The 7 Comics You Should Read This Week: October 18 Edition

Charlie Ridgely: Peter Parker The Spectacular Spider-Man #5

When a hero gets a new ally, it's supposed to make their job easier. Unfortunately, for Spider-Man, that seems not to be the case with the Mason.

Oh sure, the Mason is no slouch in the ability department, but the Vulture put a stop to the hero's plans, and now Spider-Man has to protect the Mason's valuable technology while also keeping the city safe.

So yeah, not much easier at all.

Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man #5 is written by Chip Zdarsky with art by Adam Kubert. The full description can be found below.

Spider-Man's newest ally, the Mason, falls prey to the VULTURE! It's a mano a birdo brawl, as Spidey stands between the Vulture and Mason's tech and the secrets of the Marvel Universe.

Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man #5 is in stores this Wednesday.

Megan Peters: Wicked + The Divine #32

The war of reincarnated gods continues, but you probably won't guess what comes next.

Sakhmet and Persophone continue to be impromptu roommates, but Sakhmet's latest bombshell threatens to shake everything to its core! Actually, Persephone could care less, but the rest of the pantheon probably won't feel the same way.

The Wicked + The Divine #32 is written by Kieron Gillen with art by Jamie McKelvie and Matt Wilson, with variant covers by McKelvie, Wilson, and Noelle Stevenson. The official description is included below.

"IMPERIAL PHASE II", Part Four It's time for a "Wait—he's doing what? But he's...yes! No! Oh no! But then she did the—and WHATTAAATATAT? I think I'll sit down and have a cup of herbal tea" issue.

The Wicked + The Divine #32 is in stores this Wednesday.

Russ Burlingame: Savage Dragon #227

America has lost its luster for the Dragon family, so they pack up their bags and hightail it to Canada, a place that offers new opportunities and much less of the anti-alien sentiment that the family has faced lately. Canada has a new champion, and his name is Malcolm Dragon!

Savage Dragon #227 is written and drawn by Erik Larsen. You can find the official description below.

"OH! CANADA!" Part One With America's hostile anti-alien fervor, Malcolm Dragon is forced to relocate his family to the Great White North. Toronto welcomes a new champion, and Malcolm Dragon settles in at his new home.

Savage Dragon #227 is in stores this Wednesday.

Matt Mueller: Animosity #10

Jesse and Sandor's adventure has led them to some interesting places, but sometimes a utopia can be the deadliest place of all.

Everything seems too good to be true at their latest stop, and the unlikely team of Jesse and Kyle will have to be the ones to figure out why.

Animosity #10 is written by Marguerite Bennett with art by Rafael de Latorre, Rob Schwager, and Marshall Dillon. You can find the official description.

In the first issue of a new arc, Sandor, Jesse, and the survivors, hear rumors of a mysterious Walled City where safety may be waiting...

From the brilliant mind of creator/writer Marguerite Bennett (INSEXTS, Bombshells and Batwoman) with artwork by 2017 Russ Manning Award finalist Rafael De Latorre (SUPERZERO).

Animosity #10 is in stores this Wednesday.

Jamie Lovett: Kid Lobotomy

If Fawlty Towers was run by a kid struggling to keep his sanity, you have some idea what Kid Labotomy #1 feels like. Well, if Faulty Towers had lobotomies and ghosts.

Okay, so bad analogy.

In any case, this crazy tale about Kid's quest to turn his father's hotel into a profitable business is not like anything else in stores and should be quite the entertaining ride.

Kid Lobotomy #1 is written by Peter Milligan with art by Tess Fowler and Lee Loughridge and covers by Fowler and Frank Quitely. The official description can be found below.

Kafka meets King Lear by way of Young Frankenstein in KID LOBOTOMY, a dark, demented, monthly satire that follows a dysfunctional family of hoteliers. Will sibling rivalry, seduction, and shapeshifting eventually lead to sanity or salvation?

