WCBR’s Top Picks

Dean’s Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Saga #2 – Brian K. Vaughn and Fiona Staples are making a lot of other comics look B-A-D right now.  Seriously….you read the first couple issues of Saga and some of the other creator-owned comics I love suddenly don’t seem quite as hot and the Marvel/DC stuff starts to seem really pedestrian.  Great world-building, rich characters, cool story premise and fantastic art.  That’s a good combination.

Most Anticipated: The Walking Dead #96 – Even though TWD has been a little drab recently….and may very well be drab again this week….you know that something big WILL happen.  It’s just hard to tear your eyes away, even after all these issues.  The new status quo that the characters have found is very intriguing and offers some cool possibilities.  Like….what if Rick’s band doesn’t all want to live in one place now that they seem to have some options?

Other Picks: Batman #8, Rocketeer Adventures 2 #2, The Manhattan Projects #2, Prophet #24, Avengers vs. X-Men #2, Rachel Rising #7, Secret History of DB Cooper #2

Alex’s Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Fantastic Four #605 – For the second straight month, Fantastic Four, against all odds, beats out Saga for my pick of the week.  And Saga was, once again, really, really good. But Fantastic Four #605 came close to making me cry like a little girl and that basically guaranteed it’s spot as Pick of the Week.

Most Anticipated: Avengers vs. X-Men #2 – This is a great week if you’re a comics fan.  Among other things, we’re getting: the start of the Night of Owls event in Batman #8, issues of perennial favourites Wonder Woman and Wolverine & the X-Men, the second issue of Jonathan Hickman’s Manhattan Projects, the first issue of Walt Simonson’s return to interior artwork in Avengers #25, Phil Noto stepping in to illustrate an issue of the always excellent Uncanny X-Force, and the continuation of the Omega Effect in Greg Rucka’s Punisher.

Like I said: great week.

That said, Avengers vs. X-Men #1 was such a pleasant surprise to me that, more than anything else, I’m really interested to see whether the Marvel Architects can keep up the momentum, or whether this is going to be another case of Fear Itself (promising first issue leads to lackluster event).  I really, really hope that the level of quality meets or exceeds last issue’s and, certainly, giving the reigns to Jason Aaron this issue is a good sign, while previews suggest that John Romita Jr. is bringing the same A-game he brought to the first issue.  Here’s hoping.

Other Picks: Manhattan Projects #2, Wonder Woman #8, Batman #8, Justice League #8, Avengers #25, Defenders #5, Incredible Hulk #7, Invincible Iron Man #515, Punisher #10, Uncanny X-Force #24, Wolverine and the X-Men #9