We're lucky as comic book fans to have such a vast array of stories to choose from every week. A lot is made about the Big Two, Marvel, and DC, with good reason as most of the iconic heroes come from both those publishers. They continue to churn out compelling stories, from 'Batman' (#43) to special events like 'Secret Wars' (#5) and 'Bombshells' (#1) its what keeps them ahead of the pack.However, we can't overlook smaller publishers who have been creating incredible work of their own, doing more intimate and creative storytelling, that in many ways surpasses the Big Two in quality.
Image Comics, in particular, has positioned itself as the #3 publisher in sales with great titles like 'Descender,' 'Velvet,' 'The Walking Dead,' and many more.
Dynamite Entertainment had the good sense to hire the legendary Gail Simone for titles like 'Tomb Raider' and 'Red Sonja' but also as the architect of the 'Swords of Sorrow' crossover event featuring the publisher's line-up of diverse female characters with some of the best female writers in the business.
Action Lab, Dark Horse, and Boom! Studios continue to innovate with books like 'Princeless,' 'Lady Killer,' and 'Giant Days.'Valiant has blossomed into a full-fledged multimedia company, striking production deals to turn their comics into live-action ventures.
The future is bright for the comic book industry as readership is at a high level right now. As long as they keep diversifying and becoming more reflective of the fans both on the page and behind the scenes then this renaissance could be long lasting.
Check out this week's offerings from publishers big and small alike.
Volume 1 - 1st printing. Collects Black Panther (1998 Marvel 2nd Series) #1-17. Written by Christopher Priest and Joe Quesada. Art by Mark Texeira, Joe Quesada, Joe Jusko, Mike Manley, M.D. Bright, and Sal Velluto. Black Panther reinvented as a sharp and witty political satire? Believe it! T'Challa is the man with the plan as Christopher Priest puts the emphasis on the Wakandan king's reputation as the ultimate statesman, as seen through the eyes of the U.S. government's Everett K. Ross. As the Panther investigates a murder in New York, Ross plays Devil's Advocate in an encounter with Mephisto, and a new regime seizes control in Wakanda. When the truth behind the coup becomes clear, T'Challa finds himself an enemy of the state - and a major revelation threatens to destroy his relationship with the Avengers! Plus: Meet Queen Divine Justice - is she ready to join T'Challa's deadly crew of female bodyguards, the Dora Milaje? Are they ready for her? Hold onto your pants, because Ross sure can't! Softcover, 416 pages, full color. Cover price $34.99.
Written by William Thomas and Andrew Anderson. Art and Cover by Osvaldo Pestana Montpeller. Death for the weak, honor for the brave, and women and gold for no good dirty pirates, however, the infamous bandit Bones has set a course for revenge, and when a wanted man such as he returns to the kingdom, it never bodes well... for the kingdom that is! Cover price $1.99.
Volume 3 - 1st printing. Story and art by Ed Piskor. Ed Piskor's acclaimed graphic novel series continues! Book 3 highlights Run DMC's rise to fame and introduces unassailable acts like Whodini, The Fat Boys, Slick Rick and Doug E Fresh. The Beastie Boys become a rap group. Rick Rubin meets Russell Simmons to form Def Jam. The famous TV pilot to the dance show Graffiti Rock and the documentaries Style Wars and Breakin' and Enterin' are all highlighted in this comprehensive volume spanning 19831984. Ed Piskor continues to deliver the goods in this comprehensive history of hip hop. Softcover, 9-in. x 12-in., 112 pages, full color. Cover price $27.95.
Written by Jay Faerber. Art and Cover by Jamal Igle. The groundbreaking superhero series continues! Reggie Baxter has discovered Joe Campbell's superpowered secret. Joe can't scare him off and if he does anything to Reggie, his quiet life is over. Now Joe is reluctantly forced to do the one thing he never wanted to do: wear a cape. Cover price $3.99.
