This Week in Comics: Aug. 17-23, 2021

THE TOP 5

Four-Fisted Tales: Animals in Combat TPB

Dead Reckoning | $24.95

Story/Art: Ben Towle

In virtually every military conflict in recorded history animals have fought — and often died — alongside their human counterparts. While countless stories of the men and women who’ve served in the trenches, jungles, and deserts of the world’s battlefields have been told, Four-Fisted Tales: Animals in Combat shares the stories of the animals who fought alongside them.

From Hannibal’s elephants in ancient Rome to mine-sniffing rats in Vietnam and everything in between, Four-Fisted Tales highlights the real-life contributions of these underappreciated animal warriors. Whether in active combat or simply as companions, these animals served and made their mark on history.

Ben Towle is a four-time Eisner-nominated cartoonist. His previous works include Oyster War; Amelia Earhart: This Broad Ocean (with Sarah Stewart Taylor), which received accolades from The New York Times and Publishers Weekly and was a Junior Library Guild selection; Midnight Sun; and Farewell, Georgia.

CC sez: I've read this, and I'll do a long review down the road, but for now I'll just say it's recommended. And that there were far fewer dog stories than I expected.

Heroes Union #1: The Cosmic Crusade

Binge Books | $4.99

Writer: Roger Stern | Pencils: Ron Frenz | Ink: Sal Buscema, Chris Nye | Cover: Ron Frenz (pencils), Brett Breeding (inks)

Binge Book | 68 Pages | All Ages | $4.99

Naucrate the Auteur Cosmic — half the universe celebrates her genius, the other half cowers before her world-shattering power. And the only ones who can stop her are Earth's foremost super-group … The Heroes Union! Legendary creators Roger Stern (Avengers), Ron Frenz (Thor) and Sal Buscema (Captain America) unite to chronicle the adventures of a marvelous new generation of heroes in a cosmic epic bursting with so many breathtaking twists and thrills, it should probably come with seat belts! This 68-page, standalone story introduces all-new 21st Century Heroes in an exciting new, square-bound “Binge Book” format!

This is the first of several planned releases to be made available as a modernized, Binge Book edition. Created by veteran TV writer Darin Henry (Seinfeld, Futurama, KC Undercover), Binge Books are tailored for today’s audiences used to binging their favorite content. At 68 pages, The Heroes Union #1 will be longer than the average comic, allowing for the complete, family-friendly adventure to be released all at once as a standalone story for $4.99.

In addition to their length, Binge Books have a number of other attributes that make them unique in the comic space. The Heroes Union #1 reunites Stern and Frenz, the creative team behind the iconic Spider-Man story, “The Kid Who Collects Spider-Man,” (Amazing Spider-Man #248). By special arrangement with the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, The Heroes Union #1 will be the first comic in over a decade to feature the official Comics Code Authority Seal and each copy will also be uniquely numbered for collectors. The publisher has hinted that some of these numbered variants may eventually entitle their owners to additional perks, but further details have not yet been revealed.

With an action-packed, engrossing story featuring compelling new superheroes with names such as Startup, Windfall, Protégé and more, The Heroes Union #1 will also offer adults a unique way to teach children about business.

“Like millions of other kids, I grew up devouring comics by Roger Stern, Ron Frenz and Sal Buscema, so to have some of the 20th Century’s greatest creators introducing readers to the 21st Century’s greatest heroes is a personal and professional dream come true,” said Binge Books creator, Darin Henry. “I was inspired to create Binge Books by European comic albums like TinTin and Asterix because I wanted to publish affordable graphic novellas for US readers to enjoy.”

CC sez: Darin Henry is one of us, a Legionnaire who has been asking our advice on launching a comics company for (checks watch) six years. I've sent him some questions for a formal interview, which will become a column next week. I'll certainly pick this book up if I get the chance.

Kang the Conqueror #1 (of 5)

Writers: Collin Kelly, Jackson Lanzing | Art: Carlos Magno, Espen Grundetjern | Cover: Mike Del Mundo

This August, it’s time to tell the definitive origin story of one of Marvel’s greatest villains: KANG THE CONQUERER! Announced earlier today on the This Week in Marvel podcast, the Avengers and Fantastic Four foe will star in his first ever solo series that will tackle the complex saga behind the universe’s most fearsome time-traveling menace. KANG THE CONQUERER will be written by Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing, the popular writing duo known for their work on books like Joyride, Green Arrow and Star Trek: Year Five, with art by Carlos Magno (Avengers Mech Strike). Together, this all-star creative team will unravel Kang’s enormous legacy from his expansive backstory to his various alternate selves, tying everything together and catapulting him into his biggest era yet.

The new series will be a love letter to True Believers who treasure the complicated tapestry behind the saga of Kang, while also serving as a perfect entry point for fans eager to learn the fascinating lore behind one of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby’s most iconic creations.

