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7 Comics to Pick up this Week (06/26/19)

ASCENDER #3

IMAGE COMICS
(Wr) Jeff Lemire (A/CA) Dustin Nguyen
This is the third installment of Ascender‘s five-part story arc, with STUNNING artwork that plays perfectly with a captivating story of a father and daughter’s fight for their lives against the All-Powerful “Mother.”

CANTO #1 (OF 6) COVER A ZUCKER

IDW PUBLISHING
(Wr) David M. Booher (A/CA) Drew Zucker
“Canto’s people once had hearts, now they have clocks.” This all-ages story looks like a fantastical trip of mystery and adventure that the whole family will love.

ISOLA #8 CVR A KERSCHL

IMAGE COMICS
(Wr) Brenden Fletcher, Karl Kerschl (A) Karl Kerschl, Msassyk (CA) Karl Kerschl
I LOVE THIS SERIES. We have had to patiently wait for this issue after Isola #7 was released in March, but it is so worth the wait. It does not happen often when the artwork in a comic book takes you on an emotional trip and leaves you absolutely breathless, but the artist, Karl Kerschel does this in every single issue. I am SO excited to pick this comic up on Wednesday.

THANOS #3 (OF 6)

MARVEL COMICS
(Wr) Tini Howard (A) Ariel Olivetti (CA) Jeff Dekal
This series has been a really interesting read. It explores the early interactions and relationship of Gamora and her “father-figure,” Thanos. While we all may be feeling a little burned out from Thanos, this is a refreshing take on the character and I have really enjoyed this mini-series so far.

WOLVERINE EXIT WOUNDS #1

MARVEL COMICS
(Wr) Chris Claremont & Various (A) Salvador Larroca & Various (CA) Ryan Stegman
WOLVERINE, CHRIS CLAREMONT, SALVADOR LARROCA, and RYAN STEGMAN…NEED I SAY MORE, BUB? This issue is going to be amazing. A superstar lineup of creators come together to give us brand new stories of our beloved Wolverine. It’s bound to be bloody and I am here for it!

BATMAN DAMNED #3 (OF 3) (MR)

DC COMICS
(Wr) Brian Azzarello (A/CA) Lee Bermejo
Holy smokes, we have waited what feels like an ETERNITY for the finale of the series that shook comic fans to the core. All Bat-Wang jokes aside, the only thing that was disappointing about this series was how long we have had to wait for this final issue of this “Mature Audiences” story.

From my understanding, after the controversy of BATMAN DAMNED #1 from the now infamous “First Appearance” that flashed in a shadowy panel at the Bat-Cave, the higher-ups at DC decided to revise the rest of the series to avoid any more upset. I am supportive of the creative team’s initial decisions, and am bummed that after the controversy it was censored and revised, but I am still interested in the story and curious how they wrap it up.

WONDER WOMAN #73 VAR ED

DC COMICS
(WR) G. Willow Wilson (A) Jesus Merino (CA) Jenny Frison
While I am not currently reading WONDER WOMAN, I can never pass up a Jenny Frison cover — all of them are jaw-droppingly gorgeous.

Secret Society Comics had the pleasure of meeting her and getting a few things signed by her at Heroes Con in North Carolina.

7 Comics to Pick Up on 06/19/19

CRUCIFIED #1

Scout Comics
(Wr) Sheldon Allen (A) Armin Ozdic

The introduction of a brand new series about a NGO on a mission to kill a man believed to be the modern day Jesus — at any cost.

FAITHLESS #3 (of 5) Cover B Erotica Strips Variant

BOOM! Studios
(Wr) Brian Azzarello (A) Maria Llovet (CA) Dani Strips

Polybagged erotic cover art & the continuation of a truly amazing mini-series. Check out Reece’s review of FAITHLESS #1 here!

LAB RAIDER #1 (of 4) (MR)

Black Mask Studios
(Wr) Matt Miner (A/CA) Creees Lee

Young vigilantes break into a lab to free animals from being experimented on, and they discover that top-secret experiments are being performed on these animals to turn them into monstrous weapons. The rescuers quickly become the prey in the introduction of this highly anticipated mini-series.

