It’s the last week of new comics in September. DC’s wrapping up its Rebirth special issues this week, while Marvel is pushing onward with Civil War II. If neither of those are your forte, there’s plenty of independent and small press publishers to whet your appetite for comics, including new issues of Lumberjanes and Saga. My top picks for the week follow. The complete list (courtesy of Diamond Comics’ PreviewsWorld) is on the second page. Remember, just because it isn’t on the last doesn’t mean it isn’t good!
DETECTIVE COMICS #941 (Night of the Monster Men, Pt 3)
Writers: James Tynion IV, Steve Orlando
Artist: Andy MacDonald
Cover: Yanick Paquette
““Night Of The Monster Men” part 3! Batman and Batwoman take to the streets in a motorcycle death race against a monster that transforms faster than they can keep up! And at Blackgate, something truly terrifying is growing in the prison’s darkest depths…and its eggs are hatching!”
I wasn’t kidding last week when I said this arc was surprisingly good. Promising a ton of Gotham Girl action, I genuinely feel she might come out of 2016 as the greatest new character. Get in on the ground floor with DC’s excellent and refreshing Batman line.
JONESY VOL. 1
Writer: Sam Humphries
Artist/Cover: Caitlin Rose Boyle
“Jonesy is a self-described “cool dork” who spends her time making zines nobody reads, watching anime, and listening to riot grrrl bands and 1D simultaneously. But she has a secret nobody knows. She has the power to make people fall in love! Anyone. With anything. There’s only one catch—it doesn’t work on herself. She’s gonna have to find love the old-fashioned way, and in the meantime, figure out how to distract herself from the real emotions she inevitably has to face when her powers go wrong. Collects the complete limited series.”
I managed to miss Jonesy when it was first released, but I heard plenty great about it. In the vein of Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, Jonesy has potential to be that one comic everyone talks about but no one has read. You can be one of those people that read it. Volume 1 is out in comic shops Wednesday, and in bookstores October 4th.
TEEN TITANS REBIRTH #1
Writer: Ben Percy
Artist/Cover: Jonboy Meyers
“The Teen Titans are farther apart than ever before…until Damian Wayne recruits Starfire, Raven, Beast Boy and the new Kid Flash to join him in a fight against his own grandfather, Ra’s al Ghul! But true leadership is more than just calling the shots-is Robin really up to the task? Or will the Teen Titans dismiss this diminutive dictator?”
Damian Wayne leading a team of Titans is long overdue, in my opinion. I’m excited for this dynamic, and Ben Percy’s opening Green Arrow arc and its Rebirth issue were the best interpretations of Oliver Queen I’ve read in years. The only complaint I’ve still got is DC’s insistence to separate classic Titans mentor Cyborg and leave him as a part of the JLA. Cyborg on the League is a hell of a promotion and a great step for the character, but they’ve done nothing with it. Shifting him to his role as gatekeeper from Titan to League could potentially be the shot in the arm the character needs.
To view the full list of books releasing this week, courtesy of Diamond’s Previews World, click on to page 2.