The man called Kang the Conqueror has been a pharaoh, a villain, a warlord of the space ways and even — on rare occasions — a hero. Across all timelines, one fact seemed absolute: Time means nothing to Kang the Conqueror. But the truth is more complex. Kang is caught in an endless cycle of creation and destruction dictated by time and previously unseen by any but the Conqueror himself. A cycle that could finally explain the enigma that is Kang. And a cycle that begins and ends with an old and broken Kang sending his younger self down a dark path …

"Time may mean nothing to Kang, but Kang means everything to us. This is the book we've been wanting to write for years,” Lanzing said. “It's a total dream come true for Collin and I to be making our Marvel debut — we're best friends who first met through a mutual love of Young Avengers, Runaways and Ultimate Spider-Man. But to make our first mark with a character as storied as Kang the Conqueror, on a very personal pitch we never in a million years thought would be greenlit, is a genuine honor. Carlos Magno is delivering jaw-dropping work that recalls the exacting detail and operatic emotion of Kang's co-creator Jack Kirby. We're genuinely stunned by every new page. Add the brilliant colors by Espen Grundetjern, letters by the Marvel master Joe Caramanga, and the insightful leadership of our editor Alanna Smith, and you've got a team worthy of one of Marvel's greatest unsung characters."

"Kang has been a nefarious force in the Marvel Universe nearly as long as it's existed, but the true crime here is that he's never had a solo series. The fact that we're the ones who get to bring Kang's complete story to life for the first time is an incredible honor,” Kelly added. “KANG THE CONQUEROR isn't just an origin story; this is a life story. When young and jaded Nathaniel Richards discovers the ancient lair of his Latvarian ancestor Victor Von Doom, his life is changed forever by a man he should never have met - KANG HIMSELF! From the last days of the Cretaceous to the war-torn world of Jack Kirby's year 4,000 — from ancient Egypt to the stars themselves - KANG THE CONQUEROR is a story that unpacks the told — and untold — moments of Kang's life through a human lens. Powered by his love of the enigmatic Ravonna Renslayer, and fueled by the hatred of who he will become, this is a cross-time epic for everyone who has ever rejected who they were supposed to be."

CC sez: When Kang first appeared in Avengers #8, the Li'l Capn thought, "OK, he lost, but why doesn't he go back to his own time, heal up and fix his equipment, and then attack the Avengers again 40 seconds after he lost to them the first time? Or 40 seconds before?" I had no answer, but then, it was the Silver Age, and you pretty much had to accept weird things at face value (especially at DC).

But the second time he appeared, I thought, "Why is he so invested in beating the Avengers, when they are all dead by the time he was born? Outliving your opponent is the ultimate victory, isn't it?"

Then there was the question of why he was conquering different eras in the timestream. I mean, if he conquered the world in 1901, then wouldn't that create a new timeline? Which means there were an infinite numbers of timelines he could construct and conquer, which means he would never be finished. And you'd have to administer all of them. What's the point?

Then, when questions started to arise as to whether Kang was related to Dr. Doom, or possibly had other identities (Rama-Tut, Scarlet Centurion, Immortus), I thought, "Duh, Kang. You're a time-traveler. If you have a question, go to the correct era and find the answer. But you're not interested enough to do that, so I'm not interested in it either."

And so it went, with each new Kang appearance prompting questions that, clearly, the writers had not thought through. Eventually I decided that Kang wasn't really what the writers said he was, a rapacious tyrant who wants to conquer all eras (whose parameters were poorly defined), but was instead like a hobbyist, who goes and fights super-teams at the height of their power for the fun of it.

So what I'm hoping for here is exactly what the copy above kinda promises, that we're going to find out that Kang has a bunch of lines he can't cross, and learn why he can't cross them, that will answer, hopefully, all of my Silver Age questions about a man who should be, on paper, unbeatable. Fingers crossed.

EC Archives: MD HC

Dark Horse | $49.99

Story: Al Feldstein, Carl Wessler | Art: Reed Crandall, Joe Orlando, Graham Ingels, George Evans

Dramatic tales of medicine and surgery, and of modern medicine's constant struggle against illness and injury. The doctor is the hero of these stories, where diseases can be just as deadly as a murderer.

This hardcover volume collects the complete run of MD, recolored digitally using the original palette, featuring art by legendary comics talents Reed Crandall, Joe Orlando, Graham Ingels, and George Evans.

CC sez: This book brings us one step closer to having the entire EC library in print. It is, in fact, the final title in the "New Direction" series to be collected, leaving only three Picto-Fiction books and a host of (mostly bad) Pre-Trend titles that aren't already on my bookshelf.

X-Men: The Trial of Magneto #1 (of 5)

Marvel | Teen+ | $4.99

The Scarlet Witch is dead and all eyes are on Magneto! Is the Master of Magnetism guilty in the murder of the Avenger he once thought to be his daughter, or does the true culprit still lurk on Krakoa? Find out in X-MEN: THE TRIAL OF MAGNETO, a new limited series written by X-Factor scribe Leah Williams and drawn by rising star Lucas Werneck. This critical chapter in Johnathan Hickman’s X-Men era will divide the thriving mutant nation of Krakoa, threaten the X-Men’s standing within the wider Marvel Universe, and explore the past and future of Wanda Maximoff’s relationship with mutantkind.

