‘Hulk’ And A Batman And Flash Teamup Lead This Week’s Best New Comics

Jen Walters has been taking it one day at a time, in Hulk, which has its fifth issue out this week from Marvel. After her injuries during Civil War II, she has to, because she’s no longer in control when she hulks out. But, as this series’ first arc comes to a close, Jen is about to crack, and what makes this such a great book is that it has real meaning, here.

Mariko Tamaki and Nico Leon have been building up a story about surviving trauma. Jen was nearly beaten to death by Thanos only to wake up to discover her cousin was dead by at hand of one of her best friends, and that she’s unable to talk with Carol Danvers, one of her closest confidantes. So Jen has stepped away from superheroics, and with reason: She’s barely keeping it together.

All throughout, Jen has been contrasted with her client, a yoga instructor who was brutally assaulted by some hitmen hired by her boyfriend, and who’s been hiding inside her apartment ever since. It turns out she has a darker secret, of course, and in this issue it’s revealed just how extensive it is. It’s big scale superheroics with bulging muscles and property damage, and Leon has equal skill with both that and scenes of people talking, or not talking. Leon in general shows a superb range; much of this book is small and intimate, but it can open up fast without feeling forced.

The Hulk has had some fascinating takes throughout the years, and has even dealt with getting past trauma. But Tamaki and Leon have a smart, elegant, and thoughtful take on what it truly means to lose control, and how it may not be a good thing. This is the thoughtful take the Hulk deserves, and it’s great to finally see.

Following up on the excellent Batman #21, this crossover, all about a certain smiley-face button found in the Batcave, takes yet another sharp turn. What’s great about it, though, is both that it goes in unexpected directions, and that it lingers on how Batman and the Flash would get along; Josh Williamson has a wonderful moment where the Flash admits he and Batman geek out about forensics. Hey, you take your nerd buddies where you can find them.

Admittedly, Valiant is an oddball home for Peter Milligan’s story of the “detectorist,” essentially the only detective in Nero’s Rome, and its mix of gritty street-level investigation, Roman history, and supernatural horror. But Milligan and Juan Jose Ryp make it work effortlessly on the page, in part because they’re both so at ease in the setting. Ryp, in particular, gets to show his skill with faces and toy with ancient art in unnerving ways. If you’re looking for an offbeat murder mystery, or just something fresh, this should be in your pull list.

Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips’ brilliant deconstruction of the white vigilante in the big scary city continues to surprise with its twists and turns. While this issue alone has a great plot twist, what it really focuses on is Dylan falling apart as he discovers that, in the real world, you go around murdering people in a mask, the police crackdown doesn’t lighten up after a week. Brubaker’s hard, grounded writing and Phillips’ clean, realistic art make, as always, for a great pairing, and one of the best action books on the stands.

Really, the presence of James Stokoe, writer/artist extraordinaire, is enough to sell this series, but Stokoe brings his own riff to the Alien story. While the bones are still here, he smartly contrasts the beginning of the story with the end, as a lone, traumatized survivor winds up fighting the Xenomorph, a collapsing space station, and his own broken psyche. It’s a rich, engaging take on a story we’ve seen a lot, and horror fans should snap it up.

Big Moose, Archie Comics: Archie is reinventing its characters, bit by bit, and this is Moose’s turn. It turns out the giant lug is a lot smarter, and has more problems, than you thought. Interestingly the book hints that Moose is dyslexic, so we may be hearing more from the big guy soon enough.

Supergirl: Being Super #3, DC Comics: Mariko Tamaki and Joelle Jones continue their Supergirl story, which is great not least because it lingers on Kara’s relationships more than her superpowers.

The Old Guard #3, Image Comics: One doesn’t usually expect to find beautiful declarations of love in a comic book about undying warriors being outed to the modern world, or jokes about the French Army either, but hey, that’s how Greg Rucka and Leandro Fernandez roll, in what’s becoming one of the best action books out of Image.

Deadpool Vs. The Punisher #2, Marvel: Fred Van Lente and Pere Perez offer up all the goofy, gory, silly violence you’d expect from Frank Castle and Wade Wilson “teaming up,” and man, is it funny.

Ladycastle #3, BOOM! Studios: Delilah Dawson and Ashley Woods’ parody of fantasy tropes is one of the better kids’ books, not least because it’ll be the adults who get the extended joke the book opens with, which we will not ruin here but is a song parody worthy of Weird Al.

Kaijumax Season 2, Oni Press ($20, Softcover): Zander Cannon’s witty and thoughtful mix of prison drama and giant monsters is back and shouldn’t be missed. For the puns, if nothing else.

Her Bark And Her Bite, IDW ($10, Softcover): James Albon, a well-known illustrator, offers up a vivid melodrama that suits his vibrant, flowing art.

Invisible Republic Vol. 3, Image Comics ($15, Softcover): This smart thriller about the ugliness of rebellion, and how far necessity can push you, continues to be a thoughtful must-read.