Comics Guide for Aug. 10, 2016

CIVIL WAR II (MARVEL COMICS)

FIRST ISSUE ALERT

Five more Civil War II books this week.

THE ACCUSED #1

Written by MARC GUGGENHEIM

Art by RAMON BACHS & GARRY BROWN

Cover by DAVID MACK

Variant Cover by FIONA STAPLES and RON LIM

40 PGS. • Rated T+ • $4.99

The unthinkable has happened. Civil War II has claimed the life of one of Marvel’s greatest heroes. Now, as the death of the Hulk continues to shake the foundations of the super hero community, explore the void he leaves behind THE ACCUSED #1!

It’s the trial of the century as Marc Guggenheim (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.), Ramon Bachs (Secret Wars Journal) and Garry Brown (Iron Patriot) bring you THE ACCUSED #1! As a beloved Avenger falls, another takes the stand to answer for his death. As Hawkeye stands trial amid a case full of super heroes and politics – who will prosecute? None other than Matt Murdock – Daredevil! But when Matt digs into the case and secrets come to light … he may not like what he finds. Has Daredevil bitten off more than he can chew? Amid a growing conspiracy, can the Marvel Universe’s most stalwart defender of justice promise a fair trial? The answers won’t come easy.

I forgot DD was a prosecutor now. Man, this is going to make the Avengers poker games kinda awkward. "I see you and raise you, Clint ... 30 to life! HAHAHAHA!"

A-FORCE #8

Writer: KELLY THOMPSON

Art/Cover: PAULO SIQUEIRA

Black Panther Variant: RAHZZAH

32 PGS. • Rated T+ • $3.99

NEW SERIES ARTIST PAULO SIQUEIRA STARTS HERE!

Civil War has come to A-FORCE! As the team is wrecked by a personal tragedy things only get worse when a predictive vision proclaims one of A-FORCE is a murderer. CAPTAIN MARVEL attempts an arrest, creating a rift that may very well mean the end of the team, and setting in motion a chain of devastating events that affect far more than just A-FORCE. Meanwhile foul-mouthed, gun-toting ELSA BLOODSTONE just unofficially joined A-Force. Looks like we’re gonna need a bigger boat ... and a verrrrry big black censor bar.

Hey, look! Elsa Bloodstone made it out of Secret Wars!

AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D. #8

Writer: MARC GUGGENHEIM

Art: GERMAN PERALTA

Cover by MIKE NORTON

32 PGS. • Rated T+ • $3.99

• PHIL COULSON, agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. no more!

• Coulson has chosen a side in this war ... HIS OWN!

• The THIRD FACTION begins here. You are not going to want to miss this seismic-change issue.

Do you think the Third Faction is in any way related to Factor Three? Naw. Today's writers probably don't remember Factor Three. Plus, there aren't enough mutants left to field an evil conspiracy.

SCARLET WITCH #9

Writer: JAMES ROBINSON

Art: JOËLLE JONES

Cover by DAVID AJA

32 PGS. • Rated T+ • $3.99

• When Wanda’s brother PIETRO comes to visit, it’s not the happy family reunion they imagined.

• Pietro recruits Wanda to help him in the Civil War ...

• ... but what happens when the SCARLET WITCH and QUICKSILVER are on opposing sides?

Wait! When did Joelle Jones start drawing this book? That could actually get me to read it!

SPIDER-MAN 2099 #13

Writer: PETER DAVID

Art: WILL SLINEY

Cover by FRANCESCO MATTINA

32 PGS. • Rated T • $3.99

• 2099 is in peril and Roberta Mendez. a.k.a. Captain America, has returned to the future to find her family.

• Little does she know that the heroes of the future are being hunted.

• Could this be the end of 2099 as Miguel knows it?

If this is the end of 2099, it certainly won't break my heart! But, of course, it isn't. Like the Ultimate Universe, it will linger for decades, throwing in characters I don't care about and/or don't remember.

REBIRTH (DC COMICS)

ACTION COMICS #961

Written by DAN JURGENS

Art by STEPHEN SEGOVIA and ART THIBERT

Cover by CLAY MANN

Variant cover by GARY FRANK

32 pg • FC • $2.99 U.S. • RATED T

“Path to Doom” part five! With his family’s safety hanging in the balance, Superman confronts Doomsday to finally bring the beast’s destructive rage to an end. To save his wife and son, Superman must overcome the monster that once killed him, or die trying!

Pretty interesting so far. I'd love an Action Comics that stayed unpredictable.

FIRST ISSUE ALERT

DEATHSTROKE: REBIRTH #1

Written by CHRISTOPHER PRIEST

Art by CARLO PAGULAYAN and JASON PAZ

Cover by ACO

Variant cover by STEPHEN PLATT

32 pg • FC • $2.99 U.S. • RATED T+

A thousand enemies, a thousand kills -- Deathstroke is the world’s greatest assassin. Stalked by an unseen foe, Slade Wilson is confronted by his own troubled past and challenged to reinvent himself before he loses everything and everyone in his life. Can Deathstroke be redeemed? Or will his addiction to violence destroy him?

This guy still has a book? That's amazing. He's just a cheap copy of Deadpool!  photo tongue.gif

DETECTIVE COMICS #938

Written by JAMES TYNION IV

Art and cover by ALVARO MARTINEZ and RAUL FERNANDEZ

Variant covers by RAFAEL ALBUQUERQUE

32 pg • FC • $2.99 U.S. • RATED T

“Rise of the Batmen” part five!

Batman, Batwoman and the entire team take the fight to the deadly Colony! Those highly trained operatives took the Bat-team apart on their own turf … so how will they fare when the Colony is in its element, with all their weapons trained on our heroes?

This, too, has been pretty interesting. I'd love a Detective Comics that remained heavily populated with Bat-folk. They have to hang out somewhere!

