GENRE TV
Snowpiercer, "Smolder to Life" (TNT, Feb. 1)
Riverdale "Chapter Seventy-Nine: Graduation" (CW, Feb. 3)
Resident Alien, "Homesick" (Syfy, Feb. 3)
The Expanse, season 5 finale, "Nemesis Games" (Amazon Prime, Feb. 3)
The Stand, "The Stand" (CBS All Access, Feb. 4)
WandaVision, episode 5 of 9 (Disney+, Feb. 5)
A Discovery of Witches, "Episode 2.5" (Sundance Now, Feb. 6)
Now here's a couple of odd things.
It turns out that the names of the episodes of A Discovery of Witches really are just "Episode number this" and "Episode number that." Evidently it began as a Sky One production in the UK, where that is the norm.
Also, the entire second season was released all at once in the U.S. on BBC America on Jan. 8, which was not how IMDb.com initially listed it. And it's not on BBC America "on demand" on Sling, so I couldn't watch it there. (Maybe if you have cable you can; I don't know since I've cut the cord.) So I didn't know until this week about the Jan. 8 drop.
I don't know what it did on AMC, where it supposedly also aired, and AMC doesn't list it at all (on Sling). Thankfully Sundance Now, which is free on Sling, is airing it weekly, and archiving the older episodes on demand. So that's where I'll be watching it, and how I'm going to list it.
American Gods “Sister Rising” (Starz, Feb. 7)
Batwoman, "Fair Skin, Blue Eyes" (CW, Feb. 7)
Charmed, "Needs to Know" (CW, Feb. 7)
The Watch, episode 1.7, (BBC America, Feb. 7)
GENRE MOVIES
Bliss (Feb. 5, Amazon Prime)
Centers on a recently divorced man (Owen Wilson) who meets a woman (Salma Hayek) who lives on the streets and is convinced that the polluted, broken world around them is not real.
Not really sure how this qualifies as "Fantasy," but that's how Movie Insider lists it.
Little Fish (Feb. 5, limited release)
Set in the aftermath of a pandemic in which victims begin to lose their memories and affects one newlywed couple not long after they’ve first fallen met and fallen in love.
CROSSOVERS/EVENTS
Future State (DC Comics)
Future State: The Flash #2 (of 2)
Art and cover by Brandon Peterson
Card stock variant cover by Kaare Andrews ($4.99)
Written by Brandon Vietti
$3.99 US | 32 Pages | FC
All hope is lost as Barry Allen races to save his former partner, Wally West. Armed with the weapons of the Rogues who once tried to destroy the Flash, Barry plots an attack that’ll either free the former Kid Flash from the evil that’s possessed him — or end his threat forever!
Future State: Harley Quinn #2 (of 2)
Cover by Derrick Chew
Card stock variant cover by Gary Frank ($4.99)
Written by Stephanie Phillips
Art by Simone DI Meo and Toni Infante
$3.99 US | 32 Pages | 2 of 2 | FC | DC
Harley Quinn has gained Jonathan Crane’s trust, everything is going according to plan, and she is getting close to making her escape. But Black Mask and his gang are continuing to undermine the Magistrate and push Crane closer to the edge, where he will become the Scarecrow once more. Will Harley be able to defeat the Scarecrow and stop the Black Mask Gang? If she’s going to secure her freedom and save Gotham’s future, she’ll have to!
Future State: The Next Batman #3 (of 4)
Cover by Ladrönn
Card stock variant cover by Stanley "Artgerm" Lau ($8.99)
$7.99 US | 64 Pages | FC
“The Next Batman” written by John Ridley, art by Laura Braga
The adventures of the next Batman continue! Batman has captured a pair of murderous fugitives, but he faces a tough decision: leave them for the Magistrate troops, which means certain death, or risk his life and fight his way through Gotham City to deliver them to the GCPD for trial. He’s Batman ... so there’s only one choice!
“Outsiders” written by Brandon Thomas, art by Sumit Kumar
And in “Outsiders,” Katana has reunited with Black Lightning, but her old friend and ally has changed ... big-time! Now composed of literal black lightning, Jefferson Pierce arrives with a dire warning about Duke Thomas and his mission to liberate Gotham from the oppression of the Magistrate. They’ll have to work together — and we really mean together — to have any hope of defeating the forces working against them!
“Arkham Knights” written by Paul Jenkins, art by Jack Herbert
Plus, in “Arkham Knights,” Astrid Arkham and her band of maniacal misfits have picked a fight with the Magistrate ... and they’re not going to back down! On the eve of their mission into the heart of Gotham’s fascist occupiers, Croc, Zsasz, Phosphorus, Clayface, Harvey, and the rest steel themselves to try and shine a beacon of hope into the darkness — but not everyone will make it out alive!
Future State: Superman of Metropolis #2 (of 2)
Cover by John Timms
Card stock variant cover by Inhyuk Lee ($6.99)
$5.99 US | 48 Pages | FC
“Superman of Metropolis” written by Sean Lewis, art by John Timms
Braincells, the advanced offshoot of the diabolical Brainiac, continues to lure Jonathan Kent down the wrong path — but things go from bad to this can’t get any worse when it appears it has also taken some manner of control over Supergirl! If the Kryptonians clash, nothing will be able to protect the bottled city of Metropolis!
“The Guardian” written by Sean Lewis, art by Cully Hamner
“Mister Miracle” written by Brandon Easton, art by Valentine De Landro
Meanwhile, inside the bottle itself, the Guardian is doing everything he can to stop the city from destroying itself from within, while Mister Miracle has discovered the trail of a strange signal that he doesn’t realize will take him to Warworld.
Future State: Swamp Thing #2 (of 2)
art and cover by Mike Perkins
Card stock variant cover by Dima Ivanov ($4.99)
Written by Ram V
$3.99 US | 32 Pages | FC
Humanity strikes back! The shadow of Swamp Thing Supreme stretches across the globe as it has for centuries. The world is at peace, until a rebellious faction of humanity ignites their terrible plan, fueled by Woodrue Wilson’s appetite for power. But Swamp Thing, too, harbors a secret — one he must reveal in order to restore peace to the planet once again. But it will cost him everything he has.
