Comic Vine News

79 Comments

This Week's Essential Comics: 03/20/13

Brace yourself! New comic book day is coming!

This week comes as quite a double-edged sword. Plenty of new and great issues is always a thrilling experience, but it literally comes at a heavy price. Odds are your wallets are going to really feel this one when you exit your local shop or checkout online. It was very tough narrowing down the titles, but we love the following and think they're worthy of a purchase. Because there were just so darn many, there's a massive honorable mentions section, too.

Don't forget to sound off below with your own list of essential comics this week!

INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US #10

No Caption Provided

Every Tuesday shall now be known as "Injustice Day." Digital comics sometimes come with the stigma of not being as good as the titles on the stands every Wednesday. Not only is that hugely false, but this digital comic happens to be without question one of the best stories DC is currently offering. Writer Tom Taylor has been doing a brilliant job crafting the video game's prequel. This comic has run a gauntlet of emotions -- shocking yet hilarious, dark yet fun -- and this short read never fails to impress. For just $0.99 per issue, there's really no reason not to give this an honest chance.

IGN has a 3 page preview of the comic.

== TEASER ==

JUDGE DREDD YEAR ONE

No Caption Provided

IDW and 2000 AD are teaming-up to bring us an all-new story for Judge Dredd's earlier days. Written by 2000 AD Editor-in-Chief Matt Smith and illustrated by Simon Coleby, this mini-series dives into Dredd when he was fresh out of the academy at 18 years-old. Even if you've fallen behind on IDW's series, this has gotta be incredibly tempting for anyone who watched the recent Dredd 3D. I don't know about you, but the impressive film has absolutely sparked my interest in the character.

CBR has the remainder of the preview.

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #2

No Caption Provided

Geoff Johns has revealed why Waller has created this team, and color me interested. In this second chapter, the team will continue to grow and we'll see what they want in exchange for their service. Claiming to have a huge impact on the rest of The New 52, it's safe to say this book needs to be on your radar if you want to know what's going down in DC's universe. Plus, Martian Manhunter gets his own back-up series. How awesome is that?

There isn't a preview available at the moment, but if one does pop up we'll be sure to add it.

NEW AVENGERS #4

No Caption Provided

Writer Jonathan Hickman and artist Steve Epting are during a superb job with the return of Marvel's Illuminati. As expected with Hickman, the scope here is huge, already involving the Infinity Gauntlet, and as yoiu can clearly see on the cover to the right, will include the return of the world eater, Galactus. If you're looking for a complex science fiction plot in Marvel's universe, this should be your go to title.

Head on over to CBR for more preview pages.

TMNT: THE SECRET HISTORY OF THE FOOT CLAN #4

No Caption Provided

I cannot praise this mini-series enough. Simply put: it's a must read if you even remotely like the Heroes in a Half Shell. Mateus Santolouco and Erik Burnham have been creating nothing short of magic with this book and this is the final chapter. Diving into the history of the IDW reboot, this series has been doing brilliant work expanding on the story we're all familiar with. If you really love the franchise, you'll do more than complain on the internet about the upcoming movie -- you'll read the comics.

Visit Comics Alliance for the rest of the preview.

SPECIAL SPOTLIGHT

X-O MANOWAR #11

No Caption Provided

'Planet Death' starts here! If you're a regular Viner, then odds are you know Mat ' Inferiorego' Elfring and I praise Valiant more than enough. So much, in fact, that you're probably sick of hearing it from us by now. While our rankings of their titles differ, we agree on one thing: X-O MANOWAR is nothing short of amazing. If you haven't been following along, then you'll be happy to know this serves as the perfect jumping on point. Upcoming GREEN LANTERN writer Robert Venditti has been killing it on this book and I have no reservation in calling it the best sci fi title out there.

Enjoy a preview below and then do yourself a favor and pick this one up. You can thank me and Mat later.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

  • ACTION COMICS #18
  • ALL-NEW X-MEN #9
  • AVENGERS #8
  • CONSTANTINE #1
  • DAREDEVIL #24
  • DEADPOOL #6
  • HARBINGER #10
  • INDESTRUCTIBLE HULK #5
  • INVINCIBLE #101
  • JUSTICE LEAGUE #18
  • NIGHTWING #18
  • NOVA #2
  • SAGA #11
  • SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN #6
  • TMNT #20
  • WONDER WOMAN #18

Gregg Katzman is a freelance writer for Comic Vine and IGN Entertainment. This is the part where he shamelessly plugs his Google+ and Twitter page in hopes of getting a new follower or two.

