Every single month, I look to Image Comics for a new reason to get excited about comics. The publisher consistently pushes the envelope to see what they can get away with, providing fresh stories that stand out from the monthly adventures of Captain Whatever. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love Captain Whatever, but there is a real air of creativity and passion that fuels many of the books from Image Comics. From the delightfully quirky comedy of Kyle Starks to the depraved violence of James Harren, there is something for almost every kind of comic book fan. So, with honorable mentions to “Department of Truth,” “The Good Asian,” and “Made in Korea,” here are my top picks from Image Comics in June 2021.
10. Black and Red
“Radiant Black” is not the next “Invincible.” When I first heard about the series, I went in expecting it to feel like a coming of age story where a young hero learned that he was special and could save the day. However, Radiant Black is so much more than that. Unlike “Invincible”, this series immediately shows you that our lead hero really isn’t that special. He’s lost in his mediocrity, overwhelmed by failure and an inability to strike out on his own. But as the first arc of the series comes to a close, he’ll have to step up or face the wrath of Radiant Red, his evil doppelganger. The parallels in our central characters make this a unique read and help me invest in the story. It also helps that every page of Marcelo Costa’s art has been such a breath of fresh air, filled with energy and darkness, a perfect blend that helps distinguish this series from other dark superheroes.
RADIANT BLACK #5
WRITER: KYLE HIGGINS
ARTIST: MARCELO COSTA
COVER A: DOALY
COVER B: DIEGO GRECO
COVER C (1:25): SERG ACUÑAJUN 16 / 32 PAGES / FC / T+ / $3.99
END OF STORY ARC
The first arc of RADIANT BLACK ends here! Radiant Red is still out there. He needs to be stopped before anyone else gets hurt. But after the events of last issue left Lockport—and the world—reeling, is Radiant Black up to the task? And will he be in this fight alone?
9. Doggy Day Care
“Stray Dogs” is a horror story told through the lens of an art style not unlike a classic Disney movie. Imagine if the dogs from 101 Dalmatians found themselves in the middle of The Silence of the Lambs. If that isn’t crazy enough, the fragmented storytelling of this series has made me doubt everything I see. What is real and what is not have become subjective and fluid, which makes for dangerous storytelling potential. Tony Fleecs and Trish Forstner are wrapping up their story here so if you’ve been along for the ride, you have to see how it ends, but I selfishly hope that they have more books together planned for the future.
STRAY DOGS #5 (of 5)
WRITER: TONY FLEECS
ARTIST: TRISH FORSTNER
COVER A: TRISH FORSTNER & TONY FLEECS
HORROR MOVIE VARIANT: TRISH FORSTNER & TONY FLEECSJUNE 16 / 32 PAGES / FC / T+ / $3.99
MINISERIES FINALE
Time’s up. No more sniffing around, no more barking, no more hiding. The dogs have to get out of this house. Now. But standing between them and freedom is their best friend…and their worst nightmare.
They say there’s no such thing as a bad dog, just bad owners.
Final issue.
8. Darkness Falls Across the Land
I’ll admit, I didn’t think I was going to be into “Noctera.” Now, that isn’t a slight against the creative team, because Scott Snyder and Tony S. Daniel are two of the biggest comic names of the century. But for some reason, I just didn’t care about this when it was announced. That changed as soon as I read the first issue of the series, as Snyder and Daniel brought their A game, creating a frightening world with real stakes and vivid characters. As the series marches on and Val faces off against the nightmarish horrors of a world trapped in perpetual darkness, I can’t help but feel a sense of comfort in the shadows. It’s like this was a book that I didn’t know I needed. I fully expect this to get even better as we learn more and more about the brutality of this story.
Continued belowNOCTERRA #4
WRITER: SCOTT SNYDER
ARTISTS / COVER A: TONY S. DANIEL & TOMEU MOREY
COVER B: JENNY FRISON
COVER C: TONY S. DANIELJUNE 2 / 32 PAGES / FC / M / $3.99
“FULL THROTTLE DARK,” Part Four
The road runs out as Val reaches the fabled location of her promised sanctuary. Will she find the haven she so desperately seeks, or will something far more terrifying be waiting for her?
7. What is Going On
Wait, hold up. Chip Zdarsky is writing an issue of “Crossover?!” That’s it, I’m sold. Listen, “Crossover” has quietly built itself up as an endearing love letter to comics that is willing to subvert many of the medium’s tropes, but doing a fill-in issue with Chip Zdarsky and artist Phil Hester is too much for my little heart to handle. And the beauty of this is that Image knows that the creative team will sell this issue because they didn’t even have to provide details on what happens beyond the cover. “Crossover” has definitely grown on me by providing plenty of twists throughout the story thus far, adding in characters from other Image titles and killing of some treasured comic book heroes. I’m looking forward to how this new issue plays out and how it impacts the greater narrative of the story.
