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Harris Smith recommends Sensation Comics #1
Wonder Woman has always been kind of the odd girl out in DC’s Big Three. There’s no denying that she’s a great character, but writers have always seemed to have a hard time figuring out exactly what to do with her. The immediate appeal of Superman, rooted in his overarching sense of All-American goodness and epic-scale adventures, and Batman, defined by his moody stoicism and hardboiled urban crime milieu, are far easier to pin down than the mythological roots of Wonder Woman, or her conception as a proto-feminist super-heroine by psychologist William Moulton Marston in 1941.
Over the years, Wonder Woman has gone through many iterations. In her earliest stories, she frequently aided the US Army against the Axis during World War 2. Later, in the 1960’s, she gave up her superpowers and learned martial arts, running a mod clothing boutique while also working as a spy. In the 80’s, George Perez’s reboot returned to her mythological roots, and largely defined the character through Brian Azzarello’s New 52 reboot.
It stands to reason such an elusive, yet powerful, character would be well-served by an anthology series, something that lets different artists and writers evoke their own visions of who Wonder Woman is and what she does without necessarily being beholden to ongoing continuity. After the success of their Digital First series Legends of the Dark Knight and Adventures of Superman, DC has wisely chosen this path with their newest Digital First, Sensation Comics.
The first issue kicks things off with a literal bang as Wonder Woman takes on the villains of Gotham City after the Bat-Family is massacred in an explosion. Penned and illustrated by two of DC’s top creators, Gail Simone (gailsimone) and Ethan Van Sciver, Sensation Comics #1 is full of breathless, exhilarating action. In just 20 pages, Wonder Woman takes on the Joker, Two-Face, the Riddler, Mr. Freeze, Penguin and even Man-Bat. It’s a thrilling start to what promises to be an exciting run of diverse and imaginative takes on a true feminist icon and one of the all-time greats of comic book heroism!
[Read Sensation Comics #1 on comiXology]
For fans of: female leads, superheroes
Harris Smith is a Brooklyn-based comics and media professional. In addition to his role as a Senior Production Coordinator at comiXology, he edits several comics anthologies, including Jeans and Felony Comics, under the banner of Negative Pleasure Publications. He’s also the host of the weekly radio show Neagtive Pleasure on Newtown Radio.
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Eric Arroyo recommends Giant Days #2
John Allison’s (scarygoround) Giant Days brings the sass and flavor of Bad Machinery and Scary-Go-Round to the first weeks of college, where freshmen form bonds with the first people they see and navigate the challenges of independence, often disastrously. After cementing their friendship through brawling a gang of former head girls/martial artists, Esther de Groot, Daisy Wooton, and Susan Ptolemy find themselves simultaneously stumbling through matters of love and that annoying band upstairs that won’t stop practicing at night.
Although Esther, Daisy, and Susan are still figuring out their identities, cartoonist John Allison has a firm grasp on their characters. Allison cements the girls’ personalities and dynamics through authentic dialogue and playful mannerisms. As they play off each other, they naturally roll into the kind of young adult tussles that are easy to identify with, but portrayed with enough wit and self-awareness to be as hilarious as they are embarrassing. Matters of long-distance relationships and unrequited love are dealt with with a frankness and lack of melodrama that’s awfully refreshing; characters aren’t villainized for their poor decisions, and the young women’s agency over their sexuality isn’t scandalous.
Giant Days #2 may not feature the more fantastic beat-downs of its first issue, but it maintains the well-paced, interlocked rollercoaster of humor and teen drama, synching the two rails at the end for a fiasco of a climax. If you fondly remember the neighbors you met the first time you locked yourself out of your dorm, or if you hate their awful mugs, dive back into university with Giant Days.
For fans of: female leads, slice of life
Eric Alexander Arroyo is a Brooklyn-based cartoonist and a Digital Editor at comiXology. He’s probably drawing giant robots or listening to ABBA.
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Jen Keith recommends Chicacabra
Isabel Sanchez, also known as Izzy, loves beetles and her Uncle and smoking with her friends. She doesn’t love pretending that everything is okay at her high school when her life and family were torn asunder only a short time ago. Still lost in a haze of getting along day by day while her own mother serves as a painful reminder of her loss, Izzy’s life is upturned once again as one lost girl becomes two when a chupacabra makes her its host body in Chicacabra.
