This week's picks

Kind of a short week for new books (I still feel like I missed one or two out there. Not counting the All-New X-Men special because I certainly didn't miss that one). Still, short week didn't mean there weren't standouts. LET'S GET TO IT, FRIENDS.

Captain America Living Legend 1

I like where this one is going and I'm excited to see it through. The first issue, with rather limited facetime for Cap, brought us solid characterization for the series antagonist and even a good amount for the series protagonist. On top of that, I mentioned in my review mostly seeing Adi Granov's work on covers and how nice it is to be seeing him on interiors. That one hundred percent still stands and, now that I've had a little bit of space from my review, may even be a stronger plus for this book than it was before. It's just really astounding art, very majestic. I've said before (during the first arc of Daredevil Dark Nights) that it's almost cheating putting this much snow on the ground in a comic because snow, when you're not standing in it, is really absurdly lovely. That happens a bit here but it's not as much the focal point here as it was in Dark Nights. It's just a lovely backdrop for truly phenomenal art. Good stuff, you guys.

Marvel Knights Spider-Man 1

This book, I'd say, gets the benefit of a rather slow week. Even typical standout Iron Man had less of a showing this week as the hero/villain climax was mostly resolved last issue, putting Tony up against a ticking clock for half of the issue and putting him up against a birthday party for the second half. That's not to demean this book; it still earned its spot over Iron Man and Hunger and Mighty Avengers. However, this is definitely one that will need to stick the landing in the second issue to push this series from definitely interesting to definitely good. The worry with books that are more experimental is that they don't necessarily have anything hiding behind the surprising look and feel of the book. On the plus side, Rudy's art is phenomenal so even if this does end up thinning out with ideas, we'll have to look forward to. In truth (and with endless optimism), I'm not overly worried about it not pulling its weight. I think it's going into a good spot. Also really encouraging on Marvel's part that two of my top picks this week are the first issue of a new series. Constantly moving in the right direction (except in certain X-related fields, perhaps).

Superior Foes of Spider-Man 4

This one gets the call because of how strangely fun it is. This book has been moving for that tone throughout but I really felt like it hit here. The story is still advancing (albeit in its own time) but we're more concerned with the characters in this series than we are with the story. That's a risky move to pull in a new comic, especially one that focuses on a character we haven't really examined before. It's not Spider-Man, who we all know pretty inside and out and who can sell a book even if it's just about his personality (though don't be mistaken, the fact that "Spider-Man" is in the title is one hundred percent Marvel showing that they know what they're doing). Now that it's spent a few issues developing character and story, it can really delve into those characters and their relationships, a little more secure in their resolve. Really solid, really fun issue with an exciting little twist at the end. It steals the "fun" spotlight from Thunderbolts this week, which, as the last two T-Bolts issues have proven, is not an easy thing to do.