Thursday, March 30, 2017

My Top 10 Comics For March 2017

March saw the end for two of Marvel’s spiders (Black Widow & Spider-Woman). Plus, the Inhumans vs X-Men event came to a close, which gave us new leadership for both teams (Kitty took over in X-Men Prime #1)

A grimmer Iron Fist hit the shelves with a first issue written by Ed Brisson (writer of the grim Image comic “Sheltered”). 

DC published four 1-shots teaming their superhero's with their Hanna Barbera line. I read the Green Lantern/Space Ghost book, it was alright. 

10. Mother Panic #5 (Young Animal)
Written by Jody Houser
Art by Shawn Crystal * Colors by Jean-Francous Beaulieu
Bounces back after an off- month. Although I miss the grit Edward’s brought to the art (which was more fitting) the issue delivers on the psychological hooks and barbs emblematic to the series. Back-up is heating up in good and curious ways.

9. Copperhead #11 (Image)
Written by Jay Faerber
Art by Drew Moss * Colors by Ron Riley
The series makes its welcome return! The artist seems to be trying to keep to the style of what came previously, so it's not a jarring transition (though I prefer Godlewski. Moss' figure work can be a bit stiff). Story is as wonderful as ever. Nice twist at the end. One reviewer complained that it sets the relationship with Boo back to zero... but I'm not so sure he isn't working an angle. Conducting an investigation from the inside?

8. The Wild Storm #2 (DC) 
Written by Warren Ellis
Art by John Davis-Hunt * Colors by Ivan Plascencia
Ellis is stirring the plot points well, but needs to sharpen up the character work for those of us who are fuzzy on who these people are (and what they are all about.) I kind of feel lost in a maze right now. Still it’s a fascinating tale, with a lot of info to unpack.

7. Invisible Republic #13  (Image)
Written by Gabriel Hardman & Corinna Bechko
Art by Gabriel Hardman * Colors by Jordan Boyd
Watch out for the radicals among radicals, they always throw a monkey wrench into the works.

6. Harrow County #21 (Dark Horse) 
Written by Cullen Bunn
Art and Colors by Tyler Crook
Dark fairy tale-like atmosphere with an unexpected reveal (and a tricky one at that, I hope Bunn can pull this off because it seems rather a ‘left turn’ at first glance)

5. Doom Patrol #5 (Young Animal)
Written by Gerard Way
Art by Nick Derington * Colors by Tamra Bonvilain
What a humdinger, this issue sails from one character and conflict to the other. It’s a rush - love seeing the team come together and that last page teases another welcome return.

4. Stray Bullets: Sunshine and Bullets #22 (Image)
Written and drawn by David Lapham
Beth, just… Beth. ‘nuff said

3. Injection #11 (Image)
Written by Warren Ellis
Art by Declan Shalvey * Colors by Jordie Bellaire
It’s back - with its dry wit intact, a new dark mystery to unravel, and Brigid in the spotlight. (While Headland’s a hard act to follow, she seems an interesting character as well). 

2. Lazarus #26 (Image)
Written by Greg Rucka
Art by Michael Lark * Colors by Santi Arcas
The series briefly returns with this tense and horrifying issue that introduces us to a new and unstoppable Lazarus. Lark really kills it here, the fight choreography is without peer.

1. Shade, the Changing Girl #6 (Young Animal)
Written by Cecil Castellucci
Art by Marley Zarcone * Colors by Kelly Fitzpatrick
What a thriller and a chiller, I'm breathless. This is basically a ghost story, and Megan’s a scary Poltergeist, stalking Loma and making her life a living hell. I felt last issue was repeating itself, while this issue needed more pages (especially for the climactic end battle). I guess that’s the hazards of modern comics – you have to end issues on a cliff hanger, and bind an arc within 6 issues… rather than letting the tale flow naturally. Never the less the first arc closes with a heart pumping bang (next in our horror story... Rosemary’s Baby?) Not only that, but things are really getting crazy on Meta

Honorable Mentions
East of West #32, James Bond: Felix Leiter #3, Black Hammer #7, Moonshine #6


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