LATE ADD (FEB. 24)
Story: Kendra Wells | Art: Kendra Wells | Iron Circus | 120 pages | Adult | $12
The best part of any good role-playing game (and the fantasy novels they're based on!) is pretty simple: it's an adventure with friends. The party is the thing, and whether you've a cleric, a bard, a warrior, or a general goofball, the people make the party. This is what first jumps out at you a few pages into REAL HERO SHIT, a fantasy graphic novel by Kendra Wells coming in February from Iron Circus Comics. Whatever may happen next, you will want to go on a quest with this crew because it seems like a hell of a good time.
And speaking of goofballs, while that's not a typical campaign role, Kendra's story starts with one whom you wind up falling for immediately, despite his best efforts! Eugene is a bored and oblivious pampered prince who lounges around the palace doing not much at all. When he answers a want ad for a fighter in a questing party, he can't sign up fast enough. Led by the rogue Michel, a far more serious tactician, the group is rounded out by the mages Ani and Hocus. With a palace-trained swordfighter now on their side, they're off to right some wrongs and that's exactly what they find: an adventure that starts simple but ends up throwing our heroes against a dark conspiracy of injustice reaching the highest levels of society.
Kendra's commitment to well-realized layered characters, sharp humor, and kinetic fight scenes makes REAL HERO SHIT stand out as special in a crowded fantasy section, and it immediately made a connection with audiences. During a recent crowdfunding campaign, the book reached its funding goal in less than one hour and is currently in the Top 10 most-backed graphic novels in Kickstarter history. When it's done, as with any great RPG, you will want to turn a new page and go one more round.
COMIC-RELATED
THE BATMAN: THE COMPLETE SERIES streets Feb. 1.
- Here's more information.
- I watched the first couple of episodes of this and decided it wasn't for me. Those who enjoyed it, let me know if I made a mistake!
BOOM! STUDIOS
BASILISK #7
BUCKHEAD #3
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #34
DARK HORSE COMICS
BLACK HAMMER VOL 5: REBORN PART I TPB
BLACK HAMMER VISIONS VOL 2 HC
CASTAWAYS TPB
LAGUARDIA DELUXE EDITION HC
MANOR BLACK: FIRE IN THE BLOOD #1
Story: Cullen Bunn, Brian Hurtt | Art: Brian Hurtt | Covers: Brian Hurtt, Francesco Francavilla | $3.99
From the creators of Harrow County and The Sixth Gun comes the next chapter of this gothic horror fantasy about a family of sorcerers in crisis.
The powerful and ancient blood sorcerer Roman Black has taken a young fire mage under his wing after she has done the impossible — taken her magic house’s totem spirit inside herself. But the totem is powerful, and may be impossible to control, especially when Roman’s children begin to see the young mage as a threat.
Roman Black treads dangerous waters in resisting the Descent — the ancient tradition of choosing a successor and transcending the mortal world. His own father held out against this inevitable fate, and the repercussions through the House of Blood were terrifying. Now, a tale of unrelenting terror from Roman's past unfolds. What could it mean for Roman's family? And how is Ari connected to a tragedy that erupted eighty years gone by?
Praise for Manor Black:
“A soapy, eerie new comic that delivers as many laughs as it does jolts — often at the same time.” — Patton Oswalt
“It's the kind [of horror] that seeps into your skin, making you uncomfortable to turn the page, but forcing you to go on.” — Horror DNA
“Bunn, Hurtt, and Crook deliver on a beautifully sinister premiere that is akin to Lovecraft, Blackwood, and Mignola.” — Multiversity Comics
“Bunn and Hurtt's storytelling is sharp, and brought to vivid life by Crook's sublime artwork. Definitely worth checking out.” — Monkeys Fighting Robots
- First issue!
- I never read The Sixth Gun, but I did enjoy Harrow County. I think I might have been predisposed to like Harrow, though, because of its rural Southern vibe. I'm not sure that would carry over to other Bunn/Hurtt work.
STRANGER THINGS: ERICA THE GREAT TPB
STRANGER THINGS BOXED SET
TALES FROM THE OUTERVERSE HC
Story: Mike Mignola, Christopher Golden | Art/Cover: Peter Bergting | $24.99
Mythical hero Cojacaru the Skinner returns from the grave, the legendary Golem awakens, and the powerful Wyrder Imogen pursues her foes in this stunning collection of stories from Mike Mignola and Christopher Golden's world of witches and warriors.
Collects Cojacaru the Skinner #1-2; The Golem Walks Among Us! #1-2; and Imogen of the Wyrding Way one-shot.
- These stories take place in Mignola's non-Hellboy other universe, which kinda grew organically around Joe Golem. I'm not quite sure what stories/characters belong in this universe, so I'm hoping for an omnibus that will helpfully gather them for me.
