We are back again with a look at what’s arriving in comic shops, bookstores and on digital this week. Or I’m back, anyway, as I fly solo on this week’s comics.
If you’re wondering what to get this week, check out a few recommendations below. You can check the Comic List page to see what’s arriving in your local shop, and the comiXology new releases page for what’s available digitally.
JK’s Pick of the Week: Shadow Service #1
Writer Cavan Scott, who is probably best known for his work writing various licensed novels and comics for Star Wars, Doctor Who and other properties, teams up with artist Corin Howell (Calamity Kate, Girl in the Bay) for a new series from Vault Comics that mixes spy craft with witchcraft. Here’s the description:
Worried your partner is cheating? Need a missing person found? Gina Meyers is the Private Investigator for you. Sure, she’s a witch who worries that her powers make her more of a monster than the crooks she’s trying to catch, but it’s not like London’s criminal underworld is literally going to hell… is it? Spy craft meets black magic in the shadowy world of MI666.
Scott has been working on licensed stuff for other folks for awhile, and it’s cool to see him working on something in a universe of his own creation. Howell’s work, meanwhile, has been really impressive on titles like Girl in the Bay. Finally, Vault has a really good track record for releasing interesting titles that are different from just about everything else out there. So yeah, I’m really looking forward to seeing this one.
Maestro #1
The Maestro, the Hulk’s evil future self, gets an origin story courtesy of Peter David, who wrote the original Hulk: Future Imperfect series, and artist Dale Keown, who worked on the regular Hulk series with David. They’ll be joined by artist Germán Peralta as they reveal how the Maestro took over the world after a nuclear holocaust.
Lords of Empyre: Swordsman
Has the Swordman ever headlined his own title? Not that I can recall, and in fact, he’s usually just the guy who other superheroes run into when they’re traipsing around in the land of the dead, versus appearing in any major capacity. That is, until Empyre, when the man with a sword finally gets his day, kind of. This Swordsman, of course, isn’t really the original guy who trained Hawkeye and plagued the Avengers; it’s his body, sure, but it’s being used by a member of the Cotati, the alien plants who are trying to destroy Earth’s heroes right now in the pages of Empyre.
Wonder Woman: Dead Earth #4
Daniel Warren Johnson’s taken Wonder Woman on quite the journey over the last three issues, and this one wraps up what’s been a pretty epic miniseries. This, right here, is why DC needs Black label and the opportunity to take chances on creators with wild visions and mad art skills.
Last of the Independents, Vol. 1
Last of the Independents is a graphic novel by Matt Fraction and Kieron Dwyer that was originally published by AiT/Planet Lar back in 2003, I believe. It’s been a really long time since I’ve read it, but it’s a fun crime story that fans of Criminal would enjoy. This is a new edition coming from Image Comics, which now features an introduction by Patton Oswalt. The comiXology listing also features a “Vol. 1” at the end of the title, which maybe suggests we should expect a volume two at some point? (Nothing’s been announced, I should note; I’m just speculating here).