MAY 18, 2016
FIRST ISSUE ALERT!
Here are first issues to note this week.
ACTIONVERSE #1
Publisher: ACTION LAB ENTERTAINMENT
Writer: VITO DELSANTE
Art: STEVE WALKER
Colors: WILSON RAMOS JR.
Cover: STEVE WALKER
Connecting Variant: RON FRENZ/MARC DEERING/ROSS CAMPBELL/DAVID BEDNARSKI
32 pgs. • A • FC • $3.99 (reg.) • $4.99 (var.)
This is it! The fight for the survival of the Actionverse is here! Only one man has the ability to stop him … and it’s NOT one of our heroes! Will Medulla help or will he show his true colors? And not a hoax, not a dream, not an imaginary tale … one of our heroes DIES!
Variant cover limited to 1,500 copies.
As I've mentioned before, this is not really a first issue -- it's issue #6 of the Actionverse crossover, and the climax. It will be followed by another Actionverse #1 (the seventh!), the first issue of an ongoing series.
On another topic, Cover B struck a nerve -- I've seen that pose before, but I wasn't sure where. As I researched, I discovered that someone holding the left hand up in triumph (or in angst, like in the Fantastic Four cover) while surrounded by fallen heroes, is fairly common. It also suggests someone holding something up, something that put everyone else down -- a Cosmic Cube? An Infinity Gauntlet? I did a lot of searching, and put three of my discoveries above, but I don't think I found the Ur-cover. Anyone else got any suggestions?
ARCHANGEL #1
Publisher: IDW PUBLISHING
Writer: WILLIAM GIBSON
Art: BUTCH GUICE
Cover: TULA LOTAY
Subscription Variant: BUTCH GUICE
European Theatre Variant: DAVIDE FABBRI
Paperback Variant: JAMES BIGGIE
FC • 40 pages • $4.99
Science Fiction Superstar William Gibson comes to comics! The U.S. political leaders of 2016 abandon the radioactive planet they’ve destroyed and harness the power of humanity’s last hope: The Splitter, a colossal machine designed to manufacture a bright new reality for them to infiltrate and corrupt.
• William Gibson, author of Neuromancer and one of the most influential science fiction writers of the last 30 years, makes his comic book debut with this all-new, original story!
• Joining Mr. Gibson for this comic book event are fan-favorite artists Butch Guice (interiors) and Tula Lotay (covers)!
• If you try one new book this month …This. Is. It!
I read Neuromancer in my twenties, and didn't care for it. It had been out for a few years, so its famed concepts had already been incorporated into some of the comics I was reading. That wasn't Gibson's fault, to be sure, but it meant that there was nothing new from my perspective. As for the non-SF elements, my arrogant twentysomething self adjudged them poorly written. So I read nothing further by Gibson.
Now, decades later, I can read comics written by Gibson! Maybe I can make up for lost time.
AVENGERS K BOOK 1: AVENGERS VS. ULTRON (TPB)
Publisher: MARVEL COMICS
Writer: SI YEON PARK
Translator: JI EUN PARK
Artists: WOO BIN CHOI WITH JAE SUNG LEE, MIN JU LEE, JAE WOONG LEE, HEE YE CHO, JI HEE CHOI & IN YOUNG LEE
168 Pages • $24.99
Classic Marvel tales told through an exciting international lens! For the first time ever, the classic origin of Ultron presented as never seen before in a new dynamic style! Adapted from the classic Avengers comics, Ultron comes to life in the traditional South Korean style of manhwa comics. Today Marvel is thrilled to announce AVENGERS K, the first in a brand new publishing initiative that will enlist an untapped pool of international talent to bring these exciting manhwa adaptations to English speaking audiences!
As Marvel continues to take the world by storm and expand across the globe, witness your favorite Marvel characters as told by some of the leading South Korean artists and writers. Leading Korean Manhwa Publisher Daweon C.I.’s best-selling adaptations of iconic Avengers tales, available to even more comic fans around the world. A now famous Avengers story, witness the rise of the deadly robot Ultron, reimagined and retold in thrilling South Korean manhwa style!
“Marvel’s popularity is growing exponentially throughout Asia – specifically within Korea – which has resulted in a vast catalog of visually kinetic original content,” said David Gabriel, Marvel SVP, Print & Digital Publishing. “Now, partnered with Daewon, Marvel is poised to introduce the international comic book community a bold reimagining of one of the most iconic Avengers stories ever told through the vibrant and action-packed manhwa format presented for our English-speaking fans for the very first time.”
Scientist Hank Pym sets out to create the world’s first artificial intelligence. Instead, he creates a monster. Enter Ultron! But one diabolical robot isn’t enough: When Ultron in turn creates the Vision, the Avengers are really in trouble. Together, the pair is poised to destroy the Avengers — and the world. But wait! Who is the Bride of Ultron? What happens next is a tale beloved around the world — with a story telling flair distinctive to a South Korean style!
