Welcome back to Everything We Read This Week. This is the place that we make our weekly trip through this week’s pull-list. It features mostly spoiler-free brief analysis and commentary of each book.
This was a great week for comic books. There were so many great books out there for all types of readers. There are a few great new series that started this week. We try to read as much as we can to bring you recommendations on what good stuff is being produced. Unfortunately, we can’t read all the comics. So, remember to find what you like, GO OUT AND FIND SOME COMICS TO READ!! They are good for you.
We reviewed books from DC, Marvel, Image, Black Crown, Dark Horse, and AfterShock this week. As always, we hope you might find what we say interesting enough to try some of these comics.
Also, Don’t forget to check our hotlist of new books debuting this month over here. You will see books that we were looking forward to with the designation Hot #1 by them. There are a few of them out this week and they are really good.
DISCLAIMER:
There is a 4 star rating system. It is simple and not to be taken too seriously as everyone gets their own impressions of art. These ratings are just to give our readers an idea of what we thought of the book, and they will be on the generous side normally. So don’t expect to see a lot of 1 Stars. After all, it’s not often that you have a bad book on your pull-list.
The rating system is as follows:
Great
Good
OK
Not Good
Also look for the book we deemed Favorite Book of the Week. It is the comic that we like the most this week. The criteria are difficult to pin down, but suffice to say it is a book that moved us.
And here are the books we read in alphabetical order:
Age of Conan: Bêlit #1
Marvel Comics
Written by Tini Howard
Art by Kate Niemczyk
Colors by Jason Keith
Letters by Travis Lanham
Cover Art by Sana Takeda
Hot #1 Favorite Book of the Week
The first New Number One of the week is a smash hit from the world of Conan. Tini Howard and Kate Niemczyk made a heck of an engaging story about a defiant, strong-willed, young pirate queen. Niemczyk drew fantastic pages, and they are vibrantly colored by Jason Keith. The story is well crafted with some strong character development beats. We are definitely in on this book. It is our Favorite Book of the Week
The Amazing Spider-Man #17
Marvel Comics
Written by Nick Spencer
Pencils by Humberto Ramos
Inks by Victor Olazaba
Colors by Edgar Delgado
Letters by Joe Caramagna
Cover Art by Ramos & Delgado
Nick Spencer’s “Hunted” storyline gets into the full focus in this issue. This is the story that the entire run as been building toward. The setups, while sometimes long and confusing, have definitely paid off. This arc starts out with a bang. Ramos’ art is wonderful. The camera angles and fight scene pacing are very well chosen. Delgado contributed to the feel of the “out of time” panels in creative ways. Caramagna has a lot of narration to put in this issue and really nailed locations. Well done by all.
Animosity #19
AfterShock Comics
Written by Marguerite Bennett
Art by Elton Thomasi
Colors by Rob Schwager
Letters by Marshall Dillon
Cover Art by Rafael De Latore with Marcelo Maiolo
A new reality awaits the characters in this book. This issue is a good jumping on issue, because it is the beginning of a new arc. There is a lot of exposition through multiple characters’ quotes. It gives an interesting perspective on humanity’s relationship with animals and what humans will do to each other in times of stress. The art is very well done and the colors really shine in certain pages. The story feels ready to really get going as our little heroine embarks on her next challenge.
Assassin Nation #1
Image Comics
Written by Kyle Starks
Art by Erica Henderson
Letters by Deron Bennett
Cover Art by Henderson
Hot #1
See our Preview Review here. Spoiler: It’s good.
Calamity Kate #1
Dark Horse Comics
Written by Magdalene Visaggio
Art by Corin Howell
Colors by Valentina Pina
Letters by Zakk Saam
Cover Art by Howell & Pino
Hot #1
The debut issue of this book introduces us to bit of a chaotic character in a world that looks similar to our own but is filled with danger and monsters. The main character has some issues, and the supporting characters are nicely developed. There is a good story being formed in this book, and Corin Howell is drawing the hell out of it. The colors are well done by Pina a help set good tone and emotional transitions. We are looking forward to where this story goes.
House Amok #5
IDW / Black Crown Pub
Written by Christopher Sebela
Art by Shawn McManus
Colors by Lee Loughridge
Letters by Neil Uyetake
Cover Art by McManus
The end to the Sandifer Family Vacation comes with great destruction, but also satisfaction for the audience. This series has been a massively insane journey through the eyes of a frightened but strong little girl. The story is terribly tragic but completely captivating. McManus and Loughridge are in top form in this issue with their ability to render the insanity in a unique way. This has been another outstanding series from Shelly Bond’s Black Crown imprint. If you haven’t been reading the single issues, look for the trade paperback. It will be out soon.
Justice League Dark #9
DC Comics
Written by James Tynion IV
Pencils by Alvaro MartÍnez Bueno & Miguel Mendonça
Inks by Raul Fernandez & Mendonça
Colors by Brad Anderson
Letters by Rob Leigh
Cover Art by Martínez Bueno, Fernandez, & Anderson
The art in this book is absolutely stunning. There is a quality to Anderson’s colors that brings everything together, but the panel layouts and camera angels are superb. The story is strong. Tynion has been consistently moving this story forward with a good pace, and this issue has quite a few revelations and developments that feel perfectly planned. This is definitely one of the best team books that DC is putting out on month to month basis, and it is a story that is worth being told.
Runaways #19
Marvel Comics
Written by Rainbow Rowell
Art by Andres Genolet
Colors by Triona Farrell
Letters by Joe Caramagna
Cover Art by Kris Anka
This is a quiet issue compared to the high stress and chaos of the previous issues. It is however very good. There are interesting character development points with Molly that make for some interesting analysis. The art is very nicely done. The style is similar enough to Kris Anka’s that the change of artists is not jarring. This is just a really good issue in a fantastic series.
Superman #9
DC Comics
Written by Brian Michael Bendis
Pencils by Ivan Reis & Brandon Peterson
Inks by Joe Prado, Oclair Albert, & Peterson
Colors by Alex Sinclair
Letters by Josh Reed
Cover Art by Reis, Prado, & Sinclair
Jon Kent has been through hell. This issue continues Bendis’ story of how Superboy left for a summer and aged 7 years. It is compelling comic storytelling.. The artist combinations each do a fantastic job capturing the moods of the scenes that they are drawing. Sinclair brings it all together to make is feel like a cohesive work. This is probably the most interesting Superman story being told right now. Excellent job.
Winter Soldier #4
Marvel Comics
Written by Kyle Higgins
Art by Rod Reis
Letters by Clayton Cowles
Cover Art by Reis
Higgins and Reis continue to bring it to this series. This issue deals with the trauma suffered by R.J. in abstract ways and also focuses on the emotions that Bucky is developing for R.J. It is brilliantly paced and plotted. Reis’ visual narrative is incredibly expressive, and the color work that he does to tell the story is amazing. We absolutely love this series and this book is a really wonderful comic book.
Wonder Twins #2
DC Comics
Written by Mark Russsell
Art by Stephen Byrne
Letters by Dave Sharpe
Cover Art by Byrne
Russell has become a master at literary deception. This book is a journey of several evolutions of plotline. As you weave your way through each scene and you think you know where it is going, you find yourself adapting your assumptions. At the end, you realize that you have been schooled and forced to question basic norms of the American society. Not what you expected when you picked up a Wonder Twins comic? That is the genius of Mark Russell. Steven Byrne plays his part by delivering a pleasant cartoonish style that belies the serious nature of the subtext.
