorch the planet bare of all life.
The Last God #5 (DC Comics)
(w) Phillip Kennedy Johnson (a) Riccardo Federici
The Last God #4 was what finally convinced me that I liked the series. Hopefully, issue 5 continues to keep my interest. — Jason Jeffords Jr
Beyond the edge of creation lies the Black Stair. And beyond it, amidst the void, he waits. Mol Uhltep, The Last God. This is the tale of those who claimed to slay him, and the world they doomed with their lies.
Thirty years in the past, Tyr forges an alliance with a new member of his fellowship, a powerful spellcaster who reveals an unimaginable truth to the Fellowship: the one, true origin of the Last God.
In the present, as the forces of the Last God attempt to breach the Pinnacle, Skol, grandmaster of the Guild Eldritch, unveils her plan to Queen Cyanthe and Veikko, while Valko uncovers the first of many horrible truths about the cost of human magic.
Tomorrow #1 (Dark Horse | Berger Books)
(w) Peter Milligan (a) Jesus Hervas
Sci-fi horror? Peter Milligan and Jesus Hervas? Sounds good. Oh, it’s from Dark Horse’s Berger Books imprint? Sign me the fuck up. — Dan Gehen
In this shocking new sci-fi horror series, a Russian computer virus has jumped the species barrier and wiped out most of the adult population, leaving the world precariously in the hands of the next generation. In the wake of devastation, musical prodigy Oscar Fuentes is separated from his twin sister Cira. Stranded on opposite sides of the country, they’re swept into rapidly evolving networks of teenage gangs. Can Oscar find his way back to Cira . . . or will they be lost to each other forever, in a dangerous makeshift civilization that is mercilessly replacing the past?
From acclaimed and legendary writer Peter Milligan (Shade the Changing Man, Enigma, X-Statix) and breakout artist Jesus Hervas (Penny Dreadful , Sons of Anarchy, Hellraiser).
X-Men/Fantastic Four #2 (Marvel)
(w) Chip Zdarsky (a) Terry Dodson, Rachel Dodson
Jonathan Hickman’s X-Men has been very good. However, Chip Zdarsky’s take on both Marvel’s mutants and their First Family is better than what we see in both of their flagship books. He is easily the writer to follow at Marvel. –Dan Gehen
The world has been re-shaped by the X-MEN. But you can’t reshape a world without encountering its true master … DOOM..