Soliciting Multiversity: Image’s Top 10 for January 2022

New year, new comics! Yes, as hard as it may seem to imagine, 2021 is nearly over and the welcoming aura of 2022 is just beyond the horizon. While everybody likes to make a bunch of new year’s resolutions, the only thing on my agenda is reading a hearty helping of hits from Image Comics. The publisher looks to be starting the year off on the right foot with some returning hits and new titles, as well as the final chapters of some beloved fan-favorites. So, with an honorable mention to “Deep Beyond,” “A Righteous Thirst for Vengeance,” and “Time Before Time,” let’s see what’s coming out in the not-so-distant future of January 2022 from Image Comics.

10. Mother, May I?

Wyatt Kennedy and Luana Vecchio present “Bolero,” a new five-issue mini-series that follows a woman who discovers a mother-key into parallel universes. Unfortunately, this incredible ability has its limits and mother will only let you visit 53 universes, and she isn’t willing to negotiate for more. I don’t know much about these creators or the series but the art is incredibly inviting and has a mysterious allure that makes me want answers, even if I don’t know what my questions are. I’m always in favor of taking a risk on a new series and this looks like it could be one of the first breakouts of 2022.

BOLERO #1 (OF 5)
WRITER: Wyatt Kennedy
ARTIST / COVER A: Luana Vecchio
COVER B: Jim Mahfood
COVER C: Maria Llovet
JANUARY 12 / 56 pages / FC/ M / $3.99
A new series from two bright-eyed and bushy-tailed little scamps!
A woman running away from a broken heart discovers a mother-key into parallel universes. The rules are: The key can work on any door. The mother will only let you visit 53 universes. Do not ask to speak to the mother. Never hop more than 53 times.

9. Go Bananas

Somehow we live in a world where anthology comics have once-again become commonplace. I’m all for it, as it means that my eyeballs get to enjoy the wild world of “Monkey Meat.” Written and drawn by Juni Ba, the series follows the Monkey Meat Company, who produce cans of processed meat and sell them around the world. Ba’s art is remarkable and I’m excited to see what this story holds. Also, I love monkeys.

MONKEY MEAT #1 (OF 5)
WRITER / ARTIST / COVER A: Juni Ba
JANUARY 05 / 32 pages / FC/ T+ / $3.99
DJELIYA creator JUNI BA introduces a new fantasy universe in this ANTHOLOGY SERIES! The Monkey Meat Company made its fortune selling cans of processed meat all around the world. Using that money to fuel their wacky experiments, they turned their native island into a magical hyper-capitalist hellscape where even demons have to pay rent! Follow the lives of the creatures of Monkey Meat Island in this fun, action-packed romp. Each issue is its own story!
“With this follow-up to DJELIYA, JUNI BA delivers a smart, funny, and drop-dead gorgeous satire of capitalism, climate annihilation, and perpetual content culture, proving once again that he is one of the most exciting cartoonists working today.” —SEBASTIAN GIRNER (SCALES AND SCOUNDRELS)
“A showcase of pure imagination and storytelling prowess. MONKEY MEAT is a dream of what comics should be, but it’s here in your hand right now.” —HASSAN OTSMANE-ELHAOU (PanelxPanel Magazine)

8. Psych Out

Since 2020, “The Department of Truth” has been one of the most engaging and exciting books offered by Image Comics. As the mysterious plot to destroy America begins to take hold, writer James Tynion IV is joined by artist Alison Sampson for a psychedelic issue centered around hallucinogens. The solicit advertises “the hidden power of the human mind” and I can’t wait to see what they come up with. “The Department of Truth” has yet to let me down.

THE DEPARTMENT OF TRUTH #16
WRITER: James Tynion IV
ARTIST / COVER B: Alison Sampson
COVER A: Martin Simmonds
JANUARY 26 / 32 pages / FC/ M / $3.99
Turn on, tune in, and drop out as ALISON SAMPSON (HIT-GIRL IN INDIA) enlists with the Department of Truth for a mind-altering dive into designer hallucinogens, MKUltra, and Lee Harvey Oswald’s true motivations behind unlocking the hidden power of the human mind. The Eisner-nominated series continues its history-shattering guest arc here!

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7. Bloodbath

If I’m being honest, “The Silver Coin” makes me uncomfortable. Yes, I know its just a story, but the idea of a mystical metal that can destroy the lives of anybody who comes across it just makes me feel uneasy. Michael Walsh is joined by writer Matthew Rosenberg for “The Silver Coin” #8, which examines wealth inequality in the 1960s. Given how that particular subject has only gotten worse since then, I’m confident that this comic will be packed with blistering social commentary and some rich people getting viciously killed. Maybe that would finally make me sleep better.

