HOT FIVE: Week of January 17, 2018

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 in the comic market.

ASSASSINISTAS #2
Written by Tini Howard
Art by Gilbert Hernandez (Pencils), Rob Davis (Colors)
Published by IDW Publishing – $3.99

“Pregnant Pauses and Campout Makeouts” Dominic Price is a college-age cutie pie who just wants to spend the semester making out with his boyfriend, Taylor, in between rounds of TurboLight Fighter and maintaining a solidly passable 3.2 GPA. His mom, Octavia, formerly a badass action-movie-quality bounty hunter, didn’t pay his tuition, because she had to get back in the business and spend 40K on black market weapons and body armor And she’s bringing Dominic with her, because the alternative is making lattes for a semester, and he’d rather die. Good thing in mom’s line of work, dying is an option!

Why It’s Hot: Howard, Hernandez, and the rest of the creative team look to improve on an already stellar beginning to the Black Crown imprint’s second series. This comic is everything one would expect from editor Shelly Bond’s pairing of an up and coming star writer in Howard and the legend that is Gilbert Hernandez. This is some good comic booking from one of the best new imprints in ages.

AVENGERS #676
Written by Al Ewing, Jim Zub, Mark Waid
Art by Pepe Larraz (Pencils), David Curiel (Colors)
Published by Marvel Comics – $3.99

NO SURRENDER Part 2

NOW ON SALE WEEKLY!
The Black Order. The Lethal Legion. Two teams of powerful villains bent on destroying each other have arrived on Earth, and they don’t care who gets caught in the crossfire. But who’s pulling their strings? And what is the secret of the lost Avenger?

Why It’s Hot: The biggest Avengers story of the year got underway last week as the first issue of “No Surrender” featured Earth being stolen alongside the “return” of Valarie Vector aka Voyager. Who is this missing founding of the Avengers? Where has Earth gone? Who stole it? And what does all of this have to do with the Black Order and Lethal Legion? The wild ride from the minds of the Avengers brain trust continues here! If you’re at all interested in any of the Avengers teams this story is a must read. The same can be said if you’re a reader looking for a big, (seemingly) standalone superhero comic from some of the best writers and artists at Marvel.

BATMAN #39
Written by Tom King
Art by Joelle Jones (Pencils), Jordie Bellaire (Colors)
Published by DC Comics – $2.99

SUPERFRIENDS” part three! Batman and Wonder Woman fight together in an epic battle that will define and then redefine their relationship. What bonds these two pillars of the DCU together? What tears them apart? Find out as Batman continues on his quest for the one thing he’s never had, happiness.

Why It’s Hot: Tom King writing Wonder Woman with the art of Joelle Jones and Jordie Bellaire? I know seeing Batman in this column might be getting old, but if DC keeps on bringing the goods this comic will find itself here. Did I mention that Joelle Jones draws one hell of a Diana? Or that Tom King writes her just as well?

DAMAGE #1
Art by Tony S. Daniel (Pencils), Danny Miki
Written by Robert Venditti
Published by DC Comics – $2.99

Tasked as the government’s own living, breathing, ticking time bomb, Ethan retains no control when the monster takes over. Cheaper than a nuclear warhead and twice as effective, Ethan fights to rein in the damage he unleashes when the beast inside him springs free for one hour a day. With everyone around him in danger, Ethan struggles to contain the DAMAGE he inflicts on the DC Universe.

Why It’s Hot: The New Age Of Heroes is upon us with Tony Daniel and Robert Vendetti’s Damage leading the way. DC’s new artist driven initiative spins out of the epic Dark Nights: Metal event, and with some of the company’s best creators working on these comics it looks to be an important part of the publisher’s plans moving forward. If you want in on the stories of these brand new characters from the ground floor this is the place to start.

DAYS OF HATE #1
Written by Ales Kot
Art by Danijel Zezelj (Pencils), Jordie Bellaire (Colors)
Published by Image Comics – $3.99

SERIES PREMIERE
The United States of America, 2022.
The loss that ripped them apart drove one into the arms of the police state and the other towards a guerrilla war against the white supremacy. Now they meet again.
This is a story of a war.

Why It’s Hot: Ales Kot is at his best when he’s telling an unfiltered creator owned series with a message. With the title page featuring the opening chapter’s title of “America First” followed by a Steve Bannon quote Kot doesn’t shy away from the politics in Days Of Hate. If you’re one of those readers clamoring for creators to keep their politics out of comics this comic won’t be for you. For the rest of us seeing Kot’s response to the current political climate and where that may lead us in the near future has the potential to be something special.

ALSO AVAILABLE THIS WEEK

* Amazing Spider-Man – Venom Inc. Omega
* Doctor Strange #384
* Ice Cream Man #1
* The Mighty Thor #703
* Pacific Rim Aftermath #1

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