By Molly Jane Kremer, Brandy Dykhuizen, and Jarrod Jones. Comics that challenge us, slay us, beguile us — the comics we simply can’t wait to devour. That’s DoomRocket’s Staff Picks. Here’s what has set our hearts ablaze this week.
Kid Lobotomy #1
Black Crown/$3.99
Written by Peter Milligan.
Art by Tess Fowler.
Colors by Lee Loughridge.
Letters by Aditya Bidikar.
JJ: Black Crown is here. It’s a “tremble in their wake” sort of deal. Buy all their comics, absorb all their attitude, wear their colors proudly. Just don’t go mentioning the “V” word. Shelly Bond has moved on, and so should you.
Kid Lobotomy is a declaration of intent. Black Crown throwing their truncheon into the fray, with IDW Publishing looking on with brimming pride. Is creator-owned the future? Who can say. But when you read a book as absorbing and thoroughly killer like Kid Lobotomy, a Triple-A title curated with the utmost love and care, it’s hard not to wish it was. Peter Milligan and Tess Fowler colluding, aspiring, winning. Give them all the loot.
Then there’s the star of our program. His name is Kid. I think you’re going to like him. We’ll talk about Kid in my review tomorrow.
Two covers of Kid Lobotomy #1 should adorn your coffee table this week. There’s the Fowler/Bellaire one, the one right there, obviously. But don’t you dare forget about the variant by Frank Quitely. Bond talks of rock ‘n’ roll swagger, and Quitely’s cover cashes the check. Visit Canon Street. Claim your reservation at The Suites. You’ll find they’ve got a room ready, done up just for you.
The Mighty Thor #700
Marvel Comics/$5.99
Written by Jason Aaron.
Art by Walter Simonson, Russell Dauterman, Daniel Acuña, James Harren, Becky Cloonan, Das Pastoras, Chris Burnham, Andrew MacLean, Jill Thompson, Mike Del Mundo, and Olivier Coipel.
Colors by Matt Wilson, Dave Stewart, and Ive Svorcina.
Letters and production by VC’s Joe Sabino.
MJ: In modern superhero comics, few writers remain on a title for a year, let alone five. Though Thor has gone through three relaunches since Jason Aaron came onto Thor: God of Thunder in 2012, rest assured Aaron and his collaborators (Esad Ribic, Ron Garney, Russell Dauterman and Matt Wilson et al) have been remained on the same mega-epic for the past sixty-plus issues.
Now, instead of a relaunch we get a Marvel Legacy renumbering, and 700 is a pretty dang momentous occasion. It’s a boast not many comics can claim, and Marvel assembled a roster of talent that could live up to the anniversary’s hype. A couple of the hottest artists over at Image stepped in (James Harren, Andrew MacLean, Chris Burnham), and some of the biggest Marvel mainstays had a few pages, too (Daniel Acuña, Mike Del Mundo, Olivier Coipel and series regular Russell Dauterman). Add to that list Jill Thompson, Das Pastoras, Becky Cloonan, Walter Simonson, and Matthew Wilson, Dave Stewart and Ive Svorcina—arguably three of the best colorists in the business—and you get one of the prettiest books to hit the stands this year.
It’s not just gorgeous visuals though. Jason Aaron packs these fifty pages with punches both bone-crunching and emotional, giving each artist with varying storylines perfectly suited to their strengths. This is what superhero comics are all about, and the historic significance of the issue resonates just as much as Mjolnir’s KRAKKATHOOMs. Don’t miss this issue.
Made Men #2
Oni Press/$3.99
Written by Paul Tobin
Art by Arjuna Susini.
Colors by Gonzalo Duarte.
Letters by Saida Temofonte.
BD: Made Men, the latest series from Oni Press, exploded into being with a well-executed shoot-‘em-up, followed swiftly by a “Yeah, you heard me right” hook. Yet, this promising iteration of a Shelley classic will need to backstep into some expository legwork for us to proplerly understand the character Jutte’s motivation; we need to know the catalysts for the dark turns hinted at in the previous issue. Why is a seemingly straight cop seeking help in unsavory quarters? And more than that, why does part of the team now have the head of a lion? There’s bound to be some unconventional cobbling when a Frankenstein is at the helm, but that one will definitely need a little more explaining. I’m all ears.
Batman #33
DC Comics/$2.99
Written by Tom King.
Art by Joëlle Jones.
Colors by Jordie Bellaire.
Letters by Clayton Cowles.
MJ: The current Rebirth run of Batman has been a runaway success both critically and commercially, despite the constant shuffling of artists to keep up with its twice-monthly release schedule. Luckily, it’s been mostly amazing heavy-hitters penciling DC’s biggest book: Mikel Janin, Mitch Gerads, Ivan Reis, Riley Rossmo, etc. This week’s Batman #33 features the line art of new DC-exclusive artist Joëlle Jones, who has already been wowing readers at Dark Horse, Oni, and Marvel for the past few years, and the color art of Eisner-winner Jordie Bellaire. The two an artistic match for any of the title’s previous luminaries.
This issue jumps between desert panoramas and Wayne Manor, as both Batman and Catwoman prepare for the ramifications of their now-engagement (“Rules of Engagement” is the name of the arc after all). Alfred breaks the happy news to all the Robin-type lads of the Bat-family, a few of whom are decidedly not congratulatory. It’s a fascinating issue to read, all due to Jones and Bellaire’s stunning visuals.
Aside from looking forward to seeing her gorgeous inks on Batman, Catwoman, and all the Robins Wayne Manor can fit—and Jordie Bellaire’s always luscious colors too—I’m also glad to mention Jones is helping to bring down superhero comics’ hefty glass ceiling by being the second woman ever to pencil an issue of Batman. (The first was the incredible Becky Cloonan on Batman [series 2] #12 back in 2012.) Hopefully it won’t take another five years for another woman to draw DC’s most popular title, but my fingers are crossed that this is only the first of many Jones/Bellaire Batman issues to come.
What books are YOU looking forward to reading this week? Sound off in the comments below.
