Pre-Orders, FTW

I passed on this last weekend but I have to do a bit of this today as I did do a bit of preordering myself this last Friday night on the way home so I thought I would share. I've only got one for you today but perhaps more to come as there is so much good stuff on the Image and Black Mask upcoming books...

Animosity 1 (JUN 161065) 3.99

So my favorite title from Marguerite Bennett may have gone the way of most of my most lived Marvel books but she's got other great work out there like DC Bombshells, Red Sonja and the so so NSFW Insexts from Aftershock and this new book to look forward to. She is working with Rafael De Latorre who did a magnificent job with the superhero back comedy Super-Zero on what promises to be another black comedy horror about a girl and her dog in a roadtrip. The evil animal book twist is that animals have started talking a plotting a bit of revenge. Marguerite has a twisted imagination that can deliver shocks, emotional heavy plots and characters you really root for. I know when I see her name in a book it's not a title that is going to ever dissapoint even if I'm not fully sure what I'm getting myself into. I really wish I had more money to try out all the aftershock books. Humans have a lot to answer for when it comes to the animals we keep in zoos, as food producers and for experiments.

 

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Comic Pull List Jun 15 2016

This is a bit of a catch up week as I have some books left over from last week to still pick up given my attempt to keep to my twenty dollar comics budget... I'm going to keep my intro letter here kind of short and say I try to spotlight books that may be under people's notice with the deluge of great reading options, many of my favorite books even from the big few publishers have been canceled because of the vagaries of the market acting as a gatekeeper. (On my Twitter feed I have seen people post about not knowing about Angela, or Moon Girl and wondering why they don't get more ads ....)

 

The Spire 8 $3.99

Weird fiction is really my kind of thing wether it's modern weird, sci-fi weird or weird fantasy. Simon Spurier, Jeff Stockley and Andre May's weird science fiction murder mystery comes to an end this week as they explore secrets spread across several generations in a paranoid and highly prejudiced world. The world created for this story is highly reminiscent of the mystical science fantasies of Miyazaki both in tone and in style; it's a worthy homage to his work and a compelling story as the fractious nature of the world looks oh so similar to the one outside my window. Spurier loves telling stories of great emotional and social complexity and I'm pretty sad to see this ending as I think there is so much more to explore in this compelling world and much more to say through his complicated lead character Sha. If you have missed it till now there is sure to be a collection but you should really look at the work this team has done as its pretty special.

 

Han Solo 1 $3.99

Yes it's a big name and yes Han Solo probably does not need a signal boost because well Han Solo right but as its a book written by Marjorie Liu I think it's of possibly wider notice. From the preview pages the art by Mark Brooks and Sonia Oback fully captures the gritty look and feel of the original trilogy setting and nail the mercenary smuggler himself quite well. I will say I sadly missed out on what is a marvelous book in Darth Vader by Kieron Gillen so I'm unlikely to let this book written by another favorite writer of mine slip by. I'm lucky as this is a week that is slim on books I'm anxious to have so I can give this some extra attention. Though I'm more exited for the future of Monstress I'm game for her to write a bit of the old scoundrel here.

Descender 12 $2.99

The robot refuge sure did not turn out to be such a safe place for Tim - 21 at the end of the last arc and did a lot to set up what is sure to be a disturbing set of reveals for his doppelgänger Tim-22. Jeff Lemire is sometimes not all that kind to his characters and this arc looks to be one that will explore the lives of the other players is this science fiction story. Everyone seems to want the program kernel that is at the heart of the Tim series of robots and though I'm sure this issue will not be that story it may just touch on how different each of them may have become over time and experience. Dustin Nguyen is doing some truly amazing storytelling in watercolor in this book and that in and of itself is worth checking out.

Patsy Walker aka Hellcat 7 $3.99

As I have let go of some of the marvel books lately for various reasons including being too tired of endless event stories I get to explore the other books I really wanted to and did t have the funds to before. I picked up the first few issues of Kate Leth and Brittany Williams Hellcat and am sorry I passed it over after that as I really enjoyed the story they were telling. It's great to see someone exploring the Marvel setting from another angle and Patsy has been one of the characters I have wanted to se more of since reading about her in the eighties. So yeah I got some catchup to do on this and look forward to it. Oh and Jessica Jones makes an appearance here without Luke and though I love him loads it's great to see a bit of her on her own...

 

So with the fact I have some books set aside and probably will grab Lumberjanes Gotham Academy I'm likely to hit my twenty dollar limit...

That's me for the week and sometimes I forget or overlook something cool too... so if there is anything that has you wanting to run to the shop come Wednesday let me know as I'd enjoy a bit of a conversation a bit comics...

