Top 10 Comics for the Week of 3/20/2019

Well this was an interesting week of comics. There were a lot of books that typically make this list like Venom, Immortal Hulk, Justice League, and The Avengers that were good but not up to their normal standard in my opinion. Still, it made way for some other books to make the list. One of the best things about comics is how each week brings something new to be excited about. With that said, let’s get to this week’s countdown. As always my list may differ from other reviews on the site as it is based solely on my opinion.Â

10. Incursion #2

Writer: Andy Diggle

Artist: Doug Braithwaite

Publisher: Valiant

Description: Entire planets have suffered and died at the cold, close-fisted hands of the alien Imperatrix Virago – and now her gruesome sights are set on our world. As Earth’s chosen protector, the Geomancer named Tama fights for her life, while the Eternal Warrior goes on the ultimate mission through the perilous realm of the Deadside to find the secret to saving her…and the entire planet in the process

Why it Made the List: One thing is for certain with Andy Diggle and Doug Braithwaite“s run on Incursion so far and that is it is going heads first into the fantasy genre. That is one of Valiant“s greatest strengths as a publisher. Their titles can be a part of their massive universe but still remain within vastly different genres. Even if all that fantasy elements are not your cup of tea the core story of Eternal Warrior fighting for the life of a person who he truly cares about is easy to invest in. Braithwaite“s art remains fantastic and along with Diego Rodriguez“s gorgeous colors, it is one of the best-looking books Valiant is putting out.

9. Jessica Jones: Purple Daughter #3

Writer: Kelly Thompson

Artist: Mattia de Iulis, Martin Simmonds

Publisher: Marvel Comics

Description: PURPLE DAUGHTER Parts 5 & 6! A DOUBLE-SIZED Marvel Digital Original you don’t want to miss!

Why it Made the List: Kelly Thompson“s current run on Jessica Jones is not talked about nearly enough. Perhaps it is the digital release schedule that is causing it to be overlooked, but anyone who enjoyed what Brian Michael Bendis did with Jessica Jones will feel Thompson is doing the character justice. Jessica Jones and The Purple Man may have the most compelling interplay in comics today and Thompson and her team do a fantastic job exploring that relationship even further. This marked the end of the Purple Daughter storyline and it concluded just as well as it began. Mind control is so common in comics we can forget just how scary it would be if someone had the power to mess with everything you put your trust in, and what happens when that very person is your sole hope for survival? That very dynamic was explored here in compelling ways.Â

8. Edgar Allan Poe“s Snifter of Terror #6

Writer: Peter Milligan, Mark Russell, Lisa R. Jonte, Nigel “Kek-W” Long, Matt Buechele, Hunt Emerson, and Bryce Ingman

Artist: Peter Snejbjerg, Alan Robinson, Rick Geary, Lee Carter, Elliott Mattice, Sarah Burrini

Publisher: Ahoy ComicsÂ

Description: ‘The Tragic Tale of Franken Cherrie’ tells the terrifying origin of the man-made monster who stays crunchy in milk! Then, a Wall Street mover buys his mysterious doppelganger in ‘William Wilson!’ EXTRA! Poe and the Black Cat try to destroy each other again! PLUS! Prose, pictures, and possibly poetry! Special painted wraparound cover by Richard Williams (MAD)!

Why it Made the List: I do not know the exact reason but horror works so well in the anthology format. Often it is at its best when telling well-paced short stories. This issue offers a lot with stories told in different formats, styles, and even mediums. On a sheer value standpoint, you may not find a better deal this week. I enjoyed all the stories but ‘William Wilson’ and ”˜The Tragic Tale of Franken Cherrie“ were my personal favorite. ”˜Franken Cherrie“ was written by acclaimed writer Mark Russell and it works because of how straight it is played. If you have never been exposed to the sugar soaked candy that somehow is considered kids cereal you would never know General Mills was a humorous reference and not a historical figure. It reminds me of the first Naked Gun when the characters were not in on the jokes so everything was inherently funnier.

7. Naomi #3

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis, David F. Walker

Artist: Jamal Campbell

Publisher: Wonder Comics

Description: A brand-new character in the DC Universe comes into focus as Naomi confronts the one person in her small town she is convinced knows the secret of her mysterious adoption and her obsession with Superman. The truth is going to change both her and the DC Universe forever. The secret of Naomi opens the door to an enormous reveal you will not want to miss. This exciting new mystery from the powerhouse creative team of writers Brian Michael Bendis (Jessica Jones, Spider-Man) and David F. Walker (Shaft, Cyborg) and new, amazing art talent Jamal Campbell

Why it Made the List: Naomi is the type of series that can open up the big two to an entirely new generation of readers. It can exist within the normal superhero world without being boldened to the typical tropes of the genre and burden with a massive amount of impenetrable decades-long history of stories. Brian Michael Bendis and David F. Walker are making Naomi into quite the character and surrounding her with a more complex world than it first appeared. This also ended on a cliffhanger that will very much change things going forward. This is not the type of story that is in a rush and the characters are better for it. Jamal Campbell“s art is downright phenomenal and a big part of what keeps this book so alive.