79 Comments

Avatar image for akbogert
akbogert

3323

Forum Posts

193

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 5

User Lists: 31

Edited By akbogert

@DonFelipe: Well I think the key is the word "essential." In theory the list is supposed to cover books that are almost guaranteed to be good or worth picking up; the controversy suggests that Constantine may not meet that criteria (certainly not the "guarantee" -- though of course the list is subjective). Injustice (which, by the way, while related to the game isn't actually an adaptation or even really a prequel, as it's planned to continue well beyond the game and in fact already has had things in it which contradict the game) has been consistently good for its whole run, so it's a safe bet.

Avatar image for spinningbirdcake
spinningbirdcake

1432

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By spinningbirdcake

Avengers, New Avengers, Superior Spider-Man, Action Comics, Justice League, Justice League of America,

Avatar image for victorvondoom_1
VictorVonDoom_1

143

Forum Posts

217

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By VictorVonDoom_1

All New X-Men #9

Avengers #8

Deadpool #6

Indestructible Hulk #5

Justice League of America #2

Nova #2

Superior Spider-Ma #6

TMNT Secret History of the Foot Clan #4

Avatar image for meteorite
Meteorite

3478

Forum Posts

381994

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 25

User Lists: 4

Edited By Meteorite

On X-O Manowar... I picked up the first trade on your recommendations, ComicVine, and you know what? By no means is it a bad story, but at the same time I don't see what all of the fuss is about. It's certainly enjoyable enough and I'm not saying it's bad, but I think that it is a tad overrated.

Avatar image for donfelipe
DonFelipe

2373

Forum Posts

129833

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 6

User Lists: 8

Edited By DonFelipe

@akbogert said:

@DonFelipe: Well I think the key is the word "essential." In theory the list is supposed to cover books that are almost guaranteed to be good or worth picking up; the controversy suggests that Constantine may not meet that criteria (certainly not the "guarantee" -- though of course the list is subjective). Injustice (which, by the way, while related to the game isn't actually an adaptation or even really a prequel, as it's planned to continue well beyond the game and in fact already has had things in it which contradict the game) has been consistently good for its whole run, so it's a safe bet.

You're right, controversy suggests it may not be a guaranteed/safe bet, and there's nothing wrong with Constantine being listed as honorable mention only.

Avatar image for sethysquare
sethysquare

3965

Forum Posts

150

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 1

Edited By sethysquare

Gregg is pretty awesome.

Avatar image for drellassassin
DrellAssassin

1028

Forum Posts

81

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 4

User Lists: 0

Edited By DrellAssassin

Just Deadpool and Superior Spidey for me this week.

Avatar image for drellassassin
DrellAssassin

1028

Forum Posts

81

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 4

User Lists: 0

Edited By DrellAssassin

@dondave: SWEET JESUS. What is your job that you can afford that many comics in one week?

Avatar image for cafeterialoca
Cafeterialoca

1582

Forum Posts

2131

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 14

User Lists: 3

Edited By Cafeterialoca

-Green Lanterns: New Guardians

-Wonder Woman

-X-Factor

-Daredevil

-Dark Avengers

Avatar image for jwalser3
jwalser3

6131

Forum Posts

2559

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

Edited By jwalser3

JLA or Justice League???

Avatar image for exia009
Exia009

75

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By Exia009

No Batwoman? For shame..

Picking up:

Batwoman

Justice League

JLA

Avengers

New Avengers

Nightwing

Red Hood

All-New X-men

maybe Constantine

Avatar image for k4tzm4n
k4tzm4n

41857

Forum Posts

9127

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 16

User Lists: 1

Edited By k4tzm4n  Moderator

@sethysquare said:

Gregg is pretty awesome.

Eh, I'm alright.

Avatar image for sethysquare
sethysquare

3965

Forum Posts

150

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 1

Edited By sethysquare

@k4tzm4n said:

@sethysquare said:

Gregg is pretty awesome.

Eh, I'm alright.

u know you're awesome. lol.

