Go Buy These Comics!

Those of you who read my archives know that I used to review comics. Rather than subject you to those on a regular basis, I discontinued the practice.

However, just this once I will highlight several new comic book series, because they relate to series near and dear to my heart back in the 90's, the New Warriors. This team called the New Warriors were responsible for getting the government to require superhero licenses by getting themselves blown up in a populated area.


Thunderbolts- This series is about a team of mostly supervillains who are employed by the government to hunt down unlicensed superheroes; in essence turning the usual hero/villain dynamic on its head. Roster: Green Goblin, Bullseye, Moonstone, Songbird, Radioactive Man, Swordsman (formerly Fenris), Venom (formerly Scorpion), and... Penance. Now Penance used to be Speedball, a member of the New Warriors, and blames and horrifically punishes himself for the death of his teammates and hundreds of civilians. Of course the entire team is screwed up one way or another (since most have disturbing backgrounds as villains) and Penance fits right in.

Avengers: The Initiative- Now that heroes are required to be licensed, a training camp has been erected at the site of the tragedy, run by veteran heroes... one of which is Justice, a former leader of the New Warriors. Young heroes are shipped here for training, including several surviving Warriors including Rage, Slapstick and others. Writing and characterization are awesome, including a shocking ending....

The Loners (LS)- This series is about a support group dedicated to help young adults get over their destructive superhero lifestyles and become 'normal'. Of course, they keep getting pulled back in. Members used to be the heroes Green Goblin V, Lightspeed, Ricochet, Spider-Woman III, and former Warriors Turbo and Darkhawk. Naturally, a drug that gives people superpowers is on the streets, and a few Loners suit up to prevent others from becoming just like them....

Nova- This former New Warrior has spent the last year in space fighting the Annihilation Wave, an invading force from another universe that destroys everything in its path. Nova was a member of an intergalactic peacekeeping force which was destroyed during the war. He now has the combined power of the entire corps, plus their combined knowledge in the form of the Worldmind, and patrols the galaxy trying to patrol the universe on his own. Of course when he returns home, he'll find his friends are dead, and will have to register or face consequences....


All four series are in stores now! And in June a little title called the New Warriors comes out... a team of mysterious rebellious youths who have no intention of getting licenses and are out to redeem the name of their fallen forbears....



Lurker
(If any of these sound even remotely interesting, go out and buy em!)