Welcome back True Believers to our weekly series where we run down the top five comics we are enjoying with this week's featured coffee roast. You know we love our community and are always interested in what you are reading and what Coffee 'n' Capes coffee you are drinking. So drop us a line at supers@coffeencapes.com.
And. here. we. go:
FEATURED COFFEE:
This week's featured coffee is Merv Pumpkin Spice. “Fall is around the corner and the dreaming turns to leaves on the ground, a chill to the air, and pumpkin spice coffee. Merv Pumpkin Spice is the perfect blend of pumpkin, cinnamon, and nutmeg to bring your morning, or afternoon, cup of coffee that touch of fall we all wait for every year”
Best for “Crisp fall mornings. Day dreaming while sipping and reading your favorite comic books or walking through the park.” Merv Pumpkin Spice—a medium roast coffee so good you might even say it’s dreamy.
On to the comics!
5. Justice League Dark #1 (2011)
This book has just the right mix of spooky, weird, mysterious, and ‘what the [bleep] was that?’ for a story about characters with magic powers. Because magic powers—especially spooky magic powers—are exactly what you need when even the most powerful members of the Justice League are no match for…whatever the heck is going on with The Enchantress and her magic. You know the situation is dire when a team of Shade the Changing Man, Madame Xanadu, Deadman, Zatanna, and John Constantine represent our best hope! Peter Milligan’s story pairs so well with the art style from Mikel Janin. They set just the right tone for this type of tale.
4. Venom: Lethal Protector #1 (2022)
It seems like we cannot get enough Venom. So many Venom books and two movies, with more likely on the way (eventually at least.) Who doesn’t love Venom? Venom is so interesting, so popular, so different from most of Marvel’s books, and often so fun, it is hard to believe that the character is essentially just a parasitic gob of goo. Frankly, a whole lot has happened to Venom over the last decade of books. If you are the type who longs for Venom stories from before all that, then, True Believer, this new Venom series is for you! With writer (Venom co-creator!) David Michelinie and artist Ivan Fiorelli, we go back in time to the early days of Venom. When was that? Well, these are comic books we’re talking about so they are intentionally vague about that. “Some years ago,” the opening panel tell us. And as the cover warns you, that means “brains are back on the menu!” Enjoy!
P.S. Issue #3 of this series is available now on our comics page—along with plenty of other Venom-y goodness!
3. Something is Killing the Children #16 (2019)
If you’ve been reading this series, then this is the Erica Slaughter origin story for which you’ve been waiting! If you haven’t been reading this story, then this is the perfect jumping-on point! This whole series by James Tynion IV is just so damn good. (How does he produce such a high volume of top quality content?!) The art by Werther Dell’Edera is top notch too. Together they make the best independent book going, er, um, currently on hiatus. (Just like the equally excellent Saga.) Pick up this book and discover everything that lead Erica to the House of Slaughter—and then all she had to endure to join The Order of St. George. It is so good that I doubt this will be the last time we see Something is Killing the Children on our Top 5 this month!
2. Amazing Spider-Man #1 (2014)
There is a pretty spot on a path near our house that is lined with trees. Every October we see spiders hanging out on webs between those trees. It is one of the signs of autumn around here. So let’s lean into the season by reading some Spider-Man! What better Spider-Man book to grab than the great, fun reboot of Amazing Spider-Man #1 written by Dan Slott and drawn by Humberto Ramos. But the story begins with the shocking revelation that Peter Parker wasn’t the only person bit by that radioactive spider on that fateful day! That juicy little nugget, however, does not get paid off in this issue. But we do get weird animal-themed villains and super awkward (but still kinda adorable) social situations. And that’s how we know for sure that Doctor Octopus is out as the Superior Spider-Man and Peter Parker is back in charge!
Did you know this book is available right now on our comics page? Can’t get enough Webhead? Check out all our Spider-Man books here.
1. Superman: Son of Kal-El #1 (2021)
Yes, I know it is October and we all love to focus on all the creepy crawly, spooky, dark, or down right disturbing stories available to us. But don’t we also need a little sunshine our lives, even in October? I say we do. We need reminders that, while some forces of goodness toil away in the shadows, other forces of goodness exist and thrive in the day. We need heroes doing their best to be beacons of hope. That’s why this week’s number one comic to read with coffee is Superman: Son of Kal-El #1. I mean, c’mon, wears a symbol of hope right there on his chest!
Clark Kent (aka Kal-El) is off world. But earth needs a Superman! That means it is time for Jon Kent (son of Clark and Lois) to take on the mantle full time. John Timms provides the beautiful art. About this series, writer Tom Taylor said, "I've always said everyone needs heroes and everyone deserves to see themselves in their heroes and I'm very grateful DC and Warner Bros. share this idea. Superman's symbol has always stood for hope, for truth and for justice. With this series, that symbol represents something more. Now, more people can see themselves in the most powerful superhero in comics.” What’s Taylor talking about there? What adds yet another layer of hope and goodness to Jon Kent as Superman? Well, True Believers, if you don’t already know then I sure don’t want to spoil it. But the third print variant cover above may provide a hint