The Longbox Short-List - Week of November 4, 2015
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Welcome back to Critical Blast’s weekly look at what new comics you should check out each week. Just a warning, I make these picks pretty much a week BEFORE I actually get to read any of these comics, so if something is a stinker, I take no blame on that. Let's get to it!
UNCANNY X-MEN #600 – Wow…it’s finally here. Finally we can find out what happened to the X-Men before Secret Wars. This was supposed to come out way back in April. It’s shameful that it’s taken so long for this to come out. I was pretty curious about how Bendis was going to end his run on X-Men, but at this point, I am just not sure I even care all that much. I’m ready to move on, and this is like the ex finally returning your house keys. Closure…sure. But I already changed the locks months ago, so it’s more symbolic than anything else.
EXTRAORDINARY X-MEN #1 – I am not 100% sold on the creative team for this book. Lemire can be a little hit or miss, and I only enjoy Ramos work in a very narrow frame. Not sure one of Marvel’s flagship titles is the right fit for him. BUT, I do love the characters who are here, and I’m definitely curious what the new direction of the X-Men will be.
JAMES BOND #1 – Ellis. Warren Ellis. I love Warren Ellis, and James Bond seems like a great platform for him. I am really looking forward to this one. Another great title from Dynamite!
SURVIVOR’S CLUB #2 – The first issue of this series was so creepy. Lauren Beukes was the perfect choice to write this story about horror survivors. Probably slipped under most people’s radars, but I really enjoyed this series.
HANGMAN #1 – Another Archie Dark Circle book. I actually am not 100% sure what this one is about, but I have enjoyed Fox, Shield, and Black Hood quite a bit, so I will definitely pick this one up.
VELVET #12 – Like Uncanny #600, this is a great series that is plagued with delays. In fact, this book was originally solicited for back in April or May too. Velvet is a spy thriller about a retired spy who has been forced back into action to clear her name. Great stuff by Brubaker and Epting, I just wish it came out a little more often.
SECRET WARS – NO SECRET WARS THIS WEEK!! There are still a few more Secret Wars issues to come, but none this week.
HOWARD THE DUCK #1 – I’m glad this series wasn’t gone all that long. Howard the Duck is one of my favorite Marvel titles. It’s been a very funny and clever story, and they have created a strange little corner of the Marvel universe. Can’t wait to see what the news series has in store for us (HOWARD GETS A NEW HAT!)
NOVA #1 – This new Nova has always been a tricky one for me. I know a lot of people hate the character. And I have a huge attachment to Richard Rider. He was in the first superhero comic I ever bough (Amazing Spider-Man #351). BUT, Sam Alexander has been a pretty good character in his own right. I liked his quest to find his father, and I like that he makes a lot of mistakes. He’s just a great character to me, and definitely underappreciated. Glad to see he’s getting some spotlight in the new Marvel.
