The end of the month means it is time to select the Best Comic Books released in March! This was a month filled with a lot of quality releases. There was epic endings to major storylines and events to exciting several publishers working together on new crossovers. It was a month that was tough to keep your pull list from not piling up. With that in mind I’ve put together my list of ten comics that I consider the Best Comic Books released in March.
10) GREEN LANTERN #33 (GREEN LANTERN #600)
CREATIVE TEAM
Writers: Jeremy Adams and Ron Marz
Artists: Xermanico, Dan Jurgens, V Ken Marion, and Darryl Banks
Inker: Norm Rapmund
Colorists: Romulo Fajardo Jr., Adriano Lucas, Veronica Gandini, and Chris Sotomayor
Letterer: Dave Sharpe
Green Lantern #33 is a milestone legacy issue for the series as it is officially Green Lantern #600. To mark the occasion, we get several stories that act as both a celebration and move forward for the series. Especially considering the big decision Hal Jordan made in the previous issue to exit as the series lead it would have been awkward if it was not directly followed up on. Jeremy Adams does so by celebrating Kyle Rayner’s return to prominence as the main Green Lantern for the series. We get to see what his new normal is in the role while being retrospective of Kyle’s time carrying the Green Lantern mantle before this.
Kyle’s spotlight works to help show Green Lantern #600 is more about the future rather than simply celebrating the past. That metholodgy goes for how Hal’s own sub-plot is established as we see that he is still involved in big things. By Adams focusing on the future it allows Ron Marz’s story to hit on the nostalgia that you expect from this type of milestone issue. And since Marz’s story was the only one of such kind it was that much more special.
9) PLANET SHE-HULK #5
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Stephanie Phillips
Artist: Aaron Kuder
Colorist: Sonia Oback
Letterer: Joe Caramagna
As the penultimate chapter of the series Planet She-Hulk #5 starts delivering on the payoff for everything that’s been built up on Sakaar. Specifically when it comes to She-Hulk fully embracing her role as the planet’s new protector. Up to this point it has felt that She-Hulk was still just half in, hoping to leave and head back to Earth at any time. But after experiencing what she has on Sakaar that mentality no longer works. She had to embrace her new normal, even if she knows its not her long-term future.
That leads to She-Hulk tapping into her warrior revolutionary spirit. Seeing how she goes about trying to save Korven Blackjaw is a great showing of her strengths. She is someone that can inspire through her actions. Its those actions that lead to change that Sakaar has long needed. In turn, it sets up a great foundation for strong finale for this series.
8) WHITE SKY #2
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: William Harms
Artist: JP Mavinga
Colorist: Lee Lughridge
Letterer: Ed Dukeshire
White Sky #2 puts Violet in the position where she has to grow up very quickly. With her father kidnapped and not knowing where he went Violet had no one to rely on. Through this experience we see it click with Violet that she is no longer a little girl to be protected but young woman who has to fight back. Even though she doesn’t fully know what she is doing she is willing to step-up how she needs to. Seeing the growth in Violet’s character as she has to sneak through a world to find her father gets you even more behind her character.
In the process your investment in what is going on in this world grows as well. There is so much about how things function in this post-apocalyptic world that we don’t know about. You really have to pay attention to everything being said and what Violet comes across in her journey to start putting things together. The mystery of this world is driven home once again by the ending of White Sky #2 that creates even more questions than answers.
7) G.I. JOE #20
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Joshua Williamson
Artist: Andrea Milana
Colorist: Lee Loughridge
Letterer: Rus Wooton
Things are never slow in the Energon Universe. G.I. JOE #20 is a great example of this because we don’t really get much action in this issue. This is a very talking heavy issue and even then you never feel like Joshua Williamson and Andrea Milana are slowing the story down.
A lot of the credit for that is the important conversation Duke and Optimus have. Seeing two key Energon Universe characters talk with each other carries the importance it should. With everything that has gone on it was good that things didn’t blow up as both Duke and Optimus talked like leaders worried about their team and not just individually minded. That makes the tease for what comes next for G.I. JOE and how it relates to other things going on in the Energon Universe even more intriguing.
6) BATWOMAN #1
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Greg Rucka
Artist: Dani
Colorist: Matt Hollingsworth
Letterer: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
Batwoman #1 does everything right as a debut issue. Greg Rucka and Dani make sure that their approach is one that welcomes in new readers and welcomes back long-time fans. That is done by examining where Kate Kane is at this point in her life. She has been through so much over the years that she can’t simply start over. Instead, we see Kate looking to figure out her life by talking about her history. The examination of Kate’s ghost is balanced out by still reminding everyone she is a badass as Batwoman.
Rucka and Dani do a great job at using Batwoman’s latest mission as a way to show how the type of action she is involved in is different from other Batman Family members. There is a tinge of horror elements with how things are framed to create a different form of intensity. It allows Batwoman and the villains she fights stand out more. All of this helps show that DC Next Level will be something fans can have confidence in there being a clear direction for the DCU.
