Milo, aka “Bane of Kings” runs down the Top 5 Must Read Comics Hitting Shelves This NCBD, featuring titles from DC, Image and Marvel Comics.

Well, it’s the second week in the month and we’re shaping up to have a just as excellent week as the first. This week it’s compromised entirely of new Number Ones, so you really have no excuse not try these out – with all five offering variety and excitement throughout. Of course, I can’t cover all comics hitting shelves because there are simply too many – long term readers will remember when I did 25 comics/week and just displayed the solicits and the covers (and even then I struggled to cover everything) but if you want to find the full list of releases then ComicList is your friend. Also, to find my full pull list – head over to Comixology. Now without further ado, let’s get this show on the road.

DEATH VIGIL #1 (of 8)

Story: Stjepan Sejic | Art: Stjepan Sejic | Publisher: Image Comics | Price: $3.99

Forty pages of story and art in this contemporary fantasy adventure series written and painted by STJEPAN SEJIC. Gifted? Join the Death Vigil in their ongoing war against the ever-growing power of the Primordial Enemy! The only catch is you have to die first. Become a corporeal immortal Death Knight and obtain reality-altering weaponry in the never-ending battle between good and evil. Retail incentives available! Check order form for details.

WHY? I’m a massive fan of the creator’s artwork for this book and I loved his take on Aphrodite IX – it was stunning. However, this is my first experience with Sejic being a writer as well so I’m hoping for some great things on the way.

GRAYSON #1

Story: Tim Seeley | Art: Mikel Janin | Publisher: DC Comics | Price: $2.99

Dick Grayson. Former sidekick. Former Super Hero. Former dead man. And now…agent of Spyral?! A thrilling new chapter of Dick Grayson’s life begins in this new, ongoing series. It’s a super-spy thriller that will shock you and prove one thing: You might think you know Nightwing – but you don’t know Dick.

WHY? Because Dick Grayson is probably my favourite DC Character and whilst I’m gutted to see that he’s no longer going to be Nightwing, Grayson is an interesting new change that promises to be fresh and exciting and with Tim Seeley and Mikel Janin on board things should be very good indeed.

NEW SUICIDE SQUAD #1

Story:  Sean Ryan | Art: Jeremy P. Roberts | Publisher: DC Comics | Price: $2.99

The world has changed for Task Force X, a.k.a. the Suicide Squad. Director Amanda Waller no longer has the autonomy she once had. New members disrupt the team dynamic. And the team takes on an international scope. New members Joker’s Daughter, Deathstroke and Black Manta join Harley Quinn and Deadshot for a mission in the most dangerous and unpredictable place in the world: Vladimir Putin’s Russia!

WHY? Although I’m not as familiar with the creative team the villains that are involved here, Joker’s Daughter aside, look very cool indeed. I’ve watched a DC All Access video with a preview of this book and it’s looked pretty good, so I’ll be on board for this for a while.

SPIDER-MAN 2099 #1

Story: Peter David | Art: Will Sliney | Publisher: Marvel Comics | Price: $3.99

ALL-NEW SERIES FROM THE PAGES OF AMAZING SPIDER-MAN! The book you have been demanding for months finally hits the stands! Miguel O’Hara is Spider-Man in the year 2099 but he’s currently stuck in the year 2014. He was stranded here by his father who is the head of an evil corporation called Alchemax in 2099. But in 2014, Alechmax has just been formed and Miguel has a chance to stop its corruption before it starts! You’d think being a man out of time would make you a man without enemies, but Spider-Man 2099 is about to discover that he’s not the only one hoping for a better tomorrow, one that might be ensured by The Adjustor eliminating Miguel from the time stream altogether! Join comics legend (and Spider-Man 2099 creator) Peter David and breakthrough artist Will Sliney (Superior Spider-Man Team-up) for the most adventure you’ll find in a book this side of the twenty second century!

WHY? Peter David is one of my favourite Marvel writers at the moment with All New X-Factor being excellent and second only to Daredevil. This book should be fantastic fun and with one of my favourite Spidey characters on board – Spidey 2099 – this should be excellent. Expect this to become one of my favourites very quickly if the quality is high.  

 

SPREAD #1

Story: Justin Jordan | Art: Kyle Strahm | Publisher: Image Comics | Price: $3.50

Ten years ago, we dug too deep. We unleashed something ancient that couldn’t be controlled. Something that couldn’t be stopped, twisting everything it touched into more of itself. The Spread. Humanity was nearly destroyed before we found a way to slow the Spread to a crawl. Now, deep inside the quarantined zone, one man has found the key to stopping it forever: a baby girl. And if he can save her, he might save the world.

WHY? Justin Jordan is an excellent writer and his current Green Lantern: New Guardians run is one of my favourite from DC Comics and not just one of the best GL books but one of the best DC titles, period. With Dead Body Road being such a fun read Spread should be equally entertaining and hopefully he can deliver another great hit.