Rob's Picks:

X-Force #1
In the newest of the new X-books, Forge puts his powers to the ultimate test: fixing a broken world. To do it, he’ll need his newest invention, the Analog, and the help of a new team of mutant operatives. There are plenty of familiar faces like Sage and Betsy Braddock, plus an all-new character and a special guest star. X-Force was one of the most consistently awesome books of the late Krakoan era, setting a high bar for the new creative team, writer Geoffrey Thorne and artist Marcus To. They make a great impression with this ensemble book, full of fast-paced action and snappy dialogue. The potential plot threads for the series are only teased, but the legacy of Beast (OG X-Man and main antagonist of the last X-Force series) seems to loom over Forge. Another solid debut for Marvel’s revamped X line.

Grommets #3
This teenage slice of life from Remender and Posehn is the funniest and most relatable book on the shelves. In this issue, the boys are out on the town, cutting class with uber-punk Liberty Spike Mike to cruise the mall, engage in some petty vandalism, and Rick learns a valuable lesson about getting way too high. Meanwhile, Brian sees an opportunity for even more fun when Grandpa goes out of town. Like the previous issues, the writing is often hilarious but never inauthentic, and the art of Moreno DiNisio and Brett Parson is irresistibly engaging. You don’t have to have been an '80s kid, a skater, or a punk for this book to get its hooks in you. Anybody who has ever been a teen can appreciate this. Grommets is filling an underserved niche in American comics, which have largely ceded grounded slice-of-life stories to manga.

Final Fight #1
Udon has made a name for itself with its comic adaptations of popular fighting games, especially the king of them all, Street Fighter. Now they are reaching back into the arcade for the classic side-scrolling co-op brawler Final Fight. No game has a better premise for a street-level action comic than Final Fight. Metro City is under attack from the bad dudes of the Mad Gear gang, who have kidnapped Jessica, daughter of Mayor (and ex-pro wrestler) Mike Haggar. To take down the colorful gang of denim-clad punks and guys with blond dreadlocks, Mayor Haggar calls in Metro City’s finest (not the police; I’m not sure Metro City has those). The butt-kicking duo of bare-knuckle street brawler Cody Travers and Guy, the American ninja, join the fight. This book is a work of adolescent joy, taking us back to a simpler time when we could punch, kick, and suplex our problems away, as long as our problems were dudes with mohawks that knew karate. Writer Matt Moylan and artist Matthew Weldon know exactly what they have on their hands, and this book could not do a better job of capturing the simple joys of a game where your only options are Move and Punch.

Solomon's Picks:

X-Force #1
You want more mutants? Marvel’s going to give you more mutants! Created by Geoffrey Thorne, Marcus To, and Erick Arciniega, X-Force hit shelves this week, and this issue was a blast! We follow Forge for a majority of the issue, watching his careful calculations and meticulous methods as he leads this new squad into dangerous missions. I loved the moments shared between Betsy and Rachel, as they opened the door for some great moments. This book did a decent job of capturing the reader's attention; my only criticism is that at times, the comedy took away from the major focus of the plot. That being said, the ending was absolutely hilarious but also a very excellent demonstration of how far Forge will go to stay on the “right” course. Great start, hyped to see where the team goes with this!

Black Widow: Venomous #1
Created by Erica Schultz and Luciano Vecchio, Black Widow: Venomous is an enjoyable entry into the current Black Widow arc and a loose tie-in to Venom Wars. Venomous sees Natasha and her symbiote furthering their relationship by undergoing training in the Red Room! Most of this issue has very emotional beats, allowing Natasha to reflect on her brutal training while also further developing the symbiote as its own separate character and not merely just a tool for Black Widow (we even get a name for it towards the end of the issue). The quick reflections into Natasha’s past, on top of the quick appearances from her allies, made this issue all the more enjoyable for me! The new outfit for Black Widow also debuts in this issue and looks sick, so definitely give this one a read!

Ms. Marvel: Annual #1
Iman Vellani (star of Ms. Marvel) is back, writing her comic counterpart with this annual! This issue is a quick and fun story, following Kamala and friends during their “ditch day” while referencing and tying into events that took place in last year's “Dark Web.” During their chill day, Kamala asks Bruno for updates on The Inventors group that slipped out of Ms. Marvel’s fingers, while Bruno struggles to articulate his feelings for his friend in the wake of homecoming that’s right around the corner. While this is all happening, an artificial being with the powers of the soul-stone attacks the amusement park! A very light-hearted and enjoyable annual, fans of Ms. Marvel will definitely want to grab this book!