Geeks’ Picks for New Comics: July 8th, 2015

New Comics Wednesday is upon us again, and some of us here at Outright Geekery are running down the top pick on our comic stacks for this week. What are you looking forward to reading this week?

Review: X-Men ‘92

Writers: Chris Sims & Chad Bowers
Artist: Scott Koblish
Cover: Pepe Larraz

Today’s modern Comic Book-based property has reached a level of mass popular appeal that most long-time comic readers never imagined would be attained. Video games, TV series, and, yes, blockbuster movies have pushed comic book characters and stories past the confinement of those paneled pages and directly into the social subconscious. Now, pretty much everyone knows who Wolverine, Scott Summers, and Jean Grey are without having to ever pick up a single comic book issue, and those same people are coming to us long-time readers to garner new information and learn about different perspectives on characters we’ve known for years. I know I experience this all the time, and while it’s kind of strange to discuss comic books with somewhat knowledgeable people who have never actually read a comic book, the newfound popularity of the medium is exciting for everyone. This is not, however, a new experience for me.

Review: Squadron Sinister #1

Published: June 17, 2015
Rating: Rated T+
Writer: Marc Guggenheim
Cover Artist: Carlos Pacheco

They’re the WORLD’S GREATEST… VILLAINS. The SQUADRON SINISTER. And they’re taking Battleworld by force in this Secret Wars tie-in for fans of crime epics like The Godfather, The Sopranos and Sons of Anarchy. But will controlling one Domain be enough for Hyperion and his gang?

See our full Preview here!

While it’s still quite early, the tie-ins to Marvel’s Secret Wars  event have been, for the most part, extremely excellent. The new and creative expanse known as Battleworld presents such an amazing opportunity to tell stories that are both completely new and inherently Marvel in their scope, but all with the interesting Secret Wars spin readers expect from an event tie-in. It’s surprising to see how easily Marvel has presented these stories, and it’s a testament to the creative teams and the vast history of this publishing line.

One tiny piece of that history that comic fanboys have always had a strong opinion about is the blatant DC Comics ripoff that is the Squadron Sinister, or their 1970s (and 2003 revamped) good-guy counterparts the Squadron Supreme. The popularity of this team and these teams has waxed and waned over the decades, but the connections to the Justice League have always made these characters fun to see in the pages of a Marvel comic book, with this fun continuing into this Secret Wars tie-in.

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First Look: Marvel’s Seige #1

They are the few against the many. They can’t ever win. They can’t afford to lose. This July, enter one of Battleworld’s most dangerous areas as blockbuster creators Kieron Gillen (Darth Vader, Young Avengers)and Felipe Andrade (Rocket Raccoon, Figment) along with special guest artist James Stokoe bring you SIEGE #1!

Review: 1602 WITCH HUNTER ANGELA #1

Marvel’s Secret Wars event has allowed for a lot of creativity and, dare I say, freedom in the story-telling associated with the event. Tie-ins starring Zombies, 5 different Ghost Riders, and even an entire police force made up of every imaginable Thor are only a few examples of this piecemealed patchwork planet turned painted paper-panel playwrights’ playground, and Marvel is truly giving longtime fans a treat. With so many tie-ins, however, there’s bound to be one or two that simply overdo the premise. It’s cool to bring different parts of the Marvel U and smash them together for something awesome, but sometimes things just don’t work. 1602 Witch Hunter Angela #1 is this in a nutshell. While the ish is delivered well, it fails to feel fully important to fans of 1602 as a universe or Angela as a character.

First Look: Spider-Island #1

The arachnid-infested Manhattan returns on Battleworld this July! Today, Marvel is pleased to present your new look at SPIDER-ISLAND #1 – a double dose of 8-legged madness from two exciting creative teams!

Review: Marvel Zombies #1

The epic, line-wide event that is Marvel’s Secret Wars is coming with a whole lot of tie-ins that are being promoted in very unique ways, with this marketing technique leading to some equally good and equally bad outcomes for readers. On the bad side, very often the event the tie-in gets its name from doesn’t have anything much to do with the namesake event. On the other hand, however, the flexibility of these old stories from the dredges of Marvel’s history given new and creative spins from today’s stable of House of Ideas creators can result in something amazing. Although the 2005 Marvel Zombies event has its fair share of both fans and haters, the 2015 Secret Wars version of this well-known story displays each of good and bad natures of this event outlined above, but ignores the parts of the original Marvel Zombies story that left such a bad taste in the mouth of so may readers in lieu of completely changing the tale into more Sarah Connor than The Walking Dead. When it was all said and done, though, Marvel Zombies #1 was an entertaining and satisfying addition to Secret Wars.

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First Look: Marvel’s Civil War #1

The Battle Rages On in Your New Look at CIVIL WAR #1!

Preview: Age of Apocalypse #1

Humans & Mutants Will Cower in Fear! Your New Look at AGE OF APOCALYPSE #1!

His war has been won. En Sabah Nur stands triumphant over the bones of his enemies. None will be left standing in the WARZONES! Today, Marvel is proud to present your new look at AGE OF APOCALYPSE #1 – as one of the most iconic X-Men stories of all time is reborn on Battleworld! Writer Fabian Nicieza returns to the post-apocalyptic wasteland he helped create, along with critically acclaimed artist Gerardo Sandoval (Guardians 3000)! Apocalypse rules his domain on Battleworld with an iron fist. The few humans left alive have been enslave. The mutant rebellion has been crushed – its survivors scattered. But the terrorist insurgents known as the X-Men will not go quietly into this grim abyss. They will fight. They will end Apocalypse’s reign of terror! Even if it means their very lives! A special mutant named Cypher may hold the key to turning the tide. A weapon to be pointed directly at Apocalypse and fired. Now the hunt is on. Can Magneto and his X-Men rescue Cypher from Cyclops & Havok’s Elite Mutant Force, Dark Beast and his vile experiments, and the new Horsemen of Apocalypse? Or is it far too late for salvation? Find out this July in the pages of AGE OF APOCALYPSE #1!

Preview: Hail Hydra #1

The Hydra Nation Lives in the WARZONES!
Your First Look at HAIL HYDRA #1!

Peace through strength! Honor through obedience! Continuance through conformity! Rick Remender & Roland Boschi bring you the new Hydra – better, stronger, greater. Witness its untold glory this July in the pages of HAIL HYDRA #1! It is a beautiful utopia Hydra has created on this new planet of Battleworld. But it is imperfect. Tarnished. One from outside the regime walks among us, sullying her beautiful landscape. He is Ian Rogers, son of Captain America, and the man called Nomad. Could his presence be enough to bring this perfect society to utter ruin? We serve none but the Master – and the world will soon serve us. But first – we must eradicate Ian Rogers!