Tom Beland’s cartooning is simple yet so very expressive. With a few lines he’s able to pull and engage you into a folklore of his own creating. The poignant scenes of familial bonding balance wonderfully with the comical moments of Izzy hulking out into a bloodthirsty creature that, despite being the stuff of horror legends, is just as endearing and clueless as the teen girl it inhabits. Chupacabras aren’t just goat-sucking creatures; their myth is revived into something new and heart-wrenching.
On top of the folklore of the less-explored chupacabra and vejigante (which had a fascinating interpretation and I’d love to see a book just exploring Beland’s vejigante retelling), we’re brought to a new environment not as common in comics: Puerto Rico. The culture is as lush as the cast is emotive through Beland’s detail and specific locales, and it’s refreshing to see a different city from the usual set.
For lovers of expressive black and white comics, mythology, and finding your strength in times of loss, check out I Kill Giants for more young heroes finding their strength to conquer and, in time, accept what life throws at them. Until then, bring your love of folklore and a box of tissues with you for reading Chicacabra.
For fans of: female leads, POC leads, horror
Jen Keith is a Digital Editor at comiXology, comic artist, music addict, and kind of wants a chupacabra of her own now.
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Kara Szamborski recommends The Wicked + The Divine #1
Once a century, gods walk among us. It’s 2014 and the heavenly characters in The Wicked + The Divine are giving the term “rock god” its intended meaning. Their performances are mesmerizing, their skeptics everywhere—but they’d better use their time wisely, for they only have two years until they die.
We barely have time to breathe as we race through the first addictive issue and catch a glimpse of this arresting world. The magic of kierongillen & mckelvie is that you almost believe it all while you’re reading. You believe that today, if divine beings were on Earth, they would be on stages instead of mountains, that they would try to educate and mock and sometimes care for the mortals they encounter.
Luckily, we have a mortal like us, Laura, as a guide just as intrigued and unknowing about these gods as we are. With her, we are enraptured with Amaterasu, we are more curious than afraid of Luci(fer), we are stunned by what should be impossible but is suddenly believable.
Internet-famous for their work on fan-favorite Young Avengers and the musically inclined Phonogram, Gillen & McKelvie pull together a fantastic concept that is sure to delight the casual reader as well as fans of mythology. Reminiscent of the Greek gods’ grand schemes in the latest Wonder Woman series and the Norse twists of Loki: Agent of Asgard, The Wicked + The Divine promises to mix the stories of all known deities into something new and unforgettable.
[Read The Wicked + The Divine #1]
For fans of: female leads, fantasy, mythology
Kara Szamborski supervises the International Production team at comiXology. After reading The Wicked + The Divine #1, she got stacks of mythology books out from the library to tide her over until the second issue.
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Kate Kasenow recommends She-Hulk #5
I have been waiting a long while to tell you guys all about the newest She-Hulk series and now the time has finally come! The series is already on its fifth issue, but things are just getting started for newly self-employed lawyer Jennifer Walters, AKA the sensational She-Hulk.
This issue is written by brilliant series writer Charles Soule, drawn by the phenomenal Ron Wimberly (d3-14), and colored by the vivid Rico Renzi, but I’d also like to give a shout-out to series cover artist Kevin Wada (kevinwada) for capturing the essence of each issue perfectly! Issue #5 focuses on the beginning of Jen’s quest for information on the mysterious blue file. While the case has been hinted at throughout the series, we are just now digging in for what looks like a wild search for the truth.
One of the greatest achievements of this series is letting go of stereotypical superhero antics and focusing on just what it takes to balance reality with super-powered responsibility. The life of a superhero may never be normal, but the She-Hulk team has done a fantastic job of making this world feel real. The action is intense as well as fun while story soars through witty dialogue.
Carrying the entire story is a fantastic female cast. Alongside She-Hulk is the vivacious Pasty Walker, AKA Hellcat, and Angie Huang as Jen’s super paralegal. All three of these fabulous ladies are tough without losing their femininity, caring without losing their wit, and not one of them hesitates to be themselves whether in court or in the face of Dr. Doom.
These are only a few reasons that everyone should jump into this series stat!
For fans of: action, female leads, superheroes
Kate Kasenow is a comics artist from Indiana currently living in Manhattan. She works at ComiXology as a Lead Digital Editor and spends most of her spare time re-reading J. R. R. Tolkien.
