Hello and welcome to Multiversity’s look at the “Best of the Rest” of what’s coming your way in the now-available June 2023 Previews catalog. I’m excited to help you navigate the vast majority of what Diamond is offering via your LCS for the month of August 2023 (and probably beyond). Having already taken a look at what Marvel, DC, Image, and the Manga/Purple Previews sections have lined up for us, it’s now time to check out the other 75% of the catalog.
Let’s dive in!
10. You Only THINK You Know The Story!
I got a chance to chat with Milton about Orson Welles and Orson Welles back in 2019 when this story was running on Kickstarter. You can get an in-depth look at the project by checking out that link, but suffice it to say that I’m super-glad this project is getting a second chance thanks to the folks over at Scout Comics!
ORSON WELLES: WARRIOR OF WORLDS #1 (OF 4)
Written by Milton Lawson
Drawn by Erik Whalen
Published by Scout Comics
In Shops: Aug 16, 2023
SRP: $4.99NONSTOP. You’ve seen Orson Welles direct the greatest films of all time. You’ve heard his thunderous voice on the radio pulling off the infamous prank “War of the Worlds” broadcast. But now, for the first time ever, the truth is finally revealed: the broadcast was real! Welles lived a secret double life as a filmmaker by day, interstellar warrior by night. Buckle up for mind-blowing adventures as Orson fights in the Great Galactic War, travels through dimensional portals, and faces the ultimate threat to the Milky Way.
9. From Great To The Greatest
I trust in Spike Trotman and this looks like fun!
HEX AMERICANA OGN
Written & Drawn by Bree Wolf
Published by Iron Circus Comics
In Shops: Aug 30, 2023
SRP: $15.00A boy-meets-ghoul story at 100 miles-per-hour! Ken’s one dream in life is to follow in the footsteps of Dante, his long-departed racing idol, and compete in the ultimate monster derby grand prix — the legendary Hex Americana! The one problem is he doesn’t have his license. . . or a car. . . and his mom definitely doesn’t approve. (So, three problems.) But when Ken stumbles upon a town mystery he learns the ghost stories about Dante he grew up on are true, and he’s burning for a comeback from the great beyond. Dante’s car is still around (barely), but he needs Ken’s flesh and blood to drive it. This trans-dimensional duo has a lot of work to do, and their past and future racing glories are on the line!
8. From Great To The Greatest
Marc Bernardin is a writer equally comfortable in the arenas of fiction or non-fiction, with journalism from The Hollywood Reporter to Wired and GQ, staff writing episodes of Castle Rock to Alphas to Treadstone, and comics from The Highwaymen to the criminally underrated Genius. That career path makes him feel like a perfect choice when taking a look at the life and legend of Muhammad Ali. And Ron Salas was a knockout punch of an artist when I discovered his work a decade ago, and he’s only hitting harder and floating more gracefully since. Don’t believe me? Check this out.
Continued belowMESSENGER: THE LEGEND OF MUHAMMAD ALI OGN
Written by Marc Bernardin
Drawn by Ron Salas
Published by First Second Books
In Shops: Aug 16, 2023
SRP: $17.99“Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.” Legendary icon Muhammad Ali, known worldwide as “The Greatest”, immortalized those words by becoming one of the most significant and celebrated athletes of the 20th Century. Now, his epic story is retold for the next generation as a stunning graphic novel. Messenger: The Legend of Muhammad Ali chronicles Ali’s journey from humble beginnings as Cassius Clay in Louisville, Kentucky to his meteoric rise to Olympian and Heavyweight Champion of the world. Bringing readers through major moments of his life, this young adult graphic biography pays reverent tribute to Ali the fighter, the poet, and the inspiration he quickly became.
7. The Past Never Really Dies!
I’m still behind on catching up with Carroll’s work (I have Through the Woods staring at me from the shelf as I type this . . . ) but this still looks good enough to give a recommendation for.
GUEST IN THE HOUSE GN
Written & Drawn by Emily Carroll
Published by First Second Books
In Shops: Aug 16, 2023
SRP: $27.99
Lonely, isolated Abby has just married a widowed dentist who recently arrived in town with his daughter and begins to go through the motions of becoming a wife and mother. But the more she learns about his first wife, the more things don’t add up-did she really just pass away or is something more sinister afoot? As Abby delves deeper, the first wife’s memory seems to become a force all its own, ensnaring Abby in a mystery that leaves her obsessed, fascinated, and desperately in love for the first time in her life-all leading up to an explosive, tragic conclusion. Emily’s masterful balance of black and white, surreal colors, rich textures, and dramatic lettering is assured to bring this story to life and give readers a chill up their spine as they read.
