Comics overwhelm me these days! There are so many on the walls of your local comic shop, where do you even start? Well, I want to help you as much as I can here today! In the past I wrote about comics I think everyone should read... now I think its important to share some comics that are on the shelves and releasing monthly for the most part! So I have a list of Seven comics you should pick up now!!!
1.) Black Science : My pal/enemy/manager Jon recommended I pick up the first issue in reprint awhile back and I decided I would listen!( He said he'd stab me if I didn't) I am happy I did because this comic is great! I had heard great things about it from a few different comic friends, but sometimes you hear something is good and it just sucks when you read it! This comic met my expectations and exceeded them, largely because I didn't know what to expect. I have to warn you that first issue is good, but is somewhat heavy on content and information, at times it is a lot to take in. (it also sort of jumps around) If you pick it up I advise you to keep reading until about the 3rd issue because it starts to take some really interesting turns and the stakes seem to keep getting higher! The main premise of the this book centers around a Scientist who has developed inter-dimensional jumping technology, but that isn't really the main story. See, he has lost his family it seems and made mistakes that we haven't learned about completely... he's not father of the year either. The tone has sort of a Aliens meets Star Trek meets Indiana Jones sort of feel to me, which is probably why I enjoyed the first 6 issues so much. I also enjoy anything that explores Parallel realities and different dimensions. It touches on the theory of "everything" which is super interesting and means different things to different people. Anyway, if you are interested in science fiction that seems to become more factual and possible everyday, you should read this comic!
2.) Chew : I avoided this book for awhile because sometimes I get tired of hearing how good something is all the time... I feel like when I hear somethings great over and over I may not like it just because my expectations will be so high... Well, in this case I was dead wrong... I am only on the 3rd issue and I can see why everyone likes this book! It is dark, weird and whimsical enough to work really well. Tony Chu is a cibopath, which is the ability to feel and see the life of everything he eats. He uses this ability to solve crimes... dark crimes. (You do the math) But the tone of this book doesn't feel dark or dirty... the style of art is cartoony and the dialogue is quite humorous, smart and conversational. It has a Tarantino kind of feel, in that it deals w/ the underbelly of life in a light-hearted, humorous and imaginative kind of way. Its really quite brilliant. Give it a try... both Black science and Chew and published by image comics and their first trade volumes are only 10 bucks! So if for some reason you don't like them at least it wasn't the normal 15 dollars. Come on take a chance!
3.) Jupiter's Legacy: This is another Image Comic, written by Mark Millar and drawn by Frank Quietly. Its a really cool story about Golden age heroes that grow old enough to live in a world that doesn't seem to need them anymore... At least not in the classical sense of the word "superhero." Their kids are young selfish socialites full of anger and resentment towards their world worshiped parents. This again has a kind of Indiana Jones 1940's serials sort feel, w/ a splash of generations x, Millennials and "Z." I haven't been able to find issue 5, I believe and it's been awhile I am not sure what the deal has been? It's possible I missed it? Anyway, this is worth your time... Mark Millar normally writes cool stuff and this is some of his best to date in my opinion. READ IT... I-DARE-YOU!
4.) Tranformers vs GI JOE: This is only on issue 1 and it is already one of the coolest comics I have ever read! I love Jack Kirby and the artist/ writer on this book is a gentleman named Thomas Scioli and he has a Kirby-ish feel, but it is not Kirby... He has a very unique style that captures vintage nostalgia in a timeless tone. John Barber also co-writes this book! I feel like they are sort of recreating the Joes and Transformers respective universes, while still keeping many elements in tact. Every page is stuffed full of action and 80's style one liners. I have never been a Transformers guy, but he draws them so cool and interesting that it's hard not to enjoy them on par w/ my beloved GI Joes! The universe just feels huge to me, every page looks better than the last and above all else it's fun! I feel like a kid when I read it, but that isn't to say that it's a kids comic because it isn't... It's waaaay too bad ass for that!
