Welcome back to Conskipper’s New Comic Day Picks for the week of March 10, 2021!
If you still live in a state where they try to manipulate time like Kang the Conqueror, you will be getting a little more daylight soon, and more time to read comic books in natural light! This week brings even more issues than last week to your local store, and the variety is even greater. This week’s list represents a wide variety of genres and creators with something to suit ever fan’s tastes.
–Black Hammer: Visions #2 (Dark Horse Comics): The all-star exploration of the World of Black Hammer continues in issue two of Black Hammer: Visions with frequent collaborators Geoff Johns and Scott Kolins reuniting for a spooky hero story. Johns and Kolins are best known for their fan-favorite run on The Flash, and this EC-style tale is a departure for the duo, but the veteran creators are up to the task. Their story stars the resident of the Cabin of Horrors, the mysterious (and passive aggressive) Madame Dragonfly. Like all Black Hammer stories, this one examines the tropes and motifs of the particular genre that inspired the character, while at the same time telling a modern, entertaining story. Fans of Jeff Lemire’s award winning source material can rest assured that his creations are in good hands (just don’t take that rest in Dragonfly’s abode!).
-Wonder Woman #770 (DC Comics): Wonder Woman gets a new creative team this issue in the form of writers Becky Cloonan and Michael W. Conrad and artist Travis Moore and they are off to a great start. Part one of the new “Afterworlds” storyline transports Diana right in the middle of a raging battle in Valhalla, as she tries to make sense of her surroundings and the Norse pantheon of gods. And if we are talking about Norse gods, are you ready for a new DC version of the mighty Thor? DC and Marvel have played around with the original “public domain” mythological characters since their inceptions, so it is nice to see the new team take a hammer swing at a character that most modern people associate with the competition’s version.
Issue #770 also contains a backup story from Diana’s youth by Jordie Bellaire and Paul Ganucheau which looks like it will continue as an additional feature for the time being. With two Wonder Woman stories by accomplished creators in this issue (and subsequent issues), you can’t go wrong.
-Deadpool Nerdy 30 #1 (Marvel Comics): Yes, Deadpool turns 30 this month. Can you believe it? Who knew that what appeared to be a throw-away character at the end of the New Mutants run would become one of the most recognizable characters in the 21st century. To celebrate, Marvel has assembled an all-star Deadpool writer’s reunion including Gerry Duggan, Gail Simone, Skottie Young, Kelly Thompson, Brian Posehn, and even co-creators Rob Liefeld and Fabian Nicieza. The Deadpool alumni are also joined by artists Patrick Zircher, Aaron Conley, and Kevin Libranda for a wacky trip down ‘memory lane” and the distant future. The giant size party features Wade Wilson’s first birthday (with time-traveling assassins), a sweet sixteen party, a 100th birthday, and many more.
-The Goon #13 (Albatross Funnybooks): Eric Powell returns to double duty (triple duty if you consider his role as publisher of Albatross Funnybooks) in the 13th issue of the new Goon series. This issue of The Goon also sees the return of one of the character’s most diabolical villains: Dr. Alloy. And come to think of it, why is Dr. Alloy back after leaving the world of criminal mischief behind? Whatever the reason, we are glad that he is back to menace the Goon and we are also thankful that a comic like The Goon is still being published today. Powell’s Goon has always been a throwback to an earlier time in the industry when a quirky, independent character could thrill fans every month with a new adventure and plenty of laughs along the way. Let’s hope the future is bright for one of the most original and enduring characters of the past twenty years. And if you have never read The Goon before, be sure to pick up some of the new collections from Albatross (and check out our interview with Powell right here). You won’t regret it.
-Blade Runner Origins #1 (Titan Books): Titan Comics and Alcon Media Group deliver more stories from the world of Blade Runner this week with the debut of the new comic series Blade Runner Origins. Writers Mike Johnson, K. Perkins, and Blade Runner 2049 screenwriter Mellow Brown collaborate on this debut issue, along with artist Fernando Dagnino. The new series is set ten years before Titan’s Blade Runner 2019 comic and follows the events that lead up to the creation of the Blade Runner division, referencing the world, characters and events first seen in Blade Runner and Blade Runner 2049. Is it cannon? It is always hard to tell these days, but comic books remain one of the best launching pads for adaptations and inspiration, and it does have Alcon Media’s blessing. In any case, the new series is a cerebral addition to the Blade Runner mythos.
That’s it for this week. Keep supporting your local comic shop in a safe manner.