Well, this is going to be an expensive week. DC's two biggest characters have major issues coming out, Wolverine gets a gorgeous makeover and a new writer, and there's so much more greatness heading our way this Wednesday. We here at Comic Vine all have different preferences, so we want to share the books that have us the most excited. You know, just in case you're not sure what's coming out this week or in the event one of these hopefully great titles flew under your radar. Be sure to chime in with your own "essential comics," too!
Tony 'G-Man' Guerrero's picks
BATMAN #21
Zero Year begins here.
Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo have been on a roll with this series. We've seen big stories from the two that have put Batman through the ringer. In a bit of a departure, they're now going in a different direction. Instead of moving forward and telling the further adventures of the Dark Knight, we will be spending close to a year in Batman's past.
Some might say this is a risky move on a couple different levels. There really isn't much of a risk.
Even though we know Batman's origin, this has the potential to go beyond that. If you've read the different interviews from Snyder, you know it is not his intention to redo YEAR ONE. The reality of it is there is a need to retell Batman's early days. The new timeline in the New 52 has negated several key elements from YEAR ONE. And based on what Snyder and Capullo have done so far, there's no way they're simply going to retell a story of Bruce simply training to become a costumed vigilante.
It may be slightly familiar territory they're treading but you know they are going to surprise the hell out of us with whatever tricks they have up their sleeve.
Go to the NY Post for the last final preview page.
SUPERMAN UNCHAINED #1
We've seen what Scott Snyder can do with Batman. Now we get to see what he can do with Superman as well. And it's not just Snyder launching a new Superman title. Having Jim Lee on board is the icing on the cake.
There hasn't been a lot mentioned about the story and direction the two have planned for this series. We know it won't just be Superman fighting bank robbers in Metropolis. Snyder has mentioned we will see other characters such as Lois, Jimmy and even Batman and Wonder Woman. With two other Superman titles (three if you count the upcoming BATMAN/SUPERMAN), you know there has to be a reason for DC to believe this title is worthy of existing. What it comes down to is they know it will sell. We know we will be buying it to see what Snyder and Lee have cooking.
Is putting these two comic book superstars on the same title a gimmick? Is having a huge fold out poster with Jim Lee art inside the first issue a gimmick? Is getting Dustin Nguyen to do backups a gimmick? Who cares? These are all great reasons for us to be happy as comic book readers. When was the last time you got this excited for a new series?
Visit USA Today for the last preview page.
SAVAGE WOLVERINE #6
Like many others, I'm still recovering from Wolverine-overload. The furry mutant may not be in as many comics as he used to be but with WOLVERINE AND THE X-MEN, WOLVERINE, SAVAGE WOLVERINE and the occasional appearance in an Avengers comic, we are still getting a bit of him.
This series has had a different feel. The first five issues were written and drawn by Frank Cho and had a nice isolated feel. That appears to be changing with this issue and it may not necessarily be a bad thing. This issue marks the return of Joe Madureira.
Zeb Wells takes over as writer and with Joe Mad on art, we'll be seeing Wolverine getting savage against the Hand and it appears he won't be fighting this fight alone. Spider-Man and Elektra will be at his side.
So let's do a run down. Zeb Wells, Joe Mad, Wolverine, Spider-Man, Elektra and a bunch of ninjas. Sounds like more than enough of a reason to pick up this issue.
Mat 'Inferiorego' Elfring's picks
NIGHTWING #21
This series is really coming into its own right now. Sure, it's been pretty good before, but I always felt like it was another Bat-family book that loomed in the shadow of the bat. Now, Nightwing is on his own, in Chicago, and this book finally feels like a standout book that doesn't need Batman around to survive. I love what Kyle Higgins has been doing with this run and the art of Brett Booth is super-amazing. Dare I say this is one of my favorite super-hero books (for getting the fact Nightwing has no super-human abilities)? I dare say it.
UPROXX has the rest of the preview.
ULITMATE COMICS X-MEN #27
Brian Wood's ride on ULTIMATE X-MEN has been an incredible one, thus far. Mutants have their own plot of land, within the United States, and although Kitty Pryde has been leading the team, there's been a mutiny slowly building.
