MAY 25, 2016
FIRST ISSUE ALERT
ACCELERATORS: RELATIVITY #1 (of 5)
Publisher: BLUE JUICE COMICS
Writer: R.F.I. PORTO
Art: GAVIN SMITH
Cover: GAVIN SMITH, TIM YATES
$3.99
A marauding gang of time criminals escape from their prison to wreak havoc on a peaceful future. To stop them, Spatz must join forces with his insane older self, a skull-faced criminal, and Eve, another young time traveler who has learned to survive on her own.
I didn't read the first Accelerators miniseries, but it evidently sold well enough to merit a second. Can anyone provide a recommendation?
AFTERLIFE WITH ARCHIE #9
Publisher: ARCHIE COMICS
Script: ROBERTO AGUIRRE-SACASA
Art: FRANCESCO FRANCAVILLA, JACK MORELLI
Cover A: FRANCESCO FRANCAVILLA
Cover B: DAVE DEVRIES
32 pages • FC • TEEN+ • $3.99 U.S.
BETTY: RIP Pt. 4, “The Trouble with Reggie.”
The Horror began in Riverdale when Reggie Mantle struck and killed Jughead’s beloved pooch Hot Dog. Since then, Reggie has been living with this secret knowledge—and terrible guilt. With no one to talk to about it, Reggie has started to crack under the strain. He is seeing visions of his dead friends—or are they literal ghosts? When an act of kindness prompts a confession from him, Reggie must decide for himself, once and for all—is there any good within him? Or is Reggie, as we’ve always suspected, beyond redemption?
It's been a long time since the last issue of this title came out -- I'm afraid to look to see how long -- but Archie promises it's going to get back on track on all its horror and hero books. Last week saw the return of The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, and now we see the much-anticipated Afterlife with Archie and The Shield #3 is due next week. So was it worth the wait?
Yep.
You may have wondered why Reggie was so awful. And you may have wondered just how awful he could get. This issue more or less answers both questions, and does so with -- dare I say it? -- subtlety.
As to the first question, there's no origin moment, no story about being beaten as a child, no dying mother, no vow of revenge in the rain, or any other typical comic book excuse for Reggie's behavior. Instead, Aguirre-Sacasa invites us into Reggie's head for almost a whole issue, and lets us figure out for ourselves what his dilly-o is.
And it's a darn good read. Is the phrase "the banality of evil" too much of a spoiler? Aguirre-Sacasa has a terrific insight into the human mind, and I think -- honestly -- it makes sense of everything Reggie's done for 70 years. Plus, you get a takeoff on Highlights magazine's "Goofus and Gallant" that is just perfect.
As to the second question? Well ... you should find out about that for yourself.
ALIENS: DEFIANCE #2
Publisher: DARK HORSE
Writer: BRIAN WOOD
Art: TRISTAN JONES
Colors: DAN JACKSON
Cover: MASSIMO CARNEVALE
FC • 32 pages • $3.99 • Ongoing
Colonial Marine Hendricks and the Weyland-Yutani synthetic Davis break protocol, navigating the Europa to a distant science station discovered in the once-derelict ship’s data records—a station that recently went dark. Following the trail of the alien species, they dive deeper into a conspiracy, uncovering just how much is riding on their choices.
“With high-profile work on Star Wars and Mad Max: Fury Road, respectively, Wood and Jones are no stranger to the unique challenges of licensed comic storytelling.”—Comic Book Resources
I wasn't going to review this second issue, since I already said nice things about the first and don't want to be redundant. But I think this one is even better.
The art is still genuinely outstanding. Jones pours so much detail and rendering into every panel that I wonder how he can do this monthly. Even my old eyes could tell what was going on, and what was going on was appropriately scary. Imagine face-huggers scuttling about like roaches, and if that doesn't make your skin crawl, horror comics are wasted on you.
As to the story, more of our heroine's background comes out as she and a group of synthetics (you know, like Bishop and Ash) tackle their second infestation, which is even worse than the first. On the other hand, our gang is getting better at killing bugs, so the sides are pretty evenly matched.
But there's another layer of bad, maybe worse than the xenomorphs themselves: What Weyland-Yutani was up to, and what lengths they'll go to, to achieve their goals. As Hendricks -- another in a series of outstanding female characters in the Alien franchise -- gathers more information, she finds out how big her bug problem really is ...
I'm ready for the next issue now, which is a sign of a good read.
FIRST ISSUE ALERT
BUTTERFLY GATE #1
Publisher: IMPROPER BOOKS
Writer: BENJAMIN READ
Art/Cover: CHRIS WILDGOOSE
$12.99
Butterfly Gate follows the story of two siblings who, after throwing themselves headlong into another world, must face the brutal reality that lies beyond and find their place amidst an empire built after a revolution against the Gods. An ongoing, episodic, SF odyssey, Butterfly Gate is also a silent comic.
Of course it's a "silent comic" -- they barely have any mouths!