CROSSOVER #7
WRITER / COVER: CHIP ZDARSKY
ARTISTS: PHIL HESTER, ANDE PARKS, DEE CUNNIFFE & JOHN J. HILLJUNE 30 / 32 PAGES / FC / T+ / $3.99
NEW STORY ARC
“Wait. No. Hold on, what is this? Why is CHIP writing my book? Sorry, I know this is unprofessional to do in public, but no one at Image is answering my emails. Someone please call me!! WHAT IS HAPPENING?!”
6. Around the World
If there is one thing that comics can always use more of, its pulp. Though the comic book industry of the modern era lives and dies by superheroic exploits, it draws its roots from action/adventure stories that explore the history of the Earth itself. “Compass” looks to honor those pulpy roots but modernize them for a modern era by following Shahidah El-Amin as she travels the planet in search for eternal life. The YA perspective looks like a great way to keep this story fun and inviting, and having Greg Rucka on board in a supervisor position ensures me that this will maintain his high standard. Though I’ve never read anything by Robert MacKenzie, Dave Walker, or Justin Greenwood, the pitch for this series sounds delightful, mixing in all the fun of Indiana Jones with the aesthetic of “Delilah Dirk.”
COMPASS #1 (of 5)
WRITERS: ROBERT MACKENZIE & DAVE WALKER
ARTIST / COVER: JUSTIN GREENWOODJUNE 16 / 32 PAGES / FC / T / $3.99
GREG RUCKA proudly presents a new direction in adventure with…COMPASS!
Shahidah El-Amin is many things: scholar, cartographer, astronomer, mathematician, scientist, explorer, adventurer, and—when need be—two-fisted fighter. Setting out from Baghdad’s legendary House of Wisdom during the Islamic Golden Age, Shahi’s quest brings her to 13th-century Britain…where the Welsh are whispered to possess the secret of eternal life. But Shahi’s not the only one after it…
Re-teaming from the pages of THE OLD GUARD: TALES THROUGH TIME, writers ROBERT MACKENZIE and DAVE WALKER (LAZARUS SOURCEBOOK) and artist JUSTIN GREENWOOD (Stumptown, THE FUSE, THE LAST SIEGE) take you on a breathless race. Follow the Compass to unlock the secrets of the ancient world!
5. He’s Alive
The Doors were really something else. In the span of roughly five years, the (in)famous rock band created a legacy that influenced decades of rock through their cool sound and the enticing vocals of Jim Morrison. Of course, that all ended with his infamous death, but “Jim Lives” explores the conspiracy theory in which he survived. Paolo Baron and Ernesto Carbonetti tackled a similar musical conspiracy in last year’s book “Paul Is Dead,” so they have established themselves as the premiere auteurs in this sub genre that they have carved out for themselves. A unique premise, a strong creative track record, and a classic band make this an easy pick up for me.
Continued belowJIM LIVES: THE MYSTERY OF THE LEAD SINGER OF THE DOORS AND THE 27 CLUB
WRITER: PAOLO BARON
ARTIST / COVER: ERNESTO CARBONETTIJUNE 16 / 136 PAGES / FC / T+ / $16.99
TRIM SIZE 6.5” x 9.5”
Amid the intense colors of a foreign land, JIM LIVES is the story of a man searching for his son—a correspondent for a popular American newspaper—who vanished into thin air after sending one last, enigmatic message: “Jim Morrison isn’t dead. He’s hiding out in Italy. I saw him with my own eyes.”
Come along with the creators of PAUL IS DEAD as they reveal the second chapter in their conspiracy trilogy: a new, fascinating vision of the most mysterious legend in the history of rock that envisions what happened “When the Music’s Over.”
4. Penance
There is something incredibly unsettling about “The Silver Coin.” The premise – about a silver coin that is being passed around while chaos and horror unfold around it – almost guarantees that everybody we see in this comic is going to meet a horrible fate. But beyond that, the imagery that Michael Walsh has draped this series in really makes me feel unwell. Writer Ed Brisson has the horror pedigree to terrify and delight in the course of a single issue story, and I know that this will be one comic that I have to read in broad daylight, for fear of what waits for me in the shadows.
THE SILVER COIN #3 (of 5)
WRITER: ED BRISSON
ARTIST / COVER A: MICHAEL WALSH
COVER B: ANAND RADHAKRISHNANJUNE 16 / 32 PAGES / FC / M / $3.99
The grisly third installment of horror anthology THE SILVER COIN by all-stars MICHAEL WALSH, CHIP ZDARSKY, KELLY THOMPSON, ED BRISSON, and JEFF LEMIRE. After a home invasion goes bad, the mysterious coin helps its new owners outrun the law. But it’s leading them down a path much darker.
