My Top 13 Comics For March 2015

DC offered up the greatest series of variants that eyes have ever born witness to. Being a film freak I might be biased, but check out the rest and I’m sure you’ll agree. In the annals of comic book history, has there ever been a finer collection?  
http://www.thirdeyecomics.com/third-eye-guide-to-dcs-march-movie-poster-variants/

In addition Soule & Saiz put the finishing touches on Swamp Thing with the 40th issue. and at Vertigo I tried Tim Seeley’s new book, Effigy, which concerns a group of child stars from a hit TV series, who have grown up and find themselves embroiled in a murder mystery. I’m hooked.

For Marvel It was a month of endings and beginnings: There was Jeff Lemire premiering his All-New Hawkeye #1, and Blackman and Del Mundo closing the book on Elektra with issue 11 - while Spider-Woman #5 introduced a new direction and costume for Jessica to great success.

Other March lions from the publisher… Captain Marvel #13 * Superior Iron Man #6 * Ant-Man #3

Image Comics: The Rat Queens returned after a lengthy delay. And while the new artist isn’t as good with the action scenes, the story is as strong as ever. It’s an issue loaded with sex and violence, caustic humor and even sincere character moments that pierce the heart.

Hickman resumed his Manhattan Projects series with a new #1. I’m going back to trade waiting on the title, but I’ve read positive reviews for it. 

Of their new #1’s - I tried Jeff Lemire’s sci-fi Descender and Becky Cloonan’s Southern Cross. Both were fair to middling IMHO. On the other end: Image published the final chapter in Ellis & Lotay’s innovative miniseries, Supreme: Blue Rose.

Other Publishers: Dynamite saw the end of Magnus: Robot Fighter. Which was solid, though like Supreme mentioned above, not the series best issue, and that was a shade disappointing.  I also enjoyed Monkeybrain’s The Double Life of Miranda Turner #6 and its look at the original “Cat”. And IDWs first issue of the brightly colored Jem and the Holograms

13. Nameless #2 (Image)

Written by Grant Morrison

Art by Chris Burnham * Colors by Nathan Fairbairn

Grant’s dialog can be difficult to follow: a character will be talking about one thing, before throwing in what seems to be a random thought, which actually is referencing something that was discussed earlier and/or, will be discussed later. You really have to pay attention. It can be tough, but rewarding. I love the trippy ideas he’s presenting: about a war in Heaven, a lost 5th planet, etc. And Burnham is killing it, from the sigils on the space suits, to the horrifying look at what’s really happening with those quarantined members of the crew.

12. Spider-Gwen #2 (Marvel)

Written by Jason Latour

Art by Robbi Rodriguez * Colors by Rico Renzi

Cute bits O’ humor. The fuller characterization and attention paid to the plot makes this an even better issue than the first.

11. Spider-Woman #5 (Marvel)

Written by Dennis Hopeles

Art and Colors by Javier Rodriguez

New costume - new status quo! Comparisons to Batgirl are inevitable, but while Babs’ change was out of the blue, Jessica’s ‘young-life crisis’ comes off natural and honest. Plus she’s far more self-aware and mature (she owns up to her gaffes). Javier Rodriguez handles the art chores and does some first-class work: I love the blue color scheme in that rain soaked opening, as well as the flow of his action scenes - from the tilt of the motorcycle tearing through the streets, to Jess’ acrobatic movements in battle. It all looks positively cinematic.

10. RoboCop #9 (Boom)

Written by Joshua Williamson and Dennis Culver

Art by Alejandro Aragon * Colors by Marissa Louise

Robo’s in a hell of a mess as Killian is turning the entire city against him, OCP and cops in general. The series gets a new ‘capable’ artist and a co-writer. That writer, Dennis Culver (Edison Rex) helps make the humor a bit sharper. The character work is exemplary per usual.

9. Gotham Academy #6 (DC)

Written by Becky Cloonan & Brenden Fletcher

Art by Karl Kerschl * Colors by Msassyk & Serge LaPointe

Cleared up a few mysteries, established new goals for our cast, and brought Damien Wayne to the School.

8. Magneto #16 (Marvel)

Written by  Cullen Bunn

Art by Gabriel Hernandez Walta * Colors by Jordie Bellaire

From the ashes of Genosha, Magneto's past returns to haunt him. This was a raw, murder mystery that saw Brier and Erik’s relationship become intimate.

7. Batman ’66 chapters #54-55 (DC Digital First)

Written by Jeff Parker

Art by Sandy Jarrell * Colors by Jodie Bellaire

What a stunner. Ironic that it was Lord Death Man that brought the title back to life: The ailing series got a shot in the arm with this eerie tale, which went down a different story path and took Bruce and Barbara out of the safe confines of Gotham to the land of haunted Japan. The animated digital format made it all the more eerie and interesting.

6. All-New X-Men #37 (Marvel)

Written by Brian Michael Bendis

Art by Mike Del Mundo * Colors by Del Mundo & Marco D'Alfonso

Bendis writes an insightful character study of two compelling, contrasting personalities and temperaments, and explored Jean and Emma’s relationship dynamic. (But why can’t we get a cover that has anything to do with the insides on these X-Books of late?)

5. Silk #2 (Marvel)

Written by Robbe Thompson

Art by Stacey Lee * Colors by Ian Herring

I was impressed with the language, the characterization, the world building and the overall composition in both words and art. The 3 spider-ladies, Cindy, Gwen and Jessica are all well rounded, interesting people, and because of that I suddenly have Spider-Books in my pulls after years of going without a one.

4. Wicked + The Divine #9 (Image)

Written by Kieron Gillen

Art by Jamie McKelvie * Colors by Matthew Wilson

Fascinating shake-ups for several characters. And a new God might be bad news for the current Gods.

3. Catwoman #40 (DC)

Written by Genevieve Valentine

Art by Gary Brown * Colors by Lee Loughridge

Concludes the first arc, and while not as explosive as I'd thought it would be, from the start the writer has shown more interest in the cerebral and philosophical aspects of this crime story, than the action sequences.

2. East of West #18 (Image)

Written by Jonathan Hickman

Art by Nick Dragotta * Colors by Frank Martin

Dragotta returns to form, with superb design work and a touching scene between Death and Lady Mao. Meanwhile Hickman gets philosophical and offers more details on Balloon’s mission.

1. Revival #28 (Image)

Written by Tim Seeley

Art by Tim Norton * Colors by Mark Englert

Holy guacamole! This comic has gone from a slow burn to a raging firestorm… literally! Things get Biblical with Em, while Edmund Holt sinks deeper into his solipsistic world view (and everyone is going to suffer because of it.) I’m on the very edge of my seat. Next issue please, and fast!

Writer of the Month 
Tim Seeley (Revival, Effigy, Grayson)

Artist of the Month
Tula Lotay (Supreme: Blue Rose #7)








Art Panel of the Month: From Ant-Man #3

To April 2015

Back to Feb 2015