The Top 5 Must Read Comics This NCBD! (06 August 2014)

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Milo, aka “Bane of Kings,” runs down the Top 5 comics that are hitting shelves today that should be on your pull-list.

 

The first week of the month often comes with lots of titles and this week is no exception. There’s a large amount of big two books hitting shelves today (Marvel and DC) and loads more from the independent companies like Image. We’ve got lots of awesome stuff to look forward to and you can find out the full list of releases here, as well as my pull-list – here. Now without further ado, let’s get this show on the road.

 

GRAYSON #2

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Story: Tim Seeley | Art: Mikel Janin | Colours: Jeremy Cox | Publisher: DC Comics | Price: $2.75

Grayson digs deeper into the mysterious organization known as SPYRAL and learns more about his new partner – Helena Bertinelli!

WHY? Dick Grayson is my favourite DC Comics character along with Constantine and Oliver Queen, so any book featuring him is bound to be in the Top 5. It helps too that Seeley and Janin are both great creators, with Janin’s artwork as stunning as Seeley’s script. It’s hot on its way to becoming among the best DC Comics right now if it keeps up its form, so this should be something to look forward to.

GREEN ARROW #34

Green-Arrow-34

Story: Jeff Lemire | Art: Andrea Sorrentino | Colours: Marcelo Maiolo | Publisher: DC Comics | Price: $2.75

If Oliver Queen is to survive, he must face not only his past sins but also his current ones, symbolized by Richard Dragon and his Longbow Hunters!

WHY? If Grayson is shaping up to be one of the best, then Green Arrow is the best at DC right now and it’s a real shame because discounting the Future’s End tie-in next month, #34 will be the last issue with this creative team. Sorrentino and Lemire have been utterly superb from #17, and if you’ve missed out on this run then it’s something that you should certainly go back and check up on. Utterly awesome and hopefully this will end the run on a high.

LAZARUS #10

Lazarus-10

Story: Greg Rucka | Art: Michael Lark | Publisher: Image Comics | Price: $2.99

‘EXTRACTION’ A stand-alone in the critically-acclaimed and New York Times bestselling series, this issue sets the stage for the third arc of LAZARUS, ‘Conclave.’ In the wake of his failed attempt to seize control of his Family, Jonah Carlyle ran for his life and straight into the arms of the enemy. But in the embrace of the Bittner and Hock Families, there is no shelter, aid, or comfort to be found.

WHY? This has been one of Image’s best titles and has been exceptional ever since it began. Lazarus may be the only non big two comic on this list this week (which is due to the fact that both DC and Marvel normally release their best stuff in the first week of the month, as is evident here) but it’s certainly worthy of its place. If you’re not reading it already you really should be. Excellent comic.

MOON KNIGHT #6

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Story: Warren Ellis | Art: Declan Shalvey | Colours: Jordie Bellaire | Publisher: Marvel Comics | Price: $3.99

A threat from the first issue is back to cause problems for Moon Knight!

 This mysterious person is the new BLACK SPECTRE and it doesn’t mean anything good for the protector of night travellers.
Don’t miss the conclusion of Warren Ellis, Declan Shalvey and Jordie Bellaire.

WHY? If Green Arrow was the best run at DC, then this was one of  the best at Marvel, easily in the Top 5 if not the top 2 (with Daredevil) which is why it’s such a shame to see the creative team leave so soon (at least we got over ten issues of Lemire’s Green Arrow). This means that like with that book, it’ll be my last issue of the series that I read, but Moon Knight #6 should see Ellis end his run on a high.

SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN #32

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Story: Dan Slott, Christos Gage | Art: Giuseppe Camuncoli, Adam Kubert, John Dell | Colurs: Antonio Fabela | Publisher: Marvel Comics | Price: $4.99

SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN KICKS OFF THE EDGE OF SPIDER-VERSE!
Extra-sized monumental issue, including a story drawn by living legend ADAM KUBERT (ORIGIN 2, AVX)!
How is the Superior Spider-Man still around? Where is he? What is he doing? The road to SPIDER-VERSE STARTS HERE!

WHY? When it was around, Superior Spider-Man was one of my favourite Marvel Now titles but sadly it ended with the return of Peter Parker just in time for Amazing Spider-Man 2. Superior Spider-Man however sees Slott and Gage take the wheel of Otto Octavius once again in time for the Edge of Spider-Verse event, featuring every person who has ever been Spider-Man (and every version of the character) in what promises to be great fun. Superior should see the trend of awesomeness continue, and between this and Amazing, it should be a great place to get your monthly Spider-Man fix.

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