Forget Friday! Wednesday is the best day of the week for comic book fans, and it’s finally here! Check out our picks for the comics you should pick up this week, and let us know if we’ve missed your favourite in the comments. This week the Birds of Prey return to DC’s lineup, reincarnated gods find themselves in trouble, a robot dog will (likely) break your heart, and new mom Spider-Woman finds herself dragged into a war she would prefer to avoid.
Black Hammer #2
Previews World – Jeff Lemire variant cover shown
Written by: Jeff Lemire
Art by: Dean Ormston
Black Hammer got off to a fantastic start, with a first issue that raised very interesting questions each character’s past. They are a team of heroes who sacrificed themselves to save their reality, and who now live in a sort of timeless, ageless existence. This issue focuses on Golden Gail, who seems to be taking their current situation the hardest.
Batgirl and the Birds of Prey #1
Previews World
Written by: Julie Benson and Shawna Benson
Art by: Claire Roe
With the controversy and talk surrounding this summer’s The Killing Joke, it’s hard not to about the event that gave rise to Oracle. For those who are unaware, after being paralized by the Joker, Barbara Gordon (who was Batgirl at the time) became Oracle, feeding information to the heroes of Gotham. Now that she’s returned to her role as Batgirl, someone else has taken on the mantle of Oracle. Instead of helping the heroes, however, the new Oracle is bent on destroying them. The reviews for the Rebirth issue were mixed, with many readers upset by the antagonistic tone of the series. It was, many years ago, a great book featuring a team of women with a strong friendship. In those years, that was the book’s main appeal. It is unfortunate to see that cornerstone of the series fade, but I’m willing to give the series an arc or two to see if Julie and Shawna Benson can reclaim that same spirit in their run.
Green Arrow #5
Previews World
Written by: Ben Percy
Art by: Juan Ferreyra
Green Arrow and Black Canary are two of my favourite superheroes, so seeing them in the same book again will always make me happy. While the “millionaire loses all his money and has to get it back” story arc is a bit overdone, I am really enjoying Percy’s take on it. In this issue, Black Canary hunts for answers, and together with Green Arrow takes on former ally Shado.
Descender #14
Previews World
Written by: Jeff Lemire
Art by: Dustin Nguyen
Descender is the book with the robot who will break your heart. This issue dives into the history of his adorable robot pet, Bandit. The solicit cryptically suggests that Bandit’s adventures on the mining colony may have an impact on the future. While the story alone is well worth picking up this series, the art work is absolutely stunning and will make you want to get two copies so you can hang one on your wall.
The Wicked + the Divine #22
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Written by: Kieron Gillen
Art by: Jamie McKelvie
Issue #22 marks the end of the amazing “Rising Action” arc. It’s an interesting and creative work, set in a world where the gods return once every 90 years. They are reincarnated as teens and young adults, and have two years to make their mark on the world. The series is filled with action, romance, drama, and explosions. It’s a brilliant work, with each issue as amazing as the last.
Mockingbird #6
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Written by: Chelsea Cain
Art by: Kate Niemczyk
This issue comes after the conclusion of the first arc, which was a great read. This issue sees Bobbi Morse, aka Mockingbird, hunting down a killer on a cosplay-themed cruise. The issue is a Civil War II tie-in, but it looks like the impact of Civil War on this title may be minimal. The solicit mentions “caped colleagues” Bobbi would rather avoid, indicating that she’s going to get dragged into the Civil War II debate very much against her will, and only in the pursuit of a killer. I loved the first five issues, especially the way Cain scripted Bobbi’s inner monologue. The artwork by Niemczyk has also been incredible.
Spider-Woman #10
Previews World
Written by: Dennis Hopeless
Art by: Robbi Rodriguez
Spider-Woman is another superhero who would rather stay out of the Civil War II debate, but is drawn in with a new case. The matter brings her in direct conflict with her best friend, Captain Marvel. On top of all of this, she’s trying to manage a private eye business while raising a baby on her own. It will be interesting to see how far the conflict between her and Carol goes, and how much it impacts Jessica’s support system.
