This Week’s Ones points out great jumping-on points for new readers. This could include new story arcs, as well as actual #1 issues from whole new series. Remember how I said how big last week was? Yeah. This week. Not so much. There’s good books here. Don’t get me wrong. Just not the same massive week we had last week. When faced with the daunting task of picking The Big One every week, I usually use one main criteria. “Who’s first?”

I imagine I had this entire stack of jumping on points in front of me, and usually there’s that one book that will inevitably jump out and say “Me me me me me”! Why that happens exactly, I’m not too sure of. Sometimes, in that very moment, you just want espresso instead of cappuccino. It can be that simple. This Week’s espresso…

Up this week: The Massive #1, Before Watchmen Silk Spectre #1, Kiss #1, Spider-Men #1, Star Wars: Knight Errant – Escape #1 & Untold Tales Of Punisher Max #1.

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*** The Massive #1***

In a post-war, post-crash, post-disaster, post-everything world, the environmental-action trawler Kapital scours the earth’s oceans for its mysteriously missing sistership, The Massive. Captain Callum Israel, a man who has dedicated his life to the ocean, now must ask himself-as our planet dies-what it means to be an environmentalist after the world’s ended. Callum and his crew will come up against pirates, rebels, murderers, and thieves as they struggle to remain noble toward their cause. Can you save a planet that’s already doomed?

story by Brian Wood
art by Kristian Donaldson
published by Dark Horse Comics

I’ve said this before and will probably say it again. Some comic book runs are just legendary. DMZ by Brian Wood is one of those runs. It’s been done for a while now and I find myself very intrigued at what he’s cooked over the past few months. Compelling characters in even more compelling stories is what Wood has provided in the past, so I’m banking on more of same.

 

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Before Watchmen Silk Spectre #1

‘Oh sweetie, you’re too young to hate. Wait until you’re older and the world gives you a good reason. Trust me, it won’t let you down.’ Plus: Don’t miss the CRIMSON CORSAIR backup story by writer LEN WEIN and artist JOHN HIGGINS! This issue is also offered as a combo pack edition with a redemption code for a digital download of this issue.

story by Darwyn Cooke
art by John Higgins
published by DC Comics

The grand experiment rolls on. I read the first book in this series, and I was impressed. It was great! It could’ve just been a great story alone without all the “Watchmen” hoopla that has drowned out the series at this point. I am starting to think this whole thing might’ve been served better with characters no one has ever heard of and just make it the beginning of a brand new world.

 

*****

Kiss #1

You Wanted the Best, You Got the Best! KISS is back in an all-new comic series that will appeal to longtime fans and new readers alike! Four ordinary humans in 1920s Chicago find themselves caught up in a battle of epic proportions that will reverberate across time and space in ‘Dressed to Kill,’ part 1!

story by Chris Ryall
art by Jamal Igle
published by IDW Publishing

When I was a wee little Noob, Kiss was BIG! They were superheroes! They even came out with their own comic book that contained “Real Kiss Blood”! I know it was real because they showed pictures of “Doctors” taking it out of the bands arms and then pouring it into the ink! How’s that for marketing? Let me paraphrase Gene Simmons (Who has to be 80 by now): “If there’s a kid out there with fifty cents in his pocket that wants to buy a Kiss ticket, we’re going to do the show”!

 

*****

Spider-Men #1

This June – history will be made for the Marvel Universe

story by Brian Michael Bendis
art by Sara Pichelli
published by Marvel Comics

Boy! Marvel spares no words when it comes to their solicits. As you can tell, this is the very first time that the regular version of Spider-Man appears in a crossover with the Ultimate version of Spider-Man. It’s a big deal because Marvel said this is something we would NEVER see!

 

 

 

 

 

*****

Star Wars: Knight Errant – Escape #1

Jedi Knight Kerra Holt’s next mission starts with a very personal and ultrasecret investigation! But with the dark realities of Sith territory surrounding her, something unexpected may be taking hold of the lone Jedi! As she takes the first step toward her goal, Kerra knows there will be no turning back!

story by John Jackson Miller
art by Marco Castiello & Vincenzo Acunzo
published by Dark Horse Comics

Another week. Another Star Wars series. There’s not much more I can say about Star Wars. This is a new series featuring the Force, Sith, etc, etc..

 

 

 

 

*****

Untold Tales Of Punisher Max #1

Award-winning crime novelist JASON STARR brings his unique vision to the Punisher! A massive debt, a gun with untraceable bullets, one unthinkable choice Who’s side will the Punisher take?

story by Jason Starr
art by Unknown
published by Marvel Comics

Punisher Max. You take the Punisher who is a violent character in regular comics, and then you put that character in a series of books where everything goes, and you end up having to bring a plastic sheet with you just to keep the blood splatter off your clothes. Even if you are a new reader, you’ve heard of this guy. Be warned though. Not for the shortys.

 

 

 

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