Interesting art on the cover, that looks as if a Victorian scene was depicted by an Edo-era Japanese artist. Makes me wish they'd provided a preview.
FIRST ISSUE ALERT
CAPTAIN AMERICA: STEVE ROGERS #1
Publisher: MARVEL COMICS
Written by NICK SPENCER
Art & Cover by JESUS SAIZ
Variant Covers by STEVE EPITING, SKOTTIE YOUNG, JIM STERANKO
Action Figure Variant by JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER
Hip-Hop Variant by JEFFREY VEREGGE
Age of Apocalypse Variant Cover by PAUL RENAUD
Captain America 75th Anniversary Variant by GREG HILDEBRANT
40 PGS. • Rated T+ • $4.99
He’s back! The original Sentinel of Liberty returns, with a new shield, a new team and a new mission! And he’s not the only one who’s back! Like the saying goes-- cut off one LIMB, two more will take its place! HAIL HYDRA!
“The country is as divided as it’s ever been, and Steve is one of a kind,” says Nick Spencer, in an interview with Marvel.com. “He’s a unifying figure, someone we can all look up to, [and] someone we can all put our faith in. It’s no secret the Marvel Universe is about to enter a period of serious conflict with Civil War II looming on the horizon, and as such, it feels like the perfect moment to bring Steve back into fighting shape.”
This spring, Marvel’s Steve Rogers takes back the iconic moniker that gave him notoriety and returns to the mantle of Captain America with CAPTAIN AMERICA: STEVE ROGERS from writer Nick Spencer and artist Jesus Saiz.
First revealed on ABC’s Captain America: 75 Heroic Years, Steve Rogers will once again don the red, white and blue and continue the adventures of Marvel’s Sentinel of Liberty in this all-new series, with an all-new mission statement while proudly carrying an all-new shield. And today, Marvel is pleased to present your first peek inside the bold new series that will take Captain America in a whole new direction!
“It's an exciting time to be writing Captain America, for sure-- this year is the character's 75th Anniversary, not to mention the upcoming release of Marvel’s CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR. And with CIVIL WAR II approaching in the Marvel Universe, it felt like the perfect time to restore Steve Rogers to his former self,” says series writer Nick Spencer.
Recently drained of the Super Soldier Serum that gave him his strength, speed and endurance, Steve Rogers was no longer fit to wield the shield and he passed the title of Captain America to his closest ally, Sam Wilson, a.k.a. Falcon. So what happens to Sam Wilson now that Steve has returned? Enemies of freedom beware – there are now two Captain Americas protecting the people!
“CAPTAIN AMERICA: STEVE ROGERS and CAPTAIN AMERICA: SAM WILSON will act as great counterpoints to one another,” continues Spencer. “If you're digging the topical, ripped-from-the-headlines approach we're taking in Sam's book, we've got plenty more of that to come. And if you're up for a more timeless take, with Captain America facing off against Hydra and his classic rogues gallery, Steve's book will be just the thing for you.”
The All-New, All-Different Marvel Universe is in turmoil. The threat of impeding Hydra forces grows by the day worming their way into Marvel’s Super Hero community. Anyone can be a threat, and no one is to be trusted. But what is Hydra’s ultimate goal? There is only one man who can challenge the threat of Hydra – Captain America himself – Steve Rogers!
Will his first day back on the job be his last? Find out when CAPTAIN AMERICA: STEVE ROGERS #1 arrives in comic shops and digital devices this spring!
For more on Captain America & All-New, All-Different Marvel, please visit www.marvel.com. Join the conversation on Twitter with hashtag #CaptainAmerica and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter at @Marvel.
Saiz does strong, clean figures with weight, which is perfect for Captain America, who is on the human end of the fantasy scale. I went through the preview twice -- once for the story, and again to admire the art.
As to the bit of story provided, for the first time I understand why someone would join Hydra. Unfortunately, it also explains a lot about our current political climate. God help us all.
Jeff of Earth-J reminded me on another thread of some complaint I'd blithered somewhere or other about Marvel only giving the pretense of real-world politics, without committing to their actual depiction. Well, they do here, and it ain't pretty.
I may have to pick this one up.
P.S. When did Sharon Carter get middle-aged? Pre-Secret Wars she was still (implausibly) in late 20s or early 30s, wasn't she? Mind you, she still looks good to this fat, bald old man. I'm not body-shaming or anything. And if Sharon is aging and Cap isn't, that adds a frisson of tension in their relationship, which is welcome (they were a bit too perfect -- and perfectly Aryan -- for a while). But I was wondering if I'd missed something.
Does this have something to do with Dimension Z? I understand Cap was in there for 10 years, but I was led to understand that time didn't pass here as quickly while he was gone. (He didn't seem to miss an issue of Avengers, for example.) OTOH, his adopted son Ian has magically doubled his age -- he was 10 when they left Dimension Z, but now he's old enough to be Nomad -- so I'm doubly confused.
