ADVANCE SCOUT: The Return of Minimum Wage and the Final Ride of Wood’s Star Wars

SITUATION:

Though most readers’ dollars will be devoted to delving into the latest launch by Marvel, the All-New Marvel NOW! brand, there are more than a few books from outside of that small selection which are definitely deserving of attention. It was difficult winnowing down the wide range of titles this week, but those that were chosen encompass a broad range of styles, from historical fiction, espionage drama, supernatural mystery, and more.

Without further ado, here are Capeless Crusader’s ADVANCE SCOUT selections for the week of January 8!

THIS WEEK’S SELECTIONS:

1. “Minimum Wage #1″

“Minimum Wage #1″
Bob Fingerman
Image Comics
$3.50

Bob Fingerman’s Minimum Wage is one of the most widely regarded independent series of all time. Back in March, Image announced that the critically acclaimed series would be returning in a new ongoing format.

With a semi-autobiographical focus on the real-world-based travails of protagonist Rob, the new series will pick up five years after the previous adventures concluded. The original series was known for the glaring light it shone on issues facing young people trying to make their way in the world, and this new installment should do much the same thing. With Fingerman back at the helm, this is sure to be one of the most talked-about new titles in a long time.

Neil Gaiman is returning to what is inarguably one of the greatest creations in comics history. On art is J.H. Williams, one of the most celebrated artists in the industry. This book has everything a discerning reader could ask for, and will likely fly off shelves.

This will be a title that everyone, even non-comic fans, is talking about, and you won’t want to be left behind.
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2. “Avengers World #1″

“Avengers World #1″
(w) Jonathan Hickman, Nick Spencer
(a) Stefano Caselli
Marvel Comics
$3.99

In our only mainstream selection of the week, we want to put a target on Jonathan Hickman’s newest foray into the Avengers milieu. Dealing directly with the repercussions of his Infinity event, the series promises to highlight how the governments of the world deal with Avengers’ declaration that the Earth is under their protection.

Co-written by Nick Spencer (who followed Hickman when he departed Ultimates), this series is sure to be packed with political intrigue and hard decisions for Earth’s Mightest Heroes.

Check out an advance preview of the book here!
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3. “Manifest Destiny #3″

“Manifest Destiny #3″
(w) Chris Dingess
(a) Matthew Roberts
Image Comics
$2.99

Manifest Destiny has been a favorite here at Capeless since issue #1 hit stands. It has a tremendous blend of real-world history with a gorgeous veneer of mystical fiction layered over it. Chris Dingess has done all the research necessary to make the book ring true in every way, and Matthew Roberts’s art has a delightfully creepy vibe to it which pulls the entire thing together in a way that is fun and often terrifying.
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4. “Abe Sapien #9″

“Abe Sapien #9″
(w) Mike Mignola
(a) Max Fiumara
Dark Horse Comics
$3.50

Issue #9 begins a new arc for Mike Mignola’s aquatic protagonist. The set-up page at the beginning of the issue does a reasonable job establishing how and why Abe wound up in the rural backwater which serves as the setting, but readers who aren’t familiar with the world of BPRD might find themselves a bit at sea when it comes to understanding the way things work.

Josh has a complete ADVANCE REVIEW here!
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5. “Star Wars #13″

“Star Wars #13″
(w) Brian Wood
(a) Facundo Percio
Dark Horse Comics
$2.99

With the recent announcement of the Star Wars license’s impending return to to Marvel, this is likely to be the beginning of the end for what has been an outstanding series by Brian Wood.

Despite being the thirteenth issue, this installment is tremendously new-reader friendly, as it is told through the eyes of a character who is joining the adventure for the first time.

It may as well be entitled “A Day in the Life of Lord Vader’s Personal Assistant” and, if you know anything about the Dark Lord of the Sith, he is a supervisor to put Bill Lumberg to shame.

If this is indeed the end for Wood’s Star Wars, there is no doubt he will go out firing on all cylinders, so be sure to pick this one up and join in for the ride.

ANALYSIS

It would have been very tempting to include a couple more All-New Marvel NOW! titles in this selection. Black Widow is sure to be excellent, and the return of the Brits in Marvel’s Revolutionary War will almost certainly be a party to remember. That said, this week’s selections are sure to delight, and we hope you’ll agree that they represent a good cross-section of the offerings from the various publishers.

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Thanks for checking out ADVANCE SCOUT! Be sure to check back next week for more recommendations, and don’t forget to share the link below!

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Josh Epstein is the Publisher for the Capeless Crusader website. He also hosts the weekly Infinite Crossover podcast in cooperation with Fanboys Inc. He’s a lifelong comic nerd, and “Superman” is the first word he ever read aloud. He is also an actor, singer, and resident of a real-life Smallville.

Opinons expressed in this piece reflect only the opinion of the writer and not of any employer. contact: joshuadepstein@gmail.com

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