April is a month for many that brings on unhappy feelings. Whether it is the encroaching end of the school year or the taxman knocking on your door, beat back all those fears with a good old comic book!
DC, just like every previous month, has released new collections and graphic novels! There are some real gems this month for you to read so let’s not waste any more time. Here are my choices for some amazing DC graphic novels you need to pick up at your local comic book shop.
GREEN ARROW VOL. 2: ISLAND OF SCARS
Writer Ben Percy’s run on Green Arrow has been nothing short of astounding. Getting the character back to basics and giving Oliver Queen his signature goatee has brought a revitalized energy to this comic. This collection forms together Percy’s second arc on the series entitled “Island of Scars.”
There’s something fitting about Oliver Queen on an island. When Arrow started five years ago, the pilot began on the famous island that created the Green Arrow. This collection does the same and really plays around with Oliver’s true identity and purpose. Mix that with the romance of Black Canary and the appearance of John Diggle and Green Arrow fans will all find something they like in this book.
Easy to digest Green Arrow collections are always hard to find. With so many great runs and creators, it can sometimes feel like there is never a great place to start. Green Arrow Vol. 2: Island of Scars is the book you’re looking for. Ben Percy and artist Otto Schmidt create a tale that is absolute for any level of Green Arrow fan.
Plus did I mention there’s a robot bear in this story?
BATMAN: LEGACY VOL. 1
Batman has a long legacy of epic and insane crossovers. “Contagion,” “Knightfall,” “No Man’s Land” and “Death of the Family,” just to name a few. As a Batfan of the ’90s, Batman crossovers were how I learned the abilities of each of the various members of the Bat-family. Now, DC is finally collecting the complete “Batman: Legacy” storyline and volume one is here!
This collection has it all. You like Bane? Oh, he’s in here. You like Catwoman? Better believe Selina Kyle shows up! You think Ra’s al Ghul is the greatest Batman villain of all time? Friend, this story is just for you!
Designed as a sequel to the massive BATMAN: CONTAGION crossover, Legacy deals with the origin of the Clench virus and how it rears its ugly head again. This book has work in it from some of the greatest creators to ever work on Batman like Chuck Dixon and Doug Moench. If those names seem unfamiliar to you, then please do yourself a favor and get this book. As a longtime Batfan, it’s amazing that these stories will finally be collected!
LEGIONNAIRES BOOK ONE
Don’t know who the Legion of Super-Heroes are? Well, friend, I am about to rock your grifing world.
In the mid-’90s, an event called “Zero Hour” gave every DC title a zero issue. These issues were perfect jumping on points where origins were retold. A young Jason Inman picked up LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #0 and his whole world changed.
This collection finally collects the much loved reboot of the Legion by Mark Waid, Tom McCraw and Tom Peyer. It introduces the concept of three super-powered teens that band together to form an interplanetary protection force that will help unite the struggling United Planets (think United Nations except in space).
These three teens will struggle with their powers, recruit other super-powered teens, including one named Brainiac, and try to keep their past lives and personal situations from getting in the way. If you have ever wanted to start reading some adventures of the Legion of Super-Heroes, this is the best place to start. It has the perfect first issue for any new reader. Plus, this is my favorite run of the Legion ever.
The Legion has been mentioned on The CW’s Supergirl and The Flash more than once this season. So do yourself a favor and learn all of their secrets before they make their possible future appearance!
Those are my graphic novel picks for April! Run to your comic shop, speak Interlac to them and make sure you pick up these books. I’m sure you’ll love them as much as I do. See you next month for May’s picks and LONG LIVE THE LEGION!
