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!
ATOMIC ROBO & THE RING OF FIRE #1
Written by Brian Clevinger
Art by Scott Wegener
Published by IDW Publishing – $3.99
Atomic Robo disappeared two years ago when Tesladyne was invaded by Majestic 12 and transformed into ULTRA, a task force leveraging the U.S. surveillance and military industries against scientific pursuits deemed to be hazardous. Now, the few remaining Action Scientists finally have a plan to find Robo, but they’ve got to dive deep into ULTRA territory to do it! (And meanwhile, giant monsters from the sea might destroy all of civilization.)
Why It’s Hot: Atomic Robo is back, and has a new home at IDW Publishing! Whether you’re a long time fan of the series, or have never read it before, this is exciting news. Hopefully this move to IDW brings more eyeballs to a franchise that most definitely deserves it.
CIVIL WAR #4
Written by Charles Soule
Art by Leinil Francis Yu
Published by Marvel Comics – $3.99
• Tony Stark comes face-to-face with his true enemy, while General Rogers commences a massive military effort to end the Civil War once and for all.
Why It’s Hot: Civil War was the biggest Marvel event of all time, and now it continues as one of the best Secret Wars tie-ins around. Watching what would,have happened if the war never ended has been a fascinating read. Soule has done a great job of creating interesting factions, new takes on old characters, and unexpected romances. Meanwhile Leinil Francis Yu continues to show why he is one of the go to artists in the industry today.
DEADLY CLASS #16
Written by Rick Remender
Art by Wes Craig
Published by Image Comics – $3.50
Marcus’s long bloody freshman year at Kings Dominion is coming to an end. And the final exam will cost him either his life…or his soul.
Don’t miss the heart-breaking third arc finale of the dark teen drama.
Why It’s Hot: The last issue of every arc in Deadly Class are among the very best issues that comic books have to offer. The fact that the solicitation text calls this issue “Heartbreaking” is something to get equally excited and afraid for. Just how much darker can Remender go? Just how much more of a hole can Marcus find himself in?
HARLEY QUINN ROAD TRIP SPECIAL #1
Written by Amanda Conner & Jimmy Palmiotti
Art by Bret Blevins
Published by DC Comics – $5.99
It’s the great American summer tradition, but you’ve never seen a road trip quite like this before! Harley, Ivy, and Catwoman are burning rubber across the U.S. of A! We recommend you all stay off the roads for the month of August, just to be safe.
Why It’s Hot: Under Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti Harley Quinn has become one of DC’s most popular characters. In the same vein as the Valentine’s Day and SDCC specials it’s now time for a ROADTRIP! Who better to join Harley on this trip than her fellow Gotham Sirens Ivy and Catwoman? With those three together there’s a chance this is one of the most fun you’ll have reading a comic this week!
JOURNEY TO STAR WARS THE FORCE AWAKENS: SHATTERED EMPIRE #1
Written by Greg Rucka
Art by Marco Checchetto
Published by Marvel Comics – $3.99
For the first time in the new Star Wars canon, journey with us into the time after the end of Return of the Jedi! Writer Greg Rucka (PUNISHER, WOLVERINE, Gotham Central) and artist Marco Checchetto (AVENGERS WORLD, PUNISHER) take us past the destruction of the second Death Star into the chaos of a Shattered Empire.
Why It’s Hot: The world’s first look at the post Return of The Jedi Star Wars universe comes courtesy of Greg Rucka and Marco Checchetto. Along with Chuck Wendig’s novel, Aftermath, the countdown to The Force Awakens is reaching a fever pitch. This comic has the potential to be the biggest of the year. Yes, even bigger than Star Wars #1 back in January. It’s a Star Wars Universe, and we’re all just living in it.
OTHER BOOKS OF NOTE: Batman #44, Gotham Academy #10, Swords of Sorrow #5, Tet #1, The Walking Dead #146
