#1 Comic Issues I’m Picking Up the Week of November 7, 2018

Here are the new books I’m looking forward to seeing at my local comic store the week of November 7, 2018.

Marvel Knights 20th

Publisher: Marvel
Words/Story: Donny Cates, Matthew Rosenberg, and Vita Ayala (issues 1–6)
Art/Colors: Travel Foreman, Niko Henrichon, Damian Couceiro, Joshua Cassara, and Kim Jacinto (Issues 1–6)
Covers: Geoff Shaw

“In the cemetery, the blind man does not know who he is, or why he has come to this particular grave at this moment. He doesn’t know the burly police officer with the wild story who has approached him. Or the strangely intense man who sits in the rear seat of the patrol car, his eyes flashing green. But all of that is about to change. Because Matt Murdock is beginning to remember . . . In a colorless world without heroes, the spark of light . . . must come from the dark . . .”

Category: Like They Need My Help

Why I’m Excited: The promotional materials say that “20 years ago Marvel Knights changed the course of Marvel History.” Whether they mean that the sales of those books helped Marvel emerge from a bankruptcy filing or that the character-focused storytelling and move away from continuity was an artistic level up, I know that the Daredevil and Black Panther series were the only two things I bought regularly when I was in college. The writing team here is reminiscent of the new talent that MKs brought into the mainstream. And if you don’t already have the collection of Christopher Priest’s work from this period, you should drop the $80 or $100 for Volumes 1–4.

Marvel Comics

WaterSnakes

Publisher: Lion Forge
Words/Story: Tony Sandoval
Art/Colors: Tony Sandoval

“Mila is a solitary teenager ready to put another boring summer vacation behind her until she meets Agnes, an adventurous girl who turns out to be a ghost. And not just a regular ghost, but one carrying the essence of an ancient fallen king and a mouth full of teeth that used to be his guardian warriors.”

Category: Support Emerging Talent

Why I’m Excited: This art! With his unmistakable painterly style, Sandoval’s worlds are evocative of a happiness you had once as a child but only slightly remember; you see those rare moments through all the heartbreak you’ve had since. The memories are awash in sadness, but you still return to them repeatedly because they were so wonderful. That’s what it says to me.

Lion Forge

Wet Hot American Summer

Publisher: BOOM! Studios
Words/Story: Christopher Hastings
Art/Colors: Noah Hayes
Cover by: Joe Quinones

“Well guys, we made it through the first week of camp in one piece . . . mostly. Anyway, so I gave the Camp Firewood counselors the night off to head into town to do whatever it is teenagers do and long story short, it led to a surprise camp inspection! Now we have 24 hours to clean up our act or they’re going to shut down Camp Firewood. Luckily, I have the best counselors in the whole wide world . . . wait, where are those little jerks . . . in town still?! We are so screwed . . .”

Category: Return to a Beloved World

Why I’m Excited: I will admit I was late to the cult of Wet Hot American Summer—it wasn’t until 2010 that I discovered the hilarity that is Camp Firewood. The only thing more mysterious than how it stayed below by radar for nine years is how Wain and Showalter were able to convince so many A-list (and soon-to-be A-list) actors to spend weeks in rural Pennsylvania in what has been described as a mostly wet, bordering on cold early fall. Whatever the alchemy, it has continued to work through prequel and sequel, stunt casting, absurdity after absurdity (a talking can of vegetables?!), time travel and even a few “gruesome“ deaths. Since that fateful day, just before Obama was elected, I haven’t been able to see a passing satellite without thinking about how glad I am that Space Lab didn’t crash into star-crossed camp director Beth and Dr. Henry.

BOOM! Studios

Also out this week:

• Bingo Love: Jackpot Edition by Tee Franklin, and Jenn St-Onge, with additional material from Katie Cook, Marguerite Bennett, Shawn Pryor, Alyssa Cole, Amanda Deibert, Gail Simone, Beverly Johnson, Shae Beagle, Cat Staggs, Margaux Saltel (click here for our review from last winter)
• Vertigo: A Celebration of 25 Years (cue the ’90s comic nostalgia)
• To Build a Fire adapted by Christophe Chaboute (based on Jack London)

Check these out in stores this week and get ready a really big week November 14—assuming that shipping is on schedule, there may be a man in a bathtub with some rubber duckies.