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!
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #1
Written by Dan Slott
Art by Humerto Ramos
Published by Marvel Comics – $5.99
The Greatest Super Hero of All Time RETURNS!
The world may have changed since Spidey’s been gone, but so has Peter Parker. This is a man with a second chance at life, and he’s not wasting a moment of it. Same Parker Luck, new Parker attitude. Putting the “friendly” back in the neighborhood, the “hero” back into “super hero,” and the “amazing” back into “Spider-Man!” Also returning: The recharged and reenergized ELECTRO!
Why It’s Hot: Peter Parker is back just in time for the release of a little movie being released this week. With orders reportedly north of 600k, the combination of the return of Peter, the release of the Amazing Spider-Man 2, and Free Comic Book Day adds up to the biggest issue of the year. This extra sized extravaganza is more than just a celebration as the story marks the beginning of a brand new stage of Spider-Man’s life. How will Peter react to the changes that occurred during the Superior Era? Will things ever be the same? Only one way to find out!
BLACK SCIENCE #6
Written by Rick Remender
Art by Matteo Scalera & Dean White
Published by Image Comics – $3.50
Stranded in the most dangerous dimension yet, Grant McKay’s rage at his onetime boss boils over. Ignoring the chaos all around them, the two finally come to blows! Only one thing is certain: before the Pillar makes its next jump…one of them must die!
Don’t miss the conclusion to the first arc of the world’s most mind-melting sci-fi comic!
Why It’s Hot: The critically acclaimed first arc of Rick Remender and Matteo Scalera’s Sci-Fi epic reaches it’s conclusion, and everything changes. One of the best comics of 2014 has provided twists and turns every issue, but the best, most shocking moments are yet to come!
THE FLASH ANNUAL #3
Written by Robert Venditti & Van Jensen
Art by Brett Booth, Ron Frenz, Norm Rapmund & Livesay
Published by DC Comics – $4.99
The start of a major new arc for the Fastest Man Alive! In the future, The Flash is a broken man. His powers have failed him time and again at great cost to him and the city he has sworn to protect. Now he’s coming back to 2014 to stop the one event that destroyed his life. Meanwhile, in the present, Barry Allen must contend with thieves trying to capitalize on the devastation of FOREVER EVIL. It’s a tale of two timelines that ushers in one of DC’s most storied characters…featuring The New 52 debut of WALLY WEST!
Why It’s Hot: Last week in The Flash #30 we got our very first look at The New 52 iteration of fan favorite Wally West, and it set the comic book world abuzz. All the rumors, and suggestions and debate will come to an end, as we finally get to meet the the kid that may be destined to become Barry Allen’s closest ally.
SOUTHERN BASTARDS #1
Written by Jason Aaron
Art by Jason Latour
Published by I age Comics – $3.50
Welcome to Craw County, Alabama, home of Boss BBQ, the state champion Runnin’ Rebs football team…and more bastards than you’ve ever seen. When you’re an angry old man like Earl Tubb, the only way to survive a place like this…is to carry a really big stick.
From the acclaimed team of JASON AARON and JASON LATOUR, the same bastards who brought you Scalped and Wolverine: Japan’s Most Wanted, comes a southern fried crime series that’s like the Dukes of Hazzard meets the Coen Brothers…on meth.
Why It’s Hot: Superstar writer Jason Aaron’s long awaited return to creator owned comics is finally upon us. Aaron and Latour’s ode to the South is one of the most anticipated books of 2014, and for good reason. Destined to be another home run from Image Comics, Southern Bastards is a comic you do not want to miss!
VERTIGO QUARTERLY: CYAN #1
Stories and art by Jock, Fabio Moon, James Tynion IV and Martin Morazzo, Robert Rodi and Javier Fernandez, Amy Chu, Joe Keatinge, Cris Peter, Shaun Simon and Tony Akins and others
Published by DC/Vertigo Comics – $7.99
The four colors that are the basis of comics coloring serve as the jumping-off point for creators to push the boundaries of short graphic fiction in the new VERTIGO QUARTERLY: CMYK series. Starting with stunningly simple, bold covers, CMYK will defy all conventions of traditional comics anthologies. The unifying color could suggest a mood, a plot point, a coloring technique – limited only by the imagination of the fantastic creators we’ve lined up. And starting with CYAN, we have tales by some of the best talents in comics – a who’s who of creative minds. Jock, Fabio Moon, James Tynion IV, Robert Rodi, Shaun Simon, Amy Chu, Joe Keatinge, Cris Peter, Tony Akins and more will take on the challenge of telling compelling stories that scream cool “blue.” VERTIGO QUARTERLY: CMYK will continue through 2014 with MAGENTA in summer, YELLOW in fall and finally BLACK in winter. Be prepared to see color as only Vertigo can deliver!
Why It’s Hot: One of the most successful imprints in comic book history has gathered some of the top talents in the industry for a groundbreaking anthology series. What’s not to like?
