Welcome back to Conskipper’s New Comic Day Picks for the week of August 12, 2020!
The dog days of summer bring more comics, graphic novels, and collectibles to your local comic book shop and this week is no exception. The release schedule is pretty much recovered from the temporary shipping freeze in the spring, and many new series and first issues are starting to be released that were previously on hold. This week we have some DC classics and two Marvel titles that feature some of the best runs ever for their respective characters.
–Wonder Woman #760 (DC Comics): Mariko Tamaki and Mikel Janin dive into the second issue of their run on Wonder Woman (and you can read our review of their debut issue here) and continue to weave a complicated moral tale featuring one of the strongest characters in the DC universe. The action picks up in this issue with some vibrant art by Janin, featuring battles with parademons and giant robots, and as she did on her run on She-Hulk, Tamaki makes the incredibly powerful Diana Prince seem vulnerable, which is no easy task. If you missed their first issue, it has gone back to print, but you’ll have to wait an extra week for that issue. If your local comic store still has a 1st print of #759, grab it while you can!
The Immortal Hulk #36: This issue may be called “No Happy Endings”, but if you haven’t been reading Al Ewing’s The Immortal Hulk, you could add a lot of joy to your life once you start! Since Peter David’s historic run on the title, the Hulk has undergone a multitude of changes and writing and artist teams, providing little consistency for one of Marvel’s biggest (and strongest) stars, as well as many ill-conceived takes on the character. Ewing (along with artists Joe Bennett and Ruy Jose) has provided a unique, and yet classic approach to the green giant, with many nods to past storylines from David’s run and other writers.
Superman #24: Brian Michael Bendis’ departure from Marvel was a big blow to the company, losing the architect of their new approach to storytelling established with his long run on Avengers titles and company wide-crossovers. While a whole generation of talented young writers at Marvel have stepped up in his absence, Bendis’ traditional prolific output has greatly improved DC’s content ever since he joined the company in 2017. Bendis’ work on Superman has elevated the original super hero to great heights once again, and in this issue, Bendis also brings back a cult favorite in the form of Dr. Fate. Accompanied by the always pleasing art of Kevin Maguire, this issue is a must buy.
Captain Marvel #19: As with recent Marvel event series, Captain Marvel is once again at the center of the latest cosmic slugfest, asserting herself as one of the prime “movers and shakers” in the Marvel line-up. Issue #19, a tie-in to the ongoing Empyre mini-series, is no exception, with Carol assuming the role of a Kree Accuser gone rogue. Ms. Danvers has undergone a lot of attempted reboots over the past few years, but writer Kelly Thompson has found the right mix with the character. If you have friends who are MCU fans and want to read more about Captain Marvel, point them in the direction of Thompson’s work on the title.
Flash #759: This issue begins the finale of Joshua Williamson’s run on The Flash and features all of the elements Flash fans enjoy, such as The Legion of Zoom, a Central City once again in shambles, and the Reverse-Flash’s meddling ways. The art team of Jordi Tarragona and Rafa Sandoval put the Flash through his paces in this exciting adventure. Get ready for a sprint to the finish!
That’s it for this week, so enjoy this week’s comics and don’t forget to check out all of the Free Comic Book Summer issues available this week and support your local comic shops.