The true king of Wakanda returns and more in this week's top comics

Comic book news was pretty exciting this week, we're not gonna lie.

Marvel started screening Captain America: Civil War for critics and so far, they're calling it one of the best Marvel films to date. That seems to be the trend lately, doesn't it? Either way, we're excited for when the film hits theaters on May 5.

This week also saw the announcement of Marvel's Cloak and Dagger, a live-action television series coming to the newly-branded Freeform (formerly ABC Family). The series, based on the Marvel comic, tells the story of Tyrone Johnson and Tandy Bowen, a couple of star-crossed lovers with unique superpowers.

Over at DC, Batman v. Superman dropped big this weekend at the box office, falling to the new Melissa McCarthy comedy The Boss. But Warner Bros. is already planning ahead, with rumors swirling that an extended cut of the film will be making its way to theaters soon.

Oh, and DC announced Young Animal, a new imprint of comics spearheaded by former My Chemical Romance frontman Gerard Way. This new sliver of the DC Universe will revive some of the publisher's more obscure series like Doom Patrol and Shade. It looks awesome.

No matter which side you're on, here are some must-reads for this week.

Black Panther #1

This series is going to be something else. Penned by celebrated author and journalist Ta-Nehisi Coates, Black Panther promises to be not only a return-to-form for the great king T'Challa of Wakanda, but a book with a complete understanding of  modern society. And honestly, no one could do it better than Coates.

This first issue is just a taste of that, as T'Challa returns to Wakanda, questioning his place as a king in a country he now feels is filled with rebels, outsiders and tons of misinformation. His mother is important to him, and he attempts to heed her calls, but he is king, and he must do as a king does. The writing here is stellar, and with Brian Stelfreeze on art, the narrative is made even stronger. With plenty to delve into in the world of Black Panther, you'll want to keep your eye on this series.

Justice League Darkseid War - Special #1

While we wait for the true conclusion of the Darkseid War in the coming months, we'll have to settle for more of these one-off stories, and this one is pretty special. Focusing on the character Grail, the daughter of Darkseid himself, we learn just how she came to be so darn evil.

And the story here has a lot more to do with how Grail sees others. She has been fighting an evil within her her entire life, and has only been calmed by her mother. But when her mother seemingly comes for blood, Grail is no longer conflicted. Oh, and she's kidnapped Steve Trevor. That's not so good.

Empress #1

Ah, it's always nice to see something new from Mark Millar (Kick-Ass, Kingsman, Huck). And this time, he's brought the great Stuart Immonen with him. Empress, which is being published under Marvel's Icon imprint, is a sci-fi tale set a long, long time ago, but in a galaxy quite familiar to us. It tells the story of civilization long before the dawn of the modern man, but it's not primitive.

While the first issue doesn't tell us much just yet, it does a lot of world-building. We're introduced to our main character and her family and she flees a king she does not love, but we're also given glimpses at this new universe. The technology, the language, the mannerisms are all here, and in peak Millar form. This'll be a good one.

The Fix #1

I'm not sure there is enough praise in the world for writer Nick Spencer, and The Fix is no different. It's a tale of crime and corruption, sure, but it's wholly unique and incredibly funny in its execution. From the same team that wrote Superior Foes of Spider-Man comes this tale of dirty cops who like to rob people on the side.

But they're legacy criminals, and they don't understand things like hacking or social media, opting instead for the classics: a ski mask and a gun. They even rob an old folks home, and without spoiling it, create one of the oddest, most tense and hilarious scenes I've ever read in a comic. Oh, and it looks like the main villain is going to be a dog. Like, an actual dog.

The Wicked + The Divine #18

Finally! #WicDiv is back! With the original creative team back from hiatus, things can finally amp up for the newest god Persephone, and her quest for revenge. There are a lot of twists and turns in this return issue, and it looks like the gods are choosing sides. Minerva and Morrigan escape the Pantheon and flee to the underworld while Woden and Baal remain by Ananke's side... for now.

But this issue also raises a lot of questions. Who in the Pantheon will join Persephone? What will be Lucie's lasting legacy? Why is Baal so mad? Oh, and why did no one tell us that Persephone slept with Baphomet. Man, this series is crazy.