Thanks For The Memories: Darth Vader #1 Review

 Writer: Greg Pak
Artist: Raffaele Ienco
Colorist: Neeraj Menon
Letterer: Joe Caramagna

I can’t say very often that a new release has me bouncing with excitement months in advance. Yet as was the case with the newly announced Darth Vader series from Marvel comics which would be helmed by Greg Pak (Planet Hulk, Batman/Superman) & Neeraj Menon (Batman: Sins of the Father, Postal). Now I’m always Star Wars trash, but that level of trash was only accelerated by the recently released finale Rise of Skywalker and that precedent just never went away. It also doesn’t help that I have an intense and undying love for Anakin Skywalker.

Joining the rest of the new line of Marvel Star Wars comics, Darth Vader #1 picks up upon the heels of Empire Strikes Back. The first few pages are a reflection from Vader’s perspective as he dwells upon the revelation revealed to Luke Skywalker about his parentage. In what seems like comic tradition Darth Vader is joined by a new data analysis droid named Zed Six Seven. There’s a calculated dynamic between them as Zed’s at time sarcastic dialogue acts as a foil to Darth’s stoic nature. Together the two will travel to various key locations of Anakin’s past including Tatooine and Padme’s derelict apartment on Coruscant, in an attempt to track down any and everyone hid his son from him. It’s upon the arrival to the planet known Vendaxa and a shocking revelation in the issue’s final pages that will leave you desperately wanting the next issue.

While there’s no shortage of great Darth Vader stories, especially in the Marvel mythos, I love how much this iteration of the character drives on emotion, a look beyond the mask. There's a lot at stake here as Darth Vader is torn between wanting to have to his son on his side while also being bombarded with memories of the boy's mother. Whereas Anakin thrived on his passion albeit good or bad it felt like on the surface must of that was lost when he became Darth Vader. Anakin Skywalker and Darth Vader respectively, has always been a character, driven by pure raw emotion, from his turn to the Darkside to his eventual return to the light it’s nice to see that as a titular focus in the series.  Once again able to explore Vader’s relationship with the Emperor. From the films alone we’re met with this precedent that up until the final moments before Palpatine is chucked into an electrical hole that Darth Vader is unwaveringly loyal to his master. In his third solo installment, the Dark Lord of the Sith takes on a mission of his own once again allowing his drastic feelings to carve his path which more often not lead to consequences.  Greg Pak is no stranger to Star Wars and uses key scenes throughout the series that we’re familiar with. As a creative team, Pak & Ienco exploit these moments not only for us but for Vader’s anger and reigniting that classic Anakin anger fans are familiar with. The parallels between his past and present filling those tender and heartwrenching memories with characters like his mother Shmi Skywalker and wife Padme Amidala are so carefully crafted and are only moments I wish were in the mainline films.

Darth Vader #1 left me hanging on the edge of my seat and immediately wanting more. It blew away any expectations for the series. As a Star Wars fan and by extension an Anakin/Darth Vader fan it hit me with feelings I wasn’t expecting and the issue’s last page alone was enough for me to instantly add the series to my ongoing pull. Whether you’re a fan of the series, the character or just want to experience some intense emotional heartbreak make sure to pick up Darth Vader #1. [Comixology]

Scream Queen: A Black Canary Reading List

I've been wanting to make this list for a while now as Dinah Lance, the Black Canary is my favorite comic character. Period. From rockstar to interim leader of the Justice League, Black Canary is an underrated powerhouse equipped with a metahuman supersonic Canary Cry along with the top martial art skills that even put her on par with Wonder Woman. Arguably one of the best characters in the DC Universe, Black Canary often gets the preconceived notion that she's just Green Arrow's fishnet wearing girlfriend. Now my girl Dinah can be a little confusing, especially with new readers as there isn’t really a clear origin story for the character. It also doesn’t help that superheroics run in the family and that Dinah Lance’s mother also went by the superhero persona Black Canary with the only differentiating marker between the two being that one goes by Dinah Lance, and the other by Dinah Drake Lance. Typically you’ll only be reading Dinah Drake Black Canary content if you’re reading stories from the Golden age or early Silver Age or in flashbacks in modern comics. Then there was this weird time period where the two characters and their origins were merged together through alternate universe travel and wow I’m not even going to bother touching that because just thinking about it gives me severe brain pain.

What matters is that we’re here to talk about the Black Canary, so let's do just that and exactly what books you can and should be reading so that you too can fall in love with the loud-mouthed bird lady.

