Our experts have gone over to the Dark Side this week — giving Darth Vader #1 our first-ever clean sweep! Plus: Christy Blanch is back! Hooray!
After a brief hiatus, Christy Blanch — educator, retailer and writer of Thrillbent/Dynamite’s The Damnation of Charlie Wormwood — returns! Welcome back, Christy!
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Christy Blanch, Aw Yeah Comics!, Muncie, Ind.
Darth Vader #1, Marvel. For me, this wasn’t a hard decision. It’s Star Wars, dude. And DARTH VADER! The Star Wars books that Jason Aaron and John Cassaday are putting out have been spectacular so far — everything I have wanted as a long-time Star Wars fan. And I am sure that Gillen and Larroca will make this an amazing book!! Our customers are really excited for the whole Star Wars line, just as I am.
Adi Granov main cover
Thor #5, Marvel. I have been loving this series. Both the God of Thunder run and this new one have been extraordinary and the new Thor is really bringing a lot of new readers into our store. Anything that gets people reading comics is a good thing and it doesn’t hurt that this book lives up to the hype. It continues to be a great read!
Southern Bastards #7, Image. Since I seem to be on a Jason Aaron kick, I am picking Southern Bastards. I just love this series. And it was great when I wore my Boss BBQ shirt and people responded. This book is just crazy good and seems to take a lot of left turns when I think it’s going right. I like that in a story. Jason Aaron is just firing on all cylinders lately. And I must mention the insanely great art by Jason Latour. Pick this book up if you haven’t yet.
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Aimee LoSecco, JHU Comic Books, Manhattan
It’s the pretty installment of Hot Picks!
Darth Vader #1, Marvel. Because it’s Darth Vader. Because it’s his first solo ongoing book. Because it’s Kieron Gillen, Salvador Larocca, and Adi Granov. So much evil. So much good writing. So much pretty. I’m making shirts that say “Vader for All”.
Mike Del Mundo variant
Fables Complete Covers by James Jean, DC Comics. It’s an all-new, updated printing of the gorgeous art book that every Fables and James Jean fan MUST own! You need a new coffee table book for everyone to drool over and try to steal. Why not the inimitable paintings of James Jean? All the pretty.
Early Photographs of Bettie Page: An American Icon, Binary Publication. Ah, Bettie Page. So iconic, so shrouded in mystery. Painter Jack Faragasso hired a young actress named Bettie to model for some paintings. If you want to see Bettie before her Bunny Yeager sessions, before the Irving Klaw movies, before all the stuff you know so well. Here’s more pretty!
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Scott Tipton, Co-Owner, Blastoff Comics, North Hollywood, Calif.
Darth Vader #1, Marvel. I have to admit, I’m curious of how this will work. It reminds me of the 1970s Joker solo series from DC, which ultimately wound up being unsatisfying since the protagonist could never really “win.” Still, how do you turn down a Darth Vader #1?
DC: The New Frontier Deluxe Edition HC, DC Comics. Sure, it’s not new material, but a more affordable complete edition of this evergreen classic has been absent from shelves for a long time. Darwyn Cooke‘s superhero masterpiece is an absolute favorite.
Harley Quinn Valentine’s Day Special #1, DC Comics. Harley goes after a charity date with billionaire Bruce Wayne? Sold. I love that Harley has become one of the breakout stars of DC Comics these days.
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Ted Alexander, manager, Midtown Comics’ Downtown location, Manhattan
Darth Vader #1, Marvel. I think I’m most interested in this book because I have no idea what it will be about. Will it show Darth Vader at home watching television and washing dishes? Or will it be more to do with the Empire as a whole? Either way, if it is anything like the main Marvel Star Wars title, then I’m sure it’ll be good and we will be in for a treat.
Teen Dog #6, Boom! The coolest dog since Snoopy has another issue out this week. Teen Dog is just pure fun about the struggle of the teenage life. If you haven’t picked up Teen Dog, each issue features short and hysterical stories by Jake Lawrence that capture the life of a dog that goes to high school.
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Tim Finn, Hub Comics, Somerville, Mass.
Darth Vader #1, Marvel Comics. I’m not sure I need to read an ongoing about the mysterious villain — those prequels proved I don’t want to know much about this character other than that he’s evil, and I don’t know that I need him to wander into Return of the Jedi territory in the first few pages of said ongoing, Jabba‘s palace and all. But despite all that, Kieron Gillen and Salvador Larroca are a good team for this, and my interest is piqued. The less Vader speaks and moves, the better. It might be boring in a visual medium, but he should be pretty still, and scary from a distance.
The Sculptor, First Second. Scott McCloud fills that hole in his oeuvre with this 500-page work of fiction, proving he’s more than just a non-fiction scholar, but a fiction heavyweight as well.
DC: The New Frontier Deluxe Edition HC, DC Comics. Both halves of Darwyn Cooke‘s lovely, epic love letter to the Silver Age are under one non-Absolute Edition cover, and that’s a good thing. Importantly, this includes the one-shot that was released after the Absolute when New Frontier was adapted to animation. Unclear if this Deluxe Edition includes the new story pages that were added to the Absolute Edition. Buy this for a niece or nephew who likes super-heroes.
