WCBR’s Top Picks

Dean’s Top Picks

Best of the past week: American Vampire #26 – This issue was a real treat.  For one thing, it introduced me to a wonderful fill-in artist in Roger Cruz.  I’d love to see more of his work after this AV stint is finished.  Seriously….how is Vertigo able to continually find guys of this caliber to fill in when most comic series are only able to get a B-lister (at best)?  The story is also really compelling.  Scott Snyder’s story about a black vampire in 1950’s Alabama has just enough depth and complexity to be interesting if you scratch the surface, but not require you read the comic 10 times and still be confused or have to wait 5 years for the pay-off.  Runner-up: FF #17 (for accomplishing the rare feat of making me laugh at a comic book).

Most anticipated this week: Mind the Gap #1 – I’m always down for a new creator owned series if the artist is someone good.  I don’t honestly know much about the story concept, but the artist is Rodin Esquejo who has been doing the outstanding covers on Morning Glories.  Otherwise, it’s a kinda light week.

Other picks: Sweet Tooth #33, Blue Estate #11, Vescell #7, Amazing Spider-Man #685

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Alex’s Top Picks

Pick of the Week: Secret Avengers #26 – Basically a European science fiction comic about Marvel superheroes.  Brilliant, distinctive artwork meets a “last stand” script of superheroes coping in their own unique ways when facing certain death.  This is an issue where all the creators involved were firing on all cylinders and working at their very highest levels.  Great stuff and the best issue of this series so far.

Most Anticipated: Dial H #1 – I’m a huge China Mieville fanboy.  Hell, Mieville may very well be my favourite active prose author at the moment.  If not, he’s certainly in the top three or so.  As such, anything Mieville writes, I will buy.  And now he’s entering comics?  Seriously?  It could not be better.  Couple this with all the buzz and preview images that show that Mieville’s trademark “weirdness” is very much in play in this series (have you seen “Boy Chimney”? ) and a very strong artist in Mateus Santoluoco, and this should be a blast.  As far as Santoluoco goes, the fact that I actually didn’t really miss Rafael Abuquerque when Santoluoco filled in for an arc of American Vampire is a testament to his awesomeness.

Other Picks:  Action Comics #9, Animal Man #9, Swamp Thing #9, Sweet Tooth #33, Avengers vs. X-Men #3, Daredevil #12, Defenders #6, Invincible Iron Man #516, Venom #17