With that being said here is what I bought in September
Ghostbusters: Crossing Over #6
This title continues to do what it does best, showing how the personalities of the various Ghosbusters iterations interact. In particular this issue is a strong one for Garrett, who gets his time to shine in a battle of wills with a ghost.
There is also the return of a character who will be a familiar face to anyone who has read the comic before but might confuse newcomers.
Heroes in Crisis #1
Heroes in Crisis has been the subject of controversy recently, and it is easy to see why. The title was marketed as exploring the traumas behind its characters, and how they take care of their mental health but it starts with their mental health facility in ruins and several characters dead.
While I found the mystery being built up intriguing, it does feel like it de rails the title from what was the stated intent behind book. I’m still going to give the second issue a shot though. The sections were characters were talking about their mental health were fantastic and I still think it is possible that this book could stick the landing.
Justice League Odyssey #1
As this comic is a spin off of Justice League: No Justice it would be easy to feel like required reading was necessary before approaching, a concern I myself shared. Luckily, this comic manages to put such fears to rest with its opening issue.
Cyborg, Starfire, and Azrael are busting into the Ghost sector which is currently being guarded by Power Ring. This first issue serves to set up the status quo for the series, and it works well as the opening entry in its story. The group dynamics are quickly established, there is enough mystery to entice readers to see what happens next (especially with that last page reveal), and there are only one or two plot details which might confuse new readers (such as the existence and nature of the Ghost Sector).
Doctor Who The Thirteenth Doctor Volume 0: The Many Lives of Doctor Who
Titan comics has been hyping up their upcoming Thirteenth Doctor series with their FCBD issue, and the Road to the Thirteenth Doctor. This book is their last in this regard before the Thirteenth Doctor arrives properly in comic book form on 17th October.
The comic is an anthology of sorts, with different writers and artists creating mini stories set across all of the Doctor’s current lives, with the regeneration of twelve into thirteen serving as a framing device to connect them all.
None of the stories are especially long, lasting only a few pages a piece, but they all manage to give a sense of what can be done with that character and show off the strengths of the respective artists behind them.
This book is a both a great celebration and a great sampler of Who. I think it will also work to show people who haven’t read Doctor Who comics before just what they’ve been missing.
Catwoman #3
The highlight of this issue is the backstory of the comic’s first villain. We see her recount the story of her first marriage to her second husband, and it is a perfect example of how the visual elements of comics are well suited for telling a story with an unreliable narrator. The difference between the story that Raina tells her husband and the scenes which are presented to the reader with the artwork speak volumes about Raina’s character without her ever having to say it out loud.
Vagrant Queen #4
This issue fills out more of Elida’ backstory, offering brief glimpses at both her reign and how she escaped the revolution. It also sets up a new antagonist for the series, and shows the role he played in Elida’s overthrow.
This was a strong issue for the series. It explored the issues surrounding the monarchy which led to its downfall and it offered some insight into why Elida doesn’t wish to reclaim her crow. In some ways it serves as a better first issue for Vagrant Queen than its actual first issue did.
Strangers in Paradise XXV #6
#6 is my favourite issue of this series so far. We haven’t seen much of Francine and the kids so far, and this issue shows what they are going through while Katchoo is off chasing down Stephanie. The scenes with Francine and her children are sweet, reminding readers of the emotional heart of this story, and just what it is that Katchoo is trying to protect.
Meanwhile Katchoo’s story is starting to heat up, she has found the magguffin of the series, and she finds herself in more danger than she was already in.
At times it doesn’t feel like individual issues of this series advance the plot very much, but this issue is just about everything a single issue of such a title could be. It advances the story, it ups the stakes, and it gives the characters room to remind the reader why they should be checking in every month.
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So those were the books I read in September. There were no issues I outright disliked as such but I think the strongest titles this month were Vagrant Queen #4 and Strangers in Paradise XXV #6
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