Welcome to Conskipper’s New Comic Day Picks for the week of July 15, 2020!
For those new to reading or collecting, Wednesday is the traditional day when comic book stores receive new comics, graphic novels, magazines, etc and offer them for sale to customers. Each week, Conskipper sorts through the enormous pile of comics and graphic novels and identifies five picks of the week. The picks are selected by our editorial staff and writers and consist of some of the best issues available on any given Wednesday.
For the week of July 15, it was no easy task to identify only five picks, but we did our best and boiled them down to five selections that are sure to please any comic fan. After a lot of deliberation, we decided on a variety of issues that are comprised of exciting beginnings and endings, as well as one significant milestone. So, in no particular order, feast your eyes on our choices!
–Savage Dragon #250 (Image Comics): For 28 years, Erik Larsen has written and illustrated Savage Dragon, the second longest running Image title next to Image co-founder Todd McFarlane’s Spawn (which recently crossed the 300 barrier). This over-sized milestone issue sets the stage for the future and wraps up the past, and serves as a celebration of Larsen’s achievement and his dedication to a character he (and many fans) loves. Some of Larsen’s contemporaries also contributed variant covers for the occasion, so look for Frank Cho, Rob Liefeld, Walt Simonson, Scottie Young, and Ryan Ottley’s take on the dragon-finned policeman.
-Empyre #1 (Marvel Comics): Marvel’s cosmic summer event series starts here! Empyre brings together years of storytelling, stretching back to the original Kree-Skrull War in 1971’s Avengers #89. In the capable hands of Dan Slott and Al Ewing, the stage is set for what appears to be an old-fashioned Avengers/Fantastic Four cross-over that’s main purpose is to entertain, allowing Marvel fans of any generation to easily pick up Empyre and hit the ground running. Slott and Ewing’s focus on character dynamics and the art of Valerio Schiti are sure to make this a well-written slice of escapism this summer and fall (and in case you missed it, check out our review of last week’s prelude, Fantastic Four Empyre #0).
The Old Guard: Force Multiplied #5 (Image Comics): Hot off the Nextflix debut of the adaptation of the original Old Guard series, the last installment in Greg Rucka and Leandro Fernandez story arc wraps up this tale of espionage and warfare, as Andy and Nile are forced to deal with the sins of their past. Without giving too much away, if you enjoyed the new film, and want to continue the story before the potential sequel, track down the previous four issues in this series to go along with the finale. You won’t be disappointed.
Once and Future #9 (Boom! Studios): If you love Arthurian Legend and the writing talents of Kieron Gillen, you need to pick up the latest in this modern fantasy adventure tale. Along with the action-packed art style of Dan Mora, the series effectively brings together the elements of the ancient legend in a way not seen since DC’s Camelot 3000. Unlike Camelot 3000, Once and Future is set in modern times, and Gillen balances this realism with a very frightening version of Arthur and fantasy tropes. If you’d like to know more about the series, check out our interview with Gillen from New York Comic Con 2019 right here.
Giant-Size X-Men: Magneto #1 (Marvel Comics): Jonathan Hickman continues his critically acclaimed run on the X-Universe with this stand-alone one-shot that ties into the current events in the ongoing titles, while also giving Hickman the chance to explore the personality and drive of the master of magnetism. Ramon Perez’s realistic art style serves the story well, allowing the character to once again comment on “real world” struggles, as always, dealing with inclusion and freedom for his people.
Enjoy this week’s comics, and don’t forget that today kicks off Free Comic Book Summer, so be sure to grab a few freebies and support your local comic shops.