Peek Over Our Shoulders: What Panelteers Are Reading in April 2015

Caroline Pruett

The Sculptor by Scott McCloud: Late to the party for 2015’s hottest OGN, but McCloud was in Richmond to talk about his book, and I wanted to be up to speed. (Print)

Requiem of the Rose King by Aya Kanno: The first volume of this manga series just came out in the US from Viz Media, and all I had to read was “loosely based on Shakespeare’s plays about Henry VI and Richard III,” and I’m in.

The Midas Flesh, Volume 1 by Ryan North, Shelli Paroline, Braden Lamb, and Steve Wands: I’ve been loving North’s writing on The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl, so I had to check out this creator-owned series from Boom Studios. Fairy tales and space ships and a sentient dinosaur, because why not?

Amy Diegelman

Coffin Hill Volume 1 by Caitlin Kitteredge and Inaki Miranda: I grabbed this from the library on a whim because of the cover. (Print)

Uncanny X-Men 244-252 by Chris Claremont and Marc Silvestri: There was a sale on older X-Men issues a while back so I snatched up some old Jubilee issues. This is her first appearance (which is delightfully mall-centric), after which she sneaks into the Australian X-Men base and lives secretly in the underground tunnels. (Digital)

Swapna Krishna

Spider-Woman #1 by Dennis Hopeless and Greg Land: I’ve loved Jessica’s cameos and guest appearances in other series, so I figured it was time to read her standalone series! (Print)

Ali Colluccio

Alex + Ada, Volume 1 by Sarah Vaughn and Jonathan Luna: I tried the first issue of this and wasn’t really smitten. But I’ve been hearing a lot of good things about this book so I thought I’d given it another shot with the first trade. (Trade)

ODY-C #3 by Matt Fraction and Christain Ward: I picked up a ton of comics after not being at the shop for about a month. So I’m not sure if I already read this or not. I feel like I’ve read three issues of ODY-C but it might’ve been two. I really should keep better track. (Print)

Angela: Asgard’s Assassin #4 by Kieron Gillen, Marguerite Bennett, Phil Jimenez, Le Baue Underwood, Stephanie Hans, Romulo Fajardo, and Clayton Cowles: My significant other gave this issue to me to read. I wasn’t picking the series up because, up until now, all of the Angela stuff was tied in to various Marvel events that I wasn’t reading. But the creative team is full of awesome people and I love starting a story four issues in (no, I honestly do). (Print)

Andi Miller

Edward Scissorhands #5 by Kate Leth, Aaron Alexovich, and Drew Rausch: I’m seriously hooked on this series. The artwork is beyond gorgeous, and it makes me nostalgic for the film even though it’s a continuation of the story rather than an adaptation.

Edge of Spider-Verse #2 by Jason Latour, Robbi Rodriguez, and Greg Land: I’m trying to get situated in the Spider-Verse so I can read Spider-Gwen without being completely confused. I think I’m getting there.

Hello Kitty: Delicious! by Jorge Monlongo: For ages 6-12, no matter that I’m turning 35 this year. The wordless storytelling is charming and it’s all THE CUTE.

Christine Hoxmeier

Help Us! Great Warrior #1 & #2  by Madeleine Flores and Trillian Gunn: One of my LCS employees recommended this to me, and now I have to buy everything she tells me to read because this is so cute and great I can barely handle it. (Print)

Part Time Princesses by Monica Gallagher and Christy Sawyer: As a YA book lover and former theme park employee, I’m pretty sure this book was made just for me. (Print)

Morning Glories Volume 1 by Nick Spencer, Joe Eisma, Alex Sollazzo, Johnny Lowe, Rodin Esquejo and Tim Daniel: This is one of the books Austin Comics Ladies are reading this month, so I’m excited to start this and discuss it with everyone later! (Print)

Gina Nicoll

Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art by Scott McCloud: This is such a clever education in comics, especially for a newbie like me. (Print)

Skandalon by Julie Maroh: After having my heart broken (in a good way!) by Maroh’s Blue is the Warmest Color, I can’t wait to see what she does with this story about a rock star’s fall from grace. (Print)