“When has Magneto ever allowed bureaucracy to get between himself and what’s just? In the island paradise of Krakoa, safe haven and home for mutants — Magneto’s hard-fought, greatest desire of seeing his people at peace and thriving has finally been achieved. But Magneto’s loyalty extends only as far as it is first earned, so after the Hellfire Gala, when he learns that even a paradise could still be filled with lies ... the TRIAL OF MAGNETO will begin,” Williams teased when the series was first announced.

"I am so looking forward to working with Leah, especially with this project,” Werneck said. “Leah has incredible sensitivity in her writing and is able to craft stories that are layered and mysterious and fun for readers so I think she is perfect to write this story. Participating in the Hellfire Gala and now being invited to be part of this project is really a dream."

CC sez: Hands up if you think Wanda will stay dead! Nobody? Right.

I do hope that this is a climactic moment for the Hickman X-run. I think we've all expressed a feeling that something's been off about Krakoa since the beginning — and now we're going to find out what.

Has Krakoa been influencing everyone with the same mind-controlling botanic substances Beast has been using on other countries? It does, after all, feed on mutants, so it might have convinced everyone chemically that living where he can suck their energy is a grand idea. Has Xavier (or maybe a Cerebro AI) been influencing everyone from the beginning? Are those reborn in a Cerebro download subtly different, maybe a bit more suggestible, than their original selves?

There has to be some reason why everyone has been acting so oddly, from Storm's nastiness to humans to the preposterously agreeable Scott-Jean-Logan ménage à trois to everyone getting along with people (like Apocalypse) who have been trying to kill them for ages. (And have sometimes succeeded.)

If indeed, as the foreshadowing suggests, that Mystique is going to "burn the place to the ground," it may start here. In fact, I'd bet a dollar that it was Mystique who invited Wanda to the Hellfire Gala, and subsequently killed her. And that Wanda will be reborn as a proper mutant.

I'm probably wrong. But I hope I'm right that something consequential is happening here.

OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST

1984: The Graphic Novel

Houghton Mifflin | $22.00

Story: George Orwell | Art/Cover: Fido Nesti

One of the most influential books of the twentieth century gets the graphic treatment in this first-ever adaptation of George Orwell's 1984. In 1984, London is a grim city in the totalitarian state of Oceania where Big Brother is always watching you and the Thought Police can practically read your mind. Winston Smith is a man in grave danger for the simple reason that his memory still functions. Drawn into a forbidden love affair, Winston finds the courage to join a secret revolutionary organization called the Brotherhood, dedicated to the destruction of the Party. Together with his beloved Julia, he hazards his life in a deadly match against the powers that be. With evocative, immersive art from Fido Nesti, this vision of George Orwell's dystopian masterpiece provides a new perspective for longtime fans but is also an accessible entry point for young readers and adults who have yet to discover the iconic story that is still so relevant today.

CC sez: I just finished a GN biography of Orwell, so I should add this to the bookshelf next to it. Sadly, the last line isn't hyperbole — 1984 really IS more relevant today than ever.

One other thought occurred to me the other day. When I read 1984, it wasn't 1984 yet. Everyone who had read the book read it before the real year 1984 happened. But now, I realize that I'm in a shrinking cadre of people who can say that. Eventually everyone who reads 1984 will see it in the rear-view mirror, whereas my generation read it as a warning.

Will that change how it's perceived?

Batman: Secret Files — Clownhunter #1

DC Comics | 40 pages | $3.99

Writer: Ed Brisson | Art: Rosi Kampe | Cover: Mico Suayan | Card Stock variant ($5.99): Kofi Ofosu

Two of 2020’s breakout characters are on a collision course this August as Batman Secret Files continues to shine the spotlight on other characters waging war against crime in Gotham City!

Clownhunter’s war on the clown gangs from The Joker War continues in Batman Secret Files: Clownhunter #1, a brutal tale written by Ed Brisson, with art by Rosi Kämpe.  The untrained but focused vigilante stalks a boss-level clown, but his luck might be running out as he walks into an ambush set by Punchline! In a horrific parallel to his days at Gotham Academy, Clownhunter finds himself overwhelmed and outgunned...just the type of odds he likes! 

CC sez: I've gotten the other recent Secret Files, but may skip this one. I could accept Clownhunter as a throwaway character who got lucky; otherwise an untrained guy with no resources who goes after Joker and armed gangsters with a baseball bat should be dead by the second panel. Plus, his approach is lethal, so he's on the wrong side of Batman, too. But evidently this reckless, dead-broke amateur with extremely poor judgment and no safe haven is going to become a permanent member of the supporting cast. My suspension of disbelief simply can't stretch that far.

