Welcome back to Conskipper’s New Comic Day Picks for the week of March 24, 2021!
This week we jump into spring with some high-profile debuts and returns from a wide variety of genres and creators. We hope you saved some money last week, because you’re going to need it for your return trip to the comic shop this week.
–Harley Quinn #1 (DC Comics): Harley Quinn is back to lead the way into a new Frontier (an Infinite one, actually) and the prolific writer Stephanie Phillips and artist Riley Rossmo are at the wheel. Not only does Harley have a new costume, but Phillips witty writing and Rossomo’s frenetic artwork pair for an excellent take on the well-known jokester. As Phillips recently stated in a recent interview with Conskipper, Harley is now “…trying to re-establish Gotham as her home and find a purpose for herself in the city alongside Batman and the rest of the Bat-family.” If you can find a better first issue of Harley Quinn than this one, I’ll ride a dynamite-laden roller coaster with the Joker.
-Miles Morales: Spider-Man #24 (Marvel Comics): Saladin Ahmed and Carmen Carnero get ready to embark on a potentially much more satisfying “Clone Saga” next issue and this one sets groundwork for Miles next adventure. This one also wraps up the previous “The King in Black” cross-over, dealing with the repercussions that will most likely linger with Miles for some time. This issue is a great jumping on point for new readers (and where have you been?) as Ahmed and Carnero continue to forge new ground in the fascinating life of one of pop culture’s favorite heroes.
-Alien #1 (Marvel Comics): Aliens make their Marvel debut after the company obtained the license from Dark Horse Comics last summer, and Phillip Kennedy Johnson and Salvador Larroca are up to the task of welcoming the xenomorphs to the publishing schedule. The first issue introduces retired Weyland-Yutani employee Gabriel Cruz, who is still suffering the emotional and physical scars of an alien attack. Cruz also faces an uphill climb in terms of his relationship with his estranged son (with an assist from an Aliens-style Bishop model android). As expected, there are more creatures on the prowl and Kennedy Johnson and Larroca are a perfect pair for a cinema-worthy addition to the Alien legacy.
-Lady Baltimore: The Witch Queens #1 (Dark Horse Comics): The writing team of Mike Mignola and Christopher Golden reunite for the continuation of their Lord Baltimore mythology in the new Lady Baltimore series. Newcomer Bridgit Connell supplies all of the monster artwork (and you can read our interview with Connell right here) and colors are provided by Michelle Madsen. Sofia Valk fills the shoes of Lord Baltimore and more than a decade after his death, Europe is overrun by witches, Nazis, and supernatural terrors of all shapes and sizes. Issue one is action-packed and delivers just what Baltimore fans are looking for. An excellent start.
-Teen Titans Academy #1 (DC Comics): DC’s Infinite Frontier brings us a new Titans title, Teen Titans Academy, by Tim Sheridan and Rafa Sandoval. This version of the team brings in a host of youngsters such as Shazam; a new Australian speedster; three Gotham teens, and the comic’s debut of Red X. The original grown-up New Teen Titans are back to teach the new generation and are comprised of Nightwing, Starfire, Raven, Cyborg, and Beast Boy. Sheridan captures the right tone immediately with his extensive, angsty dialogue and Sandoval’s playful art style is perfect for a Titans comic. The future looks bright with Teen Titans Academy.
That’s it for this week. Keep supporting your local comic shop in a safe manner.