Staff Picks (October): Replica #1

After 21 years here at Diamond and over 50 years of reading comics I seldom get excited by a new comic company coming onto the scene.  DC was it and then Marvel was added to my spinner rack must-haves but then it stayed the same until Tower Comics and Charlton’s Action hero line and then the 80s and First Comics, Comico, Eclipse, and Pacific and the Direct Market made it a new Golden Age of Comics.

Now with Aftershock Comics coming on board previews this month I feel excited as they have four new titles and I want to read every one of them. Because PREVIEWS' theme this month is Science Fiction and Fantasy I’m focusing on Replica #1 by Paul Jenkins and Andy Clarke.

Paul Jenkins takes cloning to another level with Trevor Carter, an Earth-born peacekeeping agent on the intergalactic hub known as The Transfer (I kept thinking of Cynosure). When Trevor’s assignments get to be a bit much and his partner would almost make you wish for Ambush Bug, he turns to REPLICATION, a single clone could only be helpful. But 13 drinks and 49 clones later… well, he’s no Jaime Maddox or Michael Keaton from Multiplicity.

Written by Eisner-award winning author Paul Jenkins (Wolverine: Origin, The Incredible Hulk, Spider-Man) and artist Andy Clarke (Batman, Judge Dredd), Replica #1 from Aftershock Comics starts this new publisher with a solid monthly series.

This is a great start for Aftershock and along with Marguerite Bennett and Ariela Kristanntina on InseXts #1; Jimmy Palmiotti, Amana Connor, and Rafael De Latorre on Super Zero #1;  and a new war one short Dreaming Eagle by Garth Ennis and Simon Coleby my buying list has improved immeasurably.

—Steve Leaf

Publisher: Aftershock Comics Item Code: OCT151049 Release Date: 12/2/15 SRP: $3.99