The first title in a five book series, AVENGERS K presents Daewon C.I.’s manhwa original Korean content that re-imagines one of the most historic Avengers stories of all time for a whole new audience.
The age of Ultron has arrived in an all-new 168-page oversized format designed for all fans of the manga, manhwa and the Marvel Universe.
I'm curious to see how the "thrilling South Korean manhwa style" varies from other thrilling styles, like those of Katsuhiro Otomo and Jack Kirby.
BIGGEST BANG #1
Publisher: IDW PUBLISHING
Writer: D.J. KIRKBRIDE
Art/Cover/Variant: VASSILIS GOGTZILAS
FC • 32 pages • $3.99
Born in the cataclysmic cosmic catastrophe known as "The Bigger Bang," Cosmos traversed the barren egg-lands in-between universes, discovered the wisdom of space whales, defeated intergalactic evil, and found love! Now a new threat presents itself, one the hero has never known ... worship! What can he give those who would call him God? Intergalactic action and pataphysical philosophy return in THE BIGGEST BANG, the thrilling sequel to the mini-series Den of Geek called one of "the best comics of 2015"!
The most unexpected indie series of 2015, now the most unexpected sequel of 2016!
This is a sequel to Bigger Bang, if you read that. (I didn't.)
BIRD BOY VOL 1: THE SWORD OF MALI MANI (TPB)
Publisher: DARK HORSE COMICS
Writer/Art/Cover: ANNE SZABLA
FC • 88 pages • $9.99 • TPB • 6" x 9"
Bird Boy follows the story of Bali, a 10-year-old boy desperate to prove his worth to his northern tribe despite his small stature. Banned from the ceremony that would make him an adult in the eyes of his people, he takes matters into his own hands. To prove that he is capable of taking care of himself, he sets out into the forbidden forest and stumbles upon a legendary weapon. Bali fights his way across a dangerous land of gods, men, and beasts to keep the sword of Mali Mani, the savior of the sun, from the hands of the terrifying rooks.
“I’m super excited to be bringing Bird Boy to Dark Horse Comics! Some of the first comics I ever bought and enjoyed were Dark Horse comics, and to become part of that legacy now, alongside some of my favorite fellow creators, is really an honor,” said Szabla.
Praise for Anne Szabla’s Bird Boy:
“Stunningly beautiful, strange (in the best way possible), and refreshingly original. Oh, and that little guy is just adorable.”—Mike Mignola (Hellboy)
“I want to climb into this book and pull its covers up over my head.”—Adam Rex (Chu’s Day, The True Meaning of Smekday)
“Anne Szabla’s Bird Boy manages to catch that golden ring of design: something familiar yet somehow brand new. In these days of digital look-alikes, it’s always a treat to find someone with a own voice of their own, and the craft and the courage to use it well!”—Iain McCaig
“Wow! I love it! It looks like a cross between anime and those Saturday morning adventure cartoons. I want to read it now.”—Franco (Aw Yeah Comics!)
I started sampling this for comment, and ended up reading it. I'm not done yet, so I don't know if the climax is worthwhile (or if the explanations for the Rooks and such are satisfying) but it's obviously very engaging. Our "hero" is a little boy, and that sort of tale usually bores me, because in many of today's Encyclopedia Brown-like stories, the little boy (or girl) is usually gifted with adult-level decision-making skills and emotional maturity, which means they're not little boys and it puts me off. But no -- this little boy really is a little boy, and his survival is more by luck and pluck than anything else. And his emotional maturity isn't out of line with his age, so you feel for him when he suffers rejection by fellow tribesmen and his father.
So, yeah, the main character -- and therefore the story -- is engaging. And the art is clean and attractive, although sometimes the little boy (in his big bird mask) is so small in the frame that I can't find his hands (to tell me what he's doing) or which way he's looking. That's a minor quibble, but it happened more than once so I mention it.
BRUTAL NATURE #1
Publisher: IDW PUBLISHING
Writer: LUCIANO SARACINO
Art/Cover/Variant: ARIEL OLIVETTI
FC • 32 pages • $3.99
A collection of masks transforms the young man known as Ich into innumerable different beasts and monsters. Using this ancient power, he embarks on a battle that pits the indigenous people of Colombia against the encroaching Spanish empire. But can one man hope to beat back the massive forces of the conquering Spaniards? Luciano Saracino and Ariel Olivetti (Venom: Space Knight) bring readers a stunningly illustrated story of beasts and men fighting for the soul of a nation!
• A beautifully painted story featuring art by comics superstar Ariel Olivetti!
• Check out the “character design variant” from creator Ariel Olivetti!
I generally enjoy books that are set in historically-accurate periods -- I feel like I'm learning something as well as being entertained. This one, however, diverges so far from the history books that it qualifies as a parallel world! Unless, of course, it really happened, and we don't know about it because winners write the history books ... and the Spaniards won.
