Hello and welcome to Multiversity’s look at the “Best of the Rest” of what’s coming to your LCS for the months of May 2024 (and probably beyond). Having already taken a look at what Marvel, DC, Image, and the Manga 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. Bowie In The Mighty Marvel Manner!
I gotta say – was not expecting this to pop up in the Previews search this time. From back in the day when there was a good chance a kid’s first encounter with a movie was the Marvel Comics adaptation comes this gem from Jacobson & Buscema. The elder Buscema was always more comfortable with fantasy than spandex, so I’m curious to see how he does with non-superhero AND non-Conan fare…
LABYRINTH ARCHIVE EDITION #1 (OF 3)
Written by Sid Jacobson
Illustrated by John Buscema & Romeo Tanghal
Published by BOOM! Studios
In Shops: April 10, 2024
SRP: $4.99The Original Labyrinth Comic Adaptation Represented In A Brand New Premium Edition!
It’s a nightmare come true for one teenage girl when goblins tear her baby brother from her grasp! Journey back to the iconic fantasy realm of the 1986 classic in this brand new edition of the original Marvel Comics adaptation.Adapted by Sid Jacobson with enchanting artwork by John Buscema, this archive-worthy edition is a can’t-miss collectible for fans of the seminal film, available for the first time in over 35 years.
This facsimile release features the original cover by John Buscema, as well as an all-new variant cover by Miguel Mercado!
9. Apocrypha Now!
Tim Lane gives me mid-century America the way I want it – weird as f**k. From his previous series Happy Hour in America to this new venture, his work looks like a mash-up of Charles Burns and Chris Weston, marinated in EC Comics.
FANTAGRAPHICS UNDERGROUND – MYTHOLOGIES & APOCRYPHA #1
Written by Tim Lane
Illustrated by Tim Lane
Published by Fantagraphics Books
In Shops: Apr 24, 2024
SRP: $5.99Acclaimed cartoonist Tim Lane debuts a new, ongoing series exploring the good, the bad, and the ugly of 20th century masculinity through a head spinning blend of fact and fiction featuring Elvis, Frank Sinatra, Walter Cronkite, and others – culminating in a quick-draw shootout on Mars between Steve McQueen, Johnny Cash, and Sammy Davis Jr. This all-new series showcases Lane’s meticulous and jaw-dropping artistry – a level of detail echoing illustrative legends like Frank Frazetta, Alex Raymond, and Dave Stevens.
8. The Dark Gun Returns!
There are few comics properties with an artistic pedigree like Torpedo. All written by Abuli, the 1930’s hitman series started with ALEX TOTH then quickly switched over to JORDI BERNET. Now the setting has shifted to the early 70’s and the ‘retirement’ stories of one Luca Torelli are being drawn by EDUARDO RISSO. I cannot wait for this!
TORPEDO 1972 #1
Written by Enrique Sanchez Abuli
Illustrated by Eduardo Risso
Published by Ablaze Publishing
In Shops: March 6, 2024
SRP: $3.99FROM THE CO-CREATOR and ARTIST of EISNER WINNING SERIES 100 BULLETS comes a reimagining of the crime noir Torpedo!
In the 1930s, Lucas Torelli, known as “Torpedo”, was a legend of the suburbs of New York. A tough, trigger-happy Sicilian who only knew how to make friends – anyone else is no longer here to say otherwise. Nearly forty years later, the Big Apple has changed quite a bit. Torpedo, not so much. As a persistent journalist prepares to write an article about the Caputo family, the demons of Torpedo’s past resurface, along with his dirty old habits . . .
7. Choose Your Own (Middle-School) Adventure!
From the streets of crime to the halls of elementary school – a little something for everyone this month!
I just found out about this book as I was Previews flipping. I originally thought NEWSROOM NONSENSE was another entry in First Second’s ‘World Citizen’ imprint, and really, who could blame me? But when I saw it was really a choose-your-own-adventure girl reporter story, I was instantly charmed! And given how good First Second’s books tend to be, I feel pretty confident recommending it sight unsees.
