Writer: James Robinson
Penciler: Carlos Pacheco
Colorist: Jesus Aburtov
Publisher: Marvel

Regardless of your level of knowledge about the X-Men universe, you’re probably at least somewhat familiar with Cable. Although the character won’t make his big-screen debut in Deadpool 2 until next year, the time-traveling son of Cyclops and Jean is still a longtime fan-favorite from the comics and the beloved 90s cartoon. Now with the relaunched lineup of X-Men titles, it’s no surprise that Cable has a new ongoing solo series.

While this issue has a simple plot of Nathan Summers dealing with thugs and evil samurai in the Wild West, it nonetheless reminds readers just how cool of a character he is. Particularly, the newer look of his suit is what really stands out. Penciler Carlos Pacheco and colorist Jesus Aburtov do a nice job of giving Cable a modernized look, while also remaining faithful to the original Rob Liefeld design.

James Robinson’s script also effectively captures the stoic, militant personality of the character. With a sparse amount of dialogue and no kind of narration, Robinson allows the visuals to convey the story, and rightfully so. Whereas a character like Deadpool loves to talk and take readers inside his head, Cable is the direct opposite. It’s what makes their interactions so entertaining, and I look forward to seeing how Ryan Reynolds and Josh Brolin will portray them in the movie next year. But in the meantime, the new Cable comic is another fun addition to the semi-rebooted X-Men universe. Check it out.

-Kevin Schaefer for Ultimate Comics

Writer: Adam Glass
Artist: Dennis Calero
Colorist: Adriano Augusto
Publisher: Aftershock Comics

What if your entire life was fiction? What if you woke up one day to learn that everything you knew was a lie? This is an idea a number of other writers have explored in the past, and it’s the basis of the excellent new title from Aftershock Comics Normals. I review a lot of comics and especially a lot of first issues, but this one very well may be my favorite new series of the year so far.

The story opens with parents Jack and Mary, and their three kids. The family lives a peaceful, suburban lifestyle in which nothing out of the ordinary happens. Yet that all changes when their son Aidan falls out of his treehouse and wakes up with a glowing light on the back of his head. Desperate to find out why this is happening, the family returns to Jack and Mary’s hometown in Liberty, New York. Upon arrival though, they discover that not only does no one in the town remember them, but there appears to be no record of Jack and Mary ever existing.

What makes this book so intriguing is that it’s a good mystery story that manages not to be convoluted. Not to downplay a lot of the indie comics I’ve read, but too often I see an excessively complex story with amazing art. I’m all for creating narratives that are less traditional and non-formulaic, but I still need to have a sense of what’s going on. Here, writer Adam Glass does this beautifully, telling a straightforward story with great characters and an amazing twist at the end. Having been a writer/producer on TV’s Supernatural for several years, he clearly has a knack for engaging sci-fi mysteries. I also quite enjoyed his Suicide Squad run during the New 52.

Penciler Dennis Calero and colorist Adriano Augusto make for a dynamic duo, giving Normals a top-tier cinematic quality. Arranging the panels in such a way that makes the reader feel like he or she is actually viewing the story through Jack’s lens makes for an electrifying experience. In many ways the issue feels like a pilot episode for a TV show, which isn’t a bad thing. There are numerous creator-owned comics that I would love to see adapted for TV and film, this being one of them. Again, I read a lot of comics, and there are plenty of quality ones that I either lose interest in or just forget about. Normals however has me hooked, and I absolutely can’t wait for the second issue.

KEVIN SCHAEFER for Ultimate Comics

Written by Victor LaValle
Illustrated by Dietrich Smith
Colors by Joana LaFuente
Published by Boom! Studios

In modern times, Frankenstein’s Monster has generally been seen as a sweet-natured guy who doesn’t know his own strength. He was a family man in The Munsters, a hero in the recent Dean Koontz novels and comics, and a stalwart friend in Marvel and DC comics. But in the original book, he was a scary dude, and this week, Victor LaValle brings that horror back to life using the lightning of police violence.