CHUM #1
Publisher: COMIXTRIBE
Writer: RYAN LINDSAY
Art: SAMI KIVELA
Cover: SAMI KIVELA, VIC MALHOTRA
FC • Mature • $3.99
Summer Stanwyck is trapped. She tends bar on the island she grew up on, the local cop is about to become her ex-husband, and she's wasting time screwing the local reefer kingpin. But when a bag full of cash and drugs appears, she sees a way out ... and anyone who gets in her way is shark bait. Chum is Pulp Fiction on the sand, a surf noir story straight off the drugstore paperback rack that will ruin your faith in people, from Sami Kivela, artist on Zenescope's Realm War, and Ryan K Lindsay, the writer of Dark Horse's Negative Space.
Looks like a sexy crime noir. Or is that redundant?
CIVIL WAR II #0
Publisher: MARVEL COMICS
Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
Art & Cover by OLIVIER COIPEL
Colors by JUSTIN PONSOR
Variant Covers by ESAD RIBIC and GREG LAND
Connecting Variant A by KIM JUNG GI
Character Variant by PHIL NOTO
40 PGS. • Rated T+ • $4.99
The opening salvos of the war that will fracture the Marvel Universe will be fired here! Today Marvel is pleased to present your first look inside CIVIL WAR II #0 – coming to comic shops and digital devices this May! From the blockbuster creative team that brought you House of M and Siege – Brian Michael Bendis and Olivier Coipel bring you the blistering first chapter of the comic event of the year. His name is Ulysses – a new Inhuman with the ability to profile the future. His emergence sends shock waves through the Marvel Universe. Will they use his power to alter the future and control their destinies? Or will they reject it – and allow tomorrow to unfold without interference. Be there as the table is set for the comic book fans will be talking about for years to come in CIVIL WAR II #0!
For more information on CIVIL WAR II, visit Marvel.com, and join in on the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #CivilWar2!
From what I can tell, this is no reprint of the FCBD preview, but another step toward Civil War II #1, which arrives June 1. And, while I've had my fill of hero-fights-hero battles, I'm always a teeny, tiny, a little bit excited by any "event" with a lot of colorful costumes. It's the residual emotional echo of "Crisis on Earth-One!", which will never lose its magic for those like me, who experienced it first-hand.
DEADPOOL: LAST DAYS OF MAGIC #1
Writer: GERRY DUGGAN
Art: SCOTT KOBLISH
Cover: HUMBERTO RAMOS
Variants: RON LIM, TBA
40 PGS. • ONE-SHOT • PARENTAL ADVISORY • $4.99
From the pages of Doctor Strange ... the Empirikul are waging a war on magic with the goal of wiping the fantastical from the pages of existence. This concerns Deadpool, because some of his best friends are magic. As the Empirikul forces batter the defenses of the Monster Metropolis ruled by his demonic wife, Deadpool wades into battle alongside his most spell-casting-est friends. And you know the old saying “Nothing ever goes wrong in a war.” That’s a saying, right?
Evidently there is going to be a string of one-shots with various popular characters linked to the "Last Days of Magic" storyline going on over in Doctor Strange. I imagine they'll all be collected right around the time the Doctor Strange movie premieres. Or am I being cynical? I don't mind, though -- my wife and I are both reading Doctor Strange, and I'm all for anything to help make this go-round more successful than the others.
FRONTLINES REQUIEM #1 (of 4)
Publisher: JET CITY COMICS
Writer: IVAN BRANDON
Art/Cover: GARY ERSKINE
$2.99
From acclaimed writer Ivan Brandon (Drifter, Viking), this four-issue comic book series features a new stand-alone story set within the action-packed military sci-fi world of Marko Kloos's bestselling Frontlines novels. When Earth is in the crosshairs, there's only one thing standing between survival and destruction: duty. Colonel Soraya Yamin, commander of the Phalanx, a battle-ravaged space control cruiser, engages the "Lankies" in an apocalyptic assault over Mars. The Lankies, a merciless alien species that outguns, outmaneuvers, and outfights humanity at every turn, have been menacing Earth's colonies. But now they're suddenly in our Solar System, decimating the NACS fleet and swarming toward Earth itself. Facing insurmountable odds, Soraya must make a fateful choice between her sworn duty and the loved ones she desperately wants to protect.
I've never read the Frontlines novels, but if you have, this might be your jam.
FUTURE QUEST #1
Publisher: DC COMICS
Written by JEFF PARKER
Art and cover by EVAN “DOC” SHANER
Blank variant cover
Coloring book cover by EVAN “DOC” SHANER
Jonny Quest variant cover by STEVE RUDE
Space Ghost variant cover by BILL SIENKIEWICZ
Action Heroes variant cover by JOE QUINONES
Herculoids cover variant by AARON LOPRESTI
40 pages • FC • $3.99 U.S. • RATED T
This issue will ship with seven covers.
When the adventurous and inquisitive Jonny Quest and his adoptive brother Hadji make a startling discovery in the swamplands of Florida, they are pulled into an epic struggle between the Space Rangers and a dangerous villain who threatens the galaxy. Now it’s up to the combined forces of Team Quest, Inter-Nation Security, Space Ghost and a host of Hanna-Barbera’s greatest action heroes to stop him and save their universe!
