Swords! Swords! Swords! Swords! Swords! ‘X of Swords’ Tops This Week’s Staff Picks

Each week, Xavier Files staff offer their recommendations for what to read. New DC comics come out Tuesdays, everything else Wednesdays.

Zack’s Pick (But Really Everyone’s, But Mostly Zack’s Because It’s His Site, But We Are All Very Excited): 

Cover by Pepe Larraz and Marte Gracia

X of Swords: Creation #1: Swords! Swords! Swords! Swords! Swords! Listen, if you’re not frothing at the mouth at this point over the first major event of the Dawn of X era, in which we dive deep into the mystery of Krakoa’s demon-infested other half, Arakko, and its connection to Otherworld, fix your heart, friend. I don’t know what else to tell you. Written by Jonathan Hickman (“X-Men”) and Tini Howard (“Excalibur”), drawn by Pepe Larraz and colored by Marte Gracia (“House of X”). ($6.99) CHECK OUT LAST WEEK’S X OF SWORDS PRELUDE COVERAGE

Cori’s Pick

Cover by Howard Porter

Dark Nights Death Metal: Speed Metal #1: The Flash Family teams up to keep the Darkest Knight from getting his hands on Wally West and his Dr. Manhattan powers in this one-shot tie-in to Dark Nights Death Metal written by Joshua Williamson (“Flash”) and drawn by Eddy Barrows (“Detective Comics”). ($5.99) TUNE INTO THIS WEEK’S WMQ&A PODCAST TO LISTEN TO CORI TALK ABOUT SUPERGIRL

Vishal’s Pick

Cover by Joe Bennett

Immortal She-Hulk #1: Empyre messed Jen Walters up bad. (Don’t believe me? That’s fair; I didn’t read Empyre. But you can read our review of the issue where it happened.) Nothing left to do but give her the Al Ewing “Immortal” treatment. Drawn by Jon Davis-Hunt (“The Wild Storm”). ($4.99) CHECK OUT THE LATEST FROM VISHAL

Chris’ Pick

Cover by Joe Eisma

Engineward #3: As the Celestials gather to discuss the reactivation of the ancient ghoulem, Virgo and Gemini consider their next move. Meanwhile, Kreek’s consciousness continues to blossom in surprising ways, and Joss gathers a crew for an expedition into the wastelands beyond the shantytown. Written by George Mann and drawn by Joe Eisma for Vault. ($3.99) CHECK OUT CHRIS’ REVIEW OF ISSUE #2

Ari’s Pick

Cover by Caitlin Yarsky

Bliss #3: Lethe’s ravens descend on the courthouse as Perry and Hera make their way to his cell. Time continues to shift as the past reveals a deadly plot, where Benton, high on the Bliss drug, finds himself ready to kill the most important person in his life. ($3.99) CHECK OUT THE LATEST FROM ARI

Dan’s Pick

Cover by Max Sarin

Wicked Things #5: Reading a John Allison comic is like curling up under a warm blanket and binge watching your favorite smart, multi-camera sitcom. You’re transported to a semi-magical world where everyone is constantly delightful, even when one of them is accused of murder. And Allison backed by his “Giant Days” team of artist Max Sarin and colorist Whitney Cogar cranks that level of charm up to 100. ($3.99) CHECK OUT THE LATEST FROM DAN

Zoe’s Pick

Cover by Marco Checchetto

Daredevil #22: Still grappling with the blood on his hands, Matt Murdock makes one of the biggest choices of his life. But what effect will Matt’s choices have on Daredevil? And what about the people who need him? ($3.99) CHECK OUT THE LATEST FROM ZOE

Matt’s Pick

Cover by Andrea Sorrentino with Dave Stewart

Gideon Falls #25: Issue 25s are normally a big deal, but consider we’re only two issues out from the final issue of Jeff Lemire and Andrea Sorrentino’s little-town-with-a-big-secret Image series. ($3.99) CHECK OUT THE LATEST FROM MATT

Tony’s Pick

Flash #762: After 101 issues, Joshua Williamson’s run on The Flash comes down to one last confrontation with Eobard Thawne, the Reverse-Flash. At least we hope it’s the last; Williamson used Thawne A LOT. Drawn by Howard Porter. ($3.99) CHECK OUT THE LATEST FROM TONY

Bonus Pick

Cover by Geoff Shaw

Juggernaut #1: When we last saw Cain Marko, Illyana’s Darkchilde personality had dragged him to Limbo with her. What happened after, and how does he feel about not being able to hang with his best bud Black Tom Cassidy on Krakoa? Maybe this five-issue series by writer Fabian Nicieza (“X-Force”) and artist Ron Garney (“BRZRKR”) will answer those questions. Maybe. We don’t actually know. ($3.99) GET TO KNOW THE JUGGERNAUT

Dan Grote is the editor-in-chief of ComicsXF, having won the site by ritual combat. By day, he’s a newspaper editor, and by night, he’s … also an editor. He co-hosts WMQ&A: The ComicsXF Interview Podcast with Matt Lazorwitz. He lives in New Jersey with his wife, two kids and two miniature dachshunds, and his third, fictional son, Peter Winston Wisdom.