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April Malig recommends Bee & Puppycat #2
Bee and Puppycat from Boom Studios is the comic counterpart to Natasha Allegri (natazilla)’s online animated series of the same name, and like the show, is completely and utterly charming. Fans of Adventure Time will recognize Allegri’s name as a storyboard artist for the show as well as her work on the gender-swap series, Adventure Time: Fionna & Cake. Like Allegri’s previous series, Bee and Puppycat features a heavy dose of fun surrealism, wittily written characters, with a side of magical girl-style action.
In this comic, Bee (a human woman) and Puppycat (a puppy? cat? or both?) travel through a magical dreamscape called Fishbowl Space in search of… employment via Magical Temp Agency. Bee, like most wayward 20-somethings, hops from job to job to survive while Puppycat, well, really wants to buy a sweet pair of platform heels. This issue features the duo setting off to repair a magical music box on a snowglobe-shaped planet, but, as always, things are more complicated than they seem.
The comic as a whole succeeds at multiple things at once, it is both intelligent and kid-friendly, relatable yet odd, goofy with hints of a greater depth. Oh, and I didn’t even mention how beautiful the artwork is (drawn by Allegri herself, with colors by Patrick Seely and letters by Britt Wilson). Allegri, as well as the team of fresh new comic artists also contributing their talents– co-writer Garrett Jackson, Madeleine Flores (madeleineishere) and Becky & Frank (beckyandfrank) – have created an immersive (also, this issue features music via QR code, how cool is that?) mysterious world with great characters while also being laugh out loud funny. Fans of the animated series as well as newcomers of all ages should read this comic (and then, like I do, eagerly anticipate future issues).
[Read Bee & Puppycat #2 on comiXology]
For fans of: female leads, cute, humor
April Malig is a digital editor and cartoonist who loves candy.
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Kate Kasenow recommends Princess Ugg #1
Ted Naifeh is already known for fantastic tales that throw fantasy tropes out the nearest window, but Princess Ugg #1, published by onipress, takes it up a notch, introducing us to a new princess that doesn’t seem to know the meaning of the word…yet.
At story’s beginning, we meet Ügla, Princess of Grimmeria, daughter of warriors, and stranger to luxury. Simultaneously, we’re given a glimpse of the Princess of Atraesca, but we need only this glimpse to see that this maiden fair is everything the stereotypical princess should be—the complete opposite of Ügla. The entire issue focuses on the dichotomy of these two girls, who are to attend the same educational institution, setting up a story that will surely be full of action as well as hijinks.
Naifeh’s writing is mythic in its scope but lively in its tone and each character speaks with a unique voice. What really shines throughout this issue is Naifeh’s unique artistic style, which illustrates the tiniest details beautifully. Warren Wucinich’s colors compliment both the story and the world with vibrant palettes and touches of atmosphere that draw us in, panel by panel, to this new world.
If the delivery of this first issue’s story is any indication, this series promises to be both fun and illuminating. Much like his previous works, such as the Courtney Crumrin series, Naifeh is sure to focus on the virtues his characters will learn from one another, though not in ways we might suspect.
Follow their adventure here for more action from the wee bonny berserker, Princess Ugg!
For fans of: action, female leads, fantasy
Kate Kasenow is a comics artist from Indiana currently living in Manhattan. She works at ComiXology as a Lead Digital Editor and spends most of her spare time re-reading J. R. R. Tolkien.
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Harris Smith recommends Sheltered #9
If there’s one word you can use to describe Ed Brisson (edbrisson) and Johnnie Christmas’ (jchristmas) criminally underrated Image comic Sheltered, it’s tense. Nine issues ago, the series opened with a grandly terrifying act of violence and the promise of an even more apocalyptic scenario in the horizon. Each issue since has built on this threat, this conflict, this danger, this overall tension, punctuating the growing sense of unease with smaller explosions of violence, the implication being that, as bad as things get, what we’ve seen up to now is just a fraction of the true horror that lies ahead.
Sheltered, about the children of a group of doomsday survivalist who slaughter their parents in anticipation of an oncoming ecological disaster, is a hard comic to classify. Is it a horror comic, an action comic, a drama? The most obvious comparisons one can make are with William Golding’s “Lord of the Flies” and Stephen King’s “Children of the Corn,” but there is also the vibe of an 80s teen action movie gone off the rails, a murderous pack of “Goonies,” or “Red Dawn” with the kids as both heroes and villains. Still, exciting as the series is, the main reaction it inspires is dread. As bad as the kids’ situation gets in Sheltered, each issue continues to promise something much, much worse right around the corner.