Blade Runner: Origins #5

Titan Comics | 32 pages | Mature | $3.99

Enter the world of Blade Runner: 2009 and discover the untold origins of the Blade Runners!

LAPD detective CAL MOREAUX has teamed up with an escaped experimental REPLICANT, who has been uploaded with the memories of a dead Tyrell Corporation scientist, whose suicide he was sent to investigate.

FEATURES AN ALL-STAR CREATIVE TEAM including K. Perkins (Batwoman, Wonder Woman, Supergirl), and screenwriter Mellow Brown (American Gods, Calls) with artwork by Fernando Dagnino (Smart Girl, Superman, the Green Lantern Prequel Special: Sinestro #1, Resurrection Man and Suicide Squad).

CC sez: It's a Blade Runner: Origins-palooza! Not only is the fifth issue out this week (delayed from last week), but a collection of the first four issues is out as well (see below). You can get the whole run at a go.

Blade Runner: Origins TPB

Titan | $17.99

Story: K. Perkins, Mellow Brown, Mike Johnson | Art: Fernando Dagnino

When a Tyrell Corporation scientist working on an experimental new type of Replicant is discovered dead in her laboratory, the victim of an apparent suicide, LAPD detective Cal Moreau is called in to investigate. What he uncovers is a conspiracy of silence so deadly it could change the world as he knows it. Set ten years before the events of the first Blade Runner film, this is the world on the cusp of environmental collapse, and the beginning of the mass Off-world migration to the Off-world colonies. Through its rain-soaked streets, LAPD Detective CAL MOREAU, a PTSD sufferer, must travel as he attempts to unravel the truth behind a seemingly routine suicide that soon reveals itself to be just the thin end of a vast conspiracy, one that runs to the very top of the Tyrell Corporation tower.

Castlevania: The Art of the Animated Series HC

Dark Horse | 192 pages | $39.99

Writer: Chris McDonnell

An expertly designed, full color, hardcover art book featuring concept art and commentary from the first three seasons of the hit animated series.

Gothic adventure and horror abound in Netflix’s Castlevania. Now explore the work behind the scenes of the popular show that was originally inspired by the classic video games!

Hundreds of pieces of ultra-detailed artwork are contained in these pages, including stunning, never-before-seen illustrations of monsters, characters, and environments. Experience the labor of love expressed while adapting the design for Dracula’s castle, and get a closer look at the intricacies of the show’s other fastidiously created components!

CC sez: We watched the first episode of Castlevania, and my wife gave it a thumbs down. And that was that. In fairness, we don't watch much animation at all, even the various Star Wars offerings.

The upshot is that I have no interest in this book, but if you're a Castlevania fan, this might look mighty fine on your coffee table.

Crisis Zone TPB

Fantagraphics | 292 pages | $29.99

Story/Art: Simon Hanselmann

In March 2020, as the planet began to enter lockdown, acclaimed cartoonist Simon Hanselmann decided that what the world needed most was free, easily accessible entertainment — so he set out to make the greatest webcomic ever created! The result is also certain to be one of the most acclaimed and eagerly anticipated graphic novels of 2021: CRISIS ZONE.

Set in the colorful NSFW world of the bestselling Megg, Mogg and Owl series, CRISIS ZONE was born amidst the uncertainty of the Covid-19 crisis. As the pandemic continued to escalate far beyond any reasonable expectations, CRISIS ZONE escalated right along with it — in real time, with daily posts on Instagram. Its battle mission was to amuse the masses: after all, no matter how horrible and bleak everything seemed, at least Werewolf Jones wasn’t in your house! Over the course of 2020, CRISIS ZONE amassed unprecedented amounts of new fans to the Megg and Mogg universe and is presented here unabridged and uncensored, with a slew of added pages and scenes deleted from the webcomic, as well as an extensive “Director’s Commentary” from Hanselmann himself.

Watch Megg attempt to bury herself in a digital world of escapism! See Mogg fall down the rabbit hole of paranoia and conspiracy theories! Experience Owl's metamorphosis from timid and uptight worrywort to a no-holds-barred, asskicking leader and back again! Witness Werewolf Jones's journey from reluctant erotic performer, to viral TikTok stardom, to Netflix sensation! Bouncing rapidly between comedy, horror, action, and relational soap-operatics, CRISIS ZONE refuses to take the pedal off the gas as we all hurtle towards unknown destinations.

"Crisis Zone is (I'm told) the ultimate piece of pandemic art,” said Hanselmann. “You won't find a better record of what went down in 2020. Nominated for the Harvey Award and Cartoonist Studio Prize and winner of the Eisner Award for best webcomic. Snubbed by the Pulitzer. Clowns! Big mistake!"

CC sez: Every week there's at least one book that's so odd I have no idea what to make of it. Here's this week's.

Disney's Cruella Manga Black, White & Red GN

Viz | $14.99

Story/Art: Hachi Ishie

She wasn't born Cruella. Gifted with talent, innovation, and ambition, Estella dreamed of becoming a fashion designer, but the world seemed intent on making sure her dreams would never come true.

