The Longbox Short-List - Week of May 6, 2015

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Marvel Secret Wars Longbox Shortlist Critical Blast

Welcome back to Critical Blast’s weekly look at what new comics you should check out each week.   Just a warning, I make these picks pretty much a week BEFORE I actually get to read any of these comics, so if something is a stinker, I take no blame on that.  Let's get to it!

Comics Shipping This Week

Secret Wars #1 - Or as I like to call it "The Elephant In the Room." I have ZERO interest in this series, but since I enjoy quite a bit of Marvel's books, I feel like I have to buy it just to know what's going to happen to the books I enjoy reading. Jonathan Hickman holds basically no appeal for me. Sorry to sound so cynical, but I am expecting Secret Wars to be a huge disappointment.

Convergence Week 5 - Meanwhile, Convergence rolls on. I actually thought week 4 was the best week by far, so I definitely am feeling a little more optimistic about this event. This week, I am most looking forward to Batgirl, Justice League, Nightwing/Oracle, Speed Force, Superman, And Question

Dead Drop #1 - I got to read a review copy of this one, and I enjoyed it quite a bit. Definitely a very different type of X-O Manowar story. Fast paced and entertaining. A great jump on point for any new Valiant readers.

Sword of Sorrows - Dynamite's massive all-female crossover kicks off this week. I have been looking forward to this for a while. Dynamite has done a great job with books like Masks and Legenderry teaming up their various licenses and public domain characters. This one is a no brainer for me.

Masks 2 #2 - Speaking of Masks, the first issue of the second Masks series was great, so this is another one that rises to the top of my must read list. From what I know, this one jumps forward to the 70's and runs with some intriguing parallels to the events of the first issue.

Afterlife With Archie #8 - This comic is great, but it is damn depressing how long we have to wait between issues. I'd be lying if I said I remembered exactly what happened in issue 7, but I did love it....

Amazing Spider-Man #18 - I am pretty sure this is the last issue of Spider-Man before Secret Wars brings back Mary Jane and Little May. That makes me feel a little weird about this issue. It seems to be high stakes with everything going on with Parker Industries...but will any of it matter when Secret Wars hits? But, I've loved Slott's run and I am looking forward to this comic either way.