I love the Marvel Handbooks. Really, any sort of reference guide to fictional universes is my jam, as they combine my affection for big, sprawling, narrative mythologies, history books, and pedantry. Back in the Olden Times, the first iteration of the Marvel Handbooks (specifically, the second, deluxe, edition) was my guide to a Marvel Universe…
Each week, Xavier Files staff offer their recommendations for what to read. New DC comics come out Tuesdays, everything else Wednesdays. Zack’s Pick Excalibur #13: Get ready for some hot Braddock-on-Braddock action (Wait …), all written by “X of Swords” co-mastermind Tini Howard and drawn by guest artist R. “Powers” B. “Of” Silva “X.” ($3.99)…
Weâve been pretty rough on DC lately. Maybe it was all those layoffs. Maybe itâs Watchmen fatigue. Maybe itâs all those comic shops that have complained about not getting their UCS/Lunar books on time. Maybe it was the Fandome virtual pep rallies (although to be fair, weâre out on virtual cons in general). Maybe itâs…
The Tenth Doctor and the Daleks continue their uneasy alliance, standing together against an ancient enemy of Skaro in Doctor Who: Time Lord Victorious #2. Bringing the titleâs âDefender of the Daleksâ two-part stop into Time Lord Victorious to a rousing and emotional conclusion, writer Jody Houser, penciler Roberta Ingranata, coloring team Enrica Eren Angiolini,…
Dracula, Motherf**ker Writer/Letterer: Alex de Campi, Artist: Erica Henderson, Publisher: Image Dracula, Motherf**ker is an absolutely gorgeous graphic novel that I canât shake feeling frustrated with. To start off with the gorgeous, Dracula, Motherf**ker is by far Erica Hendersonâs best artwork to date. The use of color and texture throughout the book continue a lovely…
Itâs hard to be a Teen Titan when youâre celebrating a 40th anniversary, but theyâll keep trying. Yes, this year marks the 40th anniversary of the definitive âNew Teen Titansâ run by Marv Wolfman and George Perez, a run that rivaled the X-Men at the height of its popularity. âNew Teen Titansâ helped define superheroes…
The End is only the beginning as Carol travels into a strange dark future in Captain Marvel #22, written by Kelly Thompson, art by Lee Garbett, colors by Tamra Bonvillain, and letters by VCâs Clayton Cowles. Cat Purcell: I’m quite glad to see Thompson continue writing Captain Marvel after The Empyre Event. The cover is…
Hello friends and readers! Another week, another batch of Marvel titles to dig into! This week, Jude Jones hits up Captain America #24, our fearless leader brings us the skinny on Avengers #37, and Spider-Correspondent Tony Thornley anniversaries (itâs a word, right?) with Amazing Spider-Man #50! Captain America #24 Though uneven, Captain America #24, like…
The whole crew seeks to fight against the Leader, in the Hulkâs mind, and in several actual bodies, in this banger of an issue written by Al Ewing, pencilled by Joe Bennett, inked by Ruy JosĂ©, colored by Paul Mounts, and lettered by VCâs Cory Petit! Robert Secundus Zach Rabiroff: [The stage is silent. A…
Ten swords, ten champions, ten battles for the fate of the world. X Of Swords continues to build towards the tournament this week. First Austin Gorton & Liz Large remind us that “‘if you ain’t cheatin’, you ain’t tryin’” with Hellions #5 by Zeb Wells, Carmen Carnero, David Curiel, and Ariana Maher. Then Allison Senecal…
Welcome to the first of our new review feature: âBat Chat with Matt (and Will!).â Weâre starting off with a big one, folks (Or is it? Weâll get to that), the end of the âJoker Warâ story. As Gotham burns and the Bat-family tries to hold it together, Batman and Joker face down in a…
It’s time to face your parent issues, save the environment and go on a top-secret mission as Dan Grote reviews AHOY’s Penultiman #1 and Zack Jenkins reviews Vault’s No One’s Rose #5 and AWA’s American Ronin #1.
Captain Malik and the crew of the Vihaan II escape from their tyrannical government – and chart a course straight to the first living god they can find. But the only thing more dangerous than what lies ahead of them ⊠is who follows behind them. Andrea Ayres and Zach Rabiroff continue their A-to-Z examination of Al Ewing, Simone di Meo, Mariasara Miotti and AndWorld Designâs We Only Find Them When Theyâre Dead.
The plot deepens and mysteries abound as Shin learns more about the Ultras while Kiki and Captain Muramatsu search for answers to this strange conspiracy. Itâs a prelude to Kaiju action in Rise of Ultraman #2 by Kyle Higgins, Matt Groom, Francesco Manna, Espen Grundetjern, and VCâs Ariana Maher. Ian Gregory: Last time, I said…
Ten swords, ten champions, ten battles for the fate of the world. X Of Swords continues this week with three comics about two heroes. First Pierce Lightning & Tony Thornley set the stage with Benjamin Percy, Viktor Bogdanovic, Matthew Wilson, and Cory Petit’s Wolverine #6. Then Ari Bard & Kenneth Laster keep things moving with…