New Comics, June 19: Zombies (and vampires) and 'The X-Files' returns

BY DAVID BERCK


There is plenty of stuff to talk about this week, but we've managed to distill the excitement down to a few featured titles. Aspen is beginning a new series with their flagship character, Aspen Matthews, bringing together a bunch of characters from their multiple spinoff serieseseses. It's kind of like having Mork, Mindy, Laverne, Shirley, Joanie and Chachi all come back for a season.

Except better.

Max Brooks' new series about the conflict that would rise should vampires collide with zombies. The X-Files also returns to comics and our hearts with the beginning of season 10! And, lastly, we wrap up what has been promised to be a universe altering series in Age of Ultron from Marvel. It's certainly been universe-altering within the alternate world, but how will it affect the main Marvel universe? So much to see! Let's get to it!

Aspen

Fathom: Elite Saga #1
Fathom is Aspen’s longest running title, but this isn’t just another volume of their flagship series. This is an all new series (with the next volume of Fathom beginning soon) involving Aspen Matthews, Kiani, and Killian with a host of new promised characters in a storyline that Aspen labels as its most epic to date, which will lead to an unbelievable new direction for the Fathom universe. Longtime fans should definitely not take a pass on this one. Besides, it’ll only cost a dollar to pick up the first issue!

Avatar Press

Extinction Parade #1
The question has been asked, of late "zombies or vampires"? What the heck would happen? Well, Max Brooks has been wondering the same thing and now is publishing his story through Avatar Press. This series is slated for 11 issues, so there’s plenty of development and action to be had here. So what do vampires do when their human food supply is threatened with extinction? It’s time to find out!

IDW

Godzilla Rulers of the Earth
Think there’s nothing left to do with Godzilla? Well, IDW begs to differ, as evidenced by their successful relaunch of the franchise last year. This time, IDW is promising all new monsters in the Godzilla universe. There’s always more room for kaiju goodness. Just ask Wil Wheaton.

X-Files Season 10 #1
After the success Dark Horse had with the continuation of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer series (with Joss Whedon having plenty of input), IDW counters with the Chris Carter-led Season 10 of The X-Files! Never fear, this is not some spinoff about John Doggett and Monica Reyes. Mulder and Scully are back! It’s also not exactly a secret that cigarette smoking man will also be making an appearance at some point, so we should be in for some classic X-Files government and alien conspiracy storylines. IDW promises “a new era of technological paranoia, multinational concerns and otherworldly threats,” so don’t hesitate to pick this one up.

Image

Saga TP Vol. 2
Have you not been reading one of the best reviewed series in comics today? For shame! I challenge you to find anyone who has something bad to say about Saga outside of those who just aren't into Science Fiction. If you’re not picking this series up every month, I highly recommend you grab this trade paperback that covers issues 7 to 12. Of course, it would help if you also grabbed volume 1 to cover the first six issues. You can thank me later. For those who haven’t been following Saga, this is the story of a child born of a forbidden marriage between two opposing races. There are lasers, alien ships and worlds, class warfare, a ghost!, kick ass action, and so much more to this deep story. Did I mention the aliens with TVs for heads?

Marvel

Age of Ultron #10 (of 10)
Marvel’s Age of Ultron draws to a close, sort of. There’s another offshoot of consequences due out next week, but the main story closes down this week. So, Wolverine went off on his own and changed history. And Wolverine and all the others who are now alive because of his actions are pissed. Huh? Yes, you read that right. Find out how everything plays out and what the promised universe altering conclusion means for the main Marvel universe.