It cannot be an accident. One week every month we get a week like this where we have an explosion of new titles debuting. I could have easily just done a Top 10 of Most Antipcate new #1’s. Instead, I just focused on the ones I was most excited about. Looking back at this list I did not realize how much Image dominates this week. That was not on purpose. They are simply just putting out a lot of great books right now. Kudos to them for that.
With that onto this week’s list
(Editor’s Note: Solicitations are provided by Respected Publishers)
Writer: Garth Ennis
Artist: Jacen Burrows
Publisher: Ahoy
Solicitation: Garth Ennis and Jacen Burrows’ sword-and-satire epic thickens as the barbarian thief Babs is forced into an awkward confrontation with the skeletal Lord of the Undead and his equally un-deceased queen! Meanwhile, a misogynist goblin schemes to get revenge on Babs.
Why it Made the List: As I mentioned on this list a few times the current slate of comics is filled with a ton of Fantasy books, and the battering average of good vs bad is pretty high. Now we get to add another one to that list that will drive up that average. This series is able to find space within a crowded genre by being more of a spoof comedy in the style of Garth Ennis. Is this to the fantasy genre the same way The Boys is to the superhero genre? Not quite…at least so far. It’s a bit more tame compared to some of the shocking things that occurred in that book. Not that it is void of shocking moments. The last issue felt like Garth Ennis getting his chance to comment on what’s been annoying him in the world of fandom over the last few years, including using actual trolls to represent the worst of fandom culture. Not that this is just commentary without a story. The satirical elements are woven within the actual narrative quite well with plenty of fun sword and sand adventure.
Writer: Becky Cloonan, Michael Conrad
Artist: Guillermo Fajardo
Publisher: Alien Books / Valiant
Solicitation: Prepare to see the unexpected: the rise of Dr. Silk, once an infamous villain, now a beacon of hope. He brings forth radical ideas of a utopian world where death is no longer a part of the human experience.
Many people will see him as a leader of peace and change, while others question his actions as everything has a cost, and Earth starts to break into different realities. With the help of Master Darque, Silk makes his silent magical/technological attack on the Faraway, causing many sinkholes to appear and panicking the world. Conflicts break out. War emerges…
Dr. Silk and his weavers craft webs of eternal life in a world shattered. Can our heroes navigate this new world order? The battle lines are drawn, and the only question is whose side you will be on when the dust settles – featuring X-O Manowar, Bloodshot, Eternal Warrior, Ninjak, Ivar, Rai, Livewire, Faith, and more!
Crafted by the stellar team of Becky Cloonan, Michael W. Conrad, (X-O Manowar Unconquered, Immortal Wonder Woman), and new rising star artist Guillermo Fajardo, the Valiant Universe will never be the same!
Why it Made the List: Do not call it a come back call it a Resurgence. As a fan of Valiant comics, I find it has been a hard few years as the publisher has tried to sustain itself. Several series were canceled and others ended early. I have found this Resurgence initiative a bit mixed thus far but I still have hope in this event. My first experience with the Valiant universe was a similar event so maybe this can be the story to bring this universe back to its greatest heights. Valiant characters are very distinct within their own worlds so when they do come together it feels special, especially since it does not happen all the time. The preview art looks good as well, which was a problem with some of the most recent issues. If this can iron out some of these past missteps Valiant Comics can make this Resurgence a reality.
Writer/Artist: Corin Howell
Publisher: Vault
Solicitation: Lilith is an immortal who’s been banished from her home, a dimensional plane suspiciously similar to mankind’s idea of Hell. She’s been posing as a model on Earth while secretly preying on humans… that is, until she runs into Penelope, a sweet bookstore owner with a tome that might hold the secret to returning Lilith to her dimension. If the mismatched pair doesn’t end up falling in love first! “Watch out, boy, she’ll chew you up.”
