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.
CAPTAIN AMERICA: STEVE ROGERS #2
Written by Nick Spencer
Art by Jesus Saiz
Published by Marvel Comics – $3.99
• As Steve battles a resurgent Hydra more dangerous than ever before, he must confront a ghost from his past!
Why It’s Hot: Love it or hate it, the first issue of Steve Rogers’ return as Captain America had everyone talking. The twist ending was one of the biggest shocks in recent comic book history, and apparently the how and why of Steve’s allegiances will be explored.
JADE STREET PROTECTION SERVICES #1
Written by Katy Rex
Art by Fabian Lelay
Published by Black Mask Studios – $3.99
In this new series that mashes The Breakfast Club with Sailor Moon, Kai, Saba, Noemi, Divya, and Emma are (bad) students at Matsdotter Academy, an elite private school for magical girls. When they all meet for the first time in a totally unfair detention, these punk rock witch delinquents cut class and discover the fates Matsdotter has in store for them are even more sinister than they suspected. With JSPS, the creative team of writer Katy Rex, penciler/inker Fabian Lelay, colorist Mara Jayne Carpenter, and series cover artists Annie Wu and Kiki Jenkins channel Black Mask’s edgy, subversive sensibility into a whipsmart adventure for delinquents young and old.
Why It’s Hot: The new batch of titles from Black Mask Studios have come with a lot of buzz, and are among the most anticipated indie comics of the year. If the early reactions are anything to go by then Jade Street Protection Services more than lives up hype. Make sure you don’t miss out, because If there’s one comic this week that will sneak up on people I’d put my money on this one.
JUPITER’S LEGACY 2 #1
Written by Mark Millar
Art by Frank Quitely
Published by Image Comics – $3.99
IT’S HERE! The sequel to industry sales-beast JUPITER’S LEGACY is back and it boasts monthly FRANK QUITELY! Superhero offspring Hutch and Chloe have come out of hiding with son Jason to assemble a team of super-crooks from around the globe.
Why It’s Hot: Millar and Quitely are two of the biggest comic book stars of the 21st Century, and the first Jupiter’s Legacy was awesome. There’s no reason to think the sequel will be any different.
PLUTONA #5
Written by Jeff Lemire
Art by Emi Lenox
Published by Image Comics – $2.99
MINI-SERIES CONCLUSION
With the kids torn apart and lost in the woods, nothing can prepare them for what happens next. The startling conclusion to PLUTONA, with an ending that no one will see coming!
Why It’s Hot: After a four month delay the conclusion to Plutona finally hits the racks this week! This is a PSA to remind readers that Lemire and Lenox have crafted a beautiful comic book, and that I’m confident it will have been worth the wait.
SPIDER-GWEN ANNUAL #1
Written by Jason Latour
Art by Chris Brunner & Various
Published by Marvel Comics – $4.99
• The first ever SPIDER-GWEN ANNUAL is here and it’s huge.
• Threads for the next year of SPIDER-GWEN are laid down here in these stories:
SPIDER-GWEN and CAPTAIN AMERICA go on a secret mission!
THE MARY JANES get loud!
CAPTAIN STACY and GWEN meet SHE-HULK?!
SPIDER-HAM!!!
Why It’s Hot: It says it right there in the solicitation text, it’s the first Spider-Gwen annual! Marvel has enlisted Gwen’s ongoing series writer Jason Latour and a group of extremely talented collaborators to bring fans multiple stories set in the world of Spider-Gwen. This is a must read for fans, and a perfect chance foe everyone else to find out why this character has taken the comic book world by storm over the past few years.
