FCBD 2016 Review: The Big Names: Marvel, Archie, Top Cow, 2000AD and more…
Free Comic Book Day 2016 is a merry Xmas for all comic fans around the world. Comic Shop Owners can order promotional comics, previews and even special introductory issues of the best publishers listed under Diamond Publications. Comic Shop owners with a great heart for the good cause are handing out these comics on this very special Saturday.
ComicsForSinners also has a big heart and will try to give a lowdown on all comics that will be available on this special day and would love to know what comics you have gotten on May 7, 2016!
            |
DC Comics: Suicide Squad #1
Great Ryan Benjamin cover to begin with! And the story is clearly focused on the elder teens rather then youngsters <spoilers removed. please come back on Saturday>. Fact of the matter? I think this goeswell beyond any test I could come up with if I were part of some good-guy team, that is for sure.
But great reading material before the movie kicks in high gear, so as far as promotion goes: well done.
But I think showcasing Jimmy Palmiotti & Amanda Conner’s HARLEY QUINN would have been a more family-friendly introduction to comics.
Archie Comics: ARCHIE #1
If you know comics, you know about Archie Comics, about Betty, Archie, Jughead and all the good folks at Riverdale. You also know that those comics are old-school and just not happening to young folks anymore.
So they decided to start a new series ARCHIE as well as JUGHEAD with Mark Waid and Fiona Staples leading the way with a rejuvenated 4th wall breaking Archie comics. And it rocks. Intelligent dialogue, great art and a more NOW-feeling all together. In the first story Archie and Betty apparently have broken up. Nobody knows why, but a lot of good folks will try anything to get them back together.
The second story in this FCBD-setting is about Jughead, being a Jughead, even more then usual with the arrival of a new principal and the new rules at the high school cafeteria. Do not mess with Jug’s food-intake, everyone!
Titan Comics: DR WHO
If you know Dr Who or you do not, this is essential reading. 4 completely NEW stories, some cartoony, some at an uncanny art-level, all are just great reads. Action and comedy go hand in hand in these sci-fi tales.
My personal favourite is the 10th Doctor story, in which you can get a taste about the traveling vehicle of the Doctors and their companions, namely the TARDIS. A vessel of virtual infinity it can move from A to B but also can act like a Haunted Mansion.
Bongo Comics: free-for-all
Stories about Bart Simpson, his family and his friends. They never end well, but the also never start out well either! Totally off-beat yet charming, be it Homer saving the future of donuts, or Bart and his doctor-friend talking about the dangers of videogames for your fingers, or Bart making a vampire out of his principal!
For kids, these are must haves. For grownups… I think a lot of folks always will dig this insanity since it has this cult-status almost.
Valiant Entertainment: 4001AD Special
Valiant has characters that are off the charts, with talented writers and artists to back up the premise of each title.
With a prologue to a new inter-company crossover 4001AD with RAI, as well as astonishing previews to Bloodshot Island, Divinity, A&A and the sell-out hit FAITH, this FCBD-collection is just a thing you would want!
Dark Horse Comics: SERENITY & HELLBOY & ALIENS
in your face. Plain and simple! Dark Horse just brought out the big guns (aka franchises) and all rounds fired!
With SERENITY I have to wonder if I should have a bit of knowledge about this franchise beforehand. I never saw the TVseries or movie, so I have really no clue. But it read like a fun bedtime-story as intended.
With HELLBOY I just did not get the story, but sometimes it just might be like this.
With ALIENS it is just a full-on battle and especially with art like this, it is amazing to look at!
2000 AD
Seven short stories for the price of free! That’s some deal! If you are a 2000 AD fan, you need to try to get your mits on this.
Marvel Comics: Civil War II
Creators:
Bendis, Chueng, Dell, Ponsors
War Machine! Captain Marvel, Black Panther, Thanos, chaos! Death?
Civil War II opens with James Rhodes (War Machine) arriving at the Triskellion, flirting / making out with Captain Marvel (with T’Challa trying his best not to throw up in the mask cause of all the flirting between those two). <spoilers removed. please come back on Saturday> that this might the death Marvel hinted at with all the Civil War promo’s.
The art is great, so is the writing. I’m not sure how long the on-off relationship of Colonel Rhodes and Captain Marvel has been going on but it works and they really do seem to care for each other.
Continued in Civil War II # 1
The second part of the Marvel FCBD issue is the debut of the All-New Wasp. Brought to us by Mark Waid and Alan Davis, and an all new Wasp design.
I’ve never been a fan of Davis artwork. It’s solid, no mistakes, Wasp’s suit design is great. I’m happy that he’s paired with a great writer like Waid as for some reason, it makes his work better than other stuff I’ve seen of him.
We start out with the All-New Wasp inside a computer, being attacked by it’s defense system. And getting his ass handed to her as her exit is blocked and she gets gassed.
<spoilers removed. please come back on Saturday>
Continued in All-New, All-Different Avengers #9
Marvel Comics: Steve Rogers: Captain America
Steve is back. Rejuvinated during the events in Avengers: Standoff, Steve Rogers is back as Captain America and helped by Sharon Carter, and the Whisperer <spoilers removed. please come back on Saturday>
Second part is part of the Dead no more storyline. Spidey, San Fran, Rhino, Fisk!<spoilers removed. please come back on Saturday> Interesting…
Aspen Comics: Worlds of Aspen 2016
In the past, all Aspen comics had their own little universe to play in. Aspen Comics has now changed things up and combined it all into one universe.
Art is, as always, very much influenced by Mike Turner. Meaning it’s pretty damn good! And for new readers it has a who’s who of the Aspen Universe so that you have an idea of what is going on.
BOOM Studios: BOOM 2016 Summer Blast
A collection of short previews for young and old.
Image Comics: ODDLY NORMAL #1
The first chapter to Otis Frampton’s story about a ordinary girl, who is treated like a freak at school and really has no friends. And her parents are also just really normal and ordinary and named her “Oddly Normal”. That is NOT a joke, mind you! But tell that to Oddly. Also ask her what happened when she got mad, made that horrible wish and then developed a headache… will all things remain ordinary and normal?
Hermes Press: THE PHANTOM
The guy in that purple uniform, living in the jungle on that magical island where lions and lambs play joyfully together. And which is his sanctuary from which he battles crime and injustice, leaving his skull-like mark on the faces he pounds.
Get a treat of some golden oldies while preparing for a new series coming this year!
DC Comics: DC SUPERHERO GIRLS
All cute, all young and all in superhero-college preparing for their Final Test. The art is cheerful, saturated and fun and the story is meant to be for girls 5-13 I guess. A good move from DC Comics to make such a apointed comic for such a specific group of new comic book readers.
Mixed reviews by Ron van Rutten and Richard Boom.
About the Author
Richard Boom Richard is the driving force behind Comics for Sinners. His love and admiration for female comic book characters is virtually unparalleled, which immediately explains his biggest 'sin': his Hot Mummy fetish. This sketchbook theme is philogynistic in nature and even the source of his WIP comic book series "The Sisterhood".
Related Posts
Conan the Barbarian – Free Comic Book Day →
Diamond Postpones Free Comic Book Day 2020 →
Free Comic Book Day 2019 Event a Record-Breaking Success →
