As always, “Five & Three” brings you my favorite things in comics this week. Every week I pick my five favorite covers and three favorite panels to create “Five & Three”. I like to talk about why I picked the covers and panels and welcome hecklers and trend setters alike.
This week was big for news, movies, trailers, “Star Wars” fans, and yes, for comic book fans too. I’ve done my best to break down the moments I got to and some that I didn’t to bring you my favorite things in comics this week. Starting us off strong for the month of November is the whimsical “Fairy Quest: Outcasts #1” by Humberto Ramos. The writing in the book is by Paul Jenkins and BOOM! Studios is publishing it. I have to say that, although Image is still the king of indie comic books, BOOM! has quickly become one of my favorite places for comics.
DC Comics had some wonderful comic book covers this week. if I could have grabbed a great photo of the final issue of Scott Snyder and Jim Lee “Superman Unchained #9” I would’ve certainly included it. That being said, the cover to “Green Lantern #36” by Alex Sinclair and Billy Tan stands shoulder to shoulder with the likes of a cover by Jim Lee Alex Sinclair and Scott Williams.
The perspective for the cover to “The Last West #8” is wonderful. I’m a big fan of Alterna and the books they publish but I haven’t a clue what’s inside the wonderful cover to this book. A quick glance at the past covers though, indicates there is a great artist on art duties for “The Last West”.
The latest book to pique my interest from Image is “Tooth & Claw” by Kurt Busiek and Ben Dewey. The book is another wonderful addition to Image’s line and more evidence that magic happens when you let comic book creators stretch their capabilities to their limits.
The haunting variant cover to “Death of Wolverine: Life After Logan #1” by Julian Totino Tedesco is my favorite for the week. I’m making the assumption that the cover is digitally painted in an oils style because that’s the industry norm but I couldn’t tell the difference if you forced me to. The work is excellent and makes one wonder why the amazing variant art isn’t chosen as the regular cover when it’s this great.
Image: 13thdimension.com
I can’t say enough good things about the BOOM! Studios published “Day Men”. This issue launches right off of the back of the recent collected trade for issues #1-#4. Stay tuned for an in depth review of this series right here on Big Shiny Robot.
“God Hates Astronauts #3” is the funniest book I read this week. Ryan Browne is creating something special in as much as he is creating something entirely shit nuts. I wasn’t a supporter of this book from the get go, it took me a second read through to love issue #1 but I’m fully engaged now. I still am not quite sure what’s going on with the multiple threads Browne is weaving but as long as the jokes stay ripe, I’m in for a monthly bite.
I told the world that Jake Parker was going to be the artist working in collaboration with Skottie Young while the writer/artist took a short break from both creative duties on Rocket Raccoon. I also told the world that Jake Parker’s art is fantastic. I also reporting seeing the nine of Parker’s inked pages from “Rocket Raccoon #5”. This page with the sword was one I was waiting to see in a book the most. Parker told me he had requested that Young put a huge sword in the book for Rocket and it works wonderfully. The fully colored page by Skottie Young’s long time and insanely talented colorist Jean-Francois Beaulieu pops. If there were any doubters that Parker was going to throw off the momentum this book Skottie built they are now certainly eating their words.
That’s all for this week. If you disagree with a pick, let me know in the comments or on Twitter @MarkAvo or on Instagram @TheMarkAvo. If you think I should’ve picked something else or if you have a pick in mind for next week, give me a shout out and let me know. If you’d like to check out more “Five and Three” comic book moments start with “Five and Three” from last week. Until next week, Happy Birthday Androidika!