Future State: Wonder Woman #2 (of 2)
Art and cover by Joëlle Jones
Card stock variant cover by Jenny Frison ($4.99)
Written by Joëlle Jones
$3.99 US | 32 Pages | FC
Emerging from the Amazon rain forest, the new Wonder Woman must battle her way through hell! Witness Yara Flor at the height of her power as she takes on the king of the underworld, Hades himself! Betrayed by a close ally, Yara’s back is against the wall as she is forced to battle legions of demons for survival and to liberate her Themysciran sister. You won’t want to miss the exciting conclusion of this of rising superstar hero’s first adventure!
Future State: Second Printings
DC’s two-month Future State event launched with a bang, with titles receiving high praise from press, and incredible excitement from fans!
The sales success and acclaim of this linewide look into potential futures of the DC Universe has resulted in the publisher returning to press to reprint several titles.
These dynamic “character portrait” style covers feature art from some of the hottest artists in comics, including Nick Derington, Joelle Jones, Dan Mora, Jen Bartel and Mike Perkins.
Future State: Dark Detective #1 2nd Ptg
Future State: The Next Batman #1 2nd Ptg
Future State: The Next Batman #2 2nd Ptg
Future State: Wonder Woman #1 2nd Ptg
Future State: Swamp Thing #1 2nd Ptg
King in Black (Marvel Comics)
King in Black: Black Knight #1
Written by Simon Spurrier
Art by Jesus Saiz
Cover by Dan Mora
THE BLACK KNIGHT DUELS THE KING IN BLACK!
Knull’s ferocious assault upon earth is soon at hand in KING IN BLACK, the monumental event spinning out of Donny Cates and Ryan Stegman’s game-changing run on Venom. Heroes across the Marvel Universe will be called upon to do battle against Knull and his army of symbiote dragons, including the famed wielder of the mighty Ebony Blade, the Black Knight! The Avenger will take up his sword and shield to defend against Knull’s unstoppable onslaught in KING IN BLACK: BLACK KNIGHT #1.
From the superstar creative team of writer Simon Spurrier (X-Men Legacy, X-Force) and artist Jesus Saiz (Star Wars, Captain America: Steve Rogers) comes the latest chapter in the legendary saga of Dane Whitman. As the endless horde of symbiote dragons darken the skies of Shanghai, Black Knight will have to overcome the growing evil within himself while grappling with surprising discoveries about his past. This epic issue will introduce new readers to the fan-favorite hero and reveal the bright future he has in the Marvel Universe, all amidst a vigorous battle that will go down in Marvel history!
Here's what Spurrier had to say about his venture into the Black Knight mythos:
“I've always had a soft spot for the Black Knight. On paper he's a splendid mashup of renaissance-fair fantasy and blood-drenched horror, somehow managing to hold his own alongside the bright sciencey heroes of the Marvel Universe. It should be an awkward fit — and maybe it is. Maybe that awkwardness is what really sings about this character. A troubled anachronism trying to hide his dysfunction behind swashbuckly snark, whose greatest weapon (the fabled Ebony Blade!) is also the source of all his trouble. See, it's a bit ... well ... murdery. In a "Thirsts for the Blood of the Living" sort of way.
“This is not your average hero. But then, King In Black is not your average event. In this crashing-together of eldritch shadows and global defenders, who better to come charging forth to slay some dragons (technically cosmic superpredators, but let's not split hairs) than a champion soaked in darkness of his own? And who better to shine the spotlight on some of Earth's Mightiest Heroes outside the western hemisphere than a guy who feels like a stranger in his own armor?
“King In Black: Black Knight takes the action to the skies above Shanghai and tangles the King in Black event with the fates of two extraordinary Chinese heroes. It glories in the ultra-rich painted art of Jesus Saiz, and verily, 'pon my troth, thou art mightily compelled to check it out.”
Spurrier's right above that Black Knight doesn't really fit in with superheroes, but I don't think he takes it far enough (because he's making Black Knight fit in with superheroes). The problem is that the Black Knight is a one-trick pony, and his trick is to stab people. That works fine in a medieval or Hyborian setting, but in the modern world stabbing people is mightily frowned upon, especially the fatal sort of stabbing.
I sort of feel the same way about the Human Torch, who really can't engage with ordinary crooks without being extremely careful not to kill them horribly. He looks really cool, but his super-power is best suited to lethal solutions. He has to be restricted to super-powered foes who are resistant or entirely invulnerable to fire. And then what good is he?
King in Black: Gwenom vs. Carnage #2 (of 3)
King in Black: Marauders #1
Cover by Russell Dauterman
Written by Gerry Duggan
Art by Luke Ross
THE QUEEN IN RED SAILS!
Red Queen Kate Pryde and her crew of Marauders set sail against the forces of Knull! Captain Kate has pledged to fight for the needy, and a global disaster like this one gives plenty of folks in need.
King in Black: Return of the Valkyries #2 (of 4)
Cover by Mattia De Iulis
Written by Jason Aaron & Torunn Grønbekk
Art by Nina Vakueva
SAVE THE SENTRY — SAVE THE VALKYRIES — SAVE THE EARTH!
Knull and his symbiote horrors have come to Earth, and now all Jane Foster sees when she looks at that big blue globe … is a vision of death. Most of Earth’s heroes are locked in battle on the ground, and it’s up to Jane and the Sentry to protect the rest! But Knull’s power has spread over the galaxy and infected creatures even older than the gods … and it may not matter how many Valkyries Jane can bring to their aid.
Venom #33
Black History Month
Marvel Comics will honor Black History Month with a series of variant covers depicting their most prominent Black heroes. A celebration of the legacy of Black heroes in Marvel Comics’ storytelling, these beautiful pieces of art will grace the covers of our most popular ongoing titles throughout the month of February and feature depictions of Storm, Black Panther, Miles Morales, Falcon, War Machine, Blade, Ironheart, and the new Valkyrie who recently appeared in KING IN BLACK: RETURN OF THE VALKYRIES #1. These beloved characters will be brought to life in the distinct, electrifying style of rising star artist Ernanda Souza in her Marvel Comics debut.
“First of all, I have to say that working for Marvel is a huge dream come true. I grew up watching Marvel movies and TV shows — especially the X-Men animated series in the '90s — and playing the whole Arcade franchise games. And to be honest, I never thought I would ever do work with them, but I'm glad to say I did,” Souza said. “As an Afro/Latin artist, it's a big honor for me to start with the company and work on some of the characters I like and who represent the Black community. Representation with respect is always a good thing, there can never be too much. I know I can only speak for myself, but I hope I did them justice.”