FIRST ISSUE ALERT
CORPSE PARTY: BLOOD COVERED VOL 1 (GN)
Publisher: YEN PRESS
Writer: MAKOTO KEDOUIN
Art: TOSHIMI SHINOMIYA, TOSHIMI SHINOMIYA
$20.00
Unsuspecting students and blood-thirsty zombies collide in Corpse Party: Blood Covered! When a mysterious earthquake rocks the grounds of Kisaragi Academy, its students soon find themselves in an alternate reality of murder and blood covered mayhem!
Good work, Yen Press! Don't let a little thing like a zombie apocalypse get in the way of, literally, girl-on-girl covers!
FIRST ISSUE ALERT
DC UNIVERSE REBIRTH #1
Publisher: DC COMICS
Writer: GEOFF JOHNS
Art: PHIL JIMENEZ, ETHAN VAN SCIVER, IVAN REIS, GARY FRANK & Various
Cover: GARY FRANK
One-shot • 80 pg • FC • $2.99 US • RATED T
It all begins here. Do not skip to the last page. Do not let a friend or message board ruin this comic for you. The future (and past) of the DC Universe starts here. Don’t say we didn’t warn you!
THEY SAID IT: “Rebirth is about focusing in on the core of the character and their respective universe,” says writer and DC Entertainment Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns. “It brings back what has been lost: the legacy of the characters, the love and the hope of the DCU!”
So, what's your anticipation like, folks? Are you looking forward to this, or do you fear it will just be another in a string of reboot missteps?
For my part, I'm guardedly optimistic. Honestly, eliminating the various dead ends The New 52 created will be a blessing, if nothing else. But I worry that "Rebirth" will just create new ones, as has been the case with every reboot since Crisis on Infinite Earths. The track record, as they say, has not been good.
We'll find out soon enough: The avalanche of new launches begins July 1 with Batman: Rebirth #1, Green Arrow: Rebirth #1, Green Lanterns: Rebirth #1 and Superman: Rebirth #1.
DEATH FOLLOWS (TPB)
Publisher: DARK HORSE
Writer: CULLEN BUNN
Artist: A. C. ZAMUDIO
Colorist: CARLOS NICOLAS ZAMUDIO
Cover Artist: SIMON BISLEY
FC • 136 pages • TPB • 7'' x 10'' • $17.99
THE DEVIL HAS COME TO CALL!
This spring Dark Horse Books is pleased to offer a graphic novel collecting never-before-printed material from Cullen Bunn (Harrow County, The Sixth Gun) in Death Follows!
Originally debuting digitally through Monkeybrain as The Remains, Death Follows is horrifically and beautifully realized by A. C. Zamudio and Carlos Nicolas Zamudio. The print collection contains the original prose story by Cullen Bunn and a new cover by Simon Bisley.
“Death Follows is the darkest story I’ve written. It’s a supernatural horror tale set in rural North Carolina, the story of a mysterious farmhand who shows up at a struggling farm looking for work—and brings a nightmarish cycle of events with him,” remarked Bunn. “It starts with a simple (if somewhat strange) line: ‘The dead rats danced the day the hired man came around.’”
Birdie, her sister, their pregnant mother and their frail father all live together on a struggling farm. When an itinerant farmhand named Cole comes to their aid, the children should be relieved. Instead, they find their lives spiraling into nightmare, as Cole regards Birdie’s sister with menacing desire. To make matters much worse, wherever he goes, the dead grow restless. As the horror threatens to consume her home and her family, Birdie is haunted by a chilling warning: Some secrets are meant only for the dead.
“The mystery and dread build to a horrific conclusion. It’s the stuff of nightmares, to be sure. I think readers of Harrow County will absolutely love this book,” added Bunn.
Praise for Death Follows:
“Bunn has crafted a simple tale of horror around a questionable love of rodents to create a chilling tale of lost innocence and threatening strangers.”—Bloody Disgusting
“Bunn has proven that he is more than capable at telling scary stories.”—All-Comic
“The last time a comic made the hair stand up on the back of my neck like this was Locke & Key, and that’s saying something.”—Comicosity
I wasn't planning on reading this, but the name "Cullen Bunn" caught my eye, and and I like his Harrow County, and I had a few minutes ...
... next thing you know, I'd read the whole thing. And, boy, am I glad I did.
Yep, Bunn gets it when it comes to Southern horror (which doesn't have to be in the South, but it doesn't hurt). When you're far from the cities, what's scary is what's outside the pretense of civilization, whatever is skittering just outside the perimeter of the last light at the last house on the dirt road. And it doesn't have to be supernatural to be unnerving out there: Nature can get pretty scary. But it's the possibility of the supernatural which is terrifying, as it is suggested at every turn by weird sounds, odd critters and the big, huge darkness surrounding our little islands of light.
But just as it is in the big city, what's more frightening in rural areas than any bug or critter is other people. While stuff in the woods just wants to eat you, people want to do much, much worse. (You know what would be scarier than a man turning into a wolf? A wolf turning into a man. Especially to the other wolves!) So when you've got the scary woods combined with scary folks, you've got yourself a twofer.
