Rob's Picks:

X-Men #1

The post-Krakoan era officially begins! The X-Men have regrouped and are trying to get back to business in this story from Jed MacKay (Vengeance of the Moon Knight). The team has relocated to Alaska, making a new life in a facility that once built Sentinels for Orchis. Human/mutant relations are more complicated than ever, and even in a place this remote they have neighbors. Beast (the good one) gives a local a guided tour, hoping transparency can ease tensions with the rural town of Merle, AK. In the field, Cyclops leads a mission to save one of their own, taking on a new faction that wants to create something superior to man, machine, and mutant. This is a true ensemble cast. Each character is sharply defined, and there is no denying the fun of seeing them fight as a team while their personalities clash (especially the banter between Magik and Juggernaut). The back-to-basics approach to the action in this book is refreshing, a much-needed shot of straightforward fun. The repercussions of recent events are still unfolding, but MacKay’s X-Men are more occupied with forging ahead into the uncertain future. There are familiar faces and a few surprises, making this a promising start for the series.

The Ultimates #2

Camp and Frigeri were just getting started with issue one, topping their stellar debut in their second outing. We learn more of the altered history of the Ultimate Universe, how it was made, and the consequences of a world without heroes. When the Maker and his council rewrote history, they unmade the United States, and Steve Rogers is pissed. The clock is ticking on the Maker's return, and this new team is wasting no time, coming straight for the Council’s top man in North America. Juan Frigeri’s art makes you feel the weight of every punch in this brutal fight. A new hero makes an unexpected entrance, one that might tip the scales. Deniz Camp finds the emotional core of this story and super-team in Steve, and gives this issue's villain one hell of a monologue. The new Ultimate line has produced nothing but hits, and in two issues this team book has made a great case for itself as best of the lot.

Ain’t No Grave #3

The otherworldly western from Jorge Corona and Skottie Young (Middlewest) is so. Damn. AWESOME! Ryder’s hunt for Death takes her to an infernal riverboat casino and its owner, Madam Gates. Only a lucky few win their passage down the river. The losers spend their eternity toiling in the bowels of the boat. Flashbacks reveal Ryder is no stranger to high stakes, or to the fact that sometimes winning feels like losing. This issue puts Corona’s skills on display, especially when he indulges in the surreal. His rendering of the decadent and demonic Madam and her den of sin is a visual feast. Young writes a story that flows from pulp adventure to heartfelt drama to mythical epic. Ain’t No Grave is a comic that uses all the medium's strengths, a book that I would recommend to just about anybody.

Solomon's Picks:

X-Men #1

The long-awaited reboot is finally here, and it is definitely worth the read! Following the end of the Krakoan Age, this new X-Men run shows the mutants as refugees who have revitalized a former sentinel-production factory into their base of operations, located in Meale, Alaska. This first issue opens with a tour guided by Beast around the new home of the X-Men. It then carefully bounces back and forth from this tour to the currently deployed task force led by Cyclops, quickly establishing the world while giving the reader very interesting action panels. The final page featured a fantastic illustration that easily summarizes what this new run is about, and the events that took place beforehand. With wonderful storytelling, art, characters, and more, this new X-Men book made for a fantastic read, and I’m confident that new and old fans alike will love this series! The quality of the book almost speaks for itself, given the team composed of Jed MacKay, Ryan Stegman, and JP Mayer! Do yourself a favor and jump on board now!

Barfly #1

A hilarious and intriguing new story from the minds of Patton Oswalt, Jordan Blum, and Kyle Starks, set within the world of Minor Threats, comes Barfly! This first issue follows Shiteater, a low-level goon who worked for an infamous supervillain once upon a time. He now spends much of his time taking any low-paying job he can to get by and occupying the Lower Lair Bar. He isn’t respected much, though he continuously displays acts of bravery and loyalty that make you want to root for him (Even though, objectively, he’s pretty lame). The art and colors that Ryan Browne provides really help give this book a flair that I always appreciate, and the lettering by Nate Piekos only further enhances that. This book is hilariously charming and an eye-catcher, and I definitely recommend everyone pick this up!

Moon Man #3

The wait between issues is enough to drive anyone crazy, but Moon Man finally came back to shelves this week, and it feels like this series just keeps improving! We learn that the majority of survivors from the moon expedition have received gravity-shifting powers similar to Roman, which only adds to the tension brewing between him and Janus. His little brother is looking to him for inspiration, but Roman’s hand is forced many times in this one issue by Janus and the media, and we see the crack in the family growing larger and larger with every page turn. This issue pulled back a bit on the superhero stuff, but in my opinion, the character building and storytelling were top-tier. The art continues to blow me away with its bold illustrations and stylish colors. Definitely pick this series up if you’ve been sleeping on it!