THE FLASH #4

Written by JOSHUA WILLIAMSON

Art by NEIL GOOGE

Covers by Carmine Di Giandomenico

Variant covers by DAVE JOHNSON

32 pg • FC, • $2.99 U.S. • RATED T

“Lightning Strikes Twice” part four! The leader of the science-terrorist group Black Hole has weaponized the Speed Force, leading to a final confrontation with The Flash and his new league of citizen speedsters. HAL JORDAN AND THE GREEN LANTERN CORPS #2

Written by ROBERT VENDITTI

Art and covers by RAFA SANDOVAL and JORDI TARRAGONA

Variant covers by KEVIN NOWLAN

32 pg • FC • $2.99 U.S. • RATED T

“Sinestro’s Law” part two! As Sinestro’s grip around the universe grows tighter, Guy Gardner takes on the mission to bring the Green Lantern Corps back from the edge of oblivion to reclaim their role as protectors of the cosmos.

Finally, the GLC returns, so that the title is true!NEW SUPER-MAN #2

Written by GENE LUEN YANG

Art by VIKTOR BOGDANOVIC and RICHARD FRIEND

Cover by VIKTOR BOGDANOVIC

Variant cover by BERNARD CHANG

32 pg • FC • $2.99 U.S. • RATED T

“Made in China” part two! The New Super-Man must face off against the Justice League of China? When Kenan Kong was imbued with the powers of Superman, he didn’t waste any time using them! Now it’s up to the New Bat-Man and New Wonder-Woman of his home country to bring our hero back down to earth—just in time to stop the attack of the deadly Sunbeam!

Yep, China has its own Bat-Man and Wonder-Woman, too!

FIRST ISSUE ALERT

RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #1

Written by SCOTT LOBDELL

Art by DEXTER SOY

Cover by GIUSEPPE CAMUNCOLI and CAM SMITH

Variant cover by MATTEO SCALERA

32 pg • FC • $2.99 U.S. • RATED T+

“Dark Trinity” part one! When a turf war puts Black Mask in Red Hood’s crosshairs, Jason discovers that the False Face Society is not what it seems, and that the organization is about to auction off a powerful weapon. As criminals from all over the globe descend on Gotham City, Jason must prove that he belongs amongst the city’s worst in order to gain access to this Dark Summit!

The Rebirth issue didn't introduce Bizarro and Artemis, so I guess this is where we meet them. (Or re-meet them.)

FIRST ISSUE ALERT

SUPERWOMAN #1

Written by PHIL JIMENEZ • Art by PHIL JIMENEZ and MATT SANTORELLI • Cover by PHIL JIMENEZ • Variant cover by TERRY DODSON and RACHEL DODSON

32 pg • FC • $2.99 U.S. • RATED T

“Who Is Superwoman?” part one! Lois Lane takes flight! Now powered up with the abilities of Superman, Lois pledges to carry on the super-legacy as Superwoman! There’s only one problem: Lois’ new powers are killing her, and neither she nor her friend and confidant Lana Lang know what to do about it. Will Lois even survive long enough to learn the deadly secret of Ultra Woman?

I don't mean to cold-blooded, but it's OK if Lois Lane dies. We have a spare.

I like that outfit, though. Often new costumes are hideous -- why are so many comic book artists such terrible designers? -- but that one's pretty stylish.

WONDER WOMAN #4

Written by GREG RUCKA

Art and cover by NICOLA SCOTT

Variant covers by FRANK CHO

32 pg • FC • $2.99 US • RATED T

“Wonder Woman Year One” part two! Paradise has been breached, Ares stirs, and the Amazons must answer with a champion of their own … one who is willing to sacrifice her home amongst her sisters to save a world she has never seen.

With Nicola Scott on this book and Liam Sharp on the other, Wonder Woman has never looked better. I'd classify those two as among the top six WW artists (along with Frank Cho, Amanda Conner, Terry Dodson and Adam Hughes).

... AND OTHER BOOKS OF NOTE

A&A: THE ADVENTURES OF ARCHER & ARMSTRONG #6

Publisher: VALIANT COMICS

Written by RAFER ROBERTS

Art by MIKE NORTON

Cover A by DAVID LAFUENTE

Cover B by KANO

Cover C by DARICK ROBERTSON

Valiant x CGC Replica Variant by PERE PÉREZ

Variant Cover by RAFER ROBERTS

Variant Cover by DIEGO LATORRE

$3.99 • 32 pgs. • Teen+

ALL NEW ARC! “NEXT STOP CLOWNTOWN” – PART 1

Rafer Roberts & Mike Norton Bombard the Big Top for “NEXT STOP CLOWNTOWN” – Coming to A&A: THE ADVENTURES OF ARCHER & ARMSTRONG #6 in August!

This summer, meet the strangest show on earth when “NEXT STOP CLOWNTOWN” rains carnies, cotton candy, and chaos down on Valiant’s history-smashing adventurers!

Valiant is proud to announce “NEXT STOP CLOWNTOWN” – AN ALL-NEW JUMPING-ON POINT beginning this August in A&A: THE ADVENTURES OF ARCHER & ARMSTRONG #6! Jump on board one of the year’s most critically acclaimed new series here as red-hot rising star Rafer Roberts (Plastic Farm) and Eisner Award-winning sensation Mike Norton (Revival) unleash of baffling barrage of misguided mad science creations on a midway like no other! They’ve gone to head to head with the Greek god of partying, and even found romance along the way. But nothing can prepare Archer & Armstrong for what awaits within the weirdest carnival this side of the Mississippi … especially one that’s populated by an entire gaggle of maladjusted Armstrong clones!

Archer and Armstrong are on the hunt for Armstrong’s long-lost wife, and the clues have put them on the trail of America’s craziest traveling circus! But it’s not just clowns, geeks, and strongmen lurking under the big top. ... When the world’s premier adventure duo discover dozens of mutated Armstrong doppelgängers secretly running the show, all heck is bound to break loose! And it’s only going to get worse when Davey the Mackerel returns with a shocking new set of secrets about Armstrong’s bottomless satchel…and what else might be soon plotting its escape!

