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Thanksgiving has passed us by now tis the season for great comics. Well, every season is the season of great comics if you ask me. A good mix of books this week so let’s get to the Top 10 Most Anticipated Comics for this week…
Editor note: All Description portions come directly from their respected publishers
Writer: Mike Mignola
Artist: Duncan Fegredo
Publisher: Dark Horse
Description: While Hellboy’s robotic counterpart battles giant monsters on a faraway island, the scientists running the mission scramble when things at the lab get more than a little out of hand. Inspired by Mignola’s viral-hit pencil drawings from Mike Mignola: The Quarantine Sketchbook, Giant Robot Hellboy gets his own story in this 3-part miniseries from Mignola and longtime Hellboy artist Duncan Fegredo!
Why it Made the List: It’s crazy that an idea that was nothing more than a random sketch on social media has turned into such a fun comic. Somehow Mike Mignola finds new ways to keep this legend going. I mean Hellboy first came out at a time when dial-up was just hitting big, and now stories are being made based on social media posts. Considering that foundation this is not the most complex story ever and that is completely okay. What it lacks in depth it makes up for in pure fun. Even if you have not read a Hellboy series before you can pick this up and have yourself a blast.
Writer: Robert Kirkman
Artist: Chris Samnee
Publisher: Skybound
Description: The battle against the dragon hits far too close to home, and the Johnson family is left reeling in the aftermath.
Why it Made the List: The penultimate issue of Fire Power. I just do not want to believe it. This series has been one of my favorites since it burst onto the scene. It was quite the move to debut an entire trade paperback worth of the story along with the opening issue when it first came out, but it has proven to give this story a great deal of depth. Not many people outside of Robert Kirkman could take a chance like that. I am also happy that Chris Samnee got to do such a high-profile book like this. He has done so much great work over the years, especially with Mark Waid. However, he does not get put on the biggest series which I simply do not understand. Imagine him doing Spider-Man. Maybe he simply does not want to and would rather do Fire Power which is fine for me. This series fits his style perfectly.
Writer: Rich Douek
Artist: Alex Cormack
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Description: Looks like Bobby and Dahlia are home free! Chased down the backroads by a pack demon cops, they’ve made it to the Reverend Roscoe’s Roadside Revival, somewhere no self-respecting hellspawn would be caught dead or alive. The only thing is, the Rev isn’t exactly on the up and up with the big man upstairs. And Bobby’s new car seems to have a mind of its own.
Why it Made the List: The first issue of Drive Like Hell lived up to its name. It was chaotic, full of energy, and put the proverbial pedal to the metal. With that though I am still getting my barrings with this series so I am looking forward to seeing how things progress with this issue. Alex Cormack’s style seems a bit different with this series thus far, which makes sense because it’s a much different story than something like Road of Bones. Glad to see his versatility as an artist.
7. Barbaric: Wrong Kind of Righteous #1
Writer: Michael Moreci, Nicholas Eames
Artist: Nathan Gooden
Publisher: Vault Comics
Description: Double-sized one-shot introducing an all-new talking weapon, Flail! Best-selling, Gemmell Award-winning Fantasy author Nicholas Eames (Kings of the Wyld) teams up with Michael Moreci, Nathan Gooden, and Julius Ohta to tell the tale of Sir Borys the Righteous Paladin and his trusty, talking Flail, as he enlists the help of Owen, Axe, and Soren on his noble path. There will be virtuous bloodshed! There will be wailing protests! There will be two talking weapons! And there will be wyvern burgers served (for better or worse) with pickles!
Why it Made the List: I love what Michael Moreci, Vault Comics, and the rest of the creative teams are doing with the Barbaric Universe. It’s been expanding with new characters, tales of violent glory, and now even more talking weapons. You can see the influence of things like Conan, but it has taken that influence and created its own legacy. There’s a bit more of a wink with its bloodshed that makes it more of a joyous romp. If you enjoyed the Dungeons and Dragons movie that came out and want something similar just with a bit more violence this is a great option.
Writer: Chip Zdarsky, Daniel Kibblesmith
Artist: Joe Quinones, Annie Wu
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Description: CHIP ZDARSKY, JOE QUINONES & FRIENDS HELP HOWARD CELEBRATE HIS 50TH ANNIVERSARY IN THIS ALL-NEW ONE-SHOT! Meet Howard. He’s a hard-boiled P.I. with problems by the duckload. But a cosmic, all-seeing friend(?) known as the Peeper(!) is giving him a chance to see what his life COULD be! The joys he COULD have! All the ways his life COULD suck way less than it does now! In other words: “Whaugh If?”
Why it Made the List: Happy Birthday to Howard the Duck! He does not like a day over 49 years old, or whatever that would be in Duck Years. I am sad this is only a one-shot as I was a big fan of the last Chip Zdarsky series, but at least Marvel is doing something to honor this milestone. Personally, I think they could do a lot more, but maybe if this is the success it should be we will get even more. This will be an anthology issue with a bit of a twist. Each installment will be asking a different question ‘What if Howard the Duck Was President” or “What if Howard the Duck was Star-Lord”. Seems mean to the character to just run through a bunch of ways he could have had a better life, which is perfect for Howard the Duck.