In LaValle’s story, the Monster has been hanging out in Antarctica, a gentle loner who loves animals and quiet. But the modern world breaks in, he responds with violence, and he returns to civilization to hunt Victor Frankenstein’s last known heir. Meanwhile, that heir has been using family recipes to recover from the pain of losing her 12 year-old son to a scared policeman’s bullet.

The second half of the book is great, the art blending the alchemical and technological into arresting visuals. Dr. Baker is a thoughtfully-constructed character, and her story carefully explains the madness of her grief. But the first half is an art mess, a jumble of stiff characters and inconsistent proportions – the Monster is maybe person sized or maybe whale sized, characters teleport around set pieces, people wake up without any indication they’d been asleep… I guess it makes sense for a story about Frankenstein’s Monster to feel a little stitched-together at this point. The saving graces of this half are the phenomenal colors by Joana LaFuente and the commitment of LaValle’s script to the horror of Mary Shelley’s original work.

This book is going to be awesome, on track to blend the antique atmospheric horror of Frankenstein with the too-real modern culture of fear and tension between citizens and police. If this sounds like something you’re interested in, make sure to check out next weekend’s Resistance Con, ResistanceCon.com, at the Durham Convention Center, put on by Ultimate’s own Brockton McKinney and with a comics panel including your favorite employee, Marta Mickelson.

-MATT CONNER for Ultimate Comics

Writer: Christina Strain
Artist: Amilcar Pinna
Colorist: Felipe Sobreiro
Publisher: Marvel

I’ve been pleased so far with the revamped lineup of X-Men titles, particularly X-Men: Blue. Yet one thing that the books have lacked up until now is a focus on the mutant students who are training at the Xavier Institute in Central Park. With Gold, Blue and Weapon X, there’s no shortage of exciting missions and bombastic action, but I’ve been craving more scenes at the school and more adolescent banter. Fortunately, Generation X provides exactly those elements.

Aside from Jubilee as the team leader, this group is comprised of all C-listers: Bling!, Kid Omega, Nature Girl, Morph, Hindsight and Eye-Boy. If you want to know more about these characters, come by the store and talk with Ultimate X-Men guru Jeremy Tarney. The good thing though is that writer Christina Strain makes this book an easy jumping on point for any reader, regardless of how familiar you are with them. All you really need to know is that they’re misfits, and Jubilee is anxious about leading her own team.

Strain does a particularly good job with the interactions between these characters, from the rebellious teenagers to a fun scene between Jubilee and Kitty. Likewise, the art is consistent with the upbeat and energetic tone of the story. Amilcar Pinna’s pencils and Felipe Sobreiro’s colors create a vibrant aesthetic that really jumps out at the reader. There may not be a ton of plot in this first issue, but it’s a great setup with fun characters which has me excited for this series to continue.

-Kevin Schaefer for Ultimate Comics

Writer: Robert Venditti
Artist: Renato Guedes
Colorist: Ulises Arreola
Publisher: Valiant

Eternal Warrior: Awakening is one of four one-shots to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the titular Valiant hero. Given that there is no current ongoing series for the character, the idea behind these one-shots is to capture the mythological aspects and significance of Gilad through short stories. So far it’s a great idea, as Awakening is particularly stellar.

The story opens in a prehistoric era in which Gilad is a mere farmer with no memory of his past. Yet as new enemies surface, he must come to terms with his destiny and reemerge as the immortal warrior we all know. What’s even more interesting is that this book is also a throwback to the very first issue of Eternal Warrior from the 1990s by Jim Shooter and John Dixon, as it draws heavy inspiration from that story’s plot elements and overall style.