Continued belowWHAT HAPPENS NEXT V3 – NEWSROOM NONSENSE TPB
Written & Illustrated by Jess Smart Smiley
Published by First Second Books
In Shops: April 10, 2024
SRP: $14.99In the third and final volume of the What Happens Next? series, you decide whether Megan Hathaway saves school journalism or has her dreams crushed by the banal evils of bureaucracy!
Megan Hathaway was supposed to be helping put together a newspaper for her English class, but everything is going wrong! Weird Randall keeps trying to mail potatoes, evil vice-principal Mr. Fisher has imprisoned the class’s best artist, and, oh geez, Olivia just yarked in a trombone! Can you help Megan save school journalism? Or will you let the secret history of Sunbright Middle School remain hidden forever? With more than twenty-five different endings, Newsroom Nonsense is a misadventure you’ll be coming back to over and over.
6. Another Hopping-On Point!
(Hey, it’s not easy coming up with pithy taglines every time…)
Usagi Yojimbo is one of the most new-reader-friendly titles around; an especially impressive feat given the book’s 40-year history. So do you NEED to have a dedicated introduction book like this to hook new readers? I’d venture to say you don’t. But am I going to turn one down if Dark Horse decides to put one together, in full-color and curated by Stan himself? Of course not!
USAGI YOJIMBO 40TH ANNIVERSARY READER TPB
Written by Stan Sakai
Illustrated by Stan Sakai
Published by Dark Horse Comics
In Shops: June 18, 2024
SRP: $14.99A collection of fan-favorite short stories from the world of Usagi Yojimbo – a perfect introduction and celebration of the rabbit hero!
Celebrating Usagi Yojimbo’s 40th anniversary, this value-priced collection includes eight fan-favorite and Stan Sakai-picked short stories in color starring the beloved rabbit ronin! Perfect for longtime fans and newcomers to the series, the Usagi Yojimbo: 40th Anniversary Reader collection includes the popular short story “Chanoyu” in color for the first time!
Featuring Stan Sakai’s award-winning art and storytelling and expert hand lettering, with colors by Emi Fujii, Tom Luth, and Ronda Pattison.
Collects “A Mother’s Love,” “Blade of the Gods,” “The Way of the Samurai,” “Chanoyu,” “Cut the Plum,” “The Artist,” “Buntori,” and “Adachi”.
5. Enlist In This Thrill-Powered Tour of Duty Today!
Get caught up on your Rogue Trooper in time for Duncan Jones’ animated adaptation! See a handful of comics legends doing work that helped put them on the map!
ESSENTIAL ROGUE TROOPER V1: GENETIC INFANTRYMAN TP
Written by Gerry Finley-Day
Illustrated by Dave Gibbons, Colin Wilson, Cam Kennedy, Brett Ewins
Published by Rebellion/2000AD
In Shops: March 27, 2024
SRP: $28.99The first of a new series in the Essential line featuring 2000 AD’s legendary war machine, Rogue Trooper!
Rogue Trooper is the last of the G.I.s – genetically-engineered infantrymen designed to withstand the noxious atmosphere of Nu-Earth, a planet ravaged by the conflict between Norts and Southers. The lone survivor of the Quartz Zone Massacre, equipped with the bio-chips of his fallen clone brothers, he crosses the war-torn landscape in search of the Traitor General, the man responsible for their deaths – and he will not rest until he has his revenge!
The first volume in the Essential series features stories by creators Gerry Finley-Day and Dave Gibbons (Watchmen), with art by Colin Wilson (Judge Dredd), Cam Kennedy (Star Wars: Dark Empire), and Brett Ewins (Bad Company, Skreemer).
4. Back In Print After 20 Years!
It’s about time Titan got around to reprinting this! 200 pages of seasoned Simonson adapting an original script by Michael Moorcock about his signature creation Elric. I’m thrilled to get this back into circulation.
Continued belowMICHAEL MOORCOCK LIBRARY: ELRIC – THE MAKING OF A SORCERER HC
Written by Michael Moorcock
Illustrated by Walter Simonson
Published by Titan Comics
In Shops: July 17, 2024
SRP: #29.99FROM ICONIC SCI-FI/FANTASY WRITER MICHAEL MOORCOCK!
FEATURING THE UNTOLD ORIGIN STORY OF ELRIC!
Witness the birth of a legend as the untold origin story of Elric and his epic ascension to the throne of Melniboné is finally revealed!
