Pick Of The Week: Al Ewing Is ‘Writer Of The Week’ With Two Recommendations
by Olly MacNamee
Another week and another selection of varied and diverse comic books published. But which ones are we recommending you look out for? Well, let us give you our usually three suggestions starting with Home Sick Pilots #1 by Dan Watters and Caspar Wijngaard and then looking at two titles from scribe Al Ewing, with bullet reviews for Guardians of the Galaxy #9 and new X-Men title S.W.O.R.D. #1. Two books out of three from the same writer? That’s first here, but with good reason. Read on and find out what makes these our ‘Pick of the Week’:
Home Sick Pilots #1 (Image Comics)
Written by Dan Watters
Art by Caspar Wijngaard
Set in the mid nineties, the series takes its name from the punk rock band wanting to out do their rivals and put on an illegal gig at the local haunted house, a “house that kills people.”
A new kind of haunted house horror from Watters and Wijngaard that oozes style and strong storytelling. A 90s’ neon-horror that’s first issue is a strong opener for this ongoing Image Comics’ series. Mixing horror with mechas and creating something unique. – Olly MacNamee
Read the full review here.
Guardians of the Galaxy #9 (Marvel)
Written by Al Ewing
Art by Juann Caba
With the character gone for months now, it was unclear how Quill would return, just that he would, thanks to a prophecy in his dying moments. It’s a story that fans have been wondering about. Now it comes to us from Al Ewing, Juann Cabal, Federico Blee, and Cory Petit.
Ewing really does a lot with Quill, establishing that the character is much more than he has seemed for the last ten years, even if Quill himself doesn’t realize it. While he doesn’t get into the specifics, the issue plays with our expectations and sets Quill on the path towards the new truth. It also adds layers to the character just by virtue of all the time he spent in this other realm. This is just the beginning of Quill’s new journey and I’ll be fascinated to see where it goes from here. – Tony Thornley
Read the full review here.
S.W.O.R.D. #1 (Marvel)
Written by Al Ewing
Art by Valerio Schiti
The first completely new debut of Reign of X hits this week and it’s an absolutely fantastic debut issue. It’s full of awe, fantasy and promise, pointing towards the next phase of not just X-Men but Marvel Universe as a whole. It’s created by Al Ewing, Valerio Schiti, Marte Gracia, Ariana Maher, and Tom Muller.
Ewing crafts an issue here that’s both easily accessible and a rewarding read for longtime fans. He takes the common trope of the rookie’s or observer’s tour (in this case Brand giving Magneto a tour), and twists it slowly until it takes a new shape. First, the tour reveals several things about Magneto that we may not know or remember- he’s clearly conflicted about Scarlet Witch’s status as a mutant pariah, he has some incredible disdain for Fabian Cortez, and so on. We next get to learn about mutant technology, systems by which mutants combine their powers to becomes something more than they already are. – Tony Thornley
Read the full review here.
