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!
ANGELA: ASGARD’S ASSASSIN #1
Written by Kieron Gillen & Margueritte Bennett
Art by Phil Jimenez & Stephanie Hans
Published by Marvel Comics – $3.99
• All her life, Angela — the finest warrior of Heven — was raised to hate Asgard with every fiber of her being.
• And now Angela knows the truth about her identity: She is Thor’s sister. She is an Asgardian.
• Cast out of her home and wanting nothing to do with Asgard, Angela must now strike out on her own!
• But what does Angela have that both Asgard and Heven want? And why are they so eager to get it?
• Visionary writers Kieron Gillen and Marguerite Bennett team with the legendary art team of Phil Jimenez and Stephanie Hans to finally throw the spotlight onto the Marvel Universe’s most dangerous inhabitant!
Why It’s Hot: I never thought that a book featuring a Neil Gaiman created character with a creative team that includes Kieron Gillen and Phil Jimenez would be flying under the radar, but it is. Throw in the rising star that is Margueritte Bennett, and the extremely talented Stephanie Hans and you have the makings of an absolute must read book. I have a feeling that this book is going to surprise a lot of people. Oh yeah, I already mentioned Phil Jimenez on art right? I did? Okay, well this book has art from the great Phil Jimenez.
ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK #1
Written by Christopher Sebela
Art by Diego Barreto
Published by BOOM! Studios – $3.99
WHY WE LOVE IT: We can’t get enough John Carpenter! It means so much to us to have brought BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA to comics the right way. The response has been so strong that we knew we had to bring another Carpenter classic to comics in a style and approach that does ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK justice.
WHY YOU’LL LOVE IT: If you already love the ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK film, this is a noBut if ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK is new to you, writer Christopher Sebela has been garnering high praise for his recent BOOM! Studios original DEAD LETTERS, as well as for his Eisner Awardoriginal, HIGH CRIMES.
WHAT IT’S ABOUT: The crime rate in the United States has risen 400 percent. After humiliating the President in front of the world and destroying America’s one chance to end World War III, Snake Plissken has become America’s Most Wanted man in a land of criminals and the insane. Everyone wants Snake dead. Luckily, Snake knows the feeling all too well. War hero. Outlaw. Renegade. Snake’s back!
Why It’s Hot: First Jack Burton, and now Snake Plisskin. Big Trouble In Little China has shown that BOOM! Studios can be successful in licensed comics based off of John Carpenter movies that star Kurt Russell. So why not continue the trend by bringing one of the most iconic action characters ever to the comic page? This should be a lot of fun.
HELLBOY & THE BPRD #1
Written by Mike Mignola & John Arcudi
Art by Alex Maleev
Published by Dark Horse Comics – $3.50
A bizarre series of murders and rumors of something worse lead Professor Bruttenholm to send a young Hellboy to a Brazilian village on his first mission. Hellboy and a small group of agents uncover something terrible in the shadows of a sixteenth-century Portuguese fortress
Why It’s Hot: A brand new Hellboy title overseen by Mike Mignola himself featuring a who’s who of creators. If you think that sounds awesome then you aren’t alone. First up is writer John Arcudi, and artist Alex Maleev telling the story of Hellboy’s first mission. Maleev drawing Hellboy with Dave Stewart on colors is a beautiful sight to behold. If you haven’t read Hellboy in awhile, or never before, this is a great jumping on point!
SECRET SIX #1
Written by Gail Simone
Art by Ken Lashley
Published by DC Comics – $2.99
Gail Simone is back with the NEW 52 debut of the fan-favorite team – THE SECRET SIX! Six strangers are brought together under mysterious circumstances for an explosive first issue that will leave everyone asking, “What is the Secret?”
Why It’s Hot: One of the absolute worst parts of the 2011 New 52 relaunch was the distinct lack of Gail Simone’s Secret Six. The cult hit was one of the very best books DC had been publishing, and many readers were sad to see it go. Well fellow readers there’s reason to rejoice this week, as the Secret Six are making their New 52 debut! What will this incarnation of the team look like? What kind of awesome depravity do Simone and Lashley have up their sleeves for them? Find out this Wednesday!
THANOS VS. HULK #1
Written by Jim Starlin
Art by Jim Starlin
Published by Marvel Comics – $3.99
• An all-new four-part story by fan-favorite Jim Starlin begins here!
• The Hulk is kidnapped by Pip the Troll and traded to Annihilus!
• Then Thanos of Titan gets thrown into the mix…
Why It’s Hot: Marvel continues to capitalize on the Thanos craze, brought on by his inclusion in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, by by bringing back his original creator for yet another project. Jim Starlin, fresh off the Thanos: Infinity Revelation OGN, continues his work on his most famous creation with brand new a mini series event! It’s the Mad Titan versus the Green Goliath in a cosmic throw down in the “Mighty Marvel Style.”
