[Apologies for any images that are failing to upload!]
1. Green Lantern #20 – May
I was sad to hear that after nearly a decade of writer of DC Comic’s Green Lantern, Geoff Johns is retiring. I’ve really enjoyed his run and it quickly became one of my favourite series after I started reading. I’ve been reading since Blackest Night and since then it’s been a rollercoaster-ride. I salute Geoff Johns for making so many tough decisions, and taking so many risky moves when approaching the story. He’s done so much for, not only the character, but the entire Green Lantern universe. I’ll be sad to see him leave, but I have no doubt that he’ll be going out with a bang, and for that reason I’m very excited to see his final issue.
2. Batman Incorporated #13 – July
Having enjoyed Grant Morrison’s Batman Incorporated so far, I’m interested to see how he is planning on ending the series, and where the story will go after #8’s shocking turn. Morrison has been known to take Batman in bold new directions, and it looks like that’s exactly what he’s doing here. I’m interested to see what this will mean for Batman, it isn’t something he’ll recover from in a matter of weeks, and how it will affect the war between Batman Incorporated and Leviathan. I trust that Morrison will go out with a bang, and I trust him to not disappoint.
3. The Walking Dead FCBD Special (2013) – May
The Walking Dead is my favourite series, and this free comic book day us fans will be treated to a FCBD special featuring short stories starring some of our favourite characters (Tyreese, Michonne and The Governor) in their own never-before seen adventures. These stories are exclusive to this singular issue, so be ready to queue up at your nearest comic book shop to grab copy before they’re gone. This special features some of my favourite characters that I’ve always thought have potential for their own solo stories, and that’s exactly what we’re getting (for free!) this new comic book day.
4. Superior Spider-Man #9 - May
Superior Spider-Man hasn’t been my favourite comic, but I’ve stuck with it to see where the story’s going and it looks like Doc Ock’s time as the Superior Spider-Man is reaching its end here. My biggest question here is what will happen to Doc Ock if he leaves Peter’s body? Will Dan Slott risk even more death threats by doing something as risky as killing off a major character like Doc Ock? Will his death last for longer than one issue? We’ll have to wait until May to find out.
5. Age of Ultron #10 – June
Age of Ultron concludes in this final issue. The event hasn’t really excite me yet, but Marvel have managed to intrigue me with the news that Joe Quesada will be drawing the final pages of #10 to prevent any spoilers leaking early. It definitely interests me to see Marvel playing their cards so close to their chest, and it certainly makes a nice change as recently spoilers have been a big problem and the downfall of events like this. I am very interested to see what Marvel are planning for their big finale, even if it means reading the entire ten issues just for this.
6. Hawkeye #11 – May
Anyone who knows me knows that I absolutely adore Matt Fraction’s Hawkeye, a series that only gets better every month. We’ve been given some very foggy details on #11, and I’m already sold. This issue is going to take place entirely from the point of view of Clint’s dog. Matt Fraction and David Aja have proved themselves to be one of the greatest team ups in comics, and I can’t wait to say how they make something like this work. But I have no doubt that it will work.
7. Marvel Comics’ Infinity FCBD Special (2013) – May
This Free Comic Book Day we’ll be getting our first look at Marvel’s next big event Infinity, which features Marvel’s heroes on a galactic adventure to rally the universe against a new threat against the Earth in the form of Thanos, the Mad Titan, who will make his debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2015’s The Avengers 2. As someone who’s looking to learn more about Thanos and other cosmic villains that we could soon see in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, I’m very excited for this event. Although we’ll have to wait until August for the actual event, we’ll get our first look in May on FCBD.
8. All-New X-Men #12 – June
Brian Michael Bendis’ All-New X-Men is another one of my favorite series at the moment. In #10, see the All-New X-Men face Cyclops and his brotherhood. But this June in #12, we’ll see Young Cyclops and the other X-Men from the past face the Uncanny Avengers. For me, this is a little less exciting. But there’s still plenty to be excited for. We should see Cyclops face the future-version of his brother and maybe even Captain America. This is something I’ve love to see after the underwhelming confrontation in #8. Either way, I’m very excited for this issue and what consequences it will have for the All-New X-Men.
9. Green Arrow #21 – June
Jeff Lemire has taken Green Arrow in a very interesting direction after the debut of the new creative team from #17. In his first arc The Kill Machine, we have been introduced to a new villain, who is just a single piece of a giant mystery surrounding Oliver Queen’s past. Last issue, we learned that Komodo was actually responsible for the death of Oliver’s father. Where the story will go from there, we will have to keep reading to find out. But #21 is this final issue in this epic fast-paced story arc, and will hopefully provide the answers we’ve been waiting for. Who know? It could be one of the first final issues that actually lives up to the hype, and is on par with its predecessors.
10. Hawkeye #13 – July
Hawkeye is currently my favourite comic, which is why it appears twice on this list! Every month, Matt Fraction outdoes himself with side-splitting humour and clever and witty writing. In #13, we’ll see the debut of Clint Barton’s brother, Barney Barton, and I have complete faith that the issue will live up to hype, even though I’m one of the only people hyped about it. I can’t wait to see the chemistry Clint and his brother undoubtedly share, and how his arrival will affect the series.
So let me know what comics you're looking forward to in the next few months. Have you been reading Hawkeye? Will you keep reading Green Lantern after Geoff Johns leaves? How do you think Marvel is planning to shock us in the top secret final pages of Age of Ultron? Let me know what you think and thanks for reading!
-George