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I couldn’t avoid it. With this being the week of New Comic Book Day Publishers came out swinging with a TON of new series. So this week’s list is packed with #1s. I tried to avoid that but it was simply possible. Also, I did not include any of the Free Comic Book Day books in this list. There may be something else about that in the future.
(Editor’s Note: Solicitors are provided by Respected Publishers)
Writer: Melissa Flores
Artist: Diógenes Neves
Publisher: Oni Press
Solicitation: THE NACELLEVERSE BEGINS HERE! AN EXPLOSIVE NEW UNIVERSE OF TOY AND ANIMATION ICONS LEAPS INTO ACTION . . . WITH THE UNSTOPPABLE ROBOFORCE LEADING THE CHARGE! Meet Maxx 89, the latest and greatest innovation in the field of robotics! As a member of RoboForce—the crew of highly advanced androids that are redefining technological advancement on 22nd century Earth—there’s no job too big for him to handle. But when their creator’s newest invention is stolen by a rival company in a brazen act of corporate warfare, Maxx and the high-powered Detonator are determined to get it back . . . even if it means breaking company protocol! Leading directly into the upcoming Nacelle Company animated series co-produced by Brian Volk-Weiss, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Dany Garcia, and Seven Bucks Entertainment, enter a brave new world of incendiary action and robot-on-robot firepower in the first landmark NacelleVerse limited series from blockbuster creators Melissa Flores (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers) and Diogenes Neves (Realm of X, Suicide Squad)!
Why it Made the List: Saturday Morning Cartoons are so in right now. You have the Energon universe that has given us some great comics with Transformers and G.I. Joe. Dynamite Entertain has found success with their comic book adaptations of Gargoeryhes and Thundercats. So you could see the interest in starting the NACELLEVERSE. To be honest, I never heard of Roboforce before this comic, but this does link to a cartoon I am a major fan of in Biker Mice from Mars. Is this just an attempt at a corporation to create an IP to get their fair share of the market or do these creators truly care about this product and have a story to tell? Why not both? I hope this works out for Oni Press because the more companies doing well the better it is for the comic book industry.
9. The Savage Sword of Conan #2
Writer: Jim Zub
Artist: Richard Pace
Publisher: Titan Books
Solicitation: THE RETURN OF A CULT CLASSIC TITLE!
THE SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN continues its triumphant return from Heroic Signatures and Titan Comics!
Featuring a new CONAN epic from writer Jim Zub and artist Richard Pace, the exciting continuation of writer/artist Patch Zircher’s SOLOMON KANE tale, spectacular covers from Dave Dorman and Nick Marinkovich, jaw-dropping art pin-ups, and more, THE SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN Issue #2 is an onslaught of awe-inspiring adventure.
Why it Made the List: I was a big fan of the first issue of The Savage Sword of Conan. It gave me everything I wanted in Conan comic with some jaw-dropping gorgeous art and an epic story feel. Then we got some great backup stories that I also enjoyed. It’s nice to get so much for your money. Love seeing more companies using the classic magazine style and then getting artists who use every inch of the page. If you are going to do a throwback comic Conan is a good place to go. The main story is a self-contained tale so you can dive in at any time. So if you were ever curious about the character of Conan this is a great place to start.
Writer: Garth Ennis
Artist: Jacen Burrows
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Solicitation: GARTH ENNIS RETURNS TO MARVEL — WITH NICK FURY AND FRANK CASTLE AS YOU’VE NEVER SEEN! It’s 1971, there is a war raging in Vietnam, and Nick Fury has been captured by the Viet Cong. At this moment, they don’t quite understand that they have in their possession a man who knows enough secrets to damage the United States beyond comprehension. The C.I.A., however, DOES realize this and they can’t risk their enemy getting those secrets, so they dispatch the most deadly man in the U.S. Army — LT. FRANK CASTLE.
Why it Made the List: I love how the Marvel Max line is basically just the Garth Ennis Imprint at this point. Has anyone done a comic for this line in the past decade that wasn’t Ennis? Hey if it lets Ennis write more Punisher stories I am not complaining. The last few Ennis Punisher stories have just been him telling his War stories and adding the character of the Punisher. It’s not surprising it worked. Considering this involves Nick Fury that may be a bit different. Few writers better understand the character of The Punisher than Ennis so anytime he has a new comic coming out it is an immediate read for me.