If you’re like me and loved Robert Venditti’s work on both X-O Manowar and Wrath of the Eternal Warrior, you’ll be equally impressed by his storytelling here. His script not only tells a captivating adventure tale, but it also elevates Gilad’s character beyond the status of being an immortal killing-machine. Like his work on Wrath of the Eternal Warrior, Venditti incorporates themes of loss, identity and family into this story.

Likewise, Renato Guedes’ pencils and Ulises Arreola’s colors merge together in a beautifully cinematic fashion. You might be familiar with Guedes’ work from Bloodshot: Reborn, and here he brings the same kind of glorious blockbuster action movie flare. Both he and Arreola are able to create bombastic action sequences as well as quiet moments of character development. All in all, if you’re a Valiant fan there’s no reason not to pick up this book, as it offers a heartfelt portrayal of one of this universe’s most iconic characters.

-Kevin Schaefer for Ultimate Comics

Written by Kirsten Smith and Kurt Lustgarten
Illustrated by Naomi Franquiz
Published by BOOM! Box

Hands up if you love the Goonies. Good, good, we’re on the same page. And have I got a great new read for you.

In a seaside Oregon town, the local economy has dissolved into harvesting oysters and milking the tourists who want to see where cult adventure film, The Gloomies, was made. Four young women pass time working unfulfilling jobs and playing poker while whining about the obsessive fans. But one night, a local eccentric leaves a mysterious locked trunk to the town’s museum, and the girls find a treasure map inside. So it’s time to start an adventure of their own!

Writer Kirsten Smith has a pedigree including Legally Blonde and 10 Things I Hate About You, so it’s no surprise that the book moves like a film, with immediate character distinction and a rich pacing. The sense of these women as discouraged townies who hate faking smiles for entitled preps hoping to recreate their favorite movie – that’s real and different, and it never breaks the heartfelt Richard Donner optimism of The Goonies. Queer illustrator Naomi Franquiz gives these women a range of realistic bodies, always maintaining the innocent thread that hooked us as children with our worn-out VHS copies.

This book is only going to get better as the girls embark with their new map. If you are a fan of Lumberjanes, or The Goonies, or adventure, or your own childhood, this is the new book you have to read. Ultimate Comics has plenty of copies, so come on down! (They’ve also got some leftover Free Comic Book Day supplies if you act fast.)

MATT CONNER for Ultimate Comics

Story by Chad Bowers
Art by Jim Towe
Backup story and art by Rob Liefeld
Published by Image Comics

Twenty-five years ago, young Rob Liefeld launched a comics company with an exuberant team of heroes called Youngblood. These characters were fueled by a distinctive artistic voice and the energy of a young creator. This week, another team reimagines the concept for the new Millenium. And it’s a worthy successor.

Chad Bowers, a longtime friend of North Carolina Comicon, knows his nostalgia after great work on books like X-Men ’92 and has been telling high-energy stories since Awesome Hospital. With his version of Youngblood, teen superheroes carry out vigilante justice through the HELP! app, a cute spinoff of Uber and the like. Petra Gomez is worried about a missing friend who used to work with her on app jobs, so she switches code names and joins up with the new Youngblood to investigate. But the original Youngblood heroes aren’t done with the name yet, and felon archer Shaft and lovable rock monster Badrock have a lot to say to these new kids.

The team is terrific, a collection of classic super power sets with the optimism and enthusiasm of the Millenial generation. Bowers obviously respects his history but tells a standalone story. Youngblood is one of my comic book blind spots, and I had no problem keeping up with this issue.

Thematically important, the artist on this one is newcomer Jim Towe. His panels are strong, telling the story in different ways on every page but never switching too hard as to distract the reader. His lines are classic, his superhero costumes beautiful and realistic enough to inspire a cosplayer in time for this fall’s Greensboro show. The colors, by Juan Manuel Rodriguez, click wonderfully with Towe’s linework, popping with energy but never going too 90s.

This book has firm roots in the past, but it’s going to some great new places on its own. Grab a copy at Ultimate Comics, and bring it to Chad for a signature at the next NC Comicon!

