Every Wednesday Marvel releases a number of new comic books, and we read them all here at The Marvel Report. Starting this week a number of our comic book reporters will be sharing their favorite issues from the previous week in our brand new Pick of The Week column. After you’re finished reading this column each week you will either agree with us, disagree with us (hopefully not too often), or be introduced to a series that you should be reading. Let us know what you think of our picks, and give a pick of your own in the comments, or over on Twitter @TheMarvelReport.
ALL NEW WOLVERINE ANNUAL #1
Writer: Tom Taylor
Penciler: Macio Takara
Colorist: Mat Lopes
Letterer: VC’s Cory Petit
I haven’t had this much with an Annual in a long time. Taylor doesn’t go the multiple short stories route, but instead tells a very entertaining one-shot story about Wolverine and Spider-Gwen switching bodies.
This is a fun story because Gwen and Laura have very different personalities and power sets. Taylor takes his time for Gwen and Laura to explore each other’s supporting cast and makes experimenting with their new found power sets fun. This is a must read comic if you are a fan of these characters! – Kat
HOWARD THE DUCK #10
Writer: Chip Zdarsky
Penciler: Joe Quinones
Inkers: Joe Rivera, Marc Deering, Joe Quinones
Colorists: Jordan Gibson, Joe Quinones
Letterer: Travis Lanham
The penultimate issue of the current Howard The Duck series is a summation of everything that makes this series one of the very best that Marvel has to offer. There was heart, humor, meta commentary, action, and of course the creative team’s unique take on Spider-Man.
If this series wasn’t great already this issue features guest stars such as Chipp, Jho, Ry-N, Air-Icka, Whil, and Ta-Nehi-C. Or as most of us know them, the creative team of Chip Zdarsky and Joe Quinones, the Unbeatable Squirrel Girl creative team of Ryan North and Erica Henderson, editor Wil Moss, and Black Panther writer Ta-Nehisi Coates. Not to mention all the characters we’ve come to love over the course of the past year come together to kick the ending into motion.
It’s a shame that this series is almost done, but it looks as if Zdarsky, Quinones and crew will be heading out on the top of their game. In a wonderful tribute Howard claims that whoever worked on the earlier part of this time on Earth “Were clearly way better than” Chipp. The real Chip and Joe should should give themselves a bit more credit, because they have done right by Steve Gerber. – John
HYPERION #6
Writer: Chuck Wendig
Artists: Nick Virella & Marc Laming
Colorist: Romulo Fajardo Jr.
Letterer: VC’s Joe Caramagna
Chuck Wendig ends his run with a story that closes up shop but leaves us with hope. Hyperion, Doll and Marc still have stories to be told, and I hope Wendig gets to tell them.
Hyperion has been an awesome ride. It is the book with the indie feel that takes you on a wild ride at a carnival that you never want to leave. I loved getting to know more about Hyperion, and the way Wendig used Doll’s story as that catalyst. Hyperion’s struggle is really something I feel a lot of people could relate to, being the man you are vs. the man your father/parents wanted you to be. He really struggles with that throughout the series and comes to the realization he must find his own path in life. I almost feel like this is a series too good for Marvel, the writing and the art were some of the best that I have seen from them in the All-New, All-Different, and feel Marvel should have given it a chance to really grow instead of cutting it short. – Jay
MS. MARVEL #10
Writer: G. Willow Wilson
Pencillers: Takeshi Miyazawa & Adrian Alphona
Colorist: Ian Herring
Letterer: VC’s Joe Caramagna
Ms. Marvel always delivers such a poignant take on the problems Kamala faces, and this issue is no exception. By personalizing the landscape of Civil War II, G. Willow Wilson crafts one of the most emotional comic book stories of the week.
Not much actually happens in the issue, but the flashbacks and Kamala’s crisis of conscience combine to make for a powerful discussion of right and wrong, and whose job it is to decide those things. Several seeds are also planted that are guaranteed to come to fruition in a satisfying way over the course of the next few months. If you’ve loved Kamala’s journey up to now, it’s only going to get better and more intense.
– Tatiana
SPIDER-MAN 2099 #14
Writer: Pete David
Penciler: Will Sliney
Colorist: Rachelle Rosenberg
Letterer: VC’s Cory Petit
Spider-Man 2099 has been one of the most entertaining comics in the Spider roster, and issue #14 proves it. So far Miguel’s little trip to his barely recognizable future has been a non-stop thrill ride. But the action isn’t the selling point. Early on in the issue you start to feel that David and crew knows exactly what readers want: Cool futuristic versions of beloved heroes and oh boy we get exactly that!
If you’re a fan of the Spider-Man 2099 comics from yesteryear which featured several twisted versions of futuristic heroes and villains, then you definitely should pick this one up. – Christian