Last week was a great time for comic book fans. Deniz Camp gave readers a deeper look into the life of Ultimate Dr. Doom (Reed Richards) in Ultimates No. 17. Dynamite Entertainment debuted a fantastic new series titled The Terminator: Metal. And It Killed Everyone But Me No. 2 from Mad Cave Studios was a terrifying and entertaining issue.
This week, the fun in the comic book world continues, with a lot of surprises making the top ten. Let's start with my favorite.
Runaways No. 5
- Writer: Rainbow Rowell
- Artists: Elena Casagrande and Roberta Ingranata
- Colors: DEE CUNNIFFE
The final issue of a series is crucial because it’s supposed to pay off everything that came before it. Not only did Rainbow Rowell’s Runaways do that, but it also added to the team’s lore. A fantastic issue that makes me want more from this team. Hopefully we'll get that in the future.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Annual No. 1
- Writer: Kenny Porter
- Artist: Michael Shelfer
- Colors: Ronda Pattison
I came into this new TMNT chapter hoping for a story about Raphael, but Leonardo’s tale was heartbreaking. It was something that made sense for the character and an amazing way to get into the next chapter in the brothers’ lives. A must-read for any TMNT fan.
Supernatural No. 1
- Writer: Greg Pak
- Artist: Eder Messias
- Colors: Thyago Brandão de Paula
I’ll take any excuse to read new Supernatural stories. Having it be written by Greg Pak (Planet Hulk and Star Wars: Darth Vader) is a bonus. If issue one is any indication of how this series will be, you’ll want to grab this weekly.
Undeadpool No. 1
- Writer: Tim Seeley
- Artist: Carlos Magno
- Colors: Guru-eFX
I couldn’t wait to see what the Undeadpool creative team did to Deadpool, and I wasn’t disappointed. The Merc With A Mouth is a zombie, but he still has his mind. However, his body moves on instinct and does unspeakable things that Wade can’t control. All he can do is watch in horror as he kills people and eats them.
Absolute Batman Annual No. 1
- Writer: Daniel Warren Johnson
- Artist: Daniel Warren Johnson
- Colors: Meredith McClaren, Mike Spicer, and Dave Stewart
Bruce Wayne ventures to another town and beats the living daylights out of some racists in this one. No notes. Just buy this issue. And while that’s enough, Bruce learns a lesson that will come back into play later in this series.
The Mortal Thor No. 3
- Writer: Al Ewing
- Artist: Pasqual Ferry
- Colors: Matt Hollingsworth
It was cool seeing the mortal formally known as Thor (now Sigurd Jarlson) creatively beat down his enemies. His attacks may be more inventive as a human than a god. It makes sense since he doesn’t have his godly powers.
Seeing Sigurd fight was only part of what made this a great issue. Thor (the god) showed up in Sigurd‘s dream to let readers know that he’s still around. And, at the end of the issue, Odin returned to ask what Loki was doing.
Emma Frost: The White Queen No. 5
- Writer: Amy Chu
- Artist: Andrea DI Vito
- Colors: Antonio Fabela
Amy Chu’s entire mini-series of Emma Frost: The White Queen was a reminder of how smart and cunning Emma is. Here’s hoping she writes the character more, even if they’re tales of Emma when she was White Queen of the Hellfire Club.
Imperial No. 4
- Writer: Jonathan Hickman
- Artist: Iban Coello
- Colors: Federico Vicentini and Federico Blee
This issue was all about what’s next for space adventures in Marvel Comics. And, after everything that was done in the finale of Imperial, the future is going to be entertaining for readers. Not so much for the beings in the galaxy.
Expatriate X-Men
- Writer: Eve L. Ewing
- Artist: Francesco Mortarino
- Colors: Raul Angulo
A lot of comic book fans are down on the Age of Revelation event, but this issue is an example of why it’s good. Eve Ewing took the characters she created and showed them as adults in an awful future that shouldn’t exist. It leads to some of the Exceptional X-Men becoming heroes and freedom fighters, and others as betrayers. A great story that I want more of.
All-New Spider-Gwen: The Ghost-Spider No. 3
- Writer: Stephanie Phillips
- Artist: Paolo Villanelli
- Colors: Matt Milla
This was an entire issue of smooth fighting and brilliantly-written monologues. It may have been announced that Gwen Stacy would be fighting her former symbiote costume, but that didn’t matter. It was a perfectly executed issue that included a deep moment that talks about the disgusting things that can happen to incarcerated people.
Best of the week by category:
- Comic book pick of the week: Absolute Batman Annual No. 1
- Hero of the week: Sigurd Jarlson (Mortal Thor No. 3)
- Villain of the week: Black Bolt and the Inhumans (Imperial No. 4)
- Fight of the week: Sigurd Jarlson vs Donald Blake’s minions (Mortal Thor No. 3)
- Team of the week: The Runaways (Runaways No. 5)
- Moment of the week: Leonardo’s story (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Annual No. 1)
- Writer of the week: Rainbow Rowell (Runaways No. 5)
- Artists of the week: Paolo Villanelli and Matt Milla (All-New Spider-Gwen: The Ghost-Spider No. 3)
- Cover of the week: Emma Frost: The White Queen No. 5 (David Nakayama)
- Funny moment of the week: Wade’s monologues throughout UNdeadpool
- Underrated comic book of the week: Expatriate X-Men No. 1 (Eve Ewing)
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