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Sunday Jun 12 2016

So I had planned I would be posting some Pre-order suggestions today but right now it seems a bit trite to me in the face of the massive hate crime committed in Orlando and the loss to so many families friends and loved ones. There are so many things I want to try to do and at a loss for anything constructive I can do right now. Tomorrow I will do a bit of regular posting about his next weeks comics but right now if you can help do so... The least we can do is not spread the hate any further

 

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Comics Pull List June 8 2016

Wow this is a spectacular week of books... These odd five Wednesday months do strange things to shipping as so many of the books I love are hitting this week and then again the week after next. So I'm likely to try to split this week up between this week and next which is a small week but I'm going to mention all the books I think are worth it this week as well as the ones that I think need a bit of a boost...

Goldie Vance 3 $3.99

If you want a taste of the writer who is taking over Batgirl very soon this very cool exceedingly cute teenage detective adventure book book from Boom she's doing with Patsy Walker aka Hellcat artist Brittnay Williams should be on your list. Actually it should be in your list anyway as is its so cleverly and engagingly written and drawn it's well worth having on its own wrong merit. Here is a link to the LA Times interview about the book and a meet flip through the first issue made me have to go back and pick it up as I could not stop thinking about it. Though the article notes the influences to me it has that kind of sweet melancholykind of vibe I get from good Wes Andersons films. Hope Larson's characters truly got me to invest in them right away so she and Brittany really are doing something right here and as its only halfway through perhaps your FLCS still has the first two if they took a chance on them. Comics like this are not my usual go to but I love it when I find a book I can't pass up.

 

Island 8 $7.99

I know I know 7.99 is a big stretch to take given the cost of comics these days but for people looking for a book that consistently provides a diverse array of stories and art and delivers such quality to book this is the book. Brandon Graham and Emma Rios edit and sometimes write parts of this seventy plus page monster and take stories that span a wide range of genre including the occasional memoir. This issue if I recall will include the continuation of Simon Roy's science fiction story Habitat, Johnny Christmas' fantasy story Firebug and hopefully more Multiple Warheads from Brandon Graham... It's a book that never plays it safe and sometimes wanders into controversial territory but it's always amazing and I wish I had people to talk with about it.

Shutter 22 $3.99

The vagaries of my life have left me with lees time lately to read comics and I have let Shutter pile up so I will probably get to read this entire arc as a whole with all the letters columns and back matter all at once. Joe Keatinge, Leila Del Duca, Owen Gieni and John Workman's book is one of the books that I really should measure others by because of how much joy I get from the book. It's a travelogue Tin Tin kind of adventure in a world 90 percent or so more fantastic then ours ... astronauts and minotaurs, talking kit cat clocks, anthropomorphic lion people, dinosaurs and more exist along side man and it's all wonderful. I can't comment of the developments in Kate's life as I'm so behind but I so trust the creators I'm putting this up as a reccomendations.

Midnight of the Soul 1 $3.50

Though I never really forgot about Howard Chaykin I had kind of forgot how much I enjoyed his approach to storytelling so perhaps hearing him on one of the I Word podcasts from panel interviews at the pre ECCC show was a good thing. He's a creator who has a very recognizeable style, a writer who is not afraid to make a definite statement with his story... he's not someone who's books get lost somewhere in act three and then either never give you an end or back away from the end he should give. This is a post World War Two story about the life of a soldier home from the war and the few page preview makes me hopefull for some pretty hard hitting points to come out of the book. Midnight is a book that is all Howard and though I enjoyed his work with others he's often best when it's all from his mind alone.

Injection 10 $2.99

And why not go from Chaykin to Warren Ellis as their commitment to good storytelling and to not pulling punches is pretty similar. Injection which Warren created with Declan Shalvey and Jordie Bellaire hits so many genre types that it's petty hard to pin down; it's a little post singular a bit X-files, spy, detective conspiracy story that may just be taking an unexpected twist with the last issue. Here's a recent bit that happened the Holmes character got a ham that he determined by taste was actually man rather then pig... Ok sure that's gross as are the implications behind his claim. It's a really fun unexpected ride and with the art team behind it it's truly a treat all round. Again like Shutter I could one measure my enjoyment of other books by this one and two it's the end of a story arc so it may not be the best place to,pick it up but I don't think new readers would be much more uncertain of the story behind the story then us who have been there since issue one you'd just be missing attachment to the widely diverse cast.

the Wicked and the Divine 20 $3.50

This week the hits just keep on coming it seems as this excellent twist on superpowers (being a myth/god incarnate is kind of a superpower right), celebrity mixed with a bit of backstabbing and intrigue from Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie is out again. The last couple issues have shown us we don't really know what we thought we did just like the arc before, Commercial Suicide, showed us what we needed to know about the secondary characters ( damn the Tara issue....wow). This arc is feeling like its building to a bit of a serious climax for the series so I wonder where they will take it after this arc is done and looking at the covers coming up I curious what we really know abut how this whole god possession thing really works...