The life of an amateur thief is hardly a glamourous one, but in 1970s London, at the crossroads of fashion, Estella has a vision for herself and her designs, if only she can afford it! Witness Estella's life on the streets with her best friends and partners in (petty) crime, Horace and Jasper, before the infamous diva Cruella emerges to make sure no one gets in her way!

CC sez: I'll be darned. Everybody IS gonna get a black, white & red!

Eat the Rich #1 (of 5)

BOOM! | $3.99

Story: Sarah Gailey | Art: Pius Bak | Cover: Kevin Tong | Variant: Becca Carey | Variant: Jenny Frison

What unspeakable horror eats away at the heart of Crestfall Bluffs?

With law school and her whole life ahead of her, Joey plans to summer with her boyfriend Astor in his seemingly perfect hometown of Crestfall Bluffs. It's a chance to finally meet Astor's family and childhood friends, all while enjoying a vacation with every need attended to by servants. But beneath the affluent perfection lies a dark, deadly rot. ... Will Joey discover the truth before it's too late, and if she does, can she survive to tell the tale?

The bold, horrifying psychological thriller from Hugo Award-winning author Sarah Gailey (The Echo Wife, Magic For Liars) with artist Pius Bak (Firefly, The Magicians), perfect for fans of Stillwater and Nailbiter!

CC sez: This smacks strongly of Get Out, without the racism aspect. But I don't get anything of significance out of the preview, so we'll just have to wait and see.

God of Tremors one-shot

Aftershock Comics | Mature | $6.99

Story: Peter Milligan | Art/Cover: Piotr Kowalski

A 19th Century gothic horror of exorcism, demonic worship and epilepsy.

When Aubrey has his first seizure, he's pulled out of school and hidden away in the family's remote country estate. His father — a high-ranking English priest — tries to chase the "devil" out of Aubrey — but maybe the devil lurks in the grotesque pagan effigy that dwells on the grounds. And maybe the devil will turn out to be Aubrey's only ally ...

A singular tale of nightmarish terror and creeping enlightenment told against a backdrop of ignorance and brutality, GOD OF TREMORS springs from the fertile imagination of award-winning writer Peter Milligan (OUT OF BODY, Shade the Changing Man, X-Force) with illustrations from Piotr Kowalski (JOIN THE FUTURE, Sex).

CC sez: This doesn't seem like something we'll be talking about next month, much less next year or later. But it's written by Peter Milligan, who has done interesting work for the Big Two. Might be good.

Goldilocks: Wanted Dead or Alive HC

Little Brown Book for Young Readers | $24.99

Story: Chris Colfer | Art: Jon Proctor

When we first meet her in The Land of Stories:The Wishing Spell, Goldilocks is a beautiful and tough-as-nails outlaw. Discover her origin story and more in this brand new, lushly illustrated full-color graphic novel, as she takes you on adventures where she may or may not break a few laws along the way.

Once upon a time, the kingdoms of the fairy-tale world lived in perfect harmony under the guidance of the Happily Ever After Assembly. But not all creatures and territories have been invited to this peaceful union. Monsters and criminals have found refuge in the Dwarf Forests, a land without rulers or law. When a plot by the Charming brothers is unveiled and threatens to push society's unwanted from their homes, the fairy-tale world's harmony and Goldilocks' home are put in jeopardy ...

New and returning fans of the Land of Stories will fall in love with the adventures of Goldilocks before she met Alex and Conner Bailey. Fans will recognize familiar characters including Porridge, Jack, and Queen Red Riding Hood; and a ragtag team of misfits is introduced, including Puss in Boots, Little Miss Muffet, Pinocchio, and more.

CC sez: She started out with B&E and petty theft, but now she's moved up to the big time. Everyone knew Goldilocks was gonna break bad.

Good Boy Magazine #1

Silver Sprocket | $9.99

Story/Art/Cover: Benji Nate, various

The finest, highest quality comics magazine on planet Earth! 112 brand new full color pages from indie comic heavyweights Benji Nate, Michael Sweater, Alex Krokus, Ashley Robin Franklin, Sam Grinberg, Flower Alligator, Dave Mercier, Bastian Najdek, Steve Thueson, and plenty more. A pure joy. Read comics or go to hell.

CC sez: "Read comics or go to Hell" is my new motto.

Hot Valley Days & Cocaine Nights TPB

Antarctic Press | Mature | $19.99

Story: Matthew Spradlin, Sean E DeMott | Art: Farid Karami

This primo package collects 3 keys' worth of the TRUE STORY of Janie XXXXX, a streetwise girl who at age 15 escapes from small-town Ohio to L.A. in the late '70s. Soon, she gets involved in her neighbor's business: cocaine. For the next eight years, Janie works to hustle Peruvian flake for the Cartel at clubs and parties, selling to the rich, famous and powerful. Then she decides to stop selling, and the trouble starts.