Black Canary: Vol 1 Kicking & Screaming - Brenden Fletcher & Annie Wu - Just from what I’ve seen from promotional teasers and trailers it seems like the Birds of Prey movie is drawing much of its inspiration from Brenden Fletcher and Annie Wu’s 2015 run on Black Canary. In fact, this is the first iteration in which Dinah takes on the role of a musician as much of her civilian life in previous stories were spent as a florist, much like her mother. Black Canary volume one written by Brenden Fletcher and illustrated by Annie Wu contains the first seven issues of the most recent Black Canary series. Flashy and fast-paced volume one follows Dinah Lance and her merry band suitably named Black Canary as they get themselves into bar brawls across the country. Trouble seems to follow the band wherever they go and when it’s revealed that the group’s young guitarist has powers of her own, it's up to Dinah to protect her newfound family from those who would want to abuse such a power.  Now I’ll admit while I think this is a great jumping-on point for new readers (in fact this is where you should definitely start) for veteran comic readers familiar with the DC Universe things can get a little tricky here. Whereas Dinah Lance is typically the mainstream Black Canary with Dinah Drake being her mother,  in this series Dinah Drake is our mainline protagonist (despite taking on much of Lance's personality and traits)  however once you get over that it's pretty much smooth sailing. This book is on another level, as Annie Wu’s cool and contemporary take on the character elevates Black Canary in a way we haven’t seen before. Now I love all the iterations on the character, and I mean all of them (even the weird 80's aerobics era) but Dinah’s style in her solo series is just drop-dead gorgeous. Brenden Fletcher, the series creator also went above and beyond going so far as to write and produce six musical tracks for the Black Canary band. All six tracks can be found on Bandcamp so make to head over and give them a listen. I hate using the word perfect, but this book is just that. It may just be my personal feelings, as this book is near and dear to my heart but I feel like this is the one Black Canary book you should be reading, especially if you’re new to the character entirely. [Comixology]

Birds of Prey: Sensei & Student -  Gail Simone & Ed Benes - There’s no denying what Gail Simone did for Black Canary or the Birds of Prey but with over sixty issues just for the Birds alone across two separate series it can be a little overwhelming, not to mention who’s got that kind of time?! If you do have the time though you should really read it because Simone truly did some legendary and iconic things for the girls that just need to be experienced. For this list I decided to pull the arc I deemed most essential for the character. The Sensei and Student storyline written by Gail Simone and illustrated by Ed Benes spans across issues #62 to #67. While the original trade can be hard to find as it has been long since out of print, DC comics is rereleasing the issues in the newly printed Gail Simone collection, or if you prefer digital they’re always available on Comixology for super cheap. Like I said before Dinah Lance is considered one of the best when it comes to martial arts. Although trained by many, when one of her former mentors known only as Sensei falls ill Dinah packs her bags for China for one final reunion. But his untimely murder sets a mysterious plot in motion and the Black Canary is forced to team up with two of her biggest rivals. This is a great first experience with other minor femme Fatales like Lady Shiva and Chesire, both of which are prevalent throughout most of the story and serve as dynamic foils for Canary's character. Dinah will be forced to set aside her differences with both of these women despite the three’s complicated past if she has any hope in bringing her teacher’s murderer to justice. There’s also an extended flashback to Dinah’s mother the original Black Canary, which surprisingly ties the whole story together really well. Now, this books suffers through some very questionable mid-2000’s art. Just be warned you’ll be a witness to our Birds in some very strange outfits complete with some even stranger proportions. While you’re at it though you should also pick up issue #68, which also appears in the collected trade. As its own one-shot, this issue follows Black Canary, Huntress and Oracle as the three take a day away from super-heroics. Without spoiling, this issue in particular features what is probably one of my favorite Black Canary moments of all time hence why I'm giving it some spotlight. [Comixology]

Black Canary/Zatanna Bloodspell - Paul Dini & Joe Quinones - Another great first step read towards the character Black Canary/Zatanna Bloodspell is an original graphic novel that is pretty much completely self-contained, making it a great pickup for anyone interested in Black Canary or even Zatanna. After unknowingly taking part in a blood pact during a previous undercover mission, the dead return, and with a vengeance. Dinah will be forced to fight magic with magic and she has a trick up her sleeve of her own. Enter the all-powerful Zatanna Zatara. This story is a whirlwind adventure between our two favorite fishnet wearing heroines and being that this book is written by Paul Dini who most famously worked on the Batman Animated Series that influence is evident across every page with fast-paced action and witty dialogue we’re familiar with. Combined with Joe Quinones who I might note is one of my favorite modern comic artists, Bloodspell is honestly a joy from start to finish and at only 144 pages you can pretty much finish this book in one sitting. One of the things I really love about Bloodspell and why it's featured so prominently on this list is that while yes it is its own stand-alone and self-contained story we also get to see flashbacks into time spent between both of these characters as the story tends to alternate between past and present storylines. It really helps to provide development for the relationship between both of these characters as theirs is a relationship that is has been eluded at in previous stories but is also something that we've only seen at face value. In Bloodspell Dinah almost takes on the role of mentor for a younger Zatanna, as she helps the young magician find confidence in herself and with her powers. We even get to see Zatanna’s first moments as she’s inducted into the Justice League. I should note that there are also some really awesome callbacks to the character's previous costumes throughout the years. If you're looking for a deep and intriguing storyline, Bloodspell, unfortunately, isn't it, but if you're looking for an enjoyable read with amusing character interaction then look no further. Besides if your comics aren’t fun then what's the point. [Comixology]