"Fantastic superhero adventure… Fun is one of this book’s top priorities…" – The A.V. Club

“✮✮✮✮✮… This is a killer book… This creative team is at the peak of their game here, making another home run hit for Valiant." – Comic Crusaders

"Scathingly funny… A densely wacky, highly entertaining action comedy…" – Uproxx

“✮✮✮✮✮ … A madcap romp through the anything-can-happen playground of comic books.” – Comicosity

"Goddamned hilarious…and still packs all the heart, action, and odd ball jabs and gags its predecessor presented." – Ain't It Cool News

"✮✮✮✮½ … Whether you are a long time fan or a first-time reader, there is a ton of fun to be had with [A&A: THE ADVENTURES OF ARCHER & ARMSTRONG]." – Newsarama

"✮✮✮✮½… A lot of action, adventure, commotion, and a ton of awesomeness…  You will not be disappointed." – ComicWow!

“Jam-packed with jokes and visual gags… Some of the most bold, original work in all of superhero comics right now…” – The A.V. Club

“✮✮✮✮½… Though Archer and Armstrong have long been a staple of the Valiant Universe, this new title makes them read, feel, and look better than ever.” –Newsarama

“[A]s entertaining as it is endearing… [with] a level of personal development beyond what we’ve seen so far.” – IGN

“A&A: THE ADVENTURES OF ARCHER & ARMSTRONG is an absolutely phenomenal comic… Brilliant.” – Graphic Policy

“Scathingly funny… A densely wacky, highly entertaining action comedy.” – Uproxx

Stories about circus freaks are never funny. Never. Maybe this will be the first, but the odds are against it. The whole concept of the circus freak is something from a rougher age that has no place in our enlightened times.

FIRST ISSUE ALERT

ALL-NEW, ALL-DIFFERENT AVENGERS ANNUAL #1

Publisher: MARVEL COMICS

Written by G. WILLOW WILSON, MARK WAID, NATASHA ALLEGRI, FAITH ERIN HICKS, SCOTT KURTZ and ZAC GORMAN

Art by MAHMUD ASRAR, CHIP ZDARSKY, NATASHA ALLEGRI, FAITH ERIN HICKS, SCOTT KURTZ and JAY FOSGITT

Cover by ALEX ROSS

Linking Cover 2 (of 5) BY ALEX ROSS

Linking Variant Cover 3 (of 5) BY ALEX ROSS

Young Variant: SKOTTIE YOUNG

Variant: MAHMUD ASRAR AND JAY FOSGITT

40 PGS. • Rated T+ • $4.99

A bevy of all-star creators bring you the ALL-NEW, ALL-DIFFERENT AVENGERS ANNUAL this August! Featuring contributions from G. Willow Wilson, Mahmud Asrar, Mark Waid, Chip Zdarsky, Natasha Allegri, Zac Gorman, Jay Fosgitt, Faith Erin Hicks and Scott Kurtz – the best and brightest creators in comics bring you a tale of Earth’s mightiest that should not be missed! Kamala’s been busy saving the world lately. She’s an Avenger and a big time super hero, after all. But she still might be surprised at the stories about her and her teammates on the super hero fan fiction message boards. Are you ready for the first meeting of Kamala Khan and Mar-Vell? What about the “Amazing New Adventures of She-Hulk”? But nothing will prepare you for the flurry of fists and fur in “Ms. Marvel vs. Squirrel Girl”! And that’s just the beginning! It’s all happening this August as some of the biggest creators in comics bring you the ALL-NEW, ALL-DIFFERENT AVENGERS ANNUAL #1!

This could be cute.

FIRST ISSUE ALERT

ALL-STAR BATMAN #1

Publisher: DC COMICS

Written by SCOTT SNYDER

Art and cover by JOHN ROMITA JR., DANNY MIKI and DECLAN SHALVEY

Cover by JOHN ROMITA JR. and DANNY MIKI

Variant cover by JOHN ROMITA JR. and DANNY MIKI Variant cover by JOCK

Variant cover by DECLAN SHALVEY

Blank variant cover

40 pg • FC • $4.99 U.S. • RATED T

“My Own Worst Enemy” part one! Superstar writer Scott Snyder explodes into an all-new Batman series alongside legendary artist John Romita Jr., re-imagining some of the Dark Knight’s greatest villains. First up: Two-Face! Batman must take Two-Face to a destination out of Gotham City, but the duplicitous villain has a two of spades up his sleeve. Every assassin, bounty hunter and ordinary citizen with something to hide is on their tails with one goal: kill Batman! Handcuffed together on the road to hell, this is Batman and Two-Face as you’ve never seen them before!

Is it me, or do all those covers look Romita-ish? Well, it has to be better than the last All-Star Batman!

FIRST ISSUE ALERT

THE BLACK MONDAY MURDERS #1

Publisher: IMAGE COMICS

Writer: JONATHAN HICKMAN

Art/Cover: TOMM COKER

56 PAGES • FC • M • $4.99

“MAMMON”

ALL HAIL GOD MONEY!

Image Comics is pleased to announce the all-new, ongoing crypto-noir series THE BLACK MONDAY MURDERS by New York Times and Eisner Award winning writer Jonathan Hickman (EAST OF WEST) and Tomm Coker (Undying Love).

THE BLACK MONDAY MURDERS is classic occultism where the various schools of magic are actually clandestine banking cartels who control all of society: a secret world where vampire Russian oligarchs, Black popes, enchanted American aristocrats and hitmen from the International Monetary Fund work together to keep ALL OF US in our proper place.

Each issue contains world-expanding bonus content like maps, corporate organization charts, decoded apocrypha, and stock tips to die for.

“I’ve gotten to work on some pretty interesting books over the past few years,” said Hickman. “This is, by far, the most proud I’ve been. I can’t wait for people to read it.”

