LUMBERJANES Vol. 5 is here!
It’s a battle of the bands…with mermaids! April takes it upon herself to restore a friendship that has fallen apart, but will she be in over her head as her above-water friendships take a hit? Don’t miss out on seeing the Lumberjanes save the day—and friendships challenged—in this exciting collection of issues #13 and #18-20!
CBLDF PRESENTS: SHE CHANGED COMICS
SHE CHANGED COMICS is the definitive history of the women who changed free expression in comics, with profiles of more than 60 groundbreaking female professionals and interviews with the women who are changing today’s medium, including RAINA TELGEMEIER, NOELLE STEVENSON, G. WILLOW WILSON, and more! SHE CHANGED COMICS also examines the plights of women imprisoned and threatened for making comics and explores the work of women whose work is being banned here in the United States. A must for readers of all ages, students, and educators.
FOR THE LOVE OF NELLIE BLY!
Lumberjanes is a feel-good adventure comic by Noelle Stevenson @gingerhaze , Shannon Watters @shanito, Grace Ellis @ohheygrace and Brooke Allen @brookeallen (with some covers n’ stuff featuring Hope Larson @hopelarson and Maarta Laiho @pencilcat). Volume 4 is new this week from @boomstudios
WONDER WOMAN: AN INTRODUCTION
Wonder Woman has gone through many incarnations over the years, adapting to the times and to the visions of the great creative teams who have chronicled her adventures. If you’re into WW but you’re not sure where to start, you’re probably not alone, but fortunately comiXology’s Kara Szamborski has put together this reading guide to help you get started:
There’s this movie coming out this week that you might have heard of called Batman v Superman, or, as I like to call it, Wonder Woman and Two Dudes in Capes Who Punch Each Other For Like Two Hours. Thing is, I’m super excited for the big screen debut of the Amazon princess. There have been very few films including superheroes who happen to be women, and nothing makes me happier than the thought of one of the most famous heroes in comics getting introduced to a whole new audience.
Wonder Woman has had a few origin stories over the years, and she’s been reinvented just about every decade. At her core, though, she is the same: she wants to help others, and she believes she can make Man’s World a better place for everyone. Her most commonly used origin story (and my personal favorite) is where the Amazons, a tribe of warrior women in ancient Greece, retreat to an island protected from the world of men by the gods. Their queen yearned for a child, so she went down to the beach and sculpted a daughter from clay, and the goddesses brought her to life. Years later, that daughter would win a contest to represent the Amazons in Man’s World and go forth to aid and inspire.
You don’t need to read years of comics to understand Wonder Woman; I recommend these four stories as a crash course in why she has been such a popular character for so long:
Sensation Comics #23-24 A teenaged Wonder Woman emerges from
the sea near a boardwalk and spends the evening making friends and dancing
circles around some rude boys. The Amazons discover ice cream. Noelle
Stevenson’s art is flawless.
Sensation Comics #20-21 – Wonder Woman dons an astronaut suit to assist on a scientific shuttle that’s closer to danger than the crew thought. Alex de Campi is a genius at writing the Amazon princess and should be doing it forever, the end.
Wonder Woman (1987-2006) #195 – Ambassador, hero, friend, boss—Wonder Woman has a lot on her plate, and her newest member of staff has to learn fast to keep up.
Wonder Woman (2006-2011) #34-35 – What’s better than a Wonder Woman story? A Wonder Woman story guest starring Black Canary! Also, Gail Simone @gailsimone wrote it. Boom.
If you want more, I recommend the whole new Sensation Comics line, as most of those stories are short and don’t rely on continuity, plus, a different creative team on each story means you get a different side of Wonder Woman each time! If that’s not enough for you, definitely revisit her original Sensation Comics series from the 1940s to see the woman who was created to be a better hero than Superman.
Kara Szamborski supervises the Production Coordinator team at comiXology and co-hosts the weekly comiXologist podcast to help readers like you find their perfect comic. She has been a Wonder Woman fan since seeing her on Superfriends as a kid and has always wanted those nifty bulletproof bracelets.
#NCBD StaffPick: Runaways (2015-) #4
It’s the end of the road for the Runaways! Betrayals! Reunions! Maybe some making out! Definitely a death or two. This one’s got it all! Except cowboys. That was last issue.
