The Top 5 Must Read Comics This NCBD! (25 June 2014)

Saga-20

Milo, aka “Bane of Kings”, runs down the Top 5 comics that you should check out when they hit shelves tomorrow – featuring books from Dark Horse, DC, Image and Marvel Comics.

It’s the last Wednesday of the month and that means that there’s going to be a lot of comics hitting shelves. It was an impossible choice to narrow it down to just five books when I have 20 books on my pull for this week but in the end, there were some books that I unfortunately had to leave out – such as the two Justice League-related books hitting shelves this week, featuring the new Power Ring and the more occult areas of the New 52 respectively. There’s also the conclusion of Serenity: Leaves on the Wind by Zack Whedon to look out for and more Tomb Raider from Gail Simone and Dark Horse Comics. Over at Image, not mentioned here – there’s also Deadly Class and the second issue of C.O.W.L to look out for – whilst Marvel take the Fantastic Four into the Original Sin blockbuster summer event in Fantastic Four #6 and see Starlord on the run from a group of assassins in Guardians of the Galaxy #16. So in short, it’s going to be a packed week – you can find my full pull-list here, as well as the full list of releases hitting shelves tomorrow here. Now without further ado, let’s get this started.

BATMAN #32

Batman-32

Story: Scott Snyder | Art: Greg Capullo | Publisher: DC Comics | Price: $3.99

The penultimate issue of ZERO YEAR is here! Batman gets one step closer to the endgame with The Riddler as the final chapter of ZERO YEAR: SAVAGE CITY draws closer to its stunning finale!

This book has been pretty good during the Zero Year arc and it’ll be interesting to see how Snyder wraps it up with two issues left. Expect the finale to be a bumper sized book, but this one has all the makings of being an excellent build up issue as Batman gets one step closer to the Riddle in a chapter of his origin that we’ve never seen before. So this is something that you won’t want to miss.

 

SAGA #20

Saga-20

Story: Brian K. Vaughan | Art: Fiona Staples | Publisher: Image | Price: $2.99

Something terrible happens.

WHY? This is hands down one of my favourite, if not my favourite books coming out month after month and there was no way it was not going to make this list. The only solicit information is to expect Something Terrible, and given what was revealed last issue it’s going to be very interesting indeed. Expect Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples to bring their usual A Game to the table here.

SAVAGE HULK #1

Savage-Hulk-01

Story: Alan Davis | Art: Alan Davis | Publisher: Marvel Comics | Price: $3.99

AN ALL-NEW SERIES!!!

Alan Davis writes and draws a blockbuster story pitting the HULK against… the X-MEN!?!?! Learn the startling secret of Professor Xavier’s connection to Bruce Banner! Guest starring the Leader and the Abomination!

For anyone who isn’t a fan of Indestructible Hulk or anyone who wants more Hulk action anyway, Savage Hulk is probably going to be your bet. I’m going to probably wait for trade on this one like I am a bunch of All New Marvel Now titles simply because there’s too many of them to be following monthly, but if you want a book pitting the Hulk against the X-Men then this might be right up your street.

SUPERMAN #32

Superman-32

Story: Geoff Johns | Art: John Romita Jr. | Publisher: DC Comics | Price: $3.99

‘THE MAN OF TOMORROW’ chapter 1! A NEW ERA for SUPERMAN begins as Geoff Johns takes the reigns – and he’s joined by the legendary super-talent of John Romita, Jr. in his first-ever work for DC Comics as they introduce Ulysses, the Man of Tomorrow, into the Man of Steel’s life. This strange visitor shares many of Kal-El’s experiences, including having been rocketed from a world with no future. Prepare yourself for a run full of new heroes, new villains and new mysteries! Plus, Perry White offers Clark a chance to return to The Daily Planet.

The new creative team of Geoff Johns and John Romita Jr. jump on board in what is sure to be one of the best Superman runs of the New 52. John Romita Jr. is a superb artist and I really dug his Captain America work in the first arc of the Marvel Now series so it’ll be great to see him on a Superman book, especially with Geoff Johns. Expect this to become one of the flagship books of the New 52 – so now would be a perfect place to start reading.

STAR WARS LEGACY #16

Star-Wars-Legacy-16

Story: Corinna Beckho, Gabriel Hardman | Art: Brian Thies | Publisher: Dark Horse Comics | Price: $2.99

Imperial Knight Jao Assam is awaiting execution, and Ania Solo is on a mission to intercede. But when it is discovered that Jao has escaped-with the Sith Darth Wredd-Ania has doubts about her friend. But she still has to rescue him, in case he isn’t a bad guy … 

I’ll dearly miss this Star Wars book when the rights move over to Marvel because the adventures of Ania Solo have been nothing short of amazing. This has been one of my favourite titles on shelves ever since its inception as both the art and the quality of the storyline is exceptional. Do yourself a favour if you’re not reading it already and pick it up in trade, the first two Volumes being out now. Trust me, you won’t regret it.

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