June 2016 PREVIEWS Pre-Order Picks: MARVEL COMICS

EDITOR’S NOTE:  Continuing a new feature, as we peruse the monthly PREVIEWS catalog and highlight some books we feel are worthy of your attention.

Your local comic shop depends on your pre-orders to make sure they have the books you want when you want them. Since business reality makes it impossible for a local comic shop to order some of everything, they depend on the comics readers to tell them what they want to see.  It’s a dice roll for them every month.  Won’t you help with the odds by at least telling them what you want to buy from them in two months?  Please give it a try.  We’ll do our best here to help you with those selections, from a BC Refugees point of view.  Not objective, but absolutely subjective.

MARVEL COMICS  separate catalog http://marvel.com

EDITOR’S CAUTIONARY NOTE:  There is never a single month where the Marvel Universe does not have a big “event” occurring in their titles.  Right now, its CIVIL WAR II.  If you want to follow this series over the course of several months, you should talk to your bank about a loan. In the month of August, CIVIL WAR II #5 of 7 will be released, along with CIVIL WAR II: CHOOSING SIDES #4 & #5 (of 6.)  If you are going to follow this series, then you should pre-order all three books at a cost of approximately $13 total.  However, should you want to read the secondary CIVIL WAR II series (CIVIL WAR: X-MEN + AMAZING SPIDER-MAN, GODS OF WAR, KINGPIN, and ULYSSES) you will need to order those 5 books.  And, if you don’t want to miss the Tie-In issues of regular monthly books that will at bare minimum have a few panels linked to the event, be prepared to order 26 more books.  So, if you are a CIVIL WAR II completist  (we know you are out there), you need to pick up 34 books in August at a cost of approximately $129.  You may not have any funds left to order books from other publishers, unless your monthly comics budget is unlimited. And, this is exactly what MARVEL wants you to do.  How else can they keep ranking in the PREVIEWS top seller lists (in pre-orders) in a single month unless they overload the market with a mountain of books every month?  (End of lecture).  For those of you working with  a limited budget, none of the pre-order books we suggest are related to the CIVIL WAR II event. . . . . . . . . . 

THE MIGHTY THOR #10: We thought it might be nothing more than a gimmick when a couple years back Marvel announced that a new version of THOR would feature a female wi382448 SX640 QL80 TTDelding the hammer.  We under-estimated the ability of Jason Aaron to tell a good story.  This title continues to impress. Artist Russell Dauterman is a major talent.

From the catalog:  “On top of battling cancer and the villainous team of the Exterminatrix and the Silver Samurai, now Jane Foster has a surprising new enemy with which to contend:  S.H.I.E.L.D."

BLACK PANTHER #5: If you haven’t been following the latest version of Black Panther, then now is a good time to jump in as 382323 SX312 QL80 TTDa new story arc begins.

From the catalog:  “A Sword For Lions starts now.  Ta-Nehisi Coates is joined by guest artist and modern master Chris Spouse for the second arc chronicling the final days of the kingdom of Wakanda.  As Zensi and The People poison the citizens of Wakanda against the Black Panther, a cabal of nation-breakers is assembled . . . With his allies dwindling, T’Challa must rely on his elite secret police, the Hatut Zeraze, and fellow Avenger Eden Fesi, a.k.a. Manifold.  Meanwhile, Shuri’s spirit journeys through The Djalma . . . but what awaits her there?"

THE PUNISHER #4:  It should not be a big deal that THE PUNISHER is being scripted by a female writer for the first time.  What is a big deal is the engaging story and art by Cloonan and Dillon.

From the catalog:  “The Punisher tracks the psychopathic Face and his madness-inducing drug EMC to a derelict insane asylum.  But Punisher’s got his own tail: DEA agents, and Face . . . driving a tank.  The little girl in the Punisher’s passenger seat might be safer on the side of the road!"

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 MOON KNIGHT #5:  Jeff Lemire brings the magic to whatever he writes.                                       A master of characterization and heart.382258 SX312 QL80 TTD

From The catalog:  “Marc Spector comes face to face with  . . . Moon Knight.  Who is under the mask?  Marc’s hunt for answers becomes a run for his life through half-remembered histories.  Will he finally confront Seth - - god of storms and instigator of New Egypt’s takeover of New York?"

STAR382453 SX360 QL80 TTD WARS: POE DAMERON #5:  We can’t get enough of this dynamic new character, first introduced in STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS movie. Writer Charles Soule with art by Phil Noto.

From the catalog:  “Black Squadron’s been locked away in a Republic prison.  But they’re not locked in there with us, they’re locked in with . . . Terrell?  Can Poe and company get the info they need and get free?"

BLACK PANTHER: A NATION UNDER OUR FEET BOOK 1 TP: Get this and get caught up on the new Black Panther, perfectly rendered for the modern age.

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From the catalog: “A new era begins for the Black Panther.  MacArthur Genius and National Book Award-winning writer Ta-Nehisi Coates takes the helm, confronting T’Challa with a dramatic upheaval in Wakanda that will make leading the African nation tougher than ever before. When a superhuman terrorist group calling itself The People sparks a violent uprising, the land famed for its incredible technology and proud warrior traditions will be thrown into turmoil.  As suicide bombers terrorize the population, T’Challa struggles to unite his citizens, and a familiar villain steps out of the shadows.  If Wakanda is to survive, it must adapt . . . but can its monarch, one in a long line of Black Panthers, survive the necessary change? "

 

DAREDEVIL: BACK IN BLACK  VOL. 2 — SUPERSONIC TPB:  If you haven’t seen what the team of Charles Soule and Roger McKenzie have done to update Daredevil, then check it out here.  We love the new black and red costume.

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From the catalog; “Matt Murdock is back in his old stomping grounds, with his secret identity intact once again.  But there are some parts of his past that Matt can never escape — hosts like the first woman he ever loved and lost.  Elektra Nachos has returned to New York with a deadly score to settle.  Hell’s Kitchen knows no fury like an assassin scorned. en, Matt travels to the other side of the world to enter a poker tournament?  And how does Spider-Man fit in?  All this plus the return of Echo."

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