Writer: Gabby Rivera
Penciler: Joe Quinones
Inkers: Joe Rivera & Paolo Rivera
Colorist: Jose Villarrubia
Letterer: Travis Lanham
Marvel
She’s beauty, she’s grace, she’ll punch you in the face. She’s Ms. America Chavez. Extra-dimensional leader of the Ultimates, former Young Avenger and Teen Brigader (but, honestly, the less said about that last one, the better), America’s eponymously named solo series focus’s on her going to college. Which is an…interesting choice. Rivera’s script is a bit all over the place in terms of cohesion, but she has a lot of ground to cover, convoluted as America’s backstory is. Whether it’s a good decision to cover so much ground in the first issue is a matter of opinion. Still, there are some fun moments in here and a wealth of interesting supporting cast members are introduced. Quinones’s art is gorgeous and injects emotion with ease. The Rivera inking team and Villarrubia’s colors smooth out each scene and provide appropriate atmosphere. America is a strong start to a colorful series.
Rat Queens #1
Writer: Kurtis J. Wiebe
Artist: Owen Gieni
Letterer: Ryan Ferrier
Image
To the new Volume, my Rat Queens! It’s back to basics for everyone’s favorite, foul-mouthed female adventurers. Which is weird because last we left the lasses, things were not in a great place. But everything’s back to normal, without explanation or hint of mindfuckery. It’s perplexing, to say the least, but this issue is the best Rat Queens has been in a long time. Irreverent pen-and-paper setting, sass, sorcery, finding giant monsters and killing them in the face: all hallmarks of classic grade-A Rat Queens. The new volume brings a new artist, Gieni (though he’s actually draw covers for the series prior to this), which is a definite boon for the series. His art, expressive and dirty, is a definite boon for the series. Rat Queens is off to a strong second start.
Moon Knight #12
Writer: Jeff Lemire
Artist: Greg Smallwood
Color Artist: Jordie Bellaire
Letterer: VC’s Cory Petit
Marvel
The mission to rescue Anput was going so well, right up until Marc Spector got captured and had his head put on the chopping block. As Lemire’s cerebral epic winds to a close, the tension increases in turn. Smallwood and Bellaire do a wonderful job juxtaposing superheroic action with the Overvoid’s, er, otherworldliness. The stage is set. All that’s left is to bring in on home.
The Woods #30
Writer: James Tynion IV
Illustrator: Michael Dialynas
Letters: Ed Dukeshire
Boom! Studios
Even so close to the end, mysteries deepen and danger rises.
.
BOOK OF THE WEEK
Hawkeye #4
Writer: Kelly Thompson
Artist: Leonardo Romero
Color Artist: Jordie Bellaire
Letterer: VC’s Joe Sabino
Marvel
