CBR reviews this week’s biggest new comic book releases, including Superman ’78, Superman vs Lobo, Echolands, Cable: Reloaded, and Robin.
Each week, CBR has your guide to navigating Wednesday’s new and recent comic releases, specials, collected editions and reissues, and we’re committed to helping you choose those that are worth your hard-earned cash. It’s a little slice of CBR we like to call Major Issues.
If you feel so inclined, you can buy our recommendations directly on comiXology with the links provided. We’ll even supply links to the books we’re not so hot on, just in case you don’t want to take our word for it. Don’t forget to let us know what you think of the books this week in the comments! And as always, SPOILERS AHEAD!
SUPERMAN ‘78 #1 (DC)
COMIXOLOGY
Director Richard Donner and Christopher Reeve’s Superman movies laid the groundwork for the modern superhero movie, and Superman ‘78 #1 — by Robert Venditti, Wilfredo Torres, Jordie Bellaire and Dave Lanphear – returns to that seminal cinematic world. This issue perfectly captures the tone of the films, while injecting them with more action than Reeve’s Man of Steel ever saw on the screen.
In the comic, Brainiac sets his sights on Superman and attacks Metropolis, finally giving this incarnation of Superman a fight with one of the character’s most iconic enemies. Venditti has always been a strong Superman writer, and he perfectly captures the gentle nature of Reeve’s Clark Kent and the crankiness of Jackie Cooper’s Perry White. Torres and Bellaire capture the essence of the cast well, which only adds to this book’s old-fashioned charm.
SUPERMAN VS LOBO #1 (DC)
COMIXOLOGY
Tim Seeley, Sarah Beattie, Mirka Andolfo, Arif Prianto and Fabio Amelia offer a decidedly more modern examination of the Man of Steel in Superman vs. Lobo #1. Despite its title, the first part of this DC Black Label miniseries isn’t a simple slugfest; it’s a deeper comparison between Superman and Lobo that springs out of an inadvertent team-up where Superman ends up getting credit for saving the day.
While it carries plenty of Lobo’s typical brand of irreverent, gross-out humor, this comic spends much of its considerable page count satirizing social media. Every joke doesn’t quite land, but there’s enough plot in this dense 51-page comic to keep things moving at all times. Andolfo and Prianto’s art works well throughout the book, but it especially comes alive during the zanier Lobo-centric portions of the comic.
ECHOLANDS #1 (IMAGE)
COMIXOLOGY
As part of the chief creative team behind Promethea, J. H. Williams III co-created one of the best magical fantasy epics in comics. And now with Echolands #1, Williams has co-created another beautiful dark violent fantasy, with W. Haden Blackman, Dave Stewart and Todd Klein.
Presented in a landscape format that gives Williams and his collaborators a wide canvas to work with, this debut introduces Hope Redhood, a thief in an ever-changing urban fantasy world, ruled over by an evil wizard. While this issue creates an enthralling fantasy world, it doesn’t hold the reader’s hand and should reward multiple readings, especially with fictional and non-fictional backmatter. However, Williams’ art is the real star of the show here, with dynamic figures and inventive layouts proving why he’s one of the best artists in mainstream comics.
CABLE: RELOADED #1 (MARVEL)
COMIXOLOGY
Although the original Cable just stepped back into the X-Men’s corner of the Marvel Universe, the time-traveling mutant’s first mission takes him to the far side of the universe for Marvel’s “The Last Annihilation” event. In Al Ewing, Bob Quinn, Java Tartaglia and Joe Sabino’s Cable: Reloaded #1, the X-Force founder assembles a small team to prepare for the final battle against Dormammu.
While this is a fairly standard Marvel superhero team-up, this comic marks a welcome return to action for this fan-favorite X-Man. Quinn’s cartoony art excels in moments of Liefeldian hyper-detail and Kirby-esque bombast, and it helps sell the surprising humor of the book well, making a solid case for this creative team to continue on as Cable’s new chroniclers.
ROBIN #5 (DC)
COMIXOLOGY
Although Damian Wayne is supposed to be fighting in a Mortal Kombat-esque tournament between dimensions, Robin #5 sees Batman’s son face off against all of Batman’s other ex-sidekicks in another outstanding issue from Joshua Williamson, Gleb Melnikov, Luis Guerro and Troy Peteri. As final preparations for the tournament get underway elsewhere, this comic serves as a showcase for Damian and his relationship with the rest of the Bat-Family in a fun, fast-paced story.
Melnikov’s manga-influenced art gives the comic a young, dynamic energy that’s emphasized by Guerrero’s bold colors. In a good omen for his upcoming Batman run, Williamson has a pitch-perfect take on all of the Bat-Family characters here, and the rest of the tournament’s mystery fighters remain as intriguing as ever. This is another strong issue from one of the best series in DC”s current lineup.
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