New series and anniversary issues are on tap this week. So let’s just cut to the chase and show you what looks good for this week.
Billionaire Island #1 (Ahoy Comics)
(w) Mark Russell (a) Steve Pugh
Mark Russell is one of the smartest writers in comics today. His lampooning of social, religious, and political establishments has been a constant theme throughout his work, from Prez, to The Flintstones and Exit Stage Left, to his more recent works The Wonder Twins, Red Sonja, and Second Coming. With the upcoming US election becoming more and more an indictment of the current economic structure, Billionaire Island seems to be perfectly timed. Joining him is The Flintstones collaborator Steve Pugh, whose art has at times outshined Russell’s whip-smart dialogue. — Daniel Gehen
I mean, it’s Mark Russell, and he is teaming back up with the team behind The Flintstones. That’s all I need to know! — Jason Jeffords Jr
A savage satire reuniting the critically acclaimed team behind DC’s The Flintstones, Mark Russell (Second Coming) and Steve Pugh (Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass), in an all-new creator-owned series! Welcome to Billionaire Island, where anything goes…if you can afford it. But the island’s ultra-rich inhabitants are about to learn that their ill-gotten gains come at a very high price. Every AHOY comic also features extra prose stories and illustrations.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer #13 (BOOM! Studios)
(w) Jordie Bellaire (a) Rosemary Valero-O’Connell
I’ve really been enjoying this new take on Buffy. It’s been a fresh and fun, but still feels like Buffy. — Andrea Tessie
* After the shocking conclusion to Hellmouth, The Slayer must defend Sunnydale… AND IT’S KENDRA?
* But as The New Slayer must confront an all-new threat to the ENTIRE WORLD, she’ll need to pull the Scooby gang together once more after what happened to Buffy…
* WAIT…WHAT HAPPENED TO BUFFY?
* The next big Whedonverse epic is here!
The Flash #750 (DC Comics)
(w) Various (a) Various
Batman’s the superhero you love as a kid and teenager, but as you grow older you come to appreciate heroes that represent more than darkness and vengeance. For me, the Flash was that character. Despite the best efforts of a recently-departed former publisher of DC, legacy and family are core elements of the Flash. Whether your favorite is Barry, Wally, Jay, or even Bart, the Flash is a character that everyone can look to for inspiration. In some ways, he’s DC’s Spider-Man – an everyman with powers that does his best to do the right thing, even if that means screwing up every once in a while. Oh, as for why to read this, there’s at the very least a story by Geoff Johns featuring Captain Cold, and no one writes that character better. — Daniel Gehen
I’ve only read parts and bits of this The Flash run and for the most part, enjoyed it. As a huge Flash fan, I’m most excited about all the talent working on it! – Jason Jeffords Jr
Beginning: “The Flash Age”! The story we’ve been building toward since issue #50 comes to a head! While a supercharged Speed Force wreaks havoc on Barry Allen’s life, a new threat appears on the horizon in the form of the deadly Paradox. Destined to destroy the Flash’s legacy, Paradox sends his herald, Godspeed, to trap the Flash family!
Plus, in this special anniversary issue: tales from across the generations of super-speedsters by an all-star lineup of writers and artists!
-
1940s Variant Edition by Nicola Scott
-
1950s Variant Edition by Gary Frank
-
1960s Variant Edition by Nick Derington
-
1970s Variant Edition by José Luis García-López
-
1980s Variant Edition by Gabriele Dell’Otto
-
1990s Variant Edition by Francesco Mattina
-
2000s Variant Edition by Jim Lee and Scott Williams
-
2010s Variant Edition by Francis Manapul
King of Nowhere #1 (BOOM! Studios)
(w) W. Maxwell Prince (a) Tyler Jenkins
Ice Cream Man has been a treat from writer W. Maxwell Prince (pun intended), so I’m excited to see what he can cook up with artist Tyler Jenkins, who continues to impress with each new project. — Daniel Gehen
* Eisner Award-nominated writer W. Maxwell Prince (Ice Cream Man) comes to BOOM! Studios with Eisner-nominated artist Tyler Jenkins (Grass Kings, Black Badge) for an unforgettable thriller that explores the miraculous, the mundane, and all the mysteries in between.
* Lovable drunken lowlife Denis awakens on the outskirts of a mysterious village called Nowhere, home to a friendly populace of deformed, mutated, just-left-of-normal citizens-and he has no memory of how he got there.
* But just when Denis starts to regain his memories, his past catches up to him… literally.
* What at first seems like merely a bad trip quickly heightens into a drama of mistaken identities, small-town conspiracy, and high-stakes fantasy fulfillment.