DC COMICS
ARKHAM CITY: ORDER OF THE WORLD #5
BATMAN #120
BATMAN: WHITE KNIGHT PRESENTS HARLEY QUINN TPB
DARK KNIGHTS OF STEEL #4
DETECTIVE COMICS #1051
JOKER PRESENTS: A PUZZLEBOX #7 (OF 7)
JUSTICE LEAGUE INCARNATE #4 (OF 5)
MILESTONE COMPENDIUM TPB
MONKEY PRINCE #1
Story: Gene Luen Yang 楊謹倫 | Art/Cover: Bernard Chang 張伯納 | Colors: Sebastian Cheng 鍾偉傑 | Letters: Janice Chiang 蒋慧珍 | Editor: Jessica Chen 陳穎珊 | $5.99
Introducing the newest hero in the DCU, the great sage, equal to the heavens, better than his predecessor the legendary Monkey King, even better than the Justice League — and definitely the Teen Titans — (actually, all the heroes combined), everyone put your hands together for … the Monkey Prince!
Marcus Sun moves around a lot because his adoptive parents are freelance henchpeople, so this month he finds himself as the new kid at Gotham City High School, where a mysterious man with pig features asks Marcus to walk through a water curtain to reveal himself as who Marcus really is … someone who has adventured through The Journey to the West, can transform into 72 different formations, can clone himself using his hairs, and is called … the Monkey Prince!
What is the personal importance of introducing this character?
Gene Luen Yang: It’s a thrill. There’s a lot of overlap between the Monkey King and the American superhero genre. They both are heroes, they’re battling for the fate of the world, they’re both dressed up in fancy, colorful costumes, and they both have these fantastical, superhuman powers. It felt good to bridge that gap between those two loves — American superheroes and the legend of the Monkey King.
Bernard Chang: My family immigrated to the U.S. when I was six. Immediately, I took a liking to American comic books like Batman and Superman. They helped me learn English, but also taught me a lot about values. So, when my dad saw I was consuming a lot of superhero stuff, he wanted to introduce me to an original Chinese superhero and got his hands on a Monkey King book. He would read to me a few pages each night, and I would go to sleep dreaming about these amazing and fantastical adventures.
How did the Monkey Prince come to life for you?
Yang: We wanted to firmly ground our character in the DC Universe. We wanted it to feel like a story that couldn’t be told anywhere else. The main character isn’t the Monkey King himself, he’s actually his son — that’s why he’s called the Monkey Prince. Second, we wanted to tie him into DC heroes and DC conventions. We wanted a relationship between the character and the heroes and villains that already exist in the DC Universe.
Chang: Monkey Prince is all about attitude and character. My initial reaction to the original Monkey King character is that he’s a rebel, a mischievous figure who defied the gods and wanted to do things his way. So, bringing that element into the design was a key factor.
- First issue!
- I do like me some mythology, regardless of country of origin. Unlike characters created out of whole cloth, mythology is burped out of a culture's conscious or subconscious fears and desires, meaning there's already a ton of subtext to explore. And by focusing on the Monkey Prince, a new character (instead of the Monkey King), they can use whatever cool bits they want from the Monkey King myths while being free to tell all-new tales. That's pretty clever.
ONE STAR SQUADRON #3
REPRESENT HC
SANDMAN DELUXE EDITION VOL 5 HC
SUICIDE SQUAD #12
WORLD OF KRYPTON #3
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT
HELL SONJA #2
MARS ATTACKS RED SONJA TP
RED SONJA VALENTINE’S DAY SPECIAL 2022
Script: Chuck Brown | Art: Lee Ferguson | Covers: Sozomaika | Lesley "Leirix" Li | Cosplay (Rachel Hollon) | 32 pages | Teen+ | $4.99
BURNING LOVE! Red Sonja's temporarily developed fire powers ... which is handy, since she's in a land where warlords possess deadly ice powers. Sonja finds herself amidst a lovers' quarrel, in which someone exchanged their heart and soul (quite literally) for overwhelming power. Can Sonja defeat a greedy cherub ogre and restore peace to the freezing lands? By CHUCK BROWN (Aquamen, Bitter Root) and LEE FERGUSON (Daredevil)!
- First issue!
IDW PUBLISHING
BERMUDA GN
SEA OF SORROWS TPB
SONIC THE HEDGEHOG: SONIC & TAILS: BEST BUDS FOREVER TPB
STAR TREK: MIRROR WAR #4
TMNT IDW COLLECTION VOL 1 TPB
TRANSFORMERS: KING GRIMLOCK #5
IMAGE COMICS
A THING CALLED TRUTH #4
ANT #2
CROSSOVER #11
ECHOLANDS #6
GEIGER 80-PAGE GIANT #1
Story: Geoff Johns | Covers: Gary Frank, Bryan Hitch, Paul Pelletier, Megan Levens | $7.99
Mad Ghost Productions presents the monstrous Geiger 80-Page Giant #1 — which will include exciting stories from the Geiger universe by series creators Geoff Johns and Gary Frank alongside such guest talents as Bryan Hitch, Jay Faerber, Sterling Gates, Janet Harvey, Leon Hendrix III, Peter J. Tomasi, Pornsak Pichetshote, Staz Johnson, Joe Prado, Paul Pelletier, Sean Galloway, Peter Snejbjerg, Kelley Jones, and Megan Levens. This exciting new chapter will showcase tales of Geiger’s allies and enemies and arrive from Image Comics this November.
"A really cool bonus to working on the original Geiger series was getting to see the interpretations of some of our favourite artists on the variant covers," said Frank. "Now we get the thrill of seeing other artists AND writers bringing these characters to life in new and wonderful ways!"
Johns added: “The greatest thing about comic books are the friends you get to work with and this book is full of them.”
