The Fantastical ‘Namesake’ Leads This Week’s Best New Comics

In fantasy stories, human beings and faerie never get along. Humans are too fond of iron and not being tricked, and faerie are too fond of tricks. And, of course, there’s always somebody, be it a smart-ass wizard or a plucky young woman, stuck in the middle. Where Steve Orlando and Jakub Rebelka shake things up, though, is that Jordan, our hero, is stuck in the middle in more ways than one.

The basic premise is that every seven years, Earth overlaps with the magical realm of Ektae for seven days. Called The Blessing, it’s a week-long mix of New Year’s Eve and The Purge, and firefighter Jordan Molossus is usually smack in the middle of it, literally putting out fires. But, on the first day, he receives a package from the father he thought was dead: two iron urns, containing the ashes of each of his fathers. Yes, Jordan literally has two fathers, one of Earth and one of Ektae, and to piece together why he was abandoned, and just who his parents were, he’s going to have to explore his Ektaen side.

It’s a heck of a concept, and Orlando and Rebelka are up to the task. Rebelka is relentlessly imaginative, pulling from ’60s psychedelia and modern ideas alike, giving even the “mundane” an Art Deco look that feels fresh. Orlando’s script, meanwhile, is about identity. What does “gay” mean on a world where gender is quite literally fluid It’s a fascinating idea that Orlando touches on lightly, and proves there’s a lot going on underneath a fantasy veneer.

The hype around this book, Roxane Gay’s debut as a comics writer, has been enormous, and it doesn’t disappoint. Gay, it turns out, writes very much in the old-school Marvel mode, giving this book the pleasing feel of a Silver Age story with more modern sensibilities. Alitha Martinez’s art is solid, although it’s clear that she and colorist Rachelle Rosenberg could have used more time to give the art some depth. Still, that only adds to the Merry Marvel feel, and this book has the potential to be one of Marvel’s best.

She’s rich, she’s angry, and she ain’t Batman: Jody Houser and Tommy Lee Edwards place a new vigilante in Gotham in the form of Mother Panic. In truth, this book is more promise than payoff; Violet Paige is angry, and she’s got reason to be, but we don’t quite see who she’s taking it out on just yet. But Edwards’ scratchy, rough-and-tumble art fits the brawling action scenes well, and he and Houser (who turned Faith into one of Valiant’s best books) cleverly riff on bits and pieces of the Batman legend, including parodying the opening of Batman: Year One.

Kelly Thompson and Brianne Drouhard offer a riff on the usual fairy tale story of the magical princess and her noble steed: She wants to be a detective, her horse is a Wizard Of Oz-quoting smart-alec, and with the arrival of her fairy godmother, things get out of control at speed. Thompson and Drouhard give this book an incredible amount of charm, not least because the snappy patter keeps the plot brisk and the potential for sugar shock too many kids’ books can stumble into safely tamped down. It’s absolutely all ages friendly, often breezily funny, and parents won’t mind reading this for their smaller kids more than once.

Warren Ellis and Jason Masters should be in charge of the entire Bond franchise. There’s really no other conclusion, at this point, between Masters’ brilliant, witty car chase sequence in the English countryside, and Ellis’ masterful plot that layers backstabbing upon backstabbing. They consistently deliver a Bond who’s both the smooth ladies-man and nasty, blood-on-the-knuckles spy, something for every audience, and making their book a must-read action story.

Resident Alien: The Man With No Name #3, Dark Horse: Peter Hogan and Steve Parkhouse dig into the past of an alien small-town doctor in more detail in an issue that’s surprisingly touching in the humanity it draws out of simplicity.

Doom Patrol #3, DC Comics: Gerard Way and Nick Derington maybe pay a little too much tribute to the books of the past; new readers may need a bit more of a primer on the book’s history. Still, as this book gains focus, it’s showing that Way and Derington are up to the task of tackling the rich legacy of the patrol, no small feat.

The Mummy #1, Titan: Peter Milligan and Ronilson Freire deliver an agreeably pulpy tribute to Hammer’s horror classic, this time with a secret conspiracy and a mummy who isn’t a big fan of being used for creepy rituals.

Invincible Iron Man #1, Marvel: Brian Michael Bendis and Stefano Caselli deliver a book that honestly feels a lot like DC’s early ’90s solo book featuring John Henry Irons, right down to the tragic event that makes Riri Williams a hero. Bendis and Caselli mean well, and Caselli can draw a monster-on-armor fight with the best of them, but it’s difficult to shake the feeling Bendis has bitten off more than he can chew here. The approach to race in particular feels a bit facile. Still, it’s a solid start to an interesting book.

Violent Love #1, Image Comics: Frank Barbiere and Victor Santos mix noir and revenge in a grindhouse-inspired book. Santos, in particular, uses his just-slightly-distorted style to his advantage here, bringing out the lurid and emotional in equal measure.

Sugar And Spike, DC Comics (Softcover, $15): Collecting Keith Giffen and Bilquis Evely’s backup feature, DC’s bratty babies are all grown up and cleaning up the pasts of various superheroes. Giffen’s affectionate parody of Silver Age silliness is grounded by Evely’s crisp artwork, and it’s a gentle reminder that comics can be great even as they’re being silly.

Who Killed Kurt Cobain: The Story Of Boddah, IDW Publishing (Hardcover, $25): Nicolas Otero speculates as to the nature of “Boddah,” who Cobain wrote a note to before his death, and looks at Cobain’s life through that lens.

Mice Templar Vol. 5, Image Comics (Softcover, $18): Adorable mice meet dangerous wars in this fascinating, vivid book.