Poyo’s Spec and Drek for June 20th, 2018

This week I really had a hard time picking DC and Marvel books.

I usually try to only make my picks based on the publishers small description and the cover art. I try to avoid any other rumors or spoilers, sometimes it’s just a given, other times it’s hard to avoid so they influence my picks. Lucky for me, this week I’ve been swamped with work so all my picks are based on the very little information I have or can see.

DC/Vertigo Pick
This weeks almost went to Cover A but you can’t pass up a Middleton cover that is already selling out online.

As much as I like Cover A though, the toss up pick goes to Aquaman #37 Cover B.

But kudos to Sejic for an awesome looking cover A. That’s a cover I might grab as well if I see one.
One would think retailers would have caught on by now and just start ordering more cover B’s over cover if it’s Middleton doing the cover. Seems shops are still iffy about ordering these if they’re not sure what the art looks like and don’t want to get stuck with the cover B they can’t move.

Marvel Pick
Infinity Countdown Black Widow #1. Everyone seems to be jumping on the Sienkiewicz and the Young Guns cover.

I’m picking the Putri cover, which is the regular cover. It just stands out more to me and I like Putri’s style.

I would pick the Young Guns variant next on the list, then Sienkiewicz‘s cover. I like his work most of the time but this one is not his best in my opinion.

It’s my other pick because the door is being shut on too man years at the steering wheel. Here’s to hoping Dan doesn’t ruin too much of the Amazing Spider-Man universe in his final issue where Nick Spencer has to go clean it up in the next volume.

But this weeks other Marvel pick goes to Amazing Spider-Man #801.
Goodbye Dan! It’s just too bad they didn’t ship him off to DC or something but I’m sure DC knows better. I guess they already took Bendis with his sappy soap opera drama he’s so good at writing.

Indie Pick
I’m with Anthony, I usually like or check out a lot of AfterShock comics (and no, they don’t pay me to say nice things about them but if they are willing, I’m open to negotiations). They do fill in the indie void (even though they’re borderline of being a small publisher as they grow).

This weeks pick goes to Lost City Explorers #1. I really liked Kaplan’s work on Eclipse and Port of Earth (Both Image Books).

The cover kind of gives me that 80s Stranger Things gang of kids vibe with a twist of Goonies. Probably with less alternate dimensions though, so more Goonies adventures going by the description.

Lost cities aren’t just the stuff of myths. They exist hidden right under our noses. But when a mysterious expedition is disrupted by supernatural activity, and an antiquities professor goes missing, his teenage daughter and her friends must become underground urban explorers, follow his tracks on a coming-of-age journey through subterranean tunnels, and ultimately find the holy grail of lost city: Atlantis buried right under New York City!

Already sold out at a bunch of online retailers. Probably best to grab a copy if you see one. Could be a surprise flip but I’m not counting on it. If it does, will be temporary and short as the jump in price will be from those that couldn’t find them locally.

Small Publisher Pick
I got the pleasure of reading this next book in advance so I’ve been looking foward to this one as well.

The small publisher pick goes to Shanghai Red #1 out from Image.

Red is one of hundreds shanghaied out of Portland in the late 1800s. Drugged, kidnapped, and sold to a ship’s captain, she wakes up on a boat headed out to sea for years, unable to escape or even reveal who she truly is. Now she’s coming back in a boat covered in blood to find her family and track down the men responsible for stealing her life out from under her.

Could be a surprise hit. I’m a sucker for revenge stories myself.

Now on with the dreaded “avoid” pick, every writer and artist worst nightmare when it comes to selling their hard work.

This weeks drek is just too obvious, I bet I could not say anything and most of you all will know what I’m going to tell you to avoid right?

Iron Man: Tony Stark.

Yes, I don’t think I need to explain at this point. Just skip it for several reasons but if you do pick it up, just pick the cover you like best and be done with it.

9 thoughts on “Poyo’s Spec and Drek for June 20th, 2018”

  1. Right on with the avoid pick. I think retailers are gonna get burned on all those Iron Man variants. I know I have ZERO interest in any of them. Unfortunately, I know my LCS received at least 5 of each. I predict 3 or more still sitting on the shelf next week.
    While we are kicking Marvel…. can we talk about Fantasic Four being a $5.99 book? Not to mention all the variants open order variants? I already told my LCS I’m down for 1 cover A and the Art Adams and that’s it. They know I’ve me some ArtGerm but I’ll pass on 4 @ $5.99 each.

    1. Not just the $5.99 price tag for Fantastic Four but isn’t Dan Slott writing that title as well? They’re rebooting this series once again just for it to result in poor sales down the road. I wonder how long before it’s canceled again. The Fantastic Four heroes are better off just being supporting casts in other titles I think.

      1. Slott won me back with the Red Goblin story. His Superior Spider-Man was also a great 30-ish issue run. He can write but…. the key lesson for Slott and Marvel is “don’t let one guy write a book for a decade.” Slott, and most writers, have good ideas but not a decade worth for a single character.

      2. I’m a longtime F4 fan, it’s what first got me into comics as a kid. I’m hoping that maybe after this comeback series, Disney/Marvel Studios will also soon get the Fox property rights and can do them some justice on the big screen.

        1. I liked them as a kid myself but now in adult hood, the appeal is no longer there for me.

  2. I am so done with Marvel, that I didn’t even know Ironman was getting a new #1.

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