Why it Made the List: I get a little extra excited for a comic when I see the writer and artist are the same person. There are not many of those so when it happens it is something special. (Although it will happen again later on within this list) As mentioned on this list om previous weeks Vault Comics has introduced me to a lot of great artists throughout the years. In this case, though I have enjoyed Corin Howell’s work in the past before picking up this book. Specifically, the series she did with Tim Seeley Dark Red was the first time I noticed her work. That was a book that took its own spin on Vampire lore so I already know she did do well with similar material. Wondering how different this will be since this is one specific voice. Considering how well Corin Howell designed that cover I have faith that this will be one great-looking series.
Writer: Peter Warren
Artist: Francesco Mobili
Publisher: Image Comics
Solicitation: The first stunning issue of a brand-new miniseries from Giant Generator showcasing the first comics work by screenwriter and incredible talent PETER WARREN (_The Incal _feature film, Kill Me) with jaw-dropping art by FRANCESCO MOBILI (X-Men, SCUMBAG) and beautifully colored by CHRIS CHUCKRY (New X-Men, Gen 13).
Johnny Moore is a world-famous tech mogul known as much for his work pioneering mobility aids for people with disabilities (like himself) as he is for moonlighting as the metal-suited vigilante, CALIBURN. But when Johnny is found murdered and his suit stolen, his estranged childhood best friends reunite to solve the mystery of his murder.
THE TIN CAN SOCIETY is a heartfelt and human look at the evolution of friendships across a lifetime, at disability and ableism, and the destructive power of fame.
Why it Made the List: Usually when a comic is written by a screenwriter who is making their debut in comics it is usually a major red flag. That may be unfair but you can often tell you are reading a comic that was designed to be a movie script. When that happens it is typically not a great experience because the script does not understand the language of comic books. What is different here is this is part of Rick Remender’s new Imprint for Image comics. There are few people I trust in comics more than Remender. He’s got a great eye for story, talent, and art so based on that excited to see what this could lead towards. Kudos to Remender who is using his stance as a creator to push forward other talent he believes in. It reminds me of wrestling when an established talent will use their place to put over another talent and when done right everyone wins in the end.
Writer: Jed MacKay
Artist: Netho Diaz
Publisher: Marvel
Solicitation: THEY KILL FOR KICKS & THEY KILL FOR CLICKS! “Hello, internet – it’s your boy, Trevor Fitzroy! That’s right, Trevor Fitzroy and the Upstarts, out there delivering the content you crave: livestreamed, bespoke, mutant murder in high-def! And best of all, you, the viewers, are the ones rating the kills! So smash that like button, hit subscribe and tell us who the number-one killer is!”
Why it Made the List: From my perspective, it does seem there is a major split in the X-Men fan community. Those who are still upset with the end of the Krakoa era and others who are happy it has ended. This current X-Men run has been much more straightforward than what we got with Krakoa but I believe it is shaping up rather nicely. I do not love the fact we already have an artist change this quickly into this run. No offense to Netho Diaz, it is more that I feel comics are better when they have more consistency especially when you are still within the same arc. What has worked with me the most with this run thus far is the characterization of Cyclops. He’s been bold in his proclamations but we also see there’s something serious that he is hiding. Plus Juggernaut has been a fun addition as well. This run may not have the thematic depth of some of the Krakoa era, but it does feel like classic X-Men to me and I do not think that is a bad thing.
Writer/Artist: James Harren
Publisher: Image Comics
Solicitation: Following the devastating events in volume one, Noah takes on the Ultramega mantle from his father, but will he be able to save the world…or has the world been doomed from the start?
When Kaiju invaded Earth, three humans were granted the power of Ultramega to save humanity…They failed. Now, a new Ultramega has risen in this brutal world without heroes or hope. But the Kaiju Queen isn’t the only challenge he must face. Deep in the stars, they gather. Psychotic. Cold. A WORLD of ULTRAMEGA.
Why it Made the List: Wait…is this real? My reaction when seeing Ultramega has a new issue coming out this week. My second surprise was realizing it had been three years since the last issue. Crazy how time works. As I mentioned with Lilith I am a big fan of Writer/Artists and James Harren is one of today’s best as seen with the previous volume. So I understand why it can take so long for this to come out when everything is in the hands of one person. I rather creators take the time they need than rush something out just to get it out. You can tell he is a fan of Kaijua and monsters as this feels like a love letter to those types of stories. I do hope there is some recap from volume one since it has been so long but I cannot tell you anything in depth about the story. I do remember rather enjoying the first volume a great deal. Now let’s see if the second volume can be just as successful.