The conclusion to Natural Resources happens this week, and it looks like it's going to be one killer issue. It may not be a good jumping on point for new readers, but this is a book you're really going to want to read. It's the best of the Ultimates line, for sure.
Sara 'Babs' Lima's picks
DEMON KNIGHTS #21
Although the series has been canceled, it's still a comic I look forward to each month and one that will leave me very sad when it finally ends. This week we will see the release of DEMON KNIGHTS #21 and our unlikely and unconventional group of heroes seem to have finally embarked on their journey to find the Holy Grail. This series has brought together so many interesting characters and has built really interesting relationships between them through the use of great dialogue, a fantastic story-line and some truly stunning art, so I imagine what we see in this week's issue will continue that trend. The Holy Grail is likely to be a source of tremendous power, so it's no wonder Vandal Savage wants to get his hands on it. But what will happen if he does? And what if Etrigan gets ahold of it instead? We will have to wait and see what happens in this series' next issue.
Check out Comicosity for the rest.
GREAT PACIFIC #7
The first arc was pretty long, and issue #7 is the start of a new story, and that's good news. It hasn't been long since Chas Worthington first set foot on his own island of garbage, and he's already seen his best friend kidnapped, fought off a band of pirates and confronted the United States military -- and this is only the beginning.
What other adventures do creators Joe Harris and Martin Morazzo have in store for Chas, his friends and the future of 'New Texas'? It will be interesting to see in this story that opens one year later.
iFanboy has the last two preview pages.
Gregg Katzman's picks
SUICIDE SQUAD #21
Welcome back to my pull list, SUICIDE SQUAD! Ales Kot and Patrick Zircher took over the title in issue #20 and let me tell you, it feels like a terrific new direction for the team and has massive potential. Zircher's art is extraordinary and "topnotch" is the best way to describe it. Meanwhile, Ales Kot successfully made the issue feel like a #1 without weighing it down in too much exposition. He managed reintroduced and put his own touch on the characters and incorporated quite a few new aspects which are sure to have intriguing results along the way.
This book hasn't been on my radar for awhile now, but this issue most definitely put it back on the map. I can't wait to see where it'll go from here and the preview is the most amusing display I've seen from Deadshot in quite some time.
DEADPOOL #11
We Deadpool fans are quite a divided group. Some yearn for the return of a more serious and lethal Deadpool and while others fell in love with Daniel Way's over the top take on the character. But when it comes to this current run, I've seen mostly support from the Wade community -- and that's quite an accomplishment. Sure, Deadpool hasn't been as skilled or agile as I'd like him to be, but that's swiftly countered by sharp and hilarious writing from Gerry Duggan and Brian Posehn. Additionally, Mike Hawthorne has proven more than capable of picking up art duties after the talented Tony Moore left the book. They've managed to craft a plot which revolves around Deadpool's shifting morals and so far it's been quite interesting.
Oh, and did I mention this issue has Daredevil vs. Deadpool? Because it totally does.
Jen 'MissJ' Aprahamian's picks
AMERICAN VAMPIRE: THE LONG ROAD TO HELL #1
Snyder and Albuquerque have been bringing fresh blood (pun intended, of course) to the horror genre with the history-and-Americana-infused AMERICAN VAMPIRE, and the series just keeps getting better. LONG ROAD TO HELL is a hefty one-shot (64 pages!) designed to tide us over until the series re-launch later this year, and it looks like a hell of a story. Part road-trip adventure, part vampire hunting story, all awesome. (Not caught up yet? Sink your teeth into the first few trades -- they're quick reads that are jam-packed with drama and action, and there are no sparkles on these vampires.)
LIL GOTHAM #3
Dustin Nguyen and Derek Fridolfs are dropping adorable-bombs on us in a most serious way with LI'L GOTHAM, and I've never wanted a book to double-ship as much as I do with this one. Nguyen's watercolors are stunning, and the stories have a delightful lightness that Gotham rarely sees.
This month's edition features a Valentine's story starring The Joker and a Lunar New Year adventure with Damian and Katana, continuing the holiday-centered theme that the book has been rocking. I'd be remiss if I didn't emphasize the "all" in "all-ages" -- this book is charming and enjoyable for everyone, not just the kiddies.
There's no preview, but we promise it's all kinds of adorable.
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