As always, “Five & Three” brings you my favorite things in comics this week. Every week I pick my five favorite covers and three favorite panels to create “Five & Three”. I like to talk about why I picked the covers and panels and welcome hecklers and trend setters alike. If you disagree with a pick, let me know in the comments or on Twitter @MarkAvo or on Instagram @TheMarkAvo. If you think I should’ve picked something else or if you have a pick in mind for next week, give me a shout out and let me know.
We’re about to go into a long holiday weekend so if you haven’t picked up your stack this week, or if you blew through it already, here are some books you should definitely think about reading while the grill sizzles. I loved the diversity of books and characters this week. In a crazy Switcheroo this week we’re starting off with panels.
I like espionage more than super-heroes but when the two collide I usually fall in love. That’s what happened with Ed Brubaker and Steve Epting’s Captain America and Winter Soldier stories. This time that talented pair is making me fall in love with Velvet in their “Velvet” series. The character of Velvet is everything I’ve always loved about James Bond except she’s a drop dead gorgeous femme fatale.
I said I liked espionage and I wasn’t kidding. Ales Kot’s “Zero” has been incredible. This issue was no different. What I liked the most, and the panels show it, was the sense of action Jorge Coelho brought to the book. Everything I love about the combination of Nathan Edmonson and Mitch Gerads I got from “Zero” #8.
If you haven’t read “Forever Evil” issue 7 but you have been reading DC books you’re already caught up. The publishing on the series slipped a bit so most of the shocking moments were ruined in other books. I think it did take away from the drama of the book but it was still great fun. I especially liked the humorous moments like the one below. From here on out Luthor could actually prove to be more than just a sadistic ego maniacal sociopath. Here’s hoping he does, it’ll last more than 4 issues.
First blood on covers this week is drawn by the sneaks up on you terror of the cover to “The Unwritten Apocalypse” issue 5. The cover art is by Yuko Shimizu and is an example of a cover that will draw a person in and then let them know that the interiors are not for the faint of heart (or bunny lovers).
The next cover that I liked was issue 31 of “Birds of Prey” by Jorge Molina. It’s not the yellow that I love, although that’s what stood out at first. What got to me is the well done team pose in Bab’s cape. Speaking of Barbara Gordon, the detail in the armor of her bat suit by Molina is absolute perfection. Cosplayers take notice of this cover because I want to see this iteration of Batgirl at the next con.
The Eisner winning title Daredevil is still superb. There isn’t much that I can say that hasn’t been said before so scroll down and admire the spectacular cover to “Daredevil” #3 by Chris Samnee.
I saw the cover to “The Package” by Eric Bonhomme and I immediately thought of The Misfits. I couldn’t get the image or the music out of my head so I had to pick the cover in hopes I wouldn’t have The Misfits stuck in my head all weekend.
The last pick is an obvious one. Alex Ross on covers to “Batman ’66 Meets The Green Hornet” from DC Comics. The book is wonderful thanks to the brilliant talent of the creators. Ralph Garman and Kevin Smith wrote one hell of a terrific Batman ’66 story and Ty Templeton’s art captures the characters right from the screen. My only complaint is that Batman didn’t show up in cape and cowl. I kid really but my imitation is because of Ralph’s similar complaint with “The Dark Knight Rises”.
That’s it for this week. If you want more Five and Three issues start with last week’s here. If you need even more artistic inspiration, strap in for some fun times watching me and my buddies chat about art like we know what we’re doing over at the deviantArt Podcast. As always, if you don’t like my picks or think I missed something, let me know with kind but firm words in the comments section below. It’s the only way I’ll learn.