Last week's new comic book list was a balance of Marvel, DC, and Image comics. Skinbreaker No. 1 immediately found itself in the Top 10. Rounding things out were a nearly flawless final issue of The Vision and The Scarlet Witch, Space Ghost (volume 2) No. 4, and Absolute Wonder Woman No. 12.
This week, things aren’t as balanced as DC Comics dominated the best new comic books of the week. Let’s start with one of my favorites.
Absolute Superman No. 12
- Writer: Jason Aaron
- Artist: Rafa Sandoval
- Colors: Ulises Arreola Palomera
Jason Aaron is a writer who can make you go from laughing hysterically to crying uncontrollably in just a few pages, and Absolute Superman No. 12 is a perfect example of that. Readers see what Kal-El went through after the incident with the Kents, and it’s heartbreaking. However, you’re given a few moments that will make you smile, too.
Red Shirts No. 3
- Writer: Christopher Cantwell
- Artist: Megan Levens
- Colors: Charlie Kirchoff
Despite knowing everyone in this comic book is going to die, the creative team manages to make the deaths mean something. It isn’t the creative ways they’re killed (though those are memorable); it's how Christopher Cantwell made them interesting. In a short amount of time, you’re given a reason to either care about or hate the Red Shirts and the beings after them.
Justice League: The Omega Act Special No. 1
- Writer: Joshua Williamson
- Artists: Cian Tormey and Yasmine Putri
- Colors: Yasmine Putri
There were a lot of questions about what’s going on with Darkseid and how his disappearance affected the timeline, and how he created the Absolute Universe. In one issue, it was all explained. Normally, too much information can run the risk of making the dialogue boring. Thankfully, Joshua Williamson is a fantastic writer who can tell a proper story without those concerns ever coming to be.
Speed Racer No. 3
- Writer: David Pepose
- Artist: Davide Tinto
- Colors: Rex Lokus
Surviving adversity can make a regular person a hero. In the case of Speed Racer, our hero learns a valuable lesson about racing. Thanks to the brilliant creative team, this information was discovered during a dangerous, life-changing, and exciting race. And, at the end of the issue, something is confirmed that fans of the cartoon may have already known.
Absolute Evil No. 1
- Writer: Al Ewing
- Art by: Giuseppe Camuncoli
- Colorist: Romulo Fajardo Jr.
This was a highly anticipated issue, and it was better than anyone could have hoped. Absolute Evil No. 1 highlighted the major villains in this universe and made them look even more evil than anyone could have thought. That's saying something considering everything we’ve seen.
On top of everything, it ends with the start of a new team and the introduction of a character that Brainiac hopes will balance out this “Justice League”.
Birds of Prey No. 26
- Writer: Kelly Thompson
- Artist: Vicente Cifuentes and Sami Basri
- Colors: Adriano Lucas
It feels like whenever a new issue of Kelly Thompson’s Birds of Prey is released, I place it on the best of the week list. Well, that’s for a good reason. Each of the comics is the perfect combination of action, depth, comedy, and mystery. This one was no different.
In this issue, Big Barda continues her trend of being one of the funniest characters in comics. Meanwhile, Batgirl (Cassandra Cain) shows that she’s more than a fighter. Because she’s so good at beating people up, it's easy to forget that she notices things that even Oracle (Barbara Gordon) misses.
X-Men: Age of Revelation - Overture No. 1
- Writer: Jed MacKay
- Artist: Ryan Stegman
- Colors: Marte Gracia
Admittedly, I wasn’t excited about this series, but I know to trust Jed MacKay. Like always, he came through with a banger of an issue.
For the people who didn’t read X-Men: Age of Revelation No. 0, MacKay's X-Men: Age of Revelation - Overture No. 1 gave readers a quick overview of what’s happening. But not before showing how this world has turned even the most gentle of mutants like Herman Glob into killers. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. This issue has betrayal, an amazing fight, and a conclusion that will make readers pumped for the rest of the crossover. In short, it was the perfect way to start Marvel’s newest X-Men crossover.
Kill All Immortals No. 1
- Writer: Zack Kaplan
- Artist: Fico Ossio
- Colorist: Thiago Rocha
This was a quick but enjoyable read, full of violence, blood, and weapons. More importantly, it was a great opening act for Kill All Immortals. You learn what’s going on, who the players are, and you finish wanting to know what will happen next. What more could you ask for, really?
Batman No. 2
- Writer: Matt Fraction
- Artist: Jorge Jimenez
- ColorsTomeu Morey
The title may have been Batman, but this issue was all about Tim Drake. Fans know that Tim is a genius, but it’s easily forgotten that he’s physically tough, too. That part is focused on as a reminder that we’re going to see more of what makes him that much closer to being Batman than anyone else in the Bat Family.
Ultimate X-Men No. 20
- Writer: Peach Momoko
- Artist: Peach Momoko
- Colors: Peach Momoko
Ultimate X-Men has been the sleeper series in this universe. Each issue carefully introduced characters and built the storyline, and it looks like it was building up to this moment.
Sun Emperor (Sunfire on Earth-616) tells the world that he’s declared a state of emergency and is putting in a new law. He’s calling it the Rescript on Mutants, but it’s revealed that it will be called the Mutant Registration Act.
Best of the week by category:
- Comic book of the week: Birds of Prey No. 26
- Hero of the week: Ultimate Wolverine for killing Omega Red (Ultimate Wolverine No. 10)
- Villain of the week: Revelation/Doug Ramsey (X-Men: Age of Revelation - Overture No. 1)
- Fight of the week: Kwannon vs Bei the Blood Moon and Wolverine vs the X-Men (X-Men: Age of Revelation - Overture No. 1)
- Team of the week: The Absolute Justice League (Absolute Evil No. 1)
- Moment of the week: Logan and Sabretooth’s friendship (Ultimate Wolverine No. 10)
- Writer of the week: Al Ewing (Absolute Evil No. 1, Absolute Green Lantern No. 7)
- Artists of the week: Rafa Sandoval and Ulises Arreola (Absolute Superman No. 12)
- Cover of the week: Batgirl No. 12 (David Talaski)
- Funny moment of the week: Black Canary and Big Barda quipping (Birds of Prey No. 26)
- Underrated comic book of the week: (Cheetah & Cheshire Rob the Justice League No. 3)
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