Batman 2021 annual # 1
- Written by James Tynion IV
- Art by Ricardo Lopez Ortiz
- Colors by Romulo Fajardo Jr.
- Letters by Clayton Cowles
- Published by DC Comics
James Tynion IV’s race on Batman is over, but before the keys to Gotham are handed over to Joshua Williamson, we get Batman 2021 annually # 1. One of the best aspects of Tynion’s work Batman are the original elements he added to the world of the Dark Knights, including characters. And while Ghostmaker is certainly not Miracle Molly (who is an incredible character who deserves more stories), he is not the dull Punchline either. Batman 2021 annually # 1 gives readers more of Ghosthunter’s story, and it feels like a solid way to close this chapter as we finally get to know at least one version of the man behind this particular mask. – Nicole Drum
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Gotham City Villains Anniversary Giant # 1
- Written by Miscellaneous
- Art by Various
- Colors from Various
- Letters of Various
- Edited by Amedeo Turturro and Paul Kaminski
- Published by DC Comics
It is received wisdom that Batman possesses the best rogue gallery in all superhero comics and a difficult point to contest, even for Spidey partisans. So an all-star lineup of creative talents delivering a collection of new stories centered on Gotham City’s most infamous villains is an enticing package. And Gotham City Villains Anniversary Giant delivers a bona fide all-star lineup. The exhibited art is enough to make this worth the entrance fee with people like Wes Craig, Emma Rios and Dan Mora all delivering stories, in addition to names like Christian Ward, Gabriel Hernandez Walta and Jill Thompson on pin-ups. For readers who want to do more than just drool over superhero comics, this one-shot all brings together an eclectic mix of storytelling talent – all of them unbound to tell whatever stories they may like outside of continuity. It includes current comic book greats like G. Willow Wilson, Dan Watters and Stephanie Phillips. The most surprising inclusion here, however, is actor Danny DeVito, returning to his previous role from Batman returns: The penguin. DeVito showcases a playful tone and inventive approach in one of the most memorable Penguin stories that will definitely never be referenced again. Whether you’re a die-hard fan of Batman’s scams or just wondering what DC’s superhero comics look like at their best today, Gotham City Villains Anniversary Giant is a showcase you must not miss. – Chase Magnett
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The Human Goal # 2
- Written by Tom King
- Art by Greg Smallwood
- Colors by Greg Smallwood
- Letters by Clayton Cowles
- Published by DC Comics
Human goal # 1 was already one of the most exciting new debuts I read this year, as the combination of Tom King, Greg Smallwood, Human Target and Justice League International is already a match made in heaven. This week’s second issue lifts the max series to a completely different level, and introduces Tora Olafsdotter / Ice to the fold. What unfolds is a beautiful and fascinating noir masterpiece that dives into her and Christopher Chance’s relationship to a fascinating degree. This is perhaps one of my favorite comic book editions I’ve read this year – and hopefully it’s yours too. – Jenna Andersen
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Justice League incarnated # 1
- Written by Joshua Williamson and Dennis Culver
- Art by Brandon Peterson, Andrei Bressan and Tom Derenick
- Colors from Hi-Fi
- Letters by Tom Napolitano
- Published by DC Comics
After the ambitious reality-distorting work on Infinite limit earlier this year I have been so excited to see where the event chain goes on for the DC universe. This week’s Justice League incarnated is set to give the first indication of it, and revolves around Calvin Ellis and his ragtag team of multiverse heroes as they try to fight the next crisis that is on the horizon. I have a feeling that this book will be significant in the DC world in the future, and even if you have not read Infinite Frontier yet, you owe it to yourself to join the tour now. – Jenna Andersen
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King of Spies # 1
- Written by Mark Millar
- Art by Matteo Scalera
- Colors by Giovanna Niro
- Letters by Clem Robins
- Published by Image Comics
Mark Millar has created a pipeline directly from his mind to Netflix queues like previous Millarworld works and new ones such as King of spies, is under mass development with the streaming service. So it’s interesting to see what kind of big-budget ideas the controversial writer chooses to focus on today, and apparently that means another James Bond rash. King of spies tells the story of Roland King, a retired MI-5 agent after Fleming’s beloved master spy, who faces his death as it arrives in the completely banal form of cancer. While the premise is nothing new on any level, the promise of oversized issues with explosive car chases, over-the-top shootouts and plenty of fascinating surroundings sounds like a perfect treadmill for artist Matteo Scalera. Derived or not, fans of the genre and character Roland are tracked over will definitely find intriguing action sequences and maybe even some of the familiar Millar charm on these pages before translating to the screen. – Chase Magnett
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Magic: Master of Metal # 1
- Written by Mairghread Scott
- Art by French Carlomagno, Jorge Coelho, Jacques Salomon
- Colors of French Carlomagno, Francesco Segala
- Letters by Ed Dukeshire
- Published by BOOM! Studies
BOM! Studies in progress Magic: The Gathering the series recently brought the Planeswalker Tezzeret into its history. Magic: Master of Metal # 1 is an oversized one-shot that allows readers to become better acquainted with the self-interested artist. Three chapters include the edition, each written by Mairghread Scott (Bat girl, Transformers: Windblade) and illustrated by another artist: French Carlomagno, Jorge Coelho or Jacques Salomon. The edition offers a character study that deepens ordinary readers’ understanding of the villain, which can serve as the first taste for anyone who is curious about but has not yet appeared in Boom’s Magic comics. – Jamie Lovett
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Me you love in the dark # 5
- Written by Skottie Young
- Art by Jorge Corona
- Colors by Jean-Francois Beaulieu
- Letters by Nate Piekos
- Published by Image Comics
It’s a little unusual for me to recommend the end of a series as a must-read, but Skottie Young and Jorge Coronas Me you love in the dark is a short series, and its fifth and final issue is powerful enough in itself to fit the “must read” box. While the entire series has been a mix of themes about art, human experience, the need to love and be loved – including self-love, the finale is a shocking, beautifully executed study in self-preservation and determination, as Ro finally faces the being she has been alone with for several months. It is an amazing book and worth reading alone or with the rest of the series. – Nicole Drum
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Wonder Woman History: The Amazons # 1
- Written by Kelly Sue DeConnick
- Art by Phil Jimenez
- Colors from Hi-Fi, Arif Prianto, Romulo Fajardo Jr.
- Letters by Clayton Cowles
- Published by DC Comics
DC Black Label has already been good for Wonder Woman with last year’s wonderful post-apocalyptic tale Wonder Woman: Dead Earth. Wonder Woman History: Amazons is something completely different. Kelly Sue DeConnick, the author who revitalized Carol Danvers as Captain Marvel for Marvel Comics, is ready to redefine the origins of the Amazons, utilizing the Black Label mandate for adults only to its fullness. She collaborates with the iconic Wonder Woman artist Phil Jimenez, who looks at her experimental best and produces something worthy of the oversized prestige format that makes Wonder Woman’s origins a myth from other worlds. You will be hard pressed to find a better produced book on the shelf this week. – Jamie Lovett
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