Avengers #42
Black History Month Variant Cover by Ernanda Souza
Valentine's Day
DIE!namite: Our Bloody Valentine one-shot
Writer: Fred Van Lente | artist: Drew Moss, Lee Ferguson
Cover A: Arthur Suydam
Cover B: Joseph Michael Linsner
I know that pose on the left. I can say with some confidence that it's a Gil Kane swipe. But where it's swiped from, I can't tell you.
Cover C: Will Robson
Wait — is Peter Cannon, Thunderbolt, now a player in the Dynamite Universe? I thought he lived in his own, separate Pete Morisiverse.
Cover D: Rachel Hollon Cosplay Variant
Retailer incentive: Will Robson
Retailer Incentive/BW: Rachel Hollon Cosplay Variant
Retailer incentive/Virgin: Will Robson
Retailer incentive/Virgin: Rachel Hollon Cosplay Variant
Retailer incentive/BW: Joseph Michael Linsner
FC | 32 pages | Action/Adventure | $3.99 | Teen+
Put yourself in the mood for love ... of delicious human flesh! Peter Cannon Thunderbolt has spent his entire life on a Himalayan mountain and his best friend Tabu is convinced to help him find a special someone, which is hard enough even in ideal conditions, but in the middle of a zombie apocalypse affecting all of Dynamite's heroes, it may be impossible! Or ... is it?
Vampirella: Valentine’s Day Special 2021
Cover A: Joseph Michael Linsner
I think I've mentioned this before, but I'll say it again: All of J.M. Linsner's women have the same figure: square hips, thick waists, prominent aurolae. Having only one female somatotype in one's artistic quiver is a common failing among comics artists, even great ones like John Buscema and Dan DeCarlo. I probably wouldn't notice, except that Linsner's favored form is so specific. If you're a girl who looks like that, Linsner is probably hiding in your bushes. Sketching, of course.
Cover B: Gene Ha
Cover C: Sarah Stalcup Cosplay Cover
Retailer incentive/BW: Gene Ha
Retailer incentive/BW: Joseph Michael Linsner
Retailer incentive virgin cosply
Retailer incentive virgin: Gene Ha
Retailer incentive/BW virgin: Joseph Michael Linsner
Writers: Tom Sniegoski, Jeannine Acheson
Artist: Marcos Ramos
FC | 40 pages | Action/Adventure | $4.99 | Teen+
In a terrifying alternate reality, Dracula and Vampirella have wed and the world has been plunged into darkness. Humanity has become little more than cattle and Vampirella has sworn a sacred oath to her Husband and King not to fight against Vampire supremacy . . . but a rebellion is brewing in the shadows. Who is the mysterious rebel Bloodwing, and why does Dracula, and the vampire race, fear her so?
A tale of Love and Death ripped from the Book of Prophecy.
FIRST ISSUES
Avengers Mech Strike #1 (of 5)
Art by Carlos Magno
Cover by Kei Zama
A brand-new enemy has emerged in the Marvel Universe and even Earth’s Mightiest Heroes are no match against it. But the Avengers aren’t so easily beaten, and when new threats arise, powerful new tools must be brought to bear! Suiting up in high-tech individualized armor, the Avengers stand ready for one of their greatest battles yet in the extraordinary new comic series, AVENGERS MECH STRIKE!
Written by Jed MacKay (Black Cat) with art by Carlos Magno (Fantastic Four, Empyre: Avengers), AVENGERS MECH STRIKE will kick off a bold new age of action-packed Avengers battles that will send shockwaves throughout the comic book industry and beyond! Uniting against an unstoppable enemy, AVENGERS MECH STRIKE #1 is just the beginning of this epic story that will unfold throughout next year!
"Heavy metal! When the Avengers come up against something that defies their usual methods, new tools are needed for the job: giant robot suits,” said MacKay. “It's been a blast to take on the Avengers and really put them in the thick of it. When you're dealing with the Avengers, everything is big. Big action. Big stakes. And now, big robots!
“We're going for non-stop, full-bore action, with a lineup of Avengers favorites going up against an unexpected new foe...that might end up being quite familiar! Aliens, robots, dinosaurs, Martians...it's going to get worse before it gets better for our heroes."
Behold your first glimpse at these instantly iconic new suits on Kei Zama’s cover below and stay alert for news about the AVENGERS MECH STRIKE program, featuring comics, digital content, and more exciting products to be announced in the coming weeks and months! For more information, including a special teaser video, visit Marvel.com.
I'd really like to know more about the whys and whats of Marvel's deal with IDW. The former has obviously contracted with the latter to do comics aimed at a younger market using Marvel characters. But why would the largest creator/publisher of comics in North America sub-contract the creating/publishing of any comic books to another publisher? Did Marvel think they couldn't do the job as well? Are IDW freelancers cheaper? Did previous Marvel failures (Star comics, etc.) factor in? Does Marvel retain veto power over stories or individual issues that they feel don't present their characters in the right manner? Inquiring minds want to know!
Cavewoman Metal Age #1 (of 2)
Art/Cover: Andrew Mangum
Writer: Dave Kopecki
Amryl Entertainment / $4.50
Meriem comes face to face with the demon minions of Malevolence, the Queen of Limbo. Thanks to her recent "visit" from Razor (in Cavewoman Razors Run), she knows the threat of Malevolence is very real. Now a portal has been ripped open between her world and Limbo, the world between worlds, and our Cavewoman must defend her land and take the fight to them.
Must be winter in the jungle. She's wearing gloves and boots. /s
Cerebus in Hell 2021 Preview one-shot
Art/Cover: Dave Sim, David Birdsong
Writer: Dave Sim, David Birdsong
Art: Gustave Dore, Benjamin Hobbs
Aardvark Vanaheim / $4.00
Get an advance look at the entire Cerebus In Hell? 2021 "monthly-that-actually-is-monthly" comics lineup teaser! Yes, they're all done! New gags that won't be included in the actual books! Experience an uncanny feeling of deja vu all year ("I remember this from somewhere! But ... where?"). Leave Post-lt notes to yourself if your short-term memory is going: "IDiot! You saw it in the Cerebus In Hell? 2021 January Preview!" But, first, leave a Post-lt note reminding yourself to write the Post-It notes! Fun for the whole family!