First, in an extra-sized lead story, Geoff Johns and Bryan Hitch introduce the mysterious man known as Redcoat and reveal his bizarre ties to the American Revolution, the Unknown War, and Geiger himself.
Then, discover the secrets of the Warlords of Las Vegas — Bonnie Borden! Goldbeard! Mr. Karloff! And more! — in a series of tales written and drawn by some of the greatest writers and artists today.
Plus, readers will learn the special origin of Geiger’s favorite two-headed dog, Barney, and get a sneak peek at Johns and Frank’s new upcoming series: Junkyard Joe.
- First issue!
- This was delayed for months, which I can only assume is due to COVID.
HELLCOP #4
MAGIC ORDER 2 #4
MIRKA ANDOLFO'S SWEET PAPRIKA #7
NEW MASTERS #1 (OF 6)
Debut creators and 2019 Creators for Creators grant recipients Shobo Coker and Shof Coker will bring readers a dramatic, sci-fi adventure.
"New Masters is the culmination of nearly a decade of work Shof and I have put into creating an authentic and thrilling future vision of Africa," said Shobo. "I'm delighted to share the adventures of our crew of outcasts as they navigate the perils of this exciting new universe."
Nigerian brothers Shobo and Shof portray a striking vision of West Africa under the thumb of alien colonizers. Here a motley crew of outcasts find themselves caught up in a power struggle for control of an ancient artifact with immense power.
Shof added: "What does a West African pulp sci-fi verse look like through the eyes of a kid that grew up in Lagos, Nigeria? I talked to that young master a lot while drawing this."
New Masters blends exciting adventure, compelling drama, and rich Nigerian mythology to present a vibrant new take on Afrofuturism.
Early praise for New Masters:
“I had no idea, when we all picked this book for Creators for Creators, that, as good as it looked then, it would turn out this BEAUTIFUL. Amazing work!” — Charlie Adlard, The Walking Dead
“Shobo and Shof give us an original, beautifully crafted sci-fi with New Masters. It’s an incredible debut from a distinctly African perspective. Shof’s rhythmic storytelling, palettes, and world building visuals perfectly seam with Shobo’s intriguing cast of heroes, cut throats, and politicians like only brothers can. Immerse yourself in this new world, you won’t regret it!” — Nick Dragotta, East of West
- First issue!
- Wait, Africa didn't have it bad enough under terrestrial colonialists? It certainly is a novel setting (which I expect will become less novel over time).
NEWBURN #3
NITA HAWES' NIGHTMARE BLOG #4
NOCTERRA #7
THE OFFICIAL IMAGE TIMELINE ONE-SHOT
Image Comics archivist and co-founder Jim Valentino details the company’s history (warts and all!) in the single most comprehensive chronology of the company ever published — The Official Image Timeline. The one-shot will hit shelves in February 2022, just in time for Image Comics’ 30th anniversary.
"I've worked diligently on this Timeline for the past year, trying to stay as true to the facts as possible, regardless where they lead," said Valentino. "While I sincerely hope that fans, new and old, will enjoy this illustrated journey through the last 30 years — I also hope that this Timeline will put to rest, once and for all, the misinformation and misunderstandings of what Image is and what it has strived to be."
Featuring rarely seen covers, photos, milestones and behind-the-scenes events from the company’s Marvel-ous beginnings to the present, The Official Image Timeline is the chronicle all future histories will be judged against.
This special one-shot will also feature an introduction by current Image Comics Publisher Eric Stephenson and include a chronicle of historic Image accolades.
The Official Image Timeline will be printed in a beautiful 64-page prestige format.
- First issue!
- I've expressed before that when Image was founded in the '90s, its narcissistic, overbearing self-congratulation turned me off. For one thing, none of their books lived up to the hype (no book really could), but also because some of them were actively bad. Also, it was like they looked at Stan Lee's charming, endearing hyperbole, and copied the form without understanding Lee's avuncular persona, one which displayed mock egotism (with a wink and tongue in cheek), and invited readers into a secret club. In short, they sucked all the joy out of it, and turned Lee's clever reader engagement into not-clever-at-all bragging.
- So here's a book by one of Image's '90s founders, who promises a "warts and all" history. Anybody believe that? It also promises to " put to rest, once and for all, the misinformation and misunderstandings" about Image, which I do believe ... because I interpret that to mean "settling scores" (like with Rob Liefeld) and re-writing history to Todd McFarlane's satisfaction, who still seems to be Image's shadow king.
- Am I being unfair? Maybe. But I was present at Image's founding, and an old enough comics reader (in fact, one older than the Image founders) to have informed opinions. I developed those opinions based purely on the product -- I didn't read Wizard, for example, which was such unabashed Image propaganda that the newspaperman in me couldn't stomach it. And, outside of the work of Jim Lee and Marc Silvestri, I didn't like what I saw. It took an influx of new creators to turn Image into the dynamic, experimental company the '90s hype said it was, with a host of terrific titles today that explore all sorts of genres.
- Needless to say, I'll be passing on this.
