This might be one of the wackiest weeks in comics in a long while.
We've got Thors (lots of Thors). We've got Wolverine as a white-haired old man. Black Canary becomes lead singer of a rock band called... Black Canary. The Justice League of America returns after a long absence to fight a Kryptonian menace. A bunch of misfit noobs decide that they're the new Runaways. Angel returns to Buffy's life for the first time since that Twilight fiasco.
All this is waiting for you this week, along with some of the most unusual debuts of the year. Let's dive in.
Old Man Logan #1
Marvel says: He may be an Old Man, but never before has the world needed Logan as much as it does now. The people he loved have become mere memories. The world that he loved has decayed, becoming a festering Wasteland. But in a world devoid of heroes, even someone who is the best there is at what he does may find themselves overmatched by evil.
Why you should care: Not since Ultimate Spider-Man has there been a more perfect marriage of writer, artist and character. Bendis and Sorrentino rocked our faces off with the first issue and we can't wait to rip open the pages on issue #2. Plus, with the recent revelation that Old Man Logan will be joining the core Marvel Universe after Secret Wars ends, you could consider this preparatory backstory for what's to come.
Thors #1
Marvel says: The Thors of every domain, together in one book! As cosmic cops! Whenever there's trouble on Battleworld, the Thors answer the call. But a string of mysterious murders leaves some of them asking questions that may unravel all of reality! A hard-hitting Marvel Comics police drama. With hammers. Lots and lots of hammers.
Why you should care: Hundreds of Thors who are the peacekeepers of an entire planet. It's one of the nuttiest and coolest ideas to come out of Secret Wars. We got our first good look at them in Secret Wars #2, but we've waited more than a month for their own series to arrive. We're hoping to learn about whose idea it was to make them the police of Battleworld (Doom? Strange? someone else?) and more about their history and members. Are they still tied to Norse mythology?
Runaways #1
Marvel says: The best and brightest teens from all corners of Battleworld are chosen to attend a prestigious school on the planet's capital! But what does the new class do when they discover the school's beloved headmaster is actually a diabolical super villain? RUN AWAY! A SECRET WARS story like none other from the remarkable minds of Noelle Stevenson (LUMBERJANES) and Sanford Greene (UNCANNY AVENGERS)!
Why you should care: We're still not sold on a Runaways comic devoid of the original group, but we're willing to give it a shot based on the talent involved.
Justice League of America #1
DC says: It's massive widescreen JUSTICE LEAGUE action and adventure from superstar writer/artist Bryan Hitch! In this extra-sized debut issue, the League comes up against an armada of aliens heading for Earth that claims to be a peaceful religious tribe. But something sinister is lurking in their ranks... something with ties to ancient Krypton! This amazing kick-off issue is available with seven different open-to-order variant covers by Bryan Hitch, each spotlighting one of seven core members of the JLA, plus an incredible 1:100 seven-panel foldout variant cover that presents all seven open-to-order covers together!
Why you should care: The JLA returns for the first time since DC's "New 52" reboot. And it's all Bryan Hitch all the time, since he's both writing and drawing the series.
Black Canary #1
DC says: Dinah Lance hits the road! After years as a soldier and vigilante, the LAST place Dinah saw herself is on stage...but she's quickly learning she'd die to protect the gang of misfits she's fallen into. And she just might have to - for some reason, the newly rechristened band Black Canary seems to be a magnet for trouble...and Dinah's not gonna believe it when she finds out the reason why! Martial arts, super-spies, and rock 'n' roll combine, from Brenden Fletcher (BATGIRL) and Annie Wu (Hawkeye)!
Why you should care: DC's been hyping this one hard, hoping for another Batgirl-type girl power hit. You have to admit: taking the heroine with the voice-based superpower and making her the singer in a rock band is undeniably clever.
Doomed #1
DC says: In this startling new series, a Metropolis U student gains the power to transform into the monstrously powerful Doomsday! The power may be the key to fixing his life, but every time he transforms he risks getting stuck forever as Superman's most heinous adversary! How far can he go before he's doomed?
Why you should care: It reminds us of that season of Smallville where that guy from Being Human kept turning into Doomsday, which admittedly was a pretty interesting take on an otherwise one-note character. We're intrigued.
Robin: Son of Batman #1
DC says: The son of a Bat and a Demon, Damian al Ghul has set out to forge his own destiny — and atone for the shameful Year of Blood! Will he be aided or hindered by the behemoth Goliath? And what mysterious legacy trails behind him? Join writer/artist Patrick Gleason as he chronicles the globe-hopping adventures of ROBIN: SON OF BATMAN!
Why you should care: What do you do if you're Batman's son and sidekick, and Batman dies? Apparently, you get yourself a giant bat-monster thing and go on a road trip. Or maybe Batman's alive and these two are just trying out for the next season of The Amazing Race.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Season 10 #16
Dark Horse says: After discovering that the powerful demon Archaeus has deep connections to both Spike and Angel, Buffy invites her former beau for a visit. Things are awkward, and everyone is behaving just a little juvenile — but in order to beat the threat Archaeus brings, the team is going to have to overcome the past.
Why you should care: Angel's back for the first time since his big Twilight oopsie. You know, that time he almost destroyed the world and then murdered Giles? Yeah, that. Which means there will be blood and awkwardness. And probably in that order.
Empty Zone #1
Image says: JASON SHAWN ALEXANDER of "CONVERSATIONS WITH THE DEAD" returns with an ALL-NEW SERIES! In this sci-fi/horror saga, Corinne White attempts to reconcile with the ghosts of her violent past, literally, as she trudges through a world of dystopian cityscapes, reanimated corpses, & ganglands full of animal human hybrids.
Why you should care: It sounds bonkers, and there's no predicting what it will be like or what will happen in it. Isn't it refreshing?
The Fiction #1
Boom Studios says: Four childhood friends discover a box of strange books that, when read aloud, can transport them to the beautiful, imaginary worlds described within. But when one of them goes missing, the others vow never to reveal where they've been and what they've seen. Years later, when one of the remaining kids, now an adult, also mysteriously disappears, it's up to the last two of the group to dig up their dusty books to find him and finally figure out what happened to their friend all those years ago.
Why you should care: It's like Jumanji on crack. But weirder.
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