Four bucks for a preview? Can you say "gouging," boys and girls?
But I may be prejudiced, because I am angry at creator Dave Sim. And not for the usual reasons.
It goes back to around Cerebus #150 or so. That's when I stopped buying Cerebus. I did so because I had a revelation.
"Dave Sim doesn't have a plan," I realized, thunderstruck. "I'm wasting my time and money."
Bear with me as I explain that.
See, as a parody, Cerebus worked for me for, roughly, 10 minutes. That's about 5 minutes longer than most. To work, parodies must know their limitations. Brevity is the soul of parodic wit; parody ceases to be funny if it goes on too long. (Nod your head if you've seen a Saturday Night Live skit that went on too long.)
Also, there's the legal issue. In tort law, I was taught in 1981, you can legally use somebody else's character, logo, copyright or trademarks for three appearances, and argue parody, satire, educational use or news value. But then the hammer comes down, because with the fourth use, says the law, you're blatantly and inexcusably making money off someone else's intellectual property, whatever defense you muster.
But I gave Cerebus extra time, because it was such a bizarre parody. I mean, Conan as an aardvark? Is there some hidden meaning I'm not getting? I hung on to find out.
So on we went, Dave Sim and I, with the Roach parodying one character after another, a strange riff on George Washington, Groucho Marx driving a taxi, and other odd elements smooshed together. I thought, "Surely this is leading somewhere." And I hung on to find out.
But there came a day, a day unlike any other, when I realized that creator Dave Sim was just winging it. I don't know what tipped me off. Probably an accumulation of suspicions. But I suddenly knew, as if an invisible Sim had whispered it in my ear, that content of any given issue of Cerebus was just whatever occurred to Sim on a given day, tossed into a blender with the other stuff.
There was no point. No grand philosophy. No progression to a climax that would explain why Conan was a talking aardvark, and why he was the only talking aardvark on the planet, and why The Roach seemed vaguely aware that he was a comic book character aping other comic book characters, and how and why the historical figures in the book (Weisshaupt, the Marx parody, etc.) existed, why they had the names they did (Weisshaupt means "to know well" in German, but maybe he was swinging for "Weisshaus," or "White House" and just missed) and how they commented on actual history or underlying themes. It was all just a bunch of nonsense, based on other people's creations.
"Dammit," I thought. "I've been reading Cerebus like it was The Great Gatsby, looking for themes and metaphors, when I should have been reading it like The Great Gazoo. I've been tricked into subsidizing intellectual property theft." I wasn't enraged, but I was pretty miffed, mainly at myself for being snookered.
(Now, perhaps, y'all understand why I don't watch The Orville. I consider it IP theft. I'm not going to patronize The Orville until it starts paying royalties to Star Trek. It also irritates me in that Seth MacFarlane gets away with it because he's Seth MacFarlane. If I had come up with the same exact show, I'd have been hit with a cease-and-desist by EOB of the first day. But in America, if you're a white man who is famous and/or rich, the rules don't apply. See: Donald Trump. There are two legal systems: One for rich white men, and another for everybody else. And that does enrage me.)
So I stopped buying Cerebus. Absent the hope of a coherent worldview/explanation/thematic structure for all this blither, it would at least have to be funny enough to entertain me. And it wasn't. I dropped the book, with a complete loss of respect for Sim and no little disappointment in myself.
It was later that all the misogynist crap came out, which is what turned a lot of other people off Dave Sim. He became an industry pariah, and Cerebus ended not much later. I heard about that second-hand, as I wasn't buying the book, but it dovetailed neatly with my already low opinion of Sim as a "creator."
And who had fooled me. Shame on him, but mainly on me.
Chained to the Grave #1 (of 5)
Writers: Brian Level & Andy Eschenbach
Art/Cover: Kate Sherron
IDW • FC • 32 pages • $3.99
From the creative team of co-writers Brian Level (Darth Vader, Thanos, Deadpool) and Andy Eschenbach (Heavy Metal Magazine, Red Shoes) and artist Kate Sherron (Invader Zim, The Amazing World of Gumball) comes Chained to the Grave, a five-issue comic book series of Old West action -- with a wholly unique visual style and supernatural weirdness aplenty!
In anticipation of February’s #1 issue launch, IDW is proud to debut the opening scene of this mature-themed miniseries for all the world to enjoy.
Outlaw Roy Mason has come back from the dead, chained to the headstone that marked his grave. It’s a lawless time, a magical time, and the undead Roy finds himself caught between a rock and a hard place as he sets out in search of treasure. But Roy, trying to do right by the wife and children he left behind, soon finds out that everything is not always as it seems …
“The process of making Chained to the Grave has been a great pleasure,” says Level. “With Andy's weird genius and Kate's singular and luminous art, I've had a hand in creating one of the more unorthodox westerns on the market. For such a rotten guy, Roy Mason has brought us along for a pretty magical ride!”
“Brian and I really set out to make something strange and fun with the pieces of something familiar, and Kate’s pen just amplifies that notion. It’s got all the things you’d want from a Western romp, but it toys with those tropes, focusing on the blast radius of Roy Mason’s bad decisions, all through the vivid lens of Kate’s amazing style,” says Eschenbach.
“I love a good Western, but I loathe the usual Western palette — tan, brown, the occasional khaki green... I’d really rather not,” says Sherron. “I can’t thank Brian and Andy enough for crafting this wild story where cowpokes and color happily coexist on the page.”
Chained to the Grave #1 will feature two cover editions for fans to enjoy: Cover A by Kate Sherron and a Retailer Incentive edition by Brian Level.
For information on how to acquire copies of Chained to the Grave, please contact your local comic shop or visit www.comicshoplocator.com to find a store near you.
Deep Beyond #1 (of 12)
Image Comics is pleased to announce that acclaimed creator Mirka Andolfo (Mercy, Unnatural) and David Goy will team up with rising star artist Andrea Broccardo (Star Wars: Doctor Aphra, Empyre: X-Men, Wonder Woman Agent of Peace) and colorist Barabara Nosenzo (The Ballad of Halo Jones) for the forthcoming 12 issue science fiction series Deep Beyond. This thrilling new adventure is produced by Arancia Studio—the Italian media company which worked on Mirka Andolfo’s bestselling Image Comics titles and with the surprising Commanders in Crisis — and will launch from Image Comics this February.
