by Drew
AT A GLANCE
Batman Gargoyle of Gotham #1 by Rafael Grampa (DC): Rafael Grampa returns to Batman to take another shot at the Dark Knight (after handling the art chores on 2019’s The Dark Knight Returns: The Golden Child with writer Frank Miller), and this time he’s writing and drawing a four issue rampage through the underbelly of DC’s seediest city. Grampa’s style evokes the same expressionistic lines of Paul Pope, but don’t confuse the two, as Grampa leans heavily into a frenzy of demented and unhinged portrayals of Gotham and its most sinister residents. This four issue series is a great return to form for DC’s Black Label imprint of adult and mature comics, purchase your copy today!
I Am Stan: A Graphic Biography of the Legendary Stan Lee by Tom Scioli (Ten Speed Press): The follow-up, and companion piece, to cartoonist Tom Scioli’s 2020 graphic novel Jack Kirby: The Epic Life of the King of Comics, spotlights Stan Lee (I don’t think I need to explain who he is). Scioli’s latest offers neither fawning adoration of a comics legend, nor a cynical takedown of Stan “The Man”, instead look for a biography of a complicated person who loved to tell a story, and often that story was about himself.
AT A GLANCE
Alligator Loki #1 by Bob Quinn and Alyssa Wong (Marvel): Lots of fun for all ages, an alligator variant of the trickster god Loki proves to be a real handful for Thor, but an evil alligator is a lot more silly than sinister. No crocodile tears (or alligator tears, a variant, naturally) to be shed after purchasing this one.
Daredevil #1 by Aaron Kuder and Saladin Ahmed (Marvel): Writer Chip Zdarsky’s four year run on the ol’ hornhead has wrapped up, and now Saladin Ahmed and Aaron Kuder’s run kicks off with Father Matthew grappling with his own demons, Elektra, and the NYPD. The future of DD hangs in the balance (as always!).
Crusader #1 by Matt Emmons (Mad Cave): A most devout Knight of Templar pulled from the battle against “pagan idolatry” and teleported to a world of orcs, wizards, and trolls. The jokes practically write themselves! Not a big name title, but probably the most entertaining comic to hit our shelves this week.