Writer: Jed MacKay
Artist: Pepe Larraz
Publisher: Marvel
Solicitation: THE BLOODIEST MARVEL EVENT EVER! The skies have gone dark, the sun hiding its face from the carnage to come. The children of the night, the vampires, have risen from the dark and hidden places of the world as one to drown the Marvel Universe in blood. Earth’s final night has fallen — can even the heroes of this doomed world stem the tide of blood that is to come? Join the AVENGERS, BLADE, BLOODLINE, SPIDER-MAN, HUNTER’S MOON, TIGRA, DOCTOR STRANGE and CLEA as the dance of death begins in BLOOD HUNT #1!
Why it Made the List: I get it. People hate event comics and every year we get a new one because despite all the complaining people buy them. When an event works though it is something special. When a massive storyline clicks you feel like you are experiencing something special. Blood Hunt feels unlike anything Marvel has done in forever, especially since they keep pushing the violence level of this series. They are even having unrated versions of this story with bagged covers. Is it a gimmick? Of course, it is. Will it work? We shall see. Knowing how protective Disney can be with their properties I am quite impressed they are doing something like this on such a large scale. Now let’s hope it works out.
Writer: Zac Thompson
Artist: Daniel Irizarri
Publisher: ONI PRESS
Solicitation: From creators Zac Thompson (Hunt for the Skinwalker) and Daniel Irizzari (XINO), enter the next level of the subversive horror/sci-fi hybrid that writhes with fear and tension! A new kind of evil awaits players in the shadows of Nightmare Cemetery! The game’s tricks—playing out in the real world in gruesomely violent ways—drive a wedge between friends thus threatening efforts to find Pik. When Enid bails from the game, she begins her own investigation into the Dreamwave’s effect on its players and uncovers an uncanny pattern of mysterious accidents.
Why it Made the List: This book just gets better and better. I have been a big fan of the world they created within the video game as well as the mystery behind everything. This feels like it has the spirit of something like the Goonies or Stand By Me. You have this group of kids trying to do something well beyond their years but do it because no one else can or will. Writing young people well is a unique skill that can go wrong quickly. People try to force slang to make the characters feel more authentic but it usually does the opposite. Glad that hasn’t happened here. Daniel Irizarri is impressing me as an artist as well. His designs have so much love to them.
Writer: Al Ewing
Artist: Ibraim Roberson
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Solicitation: THOR MUST DIE! The son of Odin faced three of his greatest foes in battle — with the fog of magic closing around him. Yet even if he won, he lost…for Thor fought not for his life — but for his death. This is the story of THE IMMORTAL THOR… and the Minotaur’s final triumph.
Why it Made the List: I mentioned with Blood Hunt how I am surprised that Marvel is making that type of book at such a large scale. In a similar vein, I’m surprised Al Ewing has been able to write this Immortal Thor tale with its sharp critiques of cooperation and the negative impact they have on the world and art in particular. The last issue where Roxxon made their own Thor comic came off as a direct shot at companies like Disney that reshaped original ideas to fit their image. Comic being meta is not new but this is a different type of meta. One that’s using the practice not to make jokes but rather to further the thematic resonance of the story. I dropped off this title for a bit but I am glad I came back because they are cooking something special.
4. Superman: House of Brainiac Special #1
Writer: Joshua Williamson
Artist: Edwin Galmon
Publisher: DC Comics
Solicitation: BRAINIAC’S SECRET HISTORY WITH LOBO IS REVEALED! An essential issue in the Action Comics/Superman crossover as Brainiac’s secret history with Lobo and Czarnia is revealed! How did Brainiac create a Bottled City of Czarnia? Who steps up to protect Metropolis after Brainiac’s army leaves it in ruins? Will Lois Lane confront Perry White about his own secrets as he runs for mayor of Metropolis? And how is Amanda Waller involved in all of this? All these questions are answered in this crucial issue that connects to DC’s Superman-Sized event! Meanwhile, Bibbo steps up! With the heroes gone and a city in need of some champions, our favorite bartender organizes the community to save their beloved home.
Why it Made the List: Another major event comic makes the list! This one is a bit different because we have already gotten a taste of this story with issues of Action Comics and Superman. Based on those installments I am ready for more. Some intriguing mysteries were injected into the story and I am interested to see what has pushed Brainiac to this state and understand why exactly Lobo is involved. This is also supposed ot lead directly into Absolute Power so this does appear to be a rather important issue regarding the future of DC comics this summer.