“I always loved creating stories. I usually do my own artwork, but while thinking about Deep Beyond, I was pretty sure I wasn’t the right artist to work on it,” said Andolfo. “The first idea came during a long trip by car with David to a business meeting. He was driving, and we were discussing the idea. … Then we connected with an artist we adore, and the game was done. The readers of my books will find some of the elements I typically put into a story, including strong female characters. And the plural is not a coincidence. ... And, like all my comics, great attention is paid to colors, done by talented colorist Barbara Nosenzo, with supervision by me and Arancia’s team.”
Deep Beyond is set in a toxic and underpopulated future Earth, devastated by the dire consequences of the millennium bug, which caused significant disasters and a halt to civilization as we know it. The survival of the whole of mankind — and, maybe, of the planet itself — is handled by a small number of people.
Here a contingent of talented scientists—despite the adverse situation, and feuds that continue amongst the remaining population — try to understand and study what is hidden in the depths of the abyss. Below may lurk something mysterious and dangerous — even something that could lead to an even more destructive catastrophe.
“I’m thrilled about this new adventure: I already teamed up with Mirka as a writer on some Un/Sacred stories, and this is my very first time working on an American comic book, after Italian comics and French bandes dessinées. … I couldn’t think of a better debut,” continued Goy. “We started working on this project in a world which seemed much less similar to what we have built than it looks now, and little by little we built up a story which wants to be intense and delicate at the same time, entertaining but, if possible, making people reflect on where we are and where we want to go.”
Broccardo added: "It's great to be involved in this awesome adventure, which allows me to draw sea monsters. I adore drawing sea monsters. … Now, I guess … I'm not sure I can talk about them, but … well, they're on the cover, so I definitely can! I loved the story from the first day I read the pitch, and I couldn’t be more excited about joining such kinds of partners and friends in this project. I can just say that Deep Beyond will be one of the most exciting comic books I've ever read!"
This intense, sci-fi thriller will project readers into a terrible world yet not very far from ours, with a story full of suspense, mysteries and … fluorescent sea monsters!
Devil’s Dominion #1
Art/Cover: Raffaele Forte
Writer: Brian Hawkins
Art: Sara Ianniello
Blackbox Comics / $3.99
Devlynn St. Paul sold her soul to the Devil to stop the horror being done to her by her brother. However, Devlynn reneged on the deal and now uses her demonic powers to hunt others who are demon possessed and have lost control of their lives.
Encoded #1
Cover: Phil Hester
Writer: Josh Blaylock, Mark Powers
Art: Jethro Morales
Devil’s Due / $7.99
What if our fears of a tyrannical A.I. turn out to be unfounded, but nevertheless, humanity forces this machine intelligence to fight back? In 2045 we survive a brush with oblivion when the A.I. AURELIUS achieves singularity, quickly deactivated but not without a fight. A decade later governments ensure it never returns by activating the "Analog Protocol," frequently and without warning. Citizens must expect, at any time, to lose all digital capabilities. What they don't know is that AURELIUS left a piece of its mind behind in a simple hemp farmer known only as Epictetus.
Fear Case #1 (of 4)
Art/Cover Tyler Jenkins
Variant by Francesco Francavilla
Variant by Duncan Fegredo
Writer: Matt Kindt
FC, 32 pages, $3.99
Miniseries
A new, horrific detective series by Matt Kindt (Ether, Mind MGMT) and Tyler Jenkins (Grass Kings)!
A no-nonsense Secret Service agent and his new-age partner investigate a mysterious box known as the “Fear Case,” which has appeared throughout history at sites of disaster and tragedy. Whoever comes into possession of this case must pass it on within three days or face deadly consequences. The agents must track down this Fear Case while staying one step ahead of a psychotic cult and the otherwordly forces behind the Case’s existence.
From the minds of Matt Kindt (BANG!, Crimson Flower), Tyler Jenkins (Neverboy, Grass Kings), and Hilary Jenkins (King of Nowhere, Black Badge) comes Fear Case, a new, horrific detective series. The Eisner-award nominated team behind Grass Kings is teaming up once again, this time to strike fear — and intrigue — into the hearts of readers.
“I’ve never written a story in the horror genre before. Real life is already so full of it. This is the most grounded thing I’ve ever written. And as a result, it’s definitely the most horrific. I apologize in advance.” — Matt Kindt
“Once again, working with Matt is exactly as it should be between collaborators. The projects we build are a pure joy to work on.” — Tyler Jenkins
Praise for Matt Kindt:
"Mind MGMT is the best comic out there!” — Jeff Lemire
“Matt Kindt has developed into one of the most exciting and original talents in the business.” — The LA Times
“Matt Kindt is a storyteller so fully in control of his gifts that his graphic novels read like quietly compelling arguments for the comics medium’s narrative potential.” — NPR
“Kindt has long proven himself to be one of the most inventive and cerebral comic makers alive today.” — IGN
Legend of Shang-Chi #1
Art/Cover: Andie Tong
Writer: Alyssa Wong
Marvel Comics / $3.99
Deadly Hands vs. Deadly Blades!
- Someone has been stealing artifacts of WMD potential.
- It's up to Shang-Chi to find this person and stop them.
- But is he prepared to go toe-to-toe with Lady Deathstrike?!
Luna #1 (of 5)
Writer/Art/Cover: Maria Llovet
Boom Entertainment / $3.99
For fans of Faithless and Die comes a new dark thriller from acclaimed writer & artist Maria Llovet about a young woman named Teresa, who's plagued by prophetic dreams that connect her to something powerful, something ... divine.
When Teresa fatefully crosses paths with the Family of the Sun, she believes them to be exactly what anyone else in the late '60s would expect - a hippie cult whose leader claims to have met the divine.
But secret blood rituals, powerful drugs and sex runneth amok will bring Teresa face-to-face with the truth about the Family, herself and the dark secret behind her dreams.
Immortality, magic and alchemy, and the true power of enduring love collide in this new series for Mature Readers.
Man-Bat #1
By Kyle Hotz & Alejandro Sánchez
Variant Cover by Kevin Nowlan
Written by Dave Wielgosz
Art by Sumit Kumar, Romulo Fajardo Jr. and Tom Napolitano
In the battle between man and monster ... the monster's winning! Man-Bat, a five-issue series starring the long-running Batman antagonist, debuts in February from the creative team of writer Dave Wielgosz and artist Sumit Kumar!
