The Weekly Pull: Star Wars: Obi-Wan, Batman, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and More
Archer & Armstrong Forever #1
- Written by Steve Foxe
- Art by Marcio Fiorito
- Colors by Alex Guimarães
- Letters by Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
- Published by Valiant Entertainment
Archer and Armstrong has long been one of my favorite Valiant titles-a concept rife with opportunities for humor and action with a delightful odd couple at its center. Its return is always a cause for curiosity, but with writer Steve Foxe and artist Marcio Fiorito at the helm there are high expectations as they have the type of talent to really deliver on this excellent premise, once again. Their new spin on the duo involves Armstrong losing his immortality after millennia of roaming the earth and putting him on equal footing with his young and persistently chipper mentee. It's the sort of shift that wildly upsets the status quo, but also serves to expose the characters who enjoy the aforementioned quo. A new set of stakes combined with strangely frightening new villains and an abundance of wealthy ne'er-do-wells promises adventures filled with laughter and plenty of blood. Archer and Armstrong Forever is a lark bound to be enjoyed by new and returning Valiant readers alike. -- Chase Magnett
Batman #123
- Written by Joshua Williamson
- Art by Howard Porter
- Colors by Tomeu Morey
- Letters by Clayton Cowles
- Published by DC Comics
Part Five of the "Shadow War" arc is a must-read this week. It's an issue that really pushes that arc's plot forward in a big way while also giving fans a lot to enjoy, especially Batman and Robin reunited. In many ways, it has something of an old school Batman story feel to it and if you've been following Williamson's Batman at all and have any real investment in "Shadow War," this is one you can't miss as father and son hunt for the truth about the death of Ra's al Ghul and who would want the Secret Society fighting the League of Shadows. -- Nicole Drum
Flashpoint Beyond #1
- Written by Geoff Johns, Jeremy Adams, and Tim Sheridan
- Art by Xermanico and Mikel Janin
- Colors by Romulo Fajardo Jr. and Jordie Bellaire
- Letters by Rob Leigh
- Published by DC Comics
Flashpoint may not be my favorite story, but as things go there were some things to that storyline that, even after its conclusion, were left without clarification. So, with that in mind, if you are someone who was left with more questions than answers when Flashpoint ended, this week's Flashpoint Beyond #1 should be at the top of your reading list. Things are not quite right in Thomas Wayne's world and it doesn't take much to realize that is a threat to the "real" world, too. The issue centers around Thomas Wayne/Batman looking for answers about this threat in a larger effort to fix things for Bruce Wayne. While readers will benefit from being fresh on the Flashpoint universe heading into this, it's actually a pretty accessible story for even a casual DC reader. Definitely check it out. -- Nicole Drum
Nubia: Coronation Special #1
- Written by Stephanie Williams and Vita Ayala
- Art by Marguerite Sauvage, Colleen Doran, Darryl Banks, Jill Thompson, Alitha Martinez
- Colors by Marguerite Sauvage, Colleen Doran, Hi-Fi, Jill Thompson, Alex Guimares
- Letters by Becca Carey
- Published by DC Comics
Nubia and the Amazons has been a consistent source of joy in my comics diet, both for the opportunity to get to see Nubia finally get her due, and to get acquainted with the ensemble cast surrounding her. This week's Nubia: Coronation Special takes the story of the Amazon into entirely new territory, showcasing what's next for the now queen and champion of the three Amazon tribes, as well as the long-awaited origin of Nubia herself. With Stephanie Williams and Vita Ayala still at the helm and an all-star team of artists, this is sure to be a significant part of DC lore — and a bonafide collector's item. — Jenna Anderson
Richard Stark's Parker The Martini Edition - Last Call
- Written by Richard Stark
- Adapted by Darwyn Cooke
- Art by Darwyn Cooke
- Colors by Darwyn Cooke
- Letters by Darwyn Cooke
- Published by IDW Publishing
Last Call collects the last two adaptations of Richard Stark's beloved Parker crime novels in a tremendous hardcover filled with additional artifacts to both of the masterful storytellers involved in Parker. In addition to collecting The Score and Slayground in the best possible circumstances, this follow-up to the first Martini Edition also includes never-before-seen artwork from comics master Darwyn Cooke, a discussion of Cooke and Stark's careers by some of their renowned peers, and one final story from Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips. It's impossible to imagine a better commemoration of Cooke's renowned Parker adaptations or of his own career, which ended far too soon. Both halves of The Martini Edition are a must-own for fans of classic crime capers and Cooke's incredible impact upon comics artwork, regardless of genre. Last Call provides some closure with the words and artwork of close peers accompanying the best possible presentation of two Darwyn Cooke classics. Be sure to pick it up and find some time to spend with these beautifully collected comic books. -- Chase Magnett
Star Wars: Obi-Wan #1
- Written by Christopher Cantwell
- Art by Ario Anindito
- Colors by Carlos Lopes
-
Lettering by Joe Caramagna
- Published by Marvel Comics
It's probably no coincidence that Marvel's new Star Wars: Obi-Wan series is debuting on Star Wars Day and only a few weeks before the Obi-Wan Kenobi live-action series debuts on Disney+. That's fine by me. Obi-Wan Kenobi has long been my favorite Star Wars character for reasons I've never been able to nail down. Perhaps because he's the prime-of-his-life Jedi that we spend the most time within the Star Wars saga. Or maybe I tend to gravitate towards the lawful-good, heroic leader types in any long-running franchise (Looking at you, Cyclops, Leonardo, Jean-Luc Picard). This May will be a gift to anyone fond of "Old Ben," with this series shedding new light on Obi-Wan's past. In the capable hands of rising star writer Christopher Cantwell and artist Ario Anindito, this debut issue looks like more than just a way to whet fans' appetites for more Star Wars television. -- Jamie Lovett
Tails of the Super-Pets
- Written by Various
- Art by Various
- Published by DC Comics
We'll still have to wait a few more months for the DC League of Super-Pets animated movie — but in the meantime, Tails of the Super-Pets is here to get fans acquainted with its animal-themed cast. The collection showcases some classic Silver Age stories tied to Krypto the Superdog, Streaky the Supercat, Ace the Bat-Hound, and more. Honestly, I'll champion any opportunity to check out a reprint of Silver Age stories, especially ones that are as lighthearted and gleefully weird as in Super-Pets. — Jenna Anderson
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #128
- Written by Sophie Campbell
- Art by Pablo Tunica and Sophie Campbell
- Inks by Patrick Delpeche
- Colors by Ronda Pattison
- Letters by Shawn Lee
- Published by IDW publishing
The introduction of Venus in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation has long been considered one of the franchise's biggest missteps and the headstone on the Turtlemania era's grave. Fans, as well as TMNT co-creator Peter Laird, had such animosity towards Venus that, when Image Comics took over publishing Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics in 1996, one of the few instructions the new creative team received was "no female turtles." IDW Publishing has flipped the script on that idea, introducing Jennika as the new fifth turtle in Clan Hamato. The strongly positive reception fans have given to Jennika has proven that it wasn't the idea of a fifth or female turtle that was the problem but The Next Mutation's flawed execution. Now that that's out of the way, Sophie Campbell and her collaborators are ready to reclaim Venus' reputation by reintroducing her into the canon of the longest-running Turtles comic, and Venus' origin story is something different from what fans might expect. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles has long been a consistently excellent series, but Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #128 looks like something special. -- Jamie Lovett
