I am a lifelong fan of comic books. I read a large variety of comics, from the more mainstream superhero titles, to smaller indie titles, to long-forgotten series of years past. Here are three comics out on the stands right now that are worth checking out whether you are a comic book novice or a hardcore fan looking for something new.
1. "Sex Criminals"
"Sex Criminals" is a raunchy, adults-only crime comedy from writer/artist team Matt Fraction ("Hawkeye", "Ody-C") and Chip Zdarsky ("Howard the Duck", "Jughead"). The comic follows Suzie and Jon, a couple who can temporarily freeze time when they orgasm.
The couple soon runs afoul of the sex police, a self-appointed law enforcement team who uses their own time-freezing powers to stop people like Suzie and Jon from using their powers to break the law. Thus far the comic has centered around this conflict and various relationship struggles faced by the couple outside of their superpowered shenanigans.
The series is gleefully profane, but also has a surprising amount of pathos. In between the immature jokes is a thoughtful exploration of the difficulty of navigating relationships. The series is also pleasantly progressive, addressing topics like asexuality and respect for sex workers, topics that are rarely addressed, let alone addressed with nuance.
"Sex Criminals" is a funny and frequently poignant exploration of human sexuality and relationships. It is certainly worth checking out if you do not mind looking your local comic store proprietor in the eye as you purchase a comic entitled "Sex Criminals".
2. "The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina"
A gritty horror reboot of "Sabrina the Teenage Witch" may seem ridiculous, but it is a shockingly well-written and believable take on the character. "Chilling Adventures" is set in the early 1960s, contrasting squeaky clean suburban Americana with spine-tingling eldritch terrors.
The witches of this comic are more akin to the forest-dwelling Satanists of the 2015 film "The Witch" than the wacky hijinks of the Melissa Joan Hart sitcom. The comic takes itself completely seriously, which helps imbue each issue with a creeping dread. Sabrina must deal with her status as a new member of the coven, the looming presence of the mysterious Madam Satan, and her reanimated boyfriend (who unbeknownst to her is possessed by her warlock father).
This comic is lurid, pulpy, and full of rich atmosphere. Robert Hack's artwork is truly incredible, rough watercolors and ink wash illustrations in autumnal oranges and blacks, giving it the feel of some long-lost, faded copy of a 1960s horror magazine like "Creepy" or "Eerie". The imagery is positively ghoulish: "Chilling Adventures"'s renderings of black masses make witches scary again for the first time since the 18th century. With a Netflix adaptation of the series on the way, now is as good a time as any to check out this modern marvel of horror comics.
3. "Doom Patrol"
The Doom Patrol has always been an oddball team of superheroes, and Gerard Way's current run on the series continues in the grand tradition. This continuation weaves together elements from both the original 1960s series and celebrated run of issues written by comics legend Grant Morrison in the 1980s and 1990s. Way's take on "Doom Patrol" represents a synthesis of the derring-do spirit and pop art sensibilities of the 1960s shine through, and the outlandish eccentricities of Morrison's stories.
The new series centers around a new character, Casey Brinke. She is a fictional comic book character within "Doom Patrol"'s continuity, brought to life by circumstances too complicated to summarize here. Despite the surreal, dense continuity of the comic, Brinke serves as the reader's guide into the strange world of "Doom Patrol", so everything winds up making its own strange sort of sense in the end.
The comic recently brought back a longtime "Doom Patrol" antagonist, Mr. Nobody, a dadaist supervillain who seeks to reduce everything in the world to nonsense. Gerard Way's "Doom Patrol" is a refreshing superhero comic that feels pleasantly nostalgic yet hip and modern. It is mind-bending and continuously inventive, and as true to the "Doom Patrol" spirit as any fan could hope.