5) SUPERMAN/SPIDER-MAN
CREATIVE TEAM
Writers: Mark Waid, Tom King, Christopher Priest, Sean Murphy, Matt Fraction, Jeff Lemire, Greg Rucka, and Gail Simone
Artists: Jorge Jimenez, Jim Lee, Daniele Sampere, Sean Murphy, Steve Lieber, Rafa Sandoval, Nicola Scott, and Belen Ortega
Inker: Scott Williams,
Colorists: Tomeu Morey, Alex Sinclair, Alejandro Sanchez, Simon Gough, Nathan Fairbairn, Ulises Arreola, Marcelo Maiolo, and Jordie Bellaire
Letterers: Tom Napolitano, Pat Brosseau, Willie Schubert, Andworld Design, Clayton Cowles, Becca Carey, Adriana Maher, and Lucas Gattoni
DC Comics was first up in the crossover between Superman and Spider-Man. They set a high bar right away with Superman/Spider-Man #1. That high bar is accomplished by simply having the stories take place in a shared universe. There isn’t some Multiverse madness going on in this comic book. The stories are all told with a understanding of both characters history. That understanding creates a seamless reading experience.
This is a tone set from the start by Mark Waid and Jorge Jimenez. They stay to the core of what makes Clark Kent and Peter Parker special to show how they have instant chemistry with each other. That transfers into all of the adventures we see between the Superman and Spider-Man characters. You just get to enjoy the fun that there is to be had with every story.
4) ABSOLUTE WONDER WOMAN #18
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Kelly Thompson
Artist: Hayden Sherman
Colorist: Jordie Bellaire
Letterer: Becca Carey
Absolute Wonder Woman #18 is a reminder that Diana of the Wild is not invincible. Even with all her incredible physical and magical powers all her adventures will eventually catch up with her. The latest battle with Absolute Zatanna and the Suicide Squad show this as we see a Diana that has to retreat in order to recover from her latest battle injuries.
With Diana in such a state in creates an understandable situation where she would not trust a reformed Absolute Zatanna in their latest meeting. That leads to another epic battle of two of the Absolute Universe’s strongest magicians. The battle showcases both characters very well. Through that battle we get even bigger developments as Diana must delve further into her bag of powers to combat what comes next.
3) MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS/TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES III #5
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Ryan Parrott
Artists: Vicenzo Federici and Jodi Nishijima
Colorists: Raul Angulo and Joana Lafuente
Letterer: Ed Dukeshire
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III #5 is fanservice at its best. This comic book is just filled with incredible action and character moments that you almost feel overwhelmed. That feeling of being overwhelmed in the first read through creates an experience you want to read again to see what you missed.
It is in creating this feeling that Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III #5 shines as an epic finale to this third crossover between the two franchises. There are so many things that are built on everything that has happened in the three crossovers. Through it all you feel like every character has grown in some way. That sense of growth makes the fanservice hit even harder as you’re left hoping we get another crossover in the future.
2) ABSOLUTE BATMAN #18
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Scott Snyder
Artist: Eric Canete
Colorist: Frank Martin
Letterer: Clayton Cowles
Absolute Batman #18 does something that is tough to do. It delivers a comic book that is both an epic end to the Absolute Poison Ivy story and a calm before the storm of something bigger. This is something that makes what Scott Snyder is doing in this series so special. With every page that you turn you visualize the building blocks of the universe being crafted around Absolute Batman.
It certainly helps that Snyder has some of the best art talent around to help construct what Absolute Batman has become. Eric Canete’s artwork nails the balance between the terrifying power Absolute Poison Ivy has and the human that Bruce Wayne is as he fights through everything. All the fighting that he is involved, both physically and mentally, is something you see is taking its toll on him. It makes the decision Bruce makes at the end of this issue have an even greater personal impact. That decision has so many possible ways it can branch off that you can’t help but want to read the next issue right away.
1) TRANSFORMERS #30
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Robert Kirkman
Artist: Dan Mora
Colorist: Mike Spicer
Letterer: Rus Wooton
Transformers #30 is a comic book that you feel its importance as soon as you start reading it. As things progress with Optimus Prime and Elita-1 at the forefront there is a sense the results of this comic book will change the Autobots forever. And that is exactly what we see play out.
The importance of this comic book isn’t one that doesn’t just impact the Autobots. It doesn’t even just effect this Transformers series. The results is something that will have ramifications for what we will see happen in the Energon Universe moving forward.
It’s this type of development that shows the importance the Autobots have in the universe. And with it the actions and decisions made by both Optimus Prime and Elita-1 show why they are leaders. Both have taken the experience of the war against the Decepticons differently. Those differences force every character to make a tough decision for their futures. The decisions made create a lot of intriguing storylines that you’re left wondering how Robert Kirkman and the team will balance everything out moving forward.
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