First Issues NOW!

How can you write a cyberpunk book in the current Gibsonian dystopian we're in and still make it feel like it would have been oldhat in the late 2000s? JSM found a way!  SYNTHETICS: VOLUME ONE #1, written by J. Michael Stracynzski, illustrated by Tony Parker, colors by Carrie Strachan, with letters by Steve Dutro.

This book may have been pretty good if there wasn't just a massive vagueness on the actual makeup of the world or even the notion that there would need to be an Avengers team that involved in the Revelation plot. Neat redesigns though, kinda... a little.  X-VENGERS #1, written by Jason Loo, pencils by Sergio Davila, inks by Aure Jimenez, colors by Rain Beredo, with letters by Joe Sabino.

Of course Tim Seeley had to release a comic in October that was a zombie Deadpool playing a round of slasher villain with some hapless teen mutants. Oddly, it's a lot better than that idea seems.  UNDEADPOOL #1, written by Tim Seeley, art by Carlos Magno, colors by Guru-eFX, with letters by Joe Sabino.

I've read a lot of these Age of Revelation books now - damn near all of them - and it is only at this point that I found one that truly feels like no one was trying on the creative team. EXPATRIATE X-MEN #1, written by Eve L. Ewing, art by Francesco Mortarino, colors by Raul Angulo, with letters by Ariana Maher.

The first start of my review is me complaining to high hell about how much the marketing for this went for Marvel Rivals as if that was their only reason to have a comic (sadly it probably is) but damn if the actual issue didn't make me love it by the end.  CLOAK OR DAGGER #1, written by Justina Ireland, art by Lorenzo Tommetta, colors by Andrew Dalhouse, with letters by Joe Caramagna.

When you get four Eisner-nominatd writers on a book, naturally it's going to be a hell of a book to read. 

I'll admit I didn't care about the origins of the Batmobile until the cover of the book is Absolute Batman versus a the racist restaging of The Crazies but now that it's pissed off the right sort of people, really gotta give it big props.  “Batman Burns Down Neo-Nazis as any hero should” writing and art by Daniel Warren Johnson, colors by Mike Spicer, with letters by Clayton Cowles.

I will most definitely say this is a phenomenal book, but that solicit legitimately annoys me and almost hurts the actual book in reading it.  WAR WOLF #1, written by Steve Orlando, art by Marco Perugini, colors by Pascal Tora, with letters by Lucas Gattoni.

I didn't realize this was going to be an story-per-comic anthology so yeah, the ending actually gets a pretty good hit, but is it any good? Oh definitely. THE TERMINATOR: METAL #1, written by Declan Shalvey and Rory McConville, art by Lorenzo Re, colors by Colin Craker, with letters by Jeff Eckleberry.

My inner 13 year old can never hate a book that is a Badass Chick Comic where you have a badass chick going around doing basically what every machismo machine male action hero was doing in the '80s. It's awesome.  LADY GUNFIGHTER: CONDEMNATION #1, co-written by Brian Pulido and Mike MacLean, illustrated by Joel Gomez, colors by Hedwin Zaldivar, with letters by Marshall Dillon.

It's fun. You should read it. It's hard to truly express the merits of a book that's just kinda fun. Read it and laugh.  HECTOR PLASM: HUNT THE BIGFOOT #1, written by Benito Cereno, art and letters by Derek Hunter, with colors by Spencer Holt.

I don't know what to say. I mean it's not BAD, but the book itself doesn't really do anything. Aimless but not bad is still good right?  X-MEN: BOOK OF REVELATION #1, written by Jed MacKay, art by Netho Diaz, inks by Sean Parsons, colors by Fer Sifuentes-Sujo, with letters by Clayton Cowles.

Can we get this Wendigo to be the breakout character a la Blink from AoA or Miles from the Ultimate Universe? I won't mind if he gets to the 616 proper, either. This was legit spectacular!  THE LAST WOLVERINE #1, written by Saladin Ahmed, art by Edgar Salazar, colors by Carlos Lopez, with letters by Cory Petit.

Seriously, every week I cover a new Spider-Man book and every week, I get reminded on how to write a solid Spider-Man book that isn't Amazing Spider-Man. The hell?! RADIOACTIVE SPIDER-MAN #1, written by Joe Kelly, art by Kev Walker, colors by Chris Sotomayor, with letters by Joe Caramagna.

I mean it says a lot about the comic that I don't hate it even if I usually wish Quentin Quire to die in a fire, right?  OMEGA KIDS #1, written by Tony Fleecs, art by Andres Genolet, colors by Fer Sifuentes-Sujo, with letters by Travis Lanham.

TMNT? Then obviously Sammi's going to have some words about it. Interesting enough, it's a perfect example of how a good story can make a reader get over their smaller hangups like art. 

Will the Age of Revelation be new reader friendly? Fuck no but hey, don't take my word for it. Listen to Sammi's Picks as she dives into an event randomly. 

Well, it's stars a cartoon series from the '90s so naturally, it's a Sammi's Pick episode and she loves it. Although, she didn't know that Dynamite has their own version coming out next month! 

Another 30 Days of Night continuation and another fantastic book needing to be read. Can't wait for more!  30 DAYS OF NIGHT: FALLING SUN #1, written by Rodney Barnes, art by Chris Shehan, colors by Xenon Honchar, with letters by Alex Ray.

A Lord of the Flies inspired epic about kids trapped on a modern recreation of the classic ship, the Endeavour. It's a really good set up issue.  ENDEAVOUR #1, written by Stephanie Phillips, art by Marc Laming, colors by Lee Loughridge, with letters by Tom Napolitano.

A translation of a French graphic novel, it is an overly grandiose look at the last day of famed horror writer HP Lovecraft... I may not have enjoyed it.  THE LAST DAY OF H.P. LOVECRAFT #1, written by Romuald Giulivo, illustrated by Jakub Rebelka, translation by Mercedes Gilliom, with letter adaptation by Ed Dukeshire.

I always need more reasons to be able to give my love to Something is Killing the Children so woohoo! And it's really good to boot!  SOMETHING IS KILLING THE CHILDREN: A MONSTER HUNTER WALKS INTO A BAR #1, written by James Tynion IV, illustrated by Werther Dell’edera, colors by Miquel Muerto, with letters by Andworld Design.

I miss comics like this. Surface level absolutely a fun hard-edged action-adventure romp with some T&A but with messaging that allows for a deeper meaning and reflection on modern society within it.  MARIAN HERETIC #1, written by Tini Howard, art by Jose Jaro, colors by Walter Baiamonte, with letters by Jim Campbell.

YES! This! MORE OF THIS! It's a perfect example of a one-off comic series in the collected randomness that is Age of Revelation right now, and makes you want to check out the other X-Men ongoing that Gail Simone's writing. It's AWESOME!  UNBREAKABLE X-MEN #1, written by Gail Simone, art by Lucas Werneck, with letters by Clayton Cowles.

I mean... it's not bad. I'd argue that it is the closest without going over into being a buy it. At least check it out I guess.  SINISTER’S SIX #1, written by David Marquez, art by Rafael Loureiro, colors by Alex Sinclair, letters by Ariana Maher.