Worlds Unite: Part 11 - Written by Ian Flynn. Art by Tyson Hesse and Jim Amash. Cover by Patrick Spaz Spaziante. Celebrate 275 issues of Sonic the Hedgehog with his good buddy Mega Man and the worlds of Street Fighter, Billy Hatcher, Nights Into Dreams, Monster Hunter, and more in this double-sized issue! 'Worlds Unite' Part Eleven: It's pan-dimensional pandemonium as the unified army begins their attack on Sigma! Sonic, Mega Man, and X lead an all-star roster of heroes from across the SEGA and Capcom universes in an all-out assault against the villainous robot from the future! Will they be enough to save all their worlds, or has Sigma already become a god? Cover price $4.99.
Written by Mike Johnson. Art by Angel Hernandez. Cover by Paul Pope. The comics crossover event of 2015 continues here! Hal Jordan meets Captain Kirk and the crew of the Enterprise for the first time as six Lantern rings choose new bearers! But which Trek characters - and which alien races - will be selected? Iconic franchises collide for the first time in this all-new galaxy-spanning epic! Cover price $3.99.
Written by Anthony Ruttgaizer. Art and Cover by Danny Zabbal. Jake Roth is the only man to ever manifest superpowers but not go insane. While Jake is still trying to decide how best to use his new powers to help prevent a war between humans and 'extrahumans', an old friend reappears and draws him into direct conflict with the local mafia who have their own extrahuman enforcer, Odinson! Cover price $3.99.
Written by Ming Doyle and James Tynion IV. Art by Vanesa Del Rey. Cover by Riley Rossmo. Someone is murdering ghosts, a supernatural crime so impossible to solve that John Constantine is forced to return to London and seek help from the one person he hates more than any other; a magician above reproach, a darling of London high society, and a friend to superheroes everywhere. She is Georgiana Snow…the HECKBLAZER! Cover price $2.99.
Written by Jonathan Hickman. Art by Esad Ribic. Cover by Alex Ross. OWEN REECE DIED FOR OUR SINS! Rated T+ Cover price $3.99.
Written by J. M. DeMatteis and Bruce Timm. Art by Thony Silas. Cover by Darick Robertson. Prequel to the DC Universe movie Justice League: Gods & Monsters! Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman: three powerful and dangerous loners, drawn together by a man who claims he can bring humanity to the next level of evolution. But are Jackson Alpert and his immortal Forever People what they claim to be? Will they save the Earth-or conquer it? Cover price $3.99.
Written by Mark Rahner. Art by Jethro Morales. Cover by Tim Seeley. It's on! Boomstick vs. fangs! The battle you've always wanted to see between Ash and Vampirella - sort of. Make that Ash and a monstrously transformed Vampi, as they tear through the medieval castle! Cover price $3.99.
Written by Becky Cloonan and Brendan Fletcher. Art and Cover by Karl Kerschl. If the gang thought it was hard to keep up with their homework before, now there's a werewolf on campus at Gotham Academy! Talk about distractions! Cover price $2.99.
Written by Jeff Lemire. Art and Cover by Dustin Nguyen. The oldest secret in the Universe is revealed and DESCENDER will never be the same. Cover price $3.50.
Written by Charles Soule. Art by Alex Maleev. You know him...you love him...now, join him for his biggest caper as master of charm Lando Calrissian gets his very own comic book! Before he joined the rebellion, before he ran Cloud City, Lando made his way in the galaxy getting by on some swindles, some swagger, and a smile. Lobot at his side, Lando has a plan to steal a very valuable ship...but has he bitten off more than he can chew? Rated T Star Wars Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All rights reserved. Used under authorization. Text and illustrations for Star Wars are 2015 Lucasfilm Ltd. Cover price $3.99.
Written by Ryan North. Art and Cover by Erica Henderson. It's the classic tale of good (squirrel) versus evil (squirrel) as SQUIRREL GIRL fights RATATOSKR, the Norse Squirrel God! The fate of the world hangs in the balance! And yes, 'Norse Squirrel God' means that Thor shows up to help! AND Loki! Loki's a huge character! He's been in THREE different movies so far. Three! He's only in our comic for a couple of pages though Oh! This book also features FRIENDSHIP and SASS and PUNCHES!! Rated T Cover price $3.99.