A comiXologist recommends:
Runaways #1
by: Michael Crowe
Since their debut in 2003, The Runaway’s have been a staple at Marvel. The original series, written by Brian K. Vaughan and illustrated by Adrian Alphona, followed a team of teen heroes on the run from their supervillain parents. The team’s popularity carried them through three volumes and multiple crossover series. However, since the end of their third volume in 2009, the Marvel Universe has been devoid of a series starring any version of this team.
But with Secret Wars marking the end of the Marvel Universe as we’ve known it, there seems to be room in this new world for a youthful team like the Runaways. Writer Noelle Stevenson and artist Sanford Greene debut an all-new incarnation of this team.
Set on the newly minted planet: Battleworld, this new realm is governed by the iron fisted might of Doctor Doom. Seeking out the best and brightest, Doom has established a school for gifted youth. The prestigious Doom Institute selects students from all corners of Battleworld and pits them against one another, to determine who is worthy of being a member of the Doom Elite.
This first issue introduces us to the main players, some of whom will be very familiar to fans of the Marvel Universe. Noelle Stevenson (gingerhaze)does an amazing job establishing the personalities of multiple characters. No one feels forgotten and everyone feels fully fleshed out and realized. At this point, the Runaways are far from being a coherent team. It will no doubt be a pleasure to watch them grow, both as individuals and as a team. Noelle knows how to write angsty, energetic, and fun characters that will bond just as much as they clash. Marvel excels when its stories focus on youthful heroes learning the ropes, while discovering what it is that drives them to do good. From the get-go this new series already sits comfortably with the best of them.
Sanford Greene’s (sanfordgreene) art is the perfect compliment to Noelle’s writing. His style is expressive and kinetic. Although this first issue lacks many major action sequences, the art never feels static. Visually the characters are distinct, both in design and body language. Just as Noelle is careful to flesh out and fully realize characters personalities, Greene’s art captures and enhances this feat. John Rauch rounds out the art team and his color choices complete this book. The colors stay true to the characters represented while also, subtly, reminding the reader that it is Doom who rules over all.
Together this team has created a series that stands on it’s own against previous incarnations of the Runaways, other teen heroes and the many other Battleworld books available now. If you like what you’ve seen in the pages of Runaways #1 be sure to check out more from these creators. Noelle Stevenson is well known for her hit series Lumberjanes, Sanford Greene has illustrated Army of Darkness vs. ReAnimator and John Rauch brought his eye for colors to 120 Doses.
[Read Runaways #1 on comiXology]
Michael Crowe is a member of the digital assets/launch team. In his free time he enjoys reading, watching and writing science fiction and horror.
A comiXologist Recommends:
Kara Szamborski recommends
Lumberjanes Vol. 1
Warm weather is (hopefully?) approaching, which can only mean one thing…SUMMER CAMP! The best camp around is definitely Miss Quinzella Thiskwin Penniquiqul Thistlecrumpet’s Camp for Hardcore Lady Types, home of the Lumberjane scouts. Mal, Jo, Molly, Ripley, and April are having the most normal summer ever—the only thing is, their “normal” is fighting monsters and solving mysteries! Everywhere the Lumberjanes turn, there is weirdness and strangeness, but with the power of friendship to the max, our favorite hardcore lady types can do anything.
In this first collected volume of the acclaimed Lumberjanes series, we get introduced to our heroines as they being to unravel the odd mystery invading their summer fun. In between dodging river monsters and their skeptical, rule-abiding camp counselor Jen, the girls do their best to earn some sweet merit badges and support each other along the way.
Lumberjanes is a great story for everyone, whether you’re a girl going off to summer camp for the first time, a grown up dude wishing he still had summer vacations, or a grandparent wondering what the junk is up with these kids and their new-fangled speech patterns. Get ready for the best fictional summer of your life and start reading Lumberjanes today!
[Read Lumberjanes Vol. 1 on comiXology]
Kara Szamborski supervises the international production team at comiXology and co-hosts the weekly podcast The comiXologist in a never-ending quest to help people find comics they’ll love reading. All this talk about summer camp is making her crave s’mores.
It may be the middle of Winter, but for the 5th day of Free Comics we’re going to camp with Lumberjanes #1 by gingerhaze, ohheygrace, and brookeallen for FREE until tomorrow night at 11pm EST!
Click here to get your free gift!
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Just so you’re all aware, you know we have the first 3 issues of Lumberjanes on sale, right?
You better hurry yr buns off though, because our BOOM! Leading Ladies sale ends tonight at 11pm EDT!!