Between the change in seasons, the start of the school year, and early preparation for the holidays, September always brings an air of change with it. That statement rings especially true for Image Comics this year, as the publisher looks to produce some bold and imaginative new titles from some of the hottest rising stars in comics. These titles range from the horrific to the hilarious and show that Image Comics is always ready to support emerging voices in comics. So, with some honorable mentions towards “Beauty,” “Echolands,” and “Compass,” let’s take a look at some of the most exciting titles being published by Image Comics in September 2021.
10. Last Laugh
How does that old song go – “Everybody loves a clown, so why don’t you?” See, the thing about clowns is that for every person who finds them hilarious, somebody else finds them terrifying. This central conflict lies at the heart of “HAHA” by W. Maxwell Prince. The eclectic anthology series sees Prince and a host of the best artists in comics spotlighting the unique lives of clowns and the complicated struggles that they endure. The series is sometimes funny, sometimes terrifying, and always unnerving. The book has been met with a bombardment of critical acclaim and now will be available in one concise package, perfect to hand off to people with coulrophobia (fear of clowns). I can’t wait to ingest it all in one sitting.
HAHA TP
WRITER: W. Maxwell Prince
ARTIST: Gabriel Walta, Zoe Thorogood, Patrick Horvath, Martín Morazzo, Vanesa R. Del Rey
COVER A: Vanesa R. Del ReySEPTEMBER 22 / 176 pages / FC/ M / $16.99
ICE CREAM MAN writer W. MAXWELL PRINCE brings his signature style of one-shot storytelling to the world of clowns—and he’s invited SOME OF THE BEST ARTISTS IN COMICS to join him for the ride.
HAHA is a genre-jumping, throat-lumping look at the sad, scary, hilarious life of those who get paid to play the fool—but these ain’t your typical jokers.
With chapters drawn by VANESA DEL REY (REDLANDS), GABRIEL WALTA (Vision), ROGER LANGRIDGE (Thor), and more, HAHA peeks under the big top, over the rainbow, and even inside a balloon to tell a wide-ranging slew of stories about “funny” men and women, proving that some things are so sad you just have to laugh.
Collects HAHA #1-6
9. Dog Day Afternoon
“Stray Dogs” caught me by surprise when it debuted earlier this year. The series – which uses cute dogs to tell a story about kidnapping, murder, and the quest for freedom – was a breath of fresh air. By leaning into a visual style reminiscent of classic Disney films, the story becomes all the more horrifying and surreal. Throw in a smattering of memory loss and some twisted violence and you have a recipe for a book that exceeded my every expectation. It’s clear that Image has faith in the project too, since they recently announced a new “Stray Dogs” short story as part of their Free Comic Book Day line-up. I expect to see more projects from Tony Fleecs, Trish Forstner, and Brad Simpson very soon.
STRAY DOGS TP
WRITER: Tony Fleecs
ARTIST: Trish Forstner, Brad Simpson
COVER A: Trish Forstner, Tony FleecsSEPTEMBER 15 / 144 pages / FC/ / $16.99
It’s scary being the new dog.
In this suspenseful new series, readers meet Sophie, a dog who can’t remember what happened. She doesn’t know how she ended up in this house. She doesn’t recognize any of these other dogs. She knows something terrible happened, but she just…can’t…recall…Wait! Where’s her lady? Now Sophie has to figure out where she is, what’s happening, and how she’s going to survive this.
They say there’s no such thing as a bad dog—just bad owners.
STRAY DOGS is a heartbreakingly adorable suspense thriller by My Little Pony comic artists TONY FLEECS and TRISH FORSTNER. It’s Lady and the Tramp meets Silence of the Lambs.
Collects STRAY DOGS #1-5
8. Fire Starter
Chris Samnee can do no wrong. The artist, who is perhaps best-known for his groundbreaking work on “Daredevil” as well as “Captain America” and “Black Widow” has been the guiding force before “Fire Power” with writer Robert Kirkman. The series takes many classic action tropes and reinvents them, breathing fresh life into the martial arts genre along the way. But after defeating his old martial arts clan and reclaiming the order in the name of his sensei, what is left for Owen to do? Well, it seems like Owen is going to fight snake people. Yes, you read that right. It’s a fire-wielding martial artist fighting against an army of snake people, all drawn through the lens of Chris Samnee. Thank me later.