For years Kirk Langstrom has struggled with his monstrous alter ego Man-Bat and the serum that transformed him. But he’s finally hit rock bottom following a devastating setback, and he’s going to take out his anger on every single citizen of Gotham City. Will the combined might of Batman and the GCPD be enough to stop Langstrom once and for all? Or will this just be the start of Man-Bat’s devastation?
Take a look at the first seven pages of interior artwork from Man-Bat #1, where Man-Bat's murderous meltdown begins!
And in the following issues, Man-Bat is on the run from the law following a horrific night of blood and mayhem on the streets of Gotham City. But the police aren’t what Kirk Langstrom’s monstrous alter ego should worry about … it’s Task Force X, better known as the Suicide Squad! To undo the damage he has caused, Man-Bat must seek a cure for the innocents he has injured, all while staying out of the deadly sights of the world’s most dangerous mercenaries!
Man-Bat #1, written by Dave Wielgosz with art by Sumit Kumar, Romulo Fajardo Jr. and Tom Napolitano, arrives in stores on February 2 with a main cover by Kyle Hotz & Alejandro Sánchez and a variant cover by Kevin Nowlan.
I have zero interest in this character. The best depiction I've seen is in Justice League Dark, where he was a socially awkward, clueless academic who looked like a giant bat, i.e., comedy relief. But that only works in an ensemble. As a lead, he just riffs on the standard man-trapped-as-a-monster tropes, which we've seen explored ad nauseum in Werewolf by Night, Swamp Thing, the Incredible Hulk, Ghost Rider, etc., etc., etc. But he's an excuse to show Batman, so he keeps getting gigs.
Maniac of New York #1
Art/Cover: Andrea Mutti
Writer: Elliott Kalan
Aftershock Comics / $4.99
Four years ago, a masked slasher began stalking the streets of New York City.
Maniac Harry is inhuman, unkillable and unstoppable. Which is why the authorities' solution has been to ignore him, and let New Yorkers adapt to a world where death can strike at any moment. When Maniac Harry starts killing his way through the subway system, trauma-haunted political aide Gina Greene and disgraced NYPD detective Zelda Pettibone become determined to go rogue and destroy him. But how can they fight a monster when they can't fight City Hall?
From Emmy Award-winning writer Elliott Kalan (The Daily Show, MST3K, Spider-Man & The X-Men) and artist Andrea Mutti (Port of Earth, Hellblazer) comes the horrifying story of what happens when terror becomes the new normal. A frightening, thought-provoking, sometimes funny, always timely tale of murder, obsession and urban living.
Marvel Action: Origins #1 (of 5)
Share the most important moments in Marvel history with young fans, two tales at a time, with Marvel Action: Origins, the thrilling new series in IDW’s line of comics aimed at middle grade readers. Written by Christopher Eliopoulos (of Franklin Richards, Son of a Genius, Cosmic Commandos, and Ordinary People Change the World fame) and illustrated by rising star Lanna Souvanny, the first monthly issue will debut in December.
In Marvel Action: Origins #1, experience the earliest adventures of everyone’s favorite teenage webhead and Mad Titan! Discover how a science exhibit and a radioactive bite changed Peter Parker into Spider-Man, and what dark motivations set the Avengers’ most dangerous enemy, Thanos, on his path of universal conquest. Subsequent issues will focus on the Hulk, Ghost-Spider, Venom, and more!
“Creating a gateway for young readers to learn more about the amazing characters of the Marvel Universe is a dream job,” says Eliopoulos. “In this series, readers are going to learn about the emotions and inner thoughts of these heroes and villains while learning about values and character. It’s a series that shows the character behind the characters!”
“When I got asked to work on Marvel Action: Origins, I was super-excited … and to begin with Spider-Man, the very first Marvel Super Hero I'd met as a kid, it was perfect!” says Souvanny. “Nowadays, lots of kids discover superheroes through the movies, and Marvel Action: Origins is a great way for them to further explore their favorite characters through comic books. These are crucial chapters for younger fans, who identify and grow with the heroes as they become super heroes.”
“The Marvel Action line at IDW has focused on creating kid-focused stories about the most popular Marvel Super Heroes, including Spider-Man, Black Panther, Captain Marvel, and the Avengers,” says editor Elizabeth Brei. “We're delighted to bring some of the most famous stories in comic history -- the origins of heroes and villains -- to the page for kids to revisit or hear for the first time. It's really fun to hook a new generation of comic fans on super hero stories!”
Each issue of Marvel Action: Origins will feature three cover editions for fans to enjoy: Cover A by series artist Lanna Souvanny spotlighting the issue’s hero, Cover B (also by Souvanny) spotlighting the issue’s villain, and a Retailer Incentive edition by Agnes Garbowska (My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic).
Redemption #1
Art/Cover: Mike Deodato
Writer: Christa Faust
AWA / $3.99
The dusty desert town of Redemption survived the apocalypse but is hanging on by a thread. A despot rules the town with an iron fist and controls its most precious resource: water. When that strongman marks her mother for death, young Rose Obregon ventures into the perilous wasteland to seek the help of the legendary gunslinger Cat Tanner, only to discover that the so-called "Butcher" is long retired, living in solitude, far from what's left of the world, and preferring to keep it that way.
When Rose arrives on Tanner's doorstep, with gunmen hot on her trail, the Butcher has a choice to make: sit on the sidelines or pick up her guns and do what she does best?
This looks for all the world like a traditional Western, albeit with the modern trope of all the main characters being female. A real Western, with no superhero or supernatural elements, is pretty rare. (Probably because they don't sell.) Well, good luck, AWA. P.S.: Methinks Deodata used a Sam Neill photo for reference on that cover!
Rick and Morty: Worlds Apart #1
Art/Cover: Tony Fleecs
Writer: Josh Trujillo
Art: Jarrett Williams
Oni Press / $3.99
Based on the hit Season 4 of Rick and Morty, see some of your favorite new characters collide in Rick and Morty: Worlds Apart, a brand-new miniseries! See the outrageous S**t Dragons in an all-new, tantalizing adventure where only Morty can save them. And when Facist Teddy Rick shows up and ruins Rick's ultimate vacation plan, no one is safe!
