The five best new comic books of the week (July 31)

Picking the best five comic books of the week wasn't easy. David Pepose's Space Ghost No. 4 was the best issue of the series; it was the first time Space Ghost, Jan, and Jace met real opposition and the issue ended with a cliffhanger which felt like a major turning point in the series. Scarlett (written by Kelly Thompson with art by Marco Ferrari) was so good it felt cinematic - and it was proof that they were the perfect people to create this series. It was also tough not putting Batman No. 151 on here. This was a crucial point in DC Comics' crossover Absolute Power.

Unfortunately, only five can make the list. Here are the best of the week with minimum spoilers.

Uncanny X-Men No. 1 (pick of the week)

• Writer: Gail Simone
• Artist: David Marquez

I picked this comic book as my prediction for the best of the week and it exceeded my expectations. Gail Simone’s flawless writing combined with David Marquez’s beautiful artwork created a comic book worthy of the Marvel mutant mythology. This will be a contender for best comic book of the year and possibly one of the X-Men’s best stories. It also introduced new mutants to the X-Men Lore.

Absolute Power No. 2

• Writer: Mark Waid
• Artist: Dan Mora

Absolute Power No. 2 topped an incredible first issue. A mind and body-controlled superhero invades the Fortress of Solitude and defeats multiple resistance members leading to more heroes being captured. The only reason anyone escapes is thanks to the sacrifice of one of Waller’s workers and Superman destroying his home.

Absolute Power No. 2 left this writer with nothing but anticipation for the next tie-in. So far, this is a contender for one of DC Comics' best crossovers.

Doctor Strange No. 18

• Writer: Jed MacKay
• Artist: Pasqual Ferry 

Doctor Strange may not be Sorcerer Supreme (this happened in Blood Hunt No. 5), but he’s still winning in life. His wife Clea reminds him that he is more than the title. She said, “I never loved the mantle, Stephen. I loved the man.” She then presented him with a new cloak and called him the Master of Black Magic in Blue.

This may be the end of Jed MacKay’s run of Doctor Strange, but he ended it in a way that made it easy for the next creative team. Well done.

Ultimate Black Panther No. 7

• Writer: Bryan Edward Hill
• Artist: Stefano Caselli

All of the new Ultimate Black Panther comics have been good, but this was fantastic. The story was kicked up a notch with a ton of action, a great story, and glorious artwork. To top it all off, this issue had an amazing representation of T’Challa. It combined what we know about him with his Ultimate Universe personality. I can't wait to see what's next.

Daredevil No. 12

• Writer: Saladin Ahmed
• Artist: Aaron Kuder 

Daredevil’s fight against greed was one of his best. The funny thing is it wasn’t about the action. Seeing Matt Murdock fight against Wilson Fisk (who was possessed by the Devil Greed) by acknowledging his own mistakes was incredible. Sometimes seeing someone win without punches can be just as satisfying as an uppercut.

Saladin Ahmed started this series by testing Matt's faith. He continued to make it interesting by keeping this about Matt's faith and personal growth. Part of the interest is because of the way Aaron Kuder drew the panels. For example, the page with Kingpin grabbing Daredevil by the throat was gorgeous.

New Comic book alert!

The Power Fantasy

• Writer: Kieron Gillen
• Artist: Caspar Wijngaard

If you see a comic book you don’t know and see Kieron Gillen’s name, you can still trust that it will be good. Gillen’s written classics The Wicked + The Divine and Star Wars: Darth Vader. The Power Fantasy will eventually be on his list of classics, too.

That may seem like a bold statement, but it’s true. Issue No. 1 gives all the elements you want from a first issue like character and world-building. It also has the best artwork of the week coming from Caspar Wijngaard. You’ll want to make this part of your monthly reading.

Did you read any new comic books? What would you recommend? Let us know on the Bam Smack Pow Instagram and Twitter.