6. Working A Little Comic Book Magic!
Nonfiction comic? PRESTO!
Previously unavailable but now available in North America? PRESTO!
Does things no other comics can do? PRESTO!
HOCUS POCUS COMPLETE COLLECTION HC
Written by Rik Worth & Richard Wiseman
Drawn by Owen Watts & Jordan Collver
Published by Vanishing Inc. LLC
In Shops: Aug 02, 2023
SRP: $49.95
The Eisner-nominated history of science and the supernatural is finally available worldwide in this beautiful, complete collection. Con-men, conjurors and occultists make up the cast of this anthology of true stories from history, in a series that does things no other comics can do. This comic will ready your mind! Nominated for Best Limited Series (Eisners and Tripwire 2022), Rik Worth was nominated Best New Talent (Tripwire 2022), Won Best Limited Series (CAPStone Awards 2023). This will be the first time it will be available directly to American LCS.
5. Hoofin’ It!
Cloven: Volume 1 came out right at the start of the pandemic, which means my specific memory of it is hazy at best, but I do remember liking it quite a bit. And just on the strength of Matthew Southworth’s reputation alone, one should check that and this out. Also bonus that Fantagraphics is publishing this, which seems a little . . . pulpier? modern slicker pulpier? . . . than they usually go, so that should tell you there’s more going on here than you might think.
Continued belowCLOVEN HC VOL 02
Written by Garth Stein
Drawn by Matthew Southworth
Published by Fantagraphics Books
In Shops: Aug 30, 2023
SRP: $24.99
#1 New York Times bestselling author Garth Stein and acclaimed cartoonist Matthew Southworth (Stumptown) team up again for the second book in The Cloven series, an action-packed coming of age story about a mutant from the Pacific Northwest.
In the eagerly anticipated Book Two, Dr. Kenneth Langner, a world-renowned geneticist and creator of the Cloven species, reveals himself to Seattle Stranger reporter Jake Arthur, who continues his in-depth research on the homeless encampment known as “the Jungle.” When Langner turns up dead the next morning, Arthur realizes he’s into something far more sinister than he realized. Meanwhile, in an effort to evade the paramilitary that have begun rounding up Cloven, Tuck is taken to Halcyon Meadows, a bizarre retreat of the true insiders – Supreme court justices, ex-presidents, movie stars, rock musicians, health gurus – those who are really in the know and who gather there every summer to worship goats. And to celebrate the existence of the first human/goat hybrid: The Cloven. And that’s when things really start to get weird. Moody and mysterious and atmospheric as a fever dream, The Cloven is an action-packed coming of age story about James “Tuck” Tucker, a genetically modified human organism known as a Cloven. The story follows Tuck’s breakneck journey across the Pacific Northwest as he searches for his true home and identity. Written by Garth Stein (author of The Art of Racing in the Rain) and drawn by Matthew Southworth (co-creator of the graphic novel series Stumptown), two of today’s bestselling and critically acclaimed storytellers, this is a raucous, funny, and dynamic series of sci-fi graphic novels.
4. Boom Boom!
It’s a bio comic about a musician, so chances are it’s put out by Z2.
(Checks credits)
And I’m right!
That also means it’s going to have a killer creative team. And in this case in particular, it kinda has three. Three drinks in the title, three artists on the book, one more artist on the label. I’m not familiar with Taylan Kurtulus’ work, but I damn sure am familiar with Baker, Chisholm, and Anderson. And friends, let me tell you that is one tasty combo!
ONE BOURBON ONE SCOTCH ONE BEER HC
Written by Jarrett Williams & Gabe Soria
Drawn by Kyle Baker, Taylan Kurtulus, Dave Chisholm
Cover by Ho Che Anderson
Published by Z2 Comics
In Shops: Aug 02, 2023
SRP: $29.99
Legendary bluesman John Lee Hooker lived more life in one of his songs than the collective lifetimes of many. Spanning several decades of the American experience, One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer tells three tales of Hooker’s storied life through the perspective of those who lived within his massive orbit, weaving textured and interpretative stories that rise to the lofty creative heights of his music and fall to the gritty reality of trying to thrive in several unforgiving eras.