THE SILVER COIN #8
WRITER: Matthew Rosenberg
ARTIST / COVER A: Michael Walsh
COVER B: Tyler Boss
JANUARY 05 / 32 pages / FC/ M / $3.99
When an executive at a 1960s stock brokerage acquires a collection of antiquities, the gap between the haves and the have-nots becomes painfully clear. The price of THE SILVER COIN keeps going up, even as the fortune of its owner plummets.
The next chapter in the hit horror anthology from JOSHUA WILLIAMSON, VITA AYALA, RAM V, MATTHEW ROSENBERG, and MICHAEL WALSH lands on shelves this month.

6. The Kids are Alright

“What’s The Furthest Place From Here?” takes place in a world where kids base their entire identities on what they think is cool, adults are the enemy, and everybody just wants a cup of hot chocolate. Oh – and the apocalypse already happened. Yes, the series has been a lot of fun and has offered up some great visuals from artist Tyler Boss, but the third issue seems to be where we start to get into the meat of things and see the gang make some headway in their quest to find Sid, facing off against some grown-ups along the way. At double the size of your standard comic without being double the cost, this book is some of the best bang for your buck that you’ll find.

WHAT’S THE FURTHEST PLACE FROM HERE? #3
WRITER: Matthew Rosenberg
ARTIST / COVER A: Tyler Boss
COVER B: Sweeney Boo
COVER C: Courtney Menard
COVER D: Michael Walsh
JANUARY 19 / 48 pages / FC/ T+ / $3.99
DOUBLE-SIZED THIRD ISSUE!
The gang finds a clue about Sid’s disappearance, but it’s not what they hoped for. And sometimes a cozy home, a cup of cocoa, and a slice of raccoon pie aren’t as kind as they seem. Time to fight some Grown-Ups!

5. War Torn

Not so long ago, writer Kurt Busiek announced that he would be bringing some of his previously published independent comics to Image. January sees the first fruits from that partnership, as Busiek returns to the world of “Arrowsmith” for “Arrowsmith: Behind Enemy Lines.” The series blends magic and war into one epic story, as the young airman Fletcher Arrowsmith fights on the frontlines of the Great War. Busiek will be joined by his old “Superman” running buddy Carlos Pacheco for the series, which just sounds like so much fun. And for anybody who missed out on the first “Arrowsmith” title, Image has you covered with a new hardcover printing of the original six-issues with remastered art by Pacheco.

ARROWSMITH: BEHIND ENEMY LINES #1 (OF 6)
WRITER: Kurt Busiek
ARTIST: Carlos Pacheco
COVER A: José Rafael Fonteriz, Carlos Pacheco, José Villarrubia
COVER B: Dave Johnson
COVER C / COVER G: J.G. Jones
COVER D: Howard Chaykin
COVER F: Gabriel Walta
JANUARY 19 / 32 pages / FC/ T / $3.99
The new KURT BUSIEK era at Image begins here, as he and superstar artist CARLOS PACHECO (Fantastic Four, Avengers Forever, Final Crisis, X-Men, Superman) bring you the much-anticipated return of ARROWSMITH! It’s World War I—but a war of wizards and dragons as much as bullets and barbed wire. Young airman Fletcher Arrowsmith plunges back into the heat of war—and finds himself behind enemy lines, facing a threat that could doom the Allied Powers. The first issue in a new ARROWSMITH-universe miniseries! And don’t miss the remastered hardcover of the original series in February!

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4. Crystal Clear

Last year, Zoe Thorogood emerged as one of the most exciting new artists in comics through her debut graphic novel “The Impending Blindness of Billie Scott.” Now, Thorogood joins acclaimed novelist Joe Hill and rising star David M. Booher for “Joe Hill’s Rain.” The series is an adaptation of Hill’s horror novella of the same name and follows a young couple who moves in together just as their world gets bombarded with shards of bright crystals that fall from the sky. It sounds like a recipe for success.

