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CBR reviews this week’s biggest new comics, including Superman and the Authority, Moon Knight, Blue and Gold, Shazam! and X-Men Legends.
Each week, CBR has your guide to navigating Wednesday’s new and recent comic releases, specials, collected editions and reissues, and we’re committed to helping you choose those that are worth your hard-earned cash. It’s a little slice of CBR we like to call Major Issues.
If you feel so inclined, you can buy our recommendations directly on comiXology with the links provided. We’ll even supply links to the books we’re not so hot on, just in case you don’t want to take our word for it. Don’t forget to let us know what you think of the books this week in the comments! And as always, SPOILERS AHEAD!
BLUE AND GOLD #1 (DC)
COMIXOLOGY
Thanks to their time together in Justice League International, Blue Beetle and Booster Gold are one of the most beloved duos in the DC Universe. And after starring in team books and the occasional solo title for years, these two heroes finally have co-starring roles together in Blue & Gold #1, by Dan Jurgens. Ryan Sook and Rob Leigh.
Between Blue Beetle’s earnest competence and Booster’s overzealous ambition, this comic hits a pitch-perfect note for superhero odd couple as they rescue a kidnapped Justice League. Sook’s clean lines and vibrant colors are well-suited to the jaunty adventure and high-flying humor of the book, even if the livestream-esque comment captions cut into it a few too many times. Still, this is a long-overdue spotlight on these two heroes, and it, by and large, does not disappoint.
SUPERMAN AND THE AUTHORITY #1 (DC)
COMIXOLOGY
On paper, the traditional morality of Superman and the aggressively proactive Authority doesn’t seem like a logical pairing. However, Grant Morrison, Mikel Janin, Jordie Bellaire and Steve Wands’ Superman and the Authority #1 sets up an intriguing scenario that brings those disparate parts together. Most of the issue finds a surprisingly thoughtful Superman reflecting on the mistakes he and his fellow heroes made and taking his final chance to correct them at all costs.
Morrison’s mastery of Superman is on full display here, as the issue makes a strong case for the Man of Steel’s uncharacteristically aggressive new outlook. Janin and the art team deliver striking visuals that make pages of conversation look just as dynamic as pages of rampaging Phantom Zone creatures. While this is very much an opening salvo, it strikes the right notes and pushes Superman into fascinating new territory.
MOON KNIGHT #1 (MARVEL)
COMIXOLOGY
To put it mildly, Moon Knight can be a complex character. But in Moon Knight #1, Jed MacKay, Alessandro Cappuccio, Rachelle Rosenberg and VC’s Cory Petit cut through the character’s baggage to present the tale of a hero estranged from Khonshu, the god that empowers him. However, Moon Knight is still dedicated to his god’s mission and serves as the protector of the travelers of the night and those who can’t defend themselves.
With a relatively straightforward premise, MacKay jumps right into the action, accessibly setting up the context of the series along the way. Cappuccio and Rosenberg deliver dynamic, striking art that’s equally well-suited to Moon Knight’s street-level fistfights and the darker, moodier corners of his world. For fans of the character and curious readers, this is a strong debut issue that serves as a solid jumping-on point before Moon Knight’s Disney+ show.
SHAZAM! #1 (DC)
COMIXOLOGY
Billy Batson hasn’t quite been feeling like himself without steady access to his Shazam! powers. While that plot has given his appearances a concerning undertone in Teen Titans Academy, Billy’s power struggles finally take center stage in Tim Sheridan, Clayton Henry, Marcelo Maiolo and Rob Leigh’s Shazam! #1.
While the original Captain Marvel is generally one of DC’s happiest heroes, this story makes the intriguing choice to team Billy up with the Titans before pushing him into consistently darker territory up to its shocking final page reveal. While the art is solid throughout, it comes alive in moments where the juxtaposition of Billy and dark forces is at its most pronounced, which bodes well for future issues of this miniseries.
X-MEN LEGENDS #5 (MARVEL)
COMIXOLOGY
Marvel’s X-Men Legends anthology series has given several classic Marvel creators a chance to revisit their old runs to tie up lingering loose plotlines or simply revisit their old characters. And in X-Men Legends #5, defining X-Factor writer Peter David returns for a flashback tale starring Havok, Polaris, Quicksilver and their government-sponsored team with Todd Nauck, Rachelle Rosenberg and VC’s Joe Caramagna.
With a plot built around X-Factor dealing with a mutant attack at a Latverian Embassy, this issue jas some fairly standard superhero action, peppered with David’s trademark banter. Nauck’s trademark cartoony style matches the light tone of his former Young Justice collaborator’s script well. While there’s nothing ground-breaking here, this is still a fun, if inessential, throwback to the X-Factor’s heyday.
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