Future Quest features stories by Jeff Parker (Batman ’66, Justice League United) with art by Evan “Doc” Shaner (Justice League: Darkseid War: Green Lantern). This series takes teenage adventurer Jonny Quest and the classic Hanna-Barbera action heroes into a whole new dimension! Future Quest will ship with a total of four variant covers (in addition to the standard cover by Shaner). Steve Rude gives us his fantastic depiction of Jonny Quest and his pal Hadji, while Bill Sienkiewicz delivers an awesome rendition of Space Ghost, Jan, Jace and their mascot Blip, against a backdrop of his arch-nemeses, Brak and Zorak!
Don’t miss the start of this new, monthly series that features character designs by comics superstar Darwyn Cooke and kicks off with an extra-sized story and a wraparound cover!
OK, let's get all the hand-wringing out of the way: "They're destroying my childhood!" "That's not MY Jonny Quest!" "They shouldn't mess with a classic!"
Are we done? Because this looks like a lot of fun, and I'm fully on board.
Are they destroying my childhood? No. My memories of Jonny Quest are as strong and warm as ever. Old Jonny Quest will always be there, in our memories, on DVD, in our longboxes. This is something new, building on the old, and it looks like a blast.
Is it MY Jonny Quest? No. But it's A Jonny Quest. Think of it as a parallel-world Jonny Quest.
As to messing with a classic ... well, if it's not selling, then you have to. Yes, many of us have great and warm memories of 1960s Jonny Quest. We're probably the same people who have great and warm memories of the Silver Age Superman. Neither sells in the modern world, and if we want these characters to carry on into new generations, then they have to change. The only question is whether the new versions are good enough to stand on their own. This one looks like it can.
And, hey, they can always change back later.
UPDATE: THE REVIEW
DC was kind enough to send the first issue for review, and I am so glad they did. Because this is a book you need to read, whoever you are.
First: This IS your Jonny Quest. Early information indicated we'd have a teenage Jonny and Hadji, but that's not the case. These kids -- and, thank God, Bandit -- are the same age you remember. I wouldn't have minded if we'd jumped ahead a bit in time (see above), but we didn't, and suddenly I'm 10 years old again.
Second: This book gives you the origin of Space Ghost. I kid thee not. It doesn't SAY you're witnessing the origin of Space Ghost, but watch, learn and enjoy. (His given name is Kyr, by the way.) And this is EXACTLY the origin Space Ghost should have.
Third: Birdman. Yes, Birdman. (And he's not a lawyer.)
Fourth: With just a few lines of dialogue, we understand who and what Dr. Quest is, Dr. Zin's place in the world, who that world is like and unlike our own ... and another mystery rolled into it as well. And it's EXACTLY who and what Quest and Zin ought to be, and what their world ought to be. It's the credits sequence in the original animated series brought to life.
Fifth: This is a terrific tribute, without meaning to be, to the late Darwyn Cooke. This book breathes the joy and enthusiasm and cartoony fun he brought to everything he did. If you loved Cooke's work -- and who didn't? -- this is for you. This book is everything Cooke and Bruce Timm and Mike Parobeck and Alex Toth ever tried to bring to comics. Hats off to Parker and Shaner for not only understanding the work those gentlemen produced, but for what appears to be an effortless effort to take it to next level.
If you don't like Future Quest, you don't like comics. Go read it, please. You won't regret it.
MAE #1
Publisher: DARK HORSE COMICS
Writer/Art/Cover: GENE HA
Variant: FRANK CHO
FC • 40 pages • $3.99 • Ongoing
The Kickstarter sensation continues in comics!
When she was just a girl, Abbie discovered a portal to a fantasy world and for the last couple of years has been having great adventures there: defeating horrible monsters, power-mad scientists, and evil nobles. She was a celebrated action hero! But when she turned twenty-one it all came apart and she decided to return home. Her sister, Mae, has had no idea what happened to Abbie all this time. Her tales are too hard to believe; that is, until the monsters and other terrible creatures start to cross over to our world.
A new series from four time Eisner-winning artist Gene Ha!
MORE GOOD STUFF
APOCRYPHA NOW (HC)
Publisher: IDW/TOP SHELF
Writer: MARK RUSSELL
Art/Cover: SHANNON WHEELER
HC • 2-color • 196 pages • 5 1/4" x 8 1/4" • with foil-stamped cover, gilded edges, and satin ribbon • $19.99 (USD)
Slipcase Set (God Is Disappointed in You/Apocrypha Now): $39.99
From the team behind GOD IS DISAPPOINTED IN YOU ... get ready for APOCRYPHA NOW!
In their first collaboration, God Is Disappointed in You, Mark Russell & Shannon Wheeler’s faithful-yet-irreverent approach to the Bible sparked an instant connection with readers of all backgrounds. Now, by popular demand, they turn their attention to the parts left out of the canonical Bible, including the Midrash, the Apocrypha, the Gnostic Gospels and more.