Eric Margolis

Batman by Grant Morrison, et. al.: I was really hesitant about delving into this run. Morrison can be really hit or miss for me and I’m not really into the Damian Wayne thing. On a whim, I decided to pick up the first trade of this arc and about an issue in, I realized “Oh, he’s really doing THIS!?” and proceeded to hop on Amazon and promptly ordered the next two trades. I can’t wait to devour this series. (Print)

All-Star Superman by Grant Morrison and Frank Quietly: More Morrison!? I’m not well-versed in the DC thing, I’ve always gravitated more to indie books and Marvel for my capes and tights stuff. So, last week I consulted with the other Panelteers to see what DC books I NEEDED to check out, this was one of them. I’m about halfway through and I’m not really seeing what the buzz is all about but I’m going to stick it out. Also, who has more must-read DC suggestions for me? (Print)

Revenger by Charles Forsman: Ultra-violent 80’s-style revenge tale? Count me in. Two issues in and I’m loving this thing. If you’re still not sure what you’re getting yourself into with this series, Forsman (in collaboration with Bergen Street Comics) just put out an eight-page mini for this series that pays homage to the old Punisher Armory series. Buy this. (Print)

Mowgli’s Mirror by Olivier Shrauwen: Listen, anything that Mr. Shrauwen puts out should be an automatic buy. He is one talented cartoonist and deserves to be raved about. This is a beautiful looking silent issue, it’s printed in bold oranges and blues and is in an extra large format. Retrofit is putting out lots of quality books this year. (Print)

Katie Schenkel

Spider-Woman #6 by Dennis Hopeless and Javier Rodriguez: I got pulled into #5 thanks to Jessica’s new look. With the new direction for the character away from the Avengers (and broke), I think I can relate to Jessica here and I’m excited to see where this arc goes. (Digital)

Convergence: Nightwing/Oracle #1 by Gail Simone, Jan Duursema, Dan Parsons, and Jill Thompson: I’ll be honest — I’m been rooting for Dick Grayson and Barbara Gordon for over two decades thanks to my love of Batman: The Animated Series. Getting into the comics in the last few years and finding out how things ending between them in the old continuity hurt my little shipping heart. So, learning months ago that Convergence would include a Nightwing/Oracle story about them getting married; there was no way I was going to not buy their issues. Plus it’s Gail writing Oracle; it’s a must-get. (Print)

Jessica Plummer

She-Hulk by Charles Soule, Javier Pulido, Kevin Wada, and Ronald Wimberly: Superhero-wise, I’ve traditionally mostly stuck with the Distinguished Competition, but I’ve always had a soft spot for Shulkie. Having heard great things about this series, I decided to put my Marvel Unlimited subscription to good use, and I’m happy to say that all of the great things I heard were 100% accurate. (Digital)

Darkwing Duck: The Definitively Dangerous Edition by Aaron Sparrow, James Silvani, Tad Stones, Sabrina Alberghetti, Ian Brill, and Andrew Dalhouse: I adored the original run of this Boom! series a few years back, and I’m thrilled to have it in a nice compact form. This has been sitting on my kitchen table for a while, waiting for me to have time to really pore over Silvani’s Disney-nerd-rewarding Easter eggs, but I think I’m ready to get dangerous now. (Print)

Captain Atom by Cary Bates, Greg Weisman, Pat Broderick, Bob Smith, Carl Gafford, and John Costanza. This 1987 series brought Captain Atom into the DCU proper after the events of Crisis on Infinite Earths. I have an inexplicable fondness for all of DC’s Charlton characters, and Cap is no exception. Plus the late 80s setting means that Cap, who gained his powers in a nuclear explosion that brought him 20 years into the future, has to grapple with things like VCRs and New Wave music, which is hilarious. (Digital)

As for Me:

Ms. Marvel by G. Willow Wilson, Takeshi Miyazawa, Ian Herring, Irma Kniivila, and Joe Caramagna: It’s on my pull list and I love it. (Print)

Birthright, Volume 1 by Joshua Williamson, Andrei Bressan, Adriano Lucas, and Pat Brosseau: I really liked the first issue and fellow Panelteers have recommended it. (Digital ARC)

Big Hard Sex Criminals Volume 1 by Matt Fraction and Chip Zdarsky: I actually haven’t read Sex Criminals yet despite all the glowing praise. It is time. (Hardcover)

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