Written by Felipe Smith. Art by Juan Pablo Cuello Villanueva. Cover by Francesco Francavilla. THE REAL DEATH RACE BEGINS! ROBBIE REYES: FUGITIVE!!! Can the ALL-NEW GHOST RIDER outrace his doomed destiny? And what kind of VENGEANCE will JOHNNY BLAZE, DANNY KETCH, ALEJANDRA BLAZE, SLADE and ZERO COCHRANE unleash on him? Rated T+ Cover price $3.99.
Written by Ben Percy. Art and Cover by Patrick Zircher. Green Arrow is imprisoned by Mr. Zimm! Despite Oliver's effort to raise Emi as a safe normal kid, she has no choice but to gear up and take to the streets. How can she possibly save Arrow and the citizens of Seattle from the Zimm's army of Panopticons bots?! Cover price $2.99.
Written by Roger Langridge. Art by Jeremy Treece. Cover by Chip Zdarsky. Impossible dungeons! The world's leaders are bowing to the evil oppression of The Great Cobra! Can Mandrake and his witch companion Karma perform a great escape from their magical prison and mount a rebellion, or will Earth fall even further into chaos!? Cover price $3.99.
Written by Kieron Gillen. Art and Cover by Jamie McKelvie and Matthew Wilson. The team behind the New York Times bestselling and Eisner-nominated smash hit THE WICKED + THE DIVINE return to the acclaimed urban-fantasy where they first made their names. Nearly a decade ago, Emily Aster sold half her personality for the power to rule a coven of phonomancers. I'm sure nothing could go horribly, monstrously wrong now. In a world where Music is Magic, a song can save or ruin your life. In THE IMMATERIAL GIRL, we discover what a video can do. Cover price $3.99.
Batman #43 - Superheavy: Part 3 - Written by Scott Snyder. Art by Greg Capullo and Danny Miki. Cover by Greg Capullo. In the start of a new epic, a new villain stalks Gotham City. Will Batman be able to uncover the mystery of Mr. Bloom? Cover price $3.99.
Written by Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti. Art by Emanuela Lupacchino and Ray McCarthy. Cover by Amanda Conner. Starfire #3 picks up the pieces and finds her new home in the aftermath of the storm! But while our hero helps her community heal, a creature from the underworld emerges to threaten all she hopes to protect! What is this creature's hidden motive? And why does it seem to get bigger every time Starfire punches it? Cover price $2.99.
Written by John J. Perez. Art by Marco Maccagni & Various. Cover by Marco Maccagni. Las Vegas, 1981. Gareth Thompson, a Vietnam veteran and single father, has just accepted a security job at the new fantasy-themed 'Archon Hotel and Casino.' However, he'll soon discover all the Orcs, Elves and Dragons at the Resort are not people in costumes, but actual creatures of myth and legend. Cover price $3.99.
Written by Marguerite Bennett. Art by Marguerite Sauvage. Cover by Ant Lucia. The ultra-popular statues from DC Collectibles come to life in their own ongoing comic book series! Learn the story behind this alternate reality where the Second World War is fought by superpowered women on the front lines and behind the scenes! It all begins with the stories of Batwoman, Wonder Woman and Supergirl. Cover p
Written by Gail Simone. Art by Sergio Fernandez Davila. Cover by Tula Lotay. The wildest Dynamite crossover epic ever told continues at whole cities are smashed together in the prelude to inter-dimensional war! It's Martians versus Monsters versus Barbarians and more, with the women of Chaos on the wrong side of Good Vs. Evil…plus, where are Red Sonja, Vampirella and Dejah Thoris in their worlds' time of need? Guest stars galore in this massive tale of battle, blades and bikinis! Cover price $3.99.
Written by Robert Kirkman. Art by Charlie Adlard & Various. Cover by Charlie Adlard and Dave Stewart. Blood for Blood. Cover price $2.99.
Written by Ed Brubaker. Art and Cover by Steve Epting and Elizabeth Breitweiser. RELEASED THE SAME DAY AS THE SECOND TRADE! Velvet's hunt has led her into a dark web of lies and murder, and as the secrets come to light, they all point to one place-Washington DC, to the very halls of world power. Can Velvet find 'The Man Who Stole The World' or will she die trying? Cover price $3.50.
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