3.04.15 [#PicksOfTheWeek]

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I’m most interested in Blackcross #1 this week, a book which seems to be flying under the radar. It’s Warren Ellis and Colton Worley’s first foray into Dynamite Entertainment’s Project Superpowers line. Ellis is one of the rare buy-on-sight creators, regardless of company or collaborator, as there’s always kernels of brilliance, even among his occasional “misses.” Blackcross promises to juxtapose Golden Age Superheroes with small town supernatural mystery, something quirky enough that it could be a sleeper hit.

Image Comics continues their mindshare dominance with Saga #26 from BKV and Fiona Staples, Nameless #2 by Grant Morrison and Chris Burnham, Black Science #12 by Rick Remender and Matteo Scalera, the brand new Descender #1 from the team of Jeff Lemire and Dustin Nguyen, and the finale (of this run) of the series in Supreme: Blue Rose #7, by Warren Ellis and Tula Lotay. Of the lot, it’s sorta a three way tie between the ever-adventurous Black Science (part of the ridiculously good writer’s trifecta with Low and Deadly Class, it’s a helluva a time to be a Rick Remender fan!), Nameless (I’m quite curious to see where the guys take this series), and Supreme: Blue Rose (since it’ll be interesting to see how they stick the landing).

If you held a gun to my head and made me buy a corporate comic this week, I’d certainly choose the Disney/LucasFilm/Marvel premiere of Princess Leia #1 by Mark Waid and Terry Dodson. I’ve never been a huge Dodson fan (though that cover image admittedly looks terrific), but Waid is a writer with longevity who I respect, and I’m quite interested to see what fan reaction will be to this book. It sounds like it’ll cover some of the same emotional ground as Brian Wood’s Star Wars run, and I’m wondering if fans will similarly push back on Waid’s treatment of her as a blaster-wielding, X-Wing piloting leader of an insurgent cell.

IDW is offering Winterworld #0 by Chuck Dixon and guest artist Tommy Lee Edwards, so I’m definitely checking out this prequel story to the post-apocalyptic affair. Lastly, I’ll be picking up Lady Killer #3 by Jamie S. Rich and Joelle Jones, published by Dark Horse Comics, which wryly merges suburban ennui with period wetwork, something which seems to be a rising sub-genre in the collective consciousness of the last few years.