And Bunn makes the most of that. So much so that I don't want to spoil any of it for you. I will say that the original title of this book when it was online was Remains, but was changed to Death Follows when the story moved to print and Remains was taken. To tell you the truth, the new name is far more descriptive of the story, which alone should put you ill at ease.
All of this wouldn't work without an artist who can bring the Country to us city mice, which Zamudio does with relish. You've never seen so many bad teeth! He must have a few barefoot moonshiners in his family tree, as I'm sure I do as well.
FIRST ISSUE ALERT
DEVIL'S LINE VOL 1 (GN)
Publisher: VERTICAL COMICS
Writer/Art/Cover: RYOH HANADA
$12.95
A modern dark fantasy tale set in a world full of vampires and vampire hunters full of romance, hope and action that pops off the page through the wonderful art of a debut artist. Unknownst to the general public vampires are rampant in Tokyo. To control and contain them, the government has developed a program to track and treat rogue vamps who decide to pray on the public. But what happens when vampire and man come together in harmony and love? Will the public accept this or will they try to tear such partnerships apart.
Apparently vampires can interfere with girl-on-girl covers, whereas zombies cannot. Sad.
FIRST ISSUE ALERT
DISNEY MAGIC KINGDOM COMICS #1 (of 2)
Publisher: IDW PUBLISHING
Writers: CARL BARKS, THAD KOMOROWSKI
Art: CARL BARKS, AL HUBBARD, VICTOR “VICAR” RIOS
Cover: MASSIMO FECCHI
FC • 64 pages • $6.99
IDW’s Disneyland 60th anniversary anthology is here … collecting decades of Disney’s park-themed adventure comics! Carl Barks’ Scrooge McDuck travels from the Mark Twain Riverboat to a Beagle Boy battle; then Donald and Mickey investigate the strange disappearance of the Country Bear Jamboree! It’s the first Disneyland-themed anthology comic in 30 years—frontloaded with beloved Disney comics artists! Uncle Scrooge stars in “Fantastic River Race,” a pre-Rosa “Life of Scrooge” adventure by Carl Barks!
If you're not buying the Carl Barks library -- and shame on you -- then occasional Barks drops like this are surely the way to go.
DRAGONS RIOTING VOL 3 (GN)
Publisher: YEN PRESS
Writer/Art/Cover: TSUYOSHI WATANABE
Mature • $13.00
It's time for the Cordial Competition, in which the winner gets to make any one school rule that they wish. The challenge is a dance-off, and Rintaro finds himself paired with one of the three dragons -- Kyoka! But the challenge of undergoing special training with the highly exposed Kyoka in her enormous estate is something else altogether! What maladies, misconceptions, and mishaps await? Will it be a never-ending survival dance in an overexposed hell?
I'm assuming "dragons rioting" is a Japanese metaphor for "bodacious ta-tas."
ESCAPE FROM THE DEAD (GN)
Publisher: GRIND HOUSE COMICS
Writer: BRAD MCCRAY
Art: CLIFF RICHARDS, MICHAEL S. BARTOLO
Cover: CLAYTON CRAIN
$9.99
Masquerading as a prisoner, Talon Moon returns to Earth on a mission that will determine the survival of the human race. "Saved" by the man he was supposed to hunt, imprisoned in a sexually charged fortress, and double crossed at every turn, Talon Moon must free himself, save the world, and Escape from the Dead!
What is a "sexually charged fortress"? Is that one with lots of "dragons rioting"?
EC ARCHIVES: HAUNT OF FEAR VOL 3 (HC)
Publisher: DARK HORSE
Writers: AL FELDSTEIN, JERRY DE FUCCIO
Art: GRAHAM INGELS, JOHNNY CRAIG, JACK KAMEN, JACK DAVIS, GEORGE EVANS, BILL ELDER, WALLY WOOD, SID CHECK
Cover Artist: CARLOS BADILLA
$49.99 • Age range: 14 • FC • 216 pages • HC • 8 3/16'' x 11''
Delight in fright! This third volume of the EC Comics horror classic The Haunt of Fear collects even more of the unforgettable scares! Featuring art from the timeless talents of Graham Ingels, Johnny Craig, Jack Kamen, Jack Davis, George Evans, Bill Elder, Wally Wood and Sid Check! Collects EC Comics’ The Haunt of Fear #13–18.
I almost skipped this, thinking it was a new printing. But for some reason Haunt of Fear wasn't reprinted in synchronicity with the other books, and has some catching up to do.