The Shepherd #1
Art/Cover: Luca Panciroli
Writers: Andrea Lorenzo Molinari, Roberto Xavier Molinari
Art: Ryan Showers
Colorists: Heather Breckel, Pamela Poggiali
Letterers: Jacob Bascle, Joel Rodriguez
Project Manager: Jason Dube
Prof. Lawrence Miller falls into a dark vortex of guilt and anger after enduring the tragic death of his teenage son from a drug overdose. He cannot shake the sense that his son is now a lost soul, wandering between heaven and earth. Grieving and profoundly disturbed, he opts for suicide, pursuing his son into the afterlife. Once on the other side, he encounters his deceased father and is given a mystical pendant of great power. Unfortunately, in Lawrence’s hands it becomes a weapon that allows him to unleash his fury on those who brought the drugs to his son, leaving a trail of insanity and chaos in his wake. His existence becomes a terrifying conflict between his unchecked anger and his knowledge that he might have lost his way.
From Co-Creator/Co-Writer Andrea Lorenzo Molinari
The Shepherd team has been interacting with Scout Comics at conventions and in an editorial scope for some time now. We’ve always admired their exemplary energy and drive and it was the most natural thing to want to be a part of that team. We have a lot of faith in the leadership at Scout/Black Caravan to take not only our title, but a lot of other titles, to the next level. With regard to the The Shepherd series in particular, we look forward to building our universe together for years to come.
Shi No Kage #1 (of 3)
Art/Cover: Gus Mauk
Writer: Neil Davis
Blackbox / $3.99
After the murder of one of his clan's seven samurai, the young warrior, Hachiro is called upon to finish his training. Bound by a sense of honor to his sister and community, he battles through a gauntlet filled with demons, beasts and his past while his village braces for war.
Sonjaversal #1
Writer: Christopher Hastings
Artist: Pasquale Qualano, Jordi Perez
FC | 32 pages | Action/Adventure | $3.99 | Teen+
Cover A: Jae Lee
Cover B: Joseph Michael Linsner
Cover C: Will Robson
Cover D: Mayara Sampaio
Cover E: Tabitha Lyons Cosplay Cover
Retailer incentive: Drew Moss
Retailer Incentive: Lauren Walsh
Retailer incentive: Erica Henderson
Retailer incentive/BW: Will Robson
Retailer incentive/BW: Jae Lee
Retailer incentive/BW: Joseph Michael Linsner
Retailer incentive virgin: Drew Moss
Retailer incentive virgin: Lauren Walsh
Retailer incentive virgin: Erica Henderson
Retailer incentive/BW: Erica Henderson
Retailer incentive virgin: Cosplay
Retailer incentive/BW virgin: Joseph Michael Linsner
An evil god punishes Sonja's across dimensions. What’s the punishment? SONJA’S MUST KILL OTHER SONJAS. The battle for SONJA SUPREMACY BEGINS IN THE EVENT OF 2021, by CHRISTOPHER HASTINGS (Gwenpool) and PASQUALE QUALANO (DIE!NAMITE)!
THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT COMIC BOOK TO EVER COME OUT IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD. Starring: RED Sonja, BLUE Sonja, GREEN Sonja, ORANGE Sonja, SAINT Sonja, HELL Sonja, and MANY, MANY, MANY MORE!
They had me at "Green Sonja." Hyuk!
Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures #1
Cover A: Harvey Tolibao
Cover B: Yael Nathan
Writer: Daniel José Older
Art: Harvey Tolibao
FC • 32 pages • $3.99
In its first contribution to Lucasfilm’s bold Star Wars: The High Republic publishing campaign spanning comics and prose, IDW announces the Feb, 3, 2021, launch of Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures, an ongoing comic book series set 200 years before the live action film continuity.
Writer Daniel José Older, bestselling author of Star Wars: Last Shot, joins artist Harvey Tolibao and colorist Rebecca Nalty for a tale of the Republic’s glory days that — while aimed at middle grade readers — provides a unique perspective to pivotal moments in the Star Wars timeline that fans of all ages can enjoy.
In Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures, the Jedi have long maintained galactic peace … but the coming of a powerful new adversary called the Nihil threatens to end it all. Now, a group of Master Yoda’s young Padawan learners must protect the Republic while learning the lessons that will one day lead them to become powerful Jedi in their own right.
“I'm so very excited to be able to tell this epic story of Padawans as the galaxy changes dramatically around them and danger lurks around every corner. Working on The High Republic has been a dream come true and getting to watch this world come to life through the brilliant art of Harvey Tolibao is one of the highlights of my career. I can't wait for the fans to see what we're cooking up,” says Older.
“Star Wars has always been a part of my life, and was my first huge project back when my career started with Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic in 2006,” says Tolibao. “It’s awesome being part of the High Republic team, working alongside amazing writer Daniel, editors Elizabeth Brei and Riley Farmer, and Lucasfilm. It’s a dream come true.”
“It’s a thrill for us to get to participate in the storytelling of this bold new era of Star Wars lore. Daniel, Harvey, and Rebecca are building an incredible chapter of the story that is truly essential reading for the High Republic initiative,” says editor Elizabeth Brei.
“Daniel, Harvey, and Rebecca have crafted a truly thrilling comic series for fans of all ages. Featuring a dual narrative that focuses on the heroic Jedi and the sinister Nihil, The High Republic Adventures has it all: a diverse group of young Padawans who find themselves in over their heads, lightsaber action, mysterious new villains, more lightsaber action, and Master Yoda, and that’s just the first two issues. This one is not to be missed,” says Lucasfilm Publishing Creative Director Michael Siglain.
Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures #1 will be available with two cover variants for retailers and fans to enjoy: Cover A by series artist Harvey Tolibao, and a Retailer Incentive edition featuring art by Yael Nathan.
That Full Moon Feeling one-shot
Writer/Art/Cover: Ashley Robin Franklin
Silver Sprocket / $14.99
A witch and a werewolf go on three disastrous dates in this magical queer romcom.
Follow along with Suzy & Jada as they navigate online dating awkwardness, hungry monsters, jealous exes, rude skeletons, boring movies, feelings (!!!), and more!
They Fell from the Sky #1
Art/Cover: Xavier Tarrega
Writer: Liezl Buenaventura
Mad Cave Studios / $3.99
Tommy Murphy is just an ordinary kid. He goes to school, hangs out with his friends, and fanboys over his favorite TV show. But when a chance encounter in the woods thrusts him into an unlikely friendship with an otherworldly creature, he is forced to navigate bullies, family squabbles, and tween woes... all while trying to prevent an interplanetary war!