Sheltered #9 continues this nerve-wracking anticipation as, by the issue’s end, two of the series’ main storylines threaten to bring the attention of the outside world to the kids’ activities in the compound.
For fans of: female leads, thriller
Harris Smith is a Brooklyn-based comics and media professional. In addition to his role as a Senior Production Coordinator at comiXology, he edits several comics anthologies, including Jeans and Felony Comics, under the banner of Negative Pleasure Publications. He’s also the host of the weekly radio show Negative Pleasure on Newtown Radio.
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Jen Keith recommends Saga #19
From the series that brought us Lying Cat comes the next installment of the abundantly award-winning Saga by Brian K. Vaughan and fionastaples. If you haven’t been following along, it is my duty to direct you back to issue #1; you can thank me later. For those of you keeping up with your required reading, then you already know Saga #19 will be a comic treat.
Saga is your standard boy and girl meet, fall in love, betray their own species during an inter-planetary war, and run off to have what might be the cutest child that side of the universe. Narrating this space romp through lushly designed alien worlds and cultures is said cutest child, Hazel, whose impish personality shines through the re-telling of her own childhood. In Saga #19, we find our besotted heroes/haggard parents in domestic bliss – if you can call juggling a rigid mother-in-law, a messy house pet, and a live-in ghostly baby-sitter the calming, everyday life of domesticity. Work may be tough, but your kid is cute, your spouse is gorgeous, and hopefully no assassins and/or robot princes will end up on your front lawn today.
The aptly named Saga enraptures its audience with Brian K. Vaughan’s perfect balance of poignant and comedic writing and Fiona Staples’ rich, expressive artwork. If you’re all caught up on Saga and aching for more from these two wildly talented creators, Vaughan’s Y: The Last Man and Staples’ work in The Mystery Society will hopefully hold you for now.
As in every issue, Saga and its captivating cast continues the journey across the galaxy and into our hearts.
For fans of: sci-fi, diverse characters, POC leads, female leads, romance, action
Jen Keith is a Digital Editor at comiXology, comic creator, music addict, and shamelessly unapologetic Green Arrow enthusiast.
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Kate Kasenow recommends Shutter #2
In just two issues of Shutter, Joe Keatinge (joekeatinge) and Leila del Duca (assortedfoliage) have captured the imagination that epitomizes fantasy, sci-fi, and futuristic comics. Alongside other fresh Image titles like Pretty Deadly and Rocket Girl, the pages of Shutter #2 give readers a thrilling female-driven tale.
Keatinge’s writing is fast-paced and quirky—a perfect fit for the colorful world he’s created to support his cast. When the story began, our star Kate Kristopher was already a seasoned professional when it came to danger; in fact, she seemed pretty bored of it all. In the second issue, escaping a kidnapping attempt and the mysterious mention of possible siblings intrigues her, making it look like Kate might be back in action. With every issue, the breadth of this comic expands and delights. Not only do we have a fascinating female protagonist, but we have an ever expanding cast of interesting friends, enemies, and yet to be revealed characters that may just be a little of both. Keep an eye on Kate’s sentient clock-cat—he’s my personal fave!
A perfect compliment to this incredible world is del Duca’s fantastic illustrations paired with Owen Gieni’s vibrant colors. What has been set up in this story is any artist’s dream—a vast canvas filled with anything and everything from Irish gangster lions to ghost ninjas—and both del Duca and Gieni illustrate it all with grace and strength reverberating through every panel.
Keatinge and del Duca have not only introduced a new version of reality, they’ve also hooked this reader into a massive and mysterious adventure. Jump into the story now to follow this amazing series!
For fans of: action, female leads, fantasy, sci-fi, mythology, mystery
Kate Kasenow is a comics artist from Indiana currently living in Manhattan. She works at ComiXology as a Lead Digital Editor and spends most of her spare time re-reading J. R. R. Tolkien.
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Kara Szamborski recommends Captain Marvel #3
Superhero comics are modern myths—there are heroes, villains, epic battles, grand quests, and extraordinary deeds. As readers, we are used to these patterns, however unrealistic and stark an interpretation of the world they are. In Captain Marvel #3, our hero gets a serious reality check, and so do we.
