Two weeks in a row of a new strong female centered book!! Go Marvel! I’m quite excited to read a comic about an attorney written by an attorney as well.  Being in the profession myself, I sometimes find myself banging my head on inanimate objects when legal concepts are written so terribly wrong (how hard is it to google the Bill of Rights?!?) Color me Shulkie green that I can’t crack a conference room table in half with a single finger.  Talk about ending your argument on a strong note!

SETH’S PICK :: THE MERCENARY SEA #1: The past few years have been a new golden age of sorts if you happen to be a fan of classic adventure and pulp comics.  We’ve seen the return of The Rocketeer alongside quality new series like Half Past Danger and Black Beetle.  Image gets in on the fun this week with a new adventure series of their own called The Mercenary Sea.  Set in the late ’30s, the series focuses on a ragtag group of mercenaries working odd jobs around the South Seas in a U-boat stolen by their captain.  Against the backdrop of impending war, the series promises everything from spies and pirates, to old fashioned war elements.  Though I’m not all that familiar with the previous works of creators Kel Symons and Matthew Reynolds, the previews I’ve seen of this new book suggest it’s a book well worth your investment this week.

Bonus Pick of the Week:  Lobster Johnson: Satan Smells a Rat TPB.  This latest collection starring Mike Mignola’s pulp wonder features art contributions from the likes of Kevin Nowlan, Wilfredo Torres, and Tonci Zonjic.  Aside from being yet another reliably good story of pulpy goodness that we’ve come to expect from these creators, this is a rare book where the title alone (“Satan Smells a Rat”) is enough to warrant a look. 

HEATHER’S PICK :: MS MARVEL #1: I don’t have much prior knowledge of Ms. Marvel so I don’t have the concerns that fans of the Carol Danvers might bring to this new incarnation of the character.  I am just looking forward to reading this new female driven comic unburdened from any expectations of the former Ms. Marvel.  I like the dichotomy of a teenage girl dealing with both the expectations of her culture and balancing her super hero powers. I can’t help but adore her Avengers fanfic in the first issue that seems to have a snarky dose of My Little Pony intertwined.  (Poor Rainbow Toots!!) Just trust me and read it to find out that unicorn’s fate.

There’s been a lot of conversation of late about diversity in comics (both in the subject matter and the creators) so let’s take a moment to be happy about both a female writer and Pakistani American girl coming together for what looks like a fun and interesting title this month.

ANDY’S PICK :: BATMAN SILVER AGE NEWSPAPER COMICS HC: God bless those guys at IDW PUBLISHING.  In addition to all the other classic comic strips they offer–everything from Baron Bean (1916) to Goodwin and Williamson’s great run on Secret Agent Corrigan that ran through 1980, IDW is scheduled to publish all of the Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman newspaper strips.  So far they have released two volumes of Superman-dailies from the late 50s) and one Sunday collection from the late 40s.  With their third volume of DC reprints they are offering quite a rare gem indeed.  When ABC launched the Batman TV series in 1966, it was full speed ahead for any and all product tie-ins featuring the Dynamic Du o.  That included a newspaper strip  published from 1966 to 1972 and until now has never been reprinted!  If you are a fan of the mid-sixties Silver Age comics, this is the strip collection for you.  Volume 1 (of 3) includes stories featuring Catwoman, the Joker, the Penguin, Batgirl and Poison Ivy  written by Whitney Ellsworth with art by  Sheldon Moldoff, Joe Giella and Carmine Infantino; all with a stunning period inspired cover by the great Peter Poplaski.  The first volume, reprinting all B&W dailies and color Sundays from 1966 and 1967, features an all-star list of Batman and Robin characters, including Catwoman, the Penguin, the Joker, Poison Ivy, and Batgirl! In the months ahead they will alternate between Superman and Batman volumes, so be here when it happens, Same Bat-time, same Bat-publisher.

RICO’S PICK :: L’IL SONJA & FURIOUS: We’re still recovering from a great Charlotte MiniCon but I’ve got two quick ones for you this week. First up is L’il Sonja by MiniCon guest artist Joel Carroll and writer Jim Zub. Dynamite has really been surprising me with the level of talent they are recruiting to do these novelty books and this one is no exception! Give it a shot!

Next up is the first issue of Furious by creators Bryan J. L. Glass and Victor Santos. I’m a relatively new fan of Santos’ art and I think if you crack this book open you will be too!