HERO COMICS HERO INITIATIVE BENEFIT BOOK (TPB)
Publisher: IDW PUBLISHING
Writers: KURT BUSIEK, HOWARD CHAYKIN, NEIL GAIMAN, SAM KIETH, JOHN LAYMAN, DAVE SIM, BILL WILLINGHAM and more
Art: KAARE ANDREWS, HOWARD CHAYKIN, KEVIN EASTMAN, ROB GUILLORY, GENE HA, SAM KIETH, DAVE SIM, ASHLEY WOOD and more
Cover: J. SCOTT CAMPBELL
TPB • FC • $19.99 • 128 pages
The Hero Initiative provides help when comic book creators are in need, it's as simple as that. This volume presents an all-star line-up of incredible comic book talent who have come together, donating their time and considerable talents for a good cause. Now, you can do your part—buy this book and help the Hero Initiative continue its noble work!
Featuring dozens of great writers and artists, and many of your favorite series, like American Flagg!, Chew, The Maxx, Jon Sable, Red Star, as well as original concepts, as well as an astounding selection of short "Heroes In Action" stories by more than a dozen creators telling their own firsthand experiences with the Hero Initiative when they needed a helping hand, including Gene Colan, Stan Goldberg, Ralph Reese, and more.
• Gallery section showcases the work of J. Scott Campbell, Arthur Adams, Mark Schultz, Matt Wagner, Adam Hughes, Darwyn Cooke, and more!
• When you buy this book you will not only be getting great works by an amazing array of comics' best creators, you will be giving back to those creators you grew up on in their time of need!
Good art for a good cause. (Insert your own "dragons rioting" joke here.)
FIRST ISSUE ALERT
HUNTER S. THOMPSON'S FEAR & LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS #1
Adaptation/Cover: TROY LITTLE
Subscription Variant: JIM MAHFOOD
Signed & Limited Edition (limited to 300 copies, with an exclusive dust jacket, $40): TROY LITTLE
BW • 48 pages • $4.99
Troy Little's gonzo adaptation of Hunter Thompson's Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas is now available in an all-new format. Find out why GQ said "Little's cartoonish sensibilities make him the ideal artist to adapt Thompson's gonzo ur-text ... perfectly portraying literature's most ridiculous road trip."
This comic book version is presented in black-and-white and at a slightly larger size than the full-color hardcover edition. Each issue also includes pages from Little's sketchbook and other behind-the-scenes information.
• "[Little's] talents make him perfectly comfortable with the elastic expressions required to recreate the exploits of Thompson and his companion, Dr. Gonzo, as they slingshot between mania, paranoia, rage, and despair... the graphic-novel aspect adds layers to Thompson's prose." — Quill & Quire (starred review)
• "Sheer expressiveness ... captur[es] the sense of immediacy and paranoia that saturated the original's long, bad trip ... it's a vivid insight into one of the most fascinatingly creative and unwaveringly troubled writers of his generation." — Publishers Weekly
• "Raoul Duke and his Samoan attorney, Dr. Gonzo, come screaming into Las Vegas, searching for the American dream, destined to find only its charred remains... [Troy] Little fits the sensibility of the original comfortably into comics form." — Booklist
• Want to read the entire adaptation? That version is available now!
I loved this book when I was in college, as it combined the classic road trip premise with a trip of another kind. I read some other Thompson books, but none were as genuinely off the rails as this one. If the adaptation does it justice, it'll be worth the read.
FIRST ISSUE ALERT
LOBSTER JOHNSON: METAL MONSTERS OF MIDTOWN #1 (OF 3)
Publisher: DARK HORSE
Writer: JOHN ARCUDI
Art/Cover: TONCI ZONJIC
Colors: DAVE STEWART
FC • 32 pages • $3.50 • Miniseries
A trio of skyscraping robots crash into a Manhattan bank and leave Lobster Johnson with two mysteries to solve: what is behind the massive machines, and why would the robots pull a heist without taking a penny?
You know how awesome robots were in the 1930s and 1940s, before we knew what robots would really look like? Think "Mechanical Menace" in the Fleischer Superman cartoons or the covers to Planet Comics or the big metal in Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow. Zonjic does a fantastic job replicating that vibe here, with three-story-tall robots that are all giant springs and levers and oversize engine parts. It's a really original take on the concept, and yet one that feels immediately familiar somehow. Bonus: No two robots look alike, although all of them look like they could actually work.
The story is equally gripping, if you like your fiction pulpy and your heroes hard-boiled. Which I do, so I had a blast with The Lobster. As usual.
FIRST ISSUE ALERT
NAMIBIA VOL 1 EPISODE 1 (GN)
Publisher: CINEBOOK
Writer: RODOLPHE
Art/Cover: LEO
$11.95
Namibia, 1949. Three years after the Nuremberg trials, a white man is photographed in the middle of a corn field: it's Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring, who's supposed to have committed suicide in his cell. Worried about the geopolitical implications of the discovery, MI5 sends Kathy Austin to Namibia. There, along with her new partner, a grumpy, misogynistic, racist old war horse, Kathy begins an investigation where the threat of Nazi resurgence soon makes way before more frightening -- and unexplainable -- phenomena.
"Hermann Göring in a cornfield in Namibia in 1949" is the sort of phrase that reminds me why I love comics.