 

 

Lik last week there are some Rebirth titles that may just tempt me like the Flash and Wonder Woman books as well as there being the final issue of Headlopper which has been great fun but at this time I'd say wait for trade on that.

 

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Pre-orders ...NOW!

Ok the title is kind of a cheap shot at Marvel right now as I'm dreading the re-re-re-re ignition of books at the house of ideas, though I will agree that with their lesser teir books pre-orders are petty important and I do so for books like Nighthawk, Powerman and Ironfist, Patsy Walker aka Hellcat and Moon Girl for fear of them going the way of Angela Queen of Hel. I'll here post the link to the Kieron Gillen pre-order tutorial as I still think it's pretty cute and will likely cycle it up ever couple of weeks. The odd way the comic direct market functions with any kind of publisher large or small it can act as a gatekeeper and can prevent a book finding its audience so promote share and tell people about books...

Princess Princess Ever After (May 161668)

Katie Oneill's webcomic fairytale twist on princesses captive, in distress or not though still available to read online here (which I fully encourage people to do if they have not) is getting a gloriously cute print edition in August from Oni Press. It's the story of Sadie, a princess who takes to adventuring on her unicorn and Amira, whom was her first reluctant rescue, defying type and finding a new way of living through their friendship and coming together through their trials and others drama. Katie's art is reminiscent of several manga art styles and is richly details despite its cute soft look. Books that explore the strength of female friendships or friendships at all have been a scent in comics until fairly recently and it's nice to encounter a range of titles across genres and age ranges that are doing in fact just that. Go read the book and I'm pretty sure if it's not your thing your probably know someone who would love it. Fans of Gotham Academy, Jem, Squirrel Girl, Ms. Marvel and the like will likely dig this.

 

Insexts Vol. 1 (JUN 161072

Didn't really know that Victorian penny dreadful body horror would be my kinda thing until I read this creation of writer Marguerite Bennett Penciler Ariela Kristantina and colorist Bryan Valenza. Insexts follows the life of an abused rich trophy wife of a British toff whose maid, confidant and lover finds an ultimately ugly bloody solution to her loves problem freeing them and their offspring from him. This book is full on NSFW as each issue has had an intimate boudoir moment between the two women tinged with a bit of weird horror sometimes. Marguerite and Ariela preset an ugly view of the era which in reality treated women and minorities near as shamefully as some people today dissapointly long to return to. This is an escape fantasy that has a dark cost to it; it's a story that is both beautiful and hopefull in tone even given the ugliness that underlies it.

Ghosts (Jun 161552 or 161553)

So the majority of regular superhero comics fans quite likely have not read any of Raina Telgemeier's award winning graphic novels Smile, Sisters, or Drama; I know I hadn't till just this year they take a fresh different story telling tact then what is my usual fare having no speculative elements. Her books sell real well in normal books shops but it would be great to see them getting attention at direct shops to. This is a story of Catrina and her family moving to a small town in Northern California for her mothers health and struggling with that forced change that many people can probably relate. She learns that there is a local belief that the ghosts of a persons loved ones come t visit at a particular time of year that is approaching. It sounds like a pretty heartfelt story and is something I'm looking forward to reading given the strength of her storytelling. It's a book created solely by Rainaand it's pretty cool to see that singular kind of vision.

 

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Comics Pull List June 1 2016

These weeks don't happen to me that often... Weeks when I really only have a single book that I would normally pick up so I get to kind of play a bit picking up books I might have otherwise passed on or go back and get some that I did pass on as I didn't want to stretch to pick up in my loose twenty dollar budget...

Papergirls 6 $2.99

Papergirls was one of the really enjoyable new books that oddly remains enigmatic as to what is really going on throughout its initial arc. Brian K Vaughan created a group of creat characters, put them through the wringer threw them around space and time and ended the arc with some of them tossed into our 2016 present from their era in the late eighties. Between the crazy cool story by Brian and the beautiful pages created by Cliff Chiang and Matt Wilson, whose linked pallet if colors create a stunning look overall, this is one of books your really should not miss out on and as this week we get the collection you don't have to... And we're I not crazy I'd save some money and leave it there...but

Power Ranger: Pink 1 $3.99

Ok I'll be honest even on a week where I was already at budget I would be likely to pick this up as the writing team includes Kelly Thompson (Jem, A-force) and Brenden Fletcher (Gotham Academy, Batgirl and Black Canary) and the few preview pages by the art team of Danielle De Nicuolo and Sarah Stren looks pretty damn nice too. I will have to say I never watched what the American producers did with all the Sentai shows they bought and reworked for the American market but I did have great fun watching the original series' when I got the chance in the late eighties and early nineties and miss those opportunities now. I look forward to seeing new stories about a character I've seen buy not really seen in this incarnation. I'm pretty confident the book is in excellent loving hands and worth the admission price. Oh and all those cover choices....

