I was supposed to recommend the week's best new comics yesterday. I'm a day late. Fitting, I guess, because one of the new comics is tied in to Duke Nukem Forever. That's my excuse. On with the recommendations...
Comics You Should Consider Buying (from comics shops)
Daredevil #1 A new series for Marvel's blind super-hero who can somehow see better than you or I can. Official summary: "With new enemies, new friends…and that same old 'grinnin' in the face of hell' attitude, The Man Without Fear is back in a double-sized first issue and leading with his face! Mark Waid (<em<Amazing Spider-Man, Irredeemable, Ruse) joins neo-legendary artists Paolo Rivera and Marcos Martin for a new spin on Daredevil that will leave you gasping for air. Having turned his world upside over the past several years, Matt Murdock realizes that justice may not be blind to his past and villains may not be the only ones looking for answers. Bring it on. If Matt Murdock could see what he was doing…he'd be terrified."
DC Retroactive I'm not positive that the $5 comics in DC's new Retroactive summer stunt will be worth their price, but they are an interesting experiment. Starting with at trio of Batman, Flash and Wonder Woman comics this week, DC has writers from the 70s, 80s and 90s telling a new story set in that decade's continuity. DC is filling each book out with a reprint of that same writer's comics from the source era. The three books this week are all from the 70s. Len Wein writes 70s Batman, Cary Bates has 70s Flash and Dennis O'Neil is handling 70s Wonder Woman.
Rocketeer Adventures #3 This is the third issue of a four-issue anthology featuring a terrific roster of writers and artists telling stories of a guy who flights around in a jetpack during the age of zeppelins. The creative teams for this issue include Jonathan Ross, Tommy Lee Edwards, Joe R. Lansdale, Bruce Timm, and Ryan Sook.
Sergio Aragonés Funnies #1 Official summary: "Matt Groening proudly presents an all-new monthly series by the world's most famous and most honored cartoonist, Sergio Aragonés! Each issue offers an assortment of autobiographical anecdotes, perplexing puzzles, slap-happy short stories, as well as Sergio's unique and hilarious pantomimes and gags. With this new series, the world's most beloved cartoonist continues to prove that humor is truly a universal language!"
War of the Green Lanterns Aftermath #1 Considering what happened at the end of War of the Green Lanterns, and considering that writer Tony Bedard is pretty good, and considering that artists Miguel Sepulveda and Tyler Kirkham are good, I'm expecting this to be the rare epilogue comic I can enjoy.
Comics With Video Game Connections (new this week in comics shops)
DC Universe Online Legends #12 Official summary: "Batman begins connecting Luthor, Brainiac, the Exobytes and the survivors from The Daily Planet. But will he be in time to help Superman's worsening condition?"
Deus Ex #6 Official summary: "n the shattering conclusion to this epic story, Adam Jensen faces off against his super-augmented former boss, Durant, in a war for the ages...but as with any conflict, casualties will be high and blood will be shed. Will Adam walk out of this alive?"
Duke Nukem Glorious Bastard #1 "What do time-traveling Nazi UFOs, space pigs, and a hot French Resistance babe code-named the French Tickler have in common? They're all about to run head-on into Duke Nukem, and for some of them (the ones that don't look good in bikinis, that is), it's gonna end painfully. Video game legend Duke Nukem tears it up in his first comic book series! Written by Tom Waltz (The A-Team: Shotgun Wedding) and illustrated by Xermanico. The King is finally back, baby, and he's bigger and badder than ever!"
Mysterious Ways #1 Official summary: "Video game industry titan Jason Rubin (The Iron Saint, Crash Bandicoot) teams with Tyler Kirkham (Green Lantern Corps) to bring a dark, action-packed supernatural thriller that will have you questioning everything you believe. Sam, an alcoholic ex-cop, woke up with a mysterious piece of silver and soon finds himself the prime suspect in a serial murder case pursued by a relentless FBI agent."
Pocket God Vol. 1 (collection) Official summary: "When Ooga questions the gods and their relentless pygmy pounding, the gods strike back, taking away the gift of immortality bestowed upon the islanders and forcing Ooga and the gang on a dangerous mission to recharge the Gem of Life, which fades a little more with each new pygmy death. Based on the best-selling iPhone app."
Rage #2 Official summary: "The Authority has seized power and is carrying out cruel 'experiments' on radiation victims, but when a scientist discovers the true extent of its deceptions, she finds herself an enemy of the state, with only a fledgling resistance to turn to. Arvid Nelson (Rex Mundi) and Andrea Mutti (DMZ) delve deeper into the secrets of Rage, working directly with the game's creative director, Tim Willits, in a new take on postapocalyptic intrigue!"
Sonic Universe #30 Official summary: "Inside Job, Part Two: Scourge the 'Evil Sonic' is imprisoned in Zone Jail! He's going to need support to escape, but the mercenary gang of the Destructix aren't interested. Can Scourge delve into their dark pasts and find a reason to gain their trust? Or will he wind up a green smear on the wall?"
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 (though beware that Marvel doesn't offer comics on all of the services' platforms). Highlights this week include digital versions of the DC Retroactive comics mentioned above, as well as a smattering of $1 old Batman and Flash comics from the 70s. The online shop also has a lot of vintage comics by writer Garth Ennis, including the final issues of his celebrated Preacher run (maybe I'll finally download and read the whole thing), more of his old Hitman series and Hellraiser run. The full Jeph Loeb/Tim Sale Spider-Man: Blue series has also been added. I like other Loeb/Sale collaborations; haven't read this one.
Best Comics I Read Last Week
I haven't read many comics these past two weeks, so I've got another good, non-classic book to recommend: Green Lantern #67, which ends in a surprising way and sets up an intriguing status quo for the new Green Lantern series launching in September. The problem is, it's a big spoiler, and I don't want to ruin it for people who haven't read it. So, uh, there you go!
Tell me what you're reading this week and which great comics I'm missing.