Think of these as the DVD extras to the holy scripture: missing scenes, alternate versions of familiar stories, and long-lost strangeness from Biblical times.
This is what the Bible didn't tell you. And there's more to the story than you can imagine.
"Mr. Russell and Mr. Wheeler have used irreverence to win an audience for what is actually a slyly empathetic retelling of Bible stories." — The New York Times
"As soon as I started reading it, I was hooked. ... The Bible is an incredibly weird book, and I thank Mark Russell for rewriting it in a way that made it understandable and interesting." — Boing Boing
Irreverent is my middle name (along with "Danger"), so I'll probably order the set. I have nothing against belief or those who have it, but when trying to learn about the historic origins of Christianity (and other religions), I look for material that doesn't rely on supernatural explanations, which I find obscure more than enlighten.
ASTRO CITY #35
Publisher: DC COMICS
Written by KURT BUSIEK
Art by RON RANDALL
Cover by ALEX ROSS
32 pg. • FC • $3.99 U.S. • RATED T
A spotlight on three generations of Jack-in-the-Box, as the second Jack-in-the-Box’s son must decide whether to follow in the family footsteps or take another path. Also featuring the Trouble Boys, Mister Drama, the Weirdies and more. And featuring guest artist Ron Randall (CONVERGENCE: CATWOMAN, Trekker).
Astro City alert!
BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS – FRANK MILLER GALLERY EDITION (HC)
Publisher: DC COMICS
Writer/Art: FRANK MILLER
Colors: LYNN VARLEY
216 pg. • FC • 13” x 20” • $175.00 U.S.
Commemorate the 30th anniversary of one of the most defining works in comics history with the BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS – FRANK MILLER Gallery Edition. Sourced from the original art that has been scanned from collectors worldwide, this is the collection we’ve all been waiting for. Featured within the hardcovers of this Smythe-sewn edition is Miller’s artwork from DKR #1-4, scanned in full color from the original black-and-white pages. Also included are the covers, related art and previously unpublished pieces showcasing Miller’s artwork as never seen before.
Graphitti Designs’ Gallery Editions replicate the look, feel and attitude of the artwork. Every page is reproduced at original size on heavy paper stock to provide the fan and collector with museum-quality reproductions that are obtainable nowhere else.
Though we were unable to locate every original from this story, we are pleased to present to fans everywhere the best presentation of the artwork from this historic series ever seen. This is your only opportunity to see the artwork that truly changed Batman forever.
I guess this is DC's answer to IDW's Artist Editions. If you like the one, I guess you'll like the other.
DARK KNIGHT III: THE MASTER RACE #4 COLLECTOR’S EDITION
Publisher DC COMICS
Written by FRANK MILLER and BRIAN AZZARELLO
Art by ANDY KUBERT, KLAUS JANSON, JIM LEE and SCOTT WILLIAMS
Sketch cover by JIM LEE
40 pg • FC • 4 of 8 • 7.0625” x 10.875” • $12.99 U.S.
This oversized paper-over-boards COLLECTOR’S EDITION features both stories from DARK KNIGHT III: THE MASTER RACE #4 at the same size, with a cover that’s a pencils-only version of Jim Lee’s 1:500 variant for DARK KNIGHT III: THE MASTER RACE #4.
Here's the variant version of Master Race #4, with the extras.
How's this working out, DKR readers? I was pretty disappointed by Dark Knight Strikes Again, so I'm iffy on getting this in trade. What's your recommendation?
DEPT. H #2
Writer/Art/Cover: MATT KINDT
Colors: SHARLENE KINDT
FC, 28 pages, $3.99, Ongoing
Matt Kindt’s survival sci-fi series continues!
Mia’s investigation into the sabotage of an underwater station becomes complicated by the disappearance of a loved one, the loss of communications with the world above, and a confrontation with a giant squid and other strange creatures of the deep.
“Like a cross between sci-fi Jack London, The Abyss and the criss-cross espionage of Kindt’s previous material, there is no element of this new project we’re not ecstatically awaiting.”—Paste Magazine
Last week I said that I loved the story and disliked the art. Those opinions have only gotten stronger with the second issue.
The story -- a locked-room murder mystery at the bottom of the ocean -- has only gotten tighter and more nail-biter-y. Everyone is a suspect, but now we've met the protagonist's brother, and his issues with the her father -- the victim -- come front and center. Is he innocent? The murderer? An accomplice? There are no clues either way, and our heroine has to battle her own sibling rivalry to figure it out objectively. Meanwhile, almost everyone else looks more and more guilty every minute. Maybe they ALL did it, Orient Express fashion.
Also, there's a giant squid.
As to the art, not only is it not to my taste, but at the end of this issue, something climactic happens and I literally -- literally -- could not tell what was going on. That's a pretty big minus.
Your mileage may vary, of course.