SCUMBAG #12
SPAWN #326
THE WALKING DEAD DELUXE #32
MARVEL COMICS: DEVIL'S REIGN IN FEBRUARY
Mayor Wilson Fisk has all of Marvel’s heroes in his deadly grip in DEVIL’S REIGN, the Marvel Comics crossover event spinning out of writer Chip Zdarsky and artist Marco Checchetto’s Eisner-nominated run on DAREDEVIL! The all-star creators bring their superb talents for high-stakes storytelling to the greater Marvel Universe in this far-reaching saga that sees Kingpin embark on a vicious quest to rid the world of every last superhero.
DAREDEVIL: WOMAN WITHOUT FEAR #2 (OF 3)
Story: Chip Zdarsky | Art: Rafael De Latorre | Cover: Chris Bachalo
Chip Zdarsky continues his redefining work on Elektra alongside artist Rafael De Latorre in DAREDEVIL: WOMAN WITHOUT FEAR #2 which will see Elektra pitted against one of Marvel’s most savage villains. She’s the greatest assassin in the Marvel Universe — but having recently taken up the mantle of Daredevil, she’s taken a vow to never take a life again. But that vow is about to be put to the ultimate test, as Kraven the Hunter has her dead in his sights…and, unlike Elektra, he has no reservations about killing. If anything, he likes it when his prey struggles. At least, he thinks he does.
DEVIL’S REIGN: VILLAINS FOR HIRE #2 (OF 3)
Story: Clay Mcleod Chapman | Art: Manuel Garcia | Cover: Skan
DEVIL’S REIGN: VILLAINS FOR HIRE #2: Kingpin’s war against vigilantes takes a turn in Clay McLeod Chapman and artist Manuel Garcia’s DEVIL’S REIGN: VILLAINS FOR HIRE #2. Wilson Fisk has laid out a proposition for the villains of the Marvel Universe: Join him or suffer the same fate as the heroes … or worse.
DEVIL’S REIGN #4 (OF 6)
Story: Chip Zdarsky | Art/Cover: Marco Checchetto
In DEVIL’S REIGN #4, New York is under siege and Wilson Fisk has broken! Whatever shred of decency that may have been left of him is gone entirely and now, with an army of super villains at his command, Kingpin has set his gaze upon everyone the heroes of the Marvel Universe hold dear — but even the Kingpin is unaware of the magnitude of danger he has put the city, its citizens and even himself with his war against the city’s super heroes!
MOON KNIGHT #8
Story: Jed MacKay | Art: Alessandro Cappuccio | Cover: Cory Smith
Writer Jed MacKay and Alessandro Cappuccio’s acclaimed Moon Knight saga will also be impacted by the crossover. DEVIL’S REIGN will find Moon Knight indisposed but his mission must continue. In his absence, an erstwhile ally takes up the fight in MOON KNIGHT #8, but will the mystery of Stained-Glass Scarlet prove to be too much for Hunter’s Moon, the Fist of Khonshu?
DEVIL’S REIGN: SUPERIOR FOUR #2 (OF 3)
Marvel
Story: Zac Thompson | Art: Davide Tinto | Cover: Ivan Shavrin
Otto Octavius irrevocably alters the multiverse in Zac Thompson and Davide Tinto’s DEVIL’S REIGN: SUPERIOR FOUR #2. Now he must do everything he can to undo a paradox of his own creation before it undoes him. As Otto’s relentless assault on reality continues, the other Ottos grow weary of their reckless leader. Can the Superior Four set aside their egos to work together, or will they be lost to the multiverse forever?
DEVIL’S REIGN: SPIDER-MAN #1
Marvel
Story: Anthony Piper | Art: Zé Carlos | Cover: Carlos Gómez
Current Spider-Man Ben Reilly will get in on the action in DEVIL’S REIGN: SPIDER-MAN #1 by writer Anthony Piper and artist Zé Carlos. The events of DEVIL’S REIGN have put Spidey in an awful position and as if that weren’t enough, the newly returned Rose has Spidey in his crosshairs and wants to prove that he’s badder than his dad, Kingpin, ever was.
"As a lifelong comic book nerd, I was already hyped about the opportunity to craft a story for possibly the most iconic super hero of all time, but to do so during one of the most interesting shake-ups in the character's history is both thrilling and challenging, and something I'm excited to be a part of," Piper told ComicBook.com.
- First issue!
DEVIL’S REIGN: X-MEN #2 (OF 3)
Story: Gerry Duggan | Art/Cover: Phil Noto
Writer Gerry Duggan and artist Phil Noto continue to reveal Emma Frost’s deadliest secrets in DEVIL’S REIGN: X-MEN #2. Turns out attending Hellfire Club soirees was not the naughtiest thing the White Queen was up to in the time before she joined the X-Men. … And the dirty deeds she did for Wilson Fisk are coming back to haunt her.
DEVIL’S REIGN: MOON KNIGHT #1
Story: Jed MacKay | Art: Federico Sabbatini | Cover: Rod Reis
And come March, MacKay will team up with artist Federico Sabbatini and in a special one-shot, DEVIL’S REIGN: MOON KNIGHT #1, depicting Moon Knight’s time as Kingpin’s prisoner after a vicious battle with the Thunderbolts.
"When it comes down to it, Moon Knight is a street-level hero, and there's nothing Fisk hates more than street-level heroes," MacKay told SYFY Wire. "Fisk's crews are out sweeping the streets for costumed heroes and, well, Moon Knight isn't one for hiding –– that's why he wears white. He's got an address. So when the Thunderbolts hit the streets, they know where to find him."