3. A Simpsons Spooktacular!
Having seen and been impressed by the Volume 1 omnibus, I can’t recommend this one highly enough. (Well, I guess I can if I put it higher on the list, but you know what I mean . . .) I mean, just check out that creator list in the Solicit text! Bongo is/was right up there with Archie Comics on pairing their pop culture icon with legitimately great comics creators. And this book gives you a really nice slab of those, oversized, st a very affordable price point.
SIMPSONS TREEHOUSE OF HORROR OMINOUS OMNIBUS VOL 02
Written & Drawn by Various Ghoulish Greats
Published by Abrams ComicArts
In Shops: Aug 02, 2023
SRP: $39.99
The second of three volumes collecting the complete Simpsons Treehouse of Horror comics by creator Matt Groening-packaged in a deluxe, die-cut slipcase that glows in the darkThe Treehouse of Horror started as an annual Halloween tradition on The Simpsons, beginning during the second season in 1990. In 1995, the first of 23 comics were produced by Bongo, and while some adapted the TV episodes, most told new stories written and illustrated by some of the biggest names in comics, including Kyle Baker, Ian Boothby, Dan Brereton, Gerry Duggan, Pia Guerra, Peter Kuper, Carol Lay, Nina Matsumoto, Terry Moore, Steve Niles, Brian Posehn, James Robinson, Tone Rodriguez, Scott Shaw!, and Jim Woodring. Collected for the first time in a deluxe hardcover slipcase with an all-new die-cut cover, these award-winning comics place the world’s most beloved animated family in exciting horror, science fiction, and supernatural settings, making this series the perfect gift for the Halloween season and Simpsons fans of all ages. This second volume in the trilogy is the perfect addition to any Simpsons collection. The volume also includes an introduction by Lisa Simpson.
2. 1963? 1993? 2023? Which Is It?
From one Simpson to another . . .
This is probably higher on the list than it deserves to be, but the uncompleted 1963 miniseries and more importantly the story of its creation and abandonment has fascinated me for years. And while this ISN’T the 1963 Annual from Alan Moore & Jim Lee that we never got, it IS something from one of the ’63 Sweatshop creators playing in that world. And for THAT reason, it gets a high spot on the list.
Continued belowFANTAGRAPHICS UNDERGROUND X-AMOUNT OF COMICS
Written & Drawn by Don Simpson
Published by Fantagraphics Books
In Shops: Aug 09, 2023
SRP: $20.00
The most famous never-completed masterpiece in comics history- Image Comics’ 1963 by Alan Moore, Steve Bissette, and Rick Veitch-is finally given the irreverent, and completely unauthorized 72-page climax no-one ever asked for! Written and drawn in an authentic Old School manner, X-Amount is just enough to satisfy! A comic for the ages that may finish off the Silver Age once and for all! For sophisticated readers.
1. A New Deal With The Devil
Speaking of long publishing histories, Devil by the Deed is a chapter all on its own. Not necessarily in terms of controversy, but certainly in terms of different editions and presentations. I can count at least 5 different iterations of this illustrated prose take on the Hunter Rose Grendel story:
Backups in the first Mage series
Oversized GN reprint.
Comic-szzied reprint.
Comic-sized reprint recolored in the black/white/red scheme Wagner now uses for the Hunter Rose era.
Now this Master’s Edition.
They’re each fasinating in their own way and how much of a snapshot of Wagner’s artistic progress at that time. But this new version mentions adding pages (a LOT of pages), which will be the first time new material has been inserted into the narrative. Plus, having Brennan included means it’s going to look even better than before!
GRENDEL DEVIL BY DEED MASTERS ED HC
Written & Drawn by Matt Wagner
Colors by Brennan Wagner
Published by Dark Horse Comics
In Shops: Nov 01, 2023
SRP: $29.99
Matt Wagner returns to the seminal “Devil by the Deed” Hunter Rose story that started the epic, centuries-spanning Grendel saga. In this all-new reimagining of “Devil by the Deed,” Wagner brings his decades of experience and artistry back to the famous narrative that first began his lengthy and illustrious career as a comic-book author. The original tale of the dashing and diabolical Hunter Rose was deceptively brief, considering its cultural impact. Over the years, Wagner has expanded on the story of Hunter Rose and now he weaves the most dramatic of those elements into a brand-new graphic novel. Grendel: Devil by the Deed-Master’s Edition is Matt Wagner at the height of his artistic and story-telling prowess, featuring 120 all-new story pages that will dazzle first time and longtime readers alike.
Be sure to let us know what books YOU’RE excited for in the Comments section!
