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This Week's Essential Comics: 9/15/14

These are the comics you're looking for.

Prepare your wallets because new comic book is almost here! The Comic Vine staff has reviewed the full list of this Wednesday's new releases and we're going to highlight some of the comics we're feeling very optimistic about. Once you're all set seeing what we suggest checking out, take a trip to the comments section and tell the world what you're going to purchase and why you hope those issues will be awesome.

Tony "G-Man" Guerrero's picks

DEADLY CLASS #7

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Each issue of DEADLY CLASS has been a trip to a different place in time. By that, we mean the 80s.

In the first arc we were introduced to Marcus as he found his way to the Kings Dominion High School for the Deadly Arts. That’s right, it’s a high school for assassins. You thought high school was bad enough? Just imagine what the different sort of cliques and students have in store for a new student.

With the first arc over, we are now ready to jump into the second. There will likely be some consequences for Marcus and his new friends after what they did and went through. Rick Remender and Wes Craig won’t be holding back. This comic is for mature readers, with good reason. You never know what’s going to happen next.

EDGE OF SPIDER-VERSE #2

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This is the one with Gwen Stacy as Spider-Woman.

Are you still reading or have you rushed off to call your local comic shop to try to make sure they guarantee you a copy?

Gwen Stacy was an amazing character. It was heart-breaking to see her meet her end at the hands of the Green Goblin. If you were lucky enough to have read the issues before hearing what was going to happen, it likely holds a special place for you.

With Spider-Verse coming up, we’re getting the chance to see old and new spider-characters get some time in the spotlight. The one in this issue is the amazingly-designed Gwen Stacy—Spider-Woman. There’s just something about her. There’s been a lot of buzz already on this issue. People have been hoping we’ll get to see more of her after this one issue. You won’t want to miss this one.

MULTIVERSITY: THE SOCIETY OF SUPER-HEROES

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We finally got to read the first issue of Grant Morrison’s MULTIVERSITY and it left us wanting more. Now we’ll get to visit some of the different “Earths” and see what’s going on there. This issue takes us to Earth-20. We’re promised “pulp Super-Heroes with a modern twist.” There will be some different versions of characters we’re familiar with and spiced up thanks to Morrison.

The interesting thing about this series is we’re getting a series of one-shots that can stand on their own. But the issues are also part of the bigger story. Chris Sprouse’s art will be a perfect fit for this issue.

Honorable Mentions: UNCANNY X-MEN #26, BATMAN AND ROBIN: FUTURES END #1

Mat "Inferiorego" Elfring's picks

THE STRAIN: THE NIGHT ETERNAL #2

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Last month's opening, to the final chapter of this three-volume epic, was incredibly awesome. We got to see the origin of the Master and it was just one awesome way to kick off the third volume. It started off pretty bleak and gave us little hope for our heroes. Lapham and Huddleston are doing a wonderful job adapting this book for the comic medium. If you're enjoying the television series, you need to pick up the first two volumes in trade and catch up for this third act, as long as you don't mind having the television series spoiled for yourself.

MANIFEST DESTINY #10

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Chris Dingess makes Lewis & Clark fun... and historically inaccurate. MD is a fun adventure story, nothing more, but it's done in such a way that it makes it amazing. Sure, this is more of a broad description of the series rather than specifics of why this particular issue is essential, but MD works exceptionally well as a larger story. Sure, there are singular moments in this book that are great, but when I think about this book, I think about it as a whole, or the journey up to this point, and that's what I love about it. It makes me look at a series in a different way. Plus, giant monsters.... tons of giant monsters.

Honorable Mention: MILES MORALES: ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #5

Gregg "k4tz" Katzman's picks

THOR: GOD OF THUNDER #25

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Jason Aaron has turned me into a Thor fan. His work with THOR: GOD OF THUNDER has been insanely impressive and he's been doing some major worldbuilding since the very first arc. From world-shaking conflicts to engaging and often witty dialogue, Thor's title has quickly risen to the top of my pile. Now, it's no secret the emergence of a new Thor has been met with, well, let's just put it lightly and say "mixed reactions," but, thanks to his work with this volume, the writer has undoubtedly earned my trust. I'm not only anxious to see what he'll bring to the Son of Odin's mythos with this chapter, but I'm legitimately excited and feeling optimistic about it, too.

