The Weekly Pull: Beta Ray Bill, John Constantine: Hellblazer, Power Rangers Unlimited, and More
03/30/2021 02:55 pm EDT
Beta Ray Bill #1
- Writing by Daniel Warren Johnson
- Art by Daniel Warren Johnson
- Colors by Mike Spicer
- Letters by Joe Sabino with Daniel Warren Johnson
- Published by Marvel Comics
Since his debut during Walt Simonson's seminal run on The Mighty Thor in the 1980s, Beta Ray Bill has been a fan-favorite character. The cyborg-alien who stood toe-to-toe with Thor and proved worthy of Mjolnir eventually became the god of thunder's brother-in-arms wielding Stormbreaker, a hammer that rivals Thor's enchanted weapon. But as much as fans love Bill, his appearances have been rare in recent years. That's part of why this new Beta Ray Bill miniseries is exciting. The more significant draw is cartoonist Daniel Warren Johnson being behind the series. After his work on Wonder Woman: Dead Earth and creator-owned titles like Extremity, Johnson has emerged as one of the most exciting artists working in mainstream comics today. His rough, energetic, action-packed style seems a perfect fit for Bill and should be a revelation for Marvel fans seeing his work for the first time. -- Jamie Lovett
Black Cat #4
- Written by Jed MacKay
- Art by Nina Vakueva
- Colors by Brian Reber
- Letters by Ferran Delgado
- Published by Marvel Comics
Marvel's most recent Black Cat solo series pulled off an impossible feat — relaunching with a series of tie-ins to a larger event, but never once losing its sense of style. With this week's Issue 4, Felicia Hardy's narrative pivots, seeing her go toe-to-toe with Lily Hollister, who has now firmly rebranded herself as "Queen Cat." At its very core, Black Cat is a book about highlighting some of the more underrated aspects of the Spider-Man universe, and given the genuinely entertaining but profoundly human energy that Jed MacKay and company have brought to Felicia's adventures so far, I'm incredibly confident that they'll handle this match-up as well. -- Jenna Anderson
Future State: Superman vs. Imperious Lex #3
- Written by Mark Russell
- Art by Steve Pugh
- Colors by Romulo Fajardo Jr
- Letters by Carlos M. Mangual
- Published by DC Comics
The final issue of Future State: Superman vs. Imperious Lex #3 is probably my top choice this week. The whole short series has been a brilliant exploration of the powerful exploiting those with less powerful -- in this case, Lex Luthor robbing the wealth and resources of other planets to make his own world, Lexor, prosperous. A study of greed and how it plays into economic and ecologic collapse, it's a heavy title, to be sure, but it's handled deftly and especially so in this issue. Lex and Superman are headed toward a final showdown now that Lexor is nearly ruined, and there's a lot of action, a lot of thought-provoking elements. It's a great book, and it's a must-read. -- Nicole Drum
Giga #3
- Written by Alex Paknadel
- Art by John Le
- Colors by ROSH
- Letters by Aditya Bidikar
- Published by Vault Comics
Vault Comics has quickly established a record for discovering excellent emerging talent and ideas in American comics, but no member of their current publication line shines brighter than Giga. This story of ancient, titanic robots and the civilization erected in their collective shadow can be compared to a variety of other narratives, but there's nothing like it in comics or elsewhere in media today. It's a character-driven story emphasizing marginalized members of a society that has experienced more than its fair share of shocks, and writer Alex Paknadel does a superb job of relating those characters and their struggles to our own reality. Yet, it's the immense scope and original possibilities of this sci-fi series that make turning the pages of each new issue truly irresistible as artist John Le transforms these big ideas into a stunning spectacle. If you have not already taken a look at Giga, now is the perfect time to catch up on the first three issues and get a real sense of the potential found in both this series and its creators. -- Chase Magnett
Green Arrow: 80 Years of the Emerald Archer The Deluxe Edition
- Written by various
- Art by various
- Published by DC Comics
DC is gradually beginning to celebrate the 80th anniversary of Green Arrow's debut, beginning with this hardcover collection of some of his greatest appearances. While by no means comprehensive, this collection provides a pretty good overview of both Oliver Queen and Connor Hawke's DC Comics history, ranging from the now-iconic Bronze Age story "Snowbirds Don't Fly" to the newer adventures within DC Rebirth. For those who are even casual fans of the Emerald Archer, there's definitely something here for you. — Jenna Anderson
