Out Today: Klaus #1
What It Is: Set in a dark fantastic past of myth and magic, Klaus tells the story of how Santa Claus really came to be. Where did he begin? What was he like when he was young? And what happens when he faces his greatest challenge? Drawing on Santa Claus’ wilder roots in Viking lore and Siberian shamanism—taking in the creepier side of Christmas, and characters like the sinister Krampus—Klaus is “Santa Claus: Year One.”
A comiXologist Recommends…
Jonah Chuang recommends:
The Multiversity: Mastermen #1
If you’re like me, you like crazy alternate versions of Superman. Whether it’s the Red Son, The Dark Side Superman, Clark Kent from Secret Identities, or even Ultraman, it’s pretty much always fun to see a different version the Man of Steel we know and love. After all, he’s the first and most superheroic superhero ever, and while I love that he’s all that, lots of people complain that he’s almost too good. (Is there even such a thing?) We see how things could have gone terribly wrong or how the slightest change might lead to huge differences.
The Multiversity: Mastermen brings us the return of Overman and the JLAxis from the part of the Multiverse where Superman’s ship arrives in Nazi Germany instead of a farm in Kansas. Raised by Adolf Hitler to embody his idea of the master race, Overman helped the Nazis create a society of limitless happiness and prosperity for a select few, but oppression, death and terror for everyone else. Overcome by his guilt over his inability to protect those closest to him and the crimes he’s committed for the ‘greater good’, Overman struggles with feelings of helplessness despite being the most powerful man in the world. It shows a very conflicted, dark and weirdly human side to Superman that we’re not used to seeing.
Now, for the fun stuff. There’s a pretty great gag at the beginning of this book that I think everyone who hates Hitler will enjoy (hopefully that’s everyone reading this). I had the privilege of setting the preview pages for this book on comiXology so I took extra steps not to ruin it for prospective customers, so be sure to pick it up so you can see it for yourself.
[Read The Multiversity: Mastermen #1 on comiXology]
Jonah Chuang is a Production Coordinator Assistant at comiXology. He has a thing for heat-themed super-heroes and cold-themed super-villains.
Some of the greatest collection of Superman comics known to man are on sale for just $6 right now.
All-Star Superman, seriously. You read it? Read it.
A comiXologist Recommends A Comic That Brings Them Joy:
Scott McGovern recommends All-Star Superman
The best superhero stories are the ones that inspire and stay with us long after we’ve finished reading. In All-Star Superman, creative partners Grant Morrison and Frank Quietly tell a Superman story full of heroism, whimsy, love, and action while staying true to what makes him such an iconic character.
The beauty of All-Star Superman is how it incorporates ideas and individuals from so many eras of great Superman stories, while adding new ideas to the mythos; Bizarro, Jimmy Olsen, The City of Kandor, talking dinosaurs who live inside the earth… it’s all here.
Add in Lex Luthor, whose disdain and loathing for Superman drives the conflict from the very beginning, and Lois Lane’s clear affection for Superman always present in his heart, and you’ve got a tale full of tribute, wonder and joy.
For many people, they hear the name Superman and they think “Truth, Justice and the American Way.” For me, Superman represents something else.
He represents hope.
The entirety of All-Star Superman is on-sale this week as part of our DC Entertainment Essentials Sale. For those who want to read more of Grant Morrison’s stellar DC stories, check out JLA Vol. 1 and DC One Million, the latter of which ties in almost directly with All-Star Superman.
[Read All-Star Superman on comiXology]
Scott McGovern is a member of the Launch team, works on the Pull List, and loved the finale of LOST. Yes, really.
A comiXologist Recommends:
Jonah Chuang recommends The Multiversity: Pax Americana #1
Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely are a pretty great team. If you’ve ever read any of these comics, you know exactly what I’m talking about and you know you should pick up Multiversity: Pax Americana right away.
Continuing his metafictional journey through the DC universe in this Multiversity event, Grant Morrison brings us a critical examination of a critical examination. He takes Alan Moore’s Watchmen characters (who were based on newly acquired DC characters at the time) and puts his own spin on them to tell a thematically similar story with just as much darkness.
Just as in Watchmen, the conspiracy investigation kicks off with a high-profile murder that just doesn’t make sense. The President is killed by one of the world’s greatest heroes and nobody knows why. As our broken heroes slowly reveal the story through a complex series of time jumps, we’re treated to dark secrets and high concept ideas involving the fourth dimension, non-linear perceptions of time, and shadow politics using dangerous algorithms to change the future.
This is definitely a cerebral tale, but if that’s not your cup of tea, there are still tons to enjoy about this book. For one, this book brings back Ted Kord’s Blue Beetle and Vic Sage’s ‘The Question’. One of my favorite parts of this book is an exchange between these two characters. After The Question implies that the aging Blue Beetle is suffering from erectile dysfunction, the Beetle says, “And you’re so deep in the closet, you pay rent in Narnia.” Zing!
This could’ve easily been a silly looking book with way-too-lofty writing and a confusing plot, but Frank Quitely’s art is a really great fit for the kind of stern and severe voice that Grant Morrison uses in this story. There are high-intensity, high-energy captured in still frames. The sense of ever-present danger really drives the story forward and delivers some great moments with a rewarding reveal.
[Read The Multiversity: Pax Americana #1 ]
Jonah Chuang is a Production Coordinator Assistant at comiXology. He recently adopted a third rescue dog named Bear and is afraid that his life is starting to share too many similarities with Will Graham’s.
Girl meets Boy. Boy takes Girl on violent rampage through English suburb.
Murder, Sex, Drugs, and Anarchy ensue.