ANDY’S PICK :: DEAD BOY DETECTIVES #2: Attention all fans of of Neil Gaiman’s Sandman and Bill Willingham’s Fables:  Mark Buckingham— the insanely talented artist of the latter takes charge (co-writing and drawing) of two of the most beloved supporting characters from the former. Our deceased yet upbeat and ever so polite British sleuths, Charles and Edwin formerly (and presently) of St. Hilarion’s School join forces with the young and lovely (can Buckingham draw women any other way?–I suggest–no, he cannot) Crystal as the three investigate look into the past to uncover the truth about the  one’s who (as Eliza Doolittle might say) ‘Done them in‘.  Don’t miss this series.

ANDY’S PICK :: PLANETARY is a super-group comprised of Elijah Snow, Jakita Wagner, and The Drummer. They are the greatest power trio since RUSH and perhaps  CREAM (but not GRAND FUNK— you got a problem with that?).  This is far and away my favorite superhero series from the past ten years.  There is more to think about, revel in and just plain enjoy than just about any other series I can think of.  And if the story by Warren Ellis, firing on all cylinders  isn’t enough– but it is–I swear– then how about 500 pages of art from John Cassaday?  A while back,   the Heroes Discussion Group focused on PLANETARY and it was one of the best round tables we’ve ever had. Archetypes Ahoy!! This is well work a Grant, a Jackson and a Lincoln (yet another famed power trio!).  This is a book you will read and re-read many times.This omnibus collects PLANETARY #1-27, PLANETARY/BATMAN #1, PLANETARY/JLA #1 and PLANETARY/AUTHORITY #1.

SETH’S PICK :: DEADLY CLASS #1: You’ve undoubtedly heard one or more Heroes staffers extolling the recent virtues of writer Rick Remender.  With quality work on titles like Captain America, Uncanny Avengers, and Black Science, Remender is approaching that sought after balance between writing big mainstream super hero comics and critically acclaimed creator-owned titles.  This week Remender returns with yet another new creator owned series for Image: Deadly Class.  Produced in collaboration with artist Wesley Craig, this series set in the ’80s features disaffected high school students who happen to study at a school for world class assassins.  It’s all the angst of high school combined with the frenetic energy of an action movie.  With yet another promising new series (Low) coming from Image later this year, Remender continues to reiterate his place among the comic writing elite. 

JUSTIN’S PICK :: TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES UTROM EMPIRE #1: I’m a Turtles guy, and this three issue miniseries fleshes out the plans of warlord Krang and his assistant Baxter Stockman to complete their Technodrome and devastate the Earth. There are enough reference points in that sentence to perk the ears of any Turtles fan, but the real, true reason I’m blathering about this comic book can be boiled down to a single name: Andy Kuhn. This guy is one of the most criminally underrated artists working today. His clean, high contrast style adapts incredibly well to anything he chooses to work on (see his creator-owned Firebreather with Phil Hester, or issue #33 of Secret Avengers he did with Rick Remender to see what I mean). Any time Andy lays pen-to-paper, I’m there; that he’s back on the Turtles only sweetens the deal.

JUSTIN’S PICK :: BLACK DYNAMITE #1: Black Dynamite has gotten staggering mileage for a cult-spoof introduced a half-decade ago. Some things – pomade, French fries, Blaxploitation – just never go out of style. Writer Brian Ash penned the wonderful (and now evidently rare) Slave Island one shot for Ape Entertainment in 2011; now, IDW is serving up the funky fury, with Ash aided and abetted by Ron Wimberly (!) and Sal Buscema (!!!). This is the first of a four issue series, so sharpen your ninja stars, break out the Nag Champa, and settle in for some quality funnybook entertainment.

BONUS PICK :: SAVAGE DRAGON ARCHIVES TP VOL 3: Plagued by delays, volume three of Erik Larsen’s Savage Dragon Archives finally hits the stands. This bargain collection – in the format of Marvel’s Essential and DC’s Showcase trades – is the easiest and most affordable way to catch up on Image’s most underrated ongoing. This volume really drives home how daring Larsen is as a creator; for example, Dragon’s not even the star at the outset! It’s the sensational She-Dragon at that point! This third volume of Archives ramps up the crazy, culminating in the series-shattering issue 75, where everything changed forever. If you’re sick of the spurious changes and relentless retcons of most mainstream superhero mags, Savage Dragon is your safety haven.