The Longbox Short-List - Week of July 26, 2017

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Submitted by Mike 'Ace' Maillaro on Tue, 07/25/2017 - 08:11

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!

Comics shipping this week

YOUR PAL ARCHIE #1 – Just yesterday it was announced that after 24 years, Sega and Archie would be going their separate ways. And it seems like some of their relaunch books will be coming to an abrupt end (JUGHEAD and JOSIE AND THE PUSSYCATS). Add in the perpetual lateness of some big name titles like AFTERLIFE WITH ARCHIE and CHILLING ADVENTURES OF SABRINA, and to me it seems like Archie Comics can use a real positive story. And it comes in the form of YOUR PAL ARCHIE. Ty Templeton and Dan Parent are going to be telling new Archie stories, but in more of the classic writing and art style Archie fans are used to. I think this is a really cool idea, but I had been enjoying the new direction of the company.

GO GO POWER RANGERS #1 – I honestly am not sure we really need a second ongoing Power Rangers series, but I absolutely loved the Pink Ranger mini-series. Definitely hoping this has more stories like that. I would also love to see some stories set after Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, even though MMPR is the most well-known and beloved. Next year is Power Rangers 25th anniversary after all.

SAVAGE DRAGON #225 – Any comic reaching 225 issues is something to celebrate. Not loving the $10 cover price on this issue, but SAVAGE DRAGON continues to be a consistently excellent comic each and every issue. Eric Larson has promised to keep pushing the envelope on SAVAGE DRAGON, and he manages to deliver every time.

FAITH AND THE FUTURE FORCE #1 – Faith teams up with the current Timewalker to save all of space and time. Faith is one of Valiant’s break out characters, and I really enjoyed the Timewalker series. This is definitely one of the books I am most excited about next week.

SECRET EMPIRE #7 – I haven’t even read last week’s issue 6 yet. Nice to see Marvel getting an event out on relatively fast pace. I do think this event has dragged out a bit, but I really enjoy the concept and the execution has mostly been solid. Though I can’t help but wonder why the space team doesn’t just get out of the way and let the Chitauri either die against the forcefield surrounding Earth or break through the forcefield. Fighting a never ending losing battle seems foolish to me.

WWE #7 – The Dean Ambrose/Sasha Banks storyline in the last few issues has been great. Dennis Hopeless has a real knack for building entertaining storylines around the WWE superstars. My only real issue with this comic is that it feels so far behind the product WWE is currently putting out. I would love to see it a little more integrated into current storylines.

HAL JORDAN AND THE GREEN LANTERN CORPS #25 – Well, it was nice seeing the Green and Yellow Lanterns getting along briefly, but that went to hell last issue. Soranik realizes Kyle has been lying to her and branded his chest with a Sinestro logo. And one of the Green Lanterns murdered one of the Sinestro Corps. Things like that tend to put a hamper on a working relationship.

STAR WARS DOCTOR APHRA #10 – The last issue ended with Vader founding out Aphra was still alive. That should cause a pretty abrupt shift in the direction of this comic. You don’t piss off the Dark Lord of the Sith!

SPAWN #276 – New creative team and new direction. Over the years, SPAWN has been really good about reinventing itself. The next arc promises to be more of a horror-driven storyline, which has always been my favorite type of SPAWN story.