5.) Invincible: I've talked about this comic before and I have said it before... This is the only superhero comics you will ever need! It sees it on the damn book! The great thing about this series right now is that it's a good time to jump in! After issue 110 they started a new arc and it is madness! Dogs and cats living together and all that! There is a major power struggle w/ in that universe right now and a lot of bad stuff has happened to Mark Grayson aka: Invincible! but the real beauty of this book is that every single character is interesting... sometimes Invincible is in the book very little and you don't even notice because the issue centers around Robot who is equally as interesting as the main hero! I have to say this!!! I was really pissed off when issue 110 came out because at this point I have been reading invincible for like 7 years! I got a late start on this book, but I caught up on all the reading and went back and got a bunch of the early issues I missed thanks to my wonderful girlfriend! So word got out about 110's content and all these people who never even read the book went and bought all the copies off the shelves! It made me mad because I read the book every month and enjoy it and didn't know anything about that specific issue because I just love the book! PERIOD! Anyway, It was bitter sweet, at the same time, because I thought maybe people would start to pick the book and support it, but now I see all the following issues sitting on the shelves because all the poor store owners, assumed that the book was going to be super popular after 110, but instead it just sort of went back to normal! But this one of the best story arcs of the book and there have been a lot of great ones! So people are doing themselves a disservice by not reading this comic regularly! (sorry for the rant)
6.) The Accelerators : This comic is through a comic company called Blue Juice and I have heard that it was created by the producers of Comic Book Men. Anyway, this is a very cool series drawn by a fellow Indianapolis artist Gavin Smith who's work I enjoy! Anyway, this is a time travel sci-fi story about three people who get lost in time and end up in the future, where they have these crazy historical gladiator fights. If you have ever seen the Deadliest Warrior it's kind of like that, but w/ time travel and so on. The comic has a tone that's similar to a film you might have seen in the 80's, which I like a lot. It's also cool because the characters make stops in different time periods and it brings a nice feel of nostalgia! It is a smaller comic, but it is worth a read because its good and I think Blue Juice could be a cool new comic publisher!
7.) Sidekick: This is another Image title because they just have all around great stuff being released these days... And they have something for everyone! Anyway, J. Michael Straczynski created this comic series and it is an interesting read. As the comic title suggests it is written through the perspective of a former Sidekick called Fly-boy. It's a great and simple twist on what happens when a hero loses his partner, only this isn't Batman sad about Robin it's the other way around. It amazes me that this concept hasn't already been done in some way? Maybe it has, but I have never read it. Anyway, we follow Fly-boy as he slips into madness until, of course, something unexpected happens. It's definitely worth reading if you are looking for something different!
8.) Warlords of Wor: This comic is surprise Number 8 because it's great! These comics are inspired from the Warlord of Wor toy line by Man or Monster ? Studios. (and The old Masters of the Universe toys line and cartoon) I was super fortunate to come across these at IndianaCon during the kickstarter, and I am super happy to have gotten the first few issues! It is definitely a nostalgia trip, but it is all very fresh and smartly done. If you like 80's toy lines, cartoons and comics you will love this book it is what the word epic really means! (like huge and bad ass in Matt terms:) You can find them at www.manormonsterstudios.com
That's it for this list... If you aren't reading these you should give them a try these are all great comics and they truly have something for everyone! If you have any suggestions to add to this list feel free to share in the comments or on my Facebook page! As always thanks for reading!
1.) Black Science : My pal/enemy/manager Jon recommended I pick up the first issue in reprint awhile back and I decided I would listen!( He said he'd stab me if I didn't) I am happy I did because this comic is great! I had heard great things about it from a few different comic friends, but sometimes you hear something is good and it just sucks when you read it! This comic met my expectations and exceeded them, largely because I didn't know what to expect. I have to warn you that first issue is good, but is somewhat heavy on content and information, at times it is a lot to take in. (it also sort of jumps around) If you pick it up I advise you to keep reading until about the 3rd issue because it starts to take some really interesting turns and the stakes seem to keep getting higher! The main premise of the this book centers around a Scientist who has developed inter-dimensional jumping technology, but that isn't really the main story. See, he has lost his family it seems and made mistakes that we haven't learned about completely... he's not father of the year either. The tone has sort of a Aliens meets Star Trek meets Indiana Jones sort of feel to me, which is probably why I enjoyed the first 6 issues so much. I also enjoy anything that explores Parallel realities and different dimensions. It touches on the theory of "everything" which is super interesting and means different things to different people. Anyway, if you are interested in science fiction that seems to become more factual and possible everyday, you should read this comic!
2.) Chew : I avoided this book for awhile because sometimes I get tired of hearing how good something is all the time... I feel like when I hear somethings great over and over I may not like it just because my expectations will be so high... Well, in this case I was dead wrong... I am only on the 3rd issue and I can see why everyone likes this book! It is dark, weird and whimsical enough to work really well. Tony Chu is a cibopath, which is the ability to feel and see the life of everything he eats. He uses this ability to solve crimes... dark crimes. (You do the math) But the tone of this book doesn't feel dark or dirty... the style of art is cartoony and the dialogue is quite humorous, smart and conversational. It has a Tarantino kind of feel, in that it deals w/ the underbelly of life in a light-hearted, humorous and imaginative kind of way. Its really quite brilliant. Give it a try... both Black science and Chew and published by image comics and their first trade volumes are only 10 bucks! So if for some reason you don't like them at least it wasn't the normal 15 dollars. Come on take a chance!