FIRST ISSUE ALERT
NIGHTHAWK #1
Publisher: MARVEL COMICS
Written by DAVID WALKER
Art by RAMON VILLALOBOS
Colors by TAMARA BONVILLAIN
Cover by DENYS COWAN & BILL SIENKIEWICZ
Variant Covers by RAFAEL ALBUQUERQUE
And SKOTTIE YOUNG
Action Figure Variant by JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER
Hip Hop Variant by BILL SIENKIEWICZ
PARENTAL ADVISORY
32 PGS • Rated T+ • $3.99
Straight from the pages of Squadron Supreme comes the most brutal super hero in the Marvel Universe in a hard-hitting new ongoing series! Marvel is pleased to present NIGHTHAWK #1 – the new ongoing series from fan-favorite creators David Walker (Power Man And Iron Fist) and Ramon Villalobos (E is for Extinction). He is Chicago’s lethal vigilante – dispensing swift and vicious justice to those who truly deserve it. But when the city’s shadiest power brokers begin turning up dead – each murdered more gruesomely than the last – Nighthawk must ask himself the hard questions. Does this killer deserve to be caught? What does he want? More importantly, what does the killer have to do with Nighthawk? To answer those questions – Nighthawk might have to look in the mirror first. The mystery begins here! Don’t miss one minute of the bone-crunching action when NIGHTHAWK #1 comes to comic shops and digital devices this May!
I hope this character's title debut doesn't mean "our" Kyle Richmond came to a sticky end. Regardless, the preview for this is pretty much what you'd expect from a grim, lethal vigilante with a bird motif and a mad-on for white supremacists. (They're kinda everywhere these days, aren't they?)
QUEEN OF VAMPIRES #4 (of 7)
Publisher: ARH COMIX
Story by: ARAHOM RADJAH
Written/Script by: ABRAHAM KAWA
Illustrated by: MANOS LAGOUVARDOS
Colored by: NIKOS KOUTSIS, MIKE TORIS
Lettered by: YIANIS ZOUMPAS
Cover Art by: CHRISTOS MARTINIS
FC • $3.99
This is the most anticipated chapter of this fantastic story where ARKHALLA, the most powerful woman on earth, finally realizes she is in love with SHAMATH, her own body slave, but will things happen the way she expects?
This explosive chapter will show you the fall of ARKHALLA and the great rebellion that brought her down.
It’s a crucial chapter in her whole saga that brings us closer to its epic conclusion.
ARH Studios is announcing the 4th issue of their talked-about hit-series QUEEN OF VAMPIRES.
Arahom Radjah is proud of the achievements so far and tells this about the issue at hand: "The point I would like to stress most for this issue would be the FALL OF ARKHALLA. This issue is all about the moment she realizes her feelings for SHAMATH which is also the same moment she finds herself betrayed by everyone, including SHAMATH himself. This is for me the most interesting aspect of this chapter, how things can change so suddenly and so much from one moment to another.
This is something I’m bringing from my own personal life experiences into the stories I’m writing. You will see the same also happening in the ASTRIA comics. Your entire life can change in a split of a second, and you can’t even foresee it coming.
The other important thing is how SHAMATH became Arkhalla's savior. If we look back at the first pages of issue #1, we see ARKHALLA sparing his life without even realizing that he would save her life so many times and in so many ways.
In issue #5 (not spoiling it!) the readers will see ARKHALLA telling SHAMATH that he has saved her in many ways. This is the realization of all the wrongs she has done her whole existence and of what she actually became as a Vampire Queen. We infused a lot of depth in this story, and as I said before, the last three chapters are extremely touching and emotional. I can’t read chapter #5 without having tears in my eyes, and the ending of the 7-issue miniseries , is in my opinion, one of the most romantic and beautiful endings I have ever seen. A truly Hollywood worthy masterpiece!"
Join ARH STUDIOS and ARH COMIX at the following online platforms":
- https://arhcomix.com/ & https://www.facebook.com/groups/arhcomix/
- https://arhstudioscollectibles.com/ & https://www.facebook.com/ARHStudiosfans
Have you noticed that vampire queens always have impressive dragons? It's like a job requirement or something.
FIRST ISSUE ALERT
SCOOBY APOCALYPSE #1
Publisher: DC COMICS
Story by JIM LEE and KEITH GIFFEN
Script by KEITH GIFFEN and J.M. DeMATTEIS
Art by HOWARD PORTER
Cover by JIM LEE
Blank variant cover
Coloring book cover by JIM LEE
Scooby-Doo variant cover by HOWARD PORTER
Shaggy variant cover by DAN PANOSIAN
Velma variant cover by BEN CALDWELL
Daphne variant cover by JOELLE JONES
Fred variant cover by NEAL ADAMS
32 pg • FC • $3.99 US • RATED T
This issue will ship with eight covers.
