Mark Waid goes a little Batcrazy! And Rocket Girl gets a lot of love from the crew! Plus lots more recommendations!
Mark Waid, Alter Ego Comics, Muncie, Ind.
Grayson #1, DC. “You don’t know Dick.” Yeah, but I know how not to hold a handgun. THAT SAID, people love Dick Grayson (one of my own favorite characters) and are interested to see this new incarnation of him.
Lumberjanes #4, Boom! Books like this restore my faith on cynical days. I love that stories like these can find an audience. That would have been unthinkable even two or three years ago. Now people ASK for this book.
Rat Queens, Vol. 1, Image. Another kick-ass comic with broad appeal that cuts across gender lines. Plus, it’s smart and funny. MORE OF THESE, PLEASE.
Batman ’66 Bendable Figures, NJ Croce. Wait, this shouldn’t be on this list. Yes, we ordered these. Yes, we’re carrying these. But every one we sell is ONE THAT I CANNOT TAKE HOME WITH ME AND SURROUND MYSELF ON ALL SIDES WITH THEIR GOODNESS AND DON’T JUDGE ME STOP LOOKING AT ME LIKE THAT!
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Aimee LoSecco, JHU Comic Books, Manhattan
Grayson #1, DC. The advertising line alone sells it: You might think you know Nightwing, but you don’t know Dick! Dick Grayson starts his life anew as a secret agent. Hey, it was good enough for Wonder Woman, why not Nightwing?
Deadpool: Dracula’s Gauntlet #1, Marvel. The hit web comic comes to print! Dracula hires Deadpool as delivery boy for a whole mess o’ trouble! Look for appearances by M.O.D.O.K., Blade, and more! Fan faves Brian Posehn and Reilly Brown bring it in this hilarious series.
Essential Dykes to Watch Out For, Houghton Mifflin. Can’t get enough Alison Bechdel? Fans of “Fun Home” need not go crazy hunting down out of print DTWOF anymore! Twenty-five years and eleven volumes are boiled down in this must-have addition to your collection. And remember: you don’t have to be a dyke to read DTWOF. … But it couldn’t hurt!
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Ted Alexander, manager, Midtown Comics’ Downtown location, Manhattan
Grayson #1, DC. While I’m not a huge fan of Dick Grayson using a gun (didn’t Bruce teach you anything all those years together?), I’m excited for this book. The preview that DC has been putting in the back pages of their books gives off a very James Bond feel. As a fan of the Bond films, this may be the closest thing I get to a monthly book of the spy/thriller character.
Rocket Girl, Vol. 1: Times Squared, TP, Image. I love time-travelling stories and this one is on top of my list. This book could come with no word balloons and it would still be a big seller because of Amy Reeder’s art. Fortunately, you get that beautiful art and an intriguing story written by Brandon Montclare. They make a great team and Rocket Girl is the proof.
Spider-Man 2099 #1, Marvel. Speaking of awesome time-travel stories, here is one of my favorites. Luckily Peter David, the creator of the future Spidey, is back to write the tales of Miguel O’Hara who this time is a man stuck out of his timeline. He has a chance to fix all the corruption that happened in his future.
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Menachem Luchins, owner, Escape Pod Comics, Huntington, L.I.
Spread #1, Image. Justin Jordan and Kyle Strahm are the latest team to launch a new book at Image, this one about mankind’s struggle to overcome the Spread, a mysterious disease/curse that has decimated humanity over the last 10 years. One man may have the cure, if he can just get it into the right hands! This book is already sold out on the distributor level, so if you’re considering it, snatch it up or you may miss out.
Usagi Yojimbo Color Special: The Artist One-Shot, Dark Horse. Stan Sakai’s rabbit ronin hasn’t had a new book in quite some time, but with the highly anticipated Senso (Usagi’s Japan faces a War of the Worlds-style Martian invasion), Dark Horse has collected some Usagi stories for Dark Horse Presents and the old website that have now been colored by Sakai himself. Stand-alone Usagi that’s perfect for an old fan or a newbie? How can you resist?
Rocket Girl Vol. 1,: Times Squared, TP, Image. Brandon Montclare and Amy Reeder’s Rocket Girl has often been overshadowed by the other “hot” Image books that began at around the same time and that’s a damn shame. The duo have used the medium to the fullest, doing things with story, paneling, art, and acton that can only work in comics. And they’ve done it masterfully. When teenage rocket-pack-wearing cop Dayoung Johansson travels back in time from 2014 to the antiquated world of 1986 she must solve a crime that could quite possibly delete the scientifically advanced world of the future that she came from! Another wonderful Image book at the introductory price of $9.99. If you crave some complex action-adventure that’s both fun and well-plotted, you can’t go wrong with this book!
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Tim Finn, Hub Comics, Somerville, Mass.
Rocket Girl, Vol. 1: Times Squared, TP, Image. Amy Reeder’s art is the real star here, and what lovely art it is. I haven’t seen anyone in comics capture the subtleties of anatomy and expression in dynamic motion (future cop on jetpack!!!) in a young woman at a specific age — 14 — this well in a while. Reeder was a good pick for “Batmoman,” but that artwork didn’t click, so I’m thrilled she’s landed on a book where she can flex her talent-muscles. And it’s a creator-owned book to boot! Also, great logo on that cover.
Usagi Yojimbo Color Special: The Artist One-Shot, Dark Horse. My favorite Usagi stories are self-contained issues, and it’s been a long time since we’ve gotten a color special. Stan Sakai is a national treasure, and any issue of “Usagi Yojimbo” is a master class in comics art and storytelling.
Avatar: The Last Airbender: The Rift, Part 2, TP, Dark Horse. At this point, you probably don’t need an explanation of the series or the reason it’s here, but just in case: These take place after “Avatar” and before “Korra,” and they’re really good, and kids young and old love them.