JUGHEAD #6
Script: CHIP ZDARSKY
Art: ERICA HENDERSON, JACK MORELLI
Cover A: ERICA HENDERSON
Cover B: CLIFF CHIANG
Cover C: RAMON K. PEREZ
32-page • FC • $3.99 U.S.
The time has come. It’s JUGHEAD VS. PRINCIPAL STANGER: THE FINAL SHOWDOWN! With the whole gang at his side, Jughead puts it all on the line: Either Stanger goes, or Jughead does! You won’t want to miss this!
I suspect Jughead will win the battle of wills with Principal Stanger, who will likely turn out to have some hidden secret that will remove him in favor of a certain Waldo Weatherbee. But the destination isn't the point of the journey! Also: Return of the Super Teens! (Well, in Juggie's daydreams, I suppose.)
KNIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE #231
Do I really have to mention that this is an homage to Justice League of America #6?
FABLES DELUXE EDITION VOL 12 (HC)
Publisher: DC COMICS
Written by BILL WILLINGHAM
Art by MARK BUCKINGHAM, STEVE LEIALOHA and others
Cover by DANIEL DOS SANTOS
328 pg • FC • 7.0625” x 10.875” • $29.99 U.S. • MATURE READERS
In these stories from issues #101-113, Mister Dark has risen again, more powerful than ever. The Fables are down to their last defenses—looks like it’s time for Super Fables! But what happens when the tights and capes are stored away? Bigby and Snow White’s cubs try to move forward after learning a hard lesson about life and death.
I see by my Amazon account that I'm five books behind on this series, one of my favorite when it was coming out monthly. In the words of Donald Trump: Sad! (I've now ordered them.)
MICHAEL WM KALUTA COMPLETE SKETCHBOOKS (HC)
Publisher: IDW PUBLISHING
Art/Cover: MICHAEL WILLIAM KALUTA
48 pages • 8.4 x 0.3 x 10.8 inches • $49.99
Michael Wm. Kaluta has been creating beautiful imagery for more than 40 years. Highlights of his career include what many consider to be the definitive version of The Shadow, the still in-progress Starstruck, and a myriad of stunning covers illustrated for nearly every comics publisher-as well as being part of the legendary art collective known simply as The Studio (along with Jeffery Catherine Jones, Barry Windsor-Smith, and Bernie Wrightson).
This collection presents all five Kaluta sketchbooks published by IDW, featuring art selected by the artist from his personal archives-a cornucopia of delightful delineations and lovely line drawings by a true master of the form.
Every time I see Kaluta's work it throws me back to the late 1960s and early '70s, when there were a lot of fresh, terrific artists entering the field (mostly Baby Boomers), coupled with a lot of experimental stories. A lot of them owe something to the art packager Continuity Studios, founded and run by Neal Adams and Dick Giordano, like Ralph Reese and Alan Weiss. Others did their most transgressive work in undergrounds or "ground-level" comics (Star*Reach), like Howard Chaykin and Vaughn Bode. Others came to my attention through magazines (Creepy, Eerie, Vampirella, Heavy Metal, Epic Illustrated) and indies, like Jeff Jones, Richard Corben and Kaluta. Some achieved fame in mainstream comics, like Jim Starlin, Mike Ploog and Val Mayerik. But in my mind they're a cohort, symbolic of a period when a lot of stories were aiming for an emotional reaction instead of more prosaic concerns like, say, coherence.
I'm not saying there were drugs involved, of course. But there was a lot of that going around.
MONSTER MUSUME: I HEART MONSTER GIRLS VOL 1 (GN)
Publisher: SEVEN SEAS ENTERTAINMENT LLC
Writer/Art/Cover: OKAYADO
Mature • $13.99
A hilarious companion series to Monster Musume that includes three bonus monster girl post cards! Monster Musume: I Heart Monster Girls doubles-up on the humor and heart, telling all new, all original stories in four-panel comic strip anthology format. When hapless Kurusu Kimihito becomes an involuntary "volunteer" in the government homestay program for monster girls, his world is turned upside down. A reptilian lamia named Miia is sent to live with him, then a buxom centaur girl named Centorea and a scantily clad harpy named Papi move into Kimihito's house.. What's a full-blooded young man with raging hormones to do?
I think we can all agree that there's nothing sexier than a girl who is half snake.
SABRINA #5
Script: ROBERTO AGUIRRE-SACASA
Art: ROBERT HACK, JACK MORELLI
Cover: ROBERT HACK
To Hell and Back Variant Cover: ROBERT HACK
On Sale Date: 2/4
32-page • FC • TEEN + • $3.99 U.S.
NEW ONGOING SERIES! Sabrina has done what few witches — and no mortals — have ever managed to do: She’s gone to hell and back, rescuing Harvey and confronting the darkest chapter of her past while doing so. But back in Glendale, there is one last challenge awaiting our exhausted, weakened heroine: Madame Satan, who is at the height of her powers. It’s teen-witch versus the High Priestess of Hell, winner take all!