Dodging through the space dogfight at the opening of our story, Captain Marvel and the Guardians of the Galaxy (yeah, the guys in the upcoming movie! Learn about ‘em here.) reclaim the Captain’s stolen ship and complete her mission objective—but a larger challenge looms, one that she will not be able to solve alone. She arrives on an alien planet wanting to fix the problems it faces, but the situation is hardly one that requires a sharp catch phrase and a well aimed photon blast. Most problems are complex and require cooperation, communication, and compromise, and cannot be easily solved by one person, superpowered or not.
We are so often treated to the idea that the hero will save the day without realizing that one person’s hero is another person’s nuisance or even unintentional enemy. Kelly Sue DeConnick (kellysue) introduces us to the idea that Captain Marvel is in over her head, and the potential of this idea has me hooked.
The previous Captain Marvel series was mostly set on Earth, but these new adventures look to the skies. I’m pretty new to the Marvel Universe, but I have no doubt that exploring it with Captain Marvel is going to be the best way to go.
[Pick up Captain Marvel #3 here!]
For fans of: cosmic, female leads, superheroes
Kara Szamborski supervises the International Production team at comiXology. She thinks the latest She-Hulk series is flawless.
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Mike Isenberg recommends The Wake #8
Sean Murphy is absolutely one of my favorite working artists right now. Ever since discovering Punk Rock Jesus a year or two ago, I’ve been completely infatuated with everything he’s drawn. There’s something about his style that brings me back to the excitement I felt as a teenager, reading gritty science-fiction manga in the school cafeteria. Whether he’s drawing frenetic action sequences, intimate character moments, or big spectacle set-pieces, the man can really throw ink onto a page.
His collaboration with Scott Snyder on The Wake has continued to showcase Murphy’s talents brilliantly, while telling a tense and exciting story.
There’s a fairly engrossing mystery at play in The Wake. The first five issues (collected in The Wake: Part One) tell a modern-day deep-water monster story, in the style of The Abyss, interspersed with scenes of a flooded post-apocalyptic future, and an ancient past filled with anachronistic technology. Starting with issue #6 the story jumps 200 years forward into that post-apocalyptic future. Every issue that’s come out since has hinted at the connections between the stories; trying to guess how that mystery will unfold is hugely entertaining.
The world Snyder and Murphy have created here is fascinating, filled with a diverse and memorable cast of characters, and is beautifully rendered. If you think you’d be interested in a sci-fi/horror adventure story filled with incredible twists, brilliant action, and gorgeous artwork, you should absolutely pick up The Wake.
For fans of: female leads, horror, post-apocalyptic, adventure
Mike Isenberg is an Associate Production Coordinator at comiXology, and the co-writer of First Law Of Mad Science. He lives in Harlem with his cats, Tesla and Edison.
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Madeleine Lloyd-Davies recommends The Movement #12
This was a bittersweet read–I’m sorry to see this exciting new series end, but thrilled (and unsurprised) to see that the book held onto its vision until the end.
gailsimone has consistently committed to writing authentic, diverse characters, and this team proved to be the perfect vehicle to explore dynamics of power and class in a society where cops (and even superheroes!) are less easily classified as “good guys.” By targeting police corruption, and showing more interest in preserving their community than working with authorities, members of The Movement model a kind of activism that I’d love to see more of in comics.
In a final exchange with the team leader, a well-meaning policeman explains to the Movement’s leader that she probably wouldn’t be able to hack it with a legit superhero group like the Justice League: “you’re never going to change enough to fit in with them.” “Oh, I know,” she says with a smile. “That was never the plan. But sooner or later, Captain…they’re going to have to change to fit in with us.” I believe this is Gail Simone’s message to the titans of the mainstream publishing industry: scrappy comic book series like The Movement are coming for them, and they’re not planning to compromise.
Luckily for us, even though this particular series is coming to an end, Gail Simone isn’t going anywhere. You can read new issues from Red Sonja and Batgirl every month, but if you’re a fan of The Movement, I must insist that you start with her game-changing arc on Birds of Prey.
[Pick up The Movement #12 here!]
For fans of: superheroes, female leads, team books, diverse characters
Madeleine Lloyd-Davies, comiXology’s Production Director, has wanted to work in the comics industry since she was seven years old, sitting cross-legged on the floor in CVS and reading Jughead comics.