Continued belowFIRE POWER BY KIRKMAN & SAMNEE #15
WRITER: Robert Kirkman
ARTIST: Chris Samnee, Matthew Roberts
COVER A: Matthew Wilson, Chris SamneeSEPTEMBER 01 / 28 pages / FC/ T / $3.99
The Serpent’s Omen takes hold! Owen has no choice but to fight back! Will the Fire Power be enough?
7. Home Made
What makes us human? Well, if you ask Jeremy Holt and George Schall, that answer is pretty complicated. The pair have been examining the concept of personal identity through “Made in Korea,” a mini-series that features an adopted robot child trying to adjust to life with people. Jesse, the robot in question, has thus far been painted as a curious child who wants to find acceptance in the arms of others by repressing what makes her special. In the real world though, everything about Jesse’s story stands out as some of the boldest and most authentic storytelling in comics right now. While normally I try not to read too far into a cover, it seems like Jesse will be exploring her gender identity as the series presses onward, which is something I don’t think I’ve seen handled in serialized comics before. I am thoroughly enjoying reading this series and I am looking forward to watching Jesse’s story play out.
MADE IN KOREA #5 (OF 6)
WRITER: Jeremy Holt
ARTIST / COVER A: George SchallSEPTEMBER 22 / 32 pages / FC/ M / $3.99
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6. The Gods Must Be Crazy
Alright, so this is one of those awkward times where I can’t tell you why I’m so excited for “Ordinary Gods.” Yes, unfortunately, I can’t tell you about the twist ending to the first issue that completely changed my expectations for this series. I can’t tell you about the missing piece of information that Image has kept out of all of their solicits for the series, the crucial piece of information that makes this series stand out from other “godly” titles. So, in lieu of that, I will tell you that Kyle Higgins has been delivering some of the best work of his career over the past couple of years. He has worked on tremendous books like “Radiant Black” and “Winter Soldier: Second Chances,” which show off his knack for action-packed books that never lose sight of their main characters. Plus, “Ordinary Gods” has Felipe Watanabe’s imaginative character designs and strong narrative skills. Just trust me on this, you’re going to read the first issue and immediately want to read more.
ORDINARY GODS #3
WRITER: Kyle Higgins
ARTIST / COVER A: Felipe WatanabeSEPTEMBER 08 / 32 pages / FC/ M / $3.99
Paris! City of Light! The awakened gods are on the hunt for the Trickster—but how do you find one person in a city of millions? And they’ll need to hurry—because on the Plane of the Gods, those who remain are starting to move against them.
5. Side Hustle
Trigger Keaton was one bad dude. Surrounded by enemies on all sides, the action star was not one to mince words and as such, he infuriated everybody he ever met. In the wake of his death, Trigger’s various TV partners have united to try and figure out who murdered him. The first issue of “The Six Sidekicks of Trigger Keaton” was filled with dynamic characters and ridiculous visual humor. It immediately endeared itself to my sensibilities and as the series marches on, I’m looking forward to trying to piece together the mystery behind his death alongside the sidekicks. However, the solicit text for issue #4 teases that five of the sidekicks will be looking for answers, which makes me question who the odd one out could be. Did one of Trigger’s sidekicks secretly kill him? Does somebody want to cover up the murder? I’m sure that whatever the answer is, Kyle Starks and Chris Schweizer will be sure to make it ridiculous.
Continued belowSIX SIDEKICKS OF TRIGGER KEATON #4
WRITER: Kyle Starks
ARTIST / COVER A: Chris SchweizerSEPTEMBER 08 / 32 pages / FC/ M / $3.99
My friends, our screwball quintet are planning a heist! But will this team-up survive? Will they finally get their man? What to expect: Idiotic plots! Kung Fu Action! Stuntman warfare! Bad ideas! Good ideas! Twists! Turns! Questionable detective work!
4. Crisis Averted
I’ll admit it, I didn’t quite know what to make out of “Commanders in Crisis” at first. The series – which teams up a plethora of superheroic presidents from across the multiverse – took a while to establish all of the key players necessary for the story. But now, with all the cards laid out on the table, the Commanders have to rely on the strength of the citizens of Earth to save the day. “Commanders in Crisis” has been an interesting dissection of superhero comics filled with commentary on our increasingly apathetic society, and I am curious to see if salvation is even possible at this point. When things are this dark, is it even possible to see the light? I hope so, because it would be a bleak ending otherwise!
