Welcome back True Believers! You know coffee and comics are our favorite things—and they go together so well! Thus, each week in this space we offer the top five comics we are enjoying with a cup of our coffee. We also love our community and want to know what you are reading and what Coffee 'n' Capes coffee you are drinking. Share your reading and drinking choices with us at supers@coffeencapes.com.
And. here. we. go:
FEATURED COFFEE:
This week's featured coffee is our newest roast, S.I.B.T.C. — Someone is Brewing the Coffee.
Sometimes there are things in the dark that require a little help when facing. That's why we created the S.I.B.T.C. Italian roast. This is our darkest roast yet. You might even say it is the new reigning champion of the dark. This Fair Trade-certified, single origin dark roast made from South American beans is fantastically smooth and bold. SIBTC is best for dealing with those scary things in the dark...or just getting your morning going on the right foot. Also the perfect coffee for a bold café Americano, cappuccino, or latte. Plus it pairs perfectly with this week's number one comic.
Speaking of, no more delay--on to the comics!
5. Avengers 1,000,000 B.C. [sic] (2022)
If you asked me to name my favorite comic book run, it wouldn’t be easy to decide. But Jason Aaron’s seven-year(!) run on Thor is probably the leader in the clubhouse. I loved so much about what he did with the character, including Young Thor, King Thor, introducing Jane Foster as Mighty Thor, the whole War of the Realms, and the journey into and back out of unworthiness for the Odinson. The tales of the ancient Avengers have been a hoot to boot, so when I read that Aaron would reveal Thor’s secret origin in this issue, I was hooked. I will always be honest with you, True Believers…this issue is not of the same highest-of-high quality I expect out of a Jason Aaron Thor story.
So what is this book doing in our Weekly Top 5 Comics with Coffee? The art by Kev Walker is enjoyable. It is a fun book that offers us a peak at just how tenuous were the bonds that held these first Avengers together. We get a couple panels worth of an origin story for Wakanda as a world apart. The interior world of both Gaea and The Phoenix are on display for the first time (that I know of). Everyone laughing at how incredibly obnoxious Odin is never gets old. And, of course, we learn what it means for Thor to say Gaea and Phoenix (and Freya) are all his mother. Isn’t it worth $4.99 to get all that?! Yes, yes it is. Grab a copy for yourself right here on our site. Three great covers from which to choose!
(Ok, one final quibble: here in the year of our Lord of 2023, we all know BCE is the proper designation, not the outdated BC. C’mon, Aaron, get it together!)
4. Batman #125 (2016)
Chip Zdarsky takes over the writing duties with this issue. Jorge Jimenez and Belen Ortega supply the art. Zdarsky’s “Failsafe” storyline starts here. What’s that? Let’s just say, the enemy is coming from inside the cave! But first: Gotham millionaires are being targeted and murdered! Is Penguin really behind it all? If Batman is so smart, why does he walk right into Penguin’s trap? Has anyone seen playboy Bruce Wayne lately? Am I the only one who didn’t know Batman has dream powers?? Seems to me this new arc has great potential. As it happens, this issue is available right here in a variety of cool covers. No time like the present to jump in!
3. Amazing Spider-Man #7 (2022)
Real talk. This issue has everything you want in a Peter Parker/Spider-Man comic. It has Peter Parker in a scientific lab. Peter Parker in awkward social interactions. Peter Parker running into MJ…and MJ’s new boyfriend. An old foe out for revenge (emphasis on old). Peter Parker getting all angry and storming off. And, as you can see from the cover, it has the return of Norman Osborn. Oh! Also, Spider-Man runs out of web fluid at just the worst time. See? It truly checks all the boxes on your Spider-Man bingo card! Written by Zeb Wells with art by Patrick Gleason. Though it sure seems as though John Romita, Jr. is doing all the art, not just the cover. Maybe Peter should have listened to Osborn after all? Bonus! This book is available right here at Coffee ’n’ Capes.
2. Shazam #1 (2021)
Tim Sheridan writes a story with artist Clayton Henry wherein Billy Batson can no longer reliably call on his magic Shazam powers. He ends up at Titans Academy looking for answers. This problem affects his whole Shazam family—so much so that his brother Freddy may only have days to live. The Titans are keeping secrets from him but Billy manages to learn that the problem has to do with the Rock of Infinity being displaced. So, naturally, Billy Batson (note: not Shazam) decides the only thing he can do is go to hell and fix the rock. Like ya do. Now, if only he can figure out how to get there…
1. House of Slaughter #11 (2021)
Our latest Coffee ’n’ Capes shop exclusive! Bask in that glorious cover by Taj Francis!
Tate Brombal and Antonio Fuso blow us all away with their story and art. Miguel Muerto provides the colors and Andworld Design the letters. (James Tynion IV and Werther Dell’Edera are credited for series and designs creation and development.)
This issue, subtitled The Butcher’s Return Part One, for we’ve finished following Scarlet Mask Edwin around that lake and are back to focusing on Jace Boucher. Jace’s friend and lover, Aaron, took his hand in issue #5 in an attempt fool his House into thinking Jace was dead. Does Jace know Aaron is now dead? How will Jace protect the children he has saved? What new threats await them all? What will the House do when they discover Jace is still alive (because, c’mon, we all know they will figure it out eventually)? And who is this new pack of white masks?
As I’ve said before, House of Slaughter is such a good book. An excellent companion to its progenitor, Something Is Killing The Children. So get this comic while it lasts! It is available individually in trade or virgin. Or save $10 and buy them together as a set. Or add to your fun and buy them together as a set in a Slaughterverse Box. Or go all out and get them as CGC graded slabs.