AQUAMAN #49 Variant

DC COMICS
(Wr) Kelly Sue DeConnick (A) Viktor Bogdanovic, Jonathan Glapion (CA) Joshua Middleton

I will definitely be picking this comic up, simply because Joshua Middleton’s cover is just THAT stunning.

SUPERMAN YEAR ONE #1 (of 3)

DC Comics
(Wr) Frank Miller (A/CA) Danny Miki, John Romita Jr

DC’s premiere issue of Black Label, BATMAN DAMNED #1, shook comics fans across the world. This next phase of their Black Label retells Superman’s origin, putting fans in an absolute tizzy. I’m not particularly thrilled about either cover, but I will definitely be picking up a copy to read Frank Miller and John Romita Jr’s rendition of Superman’s origin.

MARVELS ANNOTATED #4 (of 4)

Marvel Comics
Kurt Busiek (A/CA) Alex Ross

The final issue of the 25th Anniversary reprint of MARVELS, which changed the way we view super-heroes. These issues have been chalk-full of commentary from the creators and are an amazing addition to any comic collector’s vault.

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #6

Marvel Comics
Donny Cates (A) Geoff Shaw (CA) David Marquez

This issue is promised to be action packed with Guardians vs Dark Guardians vs Hela and Black Order. It’s also been teased that Thanos will be resurrected.

6 Comics to Pick Up This Week (06/12/19)

BATMAN WHO LAUGHS #6 (of 7)

DC Comics
(Writer) Scott Snyder (Artist) Jock (Variant Cover Art) Jenny Frison

Mini-series extended to 7 issues. Features stunning cover by super-star, Jenny Frison.

EVENT LEVIATHAN #1 (OF 6)

DC Comics
(Wr) Brian Michael Bendis (A/CA) Alex Maleev

Monthly mini-series spans the DC Universe and threatens to bring every character to their knees.

SILVER SURFER BLACK #1 (OF 5)

Marvel Comics
(Wr) Donny Cates (A/CA) Tradd Moore

After Silver Surfer is “blown” through a black hole, he has to fight to save his soul in order to survive. Donny Cates, writer of COSMIC GHOST RIDER, is sure to make this a story you’ll never forget. There are 12 covers for this trippy series debut.

VENOM #15

Marvel Comics
(Wr) Cullen Bunn (A) Iban Coello, Alberto Jimenez Alburquerque (CA) Kyle Hotz

This WAR OF THE REALMS tie-in should be an incredible read. Goblins, Giants, and Symbiotes? OH MY!

ARCHIE #705: ARCHIE & SABRINA PART 1)

Archie Comic Publications
(Wr) Nick Spencer (A) Sandy Jarrell (CA) Veronica Fish

This issue introduces the beginning of a new story arc: a romance between Archie and Sabrina the Teenage Witch!

SONATA #1 CVR A HABERLIN & VAN DYKE (MR)

Image Comics
(Wr) David Hine, Brian Haberlin (A/CA) Brian Haberlin, Geirrod Van Dyke

This issue introduces the world of a peace-loving people meeting a group of war-mongers in a land that belongs to neither, and a girl who is willing to put everything on the line to find her own path somewhere amidst the chaos.

ASCENDER #2 is the 5/29/2019 Pick of the Week

The continuation of Jeff Lemire’s DESCENDER series, ASCENDER has us on a whimsical but tense journey of a terrifying monarchy keeping classes of “beings” separate depending on whether or not they have submitted to “The Mother.” The main character, Mila, is a young rebellious girl who lives alone with her father. She yearns for escape to experience the rest of the world outside of their home, which is controlled by the magical forces of “The Mother.”

I am absolutely in love with ASCENDER, even just being 2 issues in. Although it is a sequel to a previous series, I felt like it was easy to jump into the story and get to know the world and the characters.

That being said, I am going to do my best to finish the 32-issue run of DESCENDER before ASCENDER #3 releases (6/26/2019) to see if that will further enhance my understanding of this incredible world that Jeff Lemire created.