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!
C.O.W.L. #6
Written by Kyle Higgins & Alec Siegel
Art by Elsa Charretier
Published by Image Comics – $3.50
NEW STORY ARC!
Before he started C.O.W.L., Geoffrey Warner fought for Chicago as the city’s first hero, THE GREY RAVEN! But what started him down the path of crime fighting? Witness the origin of Chicago Superheroes, the War Years, and the formation of C.O.W.L. as told in the sellout issue written by C.O.W.L reporter and comic book writer Randall Winters.
Why It’s Hot: C.O.W.L. enters its second story arc and it looks like it has the potential to be something special. In her first full American comic, artist Elsa Charretier joins the creative team to tell the origin of The Grey Raven. The issue, including the ads, is done in a completely retro manner, and it looks absolutely stunning. Whether you’ve read the book thus far or not, this is an issue worth looking out for!
CATWOMAN #36
Written by Genevive Valentine
Art by Garry Brown
Published by DC Comics – $2.99
“Family Business” part 2! Selina struggles to maintain her role as the leader of Gotham City’s crime families when…Catwoman attacks?
Why It’s Hot: Well believe it or not, but Catwoman is good again. I would dare say it’s even great. The last time a title jumped in quality between issues so significantly was when Lemire and Sorrentino took over Green Arrow, and we all know how that turned out (Quite awesome). For fans that lost their way over the past few years it’s safe to comeback. Will Valentine and Brown pick up where they left off last issue in terms of quality? All signs point to yes, and that makes this issue HOT.
GOTHAM BY MIDNIGHT #1
Written by Ray Fawkes
Art by Ben Templesmith
Published by DC Comics – $2.99
Strange doings are afoot in Gotham City! Look out, though – Jim Corrigan is on the case in this new series by writer Ray Fawkes (CONSTANTINE, BATMAN ETERNAL) and artist Ben Templesmith (30 Days of Night, Ten Grand)!
Why It’s Hot: For the second week in a row Ray Fawkes is launching a red hot hot book. The writer has been handling the supernatural horror elements of Batman: Eternal wonderfully. Now he gets to bring those elements to a brand new ongoing series. Joining Fawkes is the unparalleled master of horror, Ben Templesmith. The Batman line of comics has been reinvigorated in recent months with several new titles and creative shuffles, and Gotham By Midnight looks like it will add another winner to the group.
ODY-C #1
Written by Matt Fraction
Art by Christian Ward
Published by Image Comics – $3.99
An epic 26 centuries in the making: In the aftermath of a galactic war a hundred years long, Odyssia the Clever Champion and her compatriots begin their longest, strangest trip yet: the one home. A gender-bent eye-popping psychedelic science fiction odyssey begins HERE, by MATT FRACTION (CASANOVA, SEX CRIMINALS, SATELLITE SAM) and CHRISTIAN WARD (INFINITE VACATION, OLYMPUS).
INCLUDES SPECIAL EIGHT-PAGE FOLDOUT!
Why It’s Hot: In one of the most anticipated launches of the year, superstar writer Matt Fraction is joined by the great Christian Ward for one of the most unique comic books you will read all year. You may ask how a retelling of The Odyssey can be considered unique. Fraction and Ward turn what you’d expect from a comic book on its head, and what you’re left with is a true experiment in form, and something that may end up being truly special. Trust me, you’ll be reading this issue more than once.
SUPERIOR FOES OF SPIDER-MAN #17
Written by Nick Spencer
Art by Steve Lieber
Published by Marvel Comics – $3.99
• This is it! The end! The finale! The big wrapuperoo!!
Why It’s Hot: The little title that could is coming to an end. Spencer and Lieber took a few C-List Spider-Man villains and created a throroughly entertaining book for the past year and a half. It’s always sad when one of the best titles on the racks has to end, but there’s one last issue to say goodbye. Hopefully we haven’t seen the last of these creators, or characters together.
