Milo, aka “Bane of Kings”, runs down the Top Marvel, Image, DC & Dark Horse Comics that he believes are”Must Reads” for this latest New Comic Book Day.

Well, the second time that I’ve had to write this due to problems with the first take. We’ve got an interesting week in comics however – no heavy hitters from DC but still some quite strong releases coming from them. Marvel are also bringing a large amount of goodness today primarily in the form of Daredevil and Young Avengers. And then there’s Image and Dark Horse – Image are bringing to the table another issue of Black Science – Saga also features in their lineup but is not on this list because I haven’t caught up with that series yet – and Dark Horse are releasing Star Wars: Legacy #10 this week as well as a brand new Star Wars Darth Vader mini-series that should be pretty interesting. You can check out the full list of books that I’m getting this week here, and browse the full list of comics here.

ANIMAL MAN #26

Story: Jeff Lemire | Art: Cully Hammer | Cover: Rafael Alberqurque | Publisher: DC Comics | Price: $2.99

Animal Man in outer space! How did this happen? And what will Buddy find on ‘THE SEED PLANET’? 

WHY? Despite the recent news that this book has been cancelled, I’m going to jump on board here anyway and stick it out to the end assuming that I like this issue. And chances are high that I will, because well – it’s Jeff Lemire, who’s among my favourite DC Comics writers right now mainly thanks to his awesome Green Arrow. 

BLACK SCIENCE #2

Story: Rick Remender | Art: Matteo Scalero | Cover; Matteo Scalero | Publisher: Image Comics | Price: $3.50

Run-amok reality! Grant and his crew escape the madness of the lightning sea-swamp only to be flung into a futurepast trenchworld, where the Sons of the Wakan Tech-Tanka wage never-ending war on the savages of Europe! How did the Anarchist League of Scientists end up this deep in the onion? Who among them sabotaged the Pillar?

WHY? Last issue was a killer, and I’m really looking forward to seeing where Remender can take us next. It’s a great new series and already shaping up to be one of the best of the year so if you’re not on board now would be a good time to catch up whilst there’s only one issue on the market.

DAREDEVIL #34

Story: Mark Waid | Art: Javier Rodriguez | Cover: Chris Samnee | Publisher: Marvel Comics | Price: $2.99

Daredevil’s become New York’s most dangerous man–the self-appointed prosecutor of the Sons of the Serpent, the secret clan who owns and operates the city’s justice system!

The odds are against DD–and that’s just how he likes it!

WHY? Daredevil and Mark Waid. Enough said. This is a brilliant series and I’m really glad that the same creative team are remaining on the book even if the relaunch and the price increase is unnecessary and unwelcomed. However, I’ll be sticking with this book regardless because it’s one series that you can’t afford to miss and could very well end up being my pick of the week.

STAR WARS LEGACY #10

Story: Corrina Bechko, Gabriel Hardman | Art: Brian Thies | Cover: Agustin Alessio | Publisher: DC Comics | Price: $2.99

With a little help from her friends, Ania Solo is leading the Mon Calamari slaves to freedom . . . Don’t bother telling her the odds of anyone coming out alive against an enormous force of armed pirates!

WHY? I recently caught up with Volume 1 (out now, collecting #1-5) and this series is fantastic. I’d say it’s certainly equal with Brian Wood’s Star Wars, and it’ll be interesting to see how it plays out over the course of the series especially as it’s set so far into the future from the main timeline. I will have to read #6-9 at some point though but with awesome covers being put out month after month on this book how could I resist? This book deserves a lot more attention.

YOUNG AVENGERS #14

Story: Kieron Gillen | Art: Various | Cover: Jamie McKelvie | Publisher: Marvel Comics | Price: $2.99

RESOLUTION (1 of 2)

We gather in a night club, and have a string of connected and overlapping stories starring our cast. It’s a completely and unprecedented approach to a story in comics history. There are no parallels. We refuse to accept it.

Team Young Avengers are joined by an all-start cast of some people we really like. Each individual section gets one individual artist. It’s a metaphor, probably.

It’s been one hell of a year. In two episodes, one before and one after the new year, the Young Avengers get resolution. You guys do as well.

WHY? Last issue was incredible and super awesome, and hopefully this issue can continue the trend. It’s been a great series so far and easily my second favourite Marvel Now book behind Hawkeye. It’s brilliant, and more people should be reading this, and with double shipping Young Avengers comes a lot more awesomeness.