5 Comic Books You Should Add to Your Reading List

Comic books have been really hitting their stride as of late. Both DC and Marvel have reset some of their legacy characters and given birth to renewed interest in old heroes. There’s also some great work being done on the independent titles that have shaken up the scene as of late. IF you’re into great stories, looking to get back into your favorite heroes, or just searching for a new hobby, now would be an excellent time to do so.

[adcode]

Superhero movies are the big thing in Hollywood right now. With Avengers: Infinity War breaking all sorts of records, Deadpool 2 on the way, and Aquaman scheduled for later this year there’s no slowing down the comic book industry in mainstream media. The boost in character exposure has given comic book writers their second wind and they’ve produced a better quality of stories in return. So what comics should you pick up at your local shop?

Oblivion Song – Robert Kirkman is back at it again with another soon to be hit on his hands. The Walking Dead creator’s latest project Oblivion Song has all the power to be not only the next best comic book run but could draw interest with tv studios if it can grow a fan following.

From Google Books: “A decade ago, 300,000 citizens of Philadelphia were suddenly lost in Oblivion. The government made every attempt to recover them, but after many years, they gave up. Nathan Cole…won’t. He makes daily trips, risking his life to try and rescue those still living in the apocalyptic hellscape of Oblivion. But maybe…Nathan is looking for something else? Why can’t he resist the siren call of the Oblivion Song?”

Gideon Falls – If you’re looking for another non-superhero comic book to add to your pile, starting with Gideon Falls is probably your best best. A darker twist in comics takes you to a world of suspense. Still early in it’s run there’s plenty of time to catch up and add it to your pull list.

From Google Books: “The bestselling team of Jeff Lemire and Andrea Sorrentino (Old Man Logan, Green Arrow) unleash their most ambitious story to date with this complex and mesmerizing new supernatural mystery series. Norton gets closer to the secrets of the Black Barn as Fred discovers a grizzly new crime in Gideon Falls.”

Damage – While initially, Damage looks like a clone of famous Marvel character The Hulk, DC has put an interesting twist on the character. Instead of “hulking out” and losing control for prolonged times, Damage takes form for one of 24 hours before the cycle can start again. What makes it interesting is how that will play into the character’s strengths and weakness as challenges arise.

From DCComics.com: Ethan “Elvis” Avery just wanted to serve his country. Instead, he’s been changed into a monster! Tasked as the government’s own living, breathing, ticking time bomb, Ethan retains no control when the monster takes over. Cheaper than a nuclear warhead and twice as effective, Ethan fights to rein in the damage he unleashes when the beast inside him springs free for one hour a day. With everyone around him in danger, Ethan struggles to contain the DAMAGE he inflicts on the DC Universe.

Sideways – Another comic from DC’s New Heroes that has a very Marvel feel to it. Some would say that Sideways seems like a Spider-Man clone. Luckily for readers, it’s both the same and so much different at the same time. Sideways has a light-hearted feel as if Spider-Man and The Flash combined to make one character.

From DCComics.com: During the events of DARK NIGHTS: METAL, high school junior Derek James accidentally fell through a rift into the dark matter dimension! Now, as Sideways, he can create rifts in midair to leap through dimensions at will! But with that much power comes great liability—and cracks are starting to form in the fabric of the space-time continuum…

Old Man Hawkeye – If you enjoyed Wolverine: Old Man Logan, then Old Man Hawkeye should be on your list. A prequel to OML, we’re taken to the distant future where our favorite heroes are long gone and we’re given the tales of those who are left as they come to grips with their mortality. The art and story tell this intriguing tale that hopefully leads to more titles down the line.

From Google Books: The superheroes have fallen. The country has been divided into territories controlled by supervillains. Among the wastelands lives Clint Barton – one of the few Avengers to survive. But it’s been 45 years, and he’s no Avenger. Trying to eke out a living any way he can, the former Hawkeye is confronted with a startling discovery: the sharpshooter is going blind. With time running short, Clint realizes there’s one last thing he wants to see: revenge for his fallen comrades-in-arms. Journey back to the Wastelands in a story set five years before the original classic Wolverine: Old Man Logan.

With so many great stories heading in different directions, 2018 has been a good year for comics and comic book fans. With the recent wave of blockbusters at the box office, writers have stepped up big with new and refreshed passion for storytelling. So many great issues have already come and went. What are your favorites so far? Join the convo[CMRickTwitter]