This is pure, uncut material, straight from our main suppliers, Marvel artist Farid Karami (Heroes Reborn: Night-Gwen) and Hollywood writer Matthew Spradlin (Bad Kids Go to Hell). Street value is $19.99 right now. We'll even throw in a little extra for your friends: FOUR ALL-NEW PAGES of story! Word on the street is you can get addicted to this.

CC sez: I appreciate the thought that went into this promo copy. Kudos to the anonymous author, who put effort into what is usually a thankless job.

Killer Queens #1 (of 4)

Dark Horse | $3.99

Story: David M. Booher | Art/Cover: Claudia Balboni, Harry Saxon | Variant: Chris Ables | Variant: Jen Bartel

A Queer Take on 1950s Sci-Fi Nostalgia in ‘Killer Queens’

Join rising star writer David M. Booher (Canto, Alien Bounty Hunter), artist Claudia Balboni (Fairlady), colorist Harry Saxon (Vagrant Queen), and letterer Lucas Gattoni (Liebestrasse) in the new Dark Horse mini-series Killer Queens. The all-LGBTQ creative team tackles issues of love, xenophobia and the terror of fascist dictatorships in the hilarious queer sci-fi epic!

Meet Max and Alex, two gay reformed intergalactic assassins-for-hire on the run. Their former boss — a fluffy monkey with a jetpack — is hot on their tail to take back his stolen ship. Even reformed assassins have to eat, so they take a mission from Alex’s old flame: your standard no-kill, casualty-free kidnapping recovery from a nearby moon. Only complication? Half the moon is ruled by a fascist dictator hostile to foreigners. They’re the Killer Queens, so what could possibly go wrong?

CC sez: I found the shenanigans here to be a little silly. Alex is constantly running into angry exes, and Max is a slutty tomcat constantly on the make — a premise which isn't a terribly hilarious any more, regardless of the characters' sexuality. (Alex is lesbian, Max is gay. Not sure about the monkey.)

It's a gender reversal of a premise that could have been a Jack Lemmon or Doris Day sex farce in the late '50s or early '60s, but whose gender roles aren't acceptable any more to today's audiences. The dated angle might be on purpose, since the sci-fi trappings are also from the same era. Regardless, the first issue didn't do much for me. For the record, I don't find The Apartment or Pillow Talk amusing, either. YMMV.

Nocterra #6

Image | $3.99

Cover A Daniel & Morey | Cover B Lupacchino & Dave McCaig | Cover C Daniel & Maiolo | Cover D 1:25 copy incentive Andolfo

You’ve seen the calm … now it’s time for the storm in Nocterra #6. Having previously unearthed a shocking revelation, Val must prepare for battle before she loses the paradise that she’s risked so much to find.

CC sez: So Image has apparently taken to sending out press releases when a storyline comes to an end, as is the case here. Also when a new storyline begins in some cases. That's OK by me, since it gives me some nice art to post.

Hero Trade: Passive Aggressive one-shot

Bad Idea | 32 pages | No Ads | $7.99

Writer: Matt Kindt | Art/Cover: David Lapham

PLUS: An All-New BAD IDEA B-SIDE

A DOUBLE-DEALING, DOUBLE-BARRELED ONE-SHOT IN GLORIOUS BLACK AND WHITE

Midnight in Los Angeles, and the brutal vigilante known as The Watch metes out justice, cleaning the street of lawbreaking scum. As fist meets face, The Watch’s phone rings: it’s Fred from Capitol A-1 Bank. The Watch has been hacked — actually, it’s his civilian identity — but Fred sure as shit doesn’t know who he’s talking to — he’s just calling the high-end clients to let them know their bank account’s been drained.

“Don’t worry,” Fred says. “We’re insured. It’ll be fine.”

“No it won’t,” The Watch replies.

The Watch is headed to Russia — with $8.8 billion reasons to kill every last member of the Russian hacking farm — and justice will be measured in broken bones and gallons of blood.

New York Times best-selling writer Matt Kindt (Mind MGMT) and legendary illustrator David Lapham (Stray Bullets) give bone-shredding vengeance a name this August as another piece is placed on the HERO TRADE board in a tale guaranteed to shock and provoke.

Remember, the BAD IDEA way also means no variants, no trades, no digital, select stores, perennially available Not First Printings, and only three comics a month (mostly) — just monthly comics, sold in comic book shops. Goodbye, troubles. Hello, BAD IDEA SIMPLICITY™.

CC sez: Bad Idea is sure putting out a lot of books for a company that has announced it's going out of business. Either A) it's a publicity stunt (which I half-suspect) or B) they're simply recouping as many of their expenditures as they can. But if it's the latter, why bother? Corporate bankruptcy is really generous, and would require less effort. So I'm back to A.

Second Chances #1

Image | $3.99

Story: Ricky Mammone | Art: Max Bertolini

Up-and-coming writer Ricky Mammone teams with artist Max Bertolini (The Witcher, Nathan Never) for an explosive new series in Second Chances. This action-packed noir is best described as Sin City by way of Better Call Saul and is set to launch from Image Comics this August.