Writer: Kieron Gillen
Artist: Caspar Wijngaard
Publisher: Image Comics
Solicitation: There are six people who can save the world. They save the world every day they don’t use their powers. Yesterday, one used their gift. The world is still here. Have we been lucky, or has the fuse to end us all been lit?
Why it Made the List: I recently did a video on how I believe there is no such thing as an overpowered character, and used this comic as an example of why. The characters in this have the power of literal gods and could cause massive structures with a single thought, yet it was able to tell a compelling story. In this case, these characters are clearly being used as an allegoric exploration into the idea of a nuclear deterrent. Also the ethical issues of what is right and wrong when so much power is at your fingertips. I could see some taking issue with how lofty the goals are here and how the story can leave you a bit cold. We did not get much into who these people are beyond the role they play with their powers, however I assume that is coming in upcoming issues. I was simply impressed with what is being built here and how they found a new way to use superpowers to tell a story regarding some thought-provoking issues. If you like books that make you think this is certainly a read to check out.
3. The Moon Is Following Us #1
Writer: Daniel Warren Johnson
Artist: Riley Rossmo
Publisher: Image Comics
Solicitation: Sam and Duncan LaMarr love their six-year-old daughter, Penny, more than anything in the whole world. But half a year ago, she was taken by the Cascade, an evil force they barely understand. Now, Sam and Duncan must fight side by side with the magical beings Penny cherished to try and get her back…before she’s gone forever.
Why it Made the List: What a creative team. I never put these two creators together in my mind but when I saw this book it clicked so well. Their styles are different but both have an energetic feel with bold and brash design. Both are coming off some really great work as well. Daniel Warren Johnson is killing it right now with the Transformers books, and Riley Rossmo’s work on the recent Wesley Dodd: Sandman book was some of the best of his career. This concept clicks with me as well because any time you have parents trying to rescue their kids my emotional investment is immediately there. Everything is coming together for a really good series.
2. Batman / Superman: World’s Finest #31
Writer: Mark Waid
Artist: Adrián Gutiérrez
Publisher: Marvel
Solicitation: A BRAND-NEW ARC BEGINS, AS RISING STAR ARTIST ADRIAN GUTIERREZ JOINS MARK WAID! DARKNESS FALLS! Eclipso, master of light and shadow, has risen to plague the World’s Finest team of Superman and Batman! Powered like never before, Eclipso threatens to plunge the Earth into a state of eternal night–and eternal despair!
Why it Made the List: It’s always a good week when Batman / Superman: World’s Finest is coming out. I am enjoying Absolute Power but it is nice to have a book that can operate completely outside of it. Usually, when Dan Mora is not on art duties my excitement is not as high but I saw the preview pages Adrián Gutiérrez has done, and wow are they something special. Mora may want to watch himself because Gutiérrez is showing what he can do, and he appears to have the chops to keep this book as good as ever. This series has been pure DC in the best of ways. Superheroes being superheroes and not much more than that. Why does that work? Well, because the truth is that is all you need.
Writer: W. Maxwell Prince
Artist: Martin Morazzo
Publisher: DC Comics
Solicitation: “SPY STORY”
A who-can-you-trust thriller, both shaken and stirred!
Why it Made the List: With Ice Cream Man you never know what you are going to get. Well…I guess that is not fully true because you know you are going to get a great comic. I am amazed at how much this series has evolved over the years. This started as a horror anthology series and now is so much more. The last two issues focused on decompressed storytelling in some of my favorite issues of the year thus far. Now we are getting a spy story. What does that mean? I have no idea and I love everything about that. Will it have a horror twist? It’s possible, or maybe it will just be a reflection of that genre in comic book form. If you have not read an issue of this book that is okay. You can pick up this issue and be just fine, and if you end up liking it you have forty other great issues to read.
