This week's picks!

Man, really good week for comics. There were some weaker entries out there but the strong entries were really strong. As soon as I read them, I knew pretty much all three that I wanted on my pull-list but that left one particularly strong book out, with four books vying for three spots. Good news though, it turns out I govern this blog as well as write it so HERE IT IS, a very special FOUR BOOK PULL-LIST.

Avengers Arena 10

This book just keeps getting better and better. The stakes have been upped, Hopeless has introduced a villain on the island in one of the combatants and made her a real force, and he continues to be unafraid of killing off big characters. Every piece of this book has been interesting and compelling and has made it just as worthwhile to pick up as the last one. Obviously I'm still suspicious, seeing how this is comics, that everyone who has died could just come back later, which would make their deaths a little weaker in a way, but I think this book will still hold up even if that is revealed to be true. Everyone here legitimately believes they're on the brink of death or dying and that makes it hard to watch them die, as if it wouldn't have been anyway. For added intrigue, Nico has dumped our ever-shrinking anti-Apex force somewhere on the island and, in her dying breath, called for help (but all magic-like). Great art all through this issue, really showcasing Nico's struggle. Really exceptional issue.

Iron Man 11

I can't stop thinking about the implications of this book. I've never seen a book so effortlessly turn the entire Marvel Universe to view it from a new angle. Does it actually change anything except in Tony Stark's life? No, not really. And that's what's so remarkable about it. It's a shift of massive proportions, with the conceit that Tony is the reason the world still exists and that Tony was designed specifically to save the world, without actually rewriting a single moment of Marvel history, only the way Tony perceives it. That makes it a big deal to the Marvel Universe in that there's a new way to view all of the events and attacks and everything on Earth and it's a big deal to Tony in how he processes and reacts to this news (will he become even more full of himself, knowing he alone could have ever saved the Earth? Or will this put the typical superhero angst on him? No one knows for sure). Iron Man 11 is a near perfect book in that it changes the game ever so slightly for the Marvel Universe as a whole while really and truly impacting Iron Man without needing a big event for it or anything. Everything and nothing has changed.


Red She-Hulk 66

I'm a sucker for this book and, especially after this last issue, I can't believe it's ending after the next issue. Its leads in Red She-Hulk and Machine Man have become such strong characters and have been developed so nicely throughout this shortened run (for those just tuning in, Red She-Hulk hasn't been the feature for all 67 issues; she took the book over in issue 58, I believe, so we'll only really have had ten issues with her when this is all sad and done). Every bit of dialogue has been important in explaining plot or in building these characters or both. Whether it's the relationship that's built up between Betty and Aaron or the flaws in both of them or the plot that's driven this whole thing, everything has seemed really well-constructed. This issue focuses on an alternate dimension where Red She-Hulk is, in fact, the only Hulk and Bruce Banner is just a scientist and it's executed wonderfully. It's not easy to do alternate universe books but Jeff Parker really knocks them out of the park and makes them meaningful and logical. In the end, it ties back to X-51's (yes, I like to use all his names in every review I write) "just a machine" background that he's always had to deal with and that he has had to deal with more recently with the Yologarch specifically. It's a really wonderful and thought-provoking book with good art and fresh writing. Pick this book up then come back next month for 67.

Winter Soldier 19

It would be impossible to leave this book off the list. It's the conclusion of the Winter Soldier series that has been so good. From his humble beginnings as a brainwashed Soviet killing machine way back in Captain America volume five, issue one to this conclusion of his very first solo series as a recovering brainwashed Soviet killing machine, Winter Soldier has seen it it all. He really is a wonderful character and hopefully the movie will inspire new media with him (and also be absolutely great because if it's not I might have to quit everything forever). This final issue ties in very nicely to the roots of Winter Soldier and the emotions that he's had to cope with while giving him permission to abandon those roots or use them to move on as a fully-formed person. Bucky is coming to terms with his life and his past and it'll only strengthen the character going forward. Great art by Klein and Latour's compelling story and understanding of Bucky drive this final arc but the series as a whole is really worth catching up on. Don't be surprised if you see Bucky again soon, even in this very review.


Best cover

These covers have been wonderful throughout. Declan Shalvey is a really talented artist, as his work on Venom and those covers, as well as these ones, have proven time and time again. Jordie Bellaire's colors are perfect on this "explosive final issue" cover. The explosion is mighty impressive, the projectile Bucky and the chaotic "Winter Soldier" title add to the turmoil of this, the final issue. You see this book on the shelf and you're interested because none of us can look away from an explosion (except Bucky but that's really only because he's been propelled from it forcibly for trying to look too closely).