In the middle of all this, Marvel revealed the identity of the female Thor as Jane Foster. Not really a big shocker for most of us. And DC introduced its new line-up with a deluge of Sneak Peaks.
The big two weren’t the only publisher’s embroiled in an event, as Dynamite kicked Gail Simone’s Swords of Sorrows into gear. The time & reality spanning adventure sees the involvement of just about every female character in the (current) Dynamite universe.
At Image, we said goodbye to Joshua Williamson’s wonderful Ghosted and said hello to Ellis, Shalvey and Bellaire’s weird Morrison-esque Injection. Ellis also revived his long dormant Trees.
Dark Horse began publication on its 3rd (and final?) Resident Alien miniseries, and introduced Cullen Bunn and Tyler Crooks creepy Harrow County to the world.
Collected Edition of the Month
Written by James Rich
Art and Colors by George Kambadais
Rich is known for his romance comics, but he’s also pretty good with bright and bubbly adventures, headlined by protagonists that are full of personality and smarts. Miranda (The new Cat) finds herself in way over her head, but I admire the way she never backs down to these God-like forces of evil, even with her ghostly sister (the original Black Cat) urging her to run away. This issue is loaded with action, humor and character defining moments.
Written by Johnathan Hickman
Art by Esad Ribic * Colors by Ive Svorcina
Explosive start to the event that's been years in the making, everything Hickman been doing for Marvel had led to this. Teamed with great artists, this sweeping epic also has a lot of personality as it gives as much attention the characters and world building as it does the action
Written by Tim Seeley
Art by Marley Zarcone * Colors by Ryan Hill
Best issue to date for this strange murder mystery. I liked the interactions, and felt bad for Edie - she’s only trying to help, but keeps getting dumped on. Also, stage mothers are about as damaging as the cults in this book.
Written by Eric Stephenson
Art by Simon Gane * Colors by Jordie Bellaire
Here's another title marked by defining moments in both story and character: I am so, sooo happy that Tabitha (Syd) called out the Voice on his BS, and even swayed a few of his followers to break from him. I know this isn’t the end of the conflict, but what a perfect way to close the first arc.
Written by Gabriel Hardman & Corinna Bechko
Art by Gabriel Hardman * Colors by Jordan Boyd
While it doesn’t advance the plot a whole lot on the Croger Babb side of the story, it does add to Maia’s character in the flashback bits: In defending herself to Arthur she also defines who she is. We discover that as hard and ugly as this world is, she hasn’t become hard and ugly herself. She still sees a person as a person, not an enemy, not an obstacle to be killed and cast aside. All of a sudden Maia has become as interesting a personality as Arthur. In addition, while it went by quick, it was an exciting, riveting read.
Written by Steve Pugh
Art by Phil Winslade * Colors by Chris Chuckry
Madcap action and humor - and rather sad to boot as even the winner loses… I know some reviewers had issues with the way it ended, but I thought it worked like a dream. I liked the ending, I liked the beginning and middle too, where Harley uses guile to best a physically superior foe. This issue really clicked with me and is my lone Convergences representative for May.
Written by Dennis Hopeless
Art by Javier Rodriguez * Colors by Munsta Vicente
Silk had a bit of an off month, so Jess steps up and takes Cindy’s spot on the countdown. I’m probably in the minority here, but I like the pacing of this issue (and the arc in total), I like how the mystery slowly unfolds, how we experience much of it through Jessica’s eyes, and am as curious as she is to know what the heck is happening. But if you want action, not words, it looks like the big battle comes next month.
Written by Brian Michael Bendis
Art by Andrea Sorrentino * Colors by Marcelo Maiolo
This is my first go with Old Man Logan and phew, it was excessively dark. . But Bendis can be a solid storyteller, and he writes some nice interactions here. The real selling point is Sorrentino. His Logan is Eastwood’s ‘Man With No Name’, riding through Ford’s Monument Valley like the classic western anti-hero of lore… it’s breathtaking
Written by Ed Brubaker
Art by Sean Philips * Colors by Elizabeth Breitweiser
I have nothing new to say, this continues to be steady as a rock. I like the character development, and seeing Gil become a catalyst in regards to plot. He’s stirring the pot, now let’s see what happens.
Written by Kieron Gillen
Art by Jamie McKelvie * Colors by Matthew Wilson
This has everything I love under one title: great characters, mystery and music. So anyway, a few months back Gillen killed off my favorite music God… and then he introduced another God (the Prince-like Inana) who soon filled the role of new favorite… and, WTH Kieron, if you kill this one too I’m going to be one unhappy camper!
Written by Cullen Bunn
Art and Colors by Tyler Crook
It shares a close kinship to Cullen Bunn’s Monkeybrain mini, The Remains – in that you have simple farm folk plagued my misfortune, and a bright but haunted young female protagonist. This tale of witchery and scary trees is drenched in atmospheric dread, and the end scene scared the living daylights out of me!
Written by Warren Ellis
Art and Colors by Jason Howard
It’s back and as great as ever. Unlike the first arc where Ellis juggled multiple story lines, here he focuses his lens on one. Joanne Creasy’s the primary protagonist, and through her we see how times have changed since the Blindhail event, while also getting brief flashes to the past. While I do hope we learn a little more about the events, people and trees from the previous 8 issues (there’s a bit from NY, which includes a cool and terrible scene where we find out exactly what happened when the trees arrived). Nevertheless, the set-up story that we get here is wonderful on its own.
Honorable Mentions
Marvel: Spider-Gwen #4 * Ant-Man #5 * Captain Marvel #15
DC: Convergence The Question, Shazam #2 * Sensation Comics Featuring Wonder Woman (Digital Firsts)
Image: East of West #19 * Injection #1 * Copperhead #7
Monkeybrain: Amelia Cole #22
Writer of the Month: Warren Ellis (Trees, Injection, Project Superpowers: Blackcross)
Artists of the Month: Andrea Sorrentino (Old Man Logan) with a nod to Jamal Igle on “Sensation Comics Featuring Wonder Woman".
Art Panel of the Month
To June 2015
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Head Writer, wide awake nightmare... bids you salutations citizens of Earth!
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