- First issue!
MARVEL COMICS: ALL-NEW, ALL-DIFFERENT X-GWENS VARIANT COVERS
Gwen Stacy is back in an all-new series this February! Gwen Stacy AKA Ghost-Spider will travel through time encountering different versions of herself in SPIDER-GWEN: GWENVERSE by writer Tim Seeley and artist Jodi Nishijima. And to celebrate Marvel Comics’ sweetheart’s new era, some of the industry’s leading artists have put together an exciting collection of variant covers that will see Gwen step into the shoes of your favorite X-Men!
Throughout February, see Gwen Stacy bring her trademark style to create the following X-Gwens:
Gwen Grey
Phoenix Gwen
Gwenstique
Gwenna Frost
Rogue Gwen
Gwemino
Captain Gwendolyne
Gwenclops
Gwenbit
Gwenverine
Polaris, the Mistress of Gwenetism!
MARVEL COMICS: SPIDER-MAN IN FEBRUARY
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #88
Story: Zeb Wells | Art: Michael Dowling | Beyond Board: Kelly Thompson, Patrick Gleason, Saladin Ahmed, Cody Ziglar & Zeb Wells | Cover: Arthur Adams | Design Variant: Patrick Gleason
As seen in a series of teasers, Spider-Man’s life has been plagued by Goblins for almost 60 years. And this February, a brand-new one will glide into Ben Reilly’s life to continue this tradition. This February, brace yourself for the introduction of QUEEN GOBLIN! This vicious new Goblin with long roots in Spider-Man history is set to put a terrifying spin on AMAZING SPIDER-MAN’s current Beyond Era. Designed by Marvel Stormbreaker Patrick Gleason, QUEEN GOBLIN will make her explosive first appearance in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #88 and continue to plague Spider-Man and much of NYC in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #89 and AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #90.
“Queen Goblin was one of the coolest ideas from our BEYOND story summit,” says Exec. Editor Nick Lowe. “All of the writers were riffing on the concept and character and when Pat Gleason dug in on the design we all LOST it. You aren’t going to believe this newest addition to Spidey’s rogue’s gallery!”
“When Nick and Zeb asked me to help with character design for QUEEN GOBLIN in Beyond I was thrilled,” says Gleason. “We went New-Medieval with some tweaks on the old Goblin toys. What’s even more fun is letting her off the chain and watching the rest of the art team like Arthur Adams run with her. The writing team has been working like crazy to make her debut worthy of a Queen. I'm writing a scene now that will hopefully melt some brains too.”
- "Queen Goblin." You know, Goblin Queen just returned over in the X-Men books. This is not good coordination.
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #88.BEY
Story: Geoffrey Thorne | Art: Jan Bazaldua & Jim Towe | Cover: Nick Bradshaw
Also coming in February will be a special one-shot written by Geoffrey Thorne with art by Jan Bazaldua and Jim Towe. AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #88.BEY will feature the return of the fan favorite super hero team — THE SLINGERS! You didn’t think the Beyond Corporation only had one hero on their payroll? Watch as Hobie Brown ascends to new heights as The Hornet!
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #89
Story: Patrick Gleason | Art: Mark Bagley | Beyond Board: Cody Ziglar, Kelly Thompson, Saladin Ahmed, Zeb Wells, & Patrick Gleason | Cover: Arthur Adams
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #90
Story/Art: Patrick Gleason | Beyond Board: Zeb Wells, Saladin Ahmed, Cody Ziglar, Kelly Thompson, & Patrick Gleason | Cover: Arthur Adams | Variant: Roge Antonio
MILES MORALES: SPIDER-MAN #35
Story: Saladin Ahmed | Art: Michele Bandini | Cover: Taurin Clarke
Writer Saladin Ahmed and artist Michele Bandini’s run on MILES MORALES: SPIDER-MAN will also continue to be impacted by the events of the Beyond Era. Issue #35 will see Miles and Shift facing off against Space Stone-host Quantum and the Assessor. And their only hope at victory lies with the Beyond Corporation.
MARVEL COMICS
ALIEN #9
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #88
- See "Marvel Comics: Spider-Man in February" and "Marvel Comics: All-New, All-Different X-Gwens Variant Covers" above.
AVENGERS TECH-ON #6
BLACK PANTHER LEGENDS #3
CAPTAIN AMERICA: TRUTH TPB
CONAN CHRONICLES EPIC COLLECTION: BLOOD IN HIS WAKE (TPB
DAREDEVIL: WOMAN WITHOUT FEAR #2
- See "Marvel Comics: Devil's Reign in February" above.
FANTASTIC FOUR LIFE STORY #6
FANTASTIC FOUR: RECKONING WAR ALPHA #1
Story: Dan Slott | Art Carlos Pacheco & Carlos Magno | Cover: Carlos Pacheco
On February 2, writer Dan Slott’s long-awaited RECKONING WAR saga begins, launching in FANTASTIC FOUR: RECKONING WAR ALPHA #1 and then unfolding in the pages of Slott’s current run on FANTASTIC FOUR. The story will shed light on the First War that rocked the Marvel Universe, a conflict that preceded Asgard, Galactus, and all the heroes you know and love. That war will now reignite and only the Fantastic Four can defend the Universe from the chaos it will unleash. Get your first look at the revelations and action to come in the all-new FANTASTIC FOUR: RECKONING WAR ALPHA #1 trailer, featuring never-before-seen artwork!
