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.
AMERICA #2
Written by Gabby Rivera
Art by Joe Quinones
Published by Marvel Comics – $3.99
OKAY, LADIES, NOW LET’S GET IN FORMATION!!
• America Chavez’s first semester of college is off to an epic start. That’s right…homework on the first day! The assignment? A field trip to the frontlines of World War II!
• Most freshman would be intimidated – but most freshman aren’t dimension-hoping heroes with Captain America as their wingman!
• Meanwhile, unexpected fallout from an Ultimates’ mission begins to wreak havoc on not only America’s life but also the larger Marvel Universe as a whole!
Why It’s Hot: Gabby Rivera’s comic book debut was nothing short of astounding, as her and Joe Quinones’ first issue of America was exactly what fans of the character were hoping for when this series wasn’t announced. It was smart, funny, action packed, and put America Chavez in new and exciting situations. When diversity is discussed at the Big 2, this is the type of comic and creative team publishers should be looking to put together. I can’t wait to get my hands on this issue. Also, that cover is pretty damn cool.
BATMAN #20
Written by Tom King
Art by David Finch & Danny Miki
Published by DC Comics – $2.99
“I am Bane” finale! In this epic climax, there is no going back. No more tricks, no more allies. Just Batman. And Bane. When the final blood spills…nothing will ever be the same for the Dark Knight.
Why It’s Hot: The latest, and possibly greatest battle between Batman and Bane ends here, as Tom King’s stellar run on Batman continues. Throw in arguably the best work of David Finch’s career and you have a red HOT comic this week!
BLACK CLOUD #1
Written by Jason Latour & Ivan Brandon
Art by Greg Hinkle
Published by Image Comics – $3.99
SERIES PREMIERE
Zelda was born in a world of dreams, and hers burned bigger than anyone had ever seen.
Now she’s on the run in our world, the dreams broken in her hands.
But the pieces are for sale, the rich and the powerful are buying, and suddenly her world isn’t the only place Zelda’s running from.
From the creators that brought you Spider-Gwen, SOUTHERN BASTARDS, and DRIFTER, and the incredible colorist of THE WICKED + THE DIVINE, comes a place where dreams come true–and today, they go to war.
Why It’s Hot: This is one of my personal most anticipated first issues of the early part of 2017. Every creator that works on this series has been involved with some awesome comic books in their career. This feels like one of those stories that can only be told in comics. I can only hope you, the readers, are half as excited about it as I am!
ROYALS #1
Written by Al Ewing
Art by Jonboy Meyers
Published by Marvel Comics – $3.99
THE “RESURRXION” OF THE INHUMANS BEGINS!
A myth from the future. A quest to the far stars. A legend written across galaxies. Guided by the other-dimensional Kree warrior known as Marvel Boy, the Inhuman Royal Family departs on an odyssey across all creation on search for lost secrets – and the last hope – of their people.
Penned by fan-favorite Al Ewing (The Ultimates, New Avengers, Loki: Agent of Asgard) and drawn by the white-hot Jonboy Meyers (Teen Titans, Spawn), ROYALS is a Marvel-style space epic that takes the Inhuman Royal Family and plunges them into the unknown! The knowledge they seek could change the course of Inhuman destiny, but it cannot be attained without cost…for at the end of days, the Last Inhuman tells the tale of how seven left Earth for the stars…but only six returned.
Why It’s Hot: Al Ewing is one of the best writers in comics today, but he’s also one of the most underrated. With the Inhumans failing to capture the hearts and souls of Marvel fans over the past few years, it’s up to Ewing to make the flagship title featuring the Inhuman Royal Family something to get excited for every month. If there’s anybody that can do just that it’s Ewing, and with the dynamic art of Meyers there’s no doubt that this series will be good. The only question is whether or not the fans will follow.
X-MEN GOLD #1
Written by Marc Guggenheim
Art by Ardian Syaf
Published by Marvel Comics – $4.99
FROM THE ASHES OF INHUMANS VS X-MEN, AN ALL-NEW TEAM OF X-MEN RISES!
Xavier’s dream comes full circle as KITTY PRYDE takes the reins and assembles a squad of the most iconic X-Men to fight at her side. STORM. COLOSSUS. NIGHTCRAWLER. OLD MAN LOGAN. PRESTIGE. They are X-MEN GOLD! And they’re on a mission to be Earth’s finest heroes, even when that means defending those who hate and fear them. Brought to you by an all-star creative team of Marc Guggenheim (X-MEN, S.H.I.E.L.D., television’s Arrow) and Ardian Syaf (BATGIRL, SUPERMAN/BATMAN, BRIGHTEST DAY), a new beginning for the strangest heroes of all starts here.
Why It’s Hot: The next era of the X-Men begins in earnest this week, with the introduction of a brand new flagship title. Guggenheim and Syaf appear to be looking to the franchise’s heyday by assembling a classic X-Men team that long time fans of the merry mutants will love. This is the X-Men getting back to basics, just like fans have been clamoring years for. Will the debut of X-Men Gold be the beginning of the X-Men’s rise back to the top of the comic book world? Well, there’s only one way to find out!
ALSO AVAILABLE THIS WEEK: All New Wolverine #19, Little Archie, Paper Girls #13, Revolution: Aw Yeah, Superman #20