Scooby-Doo, Shaggy, Daphne, Velma and Fred are at it again, solving the mystery behind a nanite-infected world in Scooby Apocalypse. It’s monsters, mayhem and madness from co-writers Keith Giffen (Sugar & Spike, Legends of Tomorrow anthology) and J.M. DeMatteis, with art by Howard Porter (Superman).
The apocalypse has happened. Old rules about logic no longer apply. The creatures of the night are among us, and the crew of the Magical Mystery Machine has to fight to survive—because in the apocalyptic badlands of the near-future, the horrors are real!
In addition to the standard cover by veteran artist Jim Lee, we’re showing off the first of four variant covers, Scooby-Doo (complete with Scooby Snack) by Howard Porter, and mystery hunter Fred Jones from legendary artist Neal Adams.
This new monthly series takes Scooby and the gang to a whole new level and features character designs by comics superstar Jim Lee!
The new Jonny Quest was so good that I was willing to try this one as well.
And this really AIN'T your daddy's Scooby Doo. As opposed to Future Quest, this book doesn't extrapolate from existing franchises so much as start over with the same characters in a new premise -- and throws in an origin almost painlessly.
Fred is a cameraman for Daphne, a failed TV journalist trying for a comeback with a 4 a.m. show called Mysterious Mysteries. Velma is one of a group of evil scientists working on a nano-technology virus to change humanity's DNA so it will be less violent (and more compliant). The operation's cover story is creating super-intelligent dogs, which gives us Scooby-Doo, a failed experiment, and his handler/protector, the big-hearted Mr. "Shaggy" Rogers. Events bring them all together, events which set up a status quo of a world filled with monsters that this new group must navigate, presumably to fix things.
Giffen* is a veteran storyteller, in command of his abilities such that this works as a strong origin story. He provides just the right amount of characterization for us to know the five stars, the right amount of humor vs. drama and the right amount of set-up to make us interested in reading more. The downside is that Giffen is still the guy who gave us all those mean-spirited and nihilist comics in the past, so he can't resist giving our squeaky-clean characters some darkness -- such as making Velma one of the evil scientists (she didn't know she was being evil, so add "naive" to that) and making Daphne an unapologetic, straight-up bitch. These are not welcome additions to my childhood friends, and it compares unfavorably to Jeff Parker from Future Quest, who managed to update a horde of Hanna-Barbera characters without inventing out of whole cloth new, unpleasant personalities for any of them.
(* The credits give Jim Lee part writer credit, but I can't tell what he contributed. It reads like Giffen to me, so I'm going with "GIffen" rather than "Giffen and Lee" to make my verb tenses easier.)
It's only the first issue, though, so I shouldn't rush to judgment. Maybe Daphne's story arc is to learn not to treat everyone (especially Fred) so badly. And maybe Velma will search for redemption. And maybe Fred will learn to be less of a doormat. Shaggy and Scooby, though, don't need any fixing, and since they're the heart of the show, that's a big plus.
Also, this issue gives us the full names of the four humans, which I had known at some point and forgotten. For the record: Fred Jones, Daphne Blake, Velma Dinkley, Norville Rogers. You're welcome.
Also, Scooby has an alternate identity of sorts: He's #24602 in the smart-dog program. (How did they resist THX 1138? No one else does.) Those numbers don't mean anything to me, and all Mr. Google suggests are a zip code in Virginia and a peptide that regulates fluid volume and vascular function. If anyone thinks it means something specific, let me know!
FIRST ISSUE ALERT
STAN LEE'S CHAKRA RISE OF INFINITUS #1
Publisher: GRAPHIC INDIA PTE. LTD
Writers: ASHWIN PANDE & VARIOUS
Art: JEEVAN KANG, DREAMCATCHER
Cover: JEEVAN KANG
$1.99
An all-new adventure and starting off point for fans old and new! Created by Stan Lee, experience the action-packed all-new adventure as Chakra The Invincible's life changes when he meets Infinitus, a mysterious visitor from space who Chakra has yet to determine if he is friend or foe! Based on the Angry Birds ToonsTV web series with over 40 million views worldwide.
How much do you think Stan Lee actually has to do with these books? Did he just come up with the premise? Just the name? Or did he just put his name on it? I'm curious.
SUPERMAN #52
Publisher: DC COMICS
Written by PETER J. TOMASI
Art and cover by MIKEL JANIN
Variant cover by MIKEL JANIN
32 pg • FC • $3.99 U.S. • RATED T
This issue will ship with two covers.
The “Super League” epic concludes in one explosive fight as the new master villain uses Superman's own solar super flare power against everyone. Can even two Supermen, Supergirl, Wonder Woman and Batman be enough to stop this onslaught? And how will the outcome of this battle change Lois Lane's life forever?
Here's the last issue, where presumably New 52 Superman kicks the bucket, and three or four pretenders line up to take his spot. Gee, that doesn't sound familiar at all, does it?