It's been many months since Sabrina #4 -- heck, maybe even a year -- so I don't remember what's going on. I do remember that I enjoyed the story and disliked the art. But it's probably worth the wait.
SQUADRON SUPREME #7
Publisher: MARVEL COMICS
Writer: JAMES ROBINSON
Art: LEONARD KIRK
Cover by ALEX GARNER
32 PGS. • Rated T+ • $3.99
• As the Squadron gets closer to the answer — who is the cabal of alien races on Earth and what threat do they pose to the planet – things get personal for Doctor Spectrum as she confronts the man who helped destroy her universe and save her life ... BLACK BOLT!
• Also, the Squadron’s Nighthawk vs. the Nighthawk of the Marvel Universe??
See my comments about "Crisis on Earth-One!" above. This is more like "Crisis on Earth-Three!", but you get the idea. I will never tire of doppelgangers fighting each other.
STRAITJACKET (TPB)
Publisher: AMIGO COMICS
Writer: EL TORRES
Art/Cover: GUILLERMO SANNA
120 pages • Black-white red • $14.99
Alexandra Wagner is confined in an expensive asylum. She murdered her brother when she was a child, and has been jumping from an institution to another, thinking she’s protecting our world against monsters called The Feeders with the help of her deceased brother. Thomas Hayes is her psychiatrist, and he believes she’s totally mad.
Well, she’s totally mad. But she’s also right.
This volume compiles the acclaimed and really hard-to-find horror masterwork by El Torres and Guillermo Sanna!
This is what reviewers say about Straitjacket:
“The story inside was anything but common. El Torres strikes again (…) If you’re into horror or maybe you just like stories about the insane, then you’ll definitely want to check out Straitjacket.” -- Dustin Cabeal, Comic Bastards
“Horror is hit-or-miss for me, more so the cinematic kind. The absolute best depictions are the ones that play with your mind, have you delve deep into your psyche, so much so that you question reality as we know it after viewing.(…) The first entry to this four-part tale deserves an 8.5 out of 10 on the crazy scale!” -- Paul Miranda, Comic Asylum
“Considering that Torres is the current best horror writer in comics (yeah, I said it), it’s kind of neat that he takes one of his older horror comics (The Veil) and puts it in the same universe as this one. I love shit like that.” -- Greg Burgas, Comic Book Resources
“El Torres writes a stellar, gripping first issue to a series that looks to be the beginnings of a modern comics masterpiece of horror (…) This story is mesmerizing, and paired with Guillermo Sanna’s pencils, this book becomes an absolute home run (…) If Amigo Comics keeps this up, they will become the new face of horror in the comics industry. This book has “movie adaptation” written all over it.
RATING: 10 out of 10. “ -- Tex Comics and Reviews
If this looks familiar, it's because Previews said it was running April 27, and I ran it in that Guide. Here it is again -- and for real this time, I guess -- and only Previews knows why.
SUPERMAN/WONDER WOMAN #29 (FINAL DAYS)
Publisher: DC COMICS
Written by PETER J. TOMASI
Art by DOUG MAHNKE and JAIME MENDOZA
Cover by KARL KERSCHL
32 pg. • FC • $3.99 U.S. • RATED T
It’s the penultimate chapter of “Super League”! When all the Supermen have fallen, it’s Supergirl to the rescue! But can Kara and Wonder Woman stop a villain who wants to end Clark’s hope for future Supermen?
Sadly, what excites me most is that they used "penultimate" correctly. There is something wrong with me.
WALLACE WOOD PRESENTS: SHATTUCK (HC)
Writer/Art/Cover: WALLACE WOOD
72 pages • FC • 11 ½” x 8” • $24.99
Along with Wallace Wood’s trademark 1970s "Sally Forth" and "Cannon" strips that ran in the Overseas Weekly military newspaper, Wood created a super-rare third strip, a sexy western, produced in 1972, named "Shattuck". Wood originally conceived of, co-wrote (with Nick Cuti), and drew the layouts for Shattuck as a vehicle for his studio-mate, Golden Age Captain America artist Sid Shores, but turned it over instead to two young up-and-comers —Howard Chaykin (American Flagg!, Black Kiss) and the now-legendary X-Men artist, Dave Cockrum. "Shattuck," the historic, very first credited ongoing feature for both Chaykin and Cockrum, has never been re-published or collected since it first appeared in Overseas Weekly more than 40 years ago. Full of gun-toting femmes fatale, fastdrawing lawmen, and snarling outlaws, Shattuck is a Western romp published in the same format as Fantagraphics’ bestselling Wood production of Cannon. As a bonus, while appearing to be in black and white, the entire book has been scanned from the carefully preserved originals in full-color to mimic as closely as possible the experience of viewing the actual original art, complete with paste-overs, notes, art corrections, etc. Previously enjoyed only by American servicemen in the Vietnam era, Fantagraphics Books and The Wallace Wood Estate and proud to present the missing link in Wood’s oeuvre in a beautifully designed and affordable format.
