The New Year is upon us, and so too is the first Wednesday for new comics, delivering plenty of choices for the Top Comics to Buy for January 7 list. This week we’ve got a good mix of our must-buy mainstays — strong new entries in both the Absolute and Ultimate Universes — and some new things, including our first ever entry from Ignition Press.
You can find my five favorites from the week below, along with the usual set of new release lists … enjoy!
Top Comics to Buy for January 7
Absolute Superman #15
Writer: Jason Aaron
Artist: Juan Ferreyra
Letterer: Becca Carey
Publisher: DC Comics
In the shocking aftermath of the Battle of Kansas, Superman wrestles with profound changes to his life, his allies, and even his costume. But more importantly, there’s work to be done, as we experience a day in the life of the world’s busiest superhero — and welcome guest artist Juan Ferreyra (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) to the series!
Why It’s Cool: Artist Juan Ferreyra is one of my must-buy artists, and I pick up everything he draws. He’s here on Absolute Superman right now for a guest stint, re-teaming with writer Jason Aaron after the duo just wrapped up a fantastic 12-issue stretch of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. And this issue looks great.
Price: $4.99
Deluge #3
Writer: Cullen Bunn
Artist: Marika Cresta
Colorist: Ronda Pattison
Letterer: Andworld Design
Publisher: Ignition Press
The death count is rising with the water, making escape seem less and less likely. Prisoners and guards alike are trapped within Sieverville Correctional Prison for Women, and it’s becoming increasingly obvious that the rain is not the only thing coming in from outside. No one is safe from the creatures lurking in the flood, and it’s soon to be every woman for herself. Mama Bear, in particular, isn’t waiting to be rescued. She’s going to take matters into her own hands and does not care who gets in her way.
Why It’s Cool: Not to spoil things here, but for tomorrow’s Wednesday Comics Reviews column, our team is rolling out a look at every Ignition Press title so far. I had a chance to catch up with their line over the holidays, and enjoyed it quite a bit. Deluge was one of my favorites, a creepy story set within a women’s prison that’s in the middle of a deadly flood. This third issue really ups the stakes.
Price: $4.99
Hellboy and the B.P.R.D: Ghost Ships of Labrador #2
Writers: Mike Mignola and Rob Williams
Artist: Laurence Campbell
Colorist: Lee Loughridge
Letterer: Clem Robins
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Hellboy will go to any lengths to save a missing agent — even if it means diving in to the belly of the spectral beast.
Why It’s Cool: As I noted when the first half of this story came out, Laurence Campbell (with Lee Loughridge) is one of my favorite artists who works within the Hellboy Universe, and he’s lived up to my loft expectations with his work in this foggy maritime ghost story.
Price: $4.99
The Twilight Zone #3
Writer/Artist/Letterer: James Stokoe
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Somewhere, there is a war being fought. Two civilizations, each believing itself the summit of power, battle over a holy relic whose function and origin lie beyond their understanding. An army of dedicated knights who defend the item, a horde of zealous barbarians who covet it — neither side willing to cede an inch of ground to the other. But even to those fueled by faith, not all is as it seems… in the Twilight Zone!
Why It’s Cool: I love anthology series in comics, and it’s quite possibly that love was inspired by my love of The Twilight Zone. Well, IDW Publishing is currently putting out a great Twilight Zone series — brought to life by some of the best creators in comics — and I couldn’t be happier about it. All of the issues so far have been must-reads, and this week’s contained story by James Stokoe is no exception.
Price: $4.99
Ultimate Wolverine #13
Writer: Chris Condon
Artist: Domenico Carbone
Colorist: Bryan Valenza
Letterer: Cory Petit
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Wolverine hunts down the Maker’s Council… and with the Maker himself on the horizon, it’s time to exact revenge on the ones who turned his life into a living nightmare! Wolverine’s journey through the ENDGAME starts here!
Why It’s Cool: Even as this new Ultimate Universe story starts to wrap up, the Ultimate Wolverine book is still doing the things I love it for — delivering savage action cartooning with alternate, gritty takes on familiar characters, with this one serving up Wolverine vs. Ursa Major. It’s a guest artist, but Domenico Carbone (with Bryan Valenza) still brings plenty of savagery to his work, landing this issue on my top comics to buy for January 7 list.
Price: $4.99
Other Comics I Enjoyed
Absolute Green Lantern #10- Amazing Spider-Man #19
- Arcadia #2
- Batman/Green Arrow/The Question: Arcadia #2
- Batman #5
- Cheetah and Cheshire Rob the Justice League #6
- DC K.O. Knightfight #3
- Poison Ivy #40
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Shredder #4
- Ultimate Wolverine #13
Absolute Green Lantern #10New #1s and One-Shots
- 50th Anniversary Treasury Edition: Superman vs. The Amazing Spider-Man #1
- Absolute Batman: Ark-M Special #1 (one-shot)
- Carmen Red Claw: Belly of the Beast #1
- Fence – Breakthrough Quarter Clash #1 (one-shot)
- Marvel Rivals – The Cities of Heaven #1 (one-shot)
- Mighty Morphin Power Rangers – Zord Quest #1 (one-shot)
- Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas – The Shiver of Christmas Town #1
50th Anniversary Treasury Edition: Superman vs. The Amazing Spider-Man #1Graphic Novels and Trade Collections
- A Thing Called Truth TP
- Adventures of Robo-Kid HC
- All-New Venom – Who Is All-New Venom TP
- Alpha Flight by Bill Mantlo & Jim Lee Omnibus HC
- Amazing Spider-Man Epic Collection Vol 12 Sipder-Man Threat or Menace TP
- Amazing Spider-Man Modern Era Epic Collection Vol 2 The Life and Death of Spider-Man TP
Catwoman Vol 2 Never Let Them Smell Blood TP- Conan the Barbarian Vol 6 A Nest of Serpents TP
- Creepy Archives Vol. 12 TP
- Cruel Kingdom Vol 1 TP (EC Comics)
- Daredevil by Saladin Ahmed Vol 5 Rites of Reconciliation TP
- Farmhand Vol 5 The End TP
- Ghostbusters Vol 2 Dead Man’s Chest TP
- Justice League Dark The New 52 Compendium
- Laura Kinney Wolverine Vol 2 My So-Called Perfect Life TP
- Los Monstruos TP
- Shaolin Cowboy: Beginning of the End Results – 21 Years of Blood Sweat and Chainsaws HC
- Smooth Criminals Complete Collection TP
- Spider-Man Brand New Day Omnibus Vol 2 HC
- Supergirl Woman of Tomorrow TP (DC Compact Comics Edition)
- Tramps of the Apocalypse TP
- Under York TP
- When I Lay My Vengeance Upon Thee TP
Catwoman Vol 2 Never Let Them Smell Blood TP
Shaolin Cowboy: Beginning of the End Results – 21 Years of Blood Sweat and Chainsaws HCRead past editions of the Top Comics to Buy!
And check out the Beat’s most recent comics reviews!