"When I was eight years old I read a particular Marvel comic that struck me. It got me thinking 'If this happened, and that happened, then the whole Marvel universe would be in trouble. Every facet would be in danger if this conflict happened again, and I've sat back and waited since I was eight years old and no one ever touched on this. And that made me happy,” Slott explained to Newsarama. "The Reckoning War is me finally being able to answer the question an eight-year-old me had: What if those guys showed up again? It's chaos, madness... A fight for your life. This is my Star Wars."
- First issue!
- When was the last time a crossover featured the FF? When was the last time a crossover starred the FF? I'm glad to see the First Family at the forefront for a change.
HELLIONS BY ZEB WELLS VOL 3 TPB
KA-ZAR: LORD OF THE SAVAGE LAND #5
MIGHTY MMW DOCTOR STRANGE: WORLD BEYOND VOL 1 TPB
MOON KNIGHT BY BENDIS & MALEEV COMPLETE COLLECTION TPB
SABRETOOTH #1
Story: Victor Lavalle | Art: Leonard Kirk | Covers: Ryan Stegman, Ryan Brown, Mico Suayan, Todd Nauck
After being exiled in the pages of HOUSE OF X, Victor Creed will return this February in an all-new limited series written by novelist Victor LaValle and drawn by artist Leonard Kirk. SABRETOOTH will reveal the dark truth behind Krakoan justice as readers see what happened after Sabretooth went into the Pit, sentenced to an eternity of torment. What's he been doing down there? What secret deal has changed his fate forever? And what if he's not alone? The debut issue of this chilling saga will receive four extraordinary covers by top artists including Ryan Brown, Mico Suayan and Todd Nauck, all showcasing Victor Creed at his most dangerous.
- First issue!
- Well, it turns out that when the Quiet Council thought it was imprisoning miscreants like Sabretooth in the bowels of Krakoa, they were actually being released into the wild by Krakoa and Doug Ramsey (who is running his own game, it seems). The first of these extrajudicial pardon recipients was Sabretooth, who has (uncharacteristically) kept a low profile. What's he been up to? I have no idea where this story is going, which pleases me greatly.
SAVAGE SPIDER-MAN #1 (OF 5)
Story: Joe Kelly | Art: Gerardo Sandoval | Covers: Nick Bradshaw, Mark Bagley, Ron Lim
Superstar writer Joe Kelly just finished taking Peter Parker on the most action-packed, pulse-pounding, adrenaline-pumping adventure in Spider-Man history in NON-STOP SPIDER-MAN! And he’s only just getting started. ... Spinning out of NON-STOP SPIDER-MAN this February comes SAVAGE SPIDER-MAN! Written by Kelly and featuring the distinctive and dynamic talents of artist Gerardo Sandoval, this all-new limited series will feature Spider-Man like you’ve never seen him.
Peter Parker finds himself at the middle of the biggest, most wide-ranging adventure he’s ever had and out of the gate it has turned him into a savage beast! Forget everything you know about Spider-Man. All rules and regulations are out the door and Peter Parker may never be the same!
Readers will witness a shocking transformation of Peter Parker in SAVAGE SPIDER-MAN! Written by Joe Kelly with art by Gerardo Sandoval, this all-new limited series will see Spider-Man evolve into a monstrous new being as he finds himself on a wild journey filled with horror, savage thrills, and self-discovery. Fans can see his beastly new form in all its terrifying glory in two all-new variant covers by superstar artists Mark Bagley and Ron Lim.
"What happens when Spider-Man loses all those things that make him a hero — his heart, his spirit, his mind? What's left? That's where we are left after the Immaculatum and Zemo had their way with Spidey in Non-Stop: a Spider moving on anger and instinct,” Kelly said. “This chapter of the saga takes us to these places with Peter. ... I just hope there's something left in there to pull him back out."
“You may think you’ve seen a monstrous or vicious Spider-Man before, but never like this,” says Spider-Editor Nick Lowe. “This book is so intense that you’re going to need to put it down between pages to get your breath back.”
"Spider-Man is always a huge challenge to draw, he’s not an easy character for an artist. But at the same time Spider-Man is a huge joy to draw and now we have a Savage Spider-Man who provides an even bigger challenge for an artist,” says Sandoval. “I have the pages that I am working on and I can say that I am doing my best work here for sure. Joe Kelly is the kind of writer that understands an artist needs enough room to create great illustrations and it makes my work easier and more fun. I really hope you enjoy this new book as much as I do!"
- First issue!
- You know, I wasn't crazy about a milder version of this body horror concept when it was presented by Stan Lee and Gil Kane in Amazing Spider-Man (first series) #100. (For one thing, my pea brain couldn't accept that four extra arms, complete with the musculature necessary for them to function, could appear out of thin air). And I was 13 then, and much more gullible! Fifty years later, I'm still not crazy about it.
SHANG-CHI #8
SPIDER-WOMAN #19
STAR WARS CRIMSON REIGN #2
STAR WARS: HALCYON LEGACY #1
Story: Ethan Sacks | Art: Will Sliney | Cover: E.M. Gist | Teen | $4.99
THE VOYAGES OF THE GREATEST OF ALL-STAR CRUISERS!
