HOT FIVE: Week of October 29, 2014

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!

This week marks the 52nd edition of Comicosity’s Hot Five since I took the over the column last November. Yep, that means it has been an entire year! Time sure does fly by when you’re reading comics. Whether you’ve been here every week, are reading for the first time, or somewhere inbetween, I just wanted to thank you all for the support! Here’s to many more years!

DEATHLOK2014001_DC11_LRDEATHLOK #1
Written by Nathan Edmondson
Art by Mike Perkins
Published by Marvel Comics – $3.99

“Enemy of My Enemy”

•  After Michael Collins, there was Henry Hayes
•  A medic who travels to war zones to heal the wounded, he has no idea that when he’s in the field, he’s activated by a mysterious group and becomes the ultimate weapon of assassination and war: DEATHLOK
•  From the writer of BLACK WIDOW and THE PUNISHER comes a new take on the iconic cyborg character making waves on Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Why It’s Hot: This week is a big week for writer Nathan Edmondson (Punisher, Black Widow) as not only is his third ongoing Marvel title being launched, but he revealed Monday on Twitter that he is becoming a father! On behalf of everyone here at Comicosity I’d like to congratulate Nathan on his new 18+ year project! As for Deathlok, much like Deathstroke last week, it has quietly seen its lead become one of its company’s most visible characters because of use in a different medium. Thanks to a run on last season of Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. millions of people now know who Deathlok is. That makes now the perfect time to launch the character’s first solo title in years. Edmondson, along with artist Mike Perkins, are putting a new spin on the cyborg assassin, and it has the potential to be the next killer espionage comic. Don’t believe me? Just look at the quality of the creative team’s resumes. Yeah this should be good.

3-461ae5969aHARLEY QUINN ANNUAL #1
Written by Amanda Connor & Jimmy Palmiotti
Art by John Timms
Published by DC Comics – $5.99

We have to warn you, readers: This issue stinks! Seriously! Like, unpleasant odors are literally in the story! In this first-ever HQ ANNUAL, take a trip to Harley’s home of Coney Island in a groundbreaking “scent-ticular” issue, featuring actual, honest-to-gosh smells. This issue comes polybagged to contain the stench.

Why It’s Hot: From day one Connor and Palmiotti’s Harley Quinn has been a wacky, zany, and fun ride featuring one of the industry’s hottest characters. Now the husband/wife writing duo are taking things to the next level with artist John Timms. Get ready for something you don’t see everyday, a scratch ‘n sniff issue. Yep, that’s right, get your nose ready because this book is going to stink!

Rasputin-01-a5c8e-ca588RASPUTIN #1
Written by Alex Grecian
Art by Riley Rossmo
Published by Image Comics – $3.50

DRACULA AT DOWNTON ABBEY!

In one night Rasputin was poisoned, beaten, stabbed, shot in the head, drowned, then tied up and thrown in a frozen river. It was really bad timing. His beard was just coming in nicely.

New York Times bestselling author ALEX GRECIAN and fan favorite artist RILEY ROSSMO reunite for the first time since their critically acclaimed series PROOF!

Why It’s Hot: When a new series launches from Image these days readers know to keep an eye on it. When a new Image series launches featuring a proven creative team tackling the fictional adventures of one of the most fascinating real life historical figures of the past hundred years the book becomes a HOT title. That would mean that Rasputin is on fire, and you dear reader don’t want to miss out.

SouthernBastards05_CoverSOUTHERN BASTARDS #5
Written by Jason Aaron
Art by Jason Latour
Published by Image Comics – $3.50

The hit southern crime series returns, as JASON AARON (Scalped, Thor: God of Thunder) and JASON LATOUR (Wolverine & The X-Men, Loose Ends) pull back the curtain on the history of Craw County and its most famous and feared resident. In a place where only bastards flourish, what does it take to be the biggest, meanest, most powerful bastard of them all? Only Coach Boss knows. And if I was you, I wouldn’t ask him.

Why It’s Hot: Southern Bastards is back! The shocking events of the first four issues quickly cemented the book as one of the best comics being published today. How will Aaron and Latour continue to wow readers across the world? Where do they possibly go from here? Well how about an arc focusing on the history of Coach Boss, the biggest, baddest man in Craw County? If you have yet to read the masterpiece of a comic book, the first arc been collected in one of those amazing $9.99 collections that Image puts out. Trust me, $13.49 (plus tax) is well worth spending. In fact, like certain characters in the book it’s a no brainer.

Wonder_Woman_Vol_4-35_Cover-1_TeaserWONDER WOMAN #35
Written by Brian Azzarello
Art by Cliff Chiang
Published by DC Comics – $2.99

It’s the grand finale of the historic WONDER WOMAN epic by writer Brian Azzarello and artist Cliff Chiang! Saying more would spoil all the surprises – and there will be plenty!

Why It’s Hot: This is it! The end of Brian Azzarello’s instant classic, game changing, character defining Wonder Woman run is upon us. From the dawn of the New 52 in September of 2011 until now, Wonder Woman has been one of the single best comics being published anywhere. Sure it has been controversial, and some have complained that it hasn’t fit in with the continuity of the larger DC Universe, but the quality put out month in and month out by Azzarello and the handful of artists throughout the run has been unparalleled. Azzarello and the book’s primary artist, the great Cliff Chiang, say goodbye to Diana and her great supporting cast in what is sure to be an can’t miss epic issue.

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