Welcome back to 10 Comics to Buy This Week. As you're probably well aware, there are a metric crap-ton of comic books hitting shelves every single week. And for the common consumer, it's financially impossible to pick up everything. That's where this column steps in like your superhero savior, drawing your attention to 10 books worth your hard-earned dollars during any given week.
We not only going to spotlight tights and capes books, but also some indie titles off the beaten path, which, if all goes well, will broaden your reading horizons.
Action Comics #7
We finally get back to the Brainiac story in Action Comics #7. Metropolis has been captured and to save it, Superman must push himself like never before. Meanwhile, Steel continues to aid the cause from the ground floor, helping citizens stuck in the danger zone in a back-up story written by Sholly Fisch and drawn by Brad Walker.
Now that we're back to the present and not retreading Kal-El's first run-in with the Legion of Superheroes (as uniquely different as it many have been), Morrison can get back to building his epic introduction to the New 52 version of Brainiac.
Age of Apocalypse #1
The first issue of Age of Apocalypse, spinning out of the Dark Angel Saga in the pages of Uncanny X-Force, hits store shelves this week. Written by David Lapham and drawn by Roberto De La Torre, Age of Apocalypse looks to follow Jean Grey and Sabretooth as they continue to wage war against Weapon X.
Also, who are the X-Terminated? I imagine we'll be finding out in this hotly anticipated debut issue.
Animal Man #7
It's the start of a new arc in the pages of Animal Man. Welcome to "Animal vs. Man, part 1." With the Rot still hot on the Baker family's trail, Buddy and his son, Cliff, decide to share some quality father-son time.
Furthermore, Buddy also has a terrifying vision of things to come. To date, Jeff Lemire and Travel Foreman have been blowing us away with Animal Man, and we have no reason to believe this issue will be any different.
Fairest #1
The latest Fables spin-off series kicks off with Fairest #1. Fairest sets out to spotlight the female Fables of Bill Willingham's fantastical universe. The series plans to balance horror, humor and adventure, exploring the secret histories of Sleeping Beauty, Rapunzel, Cinderella, the Snow Queen, Thumbelina, Snow White, Rose Red, and more.
For starters, the first story arc (six issues) follows the misadventures of Briar Rose and will be drawn by Phil Jimenez. If you consider yourself a fan of Fables, this is a series that you shouldn't miss.
Fatale #3
Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips continue their latest crime saga wrapped in Cthulhu mythology. Thus far, this series has felt like home for Brubaker and Phillips, with touches of horror to make sure we aren't retreading the exact same ground that we'd find in Criminal.
We're still waiting for the kid gloves to come off and for Brubaker and Phillips to really cut loose with this series' horror elements. Hopefully that happens in issue #3, where Detective Walt Booker makes a significant sacrifice…
Hell Yeah #1
Eisner award-winning writer Joe Keatinge and artist Andre Szymanowicz tackle a series focusing on the next-generation super heroes of the Image universe. It was 20 years ago that super heroes first appeared and shook the very foundation of humanity. Now their offspring are running amok, fighting to claim their place in a world that's evolved beyond them.
Hell Yeah is set to "combine the over-the-top excitement of the original Image Comics launch with modern, innovative storytelling." The series kicks off with a giant-sized first issue to boot, featuring thirty-two pages of story without a single ad. All for $2.99.
Manhattan Projects #1
Writer Jonathan Hickman and artist Nick Pitarra reunite after working together on The Red Wing to start a brand new monthly series at Image called Manhattan Projects. This new series looks to shed light on certain aspects of history through a much darker, stranger lens.
For instance, what if the development of the first atomic bomb was just a cover-up for something even more sinister and foreboding? That's the kind of out-there thinking you can expect from Jonathan Hickman on this series. And if Hickman and Pitarra's work on The Red Wing is any indication, prepare for a mind 'splosion.
Swamp Thing #7
It's always a good week when an issue of Swamp Thing releases. Scott Snyder reteams with Yanick Paquette to continue the adventures of Alec Holland accepting his fate as the Swamp Thing. But while Alec struggles to accept his destiny with the Green, a new champion is rising to take the throne of the Bone Kingdom by Sethe's side.
Swamp Thing has yet to disappoint, and we fully expect that trend to continue with this week's issue #7. Things are just going to get darker and darker, and that's one of the reasons we love this series. Man, we are some sadistic S.O.B.s.
Toy Story #1
Everyone loves Toy Story. And if you don't, then you clearly have no soul. This new four-issue mini-series focuses on Woody, Buzz and the gang trying to survive Andy's new puppy, Buster.
Clearly, this series takes place far before the heart-wrenching Toy Story 3, a period in time when the toys' worst fears were being slobbered on by a playful pooch, not sliding to their death inside a molten-hot furnace. Man, Toy Story 3 got dark at times…
Venom #14
The "Circle of Four" mini event comes to a close with this issue of Venom. Rick Remender is joined by artist Tony Moore once again to wrap up this epic story centered around Venom, Red Hulk, X-23 and Ghost Rider.
The entire "Circle of Four" event has been outstanding so far, with solid characterization and some fantastic art from the series' rotating cast of pencillers. We really hope Remender and Moore can stick the landing to make this one of the best events Marvel has put out in recent memory.
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