THE BLACK MONDAY MURDERS is a story about the power of dirty, filthy money … and exactly what kind of people you can buy with it.

What part of this is supposed to be fiction?

FIRST ISSUE ALERT

BLUE HOUR #1

Publisher: ACTION LAB ENTERTAINMENT

Writer: DINO CARUSO

Art/Cover: CHAD CICCONI

$3.99

Following a great resource war on Earth, a group of disillusioned human colonists seek refuge on a desolate planet in a remote binary star system. They plan to build a utopia, but when the yellow sun sets leaving only a blue sun above, a deep indigo shadow covers the colony. Local alien legend says the "Blue Hour" will spell evil and ruin for all who venture out of shelter. Can the colonists overcome this harsh environment and their own human nature to survive the "Blue Hour?"

I wonder that a "desolate planet" has indigenous, intelligent life. And are our humans displacing them? If this place is really desolate, I imagine resources are scarce.

FIRST ISSUE ALERT

CAVEWOMAN: FREAKIN' YETIS #1 (OF 1)

Publisher: AMRYL ENTERTAINMENT

Writer: DEVON MASSEY

Art/Cover A: DEVON MASSEY

Cover B: DEVON MASSEY

Cover D: BUDD ROOT

Cover F: MONTE MOORE

Cover G: CONNY VALENTINA

$3.99

Cavewoman is not a stranger to Yeti adventures, as she has encountered them in previous books years ago. That being said, this is the final word by having no words at all for this Yeti battle issue. 24 pages of nothing but Yeti fury matched up against the only one in Marshville who can take them on. Please join Meriem in this Cavewoman fantasy Yeti adventure!

The first two covers make me embarrassed to be a comic book fan.

CLASSICS ILLUSTRATED: ABRAHAM LINCOLN (TPB)

Writer/Art: NORMAN NODEL • Cover: GERALD MCCANN • $9.95

Classics Illustrated tells the extraordinary life tale of Abraham Lincoln in colorful comic strip form, offering an excellent introduction for younger readers. This edition also includes a timeline of events surrounding Lincoln's life and study questions, which can be used both in the classroom or at home to further engage the reader in the story.

CLASSICS ILLUSTRATED: BENJAMIN FRANKLIN (TPB)

Writer: BENJAMIN FRANKLIN • Art: ALEX A. BLUM • Cover: GUSTAV SCHROTTER • $9.95

Classics Illustrated tells the extraordinary life tale of Benjamin Franklin in colorful comic strip form, offering an excellent introduction for younger readers. This edition also includes a timeline of events surrounding Franklin's life and study questions, which can be used both in the classroom or at home to further engage the reader in the story.

CLASSICS ILLUSTRATED: DAVY CROCKETT (TPB)

Art: LOU CAMERON • $9.95

The life of Davy Crockett, the American frontiersman. Classics Illustrated tells the extraordinary life tale of Davy Crockett in colorful comic strip form, offering an excellent introduction for younger readers. This edition also includes a timeline of events surrounding Crockett's life and study questions, which can be used both in the classroom or at home to further engage the reader in the story.

CLASSICS ILLUSTRATED: FOOD OF THE GODS (TPB)

Writer: H.G. WELLS • Art: GERALD MCCANN • TONY TALLARICO • $9.95

A scientist discovers a new substance which makes animals grow to several times their normal size, but soon the substance enters the food chain and the giant animals run amok! Classics Illustrated tells this wonderful tale in colorful comic strip form, offering an excellent introduction for younger readers. This edition also includes a biography of H. G. Wells, theme discussions and study questions, which can be used both in the classroom or at home to further engage the reader in the story.

CLASSICS ILLUSTRATED: A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM (TPB)

Writer: WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE • Art: ALEX BLUM • $9.95

Shakespeare's comedy about the fairy king and queen, Oberon and Titania, and the mischievous Puck, as they create confusion amongst the humans in the forest. Classics Illustrated tells this wonderful tale in colorful comic strip form, offering an excellent introduction for younger readers. This edition also includes theme discussions and study questions, which can be used both in the classroom or at home to further engage the reader in the story.

CLASSICS ILLUSTRATED: ROB ROY (TPB)

Writer: SIR WALTER SCOTT • Art: Rudy Palais • $9.95

The adventures of Frank Osbaldistone and his time in Scotland with the famous outlaw Rob Roy MacGregor during the time of the 1715 Jacobite Rising. Classics Illustrated tells this wonderful tale in colorful comic strip form, offering an excellent introduction for younger readers. This edition also includes a biography of Sir Walter Scott, theme discussions and study questions, which can be used both in the classroom or at home to further engage the reader in the story.

CLASSIC ILLUSTRATED: TOM BROWN'S SCHOOLDAYS

Writer: THOMAS HUGHES • Art: JOHN TARTAGLIONE • Cover: GERALD MCCANN • $9.95

A semi-autobiographical novel about the titular Tom's time at Rugby School in England. Classics Illustrated tells this wonderful tale in colorful comic strip form, offering an excellent introduction for younger readers. This edition also includes a biography of Thomas Hughes, theme discussions and study questions, which can be used both in the classroom or at home to further engage the reader in the story.

I see they're marketing these as study aids now. I don't think Cliffs Notes has any reason to worry.

DYLAN DOG MATER MORBI (GN)

Publisher: EPICENTER COMICS

MAY161499

Writer: ROBERTO RECCHIONI

Art/Cover: MASSIMO CARNEVALE

Mature • $11.99

When an obscure, sudden illness takes a hold of and tortures the nightmare investigator Dylan Dog, it seems that no one can save him. His only way out may be to face the creature that's killing him, reaching it at the heart of suffering, a place on the very verge of death!

I vaguely remember getting digests of these a few years back -- they may have even been by the same artist. Anyway, they weren't terribly scary.