Aaron's been doing incredible work with the three timelines and I find it very hard to believe he'd follow-up his previous arcs with something that'll just turn out just to be a "forgettable gimmick." That would seem like a waste of so much buildup, no? Oh, and then there's the fact we're getting even more of Esad Ribic's impressive artwork. So yeah, you can bet I'm looking forward to this one and I'm hoping for the best.

TMNT: TURTLES IN TIME #4

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IDW Publishing has been doing phenomenal work with the heroes in a half shell and this limited series is yet another story the publisher should be proud of. While the latest issue in the ongoing series built a major conflict between Krang and Shredder, this limited series has been a terrific dose of fun.

There's been a bit of a tonal shift between the chapters, but each has still been totally engrossing, funny, and added a little more substance to the universe. The first was cute and had some heart, the second went a little darker and incorporated a great twist, and the third was the most balanced and teased a fan favorite mutant. Now, it's looking like this final chapter will have the strongest connection to the main story arc yet. Could this be an alternate timeline where they failed to stop the two big villains? Only time shall tell, but each issue has been a blast, so it's absolutely one of the first comics I'll read this Wednesday. I know it's such a cliche thing to say, but this really is a must read limited series for TMNT fans.

Honorable Mention: ELEKTRA #6

Jen "MissJ" Aprahamian's picks

THE WICKED + THE DIVINE #4

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#WicDiv has been building up pretty steadily, adding to the tension of the core mystery as new cast members and bits of mythology are introduced, and I imagine we'll get a fairly explosive payoff soon. This month's installment brings us a confrontation with the larger-than-life Baal, and I can't wait to see how that shakes out. Essential because we basically get to see Kanye West in sequential form, and also because this series is consistently fascinating.

SUPREME: BLUE ROSE #3

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Nothing against Warren Ellis, but this book is on my must-read list because of Tula Lotay. I'm super in love with her pages, which look like nothing else in comics right now. It's surreal, it's dreamy, and it's awfully intriguing; SUPREME: BLUE ROSE makes my essentials list because it's interesting in a reality-bending kind of way.

Corey "Undeadpool" Schroeder's picks

BATMAN ETERNAL #24

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SPOILER ALERT...is a phrase I hope I don't hear from the eponymous character on a regular basis. I am happy to see the return of Stephanie Brown, particularly as her backstory is, in my opinion, more interesting this time around and I'm loving the new design of her. This series has been through its ups and downs, but seems to be on an incredible upswing at the moment. This collection of writers is proving that too many cooks don't always spoil the chili. And we are getting a veteran artist in Andy Clarke, who's contributed to one issue already to bring it all together.

DAREDEVIL #8

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I'm not going to lie: the cover and concept of this book is enough to terrify me to my core. Brian Bendis and Alex Maleev redefined the C-list Purple Man as an absolute horror of a villain. Both practically and psychologically, Purple Man became a nightmare to the lives of Daredevil, Jessica Jones and Luke Cage and now we have the beginning of an arc called "Purple Children." Anyone familiar with the character's reputation knows what this may mean, especially in the hands of an expert character reconstructor like Mark Waid. And with regular series artist Chris Samnee on art, I'm sure we'll see every horrific detail fully realized.

SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN #33

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The mystery of the man in the mysterious diving bell helmet stands to be unveiled at the hands of SpOck's unified legion of remaining spider avatars. Dan Slott knows his way around a bizarre, intriguing Spider-Man tale and this one might be the most bizarre yet, especially as it has the potential to involve my favorite sleeper-hit Spidey Villain. Though that COULD just be a grand fakeout which, if the reveal is appropriately awesome, I would be great with. Giuseppe Camuncoli, who's put in plenty of time on Superior Spider-Man with Miguel Angel Sepulveda bringing this tale of interdimensional hunting to the page.

Honorable Mention: ALL-NEW X-MEN #32

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