MARVEL COMICS
This week in "Vampire Variants"
In anticipation of "Blood Hunt," the linewide, vampire-war crossover coming in May, Marvel is releasing a series of variant covers in April homaging older Marvel covers with bloodsuckers. Can you guess what the original covers are? Answers are at bottom. (If the small image is blurry on your screen, click to show a larger, better one.)
The answers:
- Fantastic Four #19, by Todd Nauck, homages Invaders #7.
- Incredible Hulk #11, by Carlos Magno, homages Tomb of Dracula #17.
- Invincible Iron Man #17, by Giuseppe Camuncoli, homages Tomb of Dracula #19.
This week in "Fall of X"
INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #17
Tony Stark's trapped in deactivated armor in INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #17, by Gerry Duggan and Pat Zircher. I don't know how that's connected to the X-stuff, but the cover has the trade dress. I think it was a brilliant idea, editorial-wise, to interweave Invincible Iron Man with the X-books. It will never be a poor seller again.
Kamala Khan is fighting Mojo in MS. MARVEL: MUTANT MENACE #2, by Iman Vellani and Scott Godlewski. Again, not sure how this is connected. Shouldn't everybody be, like, all hands on deck for Orchis?
The Master of Magnetism makes it back to the land of the living in RESURRECTION OF MAGNETO #4, by Al Ewing and Luciano Vecchio. Now we'll see some righteous smiting, I bet!
This week in Spider-Man:
EDGE OF SPIDER-VERSE #3 (OF 4)
Marvel sent a press release alerting us as to what's to follow Edge of Spider-Verse, which is an event called "Spider Society." Heck, they've got enough Spider-People now to do "Spider Nation." Maybe "Spider Planet."
Here's who we're going to meet in the third issue, with story by Justina Ireland & Steve Foxe, and art by Pete Woods:
- Your neighborhood can be a few blocks long, or it can be the size of an entire space station. STAR-SPIDER slings through the stars in her Silk ship helping those in need, thwipping through alien cityscapes. Meet the coolest new Spider-hero to grace the comics page in a story by writer Justina Ireland and artist Pete Woods!
- The runway-strutting Web-Weaver is back, back, back again! Don’t miss one of the coolest new characters of the Spider-Verse kicking butt, taking names and looking good while doing it in a new adventure written by the character’s co-creator Steve Foxe!
Before we get to some creator quotes, I have to ask: What is the web attached to on that cover? In space? And how do you swing where there's no gravity? Oh, right, it's attached to "artistic license."
“Getting to work on anything Spider-Verse is awesome and getting the chance to create a new Spider is bananapants awesome,” Ireland said. “Star-Spider is an homage to everything I loved as a kid: sci-fi, awkward characters, and super heroes! She's smart and silly and a bit out of her depth, but also tenacious and I hope everyone loves her as much as I do.”
“Getting to work with Justina creating a new hero in the Spider-Verse is a once-in-a-lifetime treat,” Woods added. “The design for Star-Spider and her corner of the universe is a colorful mashup of everything I love about comics, film, and animation. Justina’s story is a fun ride and a perfect introduction to Star-Spider’s world and its vibrant characters.”
On writing the next chapter of his Spider-Verse creation, Steve Foxe shared, "Getting the opportunity to return to Web-Weaver's world in this new anthology has been such a (web-) blast. When we originally conceived of Cooper Coen and his supporting cast, we knew there were no limits to the stories we could tell with him, especially because each new installment lets us play with all-new versions of familiar Spider-faces!"
Also, AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #47 features the evil Spider-Clone and the Halloween girl with the stupid name. Who am I kidding? Chasm and Hallows' Eve are both stupid names. By Zeb Wells and Todd Nauck. And yes, Cover B is an homage to West Coast Avengers #1 (1985), with Disney characters.
This week in Wolverine:
WOLVERINE #47
Despite the threat of Orchis, Logan has been off doing his own thing in his own title the whole time. Sometimes you gotta wonder about that guy.