Green Arrow/Black Canary: The Wedding Album - Judd Winnick, Cliff Chiang & Amanda Connor - The Wedding Album contains the first five issues of the thirty issue run initially helmed by  Judd Winnick. It also features the monumental Green Arrow Black Canary Wedding Special, also written by Winnick and illustrated by the amazing Amanda Conner. Now if you know me you know just how much I adore Judd Winnick and his extended run on Green Arrow, but that’s an essay for another day. The Wedding album begins with the long-awaited union between Dinah Lance and Oliver Queen. (There’s also an indulgent standalone Black Canary Wedding Planner issue not included in the trade.) After literal decades of an on again off again relationship the two finally manage to tie the knot, but not without its own complications. After the fight resolves and the ceremony is able to conclude things aren’t as they seem when Black Canary is forced to kill her new husband on their wedding night in a struggle for her life. A month passes and Dinah still doesn’t believe that death for Oliver Queen has stuck, at least not this time around, and it’s off to Themyscira to rescue her husband. Here on Paradise Island,  it’s revealed that the death of the Green Arrow was merely a ploy to trick Dinah into joining the Amazons in an in the hopes that her grief would isolate her away from the rest of the world and she would be more than willing to train an elite group of warriors. I desperately need more of Dinah on Themyscira surrounded by Amazons and casually tossing around that she has lunch with Wonder Woman on a consistent basis. (Speaking of which if you want to see a radical Black Canary/Wonder Woman team-up be sure to check out Wonder Woman #34 and #35) Seeing the Black Canary stand toe to toe with Amazon warriors is never a bad thing either. This book also serves as a great introduction to other members of the Arrow family that you might not have heard of such as Mia Dearden and Connor Hawke, two characters near and dear to my heart that have since been forgotten by DC Comics. Did I mention that this book features artwork from Cliff Chiang who worked on other titles such as Wonder Woman and the indie hit Paper Girls? I love the way that Cliff illustrates superheroes, there’s such a stylistic boldness we don’t get nearly enough of anymore. To me, Black Canary/Green Arrow is a timeless classic for the characters and the first arc in particular mostly revolves around Black Canary which is why it's on this list. [Comixology]

 Birds of Prey Death of Oracle - Gail Simone, Ardian Syaf, Vicente Cifuentes, Guillem March, & Inaki Miranda -  I told myself I was only going to include one Gail Simone Birds of Prey book but I just couldn’t help myself. While not the most essential storyline, Death of Oracle is certainly one that is often overlooked. Despite its Oracle title, there is a significance here for Black Canary’s character as key moments throughout the character’s past are illuminated and exposed to help further the plot. Originally released in Birds of Prey #7-10, Birds of Prey Death of Oracle is written by Gail Simone and illustrated by various artists. The overall premise of the story is that of Calculator a computer genius, superior strategist, and recurring villain of the Birds of Prey working to expose the identity of Oracle after the information was previously lost to him and wiped from his memory in a previous issue. That being said what makes this such a key moment for Dinah Lance is her confrontation with the villain known as Mortis, a new character at the time created by Simone. Mortis has the power to make a person relive every regret throughout their own lives often driving them to their death. So when Black Canary is exposed to such a power she’ll be forced to live through her worst moments. For a character always portrayed with a strong will and even stronger resolve its a huge change to see her at her lowest as she suffers through key moments throughout here comic history Here we’ll watch her come face to face with a number of tragedies including her torture during Longbow Hunters and the death of her niece Lian in Cry for Justice. Gail Simone has always said that Dinah is one of her favorite characters and that love is evident throughout the entirety of this story. Here Simone takes horrible trauma previously inflicted on Dinah and rather than using it as a crutch, Dinah takes her trauma head-on until it can no longer be used against her. While I love this book I wouldn’t recommend this book for anyone just getting into the character as these moments serve a far greater impact if you’ve read some of the previous stories referenced. That being said Death of Oracle certainly serves for a great read later on. If you happen to pick this one up by the trade, in favor of its single issues, the book also includes a smaller arc, initially published in Birds of Prey #14 & #15 written by Marc Andreyko that allows readers to see an adventure featuring the first Black Canary, Dinah Drake as she teams up with other classic heroines such as the Phantom Lady and Lady Blackhawk. [Comixology]

Finger Guns #1 Advanced Review

Written by Justin Richards 
Art by Val Halvorson 
Colors by Rebecca Nalty 
Letters by Taylor Esposito

Finger Guns written by Justin Richards and illustrated by Val Halvorson is the first new series of 2020 published by Vault comics. Now if you followed me at all last year you know just how much I love this publisher. Throughout 2019, Vault was a continuous powerhouse with titles like These Savage Shores, Heist, Money Shot and Sera and the Royal Stars. Vault is fully prepared to start 2020 with a literal bang. Thanks to the kind folks over at Vault Comics I was able to get a sneak peek at the first issue of Finger Guns a month before it hits your local comic shop.

Life as a teenager is hard. With factors like school, work, friendships, and puberty it can feel almost impossible to balance. Life as a teenager with a crappy and stressful home life, well that's even harder. Enter our two protagonists. Finger Guns follows the story of two such kids following their own beaten path just trying to make it through life before converging together with what they have in common It's a coming of age story we've seen before, but with an added twist. Our two main characters can manipulate the emotions of one another with you guessed it, a single finger gun motion.

This book is absolutely gorgeous, Val Halvorson and Rebecca Nalty (the series colorist) are an absolute dream team together. In a book about elevated emotions, the theme is handled perfectly in regards to its art. The colors are gorgeous and vibrant while still tying down the fact that this book is just about everyday kids. There's also a use of texture along with the colorwork that I really appreciate, it really helps to add depth to every panel and page.

