THE HONOR ROLL: April 29, 2015 Releases

It’s a big time for comics, movies, TV. Comics are everywhere. On the screen, in our hands, in our hearts. We have great spoiler filled picks for you that are wonderful. Let’s get to it?

AVENGERS #44 – Ken Godberson III

You know, I honestly do believe the term “Grim” is overused in comics, even the mainstream books like the Big 2. Sorry, but when your line has books like Silver Surfer, Ms. Marvel, Grayson and the retooled Batgirl, you cannot accuse a comic line of being 100% Grimmdark.

Jonathan Hickman’s Avengers saga is one of the most grim things I have ever experienced.

Not even just a grim comic, I mean in any medium. Movies, Novels, Video Games. This is so up there. But like all good books, it’s not about the tone, it’s about execution. People deride books with dark tones usually when they are just being dark and grim for its own sake. With Hickman’s Avengers, there feels like their is purpose to this madness that has been happening these last few years and that’s what separates a great, but grim, book and one being grim for its own sake.

So, yeah, the Avengers were not the “Earths Mightiest Heroes” of Busiek’s run or…whatever they were…in Bendis’ run. But Jonathan Hickman’s Avengers were my Avengers and I admit that with no shame at all. Secret Wars has been my most anticipated book of the year and I cannot wait for next Wednesday.

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About Me: When he is not working at a library or on his Master’s Degree, Ken Godberson III is usually writing comics, prose and screenplays. He tends to be an expert on absolutely nothing except on why Impulse is the greatest superhero ever. He can be found on Twitter @kengodbersoniii or on Tumblr at http://kengodbersoniii.tumblr.com/.

AVENGERS #44 – Kulbir Mann

This was an exceptionally difficult choice where the two comics that I adored both features two relationships that came to a head this week: Batman & Joker, Stark vs Rogers. I chose the latter because it was built over the past three years and has been the focal point of the story for ever so long. Hickman has built a devastating relationship and had it reach a fitting and emotional ending. This final issue was astounding with a confrontation worthy of the 43 issues prior to it. I am not only saddened to read it but devastated it is essentially over.

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About Me: I Spend the day as a surgeon operating on people, spend the night as a blogger operating on comics! Check out my blog www.houseofflyingscalpels.com or follow me @kooliebear

ALEX & ADA #14 – Mike Garvey

This being the penultimate issue, I had a feeling *something* bad was going to happen. This panel, and those after it, to the end of the book, left me gutted, short of breath and teary-eyed. Damn you, Alex + Ada. Damn you.

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About Me: I love comics, tabletop games, and the Rock & Roll. You can find me talking general nonsense on Twitter as @avantgarve, or Doom Patrol related nonsense on Waiting For Doom podcast (@wfdpod), or fun comics related nonsense on Fun Time Comics podcast (@funtimecomics).

ALEX & ADA #14 – Ben Diederich

While I was late to joining this book, it had quickly become one of my absolute favorites. I say HAD, because the first half of this issue was pure bliss finally seeing the two title characters happy and at peace. That peace was short lived though because BAM (no pun intended) the story quickly turned on a dime into heart wrenching territory killing both Ada and me at the same time. We knew it wasn’t going to end happily ever after, but I definitely wasn’t ready for this. I cannot imagine where the final issue goes now, but I can’t wait to see, and to hopefully re-read when/if they release a deluxe oversized HC of the entire series.

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About Me@Punkrocksellout is a former punk rocker turned molecular biologist turned patent attorney turned father, who spends way too much time on twitter when he’s not out running barefoot.

BATMAN #40 – Scott Keys

Batman #40 was one of the most brutal, yet satisfying comics I’ve ever read. A fitting end for Endgame! I have to say it made me smile 🙂

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About Me: Scott Keys is a father, Butler University grad, pharmacist, and full-time comic nerd. You can follow his adventures around the spinner-rack and his Incoherent Comic Book Ramblings on: Twitter: @Like_car_Keys Tumblr:likecarkeys.tumblr.com Instagram: Like_car_Keys Facebook: Scott Keys (Likecarkeys) Google+: Scott Keys Pinterest: LikecarKeys

DAREDEVIL #15 – Tom Barnett

It’s been a while since I picked a panel from Marvel’s best monthly title, Daredevil. Like maybe a month! Leave it to Chris Samnee to open the issue with a panel like this, so minimal yet so powerful.

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About Me: I’m Tom. Slightly addicted to comics, Doctor Who, Star Wars and Star Trek. I also try to spend some time behind the lens of my camera. Love Bronze Age comics and the Black Hole movie from Disney. Follow me @tphoto10

SILVER SURFER #11 – James Kaplan

I love this series, and this issue is why I read comic books. It’s a time-bending Möbius strip of a comic, with a fantastic story told from the perspectives of multiple characters. And the art. Wow. I can’t say enough about the Allreds. I love everything they do, as I think that they have a unique ability to make art that conveys joy and sadness at the same time. This issue is some of the best work I’ve seen from them. Great, moving, thoughtful issue.

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About Me: James is a lawyer by day, and an avid reader of comics whenever he can.  He loves his family, friends, and getting all of them into comics. He writes longer comics reviews at panelpatter.com and is on Twitter @sinisterjhk. 

THEY’RE NOT LIKE US #5 – Pete Buser

Comic books shouldn’t always be super-happy-fun-time.  Sometimes they should be relentlessly dark.  And that’s what Eric Stephenson and Simon Gane are giving us with these “normal” looking, young mutants.

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About Me: Pete Buser is an enigma wrapped in a variant cover. Follow his mystery @petebuser

CONVERGENCE: SHAZAM! #1 – Aaron Meyers

I don’t care about this event at all, but that art. That art was so good.

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About Me: Aaron Meyers loves reading comics, collecting comics and talking about comics. He’s grateful to share his love of comics with all of his friends on the Internet. From Twitter at @aaronmeyers, to his new podcast, Comics Therapy with Andrea Shockling, it’s all about the love of comics. He also loves his family, especially his wife, Chrissy Meyers. And while you were taking the time to read this, Aaron went and bought all the best issues from your store’s dollar bin. You lose, Aaron wins. #AllTheComics

 

Thanks as always for reading and sharing the most honored comics of the week with us. Same time next week, stay tuned!

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