FIRST ISSUE ALERT
SQUARRIORS VOL 2 SUMMER #1
Publisher: DEVILS DUE /1FIRST COMICS, LLC
Writer: ASH MACZKO
Art/Cover: ASHLEY WITTER
$3.99
Next from the break-out hit series Squarriors: The saga of warring rodents in a post-human world continues with Squarriors: Summer. There's little time to nurse wounds as the Tin Kin's struggle against the Maw and Amoni intensifies. The conflict of woodland creatures boils under the scorching Summer Sun. And the tribes find themselves on the brink of war and the edge of annihilation.
I'm not really sure what's going on in this cover, but it's pretty eerie. Is that a cat wearing a bird costume, or what?
FIRST ISSUE ALERT
ULTRACAT #1
Publisher: ANTARCTIC PRESS
Writer/Art/Cover: JOSE FONOLLOSA
$3.99
He came from Spain, he ain't no bird or plane! It's Ultracat! With his ultra-speed, ultra-strength and ultra-cuteness, the world's feistiest feline conquers all criminals, from minor burglars to super-villains to that annoying evildoer pug across the hall! Just don't ask him to go out in the rain or pass up a nap...
Speaking of cats, here's a book starring a cute one. Which means I will never, ever read it.
FIRST ISSUE ALERT
UMINEKO WHEN THEY CRY EPISODE 6 VOL 1: DAWN OF GOLDEN WITCH
Publisher: YEN PRESS
Writer: RYUKISHI07
Art/Cover: AKITAKA
$20.00
Battler assumes control of the sixth game, wielding his new Golden Truth as he parries the logical blows of the detective-and-witch, Erika Furudo. For Battler, what began as a contest over the existence of magic has become a fight to revive the fiery, vibrant Beatrice of his early clashes on the game board. The logical loops and rules of the game were already complex; now, as the game master, Battler must quickly learn how to shape the events to his and Beatrice's ultimate ends without getting locked in a closed room by Erika, the witch of truth!
Could this be the Japanese equivalent of "Hermann Göring in a cornfield in Namibia in 1949"? Because I don't understand a word of it!
FIRST ISSUE ALERT
UNHAPPY GO LUCKY VOL 1
Publisher: YEN PRESS
Writer/Art/Cover: KOTOJI
$13.00
Tennogofune Academy's class 1-7 sure is unlucky. But brighter fortunes may be on the way when Hibari, Hanako, and Botan decide to make the most out of their everyday school lives!
Wow, this sounds ... boring. Surely there's more to it!
Replies
I'm assuming "dragons rioting" is a Japanese metaphor for "bodacious ta-tas."
No, but it should be.
Wow, this sounds ... boring. Surely there's more to it!
Not necessarily. It sounds as though it might be another "high school slice-of-life" manga. The test will be in how interesting the characters are.
Can HYDRA really be considered a threat anymore in the mu?
There's a preview here.
Why, yes, they're a very serious threat. When was the last time you read a Marvel comic book?
Mark S. Ogilvie said:
Sorry Cap, I've just seen Namor and the Illuminati blow up worlds and murder heroes, Maria Hill altering reality and in cw2 who knows what will happen. The X-men held and tortured Avengers during AvX. I've just seen the heroes and SHIELD do so many crummy things it feels like HYDRA is second rate, sort of like Cobra for GI-Joe: good for a battle to keep in practice but not really a serious threat. Sorry, that's just how I feel.
Captain Comics said:
Cap - re Sharon Carter....
I believe she accompanied Steve into Dimension Z and was believed dead for most of his 10 years there but was found/rescued just in time to leave and so had aged 'naturally' .
Now while Steve went old then young again she has stayed older-than-she-was in relation to the main Marvel cast.
(I think!?)
I'd say "mildly curious." I was very excited about the New 52 and bought a ton of new titles that first month. Six months later, I was down to exactly one. The whole enterprise was very disappointing and soured me on DC. I'm doubtful about yet another relaunch since the last one misfired so badly and most of the same people are still in charge. And yet... I'm a comics fan and I can't help but be curious. I'll probably take a look at most of them and give DC a reasonable chance to win me back.
Like Chris, DC Rebirth is more curiosity than anticipation. I"ll check some of the new material out, but probably won't sample as much as I normally would. A combo of money and lack of interest.
I read the first issue of Aliens: Infestation. While I liked it, I don't think I liked it as much as you did.
Reading that new Cap series, made me realize just how out of touch I am with most of Marvel and DC these days. I
Scooby-Doo's number, 24602, is one more than Jean Valjean's prisoner number (24601) in Les Miserables. Does he steal a loaf of bread to feed his family? Is he being pursued by a relentless avatar of merciless justice?
Rob Staeger (Grodd Mod) said:
Scooby-Doo's number, 24602, is one more than Jean Valjean's prisoner number (24601) in Les Miserables. Does he steal a loaf of bread to feed his family? Is he being pursued by a relentless avatar of merciless justice?
It should mean that they knew each other!
-
1
-
2
-
3
of 3 Next