Solicitations hit last week so you know what time it is! As usual, we kick things off with the best that Dark Horse has to offer us. In June, Dark Horse launches a few new miniseries, puts out a big manga reprint and we reach the ending for one of the best series in comics right now. Let’s jump into this.
10. Not That Giant Man
I have really enjoyed Matt Kindt’s creator owned work at Dark Horse and this is something I’ve never read before. Honestly I didn’t even know it existed until this week. I really like the premise here and I think this will be something I’ll check out this summer.
3 Story: The Secret History of the Giant Man TP (Expanded Edition)(advance solicit)
Matt Kindt (W/A/Cover)
On sale Aug 1
FC, 208 pages
$19.99
TP, 5 3/4″ x 8 1/4″
From New York Times bestselling and Harvey award-winning Mind MGMT graphic novelist Matt Kindt comes a decades-spanning tale of love, secrets, aging, espionage, and family.
Told during three eras by three different women with unique relationships with nearly three story tall Craig, 3 Story follows his sad life from his birth to the present.
Collects 3 Story: The Secret History of the Giant Man, the 3 Story: Secret Files of the Giant Man one shot, concept art, and more bonus material!
“Matt Kindt is the man. Superb series.”—Junot Díaz
9. When Death Isn’t The End
“Gantz” is a story I actually have experience with and I freaking love it. I’ve never read the manga though but thanks to this value priced omnibus, that will change.
Gantz Omnibus Volume 1 TP(advance solicit)
Hiroya Oku (W/A/Cover)
On sale Aug 8
FC, 656 pages
$24.99
TP, 5 1/8″ x 7 1/4″
Tokyo teens Kei and Masaru are killed by a subway train but awaken in a room with an ominous black orb that gives them weapons, suits . . . and orders. Fighting bizarre alien monstrosities in a deadly game, will they win their freedom or die for the final time?
Over 600 story pages, value priced.
Collecting Gantz vols, 1–3.
“Drawn with eye-popping realism . . . raising standard geek fare to a new level of sophistication.”—Entertainment Weekly
• Mature readers.
8. IT’S ALMOST HERE
The Incredibles is my favorite PIXAR movie. It honestly isn’t even close for me because it is everything I love about superheroes in one single movie. With Dark Horse releasing a comic book tie in, that means we’re getting closer and closer to the new movie FINALLY being out and I can’t wait.
Disney/PIXAR’s The Incredibles 2: Heroes at Home HC
Liz Marsham (W) and Nicoletta Baldari (A/Cover)
On sale June 13
FC, 48 pages
$7.99
HC, 5 1/2″ x 7”
While their mom and dad—Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl—are both taking on new and very different jobs, Dash and Violet are doing their best to help out! First, Dash and Violet become sudden and secret superheroes when they interrupt criminal activity on a routine grocery trip to pick up some essentials! Then, helping out at home, their efforts to keep up on their chores are unknowingly obstructed by the innocent mischief of their little brother, Jack-Jack!
• Set during the events of Disney/PIXAR’s The Incredibles 2!
• Created especially for younger readers, enjoyable for all!
7. Will This Go The Distance?
“Bedtime Games” sounds like it’s extremely my jam and I really hope that Dark Horse gives it a chance. Lately, Dark Horse has launched some series that never got the chance to finish out in single issues. “The Once and Future Queen” and “Bankshot” come to mind immediately. I get sales are sales but you’re a big publisher who can garner publicity so give these new titles a real chance and let them run the course. Sell me on these new possible worlds and franchises.
Continued belowBedtime Games #1 (of 4)
Nick Keller (W), Conor Nolan (A/Cover), and Kelly Fitzpatrick (C)
On sale June 27
FC, 32 pages
$3.99
Miniseries
As summer comes to an end, three friends start senior year with a bang by exploring the mysterious past of their school. But before the night is over, their adventure turns into trouble when the kids set loose an evil that seeks to prey on their worst nightmares.
Brand-new horror from Nick Keller (Death Head), Conor Nolan (Jim Henson’s The Storyteller: Giants), and Kelly Fitzpatrick (Shade the Changing Girl)
6. Stela To Print
For a little bit, Stela was a thing that people were really excited about and then they just weren’t anymore. It was an app that you’d pay for that gave you access to comics only available on the app by creators like Jen Bartel and Ibrahim Moustafa. And then…I don’t know what happened. Stela’s app still exists and they seem to be putting comics on there every now and then but I think the trend has passed and that’s a shame. “Crystal Fighters” is a series that ran on Stela and now you can buy it in print. Jen Bartel is one of the hottest creators in comics right now thanks to her distinct style. She’s a rising star who’s really starting to do more sequentials which is very exciting.
Crystal Fighters TP (advance solicit)
Jen Bartel (W/A/Cover) and Tyler Bartel (W)
On sale Aug 29
FC, 208 pages
$12.99
TP, 6″ x 9″
Stella’s a bored teen who’s part of the first generation to grow up immersed in a world of virtual reality games, in which she discovers a secret magical girl fight club. Now that she’s gotten her wish of finding something exciting in her life, she also discovers a dark side to magical girls, and finds herself having to prove her worth in a series of tournaments where, if she loses, she can never come back.