While there are a lot of similarities between our characters I also really love the contrast between them. Wes, who we're first introduced harnesses a power that seemingly elevates the emotions of others, especially those of hate and anger, while his counterpart Sadie seemingly calms and settles with the use of her own powers. This contrast can also be seen in their personal lives as well. Wes lives most of his life alone, as his absent father spends most of his time working late, while Sadie's family is quite the opposite as we learn here parents are financially struggling which only adds weight to their family. Both are feelings that almost everyone has experienced at one point or another which helps to make the series more relatable despite its magical touch.

My biggest issue with Finger Guns premiere is its pacing. Now I'll give him credit, Richards gets right down to it with our main character discovering and experimenting with his powers by page four. I like this a lot. However, from there, the rest of the issue seems rushed with scenes feeling incomplete at times. The final pages, in particular, are where we see it the worst especially in the issue's cliffhanger. I'm almost certain of where the next issue will go and how it will begin which makes its ending lacking in any weight or real "threat".  I personally feel like the final pages should have just shown the eluded action with the opening of issue two dealing with its consequences.

Overall I really enjoyed Finger Guns and am excited to see where the story will go. If you're a fan of series like We Can Never Go Home or 4 Kids Walk Into a Bank this is a seemingly no brainer pickup. Either way, make sure to pick up Finger Guns #1 and read it for yourself when the first issue drops on February 26th.  

It's Simple: Stop Pirating Comics

Your favorite comic Aunt is back and this time here with one extremely hot take. STOP PIRATING COMICS. You heard me stop pirating comics, and support your favorite series and creators.

While it’s something I’ve been wanting to talk about for a while it’s the recent tweets from Ted Brandt, who has inking credits on titles such as Image’s Crowded & Marvel’s Unstoppable Wasp that finally rekindled the fire and inspired my call to action.

This is a serious epidemic that’s taking money away from the writers, illustrators, inkers, editors, colorists, designers and letterers that have so lovingly created these stories for you. In an industry that already doesn’t compensate it’s creators nearly enough, stealing the works that have taken them literal months to create for you only adds insult to injury. Not only that but did you know that when you pirate a series versus supporting one with sales, that runs the risk of a series being pushed to a trade format, or even worse canceled, because it is no longer deemed profitable by the publisher?

And if it wasn’t already obvious pirating comics, massively hurt your local comic book shop. Now take it from someone who previously worked at her LCS, we depend on these sales. You deciding that you’re just gonna pirate an issue, or two or three is massively hurting our business and the ability to thrive.

Now I get it, you love comics and want to read and experience all they have to offer. I also totally understand from the perspective of someone who has spent a lot of money on comics that they can be expensive as hell. And from a casual reader’s perspective that can come off as extremely intimidating. However pirating comics, is not the way to approach and fix this “issue.” There are several alternatives where you can still support a creator and their work in a legal manner without breaking the bank.

So let’s talk about some alternatives.

With streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+ on the rise, did you know that there are also a few “streaming” services for comics as well? No? Well let’s talk about them.

Comixology Unlimited

As far as I’m aware Comixology is pretty much the go-to service when it comes to digital reading. Much like going to a comic shop, you can purchase individual issues and even whole graphic novels/trades and have those books right at your fingertips. Not only that but they often offer pretty killer deals nearly every week. But that’s not why we’re here, we’re here to talk about Comixology Unlimited. Comixology Unlimited is pretty much a comic book streaming service that offers, over 20,000 digital comics, graphic novels and even manga across a bunch of popular publishers including DC, Marvel, and Image. With titles like the most recent run on Batman, Archie, and one of my personal favorites, Saga, it’s honestly such a great resource for comic fans both who read on a regular basis and on a casual one. Not only can you read some of your favorite stories and characters but it’s a great way to be introduced to new stories as well without running the risk of paying for something you might not love. The best part, Comixology is free for the first 30 days and after that, it’s only $5.99 each month. It’s cheaper than both Netflix and Spotify and has about the same cost as buying two regular comic issues.



Marvel Unlimited

Marvel has its own digital library available on your smartphone or tablet. As the title suggests your are restricted to just Marvel titles, but that includes Star Wars too! Marvel boasts a catalog of over 25,000 issues ranging from those classic stories to the more modern ones. What’s great about Marvel Unlimited is that they are constantly adding new issues each week, and even have new releases readily available as soon as 6 months after they first hit your local shop. To put it into perspective, War of the Realms, a massive Marvel event that started back at the beginning of summer has it’s first issue readily available for you to read, with more soon on the way. While Marvel Unlimited is a little more expensive at $9.99 a month or $69 per year it’s honestly the perfect go to for any Marvel super fan. One of the things I personally really like about Marvel Unlimited is that they have really awesome breakdowns for popular characters, including some must reads that you might not have been aware of. It’s a really great tool for those wanting to get into comics or even to try out a character they’ve been reluctant on just because they didn’t know where to start.