As the legendary HALCYON embarks on a momentous ... cruise, the ship heads toward a confrontation with THE FIRST ORDER! But what secret from THE HIGH REPUBLIC ERA can help the passengers and crew all these years later? And how did JEDI NIBS and BURRY fend off a NIHIL attack on one of the ship's first ever voyages?
- First issue!
STAR WARS HIGH REPUBLIC #14
THE MARVELS #8
THE THING #4
THOR EPIC COLLECTION: TO WAKE MANGOG TPB
WOLVERINE BY CLAREMONT & MILLER DELUXE EDITION TPB
WOLVERINE X-MEN BY AARON OMNIBUS HC NEW PTG
X LIVES OF WOLVERINE #2
X-CELLENT #1
Story: Peter Milligan | Art/Cover: Michael Allred & Laura Allred
It’s finally here! This February, writer Peter Milligan, artist Michael Allred, and color artist Laura Allred make their long-awaited return to their iconic X-STATIX saga in X-CELLENT #1!
Back in the 2000s, X-STATIX stunned readers with its unique spin on Marvel super heroics and off-beat characters. Now, this hit series is back along with the original creative team for more comic book brilliance overflowing with wit, charm, and high-octane thrills! Get ready for more adventures of X-STATIX starring your favorite heroes from the classic series along with a brand-new team of rivals that will take this one-of-a-kind series to a fresh and exciting new future!
They were loved by their adoring fans. They were reviled by the harsh press. They lived, they loved, they fought and they died … a lot — all for the sake of fame. They were the X-Statix, a team of mutant celebrities fighting for a brighter world and an even brighter spotlight! But they’re old news now, because there’s a new mutant team that will live harder, love harder, fight harder and die a whole lot harder than those has-beens! Meet …THE X-CELLENT!
“I’m thoroughly X-Statix to be working with Mike and Laura Allred again,” Milligan said. “And it’s been truly X-CELLENT to discover that we’ve lost none of our alchemical fizz in conjuring up this new comic, this new title, this new beginning: The X-CELLENT!”
"The ol' gang is back together again! Working with Peter Milligan is always a party,” Michael Allred added. “The future is looking brighter for 2022 as we get to show the world how we've been playing with our X-Statix Marvel mutants and their new adversaries, THE X-CELLENT! LOVE these characters! Everyone come play with us!”
- First issue!
- I enjoyed X-Statix for a lot of reasons, not least of which is Michael Allred's unique, nostalgic art style. Here it is again, so I'll probably like this, too.
X-MEN LEGENDS #11
OTHER PUBLISHERS
ABOVE & BELOW THE VOYAGES OF VIRIGILIO
ARCADE WORLD CHAPTERBOOK VOL 1: DINO TROUBLE GN
ARCHIE’S VALENTINE’S DAY SPECTACULAR #1
- First issue!
BELLE ANNUAL #25
BLACK CLOVER VOL 28 GN
BONYEER AROMATIC #1
- First issue!
CARRIERS #3
CAT SHIT VOL 3 #1 (OF 3)
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CHAINSAW MAN VOL 9 GN
CHICKEN DEVIL #4
COOKIE & KID VOL 2 #4
COSMOS TPB
DANCE IN THE VAMPIRE BUND VOL 5: AGE OF THE SCARLET ORDER GN
DARK AGE VOL 1 TPB
DARK RED WHERE ROADS LEAD #1 ONE-SHOT
- First issue!
DR. STONE VOL 20 GN
FAB BOOK 1: PANDORA GN
- First issue!
FIGHT GIRLS TPB
GEORGE HERRIMAN LIBRARY: KRAZY & IGNATZ 1922-1924 HC
GERALDINE PU & HER CAT HAT TOO GN
GOLD DIGGER #285
GOON #14
GREATEST THING GN
HALCYON HC
HATH NO FURY #4
HUMAN REMAINS #5
I’M IN LOVE WITH THE VILLAINESS VOL. 2
Story/Art: Aonoshimo Inori | Seven Seas | 188 pages | Teen (13+) | $12.99
LOVE’S LABOR’S FOUND
Former corporate worker Rei has been reborn as “Rae Taylor” in the world of her favorite dating sim, where she’s determined to romance the villainess, Claire François…or, failing that, at least make Claire happy! Using knowledge from the game, Rae has become Claire’s maid, and now she’s trying to set her up with the second prince, Thane Bauer. Welcome to the next installment of this ridiculously heartwarming rom-com about a girl who’s all in for her favorite character!
INTERSPECIES REVIEWERS VOL 6 GN
JOJO’S BIZARRE ADVENTURES PART 5 GOLDEN WIND VOL 3 HC
JUJUTSU KAISEN VOL 14 GN
JUNGLE COMICS #5
KING’S BEAST VOL 5 GN
KNIGHT OF ICE VOL 9 GN
KNIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE #290
LAUGHING UNDER THE CLOUDS VOL 6
LEGEND & THE VANGUARD #1
- First issue!