6. Spider-Man: Life Story #1

Writer: Chip Zdarsky

Artist: Mark Bagley

Publisher: Marvel Comics

Description: In 1962, the world watched as teenager Peter Parker was bitten by a radioactive spider”¦allowing him to become the Amazing Spider-Man! It“s been fifty-seven years since the AMAZING FANTASY #15, the story that brought everyone“s favorite wall-crawler into the Marvel Universe and jumpstarted some of the most adventurous super hero stories ever ”” but what if Spider-Man had aged at the same rate as our world?

Why it Made the List: When Spider-Man: LIfe Story #1 was announced it immediately landed near the top of my most anticipated 2019 comics. Chip Zdarsky was coming off of writing one of the best single issues of Spider-Man I had read in years and seeing him do a book that aged the character of Peter Parker across time seemed perfect. With this being the opening issue Zdarsky sets the stage by echoing one of Spider-Man’s most infamous stories but adds a stronger connection to the social issues of the day and a modern viewpoint. Mark Bagley“s style is perfect for this type of story as it does not fit specifically into any area or time period. It takes a little from them all. All this makes for a promising start to this mini-series.

5. Bitter Root #5

Writer: Chuck Brown, David F. Walker

Artist: Sanford Greene

Publisher: Image Comics

Description: As an unspeakable evil ravages New York City, the last of the Sangerye Family fight just to stay alive. But with Cullen missing and presumed dead, hope is fading fast, both for the family, and the fate of humanity.

Why it Made the List: This issue marks the end of the first chapter as it takes a break to regroup. Looking back at these first five issues what stands out is the frenetic pace that kicked off right from the start. I cannot think of a comic that has moved this quickly and had this much story. I typically read my comics digitally but highly advise reading the actual physical comic if you can. You getter a better sense of just how much Sanford Greene stacks into each and every page. There“s not a piece of page wasted. Style is a plenty and there is clearly so much more story to tell with this title. Based on the first five issues that is very much a good thing.Â

4. Black Badge #8

Writer: Matt Kindt

Artist: Tyler Jenkins

Publisher: Boom! Studios

Description: The Badge of Champions competition reaches its bloody conclusion, and the Black Badges uncover secrets generations in the making.

Why it Made the List: This issue takes a step back as the Black Badge cadets get some shore leave and return home. It is an opportunity to find out who these characters are when they are not putting on their act. Showing how many of them come from broken homes that make them ideal for the program. All of that leads to massively shocking ending especially for a comic that focuses on a group of child boy scouts. From the start, this has been a comic about the damage that is left for the generations to come. Those who have no real power of their own to change mistakes made by those they trust. The way this issue ends that damage has become more real than ever.

3. Batman #67

Writer: Tom King

Artist: Jorge FornÃ©s, Lee Weeks

Publisher: DC Comics

Description: The “Knightmares”“ continue as Batman chases a new foe in an impossible race. Over rooftops, across alleyways, up and down the streets of Gotham City, this lightning-fast crook outsmarts the Dark Knight at every turn. Is that because the man under the mask is someone more familiar than he knows? Artist Lee Weeks returns to BATMAN for an all-out action issue unlike any you“ve seen before.

Why it Made the List: Now this is why I love comics. When a writer can take a backseat and just let talented artists do their thing to the best of their ability. The ”˜silent“ issue may seem like a Â gimmick by some and maybe that is the case, but a gimmick this good is worth doing. It is easy to overlook just how impressive the visual storytelling is with this issue. Sure it is just an extended chase sequence but when you look at the actual construction of each page and sequence there is plenty to admire.

2. Criminal #3

Writer: Ed Brubaker

Artist: Sean Phillips

Publisher: Image Comics

Description: “THE LONGEST WEEKEND,” Part Two-Jacob’s weekend taking care of his old mentor takes a turn for the worse. Â As always, CRIMINAL contains back page art and articles only found in the single issues.

Why it Made the List: This is a week where picking my number one was extremely hard. Really this says #2 but in reality it is more like 1-B. Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips are just effortless storytellers. It is evident they are confident in their story as nothing is ever rushed nor is there any need to unnecessarily call attention to what is happening. Having the backdrop of comic book history does not hurt as well. Also the massive web the Criminal universe is weaving is grand. Â Seeing how all these stories interconnect, yet never making that connection overt is crucial to the story. When Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips work together great comcis will follow.Â

1. American Carnage #5

Writer: Bryan Hill

Artist: Leandro Fernandez

Publisher: Vertigo ComicsÂ

Description: Wynn Morgan“s business rivals get wind of Agent Sheila Curry“s off-the-books investigation into the white nationalist leader, but things don“t go well at all when they try to make an illegal quid pro quo with the vengeful FBI agent. Meanwhile, Richard closes in on the murderer of Agent Watson, with help from the unlikeliest of allies.

Why it Made the List: I have been doing these top 10 list since the start of the year and this is the first time a comic hit number one twice. If you read these list or my reviews one thing I tend to put above all else is the craft of building characters. So far this year Bryan Hill and Leandro Fernandez“s American Carnage has been one of the best. One where there is complexity even in the absurd. In a way reading this comic is like a refuge of sanity by covering the insane. It takes a step back to reexamine the world we find ourselves to try to make sense of everything.Â

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Daniel Clark

A fan of all things comics. Growing up on a healthy diet of 90's Batman and X-Men cartoon series ignited a love for the medium that remains strong today.