THE FLINTSTONES #2

Written by MARK RUSSELL

Art by STEVE PUGH

Cover by AMANDA CONNER

Variant cover by EMANUELA LUPACCHINO

32 pg • FC • $3.99 US • RATED T

Bone Depot, Tarpit and other big box stores get Bedrock whipped into a buying frenzy while Fred gets trapped in a vitamin pill scam. Plus, Fred and Wilma experience a crisis of faith when they discover the bird god they worship also makes a great record player needle.

You people have humbled me with your wise and insightful comments about this series. I'm going to approach it with a fresh mind and no expectations, and see if I can't be wise and insightful too!

FIRST ISSUE ALERT

GRIMM FAIRY TALES: VAN HELSING VS FRANKENSTEIN #1 (OF 5)

Publisher: ZENESCOPE ENTERTAINMENT INC

Writer: PATRICK SHAND

Art: TBD

Cover A: RICHARD ORTIZ

Cover B: GREGBO WATSON

Cover C: ANDREA MELONI

Cover D: JASON METCALF

$3.99

MOTHMAN

Liesel Van Helsing has dedicated her live to keeping the streets of New York City safe from the otherworldly threats that lurk in the night. However, when she teams up with a hunter who is every bit as cunning as she is, the very nature of the hunt is thrown into question. With the tables turned, and Helsing now on the run from an unstoppable foe, she must unite with the creatures of darkness if she wishes to survive.

You know what ClarKent_DC is always saying about the 10 impossible things before breakfast, and the 11th one that breaks the camel's back? Well, I'm mixing metaphors, so I'm saying it wrong. (He says it a lot better.) Anyway, the 11th impossible thing that I just can't buy is that this woman's top hat stays on in hand-to-hand combat. That's just silly!

HELLBOY AND THE B.P.R.D.: 1953 (TPB)

Publisher: DARK HORSE

Writer: MIKE MIGNOLA, CHRIS ROBERSON

Penciller: PAOLO RIVERA

Art: BEN STENBECK, MICHAEL WALSH

Inker: JOE RIVERA

Colorist: DAVE STEWART

Cover: MIKE MIGNOLA

FC • 152 pages • TPB • 7'' x 10'' • Age range: 14 • $19.99

Hellboy and his mentor Bruttenholm travel across England and confront the phantom hand of a murderer, a demonic water spirit and some of the most horrible figures of British folklore -- Rawhead Rex and Bloody Bones. Back in the States, Hellboy rejoins the team from 1952 as a monster with possible ties to an earlier mission ravages a suburban community. Collects the five-issue miniseries.

* Paolo Rivera and Chris Roberson join the Mignolaverse!

* Frankenstein Underground artist Ben Stenbeck’s first Hellboy story!

I can't wait to read this all together. I enjoyed these stories a lot with monthly waits between issues, so this will be even better.

INJECTION VOL 2 (TPB)        

Publisher: IMAGE COMICS

Writer: WARREN ELLIS

Art/Cover: DECLAN SHALVEY & JORDIE BELLAIRE

128 PAGES • FC • M • $14.99

Consulting detective Vivek Headland tackles a case involving a stolen ghost, but when human deli meat causes him to call for help the details of his investigation reveal a new battleground between humanity and The Injection.

Collects INJECTION #6-10.

Given Randy's enthusiasm I took the occasion of the second volume to read the first one. It's kind of a Planetary gone wrong, where five experts in different fields combined their expertise to create an artificial intelligence that is hostile and somehow bringing folklore and mythology to life. And it's not the cute kind of folklore and mythology, either.

I felt it was kinda slow getting started, and it wasn't until, like the third or fourth issue before I had a handle on what was going on. (Of course, I could just be obtuse.) But it's well done -- Ellis and Shelvey, duh -- so I'm looking forward to the second trade for things to really get rolling.

INVISIBLE REPUBLIC VOL 2 (TPB)

Publisher: IMAGE COMICS

Writer: GABRIEL HARDMAN & CORINNA BECHKO

Art: GABRIEL HARDMAN & JORDAN BOYD

Cover: GABRIEL HARDMAN

144 PAGES • FC • M • $14.99

The critically-acclaimed poli-sci-fi thriller INVISIBLE REPUBLIC continues! Arthur McBride's consolidation of power comes at a terrible price, but is his cousin Maia willing to pay it?

Collects INVISIBLE REPUBLIC #6-10.

Same deal here -- I read the first trade this weekend. I found it a fairly interesting story, but there aren't a lot of admirable characters -- it's hard to care what happens to people you think ought to be dead anyway. And while world-building can be fun, we've seen a lot of it lately (now that Game of Thrones has made it popular) and this one isn't particularly robust or interesting. Thankfully the protagonist is likable, so I'll probably read the second trade to see what happens to her.

FIRST ISSUE ALERT

ISLAND 731 #1 (OF 6)

Publisher: AMERICAN GOTHIC PRESS

Writers: JEREMY ROBINSON, KANE GILMOUR

Art/Cover: JEFF ZORNOW

$3.99

From the author of Project Nemesis! While studying the Great Pacific garbage patch, the Magellan and its crew are blown hopelessly off course ... and into the bay of a strange island that seems to be uninhabited by unnatural creatures. Jeremy Robinson and Kane Gilmour take The Island of Dr. Moreau and give it a kaiju twist in this series based off the best-selling novel!

I haven't heard of the novel, but doesn't it seem like this should be done manga style?

FIRST ISSUE ALERT

JIM HENSON LABYRINTH 30TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL #1

Publisher: BOOM! STUDIOS

Writers: JONATHAN CASE, CORY GODBEY, TED NAIFEH, ADRIENNE AMBROSE, ADAM SMITH, GUSTAVO DUARTE

Art: CORY GODBEY, KYLA VANDERKLUGT, GUSTAVO DUARTE, DANIEL BAYLISS

Cover: BENJAMIN DEWEY

Variant: DAVE MCKEAN

40 pages • $19.99

Celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the beloved Jim Henson fantasy film with stories from inside the magical walls of the labyrinth.

