No
Prez or Gotham Academy or Karnak this month, so that sucked. Thankfully WicDiv
and Constantine got great again, Marvel published a couple of knockouts (which included the introduction of a pregnant Spider-Woman), and DeConnick
and Rios returned to the word of Pretty Deadly.
Marvel
has been leaving everyone in the dust sales wise, taking a nearly 50% share
last month, and continuing with their blitz of new #1 in Nov. DC is counting on
Miller and Azzarello’s Dark Knight III to stem some of the bleeding, but it’s a
band-aid at best, as DCYou has largely been a financial fail… though to be fair
they have released some quality reads (Prez, Omega Men, Martian Manhunter,
Midnighter to name a few).
Image
placed a few new critically hailed comics on the table. Limbo, Monstress, Ringside and Jason Aaron’s biblical, The Goddamned. And Dynamite saw the
debut of Warren Ellis’ James Bond, which
coincided with the new 007 flick, Spectre.
Before
getting to the top 12 I wanted to take time to salute Genevieve Valentine,
whose final issue of Catwoman was published this month. It was a hell of a run
and this cat fan thanks you for it.
Collected Edition of the Month
The Sandman Overture: Deluxe Edition (Vertigo) by Neil Gaiman, J.H. Williams III and Dave Stewart
Collected Edition of the Month
The Sandman Overture: Deluxe Edition (Vertigo) by Neil Gaiman, J.H. Williams III and Dave Stewart
Written by Lee Allred
Art by Mike Allred * Colors by Laura Allred
If you ever wondered if the opening credits in the TV show had a story to it? Well wonder no more, this was an absolute blast. So many Easter eggs, so many cameos. So flipping fun! The Allred’s take the series out on a high.
13.
Black Magick #1 (Image)
Written
by Greg Rucka
Art
by Nicola Scott * Colors by Scott assisted by Chiara Arena
The second issue digs deeper into the plot,
gives startling hints about Rowan’s past, as well as clues to who the man was
in the previous issue. I like the art, though I’m not fond of the gray tone. I
wish there were stronger contrasts –maybe take a style cue from Charles Burns-
because the washes tend to muddy the details (and we didn’t get any color
explosions this time out)
Written by Jason Aaron
Art by Russell Dauterman * Colors by Matt Wilson
The art and colors in this issue are phenomenal. There are so many eye popping moments, both explosive (the hail of bodies in space) and quietly expressive (Jane receiving treatment). But the reason this is Aaron's best issue since Godbomb is the human element. Now that the secret is out we can get know this Thor as a person. And what we find in her is both heartbreaking and inspiring.
11. The Fade Out #11 (Image)
Written by Ed Brubaker
Art by Sean Phillips * Colors by Elizabeth
Breitweiser
Brubaker has said that he was generally more
interested in character than plot. And I’m with him; I love character studies
and feel that a fascinating, fully realized cast is what makes a plot pop. What
impresses me here is that even thought the story is heating up (the shit hits
the fan for Charlie and Gil), Bru is still building on character, and we are
still discovering things about Val and these men’s personalities. It’s
beautifully scripted book, the dialogue just sings (“The past is a knife” could
be the tag line of the entire series) and that final panel was a killer.
Written by Kieron Gillen
Art by Leila Del Duca * Colors by Mat Lopes
The series gets back on track with this look back at the Morrigian and Baphomet’s Goth love story.
9. Toil and Trouble #3 (Boom/Archaia)
Written by Mairghread Scott
Art and Colors by Kelly & Nichole Scott
Humans suffer as zealous witches poison souls and break bodies in their quest to have their will be done. Urgent and poetic, this title does Shakespeare proud.
8. Constantine: The Hellblazer #6 (DC)
Written by James Tynion IV & Ming Doyle
Art by Riley Rossmo * Colors by Ivan Plascencia
This day in the life has humor, heart , creepy crawlies and John walking about in the buff. Arguably the best issue of the series so far. I like how casual Constantine is about the weirdness in his life, and Rossmo’s art imaginatively captures it all.