Big Daddy is a rich hotelier who, in a cracked echo of King Lear, appoints his youngest descendant to manage The Suites, a peculiar hotel located behind the Black Crown Pub. Affectionately known as Kid, his good looks and swagger can't hide a rough childhood of strange therapies and brain operations that have awakened inner demons and psychodramas. This of course makes him eminently qualified to perform lobotomies. A failed rockstar/successful madman gets one last chance to prove his worth—and regain his sanity—by turning the hotel that was once his childhood sanctuary into a lucrative business, despite a host of obstacles—including his own sister—who would love nothing more than to see him fail miserably.

Kid Lobotomy #1 is in stores this Wednesday.

Jenna Anderson: Bitch Planet #5

You've never seen the women of Bitch Planet quite like this before, which is saying something when you're talking about a book about life in a vicious prison.

That life might not have anything on their next task, which is to survive a round of deathsport!

Bitch Planet #5 is written by Kelly Sue DeConnick with art by Valentine De Landro. The official description is below.

The Bitches enter the arena for their very first deathsport match. From 2014 Best Writer Eisner nominee KELLY SUE DeCONNICK (PRETTY DEADLY, Captain Marvel) and VALENTINE De LANDRO (X-Factor) with colorist CRIS PETER (CASANOVA) and letterer CLAYTON COWLES (THE WICKED + THE DIVINE).

Bitch Planet #5 is in stores this Wednesday.

J.K. Schmidt: Now #1

If you've been wondering where to start in the ever-growing world of comics, Fantagraphics' Now #1 seems like a perfect stepping stone.

The anthology series will release three times a year, and includes work from a variety of talented writers and artists, giving fans something truly unique and timeless.

Now #1 features work from Eleanor Davis (How To Be Happy), Noah Van Sciver (Fante Bukowski), Gabrielle Bell (Lucky), Dash Shaw (Cosplayers), Sammy Harkham (Crickets), and Malachi Ward (Ancestor), J.C. Menu, Conxita Herrerro, Tobias Schalken, and Antoine Cossé.

It also features bonus strips from Tommi Parrish, Sara Corbett, Daria Tessler, and newcomer Kaela Graham, as well as a gorgeous painted cover by artist Rebecca Morgan.

You can find the description for the anthology below.

We live in a golden age of quality comic art and stories. Graphic novels have never been more popular. But where to start? Now aspires to be an affordable and ongoing anthology of new comics that appeals both to the comics-curious as well as the serious aficionado. In the age of long form graphic novels, Now also intends to provide a platform for short fiction, experimentation, and for showcasing diversity in the comics field. The only common denominator to each piece is an exemplary use of the comics form.

Now #1 is in stores this Wednesday.

Bonus Pick: Faith and the Future Force #4

The big finale is here, but you might be surprised at how the Future Force has to recruit to save the world.

Faith and the entire Valiant Universe has thrown everything it has at the destructive android, but the results haven't been very pretty thus far. Fortunately, Faith has one more trick up her sleeve, but it's a bit of a hail mary.

Faith and the Future Force #4 is written by Jody Houser with art by Cary Nord and covers by Barry Kitson, Jen Bartel, Jeffrey Veregge, and Chryssy Cheung. The official description is below.

The final countdown!

Bloodshot was a bust… Divinity didn't work… Ninjak was nixed… No matter which of the Valiant Universe's greatest heroes she recruits to her aid, Faith still can't save the time stream! With time literally running out all around her, does L.A.'s sky-soaring superhero have what it takes to defend the entire universe…or will the secret key to saving existence itself come from the most darkest and most unexplored avenue of all?

Eisner Award nominee Jody Houser (FAITH) is joined by Eisner Award-winning artist Cary Nord (X-O MANOWAR) to bring Valiant's spectacular standalone event to an unfathomable finale…and when the clock reaches zero, no amount of time travel can ever undo the damage done!

Faith and the Future Force #4 is in stores this Wednesday.

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