There are a lot of comic books that come out every week, and it can be hard to try to navigate the waters to try to find something new, or for a first-time reader, try to find a good starting point.
Image Comics takes center stage this week, as they have a really strong week for you to jump in if you’ve never read and Image book. DC and Marvel also come in with strong entries. These are the comic books you should be reading this week:
Assassin Nation No. 1
Writer: Kyle Starks
Artist: Erica Henderson
Image Comics has carved out such unique and interesting corner in the comic book landscape, that makes them different than the big two companies, which allows them to be viable in the industry. This is why I always give No. 1 issues from Image a read because you never know what you are going to like. This week, Kyle Starks and Erika Henderson’s Assassin Nation No. 1, should be the comic you read. I was a big fan of Henderson’s art on Marvel’s The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl, and as a Rick and Morty junky, Starks run the supplemental comic book was really fun. The preview synopsis compares this series to “Hot Fuzz, Tropic Thunder, and Deadpool.” I love all those things! So if that’s true, we are all in for a great treat.
Credit to Image comics and cover artist Afu Chan
Outer Darkness No. 5
Writer: John Layman
Artist: Afu Chan
While not a No.1, another Image book you should check out this week is Outer Darkness No. 5. This book combines some of my favorite genre elements into one comic book series: outer space, sci-fi, supernatural, horror and some dark humor. Co-creator of Chew, John Layman, is behind this very unique, very Image book which is the perfect place for you to jump in. The crew has been stranded on an ice planet, the best kind of planet, and demons are afoot.
Cover No. 6
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Artist: David Mack
The week of off-kilter books continues as, Cover returns from a 3-week delay, and will be the last issue for a while. Brian Michael Bendis’ move to DC has been more than just Superman as he was really made his mark on the company, creating, with the help of artist David Mack, books in his Jinxworld printline. In the final issue of this volume of Cover, comic book artist Max Field has had a couple of rough months dabbling in the CIA, after he was recruited as a spy to help gather intelligence within the comic book community. Make sure to catch up on one of the best books of 2018, and now 2019 before it goes away for a while.
Credit to Marvel comics and cover artist Greg Smallwood
The Punisher No. 9
Writer: Matthew Rosenberg
Artist: Szymon Kudranski
When we last saw Frank Castle in The Punisher No. 5, he and a nun took over the prison he was thrown in by Baron Zemo in Bagalia. Interesting, right. In Punisher No. 6 we will see what happens to the tiny island when the Punisher is let loose, while everyone thinks he is dead. Matthew Rosenberg’s Punisher story has been brutal and unique enough to have a different spin on the Punisher. Make sure to pick this issue up, just in time for Frank Castle to wreck Bagalia.
Batman Who Laughs: The Grim Knight No. 1
Writer: Scott Snyder, James Tynion IV
Artist: Eduardo Risso
Speaking of the Punisher, have you ever wondered what would happen if he and Batman were combined. Well, wonder no more as we will see what that looks like in the Batman Who Laughs: The Grim Knight one-shot comic book. This is a spin-off from the Batman Who Laughs series, where we continue to explore alternate Batman version from across the Dark Multiverse. I was really intrigued at a murderous Batman, especially after the Titans season finale, so this should be an interesting read.