WOLVERINE #47 is by Victor Lavalle & Ben Percy with art by Geoff Shaw. In Part 7 of "Sabretooth War" — yes, seven, and it's not over yet — Laura Kinney (whatever her code name is this week) fights the "Savage Sabretooth," a female version of the villain. Which seems like a redundant name, except that it's probably a play on Savage She-Hulk. The only question I have about a female Sabretooth is: What took them so long?
BTW: Have I mentioned I can't stand Sabretooth? There's no rational way to excuse his continued existence in-story. To paraphrase the Book of Exodus, thou shalt not suffer a sadistic, sociopathic serial killer to live. Someone would take him out, because he's a danger to everyone and gives mutants a bad name. I nominate Magneto, who could cut him into tiny, tiny pieces before he could blink, and their suffering and mine would be over. But no, he's popular, so he continues to exist — to my continual annoyance. Adding boobs will not change my opinion.
In WEAPON X-MEN #2 (OF 4), by Christos Gage and Yildiray Cinar, we get the story of Fat Wolverine, who on his world seems to have gotten everything he wanted, only for it to all fall apart. The story of Lots of Lousy Logans continues!
Elsewhere at Marvel:
Marvel has no less than five Star Wars books on offer: STAR WARS: DARTH VADER #45, STAR WARS: DARTH VADER BY GREG PAK VOL 8 — DARK DROIDS TP, STAR WARS: HIGH REPUBLIC #6, STAR WARS: THE MANDALORIAN SEASON TWO PART TWO TP and STAR WARS: THRAWN ALLIANCES #4.
CARNAGE #6: "Flesh and Blood" Part 4.
DC COMICS
This week in "House of Brainiac"
ACTION COMICS #1064
"House of Brainiac" is the second event of three called the "Trinity of Evil," that will re-position Amanda Waller at the center of the DCU. (The first was "Beast World," and DC has not announced the third.) It's also part of the Superman Superstars initiative, so "House of Brainiac" is doing double duty.
Written by Joshua Williamson with art by Rafa Sandoval, "House of Brainiac" Part One features the Computer Criminal unleashing an army of Czarnians on Metropolis. Which promises to be a very bad day for Metropolitans. But he's not collecting cities, so what does he want?
Maybe we'll find out in Part Two in Green Lantern #10, which happens to come out this week. Other issues include Superman #13 (on sale April 16), Power Girl #8 (April 23) and Superman: House of Brainiac Special #1 (April 30).
Here's DC's ANNOUNCEMENT.
GREEN LANTERN #10
In the backup story, "Guy's Bogus Lobo Adventure" (part 1 of 3), the legendary Kevin Maguire joins series writer Jeremy Adams to show Guy Gardner on the hunt for Lobo, who is apparently a professional cosmic wrestler now. I assume hi-jinks will ensue.
But I will endure much for Kevin Maguire.
In the main story, by Adams and Xermanico, Hal Jordan goes to Oa to find out what's going on with the Central Power Battery. It is a non-Brainiac-related story.
This week in Batman:
BATMAN AND ROBIN #8: The Dynamic Duo are battling the Man-Bat cult, and a new character called Shush. (Hush's sidekick, maybe?) There's also BATMAN AND ROBIN AND HOWARD #2 (OF 4), BATMAN DETECTIVE COMICS VOL. 4: RIDDLE ME THIS TP, BATMAN/DYLAN DOG #2 (OF 4) and THE BAT-MAN: FIRST KNIGHT #2 (OF 3).
Elsewhere at DC:
THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD #54 FACSIMILE EDITION: This facsimile reprints the 1964 story teaming Aqualad, Kid Flash and Robin against a villain named Mr. Twister. The three returned in Brave and Bold #60, joined by Wonder Girl, and officially became the Teen Titans. At the time I wondered why they included the nearly useless Aqualad (this was a decade before Aquaman was established as having super-strength) and excuded the obviously more useful Speedy, who first guest-starred with the team in Teen Titans #4, and joined officially later. The same thing happened with Green Arrow, who was excluded from the founding of the Justice League in Brave and Bold #28, only to join in Justice League of America #4. I assume it all has something to do with Mort Weisinger, because every behind-the-scenes anecdote from the early '60s seems to.
