Welcome to 2017. The new year ahead is filled with new books, young and classic heroes taking the lead, rebirths and crazy crossovers.
Here are our most anticipated new comic books coming in 2017:
The powerhouse former Young Avenger and newly appointed Ultimates leader soars into her own solo series by Gabby Rivera and Joe Quinones. The breakthrough GLBT Latina character can kick holes into reality and travel across dimensions. Here’s to America Chavez breaking more barriers, bringing new readers into the comics universe and inspiring a new generation of creators.
Curse Words
A wizard getting rich and famous by granting wishes and casting spells hides an evil agenda in this new supernatural series by Charles Soule (Daredevil, Inhumans), Jordan Boyd and Ryan Browne (God Hates Astronauts) from Image Comics.
The Old Guard
They had me with one word: Rucka. Ancient soldiers who never die. Eternal warriors in the 21st century look for those who will pay for their ancient services. Is there a fate worse than death for these immortals? Greg Rucka (Lazarus, Black Magick) and Leandro Fernandez team up for this new Image Comics series.
Batman ’66 Meets Wonder Woman ’77
What happens when Adam West’s Caped Crusader meets Lynda Carter’s Amazon Princess? Jeff Parker and Marc Andreyko launch a crossover based on the beloved cult classic television series with Catwoman clawing her way into the action. As a fan of both series (television and comic) this is a geek dream come true.
Justice League of America Rebirth
The new version of the DC super team begins in January with four standalone issues to “make four bold statements that form the foundation of a team that will bring justice to places that have given up on hope.” Justice of America: The Atom, Vixen, The Ray, Killer Frost Rebirth are four one-shots starring the first four members of a new team. The creative team is led by Steve Orlando (Supergirl, Midnighter).
Suicide Squad/Banana Splits Annual #1 I LOVED the Banana Splits when I was kid so this is a bizarre, most welcome and kind of appropriate mashup. “Suicide Splits” pairs up Saturday morning’s animal rock band with DC’s Task Force X. Hanna Barbera’s Banana Splits are recruited by Amanda Waller for a secret mission: save the Suicide Squad? Tony Bedard and Ben Caldwell are the creative team with a Snagglepuss backup story Mark Russell. This is just one of the DC/Hanna Barbera Annuals coming in March.
The Wild Storm Legendary Warren Ellis will be the curator of this new pop-up imprint based on the universe of heroes and villains created under Jim Lee’s Wildstorm line. This new imprint will debut February 2017 with a regular monthly comic titled THE WILD STORM, written by Ellis with art by Jon Davis-Hunt. This ongoing series will reset the known WildStorm universe and introduce new iterations of WildStorm characters such as Grifter (see his new look below), Voodoo, The Engineer, Jenny Sparks and more.
The Kamandi Challenge #1 Kamandi, hero of a post-apocalyptic Earth and creation of the legendary Jack Kirby, will get an all-star salute in an experimental new series from DC. Announced at ECCC, 14 creative teams will take on the title character on a quest to find his parents and journey to known and unknown parts of the DC Universe. Each chapter ends with a cliffhanger and the next team must resolve it before creating their own. In the first issue, The Last Boy On Earth begins his journey by Dan Abnett, Dan Didio, Dale Eaglesham, Keith Giffen and Scott Koblish with a Bruce Timm cover.
X-O Manowar Valiant will relaunch the time lost warrior in a new series from writer Matt Kindt (Divinity, Ninjak, Mind MGMT) and an impressive cast of artists including Tomas Giorello (4001 A.D.: War Mother, Bloodshot Reborn), Doug Braithwaite (Armor Hunters, Bloodshot U.S.A.), Clayton Crain (Rai), Ryan Bodenheim, and Mico Suayan (Bloodshot Reborn) – that together will span the series’ first year in 2017 and beyond. The new beginning for the Valiant icon kicks off with part one of “Soldier” – a three-issue introduction “that will push Aric of Dacia beyond the farthest limits of our galaxy…and into the brutal opening salvo of the ultimate X-O Manowar tale ever told.”
X-Men: ResurrXion How do I choose? X-Men and Inhumans are locked in a war but there’s a Spring Awakening for both teams. X-Men: Blue stars the original time-lost X-Men led by Jean Grey with Magneto as their mentor. X-Men: Gold featuring the most welcome return of Kitty Pryde to the fold and becoming leader of the team. Iceman, Cable and Jean Grey each headline their own new book. Weapon X sees Old Man Logan and Sabretooth on the same side with more badass X-Men fighting a new Weapon X program. I have high hopes for all the new X-books but I think I’m most excited about the new Generation X. Jubilee will lead a cast of students at a new Xavier Institute. The new Generation X makes me nostalgic and reminds me about my excitement when the original book was born. Unlikely teachers, mutants will strange powers and appearances and a sense of this feels different – and being different is what the X-Men are ultimately all about and why fans loved the mutant franchise because don’t we all feel different and weird until we find connect with others like us?
Plus, Christina Strain is the writer. Terry Dodson did this teaser image. I have a framed print of the Uncanny X-Men #500 X-Women variant cover by (and signed by) Strain, Terry and Rachel Dodson lovingly framed and hanging in the dining room that I can look at as I write my posts – some sentimental attachment along with the sense of wonder for this X-project!
What comics are you most excited for in 2017?
Happy New Year and thanks for reading, sharing and supporting us.
By Editor