Each week, MK2Fac3 and Henchman21 read a lot of comics. Seriously, a lot of comics. Maybe too many comics. They look forward to some more than others, I mean, who doesn’t? So, let’s take a look into the depths of their pull list, grab some issues and we’ll let YOU know what the top books to look forward to are for the week of April 6, 2011. Single issues and trades, they’re all here.

MK2Fac3

ISSUES

Secret Six #32 (DC Comics – $2.99) – Secret Six is easily one of my favorite ongoing series, so don’t be surprised when you see this book on my list every month. Not enough people read this book, and that’s a crime. It’s one of the most consistently awesome comics to come out on a regular basis, and this current storyline is no exception. In this second issue of the current story arc, writer Gail Simone takes the Secret Six into Hell to solve one of the most exciting story lines that was set up at the very beginning of the series. This series continues to be a “can’t miss,” so don’t miss it!

Chew #18 (Image Comics – $2.99) – Chew is another one of those books that you don’t want to miss out on. I’ve read this series from the beginning, and although you need to read the entire series, each issue does have a catch-up prologue to explain what the series is about. It’s a really quirky title that’s a blast to read every month with great writing and art. It never disappoints, and with the recent announcement that Showtime will be adapting the series to a television show, you should really get in when you can.

JLA 2011 (DC Comics – $5.99) – Although what’s currently going on in Justice League of America is not that best example of comics storytelling, the concept of supernatural magic vs. super powers is pretty cool, although not very special. In JLA 2011, however, it does have something pretty unique. In this 80-page giant, several different creators joined together to tell an anthology tale that focuses primarily on that concept dealing with various members of the Justice League. Oh yeah! It also features writing from Adam Glass, a producer/writer on the hit CW series Supernatural!!!

COLLECTION

Aaron and Ahmed HC (Vertigo – $24.99) – This Vertigo hardcover takes a look at the question of “What causes terrorism?”. It’s a story about a man who lost his wife on 9/11 who leaves everything he has to go to Guantanamo Bay to try and answer that question by being an interrogator. While there, he meets a man who promises to have that answer. It’s an extremely intriguing concept, especially in graphic novel form. With the literary approach from acclaimed writer, Jay Cantor and art from James Romberger, it promises to be an excellent read. And it may just stand out as something like you’ve never read before.

Also, I totally agree with Henchman’s pick of Axe Cop: Bad Guy Earth #2 (see below), so be sure to pick that up!

Henchman21

ISSUES

Fear Itself #1 (Marvel Comics – $3.99) – This is the official start to Marvel’s next big event (see Fear Itself: Book of the Skull for the unofficial start). Writer Matt Fraction gets his shot at the universe-altering crossover, but to be honest I’m not exactly sure what it’s about. I have been avoiding a lot of the press for it because I knew I would be picking this up and I didn’t want anything spoiled. The art by Stuart Immonen is enough to get me interested, and I have enough faith in Fraction as a writer to give this a chance. Like all events, this one is promised to change everything as we know it, but we’ll have to wait for the series to run its course to see if that holds true.

Axe Cop: Bad Guy Earth #2 (of 3) (Dark Horse Comics – $3.50) – I had never read the Axe Cop webcomic before picking up the first issue of this mini-series, so I didn’t know what to expect. What I got was the manic imaginings of 6-year-old Malachai Nicolle as focused by his older brother Ethan which as turned into one of the most entertaining books I’ve read this year. The plot of Axe Cop is very simple: there is this one cop, and he’s got an axe. That’s about all you need to know. This book is pure fun set to paper, and I can’t wait to read this issue.

Heroes for Hire #5 (Marvel Comics – $2.99) – I think I missed the last issue of this series, but I know I read the first couple and I liked the concept of this new take on the Heroes for Hire, written by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning. In this version of the team, Misty Knight (Iron Fist’s girlfriend) uses her Rolodex to contact various Marvel heroes to fight street-level crime. If you’ve read Warren Ellis’ Global Frequency, it’s very similar to that. What has me interested in this issue is the guest art by Robert Atkins, who has been handling the art on IDW’s main GI Joe series, and I want to see how he handles these characters.

COLLECTION

The Boys Vol. 8 Highland Laddie Paperback (Dynamite – $19.99) – This is the next volume in Garth Ennis’ The Boys, collecting the Highland Laddie mini-series, which featured art by John McCrea. The Boys is Ennis’ look at a world of superheroes, if all the superheroes were sexual deviants and amoral jerks. This volume focuses on the series’ main character, Hughie, as he goes back home to get some perspective on events that have occurred in the main book. As with the Herogasm mini-series, I’m sure this will be essential reading if you’re picking up the main series. The Boys has always been obscene, controversial, and violent, but it is also a very unique look at superheroes, and contains Ennis’ trademark take on the genre. I’m sure this won’t be an ideal jumping-on point for this title, but fans will be looking forward to getting the next volume, especially as the series reaches its ending.