Avatar image for g_money_christmas
G_Money_Christmas

902

Forum Posts

11

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 1

  • Daredevil
  • All New X-Men
  • TMNT: Secret History of the Foot Clan
  • TMNT

I also want JLA, New Avengers, and Action Comics but I'm short on cash so they'll have to wait until next Friday. I chose to get the ones that would most likely be sold out by next Friday (except Daredevil, he's just my main man)... Hopefully I chose wisely.

Avatar image for ptigrusmagus
ptigrusmagus

496

Forum Posts

1

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By ptigrusmagus

*wallet suffered critical strike*

Avatar image for carnivalofsins00
carnivalofsins00

1224

Forum Posts

53

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 155

User Lists: 8

Edited By carnivalofsins00

That's funny. "HONORABLE MENTIONS: EVERYTHING ELSE THAT'S COMING OUT THIS WEEK!!!"

Avatar image for snascimento
SNascimento

450

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By SNascimento

Injustice delivered. Let's see the other ones.

Avatar image for dondave
dondave

41764

Forum Posts

345855

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By dondave

@DrellAssassin: I'm very spoilt

Avatar image for the_lunact_and_manic
The_Lunact_And_Manic

3296

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 2

Constantine, Nightwing and Injustice..

There goes my money.

Avatar image for grey56
Grey56

823

Forum Posts

1067

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 9

User Lists: 5

Edited By Grey56

- Appreciate your being even handed in the diversity which represents the books this week. Seeing only titles from the big two gets tiresome. Props to you, sir.

Avatar image for k4tzm4n
k4tzm4n

41857

Forum Posts

9127

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 16

User Lists: 1

Edited By k4tzm4n  Moderator

@Grey56: Thank you kindly.

Avatar image for kid_apollo
kid Apollo

961

Forum Posts

14

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By kid Apollo

books im loving: Indestructible Hulk, Thor, Uncanny X-men and X-force, New Avengers, Avengers, and Captain America

Avatar image for gammagirl
GammaGirl

75

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 2

Edited By GammaGirl

hmm.. nobody cares about the new Star Wars Legacy comic?

Avatar image for grey56
Grey56

823

Forum Posts

1067

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 9

User Lists: 5

Edited By Grey56

- If you're not reading this, you should give it a try sir. It's more than worth of this list.

http://www.hipflask.com/issues/elephantmen47/

Avatar image for saoakden
saoakden

1284

Forum Posts

548

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 4

Edited By saoakden

On this list: Injustice, Judge Dredd (maybe), Justice League of America, New Avengers, TMNT Secret of the Foot Clan (maybe), Action Comics, All-New X-Men, Avengers, Constantine, Daredevil, Deadpool, Indestructible Hulk, Invincible (maybe), Justice League, Nightwing, Superior Spider-Man, TMNT, Wonder Woman.

Man my pull list is ridiculously huge. Makes me sad that I can't afford most of these comics. *sigh*

Avatar image for mowgli22
Mowgli22

39

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By Mowgli22

Soo, better week for me. definitely hitting up X-0, Avengers, Dpool, and JLA. does anyone know when the Judge Dredd #5 comes out?

Avatar image for darkwingdan
darkwingdan

211

Forum Posts

15

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 11

User Lists: 1

Edited By darkwingdan

For me, this week it's:

  • Saga
  • Nightwing
  • Wonder Woman
  • Action Comics
  • Deadpool

I'm probably dropping Deadpool after this week. I don't the story has been very high quality, but I'm intrigued enough to see how the dead presidents arc finishes. Saga, on the other hand, is probably the most creative, well written book out there right now.

Avatar image for sinestro_gl
sinestro_GL

3651

Forum Posts

6530

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 14

User Lists: 8

Edited By sinestro_GL

Goodbye money.

Avatar image for yo_yo_fun
yo_yo_fun

654

Forum Posts

9

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 8

Edited By yo_yo_fun

From this list I'm getting: Action Comics #18 ( :/ ) and Wonder Woman #18. And maybe, Justice League of America #2 and Nightwing #18.

I'm also getting Birds of Prey #18 (Christy Marx takes over the writing beginning w/ this issue:) and Sword of Sorcery #6.

  • 79 results
  • 1
  • 2