A comiXologist Recommends:
Michael Crowe recommends Doctor Spektor: Master of the Occult #1
Doctor Spektor: Master of the Occult #1 from Dynamite Entertainment is the latest in it’s revival of classic Gold Key heroes. The original series ran 24 issues pitting our hero against such classic horror baddies as vampires and mummies; he even found himself transformed into a werewolf for a short time. Sadly the Doctor was last seen in print in 1977. But, with some help from writer Mark Waid and artist Neil Edwards, Adam Spektor seems to have stolen a page from the book of the dead and risen; born anew for the 21st century.
In this modern incarnation Adam once again battles the forces of darkness, but no longer behind closed doors. Instead he clashes with them for the entertainment of millions. On screen, the cocky and charismatic star stuns audiences with ever more daring defeats of monsters around the world. Off screen personal demons threaten to swallow him up, if not for the vigilance of his manager Lenny and his personal assistant Abby Horne. Adam is going to need all the help he can get as new revelations tear his life apart and drag him further down the rabbit hole. Things are about to get very real for Americas favorite reality star, can he actually be the hero television has made him?
Be sure to check out this and the rest of Dynamites Gold Key Universe heroes including Solar: Man of the Atom, Turok: Dinosaur Hunter, and Magnus: Robot Fighter.
[Pick up Doctor Spektor: Master of the Occult #1 here!]
For fans of: superheroes, pulp, magic
Michael Crowe works in digital assets/launch by day and writes science fiction stories/fights crime by night.
A comiXologist Recommends:
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.
A comiXologist Recommends:
Eric Arroyo recommends Cyclops #1
Cyclops is a sentimental father-son roadtrip, where the father is a space pirate, the son is the teen leader of the X-Men, and the car is a stolen spaceship tearing through a hostile galaxy.
This first issue directly follows the events of All-New X-Men, where a time-displaced teen Scott Summers (the titular Cyclops) is dealing with two revelations: he grows up to become a jerk, and his dead dad is actually alive and a space pirate known as Corsair. And if you’re just as confused as Scott is, this issue will catch you up to speed, with clever exposition that delves into Scott’s insecurities and shows writer Greg Rucka’s (ruckawriter) command of a teenage voice.
So how do a teenage mutant superhero and a notorious space outlaw overcome their self-doubt? By getting caught up in a thrilling dogfight and hijacking a spaceship like only Errol Flynn with a spacesuit and eyebeams could!
Writer Greg Rucka (Lazarus, Batwoman: Elegy), artist russelldauterman (Supurbia), and colorist Chris Sotomayor have gone to great lengths to establish a whimsical tone and conflicted relationships at the start of this journey. The respect that Corsair commands from his crew is frequently contrasted with the fears he faces as an absentee father with a second chance. Dauterman captures Scott’s emotional clumsiness through gesture and body language just as well as he composes a cosmic pirate raid. Dauterman and Sotomayor’s environments are beautiful and desolate, effectively conveying Scott’s wonder and fears regarding his new surroundings. But the team’s greatest accomplishment is in portraying Scott and his coming-of-age dilemmas as empathetic and genuine, in spite of the world of cat-like alien stepmothers, zero-G swashbuckling, and organic spacecraft surrounding him.
The real magic at the heart of Cyclops is an outrageous sense of adventure with an honest emotional core.
For fans of: superheroes, cosmic, rad facial hair
Eric Alexander Arroyo is a Brooklyn-based cartoonist and a Digital Editor at comiXology. He’s probably drawing giant robots or listening to ABBA.
A comiXologist Recommends:
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.
A comiXologist Recommends:
Kate Kasenow recommends Ms. Marvel #3
As a recent reboot, the new Ms. Marvel series from Marvel Comics has quite a history to live up to, but the newest issue does not disappoint!
Written by seasoned comics novelist G. Willow Wilson (gwillow) and illustrated by the talented Adrian Alphona with beautiful colors by Ian Herring (iherring) , Ms. Marvel #3 is the ongoing exploration of what it means to become a hero in a world already inundated with superhero culture. In this issue we are carried along with lead protagonist Kamala Khan as she explores the boundaries of her newfound powers. Tensions are riding high as Kamala’s ongoing struggle to discover who she is bombarded by parental expectations and cultural obligations.