DC Universe

DC Universe started a streaming service for its movies, shows, and original series but quickly moved into offering an expansive digital comic library as well. Much like Marvel Unlimited, DC Universe hosts over 20,000 comics available to you that also range from the classic to modern era. If I’m being honest DC Universe and Marvel Unlimited are both extremely similar with DC Universe instead also offering access to other classic media and content from it’s characters. DC Universe is available to you for $7.99 a month or $74.99 for an annual membership.

So maybe streaming isn’t your forte. Maybe you just don’t read enough comics to justify an annual or even a monthly membership but still want the ability to experience everything comics have to offer. Well you can love and experience those comics, while still supporting those creators without any cost to you.

It’s called your LOCAL LIBRARY!

That’s right, your local library also offers comics, typically in the form of collected graphic novels/trades. I won’t go too much into detail, (if you’re interested I wrote all about the importance of comics and the library in another post) but your local library more than likely has an excellent selection of books for you to read and enjoy. The best part about it is that while it might seem free to you, those creators are still being compensated because at the end of the day someone is still buying those comics.

The moral of the story is comics are great. I love comics more than anything in the world and I stand by the fact that comics are for everyone and should be loved and shared as such. But there’s a proper way to do it an industry where it’s creators already struggle and hustle to make ends meet. So please, for the love of everything don’t pirate these books that these people have poured all their time, love and effort into. Instead utilize the streaming services, your local library, even each other to support and share the series that you love.

The Importance of Preorders at your LCBS: Advice From a Former Employee

Comics, there's a lot of them. There are literally hundreds of comics that drop each month from over a dozen publishers. These range from full-blown graphic novels, anniversary issues variant covers and of course your monthly issues. Now if you've ever been to your local comic shop I'm sure you've had someone ask if you'd like something on your pull or even if you want that special cover preordered for you. Now typically these preorders don't require any sort of deposit but instead just a commitment to pick up said book(s) upon release. To some, it may come off as abrasive or even pushy but I can assure that is not the case.  As a former employee at my local shop, there are so many reasons why we ask this of you.

Did you know that comic shops have to order their books for each week an entire month in advance? Sometimes, even more, when it comes to those fancy prestige formats from DC Black Label. Let's start off with a little comic shop terminology. FOC. Comic retailers order via one distributor and their FOC each and every week. So what is FOC? FOC stands for Final Order Cutoff. What that means is once FOC comes by those numbers are locked in. Some shops can get away with ordering a few extra issues if they're still in stock but you're probably not guaranteed those issues upon release day, but rather a few weeks after. Shops do their best to rely on the numbers from their subscribers but what about that gorgeous Artgerm variant or that new first issue everyone keeps talking about that you might pick up outside of your weekly pull. Well, you're probably not the only one thinking that and with this mindset that can lead to shops running low on a particular issue and missing out on those much-needed sales. I hate saying this but from first-hand experience, comics are a huge gamble and put small and newer shops at such a risk. It feels like more and more shops are ordering fewer copies to help curb the risk of being left with unwanted issues years later. Not everyone can be Midtown Comics and order a ton of stock.

Speaking of limited stock and the importance of preordering your comics is that you're pretty much guaranteed a particular issue or variant once you've preordered (aside from maybe some of those wild incentive variants). This means you'll no longer have to worry about rushing to your local shop first thing Wednesday morning, picking up your books at your convenience and can avoid eBay scalpers later on.  It also means you won't have to worry about missing out on a first printing of a new series or even a key issue. From a former retailer perspective, it honestly feels like Diamond (the sole distributor for comics) isn't stocking comics the way it might have used to. This means more and more comics are seeing second and even third printings. Preordering your comics helps you avoid later printings unless of course, you're into that sort of thing. Please don't feel obligated to subscribing to an entire series either especially if you don't know what you're getting into. Even if you just preorder the first issue of a new series and decide to subscribe later on it's a huge help to publishers and retailers alike.

Something I personally didn't realize until recently is that series can actually get the ax due to low orders on FOC.  Recently, Spell on Wheels 2 from Kate Leth, Megan Levens, Marissa Louise and published by Dark Horse had its single issues canceled due to low preorders and will luckily be published in an original graphic novel format instead. Publishers use the preorder numbers entered from retailers via FOC to determine how many copies of a title to publish, if at all. That being said it makes me wonder how many other smaller series and even smaller publishers were left vulnerable, and instead were just straight-up canceled. That being said these numbers affect your favorite ongoing series too! So if you love a series make sure to subscribe to keep the title going.

 So what happens when you preorder a comic. Well lots of things actually, it's kind of a domino effect. You get the books you want, and in turn not only are you supporting the demand of a particular title but you're also helping to keep a small business afloat. Don't know what's coming out? Well, let's fix that. Previewsworld.com is a great and free digital resource available to you that lists everything releasing within the next three months. Previews also has descriptions, additional variant covers as well as preview pages for selected series. It also includes fun and quirky comic-related merchandise including apparel and collectibles, all available through your local comic shop. Alternatively, comic shops typically have a physical version of the Previews Catalogue available for purchase and also usually have a store copy of the catalog which is available for you to browse while you shop. Personally, this is my preferred method of viewing just because there is so much to see.

What are you waiting for? Make sure you call, email, or even head out to your local comic shop and tell them all about the fantastic books you want to preorder! 