Some of the art on Google Images doesn't look like Wood's best work -- but even mediocre Wood is better than most artists! Still, I have to say that, despite what Previews says, the cover art above is clearly by Jack Abel, not Wally Wood.
WALLY WOOD: GALAXY ART AND BEYOND (HC)
Publisher: IDW PUBLISHING
Writer: ROGER HILL
Art/Cover: WALLY WOOD
HC • B&W • 160 • 8.5” x 11” • $29.99
Wally Wood's career is legendary among the annals of comic's history. He rocketed to fame working on Will Eisner's "The Spirit" newspaper strip and became one of the most talented artists working for EC Comics during the 1950s. Wood also became a star of EC's satire comic Mad, which went on to even greater success as a magazine, allowing the artist to apply his amazing talents in a broader spectrum. When the comics industry fell on lean times during the mid 1950s, Wood segued into the field of science fiction pulp illustration, providing over 200 beautiful drawings and several color cover paintings for the digest magazines; particularly Galaxy. Wood left behind a legacy of great art, much of which has never been reprinted. This book will feature them all. Longtime Wally Wood historian Roger Hill has spent the past 20 years pulling together the history of Wood's involvement with the pulp digests and tracking down original art for this project. More than half of the images have been pulled from the originals or from Wood's personal file copies, allowing Wood fans the finest possible reproduction!
Wow! Here's some Wood work that I've never seen. Heck, until this week, I didn't even know it existed!
For books that I don't have anything to say about, but are interesting due to press releases, previews or variant covers, go to MAY 18 COMICS GUIDE PART 2!
Replies
SQUADRON SUPREME #7: The problem is that while these alternate Nighthawks have been shown and treated like dangerous bad-@$$es, "our" Nighthawk, not so much!
I don't really mind Future Quest redoing the old HB stuff. Scooby-Doo Mystery Inc. played with that idea well in my opinion.
That being said I'm sure at some point they are going to do an 'edgy' H.R. Puff-N-Stuff and that kind of scares me, even if I did have a crush on Witchie-poo. But as far as Space Ghost and Herculoids there was always a lot of potential in the characters that we would never see in the cartoons. But as someone who's been deeply hurt in the past by writers taking characters into 'bold, new directions' I feel a lot of sympathy toward people who don't like this idea.
The main model might be Secret Wars #12. I was also reminded of Justice League of America #196.
The Apocrypha is a set of ancient Jewish books (or portions of books) regarded as part of the Old Testament by Catholics and/or Eastern Orthodox which aren't part of the Jewish canon of scripture and are considered non-canonical by Protestant churches. Many English Bibles use the Protestant canon, although the King James translators did a version of them. The Catholic Douay-Rheims translation included the ones acknowledged by Catholicism in the Old Testament. In modern Bibles they may appear in their own section between the two Testaments. They post-date most of the Old Testament and were written in Hebrew, Aramaic or Greek.
Those interested in art may be familiar with works depicting Tobias and the Angel or the healing of Tobit, Judith beheading Holofernes, or the elders spying on Susanna. Tobit, Judith and Susanna are works of the Apocrypha. (Susanna is a Greek addition to Daniel.)
The use of "apocryphal" to mean "spurious" reflects the Protestant view of the works' canonicity. Works which have been dubiously attributed to Shakespeare are known as the Shakespeare Apocrypha. Wikipedia has an article on these.
There is also a body of non-canonical works of Jewish or Christian origin (and Jewish works with Christian additions) ascribed to Old Testament figures or telling stories about them dating from the couple of centuries before and after the origin of Christianity known as the Old Testament Pseudepigrapha. I mention this because to my mind this corpus parallels the New Testament Apocrypha.
The New Testament Apocrypha is a body of non-canonical works ascribed to New Testament figures, imitating their forms, or telling stories about them. Some of these were sometimes treated as scriptural in the early centuries, when Christianity was less centralised and codified, or were scriptures of outlier groups. Some have the first known versions of legends that lastingly became part of Christian lore e.g. the Quo Vadis story about Peter. A group of them, the Infancy Gospels, tell legendary stories about Jesus when he was a boy. The cover of the present volume parodies these.
The Midrash is a body of Rabbinic literature (or tradition) expanding and commenting on scripture.
Gnosticism is a collective term for heretical Christian and post-Christian movements of the early centuries that taught esoteric doctrines. ("Gnosis" is Ancient Greek for "knowledge".) The Gnostic Gospels are non-canonical works written by Gnostics.
Thanks for the info, Luke!
And you're right, Philip -- "our" Nighthawk is kind of a wimp compared to the others. Maybe he'll overcome them with niceness!
Or money!
Or better yet, reunite the Defenders (the REAL ones!) who should be after them anyway for the whole "Killing-the-Sub-Mariner" thing!
Captain Comics said:
Yes, I can think of one of them who would want to smash a little.
Philip Portelli said:
Posted the preview to Chilling Adventures of Sabrina #5 on the Facebook page.