This week's picks

Plenty of books to choose from this week with a whole slew of them out there. A lot of books, kind of like last week, where I feel like we got some set-up for bigger issues down the road. I think I've got it pretty locked down in my head though so let's knock these down before I second-guess myself.

Nova 8

I've really liked Zeb Wells' run on this book and I am sad it's coming to a close soon. I think this was a book that was written by someone who wanted to write a teenager in the same way typical older people write teenagers, which is a little hard to quantify but not that hard to recognize. Wells has done a great job of late to make sure that Nova feels real. He makes real mistakes that a new and young hero would make, not just ones that are meant to drive the plot and weigh on him for the rest of his life (Peter Parker letting a villain escape when he could have stopped him). He takes his helmet off in the atmosphere because he's a dumb teenager who doesn't realize that he was wearing his sunglasses because the sun was really bright. On top of it, Wells has a humor and a characterization inherent in his writing that shines through in just about every character. Speedball and Justice have appeared in two issues and only really had significant dialogue in this one and they both feel pretty fully defined. It's really great writing and the book has an effortlessly fun feel to it. Good stuff happening here. Hopefully Duggan will slide into the role well after Wells' final issue next time out.

Uncanny Avengers 12

Another solid Uncanny Avengers issue, one that feels like it kind of rights the ship again. I don't think the book has a bad issue yet, or even really a weak issue yet, but I think it's hard for the pace not to have slowed with the bang-bang start it had and even with the introduction of the Apocalypse Twins. Anytime Apocalypse comes back around it's something to keep an eye on, doubly so when it's Remender in charge. But this issue had lots of everything. The plot was good and kind of cleaned up a little of the confusing bits we've had over the last several issues while steering us nicely ahead as well. The characterization was really strong from the characters we had featuring in this issue. One of the weaknesses of a big team like this is that we don't usually get a ton of characterization because we simply don't have the time to see everyone in such a short time. Over a long run we'll have gotten a taste but it usually takes a while with lots of character moments spread evenly throughout. I think Remender has done well overall with this book, giving us good moments from just about every character. This issue is no exception; in fact, I'd say that limiting the issue to five of our main teammates meant that he could really get in to those guys' relationships. Solid work, excited to see where it's all going.

Young Avengers 10

I talked in my Nova review about older people writing teenagers and making it sound a little too "LOL this is what teenagers say, RIGHT GUYS? OMG LOL." This book has never had that problem and, in fact, sometimes goes out of its way to show that it's never had that problem. Sometimes, whether it's in the splash page or in little pieces somewhere or other (the Instagram page back a few issues ago stands out), we'll see a hint of that but it always feels tongue-in-cheek. It's just always a very cleverly written book and one that doesn't talk down to its characters or to its audience. And all of this gushing praise and the inclusion of this book on this list comes on an issue that I would deem weaker than some of the others so far. That's how reliably great this book is. In an issue that's a little weaker, we learn Loki's plan, we see the start of Leah's plan, we get a little more out of Mother, we see the way Teddy's dealing with things, and we see the re-emergence of Mother as a serious villain, as well as seeing the re-emergence of the thought-dead older Loki consciousness as a villain (well, readers didn't think he was dead, but young Loki did a great job convincing the public that the older Loki was gone before the older Loki elbowed his way back in). There's a ton happening here, as ever. The story is great, the writing is great, the art is perfect (just LOOK at Loki's grin over there!), just a near flawless comic series through and through.


Best Cover
Deadpool 17 - Shalvey and Bellaire

I'm just always so happy with Shalvey/Bellaire covers. They're consistently so good, with such a great purpose and a brilliant tone. Fun fact to people who don't know, Declan Shalvey and Jordie Bellaire are also dating! It's...it's kind of adorable? And they make reliably wonderful covers. This one's only real flaws, in my eyes, are the face of Captain America (which looks just a tad goofy) and the excessive amount of writing on the cover but that's not really their fault, is it (except for Cap's face)? Really wonderful symmetry in the Cap/Wolverine/Deadpool poses as they leap into battle and wonderful colors to match. Really great cover that edges out a cool Jorge Molina Avengers Assemble cover, a good Paolo Rivera Superior Spider-Man Team-Up cover, and a very nice Dave Marquez Ultimate Spider-Man cover (and a pretty neat Mateus Santolouco Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cover but that wasn't really in the running because this is a MARVEL comics blog, you guys, pay some attention).