Welcome back to another edition of Fantastic Five, where we collect the five best comics of the week according to AIPT’s review staff. This week, in addition to your typical Batman and Spider-Man entries, we have a comiXology Original that our own Dave Brooke called “your new favorite sci-fi series”. So without further ado, let’s get into the list!
Clear #1
Your new favorite science fiction comic book series is here, and it goes by the name Clear. This series has all the trappings of an instant hit, capturing the old-school vibe of a detective noir with the modern sensibilities we crave in sci-fi. Buried within the slick visuals is a comic that is focused on the human struggle to escape reality and bury our noses in entertainment and instant gratification. In some sense, it’s an inversion of Blade Runnerwhich is about trying to find identity — in Clear, our protagonist is trying to hold onto his identity and what is real in a world that wants to escape it.
Read David Brooke’s full review:
Superman and the Authority #4
Mikel Janín and Grant Morrison wrap Superman and the Authority with a terrific brawl and the same thoughtful craft that has made this miniseries such a pleasure to read. It’s a heck of a way to close out a book that is itself a heck of a way to close out a major part of a creative life.
Read Justin Harrison’s full review:
Batman ’89 #3
The greatest strength of Batman ’89 is how it combines nostalgia with important social messages and timeless commentary. The fact that the latest issue is able to roll all of that into one hell of a Two-Face origin just makes it even better. This was yet another strong issue that went in directions I didn’t expect. Fans of the classic Batman/Two-Face rivalry may find themselves surprised by the twists in this latest installment.
Read Nathan Simmons’ full review:
Sonic the Hedgehog #45
This was a fantastic issue, but with Stanley doing both writing and art, it’s easy to see why. I love when we get character-driven stories in Sonic comics; they provide fans with something to sink their teeth into outside the usual action-packed formula we tend to see. The focus on a borderline background character like Jewel and the painfully underutilized Amy Rose is great, and with artwork that’s eye catching and pleasing to look at, you really can’t go wrong.
Read Reg Cruickshank’s full review:
Amazing Spider-Man #76
It’s very hard to convince readers that a mainline superhero might die, and yet the creative team has done it here. You’re going to be on the edge of your seat not knowing if Peter Parker may die while also wrapping your head around the idea of Ben Reilly earning the right to be Spider-Man at such a difficult transition. Amazing Spider-Man #76 is a tense issue that is shocking because of how much the comic makes you feel.
Read David Brooke’s full review:
‘Amazing Spider-Man’ #76 is a tense followup to a new era for Spider-Man
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