HOT FIVE: Week Of October 12, 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 k books, this list is your guaranteed gold in the comic market.

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CLONE CONSPIRACY #1
Written by Dan Slott
Art by Jim Cheung
Published by Marvel Comics – $4.99

“DEAD NO MORE”: The Jackal is back and has conquered death. The Amazing Spider-Man is outmatched by his classic enemy’s army. Does the wall-crawler stand a chance? SHOULD he stand in The Jackal’s way if he’s found the key to eternal life?

Why It’s Hot: The biggest Spider-Man story since Superior Spider-Man kicks off in earnest this week after months of build up. The last time Dan Slott talked up a story like this it ended with the “Death” of Peter Parker, and one of the most talked about comic book events in recent memory. What will happen this time around? All we know is that it will be big, and look really good with Jim Cheung on art.

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DOOM PATROL #2
Written by Gerard Way
Art by Nick Derington
Published by DC Comics/Young Animal – $3.99

What happened to Larry Trainor? The hero known as Negative Man is still out there, but he’s not exactly the same guy he was back when Doom Patrol was still together. Like a Russian doll, there is man inside the man, and who knows how many other men inside of them, with the guy on top possessing a mind for mischief that incites violence.
Meanwhile, Casey has started rebuilding Robotman, even though she still doesn’t know exactly how Cliff Steele ended up crossing her path in the first place.

Why It’s Hot: Last month saw the debut issue of the long awaited new volume of Doom Patrol, and not only was it worth every second of the wait, but it ushered in the “Young Animal” era at DC Comics. The imprint curated by My Chemical Romance frontman, former DC intern, and accomplished comic book writer Gerard Way features a group of books the likes that have been missing from the company for several years. One can’t help but to compare the style and excitement of Young Animal to the early days of Vertigo. It makes sense that one of the properties that helped inspire the creation of Vertigo is the flagship title of this new imprint. There’s an energy, and sense of weird that bring out the best in the Doom Patrol property, and this new series has plenty of both. Way, Derington, and company are off to an insane start, making the series ia must read after only one issue.

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HOWARD THE DUCK #11
Written by Chip Zdarsky
Art by Joe Quinones
Published by Marvel Comics – $3.99

• Join Chip (Zdarsky) and Joe (Quinones) as they say goodbye to Howard in a Very Special Issue that is still priced as a Regular Issue!

•  Can Howard outwit fate? Can any of us? Or is the concept of predestination just shorthand for the near-infinite factors in play that are guided, at their core, by free will?

•  Guest-starring Spider-Man, probably.

Why It’s Hot: Goodbye Howard, your series will be missed. Thank you to Chip, Joe, and everyone that has contributed for consistently making one of the very best comics each and every month. I’ll miss the supporting characters like Biggs, Tara, and Aunt May. I’ll also miss the numerous guest stars like Bev Switzler, Galactus, The Collector, Mojo, The Guardians of The Galaxy, Captain America, Linda (Howard’s clone), Shocket (Rocket’s clone), Silver Surfer, Squirrel Girl, Beast, Kraven, She Hulk, Daredevil, and of course the legend that is The Inconsolable Spider-Man. Most of all I will miss your take on Howard himself. It is the best the character has been handled since Steve Gerber himself. Everything about this comic will be missed.

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REBORN #1
Written by Mark Millar
Art by Greg Capullo
Published by Image Comics – $3.99

MARK MILLAR & GREG CAPULLO join forces to create the smash hit sci-fi / fantasy story of the year: REBORN. Where do you go when you die? Not heaven or hell; somewhere else. Somewhere you have to fight to survive. Somewhere the people from the past are waiting for you-the good and the bad.

Why it’s Hot: Mark Millar and Greg Capullo are two of the biggest names in comics today, and they’re coming together to bring readers on  a high concept thrill ride. I’ve been saying that Millar has been on a hot streak for a few years now, but just how long does a hot streak need to go on before it’s just what is expected? Meanwhile, Reborn is Capullo’s return to Image, and his first work on a comic other than Batman in over five years. It will be exciting to see what Millar has come up with for Capullo to stretch muscles that he hasn’t had to in awhile.

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SUPERGIRL #2
Written by Steve Orlando
Art by Brian Ching
Published by DC Comics – $2.99

“REIGN OF THE CYBORG SUPERMEN” part two! Supergirl battles Cyborg Superman in the Fortress of Solitude-and there can be only one winner! But even a temporary victory can spell certain doom for Kara and her new home as her father’s plan at last comes to light! Meanwhile, the race for Cat Grant’s prized internship heats up, and Kara finds her human competition to be just as challenging!

Why It’s Hot: In a week where Supergirl returns to television screens on the CW, what better way to take advantage of the excitement than to release the next issue of the new series? Even better? The series is really good, as the team of Orlando and Ching have combined what has worked for the recent Supergirl comics with bits and pieces of what makes the show so great. The result has been yet another really good start to a comic with Steve Orlando’ name on the cover. That’S becoming a regular thing these days.

ALSO AVAILABLE THIS WEEK: All-Star Batman #3, Darth Vader #25, Great Lakes Avengers #1, Mosiac #1, The Sheriff Of Babylon #11

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