Second Chances Hotline — call now and get a new identity! All you need is some cash, a proper referral and a very good reason to start over. When Leblanc, the man behind the hotline, is approached by a shady figure from his past, he's forced to accept a new client who doesn't meet any of the requirements — a client with chemically induced amnesia in desperate need of protection.

“Second Chances is a bizarre noir about how we can let mistakes define us," said Mammone. "I think nowadays we forget that it's very human to mess things up. With this series, we want to ask the questions what's worth forgiving and most importantly, can we give ourselves a second chance?"

Second Chances is a fever dream that feels like John Wick punching through an existential French New Wave that readers won’t want to miss.

Bertolini added: "Second Chances involved me like a vivid, dark and psychedelic dream. The deeper I went into the pages, the more the pages seemed to draw themselves, as if endowed with a powerful will of their own. It is like love, violence, perdition and rebirth shackled and injected into every page, every frame."

CC sez: The first issue had the usual noir trappings — first-person narration, femmes fatale, abrupt violence, vague mysteries — plus some 21st century upgrades, like assassins in oni masks and a secretary who hacks computers. I'm a sucker for a good noir, and this looks like a good one.

Stanley the Snowman #1

Scout Comics | All Ages | $1.99

Creator/Writer: Austin Janowsky | Creator/Artist: Juan Pablo Montenegro Marcial

Stanley the Snowman is an all-ages story about a snowman that’s awakened every holiday season for fun and adventure.

From the Scoot! all-ages imprint: Jenny Rose is a bit of a loner. She’s not into dolls, the latest cell phones, or the coolest games. She loves spending time with her family and learning about their traditions from her grandfather. He passes onto her a secret ritual that only one family member in a generation can do, bringing Stanley the Snowman to life! Stanley is a magical snowman, the embodiment of the holiday spirit and their family history. After months of preparation, the night finally arrives, but things don’t go exactly as planned!

Quote from writer/creator Austin Janowsky: "After 10 years and a global pandemic, I am so excited that the magic of Stanley the Snowman is finally coming to a local comic shop near you! I am so thankful for Scout Comics’ all-age imprint Scoot! It’s the perfect home for the Stanley the Snowman series!"

CC sez: I'm far past the age where I'm interested in pre-fab holiday mythology, but I was at one time — heck, I still quote the Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer cartoon regularly. So I'm certainly glad it's still being done for those in that age range. I'm just a bit baffled that this is coming out in August.

Click here for more.

Untold Horror HC

Dark Horse | 184 pages | $39.99

Writer: Dave Alexander | Cover: Justin Erickson |

Insightful interviews of horror legends George Romero, John Landis, Joe Dante, Brian Yuzna, and more, by former editor-in-chief of Rue Morgue, Dave Alexander, about the scariest horror movies never made!

Take a behind-the-scenes look into development hell to find the most frightening horror movies that never were, from unmade Re-Animator sequels to alternate takes on legendary franchises like Frankenstein and Dracula!

Features art, scripts, and other production material from unmade films that still might make you scream—with insights from dozens of directors, screenwriters, and producers with decades of experience.

A behind-the-scenes look into the development hell of the most frightening horror movies never made!

CC sez: Dark Horse thought this worth touting in a press release. So here ya go.

Warhammer 40,000: Sisters of Battle #1 (of 5)

Marvel | Parental Advisory | $4.99

Story: Torunn Grønbekk | Art: Edgar Salazar | Colors: Arif Prianto | Cover: Dave Wilkins | Variant: Games Workshop

After the success of last year’s WARHAMMER 40,000: MARNEUS CALGAR comic book series, Marvel Comics and Games Workshop’s exciting collaboration will continue this August with WARHAMMER 40,000: SISTERS OF BATTLE #1! Written by Torunn Grønbekk (The Mighty Valkyries) with art by Edgar Salazar (Uncanny X-Men), this latest team up will delight those familiar with the popular tabletop game phenomenon and serve as a perfect introduction for newcomers to the grim future of the 41st millennium that has captured the imagination of millions of fans around the world! The new series will tell an all-new action packed adventure of the sisterhood of warriors known as the Adepta Sororitas.

A squad of Adepta Sororitas, led by Canoness Veridyan arrive on planet Siscia to retrieve a lost Inquisitorial acolyte and put down a heretical uprising. As Novitiate Ghita’s first mission with her Order gets underway, what should be an easy mission turns into something much worse, as an unknown force deep within the subterranean city of the planet rears its ugly head! It’s no-holds-barred action, mystery, and daemons galore as the all-female fighting force lets bolters blaze and flamers scorch in this all-new saga!

CC sez: I don't play the game, so I'm not interested in the book. But I am curious why Marvel has the franchise, when it hasn't shown interest in other video game adaptations.