This stunning epic saga reveals the untold origin story of the classic sword-and-sorcery character Elric and takes place immediately before the opening of the novel Elric of Melniboné.
3. One Hell Of A Collection!
I keep forgetting how much Hellboy Corben actually drew. This book is listed at 312 pages; even if there’s a 40-50 page sketchbook section (which there may in fact be, because Dark Horse loves putting those into their Hellboy collection), that still leaves 250+ story pages of Corben Hellboy. And Corben Hellboy may be the best Hellboy…
HELLBOY ARTISTS COLLECTION: RICHARD CORBEN HC
Written by Mike Mignola
Illustrated by Richard Corben (duh)
Published by Dark Horse Comics
In Shops: May 7, 2024
SRP: $49.99Own the complete collection of horror master Richard Corben’s Hellboy comics in this deluxe edition. Revisit some classic Hellboy stories including The Crooked Man, Makoma, House of the Living Dead, and more! Man, Makoma, House of the Living Dead, and more!
Oversize 8″ X 12″ format includes a cloth spine and foil cover treatment.
Collects: Hellboy: Being Human one-shot, Hellboy in Mexico one-shot, Hellboy: House of the Living Dead OGN, Hellboy: The Bride of Hell one-shot, Hellboy: Makoma #1-#2, Hellboy: Double Feature of Evil one-shot, Hellboy: The Mirror short story, and Hellboy: The Crooked Man #1-#3.
2. Another Trip Back To The Seventies!
If Torpedo 1972 is black&white rain-soaked New York, then this is its photo-negative: sun-drenched earthy-toned and slightly faded Los Angeles. But as we know all too well, bad things can happen just as easily in broad daylight as the dead of night. I missed Chaffee’s To Have & To Hold but I absolutely loved his Good Dog prior to that, so I’m on board for anything he wants to do.
LIGHT IT SHOOT IT TP
Written by Graham Chaffee
Illustrated by Graham Chaffee
Published by Fantagraphics Books
In Shops: April 3, 2024
SRP: $24.99Graham Chaffee’s first graphic novel in seven years, Light It, Shoot It! is a classic tale of noir below the spotlight.
Fresh out of prison for an arson conviction, clueless 20-year-old Billy Bonney finds himself drifting through the seedy and unsavory world of cut-rate moviemaking, even more out of place amongst his peers than he felt as a teen six years earlier when he got busted. Following his brother to the sets of grade B and exploitation 1970s Hollywood seems like a path of least resistance, until he accidentally lands a job as a handler to a has-been actor. But the bright lights burn harsher and show more than he anticipated as he steps lucklessly into a gangster-driven plot to burn down a studio for the insurance money and finds himself in over his head.
Drunken, washed-up stars. Scrambling, past-their-own-prime producers. Teenage girls on the make, slick hustlers, and violent fixers. Drawn in bold brushstrokes, and hand-painted in subtle washes, Chaffee brings vintage LA to the page in a propulsive adventure.
1. You Got A Little Something In Your Eye. . .
I’m pretty big on Pow Pow books in general, and you’ll be seeing them (no pun intended) more in the coming months. But I’ve already had a chance to see this one (again, no pun intended) and it looks (same) amazing!
THE JELLYFISH OGN
Written and Drawn by Boum
Published by Pow Pow Press
In Shops: May 7, 2024
SRP: $22.95Odette is a hip, young twenty-something with her own place, a steady job at a local bookstore, an adorable pet rabbit, and a burgeoning crush on a cute girl in the neighborhood. But Odette is haunted by something only she can see… A jellyfish. A jellyfish that floats in her eye, blocking her vision. It’s a seemingly minor annoyance… Until one day there are TWO jellyfish.
Showcasing stunning and inventive artwork by Boum (“Boumeries”), THE JELLYFISH is a tour-de-force of graphic storytelling, a powerful, occasionally terrifying story of facing the thing that we fear the most, and finding a light to guide us through the darkness.
“Not only is THE JELLYFISH one of the most beautiful graphic novels I’ve ever read, it goes straight for the heart and doesn’t let up. Boum is a master of her craft. Napoleon the bunny for President.” —Kate Leth, Mall Goth, Patsy Walker A.K.A. Hellcat!