JOE HILL’S RAIN #1 (OF 5)
WRITER: Joe Hill, David M. Booher
ARTIST / COVER A / COVER F: Zoe Thorogood
COVER B: Elizabeth Beals
COVER D: Ashley Wood
COVER E: Renae Deliz
JANUARY 12 / 32 pages / FC/ T+ / $3.99
THE FIRST IN CHRIS RYALL & ASHLEY WOOD’S NEW SYZYGY PUBLISHING IMPRINT LINE OF TITLES AT IMAGE COMICS!
On a seemingly normal August day in Boulder, Colorado, the skies are clear, and Honeysuckle Speck couldn’t be happier. She’s finally moving in with her girlfriend Yolanda. But their world is literally torn apart when dark clouds roll in and release a downpour of nails—splinters of bright crystal that shred the skin of anyone not safely under cover. RAIN makes vivid this escalating apocalyptic event, as the deluge of nails spreads across the country and around the world, threatening everything young lovers Honeysuckle and Yolanda hold dear.
So begins a gripping 5-issue presentation of New York Times bestselling author JOE HILL’s acclaimed novella, adapted by rising stars DAVID M. BOOHER (Canto), ZOE THOROGOOD (The Impending Blindness of Billie Scott), and CHRIS O’HALLORAN (Ha-Ha).

3. Night Life

“Nocterra” has exceeded every expectation I ever had for it. Despite coming from two of the biggest names in comics, I had my doubts that this love-letter to the edgy era of early ‘90s Image Comics titles would have enough substance to keep me invested. I was very wrong. The series had an explosive first arc that built up an engaging world just for Snyder and Daniel to blow it all up. Now, “Nocterra” returns as Val and her rag-tag bunch of Ferrymen venture into the unknown in their search for light. With Blacktop Bill waiting in the shadows, I just know this is going to be another pulse-pounding chapter in the series.

NOCTERRA #7
WRITER: Scott Snyder, Tony S. Daniel
ARTIST: Tony S. Daniel, Marcelo Maiolo
COVER A / COVER D: Marcelo Maiolo, Tony S. Daniel
COVER B / COVER F: Jay Fabok, Brad Anderson
COVER C / COVER E: Dani, Brad Simpson
COVER G: Megan Hutchison
COVER H: Alitha E. Martinez
JANUARY 19 / 32 pages / FC/ M / $3.99
“PEDAL TO THE METAL,” Part One
Lights, camera, action! SCOTT SNYDER and TONY S. DANIEL’s rip-roaring hit series returns as Val, Emory, Bailey, and the Ferrymen continue their mission to bring back the light. But with all-new shade variants around every corner, darkness will reign like never before. Meanwhile, Blacktop Bill meets some old friends.

2. The Song Remains the Same

And thus ends the saga of “Oblivion Song.” When the series came out, I remember feeling a physical sense of excitement as the life story of Nathan Cole and his horrifying sins came to life. Since then, Robert Kirkman and Lorenzo De Felici have made it a must-read series with big chills, big thrills, and horrifying kills. With “Oblivion Song” #36, the world comes to terms with the war against the Kuthaal. Will anybody get a happy ending? There’s only one way to find out.

OBLIVION SONG BY KIRKMAN & DE FELICI #36
WRITER: Robert Kirkman
ARTIST: Annalisa Leoni, Lorenzo De Felici
COVER A: Lorenzo De Felici
JANUARY 26 / 40 pages / FC/ T+ / $5.99
It’s all been leading to this. The war with the Kuthaal has ended, but who is the victor? And how has this conflict changed the world…and Nathan Cole?

1. Finally

“Saga” is back. Do I really need to say more? That’s right, after years of wait, Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples return to their fan-favorite series, picking up with a new arc and a double-sized issue. The solicit cheekily pokes fun at the comic book trend of relaunches and variant covers, cutting through the noise with a confidence in the creator’s storytelling abilities and an enticing $2.99 price point. Mark your calendars, this is going to be big.

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SAGA #55
WRITER: Brian K. Vaughan
ARTIST / COVER A: Fiona Staples
JANUARY 26 / 48 pages / FC/ M / $2.99
At long last, Hazel and her star-crossed family are finally back and here to kick off a NEW STORY ARC! So, where the hell have they been? As thanks for fans’ endless patience, the SAGA team is proud to return with a double-length issue—44 pages of story for the regular $2.99 price point—without variant covers or gimmicky renumbering. Just more pulse-pounding adventure, heart-wrenching character drama, and gloriously graphic sex and violence, as SAGA begins the second half the series and the most epic chapter yet!
The SAGA series has sold over 6.8 million copies to date across all formats, has been translated into 20 languages, and has garnered multiple Eisner and Harvey Awards, plus a Hugo Award, British Fantasy Award, Goodreads Choice Award, Shuster Award, Inkwell Award, Ringo Award, and more. It has been featured in such mainstream media outlets as TIME, Entertainment Weekly, The Atlantic, NPR, and beyond, and has become a pop culture phenomenon.