JUPITER’S LEGACY, Image Comics / Art by Frank Quitely
1. JUPITER’S LEGACY Volume 1 (issues #1-5) / Image Comics
Written by Mark Millar / Art by Frank Quitely
JUPITER’S LEGACY is something truly special. And what else would one expect from a team-up of this caliber. Mark Millar writes an engaging story about a couple of broken superhero children trying to fill their parent’s shoes as the world’s greatest heroes. And artist Frank Quitely brings his A-game crafting some of the most magnificent panels in recent memory. One of the biggest aspects of this book I appreciate is that the reader gets thrust into the story and shit hits the fan quick. There is nothing slow going on here. And even if the story didn’t deliver (which it does!), the art here alone is worth the price of admission. Just gorgeous. If you have never picked up a copy of this book, do yourself a favor and get on it already!
KANAN THE LAST PADAWAN, Marvel / Art by Mark Brooks
2. STAR WARS: KANAN THE LAST PADAWAN #1 / Marvel
Written by Greg Weisman / Art by Pepe Larraz
Damn Marvel. Stop making high quality STAR WARS comics already! Sorry, that was my wallet talking. My eager little nerd brain says everything is just fine. After the success of STAR WARS, DARTH VADER, and PRINCESS LEIA Marvel decides to visit an earlier time focusing on the era between Episodes 3 and 4. Smart move because now we can catch the backstory for Kanan from the popular television show STAR WARS REBELS. As the last surviving Palawan (that we know of at this point), Kanan must face the fact that his world is crumbling all around him, he will not be able to properly ascend to Jedi status, and dammit the Clone Troopers are hunting him down! This is a very interesting time in the STAR WARS canon and Kanon is fast becoming a major player in the saga as a whole. This is a book not to be missed by any STAR WARS fan.
ALL-NEW X-MEN, Marvel / Art by Andrea Sorrentino and Marcelo Maiolo
3. ALL-NEW X-MEN #40 / Marvel
Written by Brian Michael Bendis / Art by Mahmud Asrar
There is no denying that writer Brian Michael Bendis has put X-Men fans through one hell of a rollercoaster ride these past 40 issues. He has mixed things up, shuffled shit around, challenged just about every character, and by the looks of it he’s not done just yet. ALL-NEW X-MEN #40 marks yet another big change for a significant character. I won’t spoil the fun, but it’s a bold move that is much appreciated as it helps further diversify the cast. And you may be surprised by the social commentary that erupts after this one. Besides that, it’s a fun young X-Men filled romp that will be one of our last with MARVEL’S SECRET WARS decimating the landscape as we know it. This is just a fun worthwhile issue not to be missed.
CHRONONAUTS, Image / Art by Sean Gordon Murphy
4. CHRONONAUTS #2 / Image Comics
Written by Mark Millar / Art by Sean Gordon Murphy
Alright. I really dug the first issue of Mark Millar’s CHRONONAUTS but it was all a little confusing to me. Issue #2 makes the list yet again because this issue really fleshes out the characters and story creating a much clearer sense of where everything is going…and I love it! This is a beautifully drawn book by the talented Sean Gordon Murphy that follows a blossoming bromance between two renegade time travelers who make a lot of bold and rash decisions! Fun stuff all around! And really, what sold it for me was the perfect TOP GUN inspired alternate cover. So good. Keep an eye on this mini-series because it looks like big things are in store for the issues to come!
UNCANNY INHUMANS, Marvel / Art by Steve McNiven
5. THE UNCANNY INHUMANS #0 / Marvel
Written by Charles Soule / Art by Steve McNiven
Ok, THE UNCANNY INHUMANS #0 took me by surprise. This is just a fun read. While I will admit it’s a little premature and a bit confusing to launch just before SECRET WARS, I had a blast nonetheless. I don’t read a lot of INHUMANS books but I’ve always liked Blackbolt as a character. He just seems like such a badass. This issue delves into the character a bit giving us a sense of how powerful he is and how tortured and conflicted he is on the inside. What a cool concept for a character…someone who just needs to talk things out but unable to without destroying his surroundings. Cool. Issue #0 serves as a good reintroduction to the character while also setting things up for where the Inhumans may be heading during the SECRET WARS event this summer.
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