IMAGE COMICS
This week in Spawn:
RAT CITY #1
Writer Erica Schultz (The Deadliest Bouquet, Moon Knight: Black, White & Blood) teams with artist Zé Carlos set a story nearly 100 years in the future with a Spawn (Peter Cairn) who doesn't have the traditional origin. But it is the usual future dystopia where the rich live it up and everybody else scrounges in the gutter.
“We wanted to tell a compelling story about a man whose life was turned upside down by circumstances beyond his control,” said Schultz. “Peter, and perhaps others like him, are collateral damage in Al Simmons’ war. … We’ll see the consequences of that unending conflict.”
“Having other talented creators play within, and add to, the sandbox of Spawn’s history is always a pleasure to watch over. Erica is a highly sought-after talent as a writer, period. That she also brings along a female perspective is just an added bonus that will help flesh out some of these wonderful characters she has created. While artist Zé Carlos always delivers on bringing his skills to every project he works on. … I’m glad this is his and Erica’s project right now!” said Todd McFarlane, creator of Spawn and President at Image Comics. “This book is also set in the future, so there is no need to have read past record-setting Spawn titles. You can use this book as a jumping point — as my goal for Rat City and other upcoming new titles is to give readers as many different options as possible. This book I’d put in the sci-fi category.”
SPAWN: SCORCHED #28 also ships this week. I don't care, but maybe you do.
Elsewhere at Image:
ST. MERCY: GODLAND #1 (OF 4)
Mercedes Oro is cursed by the gods to be immortal, and to protect Incan gold through the centuries. And evidently the Incan gods are just as petty, arbitrary and malicious as the Greco-Roman ones. The first miniseries (St. Mercy, 2021) featured her in two time periods, the Incan Empire and the Wild West. This miniseries, by John Zuur Platten and Atilio Rojo, follows her to 1930s Hollywood ("a different golden age with gods of its own").
“No matter where Mercy goes or what era she’s in, she can’t escape her curse," said Platten. "In Godland, while the setting shifts from the Wild West to what was then called Hollywoodland, Mercy’s unwanted duty remains the same — protect the Incan gold, death be damned.”
Rojo added: “Mercy is relentless; we cannot wait for readers to reunite with her, to see our version of 1930s Hollywood, to meet the new cast from that era, and to experience the wild action scenes."
"Mercy’s journey feels unique and unexpected," said Lee Thomas, Creative Director at EP1T0ME. "[It] reminds us of the eclectic journeys of Game of Thrones’ Arya Stark or Quantum Leap’s Sam Beckett.”
This actually sounds pretty interesting, but given that it's a series of miniseries, I'll wait for an omni.
TRANSFORMERS #7
Image thought enough of an artist change to send me two press releases.
Eisner Award-nominated artist Jorge Corona (Middlewest) joins writer (and current series artist) Daniel Warren Johnson (Extremity, Do a Powerbomb) and colorist Mike Spicer (Stillwater, Murder Falcon) for Transformers #7, which begins the second storyline.
“It’s a rare breed of artist that can naturally bring an organic quality to things that are inherently mechanical, and Jorge is one of those chosen few,” said Daniel Warren Johnson. “Prepare your eyes for a feast of brawn and beauty, my friends. This man draws a mean looking Soundwave. KA BAM!”
“It started with a ‘Do you want to work on a book with Daniel Warren Johnson?’ and just in case that wasn't a deafening ‘YES,’ they added: ‘It's for the TRANSFORMERS book,’” said Jorge Corona. “Growing up with TRANSFORMERS and its many iterations expanded in many ways what a cartoon could do for me. Even though it had the classic good vs. evil premise, it also added malleability to what the characters could do in that world. Betrayals, regrets, self-doubts, were all emotions that drove these characters and it added a complexity that I wasn't familiar with in other shows. Fast forward to 30 years later and here I am seeing Daniel's take on the franchise, rooted in his love for the original Generation One version, and it's like reliving those childhood memories multiplied by a thousand. I am very honored and humbled to be a part of this project and cannot wait to share all of the craziness that's coming up in the book.”