LOVESICK ELLIE VOL 2 GN
MACHINE GIRL VOL 2: SPACE INVADERS GN
MULTI MIND MAYHEM VOL 2:ISEKAI TENSEI SOUDOUKI GN
MUSCLES ARE BETTER THAN MAGIC VOL 4 GN
NINE STONES #6
NOBODY’S CHILD #5 (OF 6)
ONLY HOPE BOOK 1: FEAR FARM GN
- First issue!
ORIENT VOL 7 GN
PIXELS OF YOU GN
PRIMOS #1 (OF 4)
- First issue!
RICK AND MORTY PRESENTS: HERICKTICS OF RICK #1
- First issue!
SERAPH OF END VAMPIRE REIGN VOL 23 GN
SERIAL #10 (OF 10
SHI NO KAGE #6 (OF 6
SOUTHSIDE #2
SPEED REPUBLIC #1
- First issue!
STAR WARS INNER JEDI HC
STARTUP #1 STARTING POINT
- First issue!
TITAN THE ULTRA MAN #1
UNITED STATES OF MAGIC BOOK 1: GRAND THEFT GLOBAL GN
WAR GUARD #1
- First issue!
WE NEVER LEARN VOL 20 GN
WORLD OF BETTY & VERONICA JUMBO COMICS DIGEST #12
YONA OF THE DAWN VOL 34 GN
ZOMBIE TRAMP #84
MAGAZINES
COMIC SHOP NEWS
HORRORHOUND #92
JUDGE DREDD MEGAZINE #438
NIB NATURE
STAR WARS INSIDER #208
BOOKS
BLACK PANTHER MY MIGHTY MARVEL FIRST BOOK BOARD BOOK
DISCIPLE OF LICH NOVEL SC VOL 2
GRIMGAR OF FANTASY & ASH LIGHT NOVEL VOL 17
ILLUSTRATION ART GALLERY THROUGH THE AGES PETER JACKSON HC
MAGNIFICENT WOMEN OF MARVEL POP UP PLAY & DISPLAY
NPC IN VILLAGE SIM GAME MUST BE REAL NOVEL VOL 2
SEVEN DEADLY SINS OMNIBUS VOL 1 GN
Replies
"You know, I wasn't crazy about a milder version of this body horror concept when it was presented by Stan Lee and Gil Kane in Amazing Spider-Man (first series) #100."
Here's what I do: I read it as if the four extra arms are a drug-induced hallucination. Try it.
Cap sez:
"You know, I wasn't crazy about a milder version of this body horror concept when it was presented by Stan Lee and Gil Kane in Amazing Spider-Man (first series) #100. (For one thing, my pea brain couldn't accept that four extra arms, complete with the musculature necessary for them to function, could appear out of thin air). And I was 13 then, and much more gullible! Fifty years later, I'm still not crazy about it."
I agree. Also, Spider-Man's powers have nothing to do with spiders. Spiders don't have super strength or speed, they have the strength and speed normal to spiders. Spiders don't have "warning senses", they have more eyes and so can see more things coming. Spiders don't adhere to walls, they have claws at the ends of their legs that enable them to dig in to surfaces.
Many of Marvel's early characters' powers were derived from a "radiation is magic" mentality that was common in what was in those days still the early Atomic Age. As I recall, in one of those TIME/Newsweek parodies that Marvel put out more than a few years ago now, they published an article describing what would have happened in the real world to people exposed to radiation the way Peter Parker, Bruce Banner and Matt Murdock were, and it wasn't pretty.
You're absolutely right about the spiders, Baron.
The strength and speed seems reasonable, as they always say "proportionate," and we've always been told how ants lift 10 times their weight and grasshoppers, if human size, would leap like a bajillion feet. But if you give it a minute's thought, you realize that most of that insane strength is due to the insect's (or arachnid's) size, and if they were human size A) that advantage disappears and B) their legs wouldn't be strong enough to support their weight.
Someone once noted that Parker's "spider-sense" is actually a kind of clairvoyance, and if he developed it he would be able to see the future. (Or at least likely futures.) I don't know if that's canon, though.
And I don't know about the TIME/Newsweek thing, but Marvel itself ran a story along those lines in 1995. Written by Warren Ellis, Ruins was conceived as a parody of Kurt Busiek's Marvels. In it, Peter Parker dies of a mutated virus he created by experimenting on a radioactive spider, which kills most of his supporting cast as well. Matt Murdock was killed as a boy when struck by a truck carrying radioactive isotopes. Bruce Banner became a pulsating mass of cancerous tumors after exposure to gamma radiation. And so forth.
It was really depressing.
Jeff of Earth-J said:
Doesn't Morbius comment on the extra arms? Or anybody else? I guess Parker could hallucinate that as well.
I remember Ruins, it was interesting and unpleasant at the same time.
Captain Comics said:
"Doesn't Morbius comment on the extra arms? Or anybody else? I guess Parker could hallucinate that as well."
Not as often as you might think. Besides, it's easier for me to overlook a stray line of dialogue or two than it is to pretend that "four extra arms, complete with the musculature necessary for them to function, could appear out of thin air."
I read the first Manor Black series, Cap. It was okay, easily skippable in my opinion. Then again, you may think my opinion sucks, and will want to read it.
MONKEY PRINCE #1 - I didn't even know this existed, but it sound pretty cool
GEIGER 80-PAGE GIANT #1 - I thought this actually came out months ago, and I just missed it. I'm glad to see it should still show up in my pull-box.