The Top 5 Must Read Comics This NCBD! (18 June 2014)

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Milo, aka “Bane of Kings”, runs down the Top 5 Must Read Comics hitting shelves on tomorrow’s New Comic Book Day, featuring books from DC, Marvel, Image and Vertigo Comics.

Another week, another excellent lot of comics releases. It’s impossible to pick between Daredevil and Elektra each month, which shows you just how good these books are – so don’t just limit yourself to the five books here. DC have a lighter week than last week but still packs some heavy hitters – Harley Quinn is still going strong, Wonder Woman continues and Batwoman starts a new arc. And we also have lots more from the non big two hitting shelves this week – including a new series by Young Avengers creators among others. As per usual, you can find the full list of releases for tomorrow here,  and find out the books on my pull list here. So without further ado, let’s get stuck into the comics hitting shelves this week.

DAREDEVIL #4

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Story: Mark Waid | Art: Chris Samnee | Publisher: Marvel Comics | Price: $3.99

The Owl is back! But he’s not working alone! Watch as the Daredevil team permanently redefines one of DD’s oldest enemies deadlier than ever! Plus–whatever happened to Foggy Nelson?

WHY? Want to read Marvel’s best title at the moment? Well, this is your best bet. Mark Waid’s Daredevil was the strongest book with the most critical acclaim before the relaunch, and the only things that have changed are a move to San Francisco and the price going to $3.99. But this is one of the comics with quality that’s actually worth $3.99, so you won’t want to miss out – get on board this run while there are only four issues.

GREEN LANTERN: NEW GUARDIANS #32

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Story: Justin Jordan | Art: Brad Walker  | Publisher: DC Comics | Price: $2.99

There’s a new terror in the universe as the body-snatching Psions are introduced to The New 52! In space you can – and will – hear a New Guardian scream!

WHY? Justin Jordan’s Green Lantern: New Guardians is the second best Green Lantern book right now, behind Red Lanterns, and he’s been handling Kyle Rayner very well indeed, making sure that the Green Lantern line is in a very strong place right now. From the solicit this looks to be a good jumping on point, and with this being one of the better books that DC has to offer you can’t go far wrong. Great fun.

 

THUNDERBOLTS #27

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Story: Ben Acker, Ben Blacker | Art: Carlo Barberi | Publisher: Marvel Comics | Price: $2.99

  • THE PUNISHER VS. THE THUNDERBOLTS, PART 1
  • Writers Ben Acker & Blacker, creators of The Thrilling Adventure Hour and writers of the 2013 Thunderbolts Annual, take control of the TBOLTS…
  • …AND TEAR THEM APART!
  • Guest-starring The Avengers!

WHY? A new creative team generally means a new jumping on point, and Bens Acker and Blacker team up to write the Thunderbolts ongoing. Their 2013 Thunderbolts Annual received a lot of praise, so I’m all for this, especially as it looks like Frank Castle is going to play a pretty big role – I’m enjoying the Punisher solo a lot at the moment, which is also out this week. It’s also a great time to be a Punisher fan as well – not only is he taking on the Thunderbolts, but in his own title he’s entering the jungle – and in Marvel’s current event series, Original Sin – he’s teaming up with Dr. Strange to try and find who killed the Watcher. So bring it on – this is something that you should certainly check out.

UNWRITTEN: APOCALYPSE #6

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Story: Mike Carey | Art: Peter Gross | Publisher: Vertigo Comics | Price: $3.99

The Fisher King,’ part 1 of 3. As Pullman’s cold war against stories turns hot, it’s in stories that Tom must find the weapons and allies he’ll need to beat him. And the best weapon of all is one a thousand knights have quested for…

WHY? Mike Carey’s new novel, The Girl With All The Gifts, has just hit recently under the pename of MR Carey through Orbit Books. Mike Carey has been handling Unwritten since before that however, and this series has been in my opinion, Vertigo’s best with each issue being fantastic. Seriously, go back and read the last five issues on Comixology. You won’t want to miss this.

 

THE WICKED & DIVINE #1

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Story: Kieron Gillen | Art: Jamie McKelvie | Publisher: Image Comics | Price: $3.50

Every ninety years, twelve gods incarnate as teenagers. They are loved. They are hated. In two years, they are dead. The team behind critically thermonuclear floor-fillers Young Avengers and PHONOGRAM reunite to start a new ongoing superhero fantasy with a beautiful oversized issue. Welcome to THE WICKED + THE DIVINE, where gods are the ultimate pop-stars. But remember: just because you’re immortal, doesn’t mean you’re going to live forever.

WHY? If Daredevil is my favourite book for All New Marvel Now, then Young Avengers was most certainly my favourite Marvel Now book, and whilst it ended earlier this year, Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie are back for another helping with The Wicked & Divine, with a premise that looks to be incredibly awesome, with an oversized issue for only $3.50. This should be a stellar read – so if you want to jump on a hot new title from Image this is going to be your best bet.

 

Milo, aka Bane of Kings, is a SFF/Comic reader, and watches a lot of TV. His favourite authors are Neil Gaiman, China Mieville, Jim Butcher, Brandon Sanderson & Iain M. Banks, whilst his favourite TV shows are Battlestar Galactica (2003), Person Of Interest, Firefly, Game of Thrones, & Buffy the Vampire Slayer