"Emotional, heart-wrenching, action-packed, somber and exciting all at once... A blend of pure greatness that continues to prove this take is more than meets the eye. — AIPT Comics
"TRANSFORMERS continues to wow with one jaw-dropping issue after another. The series has lived up to the hype and more." — Lotusland Comics
DARK HORSE
THE ART OF ASSASSIN’S CREED ® MIRAGE”
Dark Horse thought enough of this oversized hardcover to send a press release. The least I can do is post the preview:
COUNT CROWLEY MEDIOCRE MIDNIGHT MONSTER HUNTER #3
MONSTERS ARE MY BUSINESS #1 (OF 4)
Patrick Piazzalunga (X-Factor, Happy Horror Days, Project Patron), and Cullen Bunn (Sixth Gun, The Midnight Show, Lucky Devil) nring us former biker Tanner “Griz” Grisholm, a shrewd necromancer who wants him dead and a chainsaw-wielding koala bear named Cuddles battle Lovecraftian monsters from out of time and space.
“Some time ago, Patrick and I were discussing working together on a new creator-owned title,” said Bunn. “He sent me some concept sketches of this big, burly biker type and a chainsaw-wielding, cigar-smoking koala bear. From there, we discussed building a story of elder gods, mutant cults, mercenary necromancers and a lot of bloody good violence. Monsters Are My Business was born! I am just in awe of Patrick’s ability to fuse horror and action and comedy so seamlessly. Readers are going to dig this book!”
“I'm very excited about this comic,” adds Piazzalunga. “Cullen and I discussed creating a horror comedy with tentacled monsters. We are big fans of '80s horror films, Lovecraft, splatter and gore. Cullen did a fantastic job. When I read the scripts I was super excited and I enjoyed drawing, if you like all this, Griz and Cuddles are waiting for you with their chainsaws!"
THE HORROR HC: A prequel to Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness. See REVIEW.
IDW PUBLICATIONS
D&D: THIEF OF MANY THINGS #1 (ONE-SHOT)
Two ex-romantic rivals team up to steal the Deck of Many Things, to save the lover they both lost. Written by Jim Zub and Ellen Boener, with art by Eduardo Mello.
Elsewhere at IDW:
MY LITTLE PONY: SET YOUR SAIL #1 and TMNT: BEST OF ALOPEX #1 both ship this week.
BOOM! STUDIOS
UNCANNY VALLEY #1
A kid with strange, cartoon-like abilities explores his origins, which apparently take him into a pseudo-Warner Bros. toon world like in Who Killed Roger Rabbit? (if the covers are to be believed).
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT
HERCULES #1
I don't really have anything to say about Dynamite's Disney books. They'll be exactly what you expect them to be, which is not a bad thing.
SWEETIE CANDY VIGILANTE #2
This issue Includes a FREE MP3 Download for the New Osaka Popstar Track. Don't ask me how that works, as I am a Luddite.
THUNDERCATS #3
MORE COMICS
BATTLE QUEST 2024: EPIC NO MADD & STEEL SIEGE #1
This is just a reprint of the first two issues of two different miniseries, but there's a nice preview and a video, so here ya go.
BETTY & VERONICA JUMBO COMICS DIGEST #323
Two new stories, with the gang engaging with Dr. Masters in one, and Bingo Wilkin in the other.
BLACK PHOENIX OMNIBUS GN
This is a collection of Black Phoenix #1-10. I can't describe its eclectic nature any better than this preview:
CON & ON TP: Ahoy Comics alert!
DEADWEIGHTS #1 (OF 6): Ahoy Comics alert! See REVIEW.
EDEN GN is a sci-fi thriller from Humanoids about a family trying to escape from a crumbling Earth. Comicbook.com has a PREVIEW that looks pretty nice, in a sort of default European style.
FABULOUS FURRY FREAK BROTHERS: 7TH VOYAGE & OTHER FOLLIES HC
Yep, another collection from Gilbert Shelton, one of the few underground cartoonists who could actually draw.