Punisher 2 $3.99

So as time has not allowed me to get to last months Punisher 1 I'm taking it on my faith in the kick ass writing of Becky Cloonan and the art of Steve Dillon that this is a book worth my attention and money. I will say that having Frank Castle mentioned in one of the books I did get to this week (Nighthawk... And good stuff it was...Plug plug) reminded that this was coming soon. Becky writes characters that are dark and disturbed quite well and has a great grasp of creating a sense of growing forbidding dread so I know that it's likely to be a worthy read. (Subsequently read the issue and fully justified in my opinion it's worth a look...)

 

The Revisionist 1 $3.99

Aftershock books have been hit and miss at my FLCS as i think if no one asks for it taking a risk I know can be a bit of a step too far so I don't know if I can get this but as Frank Barbiere is writing e book it's likely to be a good lot of pulp fictiony fun. Time travel suspense and horror combined is a good mix so I will hope to get a look at it. On the whole I've been quite happy with the Aftershock books I have had the luck to get and I'm sorry I didn't think about preordering this to make sure. ...

 

Anyway this week has some other books that will do really well out of the gate that have the title Rebirth in the title and I know they need no more hype and I'm possibly picking one or two up despite misgivings as to how committed DC is to change (I already miss Midnighter and I worry about the tone of the new Batgirl, Birds of Prey, and have hopes for Suicide Squad but... Time will tell) the other big company had a book bannered by the title Civill War that I hope does not adversely affect title I love over the next couple months... There is lots of good to look forward to and DC Bombshells comes out this week and I'm well behind on that and Legends of Wonder Woman so I'm sure to kill my excess budget...

Till next post take care and remember why you love comics and genre media as some fans are taking things too too personal sometimes...

Addendum

 

A-force 6 $3.99

Last months A-force was a real lot of fun with Kelly Thompson taking the reigns and looked amazing at the hand of Ben Caldwell and though it looks like he won't be on the title long the group of characters are a real joy. I mean honest how could you pass up a book that has Thor-Dazzler and punk rock Dazzler both in the same book. Of the many reasons to buy this is the sense of joy I get coming from the team working on it and look no crossover banner....

 

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Pre-orders are paramount...

Hi there and here's another call to talk to your friendly local comic shop staff about the books your wanting wether it's a monthly book like me or it your trade waiting... hell given the price point on things and that fact comic shops can return nothing on the average for the life of a project it can be a make or break kind of thing. If you need visual aids I will put a link here to the nice comic tutorial Kieron Gillen put together a couple years ago that still holds true... I try to put in the diamond order codes after the title where I can to help but knowing the publisher month it's out and the title can usually be enough...

 

Secret Loves of Geek Girls edited Hope Nicholson (JUN 160030)

I am likely to gush about this book because Hope managed to pull together such a a brilliant collection of talent to celebrate all things geek that are created by women... and look they even got Kelly Sue Deconnick to add a forward. This started out as a Kickstarter project and as with many of the ones that get attention it's been picked up for another publishing run by Dark Horse Comics. Naming all the writers and artists Hope hot to contribute would take far too much space as I would have to just copy the table of contents but I have to mention Ireve Koh, Jen Bartell, Margaret Atwood, Marguerite Bennettn Sam Maggs and from the look of things they added some more for this version including a new cover. This is one of those times I'm going to have two copies as it was a book worth having twice... look at the people mentioned in the cover... Books like this are a gift you should really give yourself, and others...

 

Lady Killer 2 (JUN 160017)

Anyone who caught the last two issues of Spiderwoman, the Mockingbird SHIELD 50th anniversary special or the First Lady Killer series will for sure tell you that you should not miss out in the sheer joy that is Joelle Jones' art and storytelling. Lady Killer is a wonderful mix of fifties/sixties family values kind of imagery thriller movie plotting and blacksploitation/Terintino levels of violence and blood gloriously well illustrated. Lady Killer was one of last years books I enjoyed a hell of a lot and it could only have been better if the writer of Grindhouse herself Alex De Campi had written it as it would have fit so well into that anthology. Somehow the juxtaposition of wholesome seeming images and pools of blood seems to work... Yeah sometimes I'm not such a safe for work kind of person....

Prince of Cats HC (JUN 160680)

This is a reprint of Ronald Wimberly's eighties hip-hop punk version of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet by way of Tom Stoppard as it takes the story for the view of Tybolt. The story plays out in an underground sword dueling club in late last century New York... I've never seen the art for this but given the acclaim and words I have read about it the 24.99 pricetag makes this real tempting and if the cover art is anything to go on its sure to please...

 

So there are more new projects in August I'm exited about and I'll get to those later in the month... This weekend I'm going back to July as the initial order cutoff is coming up fast... Remember if you have been reading about Kim + Kim the order cut off I believe is the 3rd of this month... Just a reminder...

 

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