3. The Blood Brothers Mother #1
Writer: Brian Azzarello
Artist: Eduardo Risso
Publisher: DSTLRY
Solicitation: NEW SERIES DEBUT by Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso—the legendary creative team behind the seminal crime series 100 BULLETS!
In the old American West, three children set off across the wild Texas frontier to rescue their mother—kidnapped by ruthless outlaws who gunned down their preacher father. Throughout their journey, they’ll face the harsh elements of an unforgiving landscape, deadly animals hungry for blood, merciless bounty hunters and so much more…all in a relentless quest to rescue their family. Along the way, they’ll learn the terrible cost of revenge‚Äînot just in lives, but in how it stains a soul. While revenge may be satisfying in the moment, it leaves a yearning behind that lasts a lifetime. And once you taste it, nothing else is ever so sweet. In the tradition of The Searchers, The Outlaw Josey Wales, and Blood Meridian comes a brutal new western series from writer BRIAN AZZARELLO and artist EDUARDO RISSO—the Eisner award-winning team behind the Vertigo crime classic 100 BULLETS and Image Comics MOONSHINE!
Why it Made the List: This book has so much to like. First seeing Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso team up will also get my attention. 100 Bullets is an all-time classic and Moonshine is rather underrated. Now they are doing a Western? It’s like I put an order in for a comic I would like to see one day DSTLRY heard it and worked to publish this title. As I have said multiple times on this list I am continuously impressed with the creative teams DSTLRY has been able to put together. This may be the most proven one yet with the history of Azzarello and Risso. Love that they are back together again with more creative freedom.
Writer/Artist: Sean Murphy
Publisher: Massive Publishing
Solicitation: Superstar artist Sean Gordon Murphy delivers the main cover for his fresh take on the iconic masked vigilante, Zorro.
Don Quixote meets Narcos in Sean Gordon Murphy’s Zorro: Man of the Dead. In this modern reimagining, the writer-artist behind DC Comic’s Batman: White Knight, delivers a fresh take on the legendary swashbuckling hero.
The arrival of Zorro might have inspired La Vega into rebelling, but that hope is dashed as Diego suffers a big defeat. With his sister captured, Diego has no choice but to give up the fight and reveal the truth about his past to El Rojo, hoping that his surrender will save Rosa and the rest of the villagers. But while Diego might have lost faith in the legend of Zorro, this friends haven’t! Be sure to order this big finale with 27 PAGES OF ART from Sean Murphy.
Why it Made the List: I want to call this one of the best surprise series of the year but I really should not be surprised a book written and drawn by Sean Murphy is this good. This takes place in the modern day and you would think Zorror in today’s world should not work, and instead of ignoring that fact they have leaned into it. So many great action scenes including some fun car chases and anytime Murphy gets to draw cars we all win. Murphy has found the right balance in making the mythos work in today’s world. Hope we get more Zorror comics and this is just the first chapter in a longer story.
Writer: David Pepose
Artist: Jonathan Lau
Publisher: Dynamite
Solicitation: Greed and corruption flourish in the darkness between stars. With the territories of the Galactic Federation spread far and wide across the vastness of space, pirates and hijackers ransack the distant colonies with cruel disregard for the innocent scientists living within them.
Yet there is a cosmic vigilante who metes out justice throughout the galaxy, bringing vengeance to those prey upon the defenseless.
Some say he is a policeman who has abandoned the strictures of the law. Others say he is a phantom, the sole survivor of a war-torn planet. And those who have survived his wrath claim he is more a force of nature, able to bend the very elements of Creation to decimate his enemies. They call him the SPACE GHOST – and his adventures begin here!
Why it Made the List: So many classic characters are getting new life in the world of comics. Last week it was Dick Tracey and now we have Space Ghost. For many in my generation when you think Space Ghost you think one of the strangest Late Night Talk Shows of all time. Before that though he was a superhero. We have gotten a few Space Ghost comics but it has been quite a long time. Based on a plethora of David Pepose’s interviews I have listened to he is a major fan of the character and wants to do him justice. Sometimes with Dynamite comics, I worry about the art as they do not put as much effort into it as other publishers. With this though the preview pages look amazing so that should not be an issue. I have enjoyed a lot of David Pepose’s past work like Spencer and Locke and The Devil That Wears My Face which made this list many times this year. Hoping for the same with Space Ghost.