John Constantine: Hellblazer Vol. 2: The Best Version of You
- Written by Simon Spurrier
- Art by Aaron Campbell and Matias Bergara
- Colors by Jordie Bellaire
- Letters by Aditya Bidikar
- Published by DC Comics
Recommending the second and final volume John Constantine: Hellblazer is a bittersweet endeavor. It's a delight to recommend new Constantine stories that embrace what made the character iconic and grapple with modern issues—pulling the con man away from overwrought superhero narratives and reinventing the cynical worldview that made Hellblazer one of DC Comics' greatest series. Yet, it's also a reminder that this story was gone far too soon. These two volumes are, without a doubt, the best Hellblazer stories produced since the original Vertigo title was canceled. Furthermore, they take a critical look at issues like rising xenophobia, classism, and Brexit, refusing to handwave the complexity and ugliness surrounding them. It was a truly stunning ride from some of the most ambitious and insightful creators working in comics today. So whether you missed John Constantine: Hellblazer in single issues or, like me, you're collecting a copy for your library to share and reread, take this opportunity to celebrate one of DC Comics' best comics of the past decade; we may not see its likes again. -- Chase Magnett
Killadelphia Vol. 2: Burn Baby Burn
- Written by Rodney Barnes
- Art by Jason Shawn Alexander
- Colors by Luis NCT
- Published by Image Comics
Killadelphia is one of those truly great comics that, even though it gets more complex in its second major arc, only gets better. Covering issues #7-12, this TPB sees what happens after the undead John Adams is defeated. The arc sees Abigail Adams's rise as a new, terrifying power, but the story deeply deals with America's horrifying history of racism and oppression as well. It's a fantastic story, one that is absolutely a must-read, and the best way to do it is like this so that you don't miss an issue. You have to check this out. -- Nicole Drum
Power Rangers Unlimited: Heir to Darkness #1
- Written by L.L. McKinney
- Art by Simone Ragazzoni
- Colors by Igor Monti
- Letters by Ed Dukeshire
- Published by BOOM! Studios
Power Rangers fans have had some of their favorite characters make the jump to comics, and the latest character to get the comics' spotlight is one of the biggest villains in the franchise, Astronema. Writer L.L. McKinney and artist Simone Ragazzoni pull the curtain back on Astronema's origin in a whole new way, and if you already loved the character, prepare to love her even more. Whether you're a long time fan of the franchise or someone being introduced to In Space and Astronema for the very first time, there's something here you are likely to love. — Matthew Aguilar
Shadecraft #1
- Written by Joe Henderson
- Art by Lee Garbett
- Colors by Antonio Fabela
- Letters by Simon Bowland
- Published by Image Comics
The creative team behind the popular Image Comics series Skyward -- Joe Henderson (showrunner of Netflix's Lucifer) and Lee Garbett -- reunite with the publisher for the new series Shadecraft. The series follows a teenager named Zadie Lu, who is still afraid of shadows, but possibly with good reason: they're trying to kill her. She uncovers a mystery in her hometown and a connection between her family and the darkness. With a stellar pair of creators behind it, Shadecraft looks to be an exciting new series for fans of supernatural mysteries with young leads to check out on their next trip to the comic shop. -- Jamie Lovett
Silk #1
- Written by Maurene Goo
- Art by Takeshi Miyazawa
- Colors by Ian Herring
- Letters by Ariana Maher
- Published by Marvel Comics
Cindy Moon is back in action in a new series from writer Maurene Goo and artist Takeshi Miyazawa, and if you've wondered what's so great about the character, this is the perfect starting place. Fans get a crash course in who Silk is and her current status quo, but it isn't long before the adventure kicks into full gear, and fans will be charmed by the witty dialogue, web-slinging action, and stellar supporting cast. This is a delightful introduction to the fan-favorite, so don't miss out on all the fun! — Matthew Aguilar
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