Hot Five: Week of February 12th, 2014

Welcome to Comicosity’s Hot Five. Hot Five is a short list of the top books we think you’ll want to be checking out. Be they new title launches, key issues or just continuing stories from some of the industry’s most acclaimed books, this list is your guaranteed gold for the week in the comic market!

batman28_cvrBATMAN #28
Written by Scott Snyder & James Tynion I
Art by Dustin Nguyen & Derek Fridolfs
Published by DC Comics – $3.99

This special “flash-forward” issue of BATMAN offers a glimpse into the future of Gotham City and gives readers a taste of what to expect when BATMAN ETERNAL launches later this year!

Why It’s Hot: Before Zero Year reaches the 2/3 point, The story takes a small break, as Batman jumps from the past into the future. Find out bits and pieces of what lies ahead for our favorite Bat characters in this special issue that ties into the upcoming Batman: Eternal

KICKASS2013006_DC11_LR-1KICK-ASS 3 #6 (of 8)
Written by Mark Millar
Art by John Romita Jr.
Published by Icon/Marvel Comics – $4.99

It’s the flashback issue you’ve all been waiting for: The secret origin of Hit-Girl! Training, first blood, and of course, lots of hugs and positive reinforcement from Big Daddy. Exactly how does little Mindy McCready earn her assassin stripes? Hint: It ain’t by collecting stickers. This issue will be extra-sized for extra awesome!

Why It’s Hot: The Kick-Ass Saga is nearing its end, and in this special super-sized issue Millar and Romita focus on the early days of everyone’s favorite foul mouthed teenage assassin Hit-Girl. After starring in the three Kick-Ass mini series, her own mini series, and portrayed by Chloe-Grace Moretz in two blockbuster movies, it can’t be argued that Mindy McCready has been one of the breakout characters in comic books over the past six years, and now it’s time for an origin story.

SHEHULK2014001_DC11_LRSHE-HULK #1
Written by Charles Soule
Art by Javier Pulido
Published by Marvel Comics – $2.99

JENNIFER WALTERS IS…THE SHE-HULK! A stalwart Avenger, valued member of the FF, savior of the world on more than one occasion, she’s also a killer attorney with a pile of degrees and professional respect. A 7-foot-tall drink of cool, emerald water, she’s tough enough to knock out Galactus with one punch (possibly?) and has a heart bigger than the moon. But juggling cases and kicking bad guy butt is starting to be a little more complicated than she anticipated. With a new practice, a new paralegal and a mounting number of super villains she’s racking up as personal enemies, She Hulk might have bitten off a little more than she can chew…but she just calls that that Tuesday.

Why It’s Hot: Charles Soule, real life lawyer and newest comics superstar writing the exploits of the Marvel Universe’s premiere super heroine lawyer? It sounds too good to be true, but this Wednesday it is happening. Add in the awesome artistic stylings of Javier Pulido along with the amazing covers by Kevin Wada, and you are left with all of the pieces that have the potential to make She-Hulk one of 2014’s best new comics.

the-mercenary-sea-01webTHE MERCENARY SEA #1
Written by Kel Symons
Art by Mathew Reynolds
Published by Image Comics – $2.99

“NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT”

Action and adventure set in 1938—The South Seas. Japan has invaded China. War in Europe is imminent. Ex-bootlegger Jack Harper captains The Venture, a refitted German U-Boat, with a crew of expats, mercenaries and treasure hunters. They do whatever it takes to stay afloat, often running up against pirates, headhunters, spies, and soldiers. They’re always one step away from the greatest score of their lives…or their certain demise.

Why It’s Hot: Every once in awhile a book will come out of nowhere to knock you off your feet unexpectedly. The Mercenary Sea is one of those books. With a fun sense of adventure best described as Indiana Jones with a smuggler twist, and a beautiful art style that just pops off the page, you do not want to miss out on this book. If I had to bet, I would bet the farm that this ends up as one of surprise books of the year. Get in on the ground floor and help give this comic the audience it deserves.

WSTBM2014001_DC11_LRWINTER SOLDIER: THE BITTER MARCH #1 (of 5)
Written by Rick Remender
Art by Roland Boschi
Published by Marvel Comics – $3.99

1966: With Nick Fury missing, and presumed dead, global espionage agency S.H.I.E.L.D. sends secret agent Ran Shen to collect two Nazi scientists with the key to defining who wins the Cold War. But the Americans are not the only ones who want the high value scientists. The Soviets have opened the Red Room, releasing their most dangerous operative –The Winter Soldier, who unbeknownst to the world, is the presumed-dead partner of Captain America—Bucky Barnes! The brainwashed soldier’s mission: to acquire the scientists by any means or to kill them should they fall into American hands. This classic 60’s style, high-octane, spy pulp told at Cold War’s peak follows Ran Shen and his terrified scientists as they creep out of the shadow of East Berlin. Intrigue, adventure, romance and murder abound with ramifications that will shatter relationships in the modern-day Marvel Universe—including one with the Star Spangled Avenger himself!

Why It’s Hot: There’s a little movie on the horizon called Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and soon the world over will know the story The Winter Soldier.  What fans of the comics haven’t seen much of are the days when Bucky was active as the Russian assassin. To rectify that Marvel has gone to one of their hottest writers in Rick Remender, who also happens to write the ongoing Captain America, to write a spy thriller set at the height of the Cold War that will have ramifications on today’s continuity. Add all the ingredients up and you have a book that is HOT.

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