There are new comics to buy each week, and, as always, I have some suggestions...
Comics You Should Consider Buying (from comics shops)
Action Comics #2 Grant Morrison continues his tale of the re-booted Superman, back when Superman was young and an anti-authority super-hero activist. Morrison's first issue was superb.
Animal Man #2 One of the critical darlings of DC's New 52 back for another issue. Official summary: "Maxine's new abilities continue to terrify Ellen and Buddy Baker, and things take a turn for the worse as Buddy begins a startling transformation of his own that will lead him on a journey into the heart of The Red. Meanwhile, The Hunters Three arrive on Earth and set their sights on the Baker family. The Hunt is on as DC's most surprising new series continues to take Animal Man in shocking new directions."
Avengers 1959 #1 One of comics' best, grittiest, bawdiest writer-artists, Howard Chaykin, begins his mini-series about 1950s'era Avengers.
Chew #21 You people love your Chew. There's a new one out (sorry, I still haven't read past the first issue). Official summary: "Baseball, Hot Dogs and Apple Pie, Part One... Mike Applebee's good day, Tony Chu's first day and John Colby's last day. An issue of beginning and endings, as we head into the fifth story arc of the multi-Eisner award nominated series about cops, crooks, cooks, cannibals, clairvoyants and...meter maids?"
Last of the Greats #1 A week ago, I wouldn't have cared, but then I read writer Josh Fialkov's shockingly good DC New 52 comic I, Vampire. Suddenly, I'm interested in his work and he's got this new book out for Image. Official summary: "There were seven, possessing the power of gods, and representing all that could be right with the world. But now... he is the Last. As humanity stands on the brink of annihilation, he is our only hope. And he hates us for what we've done."
Swamp Thing #2 Another new issue from one the best New 52 DC books. Official summary: "Alec Holland thought he knew the history of the Swamp Thing—but he was wrong. The creature's roots run deeper than he knows, and the Parliament of Trees intends to make him understand the responsibility he wants so desperately to avoid! With this issue, the mythology of the Swamp Thing branches out in ways you never saw coming - don't miss it!"
X-Men Schism #5 Final issue of the best Big Event book of the year. Official summary: "After years of fighting side-by-side the X-Men are torn irrevocably in half. On one side, X-Men team leader, Cyclops. On the other, X-Men mainstay, Wolverine. Between them lies the fate of mutantkind, and surrounding them, the foes who want to end them forever! Be there for the conclusion of the story that will set the stage for the X-Men universe for years to come, from Marvel Architect writer Jason Aaron and art legend Adam Kubert!"
X-Men by Chris Claremont & Jim Lee Omnibus, Volume 1
For a mere $125! Official summary: "What happens when you combine an industry veteran at the top of his game with a hot, up-and-coming young artist, and let them loose on Marvel's mightiest mutants? You get a fan-favorite, multi-year X-Men run unequaled in style, pizzazz and wall-to-wall action! It's Chris Claremont's most ambitious story arc ever, featuring Jim Lee's dynamic debut issues and major changes to the X-Men's status quo! Jubilee debuts just as the X-Men disband, granted new lives by the Siege Perilous! The Reavers enact gruesome revenge on Wolverine and decimate Muir Island, while Psylocke is transformed into a ninja! The Shadow King makes his play for Storm, culminating in the action-packed introduction of Gambit! Wolverine's hidden past with Captain America and the Black Widow is revealed! And this is just the first volume! Collecting Uncanny X-Men #244-269, X-Men Annual (1970) #13 and Classic X-Men #39."
Comics With Video Game Connections (new this week in comics shops)
Crysis #5 Official summary: "With the knowledge that their powerful nanosuits were made with stolen alien technology, Prophet and the members of Raptor Team head back to Earth to try and stop the alien Ceph from destroying mankind. But have they returned too late… or too soon?"
DC Universe Online Legends #15 Official summary: "Following the tragic events in the last issue, the heroes must pick up the pieces of a shattered League. With Superman AWOL and seeking revenge, will Lex Luthor be the hero of the day? And can anyone keep the Man of Steel from hunting down and killing Brainiac?"
Sonic the Hedgehog Archives, Vol. 16 Official summary: "The best-selling Sonic Archives graphic novel series continues! The hunt for the evil Ixis Naugus goes into full swing as Sonic and his best friend Tails continue the World Tour Saga! Can the power of friendship overrule the wills of interdimensional machine-gods? What is the sinister secret of Sand Blast City? And are those duck-bill platypus warriors riding crocodiles? Collects Sonic The Hedgehog #59-62."
And Over On The iPad/iPhone/Droid/WebBrowser…
The ComiXology Comics app and website offer a fresh batch of new and old digital comics this week (and as of this week, Marvel's are available on Comixology's website, instead of just on iOS… but still not on Droid). Highlights this week include any of the new DC super-hero books you're interested in and Marvel's Ultimate books, since they all hit ComiXology on the same day they come out in shops. Other notables include The Complete Essex County (Jeff Lemire's critically acclaimed graphic novels for just $15) and several issues of Ultimate Marvel Team-Up which paired Brian Michael Bendis with some wonderful artists.
And the best comic I read last week….
Wolverine #14 Not even the newest issue of writer Jason Aaron's excellent ongoing Wolverine series (there have been two since), but the one that caps off a story about a group of people who manage to successfully get revenge on Marvel's most popular X-Man.
I'd rather you read it yourself to see what happens—and I recommend you back up a few issues before that to enjoy the full impact. But let's just say that some folks whose loved ones were killed by Wolverine figure out how to make him feel some pain in a most unique way.
That's it for this week. Tell me what you're reading this week and which great comics I'm missing.
You can contact Stephen Totilo, the author of this post, at stephentotilo@kotaku.com. You can also find him on Twitter, Facebook, and lurking around our #tips page.