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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!
DEATH OF DOCTOR STRANGE #1 (MARVEL)
COMIXOLOGY
As the Sorcerer Supreme, Doctor Strange has played a central role as the chief mystic of the Marvel Universe for decades. And in Death of Doctor Strange #1, Jed McKay, Lee Garbett, Antonio Fabela and Cory Petit explore just how many roles Strange plays in the apparent final moments of his life. Before setting up the central mystery of the series, this issue serves as a nice refresher on Strange’s various roles that could hide clues about his final fate.
Garbett and Fabela have a solid, clean art style that services the early goings of this story well. Although much of the issue is essentially place-setting, a legitimately surprising final revelation opens up some intriguing questions for the rest of this event.
BATMAN: THE ADVENTURES CONTINUE SEASON II #4 (DC)
COMIXOLOGY
Among its many other strengths, Batman: The Animated Series always had a knack for introducing new characters who felt like they had been part of Gotham City for years. And in Batman: The Adventures Continue Season II #4, Alan Burnett, Paul Dini, Jordan Gibson, Monica Kubina and Josh Reed ably keep that spirit alive with the new villain Muscle. While he’s ultimately just a hitman for Gotham City mob boss Rupert Thorne, this issue makes him feel like a well-worn part of Gotham City as he tries to kill detective Renee Montoya.
Gibson and Kubina capture the moody tone of the cartoon perfectly, with a Gotham City caked in shadow and punctuated by bursts of fiery explosive action. Burnett and Dini’s tight script finds the space to offer some welcome insight into the DC Animated Universe’s Montoya with a plot that feels ripped out of the original cartoon.
TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: THE LAST RONIN #4 (IDW)
COMIXOLOGY
In Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin #4, Kevin Eastman, Peter Laird, Tom Waltz, Esau, Isaac Escorza, Ben Bishop, Samuel Plata, Luis Antonio Delgado and Shawn Lee continue to explore the dark, cyberpunk future of the TMNT franchise. While an aged Michelangelo and April O’Neil attack this bleak world’s rulers in the present-day, a lengthy portion of this issue also reveals what happened to Donatello and Master Splinter in harrowing detail.
With dramatically different art styles for each of its eras and a strong central storyline, The Last Ronin continues to be a thrilling look at the future of one of comics’ greatest franchises. With dynamic, well-drawn scenes of carnage and violence and a fascinating lead in the aged, grizzled Michelangelo, this comic remains essential reading for any TMNT fan.
X-MEN #3 (MARVEL)
COMIXOLOGY
Though its recent relaunch, Marvel’s main X-Men title has emerged with a renewed emphasis on classic superhero action that’s informed by the larger events of the Krakoa era. With X-Men #3, Gerry Duggan, Pepe Larraz, Marte Gracia and Clayton Cowles deliver another high-octane issue as the X-Men face the villainous High Evolutionary and his genetic creations.
Above anything else, this issue serves as a showcase for Larraz and Gracia, who prove why they’re one of Marvel’s best artistic duos with dynamic action and brilliant colors that jump off the page. Duggan’s script finds room for several endearing character moments, especially for Rogue and Generation X graduate Synch. While the events of this issue feel pretty far away from the upcoming Inferno event, the comic delivers thrilling blockbuster action in the classic Marvel manner.
X-MEN: THE ONSLAUGHT REVELATION #1 (MARVEL)
COMIXOLOGY
With X-Men: Onslaught Revelation #1, Si Spurrier, Bob Quinn, Java Tartaglia and Clayton Cowles bring Nightcrawler’s Way of X storylines to an appropriately epic close. With the parasitic psionic entity Onslaught hiding within Krakoa, Nightcrawler teams up with Legion and an odd assortment of mutants to take down the powerhouse and usher in a new age for mutantkind.
There are a lot of complex metaphysical ideas here, but this extra-length one-shot gives them all just enough space to be explained well. The art team matches these bold ideas with work that captures their spirit well, especially with some of the more esoteric and far-out concepts. While the proceedings feel slightly rushed at times, The Onslaught Revelation brings one of the more compelling subplots of this X-Men era to a satisfying end while offering an intriguing glimpse of the future.
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