Featuring fan-favorite characters like Ludo, Hoggle, Sir Didymus and a few surprises, this special celebration collects for the first time all of the Labyrinth Free Comic Book Day stories along with new tales from Eisner Award winner Jonathan Case (The New Deal), Gustavo Duarte (Bizarro), and more!

Both covers are high-quality cardstock and will feature spot-gloss and holofoil enhancements.

You know, it occurs to me that I never saw Labyrinth. I think I confused it with Dark Crystal whenever anyone talked about it. Do I need to see it, Legionnaires?

MARIE ANTOINETTE: PHANTOM QUEEN (HC)

Publisher: NBM PUBLISHING INC

Writers: ANNIE GOETZINGER, RODOLPHE

Art/Cover: ANNIE GOETZINGER, RODOLPHE

$18.99

During the 1930s, Maud, an artist, discovers she has a psychic gift. The first signs manifest themselves in the royal gardens of the Trianon where gradually she understands that a woman from the beyond is attempting to communicate with her. The revelation is beyond belief: it is the ghost of Marie Antoinette appearing to her to share a terrible secret that has tormented her for centuries. After being guillotined, the Queen is said to have been thrown into a common grave but then exhumed and buried with her husband, Louis XVI, in the Saint-Denis basilica. Yet the ghost tells Maud that her remains are still in the pit, on which a chapel stands today. The queen asks Maud to move her body to the right place so she can finally find peace and no longer haunt people.

My wife swears that NBM sent this to us already, and she hated it because it was sympathetic to the French royals. I admit that they probably deserved what they got in the French Revolution, but I'm unwilling to dismiss the book out of hand. I'll try to read it later and report back.

NINJAK #18

Written by MATT KINDT

Art by KAHRI EVANS & ANDRES GUINALDO

Cover A by DIEGO LATORRE

Cover B by RYAN BODENHEIM

Cover C by STEPHEN SEGOVIA

Interlocking Variant A by ADAM GORHAM

Interlocking Variant B by ADAM GORHAM

$3.99 • 40 pgs. • T+

ALL NEW ARC! “THE FIST & THE STEEL” – PART 1

Many years from today, see where the battle-scarred road has taken Valiant's deadliest operative as writer Matt Kindt (4001 A.D., DIVINITY II) and acclaimed artists Khari Evans (HARBINGER) and Andres Guinaldo (Justice League Dark) deploy a seasoned Colin King into an unknown tomorrow! He may not be as fast or as strong as he once was, but with the Eternal Warrior at his side, Ninjak will show the world that his steel is as sharp as ever!

Many years from now, Earth’s immortal master of war and the world’s deadliest intelligence operative fight side by side as veteran brothers-in-arms. The decades of warfare and combat have taken their toll, but Ninjak and the Eternal Warrior still spend their waning days as humanity’s guardians, protecting it from the myriad threats that loom over the horizon of Earth’s future. But what united these wayward heroes as trusted allies, and how did they become the most feared force against evil?

Plus: Back in the present, the unthinkable has happened to Ninjak and his fellow MI-6 agents that survived the horrors of the Deadside! Infected with an aggressive and lethal cancer from his exposure to a noxious parallel dimension, Ninjak must reach inward for his one shot at survival. As Colin King enters a deep meditative state, his mind opens to futuristic visions of “THE FIST & THE STEEL” … and the clues that could save his cancer-ridden body!

Picking up the tale first glimpsed in last summer’s BOOK OF DEATH: THE FALL OF NINJAK, jump on board the death-defying adventures of the MI-6’s most feared super-spy here as the Eternal Warrior joins the fight to make all of Earth their battlefield! This August, the most exhilarating standalone tale of the century begins as Matt Kindt, Khari Evans, and Andres Guinaldo unsheathe a razor-sharp turning point for “THE FIST & THE STEEL,” only in NINJAK #18 – featuring covers by Diego Latorre (Dante’s Inferno), Ryan Bodenheim (The Dying & The Dead), Stephen Segovia (Action Comics), and Adam Gorham (DEAD DROP)!

FIRST ISSUE ALERT

NVRLND #1 (of 4)

Publisher: 451 MEDIA GROUP

Writers: DYLAN MULICK, STEPHANIE SALYERS

Art/Cover: LEILA LEIZ

$3.99

NVRLND is a dark and magical retelling of Peter Pan set in the present-day landscape of Hollywood. Wallflower turned wild-child Wendy Darling befriends the fierce Tiger Lily and falls into the music rave scene of the underground club NVRLND. Intoxicated by the music, Wendy falls for the enigmatic Peter, lead singer of the band The Lost Boys. Peter is everything a girl could desire: handsome, daring, and reckless. Wendy discoveres Peter is mixed up with the mysterious tattoo artist James Hook, who preys upon the young who flock to Peter, "hooking" them on the new designer drug, Pixie Dust. You think you may know the truth about NVRLND, but the truth is, you know nothing. NVRLND is a story for anyone who never wants to give up, but may not live long enough to have a chance.

This reminds me a little too much of Alan Moore's take on Peter Pan in Lost Girls. I think that book forever ruined me for Peter Pan, Wizard of Oz and Alice in Wonderland!

PROVIDENCE #10 (OF 12)

Publisher: AVATAR PRESS INC

Writer: ALAN MOORE

Art/Cover: JACEN BURROWS

Pantheon Variant: JACEN BURROWS

Portrait Variant: JACEN BURROWS

Dreamscape WRAP: JACEN BURROWS

Women of HPL: JACEN BURROWS

Mature • $4.99

The end is near ... can you feel it?  All is revealed in this issue and Robert Black undergoes the most startling of transformations.    Robert Black has experienced the world beneath the layer we see in our daily lives.  And one cannot look into that abyss without it looking back at your very soul.  Alan Moore and Jacen Burrows have created something we have never seen before.  A fully realized masterpiece that embraces the true horrors of H.P. Lovecraft and delivers a one-of-a kind slow burn horror that will leave you forever scarred by its insidious nature.  Available with Regular, Pantheon, Portrait, Dreamscape Wraparound, Women of HPL, and a special Ancient Tome Incentive cover, all by collaborator Jacen Burrows.

