Each week, Xavier Files staff offer their recommendations for what to read. New DC comics come out Tuesdays, everything else Wednesdays.
Chris’ Pick
X-Factor #4: As “X of Swords” rolls on, it looks like maybe The Five are about to resurrect someone they shouldn’t have. It’s hard to say when all you have to go on is “Death and rebirth. Corruption. A dark discovery. Rated T+.” Written by Leah Williams and drawn by Carlos E. Gomez. ($4.99) CHECK OUT PART ONE OF OUR XOS COVERAGE
Vishal’s Pick
Department of Truth #1: What if all the conspiracies were true? Hey, there’s a comic we need in the year of our QAnon 2020! Writer James Tynion IV (“Batman”) and artist Martin Simmonds (“Friendo”) investigate for Image. ($3.99) CHECK OUT THE LATEST FROM VISHAL
Zach’s Pick
Shang-Chi #1: Just in time for the movie! Just kidding, superhero movies aren’t a thing anymore. And “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” wasn’t due to come out this year even before COVID-19. All snark aside, Gene Luen Yang (“Dragon Hoops”) is very good at comics, and it’s awesome to see an all-Asian creative team take on Marvel’s martial arts master. ($3.99) CHECK OUT THE LATEST FROM ZACH
Cori’s Pick
Dark Nights Death Metal: Multiverse’s End #1: Jesus with these tie-in names. A ragtag group of superheroes from across the multiverse (Evil Batman! Barack Obama Superman! A rabbit!) teams up in a last-ditch effort to attack and dethrone God stop Perpetua from collapsing all worlds into one. Written by James Tynion IV and drawn by Juan Gedeon. ($5.99) CHECK OUT THE LATEST FROM CORI
Matt’s Pick
Harley Quinn & the Birds of Prey #3: The price on Harley’s head is getting higher and higher, and more and more of Gotham City’s most dangerous villains are crawling out of the woodwork to claim it. So where the hell is Batman? Look, folks, he’s busy. With “Joker War” stuff. By Jimmy Palmiotti and Amanda Conner. ($5.99) CHECK OUT THE LATEST FROM MATT
Dan’s Pick
Ludocrats #5: Will the Hyper-Pope succeed in making everything boring, thereby ending the Ludocracy? Will Kieron Gillen, Jim Rossignol, Jeff Stokely and Tamra Bonvillain stick the landing on a concept Gillen and Rossignol conceived of 17 years ago? Will it get equal parts meta and weird? I’m not telling! Read the damn comic. ($3.99) CHECK OUT THE LATEST FROM DAN
Ari’s Pick
Alienated #6: Reeling from the devastating effects of Chip’s true powers, the Sams have a terrible choice to make. As they face off once and for all, Chip – and the town of Tangletree – hangs in the balance. Si Spurrier and Chris Wildgoose’s BOOM Studios series draws to a close. ($3.99) CHECK OUT THE LATEST FROM ARI
Tony’s Pick
Legion of Super-Heroes #9: Part 2 of a two-part event in which a slew of artists, including Art Adams, Jim Cheung, Nick Derington, Michel Fiffe, Gary Frank, Jenny Frison, Mitch Gerads, Mike Grell, James Harren, Klaus Janson, Tula Lotay, David Marquez, Kevin Nowlan, Joe Prado, Joe Quinones, Reilly Rossmo, Nicola Scott, Wade Von Grawbadger and Gene Luen Yang tell tales of the Legion with writer Brian Michael Bendis. ($3.99) CHECK OUT THE LAST TIME WE WROTE ABOUT THE LEGION
Bonus Pick
Giant-Size X-Men #1: Tribute to Wein and Cockrum: Speaking of comics with a ton of artists, in this 45th anniversary tribute, 37 artists re-create 1975’s “Giant-Size X-Men” #1, one page at a time. Featuring Alex Ross, Kevin Nowlan, Chris Samnee, Marcus To, Stephen Segovia, Marguerite Sauvage, Carmen Nunez Carnero, Bernard Chang, Aaron Kuder, Takeshi Miyazawa, Juann Cabal, Gurihiru, Mark Brooks, Kris Anka, Phil Noto, Valerio Schiti, Leinil Francis Yu, Matteo Lolli, Emanuela Lupacchino, Carlos E. Gomez, R.B. Silva, Joshua Cassara, David Baldeon, Rod Reis, Javier Rodriguez, Marco Checchetto, Jen Bartel, Michael Del Mundo, Rahzzah, Pepe Larraz, Mike Hawthorne and more. ($5.99) CHECK OUT THE LAST TIME WE TALKED ABOUT A GIANT-SIZE X-MEN COMIC
Dan Grote is the editor-in-chief of ComicsXF, having won the site by ritual combat. By day, he’s a newspaper editor, and by night, he’s … also an editor. He co-hosts WMQ&A: The ComicsXF Interview Podcast with Matt Lazorwitz. He lives in New Jersey with his wife, two kids and two miniature dachshunds, and his third, fictional son, Peter Winston Wisdom.