COMMANDERS IN CRISIS #12 (OF 12)
WRITER: Steve Orlando
ARTIST / COVER A: Davide Tinto
COVER B: Yanick PaquetteSEPTEMBER 01 / 32 pages / FC/ M / $3.99
All this time, the Crisis Command has fought to undo what’s been done. From the death of empathy, to the passage of the American Individuality Act, they’ve tried to preserve what they thought was right, what the world needed. But with all of existence in the hands of the world’s population, in OUR hands, thanks to the power of a word, will the ideas of the past save us? Or will they die to give birth to something new? Superheroes haven’t saved the world, so the Crisis Command, and all of us, have to be something better.
3. The New Frontier
We only have one planet, and the Frontiersman aims to fight for it. The aged superhero stars in “Frontiersman” by Patrick Kindlon and Marco Ferrari. This new series promises to deliver classic Green Arrow-style adventures with a thoughtfulness suited for “mature but uncynical readers.” I’m curious to see what that actually amounts to, since “mature but uncynical” sounds like exactly what I’m looking for in my comics. Plus, the Frontiersman looks like Davy Crockett and Forbush Man had a baby, which is a sentence I never thought I’d say. I don’t have much to go on here aside form a cool premise and some sensational preview art, but I have the feeling that this will be a lot of fun.
FRONTIERSMAN #1
WRITER: Patrick Kindlon
COVER B: Matteo ScaleraSEPTEMBER 22 / 32 pages / FC/ M / $3.99
PATIENCE! CONVICTION! REVENGE! PATRICK KINDLON & MARCO FERRARI return with an all-new ONGOING SERIES! Classic Green Arrow-style adventure blends with the thoughtfulness of Concrete in a superhero odyssey for mature but uncynical readers! Frontiersman is coaxed out of retirement by an environmentalist group, only to find that being a spokesperson makes him a target for old and new enemies alike! For the superhero reader looking for more.
2. Time Out
“Time Before Time” is the book I didn’t realize I needed in my life. I’ve already done my fair share of ranting and raving about the new series, which centers on a crime syndicate that smuggles people through time, but I still think I’ve failed to find the words to properly explain why I find it so enchanting. Maybe it’s the sharp visuals by artists Joe Palmer and Chris O’Halloran. Maybe it’s the crisp script by Declan Shalvey and Rory McConville. Or maybe I just really like time travel. Whatever it is, I’m very excited for “Time Before Time” #5, which wraps up the first arc of the series. Details are scarce for the issue, which promises that time runs out for Tatsuo and Nadia, but that just means that my brain is thinking of endless possibilities for where the story can go.
Continued belowTIME BEFORE TIME #5
WRITER: Rory McConville, Declan Shalvey
ARTIST: Joe Palmer
COVER A: Declan ShalveySEPTEMBER 15 / 32 pages / FC/ M / $3.99
Time runs out for Tatsuo and Nadia as the first arc of this hit new series comes to a dramatic conclusion.
1. Monkeying Around
I love monkeys. I love Jeff Lemire. I love the idea of Jeff Lemire writing about monkeys. Admittedly, though my reasons may sound shallow, my hype for the launch of “Primordial” is very real. The Eisner Award-winning creative team of Jeff Lemire and Andrea Sorrentino (“Green Arrow,” “Gideon Falls”) are reuniting for a six-issue mini-series that takes place during the height of the Cold War, during a time in which the USSR and USA thought that sending animals into orbit would be the best use of their nation’s resources. This series tells the story of what these animals experienced while in space and what happens when they finally come home. Lemire has spent the majority of the last few years telling long and intricate stories, so I’m excited to see him play around with a shorter narrative. Beyond that, Sorrentino’s art guarantees that this will be an attractive book. Combine all of these elements and its enough to drive me bananas.
PRIMORDIAL #1 (OF 6)
WRITER: Jeff Lemire
ARTIST / COVER A: Andrea Sorrentino
COVER B: Christian Ward
COVER C: Dustin Nguyen
COVER D: Yuko ShimizuSEPTEMBER 15 / 32 pages / FC/ M / $3.99
Mind-bending sci-fi collides with Cold War thriller in this six-issue miniseries by the bestselling and Eisner-winning creative team behind GIDEON FALLS! In 1957, the USSR launched the dog, Laika, into Earth’s orbit. Two years later, the USA responded with two monkeys, Able and Baker. These animals never returned. But, unbeknownst to everyone, they did not die in orbit…they were taken. And now they are coming home.