3.) Jupiter's Legacy: This is another Image Comic, written by Mark Millar and drawn by Frank Quietly. Its a really cool story about Golden age heroes that grow old enough to live in a world that doesn't seem to need them anymore... At least not in the classical sense of the word "superhero." Their kids are young selfish socialites full of anger and resentment towards their world worshiped parents. This again has a kind of Indiana Jones 1940's serials sort feel, w/ a splash of generations x, Millennials and "Z." I haven't been able to find issue 5, I believe and it's been awhile I am not sure what the deal has been? It's possible I missed it? Anyway, this is worth your time... Mark Millar normally writes cool stuff and this is some of his best to date in my opinion. READ IT... I-DARE-YOU!
4.) Tranformers vs GI JOE: This is only on issue 1 and it is already one of the coolest comics I have ever read! I love Jack Kirby and the artist/ writer on this book is a gentleman named Thomas Scioli and he has a Kirby-ish feel, but it is not Kirby... He has a very unique style that captures vintage nostalgia in a timeless tone. John Barber also co-writes this book! I feel like they are sort of recreating the Joes and Transformers respective universes, while still keeping many elements in tact. Every page is stuffed full of action and 80's style one liners. I have never been a Transformers guy, but he draws them so cool and interesting that it's hard not to enjoy them on par w/ my beloved GI Joes! The universe just feels huge to me, every page looks better than the last and above all else it's fun! I feel like a kid when I read it, but that isn't to say that it's a kids comic because it isn't... It's waaaay too bad ass for that!
5.) Invincible: I've talked about this comic before and I have said it before... This is the only superhero comics you will ever need! It sees it on the damn book! The great thing about this series right now is that it's a good time to jump in! After issue 110 they started a new arc and it is madness! Dogs and cats living together and all that! There is a major power struggle w/ in that universe right now and a lot of bad stuff has happened to Mark Grayson aka: Invincible! but the real beauty of this book is that every single character is interesting... sometimes Invincible is in the book very little and you don't even notice because the issue centers around Robot who is equally as interesting as the main hero! I have to say this!!! I was really pissed off when issue 110 came out because at this point I have been reading invincible for like 7 years! I got a late start on this book, but I caught up on all the reading and went back and got a bunch of the early issues I missed thanks to my wonderful girlfriend! So word got out about 110's content and all these people who never even read the book went and bought all the copies off the shelves! It made me mad because I read the book every month and enjoy it and didn't know anything about that specific issue because I just love the book! PERIOD! Anyway, It was bitter sweet, at the same time, because I thought maybe people would start to pick the book and support it, but now I see all the following issues sitting on the shelves because all the poor store owners, assumed that the book was going to be super popular after 110, but instead it just sort of went back to normal! But this one of the best story arcs of the book and there have been a lot of great ones! So people are doing themselves a disservice by not reading this comic regularly! (sorry for the rant)
6.) The Accelerators : This comic is through a comic company called Blue Juice and I have heard that it was created by the producers of Comic Book Men. Anyway, this is a very cool series drawn by a fellow Indianapolis artist Gavin Smith who's work I enjoy! Anyway, this is a time travel sci-fi story about three people who get lost in time and end up in the future, where they have these crazy historical gladiator fights. If you have ever seen the Deadliest Warrior it's kind of like that, but w/ time travel and so on. The comic has a tone that's similar to a film you might have seen in the 80's, which I like a lot. It's also cool because the characters make stops in different time periods and it brings a nice feel of nostalgia! It is a smaller comic, but it is worth a read because its good and I think Blue Juice could be a cool new comic publisher!
7.) Sidekick: This is another Image title because they just have all around great stuff being released these days... And they have something for everyone! Anyway, J. Michael Straczynski created this comic series and it is an interesting read. As the comic title suggests it is written through the perspective of a former Sidekick called Fly-boy. It's a great and simple twist on what happens when a hero loses his partner, only this isn't Batman sad about Robin it's the other way around. It amazes me that this concept hasn't already been done in some way? Maybe it has, but I have never read it. Anyway, we follow Fly-boy as he slips into madness until, of course, something unexpected happens. It's definitely worth reading if you are looking for something different!
8.) Warlords of Wor: This comic is surprise Number 8 because it's great! These comics are inspired from the Warlord of Wor toy line by Man or Monster ? Studios. (and The old Masters of the Universe toys line and cartoon) I was super fortunate to come across these at IndianaCon during the kickstarter, and I am super happy to have gotten the first few issues! It is definitely a nostalgia trip, but it is all very fresh and smartly done. If you like 80's toy lines, cartoons and comics you will love this book it is what the word epic really means! (like huge and bad ass in Matt terms:) You can find them at www.manormonsterstudios.com
That's it for this list... If you aren't reading these you should give them a try these are all great comics and they truly have something for everyone! If you have any suggestions to add to this list feel free to share in the comments or on my Facebook page! As always thanks for reading!
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