This summer is looking to be a blockbuster for comics. With all the new titles, new creative teams, and new things, I'm here to help you find some titles that are good for newcomers and old hands alike.
"Avengers"
By Brian Michael Bendis and John Romita Jr.
Thor, Captain America, and Iron Man, the original three Avengers, have been put in the hands of two of the greatest modern comic creators. Brian Michael Bendis recently celebrated the one-year mark at Marvel, and the future is bright. If anyone saw "Kick-Ass," John Romita Jr. was the artist for that book. Romita's work has never been better since working on "Kick-Ass," and the promotional art seen thus far has the Internet and comic shops buzzing.
"Thor"
By Matt Fraction and Pasquel Ferry
Matt Fraction has been at Marvel for around five years, and he's been doing really amazing work. His "Invincible Iron Man" book has been regarded as some of the best work the character has seen. He has worked on the character Thor previously with the miniseries "Ages of Thunder." Fraction is looking to do a lot with the Norse Mythos, but also, like his Iron Man, be enjoyable to new readers and old hands alike. Pasquel Ferry is an interesting artist for this. While he isn't a huge superstar, he does have a nice look to him, with a clean line, and whoever is coloring him is brilliant. Expect new, reader-friendly, big ideas with clean art.
"The Flash"
By Geoff Johns and Francis Manapaul
The first issue is already out, and still readily available, so starting with this isn't going to be any kind of problem. Geoff Johns is possibly the biggest and greatest writer in mainstream superhero comics right now coming off "Blackest Night," which was a huge success both critically and financially. Johns is also known for his love of the Flash, and his universe. Francis Manapaul is an artist who teamed recently with Johns on the fist story arc of the new Adventure Comics title, and he showed a great deal of promise working with Johns.
After having read the first issue, I can safely say that this is amazing for new readers. Manapaul's art dashes across the page like only a Flash book could, and Johns continues his tour de force of writing with smart, funny, and emotional characters, without being melodramatic or overly complicated.
"Scarlet"
By Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev
Bendis and Maleev revolutionized comics in the early 2000s with their run on "Daredevil" (and by "revolutionized" I mean put nearly every other creative team to shame with their smart dialogue, devious scenes, and daring ideas). The book is about a girl who is sick of what society has become and seeks out to change it. As anyone who has read a Bendis book knows, there will be a great number of other awesome characters as well. Bendis has stated in interviews that he is going to be breaking the 4th wall via the main character Scarlet, and the only hint at what Maleev is doing on the art has been an amazing preview of the main character holding two guns. Maleev hasn't been 100 percent amazing as an artist, but something tells me that working on something he owns will cleanse his somewhat recently nasty palette.
"Nemesis"
By Mark Millar and Steve McNiven
Lately everything Mark Millar touches turns to gold, or should I say movies. Ever hear of movies like "Wanted" and "Kick-Ass"? Millar wrote both of them, as well as one of the best-selling comics in recent years, with Steve McNiven on art duties, the universe changing "Civil War" for Marvel. The idea behind this book is: what if Batman was a super villain instead of a super hero? Nemesis is the main character and villain and he is in pursuit of the police chief of Washington D.C. as he sees that he has done a lot of good and wishes that he does good no more.
In the first issue of the series an entire building was destroyed, a president was kidnapped, a train crashed, and every single screen in Washington D.C. showed Nemesis the character anointing himself the new commander in chief. There is something deliciously evil about this book, and it's hard to put a finger on. McNiven has changed his art style drastically from things he has worked on previously, and it works, it will be interesting to see as the series goes the reasons for McNiven's change of art.
Remember I mentioned Millar's knack for turning everything into a movie? The director for "Nemesis" should be announced in a month.
is a member of the 
Be the first to comment on this article! Log in to Comment
You must be logged in to comment on an article. Not already a member? Register now