Each week, Xavier Files staff offer their recommendations for what to read. New DC comics come out Tuesdays, everything else Wednesdays.
Justin’s Pick
Future State: Justice League #1: Jon Kent, Tim Fox, Yara Flor, Jo Mullein, Andy Curry and Jess Chambers are the Justice League of the future, and they’re here to remind y’all that legacy heroes are neat. PLUS, in a Justice League Dark backup, Zatanna and an Etrigan-possessed Detective Chimp (rad!) are on the case to find out who’s after the DCU’s magic users. Main story by Joshua Williamson and Robson Rocha, backup by Ram V and Marcio Takara. ($5.99) Check out last week’s review of Future State: Swamp Thing #1.
Matt’s Pick
Future State: Dark Detective #1: Future State: The Next Batman #1 introduced us to a new Batman and a new vision of Gotham City. But it also begged the question: Where is Bruce Wayne? Turns out he’s in hiding, and working on a plan to take down The Magistrate. Also: Grifters! Plural! Main story by Mariko Tamaki and Dan Mora, backup by Matthew Rosenberg and Carmine Di Giandomenico. ($5.99) Previously, in the Bat books …
Ari’s Pick
Haha #1: Writer W. Maxwell Prince loves to leave you thinking, haunted and disturbed with his genre- and convention-defying monthly series Ice Cream Man. What’s he up to now? Clowns. He’s up to stories about clowns. Vanesa R. Del Rey joins Prince on art for the first issue. ($3.99) Check out the latest from Ari.
Vishal’s Pick
King in Black: Thunderbolts #1: New York City is beset by Mark Knull’s goo crew, and Mayor Fisk isn’t having it, so he assembles a team of baddies — Taskmaster! Rhino! Batroc the Leaper! Star! Mr. Fear! — to stop them or die trying, like some kind of suicidal squadron or something. Written by Matthew Rosenberg and drawn by Juan Ferreyra. ($3.99) Check out the latest from Vishal.
Will’s Pick
Mann’s World #1: A weekend getaway on a resort planet goes south when four friends run afoul of the planet’s working class in a new AWA series by writer Victor Gischler (he who famously told Dracula to follow his heart) and drawn by Niko Walter. ($3.99) Check out the latest from Will.
Karen’s Pick
S.W.O.R.D. #2: LOOK. It’s a King in Black tie-in. But just think about how good that first issue was. Remember when Magneto warmly greeted Peeper and claimed to forget who Fabian Cortez was? Remember mutant technology? Remember Whiz Kid? Remember Abigail Brand being fabulous AF? It’s all still there. Written by Al Ewing and drawn by Valerio Schiti. ($3.99) Check out our review of issue #1.
Dan’s Pick
Home Sick Pilots #2: We dug the first issue of this Image series by Dan Watters and Caspar Wijngaard about a teen girl who becomes the avatar of a haunted house and is tasked with retrieving its old ghosts. But what if those ghosts don’t want to be found? ($3.99) Check out our review of issue #1.
Zack’s Pick
Lonely Receiver #5: Zac Thompson and Jen Hickman’s AfterShock series about obsession in the age of big tech reaches its haunting conclusion. Sex was never this disturbing. Or maybe it always was. I forget. ($3.99) Check out the latest from Zack.
Cori’s Pick
Immortal Hulk #42: All the Leader’s plans have finally come together in what may be his greatest triumph. But is that enough, or will the One Below All claim his due? Have a hell of a good time with writer Al Ewing and artists Joe Bennett, Adam Gorham (New Mutants: Dead Souls) and Rachael Stott. ($3.99) Previously, in Immortal Hulk …
Forrest’s Pick
That Texas Blood Vol. 1: Sheriff Joe Bob Coates questions his effectiveness as the aging lawman of Ambrose County, Texas, as chaos descends following an explosive highway confrontation and the mysterious death of local rogue Travis Terrill. Written by Chris Condon and drawn by Jacob Phillips. ($9.99) Check out this review of the first issue, and listen to Phillips on WMQ&A.
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 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.