• Jen is currently working on Marvel’s Storm with writer Ta-Nehisi Coates.
• Originally serialized on the digital platform Stela.
“ An extremely fun series.”—AV CLUB
5. The First Arc Ends
Dark Horse’s “Korra” comics have been a really big hit with fans of the animated series and with good reason. The writing has been wonderful but for me, Irene Koh’s art has sold me the most on it. “Turf Wars” comes to an end with this third paperback and I’m excited to see what gets announced next.
The Legend of Korra: Turf Wars Part 3 TP (advance solicit)
Michael Dante DiMartino (W), Irene Koh (A), Vivian Ng (C), and Heather Campbell (Cover)
On sale Aug 1
FC, 80 pages
$10.99
TP, 6” x 9”
When Asami is kidnapped, Korra sets out to the Spirit Wilds to find her. Now teeming with dark spirits influenced by the half spirit-half human Tokuga, the landscape is more dangerous than ever before. The two women must trust in each other and work together if they are to make it out alive. Their fate is revealed in this stunning, action-packed conclusion to The Legend of Korra: Turf Wars!
4. A Sleeper Favorite
I really enjoyed “Giants.” It had a great emotional core and fantastic art that felt much bigger than the pages allowed. This got the chance to run its course and I’m really glad it did because I fell in love with it. If you like giant monster stories, this is for you.
Giants TP (advance solicit)
Carlos Valderrama (W) and Miguel Valderrama (A/Cover)
On sale Aug 1
FC, 120 pages
$17.99
TP, 7″ x 10″
Greed and ambition collide with survival and the love of family in a post-apocalyptic world ruled by giant monsters whose only goal is destruction!
In their first work for American comics, the Valderrama Bros. have layered a modern day kaiju story with a personal tale of a friendship gone wrong, and how the decisions we make can change our world . . . and seal our fates!
“Wildly fun and entertaining.” —Multiversity Comics
3. The Final Season?
With everything getting rebooted it almost feels like it’s just a matter of time before this show comes up. The “Buffy” comics have had a long run and each season has run a pretty significant amount of time. This time around, the season is being presented as a four issue miniseries that promises a culmination of everything. Oh and Joss Whedon is back again. This all feels very final.
Continued belowBuffy the Vampire Slayer Season 12: The Reckoning #1 (of 4)
Christos Gage (W), Joss Whedon (W), Georges Jeanty (P/Variant cover), Karl Story (I), Dan Jackson (C), Stephanie Hans (Cover), and Karl Moline (Ultra variant cover)
On sale June 20
FC, 32 pages
$3.99
Miniseries
It’s one year later, and the lives of Buffy and the Scoobies haven’t been too eventful for a while—at least as far as fighting demons and the forces of darkness are concerned. But that’s all about to change when Dawn and Xander’s housewarming party is interrupted by some familiar faces bringing news of familiar foes from the future. Can you say Harth . . . and Fray?
• The return of Fray!
• The Reckoning will be the culmination of all the Buffy seasons!
2. An Unexpected Dream Team?
Rafer Roberts has written some of the best Valiant stuff over the last couple of years. Kristen Gudsnuk’s “Henchgirl” is one of the most fun comics in the last couple of years. Together, they’re making “Modern Fantasy,” a new fantasy genre miniseries that’s honestly sounds amazing. I think this could be a big sleeper hit this year.
Modern Fantasy #1 (of 4)
Rafer Roberts (W) and Kristen Gudsnuk (A/Cover)
On sale June 27
FC, 32 pages
$3.99
Miniseries
A young Ranger woman who came to the city with dreams of adventure, her drug dealing reptilian wizard roommate, and her boisterous Dwarf maiden BFF embark on a modern day quest to save the world while struggling to keep their crappy day jobs and pay off their student loans. The roommates become embroiled in danger when one of their significant others finds himself taken by criminals, and the trio must save him.
• From the creator of Henchgirl!
• Rafer Roberts (A&A: The Adventures of Archer and Armstrong) makes his Dark Horse debut!
1. End Of The Road
“Harrow County” is a gold standard for horror comics. This is what anyone wanting to do horror in comic books should strive for. It’s a beautiful and horrific comic with such an incredible lead character and in June, it all comes to an end. It’s sort of amazing to see a series go 32 issues with no real interruptions or reboots and I’m so glad this series got to tell the entire story it wanted. I can’t wait to see what Tyler Crook works on next because he’s such a rare artistic talent in this medium.
Harrow County #32
Cullen Bunn (W) and Tyler Crook (A/Cover)
On sale June 27
FC, 32 pages
$3.99
Ongoing
This is it! The final issue of Harrow County! Emmy, with the help of Bernice and the Abandoned, takes on Hester Beck in a war of magic as the hit series comes to a final conclusion.
Did I miss anything? Let me know in the comments below and read the full solicitations over at Newsarama.