Marvel #1 (Marvel Comics)
(w) Kurt Busiek, Alex Ross, Steve Darnall, Sajan Saini (a) Alex Ross, Steve Rude, Frank Espinosa
Alex Ross is undoubtedly one of the industry’s best, and his works Marvels and Kingdom Come are essential reading. However, as anyone who’s read Justice can attest, leaves something to be desired. Because of that, I’m proceeding with cautious optimism, as it is Ross who’s developing the overarching story for this series. However, it looks like he’ll have a guiding hand from his Marvels collaborator Kurt Busiek, so I’ll at least be snagging the first issue. — Daniel Gehen
Thirty years ago, Alex Ross had a vision of a new series showing the Marvel heroes in a way they’d never been seen before. The first realization of that idea became the blockbuster MARVELS — but today Alex finally brings about his original vision: An anthology of stories by unique, exceptional talents, many of whom are doing Marvel characters for the very first time. Over this showcase series you’ll see work by such artists as Adam Hughes, Bill Sienkiewicz, Dan Brereton and more, linked together by an overarching story by Alex and Steve Darnall.
This inaugural issue kicks it all off with superstar artists Frank Espinosa (Rocketo, Looney Tunes) telling an unusual Spider-Man story and Steve Rude (Nexus), teaming up with Kurt Busiek (Marvels, Avengers) for an Avengers story, framed by Alex and Steve Darnall (Uncle Sam, Marvels) presenting a tale of the dread dreamland Nightmare, and his threat to the entire Marvel Universe…and possibly beyond.
A once-in-a-lifetime assemblage of talent — you won’t want to miss a single page!
Lois Lane #9 (of 12) (DC Comics)
(w) Greg Rucka (a) Mike Perkins
It seems that this series has been flying under the radar for quite a while. Few writers are as adept at writing strong characters – male or female – than Greg Rucka. — Andrea Tessie
In the wake of a second attempt on her life, Lois takes the unprecedented step of…telling Superman to back off. As the Kiss of Death circles for another try, Lois’s search for answers takes her back into the political spotlight, while Renee uses a Gotham connection in an attempt to undo the damage she’s done and find answers to another set of questions entirely.
Mirka Andolfo’s Mercy #1 (Image Comics)
(w/a) Mirka Andolfo
I love Andolfo’s work. Not much more needs to be said. – Jason Jeffords Jr
When the placid mining village of Woodsburgh is disturbed by a series of brutal murders, the settlement is in turmoil. And as the first snow covers the chaos in a white blanket, a mysterious woman in black arrives, eliciting a totally different kind of unrest. But who is Lady Hellaine, really? And what’s her secret agenda? Acclaimed UNNATURAL creator MIRKA ANDOLFO presents a sensual Victorian gothic horror about otherness, damnation, redemption, and what it means to be a monster in a horror tale perfect for fans of Penny Dreadful, Crimson Peak, The Alienist, Parasol Protectorate, and Dark Shadows. Visit gotmercy.me for additional MERCY bonus content, including exclusive art, a live-action comic trailer, and supplemental story material.
Strange Adventures #1 (DC Comics)
(w) Tom King (a) Mitch Gerads, Evan “Doc” Shaner
Yes, the solicit below lays it on a little thick, but if it’s a 12-issue miniseries written by Tom King, it’s going to be good. Let’s take a quick look back. Omega Men? Fantastic. The Vision. Masterful. Mister Miracle? Brilliant. Expectations are high for this one, but I’m confident that this creative team can deliver the goods. — Daniel Gehen
Honestly, I’m at odds with this one. When It first came out I absolutely loved Mister Miracle. Lately, I’ve been wanting to do a reread to see if I still feel the same. King’s work is great in Mini/Maxi-series. His long-running stuff (EX: Batman) isn’t so great. Plus I love Gerads and Shaner’s art a lot. But something with Strange Adventures rubs me the wrong way and the first part of the synopsis (below) sounds annoyingly cocky, moreso, egotistical. Hopefully, I’m just being weird and it knocks it out the park. Only time will tell. – Jason Jeffords Jr
After winning five Eisner Awards and topping year-end “best of lists,” the comic book of 2019 was Mister Miracle. The comic book of 2020 will be Strange Adventures.
The Mister Miracle team of writer Tom King and artist Mitch Gerads are joined by fan-favorite artist Evan “Doc” Shaner to bring you an epic tale in the tradition of Watchmen, The Dark Knight Returns, and DC: The New Frontier—a story of blood, war, and love that readers will be talking about for years to come.
Adam Strange is the hero of Rann, a man famous throughout the galaxy for his bravery and honor. After leading his adopted home to victory in a great planetary war, Adam and his wife Alanna retire to Earth, where they are greeted by cheers, awards, and parades. But not all is as happy and nice as it seems, as the decisions Adam made during battles on Rann come back to haunt his family and threaten the entire DC Universe. And now a surprise DC hero will have to choose between saving Adam Strange and saving the world.
A story like no other, Strange Adventures is an ambitious, thrilling, shocking, and beautiful 12-issue saga that will push Adam Strange to the breaking point—and beyond!