Writer: W. Maxwell Prince
Artist: Alex Eckman-Lawn
Publisher: Image Comics
Description: “THE END OF ANHEDONIA” Via therapeutic hypnosis, a man travels through his subconscious to try to find his inner child—and a way to be happy again. A comic that doesn’t look like any other comic ever made, this issue is done in full collage art by the spectacular ALEX ECKMAN-LAWN—a veritable dream in four colors. The end is almost here; this is just one of many SWAN SONGS.
Why it Made the List: I do not know how W. Maxwell Prince keeps up the pace he does as a writer. To write so many fantastic one-issue stores for this series, Ice Cream Man, as well as Ha Ha is quite the feat. Comics are better with series like this because you can pick them up at any time and enjoy a great story. W. Maxwell Prince also knows it is important to work with great artists who fit the style of the story and this time around we get Alex Eckman-Lawn. I have seen some great covers by him in the past but this is the first time I am getting to see him work interiors. Let’s see what he can do.
Writer: Ollie Masters
Artist: Pierluigi Minotti
Publisher: Boom! Studios
Description: The reader is held hostage as the caustic origins of a town of fire are revealed, along with the guilt, fear, and penance tied to Patti’s past, and those who stayed in Trier.
Meanwhile, Roxanne discovers a horrific truth after pursuing Zach, on the run from death…
Why it Made the List: I was excited for this series largely do the Ollie Masters’s past work on books like Snow Blind and Killer Groove. This is a different book than both of those but I love the ‘slow burn’ mystery that is being developed. Pierluigi Minotti’s art has impressed me as well, and based on this book went back to check out his previous series Lost Falls. As a fan of character-based drama, there’s a lot to like here. I really hope the comic community gives it the attention it deserves, because comics are better when we get more books like this.
Writer: Tim Seeley
Artist: Tim Seeley, Tony Fleecs
Publisher: Image Comics
Description: “THE DRY SEASON,” Part Two Local Man gets creative in his search for a murderer, as Inga prepares to bring the superhuman trade to Farmington. On the flip side…while Crossjack attends celebrity weddings and goes on dates with models, Inga is going to save Farmington, one person at a time. But how?
Why it Made the List: If someone were to ask what exactly is Image comics my response would be Local Man. This book has encompassed the history of the publisher from its extreme origins to the more down-to-earth books it publishes today. The second arc is just as strong as the first as I get the feeling this story is just getting started. Every time I think we have run out of ways to tell superhero stories we get a book like this to prove me wrong. In cases like that, I love to be proven wrong. Also double points or Seeley who has been doing the art for the backup stories as well. They are really building something special with this series.
Writer: Dan Abnett
Artist: I.N.J. Culbard
Publisher: Boom Studios
Description: In the climactic FINAL ISSUE, Flo and Roddy are at the mercy of the aliens, and it’s up to Old Thom and Eddie to create a distraction. But in order for their plan to succeed, someone will have to make the ultimate sacrifice…
Why it Made the List: Sad days as this is the final issue of this series. Hopefully, it is not the end of getting books from this world, because this is actually the third volume. This is loosely connected to the past series so if that fact surprises you that’s okay because it has not been super up-front about that. This is a very British book with a lot of references to what life was like during and after World War II. Much is placed upon endless resolve that allowed the people of England to soldier on after the constant bombings of the German army. All of that is told in a book with talking animals. Something I love about comics is when you can combine the absurd with the harshness of reality.
1. Alan Scott: The Green Lantern #2
Writer: Tim Sheridan
Artist: Cian Tormey
Publisher: DC Comics
Description: WHO FRAMED ALAN SCOTT? Alan’s search for the killer framing him continues! But why are the murder victims people from Alan’s past, and how does this connect to his brief stint in Arkham Asylum?!
Why it Made the List: Going into Alan Scott: The Green Lantern I was unsure if I was going to like it because I have not been reading the Justice Society series, but after reading issue number one that is not an issue. I was impressed with issue one from the opening page. Using the front page of a newspaper to help catch people up regarding where we are in the history of the DC universe. Also loved the clever way they placed the credits on that page. Not to downplay to story that came after. Another big reason this hit number one was how that issue ended. All appeared to be going well, but then the final page hit and things became far more serious. Rather curious to see where this series goes from there.
Honorable Mentions: Action Comics #1059, Grim #15, The Penguin #4, X-Men Blue: Origins #1, The Amazing Spider-Man Gang War: First Strike #1, Conan the Barbarian #5, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Saturday Morning Adventures #7, Kaya #13, BRZRKR: Fallen Empire #1, Crave #1, Almost Dead #2, End After End #9
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