Hawkeye, More Like Hawkguy: A Hawkeye Reading List

Hawkeye is quite possibly my favorite Marvel superhero. Now that being said if you had told me that three years ago I would have quite literally laughed in your face. See young Mars was dumb and madly in love with a very similar DC character named Green Arrow and therefore believed she could never love Hawkeye let alone remotely tolerate, but here we are.

Now in my eyes there are two versions of Clint Barton There’s Hawkeye, he’s a little dull, bland and often times forgettable. This is probably the version of Hawkeye you’re most familiar with thanks to the recent MCU. Then we have Hawkguy. Typically if you’re reading any comic featuring the character that was written post 2012 it’s usually this version. Unlike Hawkeye, Hawkguy is an absolute trash mess, and I say that in the most loving way. Hawkguy is hilarious, bold and yet lovingly down to Earth despite all his flaws. It’s this version of the character that I think everyone should get their hands on at least once and hence the reason why I’ve compiled this handy list so you know exactly where to start along with some additional fun reads once you’ve fallen in love residential trash man Clint Barton.

Hawkeye - Matt Fraction & David Aja - This is it where it all began. This is the origin of the Hawkguy. I was told for years to read this book and I refused because I am a literal idiot and now it’s probably in my top five favorite comics of all time so that’s saying something. Fraction and Aja’s 22 issue take on the character is just perfect in each and every way, because yes while it is considered a cape comic it doesn't feel as such. Instead here Hawkeye feels like something from an indie publisher and the overall story is composed mostly of small vignette slice of life stories. Also, THERE’S A DOG. Pretty sure that right there is enough for you to read it. There’s a lot of things this run brings to the table including the partnership of Hawkeye (Clint Barton) and Hawkeye (Kate Bishop), another one of my favorite characters from Marvel comics. All throughout this book there’s such a wonderful dynamic between the two. Despite Clint’s “advantage” in age and experience it’s usually Kate who’s deemed the responsible one and generally holds the team together especially when Clint mucks it up. She’s also not afraid to take any of his shit and tell him exactly when his poor life choices have gone too far.Fraction and Aja’s run on Hawkeye also illuminate and represent Clint’s disability. Although they tweak it’s origin, Clint Barton is once again deaf in canon continuity and in the final stretches of their 22 issue run we get to watch as the hero adjusts and copes with this new challenge, thanks to the help of his brother Barny. His disability is not only represented but it’s embraced and honestly paved the way for how creators would perceive the characters going forward. From Christmas with Tony Stark, to Russian mobsters this book is just a literal joy from start to finish. Aja’s simplistic and subtle style combined with Fraction’s wit and humor is honestly a match made in heaven. I could literally talk about this book for days and still not have praised it enough so it looks like you’re just going to read it. [Comixology]

 All New Hawkeye - Jeff Lemire & Ramon Perez - Don't let the name fool you, despite the "All New" title it's still the same ole Clint Barton. Jeff Lemire's small little stint on Hawkeye is honestly just great. Lemire is another one of those writers that I love and with so many wonderful indie titles under his belt it's awesome to know that he can write top tier superheroes just as well. While Lemire's run on Hawkeye wasn't nearly as long as Fraction, with only a mere 11 issues, I would say it's equally important when it comes to the character. In the story's first arc we get to see the return of Hawkeye's brother, Barny as well as a little more insight into their childhood together as the story transitions between past and present. The second arc is a lot different, and frankly gets a little weird, but weird is good. You've heard of Old Man Logan now meet Old Man Hawkeye. Unlike the first arc, we spend a lot of focus switching between the present and a near distant future. Now usually I don't like time jumps, but the creative team honestly nails it with creating a future that is so different from the current timeline, without being something that is unbelievable. We also get to see "Old Woman Kate????" She's badass and that's all that matters. (This is so much better than the actual Old Man Hawkeye comic btw.) Honestly if you love Fraction's run on Hawkeye you'll love Lemire's. Despite the two having very different styles when it comes to storytelling they both tend to focus on the things that make Hawkeye great! There's the solid teamup between Kate and Clint, and again a larger focus and representation on Clint's deafness, something that for me is always appreciated. [Comixology]

Tales of Suspense: Hawkeye & Winter Soldier - Matthew Roseberg & Travel Foreman - Tales of Suspense is a witty buddy cop story with a love triangle romance thrown in for that extra razzle dazzle. That's enough to grab you, right? The five issue mini-series follows Hawkeye and Winter Soldier after the death of Natasha Romanoff, the Black Widow. Despite the two sharing mutual romantic feelings for the same woman, they don’t exactly share the same views following her death. Clint Barton, the reckless & hopeful, still holds out that she may be alive, while the stoic Bucky Barnes would rather leave the past behind him. Despite their contrasting feelings the two come together when someone starts killing all of Black Widow's enemies. I love Tales & Suspense because its short and sweet, while still leaving a long lasting impact. As the story itself is only five issues it makes for a light and easy read. Even better about it is that you really don’t need that much backstory; unlike a lot of cape comics. Despite Tales of Suspense rocking a classic title monequer and revolving around three major players any history the reader might need to know is right there on the pages. It also probably helps that thanks to the MCU these three characters are now household names, but hey let’s give credit where it’s due. Matt Rosenberg is one of my favorite writers out there (this is my shameless plug for you to read We Can Never Go Home & 4 Kids Walk Into A Bank) and he honestly carries it home with the love for all these characters. There are some seriously classic moments, like Clint calling Bucky a greasy weasel and Clint definitely stealing some Lo Mein from someone's fridge while he interrogates them. It also has one of my favorite moments in comics involving chocolate milk so enough said. [Comixology]

