The Weekly Pull: Justice League Incarnate, Captain Marvel, King of Spies, and More
Batman 2021 Annual #1
- Written by James Tynion IV
- Art by Ricardo Lopez Ortiz
- Colors by Romulo Fajardo Jr.
- Letters by Clayton Cowles
- Published by DC Comics
James Tynion IV's run on Batman is over, but before the keys to Gotham are handed over to Joshua Williamson, we get Batman 2021 Annual #1. One of the best aspects of Tynion's work on Batman is the original elements he added to the Dark Knight's world, including characters. And while Ghostmaker certainly isn't Miracle Molly (who is an incredible character who deserves more stories) he also isn't the lackluster Punchline. Batman 2021 Annual #1 gives readers more of Ghosthunter's story and it feels like a solid way to close out this chapter of things as we finally get to know at least some version of the man behind this particular mask. -- Nicole Drum
prevnextGotham City Villains Anniversary Giant #1
- Written by Various
- Art by Various
- Colors by Various
- Letters by Various
- Edited by Amedeo Turturro and Paul Kaminski
- Published by DC Comics
It's received wisdom that Batman possesses the best rogues gallery in all of superhero comics and a difficult point to dispute, even for Spidey partisans. So an all-star lineup of creative talent delivering a collection of new stories centered on Gotham City's most-infamous villains is an enticing package. And Gotham City Villains Anniversary Giant does deliver a bona fide all-star lineup. The art on display is enough to make this worth the price of admission with the likes of Wes Craig, Emma Rios, and Dan Mora all providing stories, in addition to names like Christian Ward, Gabriel Hernandez Walta, and Jill Thompson on pin-ups. For readers looking to do more than simply drool over superhero comics artwork, this one-shot all gathers an eclectic blend of storytelling talent – all of them unbound to tell whatever stories they may like outside the confines of continuity. It includes current comics greats like G. Willow Wilson, Dan Watters, and Stephanie Phillips. However, the most surprising inclusion here is the actor Danny DeVito returning to his former role from Batman Returns: The Penguin. DeVito showcases a playful tone and inventive approach in one of the most memorable Penguin stories bound to never be referenced again. Whether you're a longtime fan of Batman's rogues or just wondering what DC's superhero comics look like at their best today, Gotham City Villains Anniversary Giant is a showcase not to be missed. -- Chase Magnett
prevnextThe Human Target #2
- Written by Tom King
- Art by Greg Smallwood
- Colors by Greg Smallwood
- Lettering by Clayton Cowles
- Published by DC Comics
Human Target #1 was already one of the most intriguing new debuts I read this year, as the combination of Tom King, Greg Smallwood, Human Target, and the Justice League International is already a match made in heaven. This week's second issue elevates the maxiseries to a whole other level, properly introducing Tora Olafsdotter / Ice to the fold. What unfolds is a gorgeous and mesmerizing noir masterpiece, diving into her and Christopher Chance's relationship to a fascinating degree. This might be one of my favorite single issues of comics I've read this year — and hopefully, it might become yours too. — Jenna Anderson
prevnextJustice League Incarnate #1
- Written by Joshua Williamson and Dennis Culver
- Art by Brandon Peterson, Andrei Bressan, and Tom Derenick
- Colors by Hi-Fi
- Lettering by Tom Napolitano
- Published by DC Comics
After the ambitious reality-warping work on Infinite Frontier earlier this year, I've been so excited to see where the chain of events goes next for the DC universe. This week's Justice League Incarnate is set to provide the first indication of that, revolving around Calvin Ellis and his ragtag team of multiversal heroes, as they attempt to fight the next Crisis that's on the horizon. I have a feeling this book is going to be significant within the world of DC going forward, and even if you haven't read Infinite Frontier yet, you owe it to yourself to join the ride now. — Jenna Anderson
prevnextKing of Spies #1
- Written by Mark Millar
- Art by Matteo Scalera
- Colors by Giovanna Niro
- Letters by Clem Robins
- Published by Image Comics
Mark Millar has created a pipeline directly from his mind to Netflix queues as past Millarworld works and new ones, like King of Spies, are under mass development with the streaming service. So it's interesting to see what sorts of big-budget ideas the controversial writer is choosing to focus on today, and apparently, that means another James Bond knockoff. King of Spies tells the story of Roland King, a retired MI-5 agent modeled on Fleming's beloved master spy, facing down his death as it arrives in the entirely mundane form of cancer. While the premise is nothing new on any level, the promise of oversized issues featuring explosive car chases, over-the-top shootouts, and lots of fascinating settings sounds like a perfect stomping ground for artist Matteo Scalera. Derivative or not, fans of the genre and character Roland is traced over are bound to find thrilling sequences of action and perhaps even some of the familiar Millar charm in these pages before they're translated to the screen. -- Chase Magnett
prevnextMagic: Master of Metal #1
- Written by Mairghread Scott
- Art by French Carlomagno, Jorge Coelho, Jacques Salomon
- Colors by French Carlomagno, Francesco Segala
- Letters by Ed Dukeshire
- Published by BOOM! Studios
BOOM! Studios ongoing Magic: The Gathering series recently brought the Planeswalker Tezzeret into its story. Magic: Master of Metal #1 is an oversized one-shot that offers readers the opportunity to get better acquainted with the self-interested artificer. Three chapters comprise the issue, each written by Mairghread Scott (Batgirl, Transformers: Windblade) and illustrated by a different artist: French Carlomagno, Jorge Coelho, or Jacques Salomon. The issue offers a character study that deepens regular readers' understanding of the villain that can serve as the first taste for anyone curious about but not yet onboard with Boom's Magic comics. -- Jamie Lovett
prevnextThe Me You Love In the Dark #5
- Written by Skottie Young
- Art by Jorge Corona
- Colors by Jean-Francois Beaulieu
- Letters by Nate Piekos
- Published by Image Comics
It's a little unusual for me to recommend the end of a series as a must-read, but Skottie Young and Jorge Corona's The Me You Love in the Dark is a short series and its fifth and final issue is powerful enough on its own that it fits the "must read" box. While the entire series has been a blend of themes about art, human experience, the need to love and be loved – including self-love, the finale is a harrowing, beautifully done study in self-preservation and determination as Ro finally faces the creature she's been alone with for months. It's a fantastic book and worthy of a read by itself or with the rest of the series. -- Nicole Drum
prevnextWonder Woman Historia: The Amazons #1
- Written by Kelly Sue DeConnick
- Art by Phil Jimenez
- Colors by Hi-Fi, Arif Prianto, Romulo Fajardo Jr.
- Letters by Clayton Cowles
- Published by DC Comics
DC Black Label has already been good for Wonder Woman, with last year's wonderful post-apocalyptic tale Wonder Woman: Dead Earth. Wonder Woman Historia: The Amazons is something distinctly different. Kelly Sue DeConnick, the writer who revitalized Carol Danvers as Captain Marvel for Marvel Comics, is ready to redefine the origin of the Amazons, leveraging Black Label's adults-only mandate to its fullness. She's working with iconic Wonder Woman artist Phil Jimenez, who looks at his experimental best, producing something worthy of the oversized prestige format that turns Wonder Woman's origin into an otherworldly myth. You'll be hard-pressed to find a better-produced book on the shelf this week. -- Jamie Lovett
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