Alan Moore alert!

RINGSIDE #6

Publisher: IMAGE COMICS

Writer: JOE KEATINGE

Art: NICK BARBER & SIMON GOUGH

Cover: SANDRA LANZ

32 PAGES • FC • M • $3.99

 NEW STORY ARC

"WORK," Part One

Writer Joe Keatinge (SHUTTER) and debut artist Nick Barber will launch the highly anticipated second act of their ongoing noir drama, RINGSIDE, this August.

Previously in RINGSIDE, fans explored the crossroads of art, industry, and identity within the world of professional wrestling through a literary lens and the rotating perspectives of the wrestlers themselves, the creatives they work with, the suits in charge, and the fans cheering them all on. Comic Bastards praised the series as having "a quiet poetry to the whole thing, like a Steinbeck novel, with frog splashes."

In RINGSIDE #6, former professional wrestler Danny Knossos has made a Faustian pact to save the life of his beloved, but as his new arrangement crosses over with his past life in the ring, he's in for more than he ever bargained for. Danny's got what he's always wanted, but now the true work begins ... and he may not make it to the end.

"Ringside's first act is entitled 'Kayfabe,' after the wrestling term meaning the scripted 'reality' of what happens in the ring and dealt, in part, with the different realities we build around ourselves," said Keatinge. "The second is entitled 'Work,' which goes into the wrestling terminology meaning anything which is planned to happen, 'working a crowd,' but quickly delves into how hard it is to maintain false narratives and, in turn, the devastating consequences of their hidden truths."

"Joe Keatinge and Nick Barber completely sucked me into the seedy and complex world of RINGSIDE, and I never want to leave." -- Jeff Lemire

One thing I couldn't care less about is wrestling. But I know there are some enthusiasts here, and I always say that I'm glad to see books with subjects I care little about, to broaden the readership. Hope this does that.

FIRST ISSUE ALERT

ROCHELLE #1 (OF 3)

Publisher: ANTARCTIC PRESS

Writer: JOHN CROWTHER

Art: DELL BARRAS

$3.99

Antarctic Press raids shelves with a spectacular new crimefighting adolescent courtesy of writer John Crowther and legendary artist Dell Barras!

It's tough being different, especially when you're a teenager, but Rochelle Planeta is a survivor like none other-a human cockroach!  Get ready for a Mind Crash as Rochelle journeys into cyberspace to battle Terrorbyte and stop him from drawing addicted players into his domain!

OK, that's just nasty.

FIRST ISSUE ALERT

SLATE LAST AMERICAN SUPERHERO VOL 1 (GN)

Publisher: EPICENTER COMICS

Writer: DAVOR RADOJA

Art: NENAD C.

Cover: WELL-BEE

Mature • $3.99

When by unforeseen circumstances, a journalist gets stranded in a small bleak town in the middle of nowhere in Arizona, he seems to stumble upon the answers to the great mystery: the sudden disappearance of the beloved, illustrious American superhero -- Slate. However, the truth is a hard pill to swallow!

This sounds familiar somehow, but it might be interesting.

FIRST ISSUE ALERT

SONS OF ANARCHY: REDWOOD ORIGINAL #1

Publisher: BOOM! STUDIOS

Writer: OLLIE MASTERS

Art: LUCA PIZZARI

Cover: CHRIS BRUNNER

Variant: RICARDO LOPEZ-ORTIZ

Mature • $3.99

For the first time anywhere, read the untold story of how a young Jax Teller, 18 years old and fresh out of high school, decides to prospect his dead father's-and his current stepfather's-MC, the Sons of Anarchy.

The only all-new, original ongoing story for fans of Sons of Anarchy.

Under complete supervision of SOA show creator Kurt Sutter, the story will feature younger versions of all the characters you've come to know and love, including Opie, Clay, Jemma, Tig, Chibs and Juice!

My wife watched this show all the way to the end, but I couldn't get into it. Here's a book for those of you with tastes more like my wife's than mine.

FIRST ISSUE ALERT

STARRING SONYA DEVEREAUX #1

Publisher: AMERICAN MYTHOLOGY PRODUCTIONS

Writers: TODD LIVINGSTON, NICK CAPETANAKIS

Art/Cover: BRENDON FRAIM, BRIAN FRAIM

Movie Poster Variant: BRENDON FRAIM, BRIAN FRAIM

$3.99

No budget is too low, no dialog too cheesy, and no plotline too thin to keep Sonya from appearing in these straight to DVD flicks. From horror to action to erotic thriller, each issue is a laugh-filled send up of a different genre and movie -- but they all have one thing in common: Sonya Devereaux and FUN! Okay, that's two things. But just like gravy on mashed potatoes is delicious, Sonya in a crappy movie is hilarious!

Now showing:  THE NAKED ARE THE DAMNED 2: Satan has possessed a greedy CEO that wants the farm land owned by Camille's (Sonya Devereaux) family. With the help of a voodoo queen, Camille must use her wits, charm and skill to defeat a zombie army!

I don't know why the second cover is called a "movie poster variant," when it's clearly a variant of The Walking Dead #1.

FIRST ISSUE ALERT

SUICIDE SQUAD MOST WANTED: EL DIABLO AND BOOMERANG #1

Publisher: DC COMICS

Written by JAI NITZ and MICHAEL MORECI • Art by CLIFF RICHARDS and OSCAR BAZALDUA • Covers by MIKE HUDDLESTON

48 pg • FC • $4.99 U.S. • RATED T+

From the pages of SUICIDE SQUAD comes an all-new series featuring two of the team’s most infamous heroes, El Diablo and Boomerang! First, a sudden pardon frees the fiery El Diablo from Belle Reve prison, much to the shock (and irritation) of team leader Amanda Waller. Chato returns to his old neighborhood to reunite with his family, but when he’s attacked by a heavily armed local gang and their leader, the deadly, super-powered Bloodletter, will his freedom and his life get cut dramatically short?

