Each and every week, I, “Harder, Better” Henchman21, and “Faster, Stronger” Empress Eve read a lot of comics. Seriously you guys, a lot of comics. Maybe too many comics. I mean, it is possible”¦ theoretically. Naturally, we look forward to some more than others. I mean, who doesn’t? So, let’s take a look into the depths of our pull lists, grab some comics, and we’ll let YOU know what the top books to look forward to are for the week of April 24, 2013. Single issues and trades, they’re all here.

There is one company on the old Henchman’s mind this week, and it’s Image Comics. There are roughly a million and a half new issues from them this week and most if not all of them are worth your time. Fortunately, the Empress is here to diversify your bonds, err, comic selection, and she’s bringing the hottest band in the world with her. So, prepare thine-self, because here we go with this week’s GoD List!

Henchman 21

Issues

Jupiter’s Legacy #1 (Image Comics – $2.99) What you’ve got with Jupiter’s Legacy from Image Comics is a tale of a conflicting creative team. On the one hand, you’ve got Frank Quitely on art. Quitely is a fantastic artist, and there’s no doubt about that. Quitely’s super detailed style is worth the time that it takes for him to produce it. Really the only knock against him is that he can only produce a fairly small number of issues a year, but that also means every issue that comes out with his name on it is a mini event. On the other hand with Jupiter’s Legacy, you’ve got Mark Millar writing. Millar has produced some stellar work in the past, but he’s also produced a lot of stuff that I did not care for, and when the solicitation text for the series proclaims this as “the superhero epic that all future comics will be measured by”, I don’t see genuine excitement, I just see hubris. So I’m undecided on this issue. I want it to be good, and I’m sure it will be a wonder to behold, but I’m not expecting to enjoy the story. If you like Millar’s writing, you’ll be in for a treat, but if you’re not a fan you may find yourself in a similar pickle.

East of West #2 (Image Comics – $3.50) My reaction upon reading the first issue of East of West was to say that I wanted the next six months’ worth of issues right now. The first issue of this weird mash-up of western, alternate history, sci-fi, and post-apocalyptic action totally lived up to my expectations and even exceeded them. Writer Jonathan Hickman is in top form here, building a unique world and throwing a million crazy ideas at the reader and expecting them to keep up. Hickman always asks a lot of his readers, and for me his series are always rewarding. Add in some great art from Nick Dragotta, and you’ve got a series that is already at the top of my reading list.

Mighty Skullkickers #1 (Image Comics – $3.50) Let’s stick with Image, and talk about the next issue of Skullkickers. I don’t have much to say that I haven’t the last two months. This is still a humorous and action packed series set in a fantasy world. I will tell readers to not be confused by the number one on the cover, since this is now the third part of the current storyline. Anyway, I love Skullkickers, and I hope others are giving the series a shot.

Manhattan Projects #11 (Image Comics – $3.50) There’s a reason Image Comics is the best publisher these days, and here’s another series demonstrating why. Again, not much to say about this series that I haven’t before, so I’ll keep this short. The last issue featured the best scene of a man fighting a horse this side of Blazing Saddles, so who knows what kind of insanity we’ll see in this issue. In my opinion, this is the second best series out there. Just buy it already.

Morning Glories #26 (Image Comics – $1.00) Well, looks like we got us a little theme going here. Just one dollar gets you the first issue of season two of Morning Glories, and that is a deal you shouldn’t pass up. Meanwhile, you can pick up the fourth trade for $15, which will bring you completely up to date. So, dive on in to a real mind bender of a series.

Empress Eve

Issues

B.P.R.D: Vampire #2 (of 5) (Dark Horse – $3.50) Back in March, my cohort Henchman21 picked B.P.R.D.: Vampire #1 and raved about the art by Fabio Moon and Gabriel Ba, which is a definite draw for this series. The artist duo also gets a story co-credit, along with Mike Mignola, the creator of this whole world, which is part of the Hellboy universe. Issue #1 had very little dialogue, telling the tale mainly through the art, colored by Dave Stewart, and every time Stewart colors this world, I absolutely love it. I love B.P.R.D. comics and this Vampire miniseries continues the storyline of the 1940’s miniseries, which I thoroughly enjoyed, so I’m definitely full-in for this miniseries.

KISS Solo #2: Starchild (IDW Publishing – $3.99) If you’re enjoying the KISS comics from IDW, then you have to give this second installment in their KISS Solo series a chance, especially since this time around it features the Starchild (the first issue centered on The Demon). What I dig about this is that the story is based on the song “Goodbye, which is from Paul Stanley’s (The Starchild!) KISS 1978 solo album! That’s some cool meta shit right there. KISS fans unite, and be sure to pick up each KISS Solo issue as they are released (#3 and #4 still to come).

Domino Lady/Sherlock Holmes #1 (of 2) (Moonstone – $3.99) When “Sherlock Holmes” is in the title, it gets my full attention. Written by New York Times-bestselling author Nancy Holder, this 2-issue miniseries puts the famous literary detective together with Domino Lady for a murder mystery set with riddles against the backdrop of ancient Egypt. Sounds pretty cool to me. I’m not familiar with Domino Lady, the 1930’s pulp figure who’s an educated socialite by day, masked heroine by night, but she seems like just the type of female character I did. I haven’t read anything from Moonstone Books yet, but this seems like a great way to try them out.

Trades

Joe Hill Terrifyingly Tragic Treasury Edition (IDW Publishing – $9.99) For the Joe Hill completest comes this 72-page full-color oversized collection of four one-shot issues by the famed author, with art that’s been reproduced at Treasury-sized proportions (9.25″ x 14.25″). If you’re not reading Joe Hill, you’re totally missing out – he’s one of the greatest authors of our time and the fact that he’s a best-selling novelist who spends a lot of his time writing comics is pretty awesome. His series Locke & Key is a standout, and this collections contains the “Open The Moon” one-shot. It also has the one-shots “Kodiak,” “Freddie Wertham Goes to Hell,” and “The Cape.”

Quick Picks

– Silver Dream Interworld Novel HC (Neil Gaiman)
– Sherlock Holmes Liverpool Demon #4 (of 5)
– The Creep HC
– Shadowman TPB Vol. 01 Birth Rites