KAMEN RIDER KUUGA VOL 5 GN
LA MUERTA LAST RITES #1: It's by Coffin Comics, which does not fill me with confidence. But I do like the La Muerta look.
LAND LEFT BEHIND #1 (OF 5): It's medieval knights vs. dinosaurs from Blood Moon Comics.
MARVEL’S SPIDER-MAN: MILES MORALES — THE POSTER COLLECTION SC
It's 42 pages of posters from key scenes in the Marvel’s Spider-Man video game. I don't buy books without a narrative, and I don't play video games, so this isn't really my thing. But it might be yours!
THE PHANTOM: THE COMPLETE DAILIES VOL 31 1984-1986 HC: Comic-strip collector alert!
POETRY OF RAN VOL 2 GN
RANDOMVEUS VOL 2: ONE-DIMENSIONAL COURIERS HC
This sequel to 2011’s RandomVeus, by Jeffrey “Chamba” Cruz and Leonard Bermingham, is published by UDON, which mostly does fighty-fight books with unwholesomely exaggerated manga men and women from the Street Fighter video games. This is a big change of pace, a comedy book about goofy couriers delivering dangerous packages for sketchy clients.
“RandomVeus reminds me a lot of anime like Gurren Lagann and Red Line,” said UDON Chief Erik Ko. “It’s totally its own thing though. Chamba’s art is really bold, with really gorgeous colors and detailed character designs, and it’s very funny. I think if you like anime that mix sci-fi and sort of goofy/funny characters, you will really like RandomVeus.”
SEX CRIMINALS COMPENDIUM TP
Is there anybody out there who doesn't know what this series by Matt Fraction and Chip Zdarsky was about?
Just in case, here's the poop: Two people, a man and a woman, have always had the ability to stop time when they orgasm. They happen to have sex with each other, and discovering that they're not alone in this ability, decide to team up and use it to get rich. By robbing banks, which is the "criminal" part of the tile. To do so they have to have a lot of orgasms, which is the "sex" part.
Then they discover there are other people who can do the stop-time trick, and they are not nice people. Well, less nice than our thieves, who are presumably nice people aside from the robbery parts. Which complicates matters.
“Sex Criminals is the book that changed my life. Matt made me draw a lot of penises and now I write Batman,” said Zdarsky. “I’m genuinely excited to have the entire story all together in one volume. Finally, it’s a graphic novel and not just some filthy comic!"
Fraction added: "Sex Criminals became a phenomenon. To have the entire story collected in one handsome — and not just handsome for Canada but really handsome — enchiridion will commemorate the long strange trip it took us on while inviting new readers to take the same journey just as their local libraries ban it from shelves. Probably because of all the penises I made Chip draw."
Amazon has a lengthy, lengthy PREVIEW which, after viewing, induced me to buy the entire story in hardback. I'd always meant to read the story, and I had just forgotten to. The hardbacks are a series of three, but this compendium collects Sex Criminals #1-30 and #69 all in one place.
“Fraction’s best work yet. It’s a precision-tuned screwball comedy on its surface, and that surface is gorgeous, thanks to Zdarsky’s ace sense of design and inventive color technique.” —TIME
“An honest, heartfelt story about relationships that was more John Hughes than John Holmes.” — USA Today
“Sex comedies usually focus on the pursuit of orgasm; the writer Matt Fraction and the artist Chip Zdarsky have devised an ingenious one about the stillness that follows it. Zdarsky’s fluid, brightly hued artwork is dense with smutty gags, but this is a deeper, more understated comedy than it initially seems.” — The New York Times
“Wildly imaginative, randy and true with characters whose sexual satisfaction freezes time and facilitates crime. Artist Zdarsky’s staging, storytelling and character designs make this even crazier. Great fun!” — The Miami Herald
“A sex comedy with a splash of crime thriller, the title is a fascinating examination of the pleasures and pitfalls of intimate relationships, using the central fantastic conceit as a metaphor for the way sex distances people but also, under the right circumstances, brings them together.” — The A.V. Club
“I wouldn’t trust most comic creators to turn a sexual awakening into compelling pulp fiction, but Fraction and Zdarsky pull it off masterfully.” — PASTE
“Sex Criminals is just amazing. If this isn't on your pull list you have to get it.” — io9
“Sex Criminals is not just one of the best comics I’ve ever read, it’s one of the best things I’ve ever read, period.” — Wil Wheaton, actor
SILICON BANDITS #1
Crime novelist and comic author Jason Starr (Wolverine Max, Ant-Man: Natural Enemy) reunites with Casual Fling collaborator Dalibor Talajic (Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe) for a story about two programmers who get laid off, and decide to rob a bank using the androids they've programmed. As you do.