Hawkeye Vs. Deadpool - Gerry Duggan & Matteo Lolli - I'm just gonna put it out there, I don't like Deadpool, like at all. That being said I really really loved Hawkeye vs Deadpool a lot more than I should. Despite the title this is anything but Hawkeye vs Deadpool, in fact its a superpowered, super comical teamup between the two. Much like Tales of Suspense, Hawkeye Vs Deadpool feels like another buddy cop story and Clint Barton just thrives in these sort of stories. It's Halloween in Brooklyn and our characters are bought together by espionge mystery that pits them against the clock. Another light and fun read,this title is filled with all sorts of fun humor and quips from the characters. This book is absolutely hilarious and will make you laugh out loud. But dont let all the humor fool you, while Hawkeye Vs. Deadpool is a comedy at it's core it also manages to sneak in a couple punches here and there, giving some amazing personal development to it's characters. Now I'll admit toward the end some of the action and motives from the villains can get a little convaluted but you're honestly not reading this book for a life changing plot. HvD thrives on it's characters, it's humor along with their interactions with one another, and all of that is done phenomenally well. Also there's more Kate Bishop, and any book with more Kate Bishop is a good book. [Comixology]

West Coast Avengers - Kelly Thompson & Stefano Caselli  - WEST COAST AVENGERS IS SO MUCH FUN AND IM SO UPSET IT GOT CANCELLED. Now that that’s out of the way definitely read West Coast Avengers. We've got Hawkeye, we've got Hawkeye, we've got Gwenpool, and we've got Jeff the Land Shark. You heard me correctly, JEFF the LAND SHARK! This zany teamup has a fantastic cast of characters and manages to introduce and familirize you with characters you may not have even heard of. (I can definitely tell you I never knew of Kid Omega prior to WCA). That being said there's also an interesting selection of villains including Marvel's favorite big boy M.O.D.O.K. Kelly Thompson tries something new by setting this series up almost like a reality tv show following the West Coast Avengers. That leads to some pretty hilarious moments during our heroes "confessionals" with the crew. Also Clint acts as the team's residential babysitter, which is pretty great. If you enjoyed series like Young Avengers or even Runaways you'll really like this one. This is another one of those books where I really enjoyed the character interactions even if at times the plot was lackluster. Now I'll admit for the most part Clint Barton takes a backseat, letting Kate Bishop take the reigns but there's still some really great moments for the archer. Also the way Stefano Caselli draws Hawkeye...he's just so dreamy. [Comixology]

I honestly managed to fall in love with "Hawkguy" in the span of a year. Like head over heels in love and I'm always craving new content for my favorite purple archer.

What are some of your favorite Hawkeye stories, and what characters would you like me to tackle next for a reccomended reading?

As always HAPPY READING!

Most Anticipated Series For the Remainder of 2019

COMICS! That's it, that's the entire post. Go home.

But in all seriousness comics are fantastic and I feel like they just keep getting better and better, especially as new series and creators keep pushing the boundaries of what exactly this medium can accomplish. That being said, I know it's been a hot minute, but I'm back, and more importantly, it looks like the new series of comics for 2019 are gonna go out with a bang and I'm here to tell you about some of the fantastic new titles dropping soon in your local comic shop.

 Money Shot - Tim Seely, Sarah Beatie & Rebekah Issacs - Vault 

Money Shot. It's got sex, it's got aliens, it's got sex with aliens in SPACE. Now that I have your attention Money Shot is seriously going to be one of the best series Vault has ever published, and that's saying something because it seems like every single series Vault has put out lately has been an absolute banger. (This is my shameless plug for you to read Sera & The Royal Stars, Heathen, Submerged and These Savage Shores btw.) In a near-distant future, the government has basically cut funding to nonessential sciences (this is sounding a little too familiar here). So a small group of scientists decide to band together and kickstart and fund their own projects by literally going into space, filming sexual encounters with any new species they come across, and beaming said encounters back to Earth.  Because what better way to fund your projects and make money than interstellar PORN.  I've had the pleasure of reading the first two issues of Money Shot and I can ensure you this is going to be one of the best titles of the year. It's smart, it's funny, surprisingly heartwarming and it's sexy without being gross, which I honestly really appreciate. We've a had a lot of books in 2019 attempt to be sexy but I don't think any accomplished what Money Shot has. There's definitely a lot of heart to this series, which shows on every page, and with a cast of fun characters and gorgeous art to boot, you're gonna want to make sure Money Shot is on your pull list! Money Shot is available on October 23rd! 

