Rise of the Powers of X, Ultimate Spider-Man and more Staff Picks

Each week, ComicsXF staff offer their recommendations for what to read. New DC books come out Tuesdays, everything else Wednesdays.

Adam’s pick: Rise of the Powers of X #1: Ten years ago, the mutants returned from their exile to try and reclaim the Earth from the forces of Orchis. They failed. Now, Nimrod and Omega Sentinel put their plan within a plan into action, to summon their binary god to consume everything in their accession. All that stands between them is the X-Men. Written by Kieron Gillen (Immortal X-Men) and drawn by R.B. Silva (Powers of X). ($5.99) Check out our review of Fall of the House of X #1. Buy it here.

Mark’s pick: Ultimate Spider-Man #1: After re-envisioning the Ultimate Universe, writer Jonathan Hickman takes his talents to Peter Parker, giving fans the married-with-children version of Spidey fans have been yelling at Joe Quesada about since 2007. Drawn by Marco Checchetto (Daredevil). ($5.99) Flash back to that time we talked to Hickman about charts. Buy it here.

Rasmus’ pick: Adventureman: Ghost Lights #1: When the good guys of the Golden Age come back, all their ghosts follow. Now Claire, the new Adventureman, and her maybe-beau Chris, the new Crossdraw Kid, defend peace on earth from a phantom empire of crime. Written by Matt Fraction and drawn by Terry Dodson for Image Comics. ($3.99) Buy it here.

Dan’s pick: Acid Chimp vs. Business Dog: Business Dog controls the wealth of nations. Acid Chimp has been abducted by crooks who want him to kill the canine trillionaire. And why wouldn’t he? Splashing acid is the only thing Acid Chimp enjoys. Written by Mark Russell and Bryce Ingman and drawn by Steve Pugh and Peter Krause for AHOY Comics. ($3.99) Listen to AHOY’s Tom Peyer and Stuart Moore talk about this book on WMQ&A: The ComicsXF Interview Podcast.

Preview pick: Spider-Gwen: Smash #2: Gwen Stacy pulls double duty as drummer and secret bodyguard for Dazzler as tensions threaten to tear both bands apart. Plus, Hulk attacks again, but this time, he’s not alone. Written by Melissa Flores and drawn by Enid Balam. ($3.99) Check out a preview. Buy it here.

Austin’s pick: Transformers #4: When the Decepticons attack the Autobots at their weakest moment, an unlikely new hero joins the battle. With human and Transformer lives at stake, can Optimus Prime unlock the true power behind the Matrix of Leadership to save them both? By Daniel Warren Johnson for Image/Skybound. ($3.99) We reviewed the first issue. Buy it here.

Tony’s pick: Wolverine #41: It’s been years since Wolverine and Sabretooth have crossed paths, but as Krakoa falls, so rises Victor Creed, and he’s out for revenge, and wielding an army of Sabretooths (Sabreteeth?). Co-written by Benjamin Percy and Victor LaValle (Sabreooth) and drawn by Cory Smith (Ghost Rider) and Geoff Shaw (Weapons of Vengeance). ($4.99) Previously, in Wolverine … Buy it here.

Matt’s pick: Case Closed Vol. 89: Early Christmas shopping turns less than jolly when the Junior Detective League stumbles on a murder at a department store. Rachel’s self-proclaimed karate rival sends Mr. Moore on the trail of a UFO. And Officer Yumi has to solve a complex puzzle to find out how her boyfriend, Japan’s top shogi champ, really feels about her. Meanwhile, Conan pursues an even more baffling mystery: the identity of “Mary,” the reclusive little girl with connections to some of his most enigmatic allies. By Gosho Aoyama for Viz Media. ($11.99) Buy it here.

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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.