VALLEY OF DEATH: USHER OF THE DEAD #1: Blood Moon has a character called "Usher of the Dead," who pops up in miniseries like this.
WHEN I ARRIVED AT THE CASTLE TP: See REVIEW.
WHEN THE BLOOD HAS DRIED #1
A sell-sword tries to leave his past behind by running a tavern in a small town, but the Adventurers Guild comes to town, threatening to reveal his past. It's sort of A History of Violence, if it took place in a medieval Gaelic town.
WHO IS TAYLOR SWIFT? SC: I know! I know! Call on me! She's a singer! (And this is a graphic biography from Penguin Workshop.)
A bunch of Eisner graphic novels are being re-released this week, including WILL EISNER’S A CONTRACT WITH GOD TRILOGY HC NEW PTG, WILL EISNER’S DROPSIE AVENUE SC, WILL EISNER’S FAMILY MATTER TP, WILL EISNER’S INVISIBLE PEOPLE SC, WILL EISNER’S LIFE FORCE SC, WILL EISNER’S NEW YORK BIG CITY SC, WILL EISNER’S PLOT PROTOCOLS OF ELDERS OF ZION SC NEW PTG, WILL EISNER’S THE BUILDING SC and WILL EISNERS TO THE HEART OF THE STORM GN. I'm tempted by the HC, because I have all those Eisner GNs in trade paperback. But I won't, because you have to draw the line somewhere.
WINNIE THE POOH HC
Drawn & Quarterly drops a Pooh GN. I like the old-fashioned art style, which is really the only kind you should use on Pooh.
Replies
Have I mentioned I can't stand Sabretooth? There's no rational way to excuse his continued existence in-story.
The same could be (and has been) said about the Joker.
But I will endure much for Kevin Maguire.
If it were the main story I would buy it, but I'm not shelling out for part one of a three-part back-up. A collected one-shot, maybe...
DEADWEIGHTS #1 (OF 6): Ahoy Comics alert!
I saw your review posted elsewhere but I'm waiting to read it until after I've read the comic.
THE PHANTOM: THE COMPLETE DAILIES VOL 31 1984-1986 HC: Comic-strip collector alert!
This was solicited for October '23 release, but Hermes Press titles routinely ship six months late (you can set your watch by them), so actually this is right on time. Volume 32 was solicited for February 21, so look for it in August.
Is there anybody out there who doesn't know what this series by Matt Fraction and Chip Zdarsky was about?
I didn't, so thanks for the briefing. Sounds interesting. I'll give it a look (with no commitment to buy).
I'm tempted by the HC, because I have all those Eisner GNs in trade paperback. But I won't, because you have to draw the line somewhere.
My case exactly. I often wish comic book publishers were like publishers of other material: release the expensive editions first.
Drawn & Quarterly drops a Pooh GN.
GROAN...
The same could be (and has been) said about the Joker.
I do say it about The Joker. So many people in Gotham have reason to kill him that it's implausible nobody has. We never even see anybody try.
I didn't, so thanks for the briefing. Sounds interesting. I'll give it a look (with no commitment to buy).
The Amazon sample is really long. It should tell you if you're interested or not.
My case exactly. I often wish comic book publishers were like publishers of other material: release the expensive editions first.
I hear you, brother. I didn't buy the three Sex Criminals HCs when they came out, because I was hoping for an omnibus or deluxe edition. I've given up and bought the HCs, but you know in six months a better version will come out. And, of course, this happens all the time. Collecting comics is hard!