X-Men assembles an Avenger, and Batman teases Gotham’s future
Every week, CBR has your guide to navigate new and recent comic book releases, specials, collected editions and reissues, and we’re dedicated to helping you choose the ones that are worth your hard-earned money. It’s a little slice of CBR that we like to call Major issues.
If you wish, you can purchase our recommendations directly from comiXology with the links provided. We’ll even provide links to books we’re not so hot on, just in case you don’t want to take our word for it. Be sure to let us know what you think of this week’s books in the comments! And as always, SPOILERS TO COME!
NEW MUTANTS # 23 (MARVEL)
COMIXOLOGY
While New Mutants might not be the flashiest X-Men title, it’s been the hidden gem of Marvel’s mutant comics for months. As two generations of ascendant X-Men faced the telepathic threat of the Shadow King, Vita Ayala, Rod Reis, Travis Lanham and their collaborators reunited a worthy heir to the title’s most acclaimed era with rich stories and mind-blowing character-driven art.
With New mutants # 23, a group of new mutants attempt to save several heroes trapped in the telepathic realm of the Shadow King, where they make a startling discovery about the villainous X-Men in the process. Within the freedom of this setting, Reis mixes dynamic superhero storytelling with psychedelic dreamscapes and hallucinogenic nightmares. With the same sort of thoughtful characters and gallery-quality art that defined Chris Claremont and Bill Sienkiewicz’s seminal run on the title, this era of New mutants is a classic in the making.
AVENGERS # 50 (WONDERFUL)
COMIXOLOGY
Over the past few years, Jason Aaron’s tenure to write the Avengers has been defined by an almost overwhelming number of big ideas that rock the universe. At race climaxes, these bold concepts intersected and layered in inspirational moments, and that’s what happens with Avengers # 50, which is also the 750th regular issue in Marvel’s flagship series.
With this oversized stage act, Jason Aaron, Aaron Kuder, Carlos Pacheco, Rafael Fonteriz, Ed McGuinness, Javier Garron, Alex Sinclair, David Curiel, Matt Hollingsworth, Rachelle Rosenberg and Cory Petit wrap up multiple storylines while teasing the Avengers multiverse. . future. While some longtime threads end with a moan more than a bang, the comic still sets an intriguing premise for the next one. Avengers forever series, introduces a powerful new threat, and pushes several classic Marvel heroes into surprising new roles.
WONDER WOMAN HISTORIA: THE AMAZONS # 1 (DC)
COMIXOLOGY
With Wonder Woman Historia: The Amazons # 1, Kelly Sue DeConnick, Phil Jimenez, Hi-Fi, Arif Prianto, Romulo Fajardo Jr. and Clayton Cowles put together one of the most mind-boggling DC epics in recent memory. In the same way that DC’s Krypton Story Parade explored Superman’s homeworld, Wonder woman historia details the creation of DC’s Amazons and the Greek gods who gave them life.
Even if Of the history the plot tells and revises the mythological history of DC, the art team steals the show here, evidenced by the best, incredibly detailed and professional work of Jimenez. As Zeus, Hera, and the other Greek gods have appeared in countless stories, the first issue of this Black Label miniseries boldly reinvents them as distinctly otherworldly beings, dominating a wild world. Accented by bold color choices and solid layouts, Jimenez and the colorists at Wonder woman historia take the genre of classic Wonder Woman art that defined the George Perez era and turn it into a kaleidoscopic frenzy that makes for essential reading.
X-MEN: THE TRIAL OF MAGNETO # 4 (MARVEL)
COMIXOLOGY
For over a decade and a half, any Marvel Comics story featuring the Scarlet Witch needed a preamble paragraph to explain the intricate and convoluted recent history of the Avenger. But with X-Men: The Magneto Trial # 4, Leah Williams, Lucas Werneck, David Messina, Edgar Delgado and Clayton Cowles continue the work to breathe new life into the Avenger in more than one way.
While the miniseries apparently started out as an investigation into the death of the Scarlet Witch, it’s been much more interested in Wanda’s resurrection and the different forms it takes. As Scarlet Witch grapples with her past, her future, and the destructive nature of her powers, this issue goes a long way in building a new accessible status quo for the Avenger, with the art team perfectly capturing the mystical metaphysics at play.
HUMAN TARGET # 2 (DC)
COMIXOLOGY
Though originally comedies, the reckless adventures of Justice League International have set up some of the most heartbreaking tragedies in the modern DC Universe. While these stories are usually part of crossovers that shake the universe, Tom King, Greg Smallwood, and Clayton Cowles The Human target # 2 tells a heartfelt, deeply human story with the hero of JLI Ice.
After private investigator Christopher Chance is terminally poisoned by an unidentified JLI veteran, his investigation sees him grow closer to Ice. While the story is informed by obscure points of the JLI continuity, The human target # 2 is a dreamy, noir tale with an impeccable style. With a mid-century aesthetic, Smallwood’s art and Cowles letters have a timeless style that’s accentuated by a vibrant color palette in one of DC’s finest books.
BATMAN: FEAR STATE OMEGA # 1 (DC)
COMIXOLOGY
After taking over the drafting tasks on Batman In early 2020, James Tynion IV’s blockbuster on the Dark Knight ends with Batman: State of Fear Omega # 1. With this special, Tynion, Riccardo Federici, Christian Duce, Ryan Benjamin, Guillem March, Trevor Hairsine, Chris Sotomayor and Clayton Cowles deliver a solid epilogue to an era and the “Fear State†crossover that ended it.
Told primarily through a conversation between a thoughtful Batman and a Scarecrow, most of the problem is with setting up Poison Ivy and other “Fear State†supporting players for future storylines. While the focus on setting up makes the issue seem more like a preamble than a postscript, the comic still makes a significant change to Gotham City and gives a character from the Batman movie. her first major comic role. With solid artwork throughout, this issue serves as a fitting reminder of one of Batman’s defining modern tracks.
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