Marvel released a major issue for one of its most popular properties, DC rolled out a list of annuals and some of the indies had impressive first issues. Here’s what GWW’s writers thought about The Avengers, King of Spies and the other big books from this week:
THE AVENGERS #50
Marvel Comics
WRITTEN BY: JASON AARON AND CHRISTOPHER RUOCCHIO
ART BY: AARON KUDER, CARLOS PACHECO, ED MCUINNESS AND STEVE MCNIVEN
Kid Thanos? The “jaw-dropping conclusion to World War She-Hulk”? That’s just the tip of the iceberg. The Avengers #50, Marvel’s 750th Avengers comic book, has set the stage for something massive. — Nick Friar … CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL REVIEW
Score: 9
DEATH OF DOCTOR STRANGE: SPIDER-MAN #1
Marvel Comics
WRITTEN BY: JED MACKAY
ART BY: MARCELO FERREIRA
COLOR BY: ANDREW CROSSLEY WITH PETER PANTAZIS
LETTERS BY: VC`S JOE CARAMAGNA
Journey further into the mysterious event surrounding the beloved doctor’s premature death, with Death of Doctor Strange: Spider-Man #1. Although dead the master of sorcery had a few last tricks up his sleeve as the good doctor seemingly always planned ahead. Strange leaves behind a message for everyone’s favorite wall-crawler, but is this the actual wall-crawler Strange intended to receive his final orders. — Jim … CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL REVIEW
Score: 8.5
DARKHOLD BLACK BOLT # 1
Marvel Comics
Writer: Mark Russell
Penciler: David Cutler
Inker: Oberto Poggi
Colorist: Matt Milla
This tale of the Darkhold’s corrupting influence on those who read it brought the puzzle of the two guards to my mind. Writer Mark Russell has crafted a conspiratorial conundrum for the reader to attempt to navigate. The silent king must look inside when faced with a situation that causes him to question what he can trust. From Marvel Comics, Darkhold Black Bolt # 1 injects a psychologically surreal element to this supernatural story. — B Ferg … CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL REVIEW
Score: 8.5
BATMAN 2021 ANNUAL #1
DC Comics
Written BY: JAMES TYNION IV
ART BY: RICARDO LOPEZ ORTIZ
COLORS BY: ROMULO FAJARDO JR.
LETTERS BY: CLAYTON COWLES
After defeating the Peacemakers, Scarecrow, Simon Saint, and stopping the collapse of Gotham by Poison Ivy, we conclude The Ghost-Maker Saga. Featuring as a backup story in Batman 107-111, we finally get the culmination of his journey through Devil Skull Island to defeat Madame Midas in Batman 2021 Annual #1. — Brian Villar … CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL REVIEW
Score: 9
NIGHTWING 2021 ANNUAL #1
DC Comics
WRITTEN BY: TOM TAYLOR
PENCILS BY: CIAN TORMEY AND DANIEL HDR
INKS BY: CIAN TORMEY, RAUL FERNANDEZ AND DANIEL HDR
COLORS BY: RAIN BEREDO AND JOHN KALISZ
LETTERS BY: WES ABBOT
Dick Grayson has been plenty busy since Tom Taylor took over Nightwing, but Jason Todd may have even more going on. On top of his Future State title, Red Hood is juggling the Suicide Squad and Joker in one story and babysitting zombified members of Batman’s rogues’ gallery in another. And this all comes in the wake of a major change in philosophy, which is the result of events from Batman: Urban Legends. Much like with Suicide Squad: Get Joker and Task Force Z, Nightwing 2021 Annual #1 put Red Hood’s change in approach front and center. — Nick Friar … CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL REVIEW
Score: 8
KING OF SPIES #1
IMAGE COMICS
WRITTEN BY: MARK MILLAR
ART BY: MATTEO SCALERA
COLORS BY: GIOVANNA NIRO
LETTERS BY: CLEM ROBINS
If you’re looking to pick up a new comic this week, it has to be King of Spies #1. One of the best first issues in comics in a long while — and there have been a lot of great new series this year, especially from Image. — Nick Friar … CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL REVIEW
SCORE: 10
HOTELL VOL. 2 #1
AWA/UPSHOT STUDIOS
WRITTEN BY: JOHN LEES
ART BY: DALIBOR TALAJIC
COLORS BY: LEE LOUTHRIDGE
When I first embarked on reading Hotell, I was given one piece of advice: read during the day. That advice was both wise and well heeded. Hotell Vol. 1 was an absolute horror tour de force, which set a remarkably high bar. With Hotell Vol. 2 #1, it’s safe to say writer John Lees and artist Dalibar Talajic have once again delivered a horrifying tale that continues to be one of the genre’s best. — Joseph Gilmore … CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL REVIEW
SCORE: 9
And if you want to learn more about AWA Studios, be sure to listen to TLDR‘s interview with AWA’s Chief Creative Officer, Axel Alonso — where he also talked about his time with Vertigo and Marvel Comics.
Looking for more comic book content? Go check out the latest episode of Geeks WorldWide Radio‘s TLDR podcast, where Joseph Gilmore and Nick Friar discuss comics weekly and talk to creators from the industry — available onSoundCloud, Apple Podcasts and Spotify!