7.
Invisible Republic #7 (Image)
Written
by Gabriel Hardman & Corinna Bechko
Art
by Gabriel Hardman * Colors by Jordan Boyd
This under appreciated gem of a title
continues to weave its political complexities with aplomb. Not only that, but
the character work is meaningful and multifaceted. I’m curious to see the
evolution of Maia and Nica’s relationship, how they got from there to here, and
how Arthur figures into it all.
6. Lazarus #20 (Image)
Written by Greg Rucka
Art by Michal Lark * Colors by Santi Arcas
More backroom machinations at the home front, as Forever’s troupe find themselves outnumbered in battle. World building and strong characterization are the hallmarks of this smart series.
5. All-New Wolverine #1 and #2 (Marvel)
Written by Tom Taylor
Art by David Lopez * Colors by Nathan Fairbairn
Superior Iron Man’s Tom Taylor shoots and scores again. I’ve always liked Laura (X-23), but I want her to have her OWN identity, so I wasn’t sure I’d try this out. Glad I did because it’s a winner – The action unfolds like a classic Bond flick. the character interactions are a delight, and the plot looks to not only be exciting, but will speak to (and possibly expand) Laura’s humanity.
4. Monstress #1 (Image)
Written by Marjorie Liu
Art and Colors by Sana Takeda
Breathtaking oversize issue features elaborate art and a story rich in characterization and world building. The geopolitics, the class struggle, the mythology is all laid out clearly and powerfully. My pulse raced while reading this incredible page turner.
3. The Vision #1 (Marvel)
Written by Tom King
Art by Gabriel Hernandez Walta * Colors by Jordie Bellaire
You just knew Tom King wasn’t going to write a straightforward superhero story. So this is less about action, and more an incisive, thought provoking treatise on suburbia, the nature of man and machine, and the family unit. There’s an unsettling undercurrent throughout - and Walta’s the perfect artist for this, as he’s able to deliver a humanity to even the coldest heart (see Magneto). If you like Ray Bradbury style science fiction –one that is rich in subtext (where even a floating vase can act as a metaphor), one that examines the human condition, while delivering the weird- then this will be right up your alley.
2, Velvet #12 (Image)
Written by Ed BrubakerArt by Steve Epting * Colors by Elizabeth Breitwesier
As Velvet says, she’s having to make moves within moves, and those twisting, turning spy games are fascinating to watch. Epting’s art is astonishing, I love the detailed realism, the noir-like lighting techniques, and the cinematic way he orchestrates his panel progressions. It brings to mind Paul Gulacy at his peak.
1. Pretty Deadly #6 (Image)
Written by Kelly Sue DeConnick
Art by Emma Rios * Colors by Jordie Bellaire
It has been over a year since we last saw this
title and it’s so nice to have it back. The haunting western elegy transitions
us from the previous arc, to this new one set years later. In which a dying Sarah waits for her grandson before she joins death. The comic continues to be dreamlike and surreal - which might flummox those who like their narratives to be a bit more grounded. But is an elevated work of art for those who can appreciate the unconventional.
Honorable Mentions: Silk #1, Spider-Woman #1, Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur #1, Ms Marvel #1, Harrow County #7, Rowans Ruin #2, Twilight Children #2, Limbo #1
Honorable Mentions: Silk #1, Spider-Woman #1, Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur #1, Ms Marvel #1, Harrow County #7, Rowans Ruin #2, Twilight Children #2, Limbo #1
Writer of the Month
Kelly Sue DeConnick (Pretty Deadly)
Artists of the Month
Emma Rios and Jordie Bellaire (Pretty Deadly)
Art Panel of the Month: I can’t show it because it would spoil things, but that final panel in the Fade Out #11 was a punch to the
gut!
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