Howdy, Wednesday Warriors! It’s that time of the week again; time to storm the gates and bring home a fresh stack of new comics. Before you head to the shop, arm yourself with a few recommendations. And for you big spenders out there, we also have a complete list of this week’s releases. This Hump Day we’ve got some Black Widow from the Mighty Chris Samnee, a new Batman #1, and one very weird detective (he’s from Canada).

BLACK WIDOW #4

Black Widow #4 from Marvel Comics

Written By: Chris Samnee and Mark Waid
Art By: Chris Samnee
Colors By: Matthew Wilson
Letters By: VC’s Joe Caramagna

There is no better looking comic book currently being produced than Black Widow. That’s a bold statement, I know, but Chris Samnee and Matthew Wilson are storytellers and designers beyond comparison. They’ve lapped everyone else. Black Widow #4 is another masterclass in comic booking; it’s filled with page after page of stunning work. This superspy tale is not just another superhero comic, it’s the best thing Marvel is putting out hands down. There’s simply nothing else like it, and all you have to do is look at one page to see way. One page of Black Widow is worth a hundred pages of another comic. Here’s hoping Mark Waid, Chris Samnee, Matthew Wilson, and Joe Caramagna never stop telling the stories they want to tell. If this team works together on a comic book, you buy that comic book. Plain and simple.

LAZARUS #22

Lazarus #22 from Image Comics

Written By: Greg Rucka
Art By: Michael Lark and Tyler Boss
Colors By: Santi Arcas
Letters By: Jodi Wynne

Twenty-two issues in and Lazarus is still every bit as compelling and exciting. The world that Rucka and Lark have built in this series is one that demands your attention. Whether you’re reading the history of the families or watching a covert military strike, Lazarus is like a journey down a rabbit hole you never want to escape from. Rucka’s engaging, human dialogue mixed with Lark’s brilliant and detailed artwork is a one-two punch that few other comics can match. Jetpacks, swords, betrayal, and war; what else could you ask for in a comic book?  Perfectly paced and expertly crafted, Lazarus #22 is just another chapter in a series we simply cannot get enough of.

BATMAN #1

Batman #1 from DC Comics

Written By: Tom King
Art By: David Finch and Matt Banning
Colors By: Jordie Bellaire
Letters By: John Workman

There was a time, not too long ago, when I thought the idea of Batman renumbering was insane. You can’t just slap a #1 on Batman, right? Then the New 52 happened and we got Batman #1 and it was pretty damn great. Probably, looking back, the best run on the character ever. Now, we’ve got a new team stepping up to bat (nailed it) and they’ve got to be feeling the pressure. How do you top Snyder and Capullo’s run? Well, having Batman essentially surfing on top of a crashing jetliner is a good start, and that’s exactly what Tom King and David Finch do. This issue is one long action scene and it’s a good one. Finch’s art looks better than ever thanks to inks from Matt Banning and gorgeous colors from Jordie Bellaire. Time will tell if this run can match what came before, but it sure look pretty and is a ton of fun, so it’s off to a great start.

WEIRD DETECTIVE #1

Weird Detective #1 from Dark Horse Comics

Written By: Fred Van Lente
Art By: Guiu Vilanova
Colors By: Mauricio Wallace and Josan Gonzalez
Letters By: Nate Piekos of Blambot

Starting your comic book off with a Lovecraft quote is a great way to guarantee we’ll buy it, and that is exactly what Fred Van Lente and Giui Vilanova do in Weird Detective #1. Part horror, part mystery, part comedy, Weird Detective is a comic book you can’t help but adore. It’s got angry cats, Cthulhu, murder, and more Canada jokes than you can imagine. Vilanova draws some truly creepy pages, which works perfectly in conjunction with Van Lante’s apparent inability to take anything seriously (that’s a compliment). The result is a comic that is one of a kind, utterly bizarre and infectiously engaging. Weird Detective is weird, no doubt, and that’s exactly what makes it a comic book you need to add to your pull list.

Okay, that’s it for us. Let us know what you’re picking up this week down in the comments!

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THE COMPLETE LIST

(via PreviewsWorld.com)