There have been a lot of great things happening in this series from the start. Firstly, we have a new female, Pakistani, Muslim superhero. Second, we have a diverse cast full of great characters who are given their own chances to shine and develop in each issue. Lastly, we are viewing the established Marvel universe through the unique lens; Kamala herself has long been a fan of the superheroes we know, but is a newcomer to their inner workings. That itself is what makes this series perfect for old fans and new readers alike.
So, if you haven’t been reading, now is a great time to get started!
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.
A comiXologist Recommends:
Mike Isenberg recommends Solar: Man of the Atom #1
Did you know that Solar: Man Of The Atom #1 writer Frank Barbiere (fjbarb) used to work with us here at comiXology before leaving to become a full-time comics scribe?
Solar: Man Of The Atom #1 (written by Frank and drawn by Joe Bennett) is the newest book in Dynamite Entertainment’s re-launch of the classic “Gold Key” characters, which were originally created by publisher Gold Key in the 60’s. They have since made their home at a handful of other publishers (the original incarnation of Valiant, Acclaim, Dark Horse), and are now getting the royal treatment as the new kids on the block at Dynamite.
I’ll admit that I’m not familiar at all with the history of Solar, having never read the previous comics. That didn’t stop me from enjoying the new book, though. Everything you need to know is set up as the story unfolds. “The Man Of The Atom” is a super-powered vigilante—the alter-ego of scientist Phil Seleski—with the power to use energy manipulation and a knowledge of chemistry and physics to change the physical makeup of the matter around him. Basically, think Breaking Bad’s Walter White, given the powers of Watchmen‘s Doctor Manhattan. And, y'know, a super-hero, rather than a drug dealer.
Issue #1 introduces us to Seleski as he thwarts an attempted bank robbery. He dispatches the robbers with apparent ease, but all is not as bright as it seems, as things begin to go wrong with his powers. We’re then introduced to his estranged daughter, Erica, who has reluctantly returned to her father’s side in his time of need. In between we get hints that the secrets Phil has surrounded himself with may be starting to crumble, and that an extra-terrestrial threat may be looming.
I guess I’m starting to see why Frank gave up the glory of data entry to work on comics. Solar: Man of the Atom #1 is an all-around fun read and one that I can definitely recommend.
[Read Solar: Man of the Atom #1]
For fans of: superheroes, science
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, Edison and Tesla (They get along better than you’d expect, given their namesakes; though Eddie did recently have his cat-nip privileges revoked for shoving a mouse into an electrical outlet to demonstrate the dangers of A/C power…)
A comiXologist Recommends:
Harris Smith recommends Justice League #29
One of my favorite things about DC Comics has always been their less-used, oddball characters, and it’s been fun over the past few years to see how overlooked superheroes like The Creeper and The Phantom Stranger have been reintroduced into the New 52. Justice League #29 brings us another eccentric favorite, the Metal Men! Created in 1962 by comics legends Robert Kanigher and Ross Andru, the bickering, often neurotic androids of the Metal Men have often brought a charming, ironically very human humor to their stories (although their excellent 2007 miniseries tended more towards the metaphysical than the comical) and fortunately writer Geoff Johns continues this tradition, ably aided by Doug Mahnke’s detailed, expressive artwork.
Particularly enjoyable in this issue are the Metal Men’s interactions with the Justice League’s Cyborg, partially a metal man himself. Johns has a history of imbuing his writing with a lot of humanity (particularly in his 2007 Justice Society of America series) and we get a taste of that here in the juxtaposition of Cyborg’s humorous introduction to the Metal Men against a more emotional face-off against his Crime Syndicate counterpart, Grid, a living computer virus made from Cyborg’s junked parts. Cyborg’s struggling with his own sense of what makes him human conflicting against Grid’s totally lack of humanity makes for a really compelling character dynamic in this issue.
If you’re a fan of the Metal Men or Cyborg, or if you’re gearing up for the finale of Forever Evil, or if you just enjoy well-written (and drawn) comics, Justice League #29’s got what you’re looking for in a superhero comic this week.
[Read Justice League #29 here]
For fans of: superheroes, team books, crossover events
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.