3. Trigger Finger
Can we just have a round of applause for Kyle Starks? I swear, this man seems to be bursting with new ideas for fun stories and I’m a fan of every one of them. “The Six Sidekicks of Trigger Keaton” is bursting with personality, with a unique premise that immediately captivates me. Action star Trigger Keaton has been found dead and his former TV sidekicks have to unite to solve the murder because everybody else hated him so much that anybody could have done it. Starks’s prior books like “Assassination Nation” have shown us that he shines as a writer with an ensemble cast to play with, so I’m immediately excited for that. It also helps that Chris Schweizer’s art is uniquely charming and vibrant, which is sure to bring this book to life in a great way.
THE SIX SIDEKICKS OF TRIGGER KEATON #1
WRITER: KYLE STARKS
ARTIST / COVER A: CHRIS SCHWEIZER
COVER B: ERICA HENDERSONJUNE 9 / 32 PAGES / FC / M / $3.99
“KYLE STARKS is a treasure. With THE SIX SIDEKICKS OF TRIGGER KEATON, he proves that he’s not only effortlessly funny, but can also craft rich, distinct characters that you can’t help but root for, even at their worst. And CHRIS SCHWEIZER is an astounding artist, mastering both perfect expressions and wild action scenes on jam-packed, eye-popping pages. I highly recommend this book!”—CHIP ZDARSKY (Daredevil)
For fans of CHEW and ASSASSIN NATION comes a new action-mystery series from Eisner Award nominees CHRIS SCHWEIZER (Crogan Adventures) and KYLE STARKS (SEXCASTLE).
The world’s most unlikable action star has been found dead, and his previous TV sidekicks are looking to solve the mystery. But how can you catch a murderer when almost everyone hated the victim? Now these sidekicks are going to learn what it means to be the stars of the show…that is, if any of them survive the STUNTMAN WAR!
2. Masked Monster
So uh… how about that first issue of “Ultramega?” If you haven’t checked it out, you missed one of the most violent and brutal tokusatsu stories ever brought to life. Writer/artist James Harren said in his letter column for the first issue that he has very little familiarity with the genre, but he finds it very compelling. As such, it’s clear that he is willing to break every rule that fans hold dear. I absolutely loved it and felt like this was one of the freshest comics I’ve read in years. It also helps that Harren has no issues playing with the length for his stories, as this over-sized issue promises 44 pages of action. I cannot wait to see how this first arc concludes for “Ultramega” and I am genuinely curious to see how he will up the scale of the conflict from here.
Continued belowULTRAMEGA BY JAMES HARREN #4
WRITER: JAMES HARREN
ARTISTS: JAMES HARREN & DAVE STEWART
COVER A: JAMES HARREN
COVER B: PAUL POPE & MIKE SPICERJUNE 16 / 52 PAGES / FC / M / $7.99
END OF STORY ARC
Finally, a new Ultramega is anointed! But with great power comes incredible horror and violence. It’s Ultramega vs Kaiju King for the future of humanity!
This issue of visionary creator JAMES HARREN’s ULTRAMEGA contains 44 pages of story.
1. Hell and Back Again
In an era where every popular IP is looking into franchise potential, there are few with as much to offer as “Spawn.” The series began as a pop culture phenomenon, launched an action figure empire, and served as the inspiration for a cult classic movie. Now, some 29 years later, “Spawn” has risen up once more to become one of the most popular books from Image Comics. “Spawn’s Universe” seems like a great jumping on point for fans like me, who are familiar with the property but don’t generally read the monthly title. Plus, it offers up interior art from J. Scott Campbell, which seems to only happen once a decade. Considering how many future titles depend on the success of this one book, this is arguably the most important comic that Image will put out all year.
SPAWN’S UNIVERSE: #1
WRITER: TODD McFARLANE
ARTISTS: JIM CHEUNG, TODD McFARLANE, STEPHEN SEGOVIA & MARCIO TAKARA
COVER A: J. SCOTT CAMPBELL
COVER B: J. SCOTT CAMPBELL
COVER C: J. SCOTT CAMPBELL
COVER D: J. SCOTT CAMPBELLJUNE 30 / 56 PAGES / FC / T+ / $5.99
IT’S HERE: THE OFFICIAL INTRODUCTION TO THE LONG-AWAITED SPAWN’S UNIVERSE!
A double-sized issue that begins a storyline so huge that three NEW SPAWN-related monthly titles will spill out from it, including…
A new SPAWN title.
GUNSLINGER SPAWN monthly.
And a new TEAM book bringing a handful of these characters together in their own book.With this one-shot…the world of SPAWN changes forever! New heroes. New villains, and more importantly, new titles coming to a comic shop near you. Join this list of artists as we unveil a historic moment in the mythology of SPAWN’S UNIVERSE:
JIM CHEUNG
TODD McFARLANE
STEPHEN SEGOVIA
MARCIO TAKARA
