HOT FIVE: Week of July 20, 2016

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.

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BETTY & VERONICA #1
Written by Adam Hughes
Art by Adam Hughes
Published by Archie Comics – $3.99

It’s Betty vs. Veronica! The most highly-anticipated debut in comics history is here! Betty and Veronica are America’s sweethearts – until they turn on each other! Pops’ Chocklit Shoppe is being taken over by a huge coffee company. When Betty and Veronica go head-to-head over the issue, all bets are off! Friendships will shatter. Cities will burn. Nails will be broken. Betty and Veronica are back in this all-new #1 from comics legend Adam Hughes (Wonder Woman, Catwoman, Before Watchmen: Dr. Manhattan)!

Why It’s Hot: Adam Hughes is a living legend in the comic book world, and he’s taking on two iconic characters as Archie Comics adds another title to the stable of rebooted titles. Everything Archie has done lately has been gold, and Hughes is amazing. I mean this issue is even worth getting excited about all the awesome covers. This is a big launch for the company, and they are looking for yet another great series.

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BLACK HAMMER #1
Written by Jeff Lemire
Art by Dean Ormston
Published by Dark Horse Comics – $3.99

A new story from the prodigious brain of Jeff Lemire (Descender), amazingly realized by Dean Ormston (The Sandman) and Dave Stewart (Hellboy)!

Once they were heroes, but that age has long since passed. Banished from existence by a multiversal crisis, the old champions of Spiral City-Abraham Slam, Golden Gail, Colonel Weird, Madame Dragonfly, and Barbalien-now lead simple lives in a timeless farming town. Even as they try to find their way home, trouble has a unique way of finding heroes wherever they are!

Why It’s Hot: Lemire, Ormston, and Stewart telling the story of how a group of former superheroes survive in a small town away from the action, and why they live there sounds awesome. You can create a checklist of characteristics that would make for a good book for each of these creators, and Black Hammer will check most of them off. Exciting premise, great art, and knowing that Jeff Lemire is one of the best in the business right now makes this a must read first issue.

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FAITH #1
Written by Jody Houser
Art by Pere Perez, Marguerite Sauvage, Collen Doran
Published by Valiant Entertainment – $3.99

AN ALL-NEW ONGOING SERIES! Because you demanded it… the high-flying hero that captured the imagination of the world is back with a colossal new comics milestone!

In a city under siege by robots, aliens, monsters and even worse… celebrities, there is only one woman the people of Los Angeles can count on: the stratospheric superhero called Faith! Aspiring reporter by day and dedicated crime-fighter by night, Faith has tackled every obstacle in her path with confidence – like those crushing deadlines at work, the long-distance boyfriend half a world away, and the missing back issues that plague her comics collection! But, unbeknownst to her, Faith is about to collide with the one force she never saw coming: an up-and-coming super-villain bent on snuffing her out once and for all! But who is lurking behind the mask of her new foe…and could they just be the one person capable of rendering Faith powerless?

Jump on board now to find out why Valiant’s one-of-a-kind hero is inspiring a whole new generation! Be here as FAITH moves from her sold-out mini-series…and into the history-making debut of her first-ever ongoing series!

Why It’s Hot: The readers spoke, Valiant listened, and Faith is now an ongoing series. It’s rare for a non Big 2 character to create the kind of buzz that Faith has in the comic book community. It’s no surprise however as Valiant has a character that speaks to a lot of people, and a comic book that has talented creators working on making a great comic. If the ongoing is as good as the mini series we will all be happy.

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HELLBLAZER: REBIRTH #1
Written by Simon Oliver
Art by Moritat
Published by DC Comics – $2.99

John Constantine’s lost weekend in New York City was fun, but London’s where his heart is-only a pissed-off demon and a curse on his soul stand in his way. Even Constantine’s questionable ethics are pushed to the limit when he puts eight million souls on the line to get what he wants….

Why It’s Hot: I’ve noticed two things to be true about John Constantine. First, he’s always better in the hands of of a British creator. Second, the best comics starring him are always called Hellblazer. Thanks to Rebirth we have both of those things on the same comic for the first time in quite awhile. Oh, and John is heading back to London. When you add in Moritat’s pitch perfect art I wouldn’t blame anyone for having high hopes for this one.

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SNOTGIRL #1
Written by Bryan Lee O’Malley
Art by Leslie Hung
Published by Image Comics – $2.99

WHO IS LOTTIE PERSON? Is she a gorgeous, fun-loving social media star with a perfect life or a gross, allergy-ridden mess? Enter a world of snot, blood, and tears in this new ongoing series from New York Times Best Seller BRYAN LEE O’MALLEY (Scott Pilgrim) and dazzling newcomer LESLIE HUNG!

Why It’s Hot: The man that created Scott Pilgrim, Bryan Lee O’Malley, is writing an ongoing Image series that sounds absolutely bananas. Thanks to to what we’ve seen of Leslie Hung’s art from the series, it’s also looks insane. Snot? Blood? Tears? This might just be crazy enough to work.

ALSO AVAILABLE THIS WEEK: All New Wolverine #10, Batman #3, Green Arrow #3, Nighthawk #3, Superman #3

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