Meanwhile, in the first chapter of two-part tale written by Michael Moreci (from DC’s Writers Workshop program) with art by Oscar Bazaldua, Boomerang and the Squad embark on a mission to take down a ruthless dictator within a small, unstable Central American nation, but when the mission goes awry, the Squad must jump in a helicopter and flee as all hell breaks loose. But amid the chaos, the team realizes one of them was accidentally left behind: Boomerang! How can he stay alive long enough to be rescued when a whole army wants him dead?

Couldn't care less about walking cliche El Diablo, but Boomerang is usually amusing in his cowardice and foul-mouthedness (although he seems to have permanently lost his rank).

TEEN TITANS EARTH ONE VOL. 2 (HC)

Publisher: DC COMICS

Written by JEFF LEMIRE

Art and cover by ANDY MACDONALD

144 pg • FC • $22.99 U.S.

After months on the run from the twisted project that created them, Cyborg, Terra, Beast Boy and Garth are near their breaking point, barely surviving on what they can steal, squatting in the ruins of an abandoned subdivision. But as they reach their lowest ebb, their creator, Dr. Niles Caulder, is ready to make his move…and they’re about to learn that they weren’t the only kids to go through Caulder’s twisted process! There are more children with powers out there, and unlike our heroes, they were raised for only one purpose—to be the living weapons Caulder wants ALL his Titans to be!

Writer Jeff Lemire (GREEN ARROW, ANIMAL MAN) teams up with artist Andy MacDonald (THE NEW 52: FUTURES’ END) to deliver the next chapter in the Earth One series!

Did anyone read Volume One and like it? I found it almost painful to read.

VORACIOUS VOL. 1 (TPB)

VORACIOUS #1, the first issue of the acclaimed Action Lab: Danger Zone series by talented newcomers Markisan Naso and Jason Muhr, has completely sold out at the distributor level, via Diamond.

"Markisan and Jason are new, dynamic creators with one of the most original books on the market." Said Action Lab Entertainment President, Dave Dwonch. "In many ways they exemplify what we stand for as a comics publisher, and we're all very proud to bring Voracious to the masses. If you think you know where this series is going, let me tell you, you're in for a surprise! "

VORACIOUS #1 (of 4) debuted in February as an extra-sized, 64-page issue. The story follows depressed chef Nate Willner who unexpectedly rekindles his desire to cook after he inherits a time travel suit that takes him to the age of the dinosaurs. There, Nate ends up eating a Quetzalcoatlus and gets the idea to open a restaurant in the present that serves ancient meat from the past.

VORACIOUS is the first comic book series by writer Markisan Naso and artist Jason Muhr, with colors by Andrei Tabacaru. The four-issue series was completed in June. A trade paperback collection of those issues, VORACIOUS Vol. 1: Diners, Dinosaurs & Dives, will be released on August 10. VORACIOUS: Feeding Time, a new 5-issue sequel will debut in December, a few months after the originally announced September start.

“When Jason, Andrei and I started VORACIOUS, we hoped we’d sell a handful of copies to some family members,” said VORACIOUS writer Markisan Naso. “When we signed with Action Lab, we elevated our expectations to a few hundred copies. But selling out of #1? At a $4.99 price point? That definitely wasn’t something we ever thought possible for three unknown creators. Titanosaur-size thank you to all the great retailers and readers out there who made this happen!”

“The whole creative team is incredibly excited that the audience loves VORACIOUS as much as we love making it!” added series artist Jason Muhr.

I don't usually like food books, but dinosaur meat is a nice twist.

WAR STORIES #19

Publisher: AVATAR PRESS INC

Writer: GARTH ENNIS

Art/Cover: TOMAS ARIA

Good Girl Nose Art Variant: MATT MARTIN

Wrap Variant: THOMAS ARIA

Mature • $3.99

In the dark days of winter, 1940, a handful of pilots show up at a remote Royal Air Force base in rural England. Some are British, some are Poles, Czechs, French, Australians, Canadians- the orphans of Nazi-occupied Europe and the children of the Empire. No other squadron wants them; they don't even like each other much. Which is unfortunate, because they're about to take to the deadly night skies at the height of the Blitz- Hitler's dreadful aerial onslaught on the cities of Britain. Part one of the four-part Vampire Squadron, by Garth Ennis and Tomas Aira. Available with Regular, Wraparound Covers by Thomas Aria, Good Girl Nose Art, Battle Damage Retailer Incentive Covers by Matt Martin.

Gosh, I wonder if the pilots in this squadron are named Andre, Chuck, Hendrickson, Janos Prohaska, Olaf, Stan and Chop Chop ...?

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  • Cap, I had the same reaction to the first Teen Titans: Earth One trade. Couldn't stand it.

    As for Labyrinth, it's a fun kid's movie but unless you're planning to show it to some pre-teen nieces or nephews, you can probably skip it.

  • I'd include Brian Bolland among that list of top Wonder Woman artists (unless you meant interior artists specifically).

  • If anyone doesn't know, Dylan Dog is an Italian horror series about a supernatural investigator published by Bonelli. Dark Horse has translated some of the stories. Bonelli's website has pages in English about the character here. A film starring Brandon Routh as the hero appeared in 2010.

    The character was created by Tiziano Sclavi, and visually based on Rupert Everett. Everett later starred in the 1994 film Cemetery Man/Dellamorte Dellamore, which was based on a novel by Sclavi.

  • I liked Labyrinth, but yeah, it's largely a kid's movie. (A little darker than most these days, though.) But if you're a Bowie fan, you should really give it a look. 

  • If you get a chance read the novel of Labyrinth, it brings a bit more out of the story, but the movie itself is fun to watch.

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