Family Tree  - Jeff Lemire & Phil Hester - Image Comics

I LOVE Phil Hester, and I also LOVE Jeff Lemire, so seeing these two team up on a project together feels like an absolute dream I never realized I wanted. When a young girl literally begins to slowly transform into a tree it's up to her dysfunctional family to venture out and find a cure before the transformation is complete and the girl is lost forever. It's got cults, it's got body horror, what more could you want from a book like this? I'm actually really excited about this one for a bunch of reasons. First off it's Phil Hester guys. I love Phil's linework and how it really doesn't feel like anything else in comics. If you haven't read his long-lasting run of Green Arrow please do so immediately because it's so goooooood! I'm excited to see Phil take on a horror project and a body horror project at that. I already know the art is going to be fantastic so there's that to look forward too. Then we have Jeff Lemire. Lemire has so many series under his belt that I'm passionate about, Sweet Tooth, Black Hammer, Plutona and it feels like Family Tree will be added to the list. He always seems to thrive in crafting these really weird and out there series you couldn't even think to imagine while also having these very relateable characters to help ground the story. Either way, I'll never say no to a creative team like this and can't wait for Family Tree to release on November 13th.

Folklords - Matt Kindt & Matt Smith - Boom Comics

Folklords just sounds like someone's really wild Dungeons and Dragons campaign and I'm all for it. In a blend between worlds, while Ansel knows only of the fairytale life he's lived in, he's plagued with visions and images from our world. Strange technology and even stranger tailored suits set Ansel on his quest to figure out just what exactly he's been dreaming of. I'm really excited to see how this book plays out as it could honestly be one of two ways. It could be a fun lighthearted all-ages title, a trend Boom is very familiar with, or it could be a dark and comedic more adult-oriented series. Given the creative team, I'm leaning more toward the latter, but I'd honestly be very happy with either. Although we've only seen a few covers I'm already digging the art from Matt Smith, it feels bright, colorful and fun and I honestly can't wait to see more of it. Die from Image Comics is currently one of my favorite series out there right now and it feels like Folklords could almost be the other side to the same coin. Doesn't matter because this girl is pumped either way when Folklords drops on November 13th. 

 Crone -Denis Culver & Justin Greenwood - Dark Horse Comics

I LOVE BADASS OLDER WOMEN IN COMICS.  Okay so let's be real I love any warrior woman who could probably kick my ass but an older woman doing it just as a soft spot in my heart. I mean her name is literally Bloody Bliss and she is literally the SWORD SAVIOR AND CHAMPION OF MEN. I love her so much already and I can't believe someone wrote an entire dang comic about my D&D character. But in all seriousness I love the entire aesthetic of this book so much, and a lot of it is reminiscent of other sword and sorcery series like Red Sonja and of course Sword Daughter, another series from Darkhorse Comics that I am just absolutely loving! Looking forward to the solicitation for Crone #2 it looks like our hero is queer which is enough of a reason for me to read this book. (But seriously who decided to write a book about my Dungeons and Dragons character) I'm really not familiar with the creative team, but honestly, they already have me sold on this mini-series.  Give me Crone and give me her now! Crone will be injected directly into my brain on November 6th. 

Low Low Woods - Carmen Maria Machado & Dani - DC Comics

More horror? Yes, please? Despite horror being such a wide cast net, it doesn't feel like there's that many comics for the genre, at least not good ones. Low Low Woods is yet another title in DC Comics stunning new lineup of original horror stories, joining the likes of Basket Full of Heads and Dollhouse Family.  Based in the very real still burning mine towns of Pennsylvania, the woods surrounding them are populated by their own fantastical horrors. When two young girls wake up without the recollection of the previous few hours of their lives they'll be forced to explore and discover a horrific truth about their own home. Now I personally love Carmen Maria Machado. Her previous prose horror work on Her Body and Other Parties is just completely unreal in regards to creativity. It's seriously one of the best works of horror I've ever read and I'm just really excited how her mind will translate in comic form. If you happened to snag a copy of Something is Killing Children, then picking up Low Low Woods almost seems like a no brainer. While the two are completely different, in comparison they both seem to have that same beautifully horrific tone. And that Jenny Frison variant is literally to die for.  Low Low Woods drops December 18th, so make sure it's on your list because I have a sneaking suspicion this one is going to be selling out quick in shops.

 Olympia - Curt Pires, Tony Pires, Alex Diotto & Dee Cunniffee - Image

 Olympia from Image Comics just looks like such a treat. A young boy Elon, spends his days reading comics (sounds familiar) but everything will change when his prized and favorite superhero suddenly bursts from the page and into reality. This book isn't even out but I've never related to a premise more in my entire life. Elon is literally everyone who loves and reads comics. I too wish my favorite superhero would burst from the page and spice up my boring life. It's not even out yet but I can already tell that Olympia is going to be a love letter to comics. Much like Black Hammer, I get the impression that this series will be a superhero comic without feeling like a cape comic, something that's desperately needed in in this medium.  I can't wait to see all the heart and soul into this new series and so can you when Olympia jumps into comics shops on November 20th. 

As always preordering the books you're excited for at your local comic shop is a huge clutch, even if it's just the first issue. So if any of these series interested you or if there's other series you're looking forward too remember to let your shop know ASAP so they can guarunatee it for you! Are you excited for any of these series? Are there any I missed that YOU'RE excited for? Make sure to let me know in the comments below!