ONGOING EVENTS/CROSSOVERS

FEAR STATE

This Fall, The Scarecrow is sending Gotham City straight to Hell, and it’s up to Batman and his allies to stop it!

Fear State is a horror-themed Gotham City event that unifies plot threads started in DC’s fan-favorite publishing events, DC Future State and Infinite Frontier. Fear State not only continues The Scarecrow’s vision of a fear-controlled Gotham, but also Mayor Christopher Nakano’s mission to protect the city with his ground-breaking deal with The Magistrate.

This can’t miss event is also the launching point for several new series and plotlines across all Batman-family titles, setting a new status quo for 2022!

Catwoman #34

DC Comics | 32 Pages | $3.99

Writer: Ram V | Art: Fernando Blanco | Cover: Yanick Paquette | Card stock variant ($4.99): Jenny Frison | The Suicide Squad movie card stock variant: Steve Lieber

Alleytown continues to be the hot spot in Gotham City, with Selina Kyle’s quest to keep her home safe beset on all sides, not only by law enforcement gone bad, but a potential invasion by the city’s villains as well. And if those problems aren’t enough, Batman makes the scene, breaking his and Selina’s vow to give each other another a one-year break.

CC sez: This is the second book in the "Fear State" reading order, after I Am Batman #0 last week. Neither book has the "Fear State" trade dress. That begins next week, with Fear State: Alpha, where the event formally begins.

INFINITE DESTINIES

Miles Morales: Spider-Man Annual #1

Marvel | Teen+ | $4.99

Story: Saladin Ahmed, more | Art: Luca Maresca, more | Cover: Kim Jacinto | Interconnected variant: Ron Lim

FIGHT AT THE MUSEUM!

Miles Morales is investigating a series of monster attacks in Brooklyn when he runs into Ms. Marvel's friend and ally AMULET!

Together they connect the monsters to a series of cursed magical objects. But who activated them, and why? And can Spider-Man and Amulet find out before the monsters take them down too?

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: Part 6 (of 8) of "Infinite Fury"!

CC sez: I'm not following this — if it turns out to be consequential I'll get the trade — but I think it's nearing the end.

LAST ANNIHILATION

Guardians of the Galaxy #17

Marvel | Teen+ | $3.99

Story: Al Ewing | Art: Juan Frigeri | Cover: Brett Booth | Variant: Netease

THE LAST ANNIHILATION RAGES ON!

The Guardians are scattered to save five different planets — but it's already too late for Chitauri Prime. Why those five? What are the true plans of the mysterious enemy targeting our universe? Only DOCTOR DOOM knows ... but with the entire Chitauri species out for his blood, he might not survive to stop them!

CC sez: This is the slowest Annihilation I've seen yet, plodding along monthly in Guardians of the Galaxy. But don't worry, as it will expand to other titles soon, including a slew of one-shots starring Marvel's various space-based characters.

SINISTER WAR

Sinister War #3 (of 4)

Marvel | Teen+ | $4.99

You haven't read the end of SINISTER WAR #2 yet, but when you do, YOU WILL BE VERY MAD YOU HAD TO WAIT TWO WEEKS FOR THIS! Things have never been worse for Spider-Man, and it'll be a MIRACLE if he makes it through this alive.

CC sez: This one, too, is nearing the end. And I keep getting told that when Nick Spencer leaves Amazing Spider-Man in a couple of weeks, so will Peter Parker. Let's see if it's true, or misdirection.

WAR OF THE BOUNTY HUNTERS

Star Wars #16

Marvel | Teen | $3.99

Story: Charles Soule | Art: Ramon Rosanas | Cover: Carlo Pagulayan | Wanted Poster variant: David Nakayama | LucasFilm 50th Anniversary variant: Chris Sprouse

"MISSING IN ACTION"

LEIA ORGANA, CHEWBACCA and LANDO CALRISSIAN battle BOBA FETT for the ultimate prize - HAN SOLO! But they are not the only people who have come to the remote world of JEKARA seeking the smuggler. DARTH VADER, JABBA THE HUTT and more are in the mix as well. Jedi LUKE SKYWALKER may be the Rebels' only hope ... but WHERE is he?

CC sez: This one is nowhere near the end. In fact, I think it will outlive me.

Star Wars: War of the Bounty Hunters #3 (of 5)

Marvel | Teen | $3.99

Story: Charles Soule | Art: Luke Ross | Cover: Steve McNiven | Action Figure variant: John Tyler Christopher | Wanted Poster variant: David Nakayama

WINNER TAKES ALL!

Terrifying, implacable Dark Lord of the Sith DARTH VADER has laid claim to HAN SOLO, who is frozen in carbonite. But the great, exalted JABBA THE HUTT also believes that Solo is his property. It's the galaxy's baddest gangster versus the Empire's most powerful enforcer, and neither is backing down. BOBA FETT is caught between a Sith and a Hutt ... and it's WINNER TAKE ALL.

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This Week in Comics: Aug. 17-23, 2021

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