Captain Phasma, Venomverse & More in Required Reading: Comics for 9/6/17
Main Art by Paul Renaud
Summer doesn’t technically end until September 22nd, but most of us are officially in autumn mode with Labor Day in the rearview mirror. The arrival of September brings with it a full harvest of new comics: DC Comics’ fan-favorite Bombshells returns for another round of pin-up-inspired heroism, Matthew Rosenberg and Tyler Boss’ critically acclaimed 4 Kids Walk Into a Bank reaches its long-awaited conclusion and both Marvel and IDW Publishing contribute to mounting The Last Jedi hype with new Star Wars series. This Wednesday is so stuffed we can’t even cover every notable book hitting stands. In addition to the picks below, the Helena Crash team of Fabian Rangel, Jr. and Warwick J. Cadwell team up for an all-new Samurai Jack adventure, The Crow creator James O’Barr provides a cat-tastic variant cover to Doom Patrol, Mark Millar recruits Rob Williams and Simon Fraser for a new Kingsman miniseries and Riri Williams gets her own Generations one-shot. Good thing we won’t be distracted by the beach this weekend—there’s a lot to read.
4 Kids Walk Into a Bank
Writer: Matthew Rosenberg
Artist: Tyler Boss
Publisher: Black Mask
Published over the course of a year and a half, what 4 Kids Walk Into a Bank lacked in frequency it more than made up for with hyper-stylized humor and heart. Writer Matthew Rosenberg and artist Tyler Boss choreographed witty banter, ‘80s nostalgia and Saul Bass-inspired design into five relentlessly inventive issues. The fifth and final chapter lives up to the mini-series’ namesake, as grade-school protagonist Paige and her buds attempt to liberate a bundle of cash to ease her father’s debt to a band of Neo-Nazis. The title gorgeously contrasts childhood escapism with harsh adult realities; each issue juxtaposed nostalgic 16-bit and D&D fantasies against missed bills and abrasive violence. Rosenberg pits those two extremes against each other in the domestic epic’s final pages, and its denouement is likely to saturate these panels a darker hue with reader tears. It’s a shame this project only lasted a handful of issues, but it remains near-perfect in its economy; no panel is wasted, nor is any second spent with this gaggle of unforgettable juvenile delinquents. Sean Edgar
The Black Beetle: Kara Bocek HC
Writer/Artist: Francesco Francavilla
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
When it comes to atmospheric mysteries and horror comics with a hint of something retro, it’s hard to top Francesco Francavilla. The Italian artist is probably best known for his prodigious cover output, not to mention the grim and grisly Afterlife with Archie. His Instagram account is a boon to fans of old-school horror and monster movies, bursting with illustrations of Dracula and spaghetti westerns in broad swaths of black and poppy color. The Black Beetle: Kara Bocek collects a story that Francavilla both wrote and drew, originally serialized in Dark Horse Presents and printed together for the first time in this hardcover. This mystery lies in the vein of radio dramas, a Nazi-punching spy story with superhero identities that revisits characters established in 2013’s The Black Beetle: No Way Out. Francavilla’s already impressive work has continued to improve in the intervening years, and it’s always nice to see a creator return to a story he clearly enjoyed. Caitlin Rosberg
Bombshells United #1
Writer: Marguerite Bennett
Artist: Marguerite Sauvage
Publisher: DC Comics
The Marguerites pair up once again to launch a new DC Comics Bombshells title, one of the boldest comics on shelves since it began two years ago last month. The original Bombshells title proved to be an antidote to a lot of what ails cape-and-cowl superhero titles: a character-driven series with supportive and loving relationships and moments of joy to contrast very real violence and loss. In an ideal world, a book about punching Nazis that features both platonic and romantic relationships between women wouldn’t be political, but Bombshells is, and Bombshells United seems to be pointed at all of the same targets. In this installment, Wonder Woman is called back to the United States by Donna Troy and Cassie Sandsmark to confront internment camps at home just as she and her friends faced the horrors of concentration camps and xenophobia on the European front. Shifting to focus on the Wonder Girls is a smart choice from Bennett, as their Batgirl compatriots continue to protect Gotham. If Bombshells United is anything like its predecessor, it will be a necessary reminder of all that these characters stand for, while still fun, visually appealing and uplifting to read. Caitlin Rosberg