Transformers: Beast Wars #1
Cover A: Josh Burcham
Cover B: Fico Ossio
Retailer incentive cover: Dan Schoening!
Retailer Incentive cover: Nick Brokenshire!
Writer: Erik Burnham
Art: Josh Burcham
FC • 48 pages • $5.99
For an entire generation of Transformers fans, their first experience with “Robots in Disguise” was through the Transformers: Beast Wars television show, debuting in 1996 as the cutting edge of computer generated children’s entertainment. In 2021, IDW will honor the 25th anniversary of this monumental moment in Hasbro’s storied Transformers franchise with the launch of an all-new Transformers: Beast Wars comic book series!
Written by Erik Burnham (Transformers/Ghostbusters) with art by longtime Transformers artist Josh Burcham (whose credits include IDW’s ongoing series, Galaxies, the Wreckers saga, and much, much more), the new series will launch in February with a #1 issue containing 30 pages of story and bonus content.
The Transformers: Beast Wars comic series will welcome fans to a future Cybertron populated by scientific-minded Maximals and action-oriented Predacons. When the successor to the Megatron name steals a golden disk and a ship capable of traveling through time, only Optimus Primal and a team of Maximals — Rattrap, Rhinox, Cheetor, and a new character Nyx — can stop them.
“Beast Wars was a wonderful and weird pivot from the Transformers setup to which I was first introduced. Big personalities, unexpected twists, and actual stakes all popped up regularly on the show, and those are tools that I enjoy using to build new stories,” says Burnham. “Best of all, the enthusiasm from everyone involved in this project has been so high that I'm feeling constantly inspired!”
“I'm so thrilled to be a part of this team,” says Burcham. “I was a ‘90s kid and even though I knew about Generation 1, Beast Wars was really my G1. It's still my favorite iteration, and I consider it such a privilege to be able to bring the characters to life in this brand new series. Let the Beast Wars rage on!"
“Beast Wars is a beloved part of the Transformers legacy,” says editor David Mariotte. “That’s why we couldn’t pass up launching a new series in tandem with the 25th anniversary! Erik and Josh are going to take everything that’s beloved about Beast Wars — the characterization, the drama, the jokes — and start fresh with a series that will feel at home for fans of 25 years and first-timers alike.”
(Please see "Feb. 1-7 Part II" for "Graphic Novels" and "... And the Rest.")
Replies
Could Sim have been referencing Adam Weishaupt, alleged founder of the Illuminati, who conspiracy theorists say killed George Washington and took his place as the first president of the US?
I hadn't heard that conspiracy theory before, but you're undoubtedly right that it's the source for Sim's Weisshaupt. Which actually kind of makes my point. He lifted Weisshaupt from another source and ... did nothing with him. He was simply Machiavellian for the sake of being Machiavellian, and wasn't used to illuminate current politics, or make a philosophical point, or anything. He was just swiped and used as an ongoing character in a story that seemed mysterious with hidden depths, but there really wasn't anything behind the curtain.
BLACK KNIGHT: The best Black Knight (IMO) is that which appeared in Marvel UK's weekly Hulk Comic, which led directly into Alan Moore's Capatin Britain run. It has been readily available in the United States for... OMG, has it been a decade already!?... in the HC Captain Britain v2 (2011).
"Wait — is Peter Cannon, Thunderbolt, now a player in the Dynamite Universe? I thought he lived in his own, separate Pete Morisiverse."
Could he be public domain...?
CEREBUS: My experience with Cerebus (and Dave Sim) is a bit different than yours. I began reading with "Jaka's Story" (#114) for one thing, right around the time Cerebus Bi-Weekly started reprinting from the beginnig.
"But I suddenly knew, as if an invisible Sim had whispered it in my ear, that content of any given issue of Cerebus was just whatever occurred to Sim on a given day, tossed into a blender with the other stuff."
Not so invisible for me. Did you see the VHS documentary Masters of the Comic Book Art circa 1985? (It's still my favorite comic book documentary, bar none.) Sim was one of the artists featured and he pretty much came right out and said what you just asserted. This isn't the thread for an in-depth discussion of Sim/Cerebus, though. I had been buying the Cerebus in Hell? one-shots, though, up through #20 or thereabouts. It's difficult to tell because each issue is "#1." The covers were funny, though. I had been wanting to quit for some time for two reasons: 1) the insides weren't all that funny, and 2) $4 is a lot to pay for just a cover. What finally broke me of the habit is the one that parodied an adult coloring book. Or shouls I say "colouring" book? That's how Sim spelled it, but Diamond used the American spelling and none of the orders matched up with the product. When I couldn't get it, I decided enough is is enough. and that's enough about Dave Sim.
SHANG-CHI: Robin called. He wants his costume back.
"(Please see "Feb. 1-7 Part II" for "Graphic Novels" and "... And the Rest.")"
If you mean the Professor and Mary Ann, please say the Professor and Mary Ann.
Jeff of Earth-J said:
I would never diss Mary Ann that way. I have, however, swiped the line from Gilligan's Island, because I am shameless.
Re: Peter Cannon. The last I heard about the rights to Thunderbolt was that Pete Morisi had never let Charlton have them, and had retained the rights himself. This was back when DC first got the Charlton characters, and everybody kept saying "Where's Thunderbolt?" and the official explanation was that DC didn't have the rights, but instead the Morisi estate did. That was long ago, though, so things may have changed. After all, DC did eventually do a Thunderbolt series, and then a couple of other companies did. So I don't know anything, really, although if the DC story from eons ago is true, public domain seems unlikely.
Re: Cerebus. Good to know my youthful revelation about Sim was spot on. One thing that still sticks in my head. I started buying Cerebus with, I dunno, issue #4 of 5, whatever the first one I saw was. (The early print run was very small.) I managed to get all the back issues I needed except for #1, which I could only find at exorbitant prices. (This was pre-Internet, so my choices were limited.) As it happened, I never did get #1, but I do have #2 on to whatever issue I quit on.
Cap said:
Cap, Dynamite has done 2 Peter Cannon mini-series already. The last one from 2019 written by Kieron Gillen, he created as an unofficial sequel The Watchmen. I thought it was pretty good. I didn't read the first series.