-MATT CONNER for Ultimate Comics

Written by Fabian Rangel, Jr.
Drawn by Logan Faerber
Published by Albatross Funnybooks

Last year, Albatross Funnybooks brought Eric Powell’s Appalachian mythology tale, Hillbilly, and this week, they send a werewolf to war.

It’s 1970, and Marty Spencer is turning 18 as a Vietnam draftee. His first night in the jungle, his unit takes fire just as the full moon rises, and the good men around him are stunned to see the new monster within their skinny little buddy. This night, he’s able to keep his bloodlust sated with the enemy soldiers. But his crew has serious concerns about tomorrow. And his appearance on the scene is starting a chilling escalation in the Viet Cong camp.

The werewolf at war metaphor has been used recently in Si Spurrier’s Cry Havoc, which I reviewed for Ultimate Comics last year, and it’s an idea I still love. It makes even more sense this week, in the Vietnam conflict. See, I am a psychiatrist and worked with a large number of Vietnam veterans training at the VA. And the idea of a curse, some external force that takes you and turns you into a killer, that feels an awful lot like men who were History majors last month and now held rifles with orders to kill. Many of these men have been able to find meaning and acceptance, but for many, they still struggle to integrate what they’ve done and seen into the peaceful world they inhabit now. And this book, entertaining for sure and with an Archie/Lumberjanes art style that heightens the horror of it all, understands that.

I’m looking forward to where this story goes, both for the monster-on-monster action and the inevitable “What have I DONE?” moment. Hop on board at any of Ultimate Comics’s three Triangle locations!

And if you would like to support American Veterans, consider the Wounded Warrior Project at support.woundedwarriorproject.org/donate or any other qualified charity. We owe these men and women more than we can understand.

-MATT CONNER for Ultimate Comics

Writer: Si Spurrier
Artist: Jonas Goonface
Publisher: BOOM! Studios

Just when I thought I had my fill of trippy sci-fi after watching the FX series Legion, the new title from BOOM! Studios has redefined what I classify as surrealist fiction. Godshaper is the kind of comic that defies all storytelling conventions and offers a wildly engaging visual experience. Allow me to try and describe it, but do forgive me if my plot synopsis comes across as a bit vague. Given the unique world-building and bizarre nature of this book, it’s not your standard piece of entertainment.

After the laws of physics are suddenly wiped away in the year 1958, humans then find themselves accompanied by their own personal god. Often these deities are associated with money and power, but there is a select group of people who aren’t matched with anyone: the Godshapers. These are the hopeless outcasts of this world, and our main character Ennay is one of them. As he tries to navigate through this alternate reality, he’ll soon learn things about himself and the world he inhabits which will set him on an unexpected direction.

It certainly helps that an interview with the creators at the end of the book unpacks some of its thematic material, but really you have to experience this one for yourself in order to comprehend it. Prior to writing Godshaper, Si Spurrier put out the equally surreal and innovative Image series Cry Havoc last year. Yet whereas that book still offers traditional horror tropes from a slightly different angle, Godshaper is its own beast entirely.

None of this would be possible however without the precision and merged aesthetics of artist Jonas Goonface (yes that’s his name in the book). Much like the work of Jamie McKelvie in the popular Image series The Wicked and the Divine, Goonface combines hipster counterculture with classic mythology. Yet what makes his work unique here is that it’s more cartoonish and exaggerated, foregoing the usual sense of realism that’s seen in a lot of horror and fantasy books today. Again, it’s something you’ll have to see for yourself.

Personally I’m more of an optimist and a person of faith; but nevertheless I can’t help but enjoy a weirdly cynical story such as the one here. Godshaper has all of the weird eccentricities that you’d expect from a comic like this, and if you like this kind of bizarre storytelling I’d recommend giving it a try.

KEVIN SCHEMER for Ultimate Comics