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Soliciting Multiversity: Image’s Top 10 For November 2018

By | August 29th, 2018
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After a few months packed with exciting number one issues, Image is taking a turn for the peculiar. November still has plenty of exciting number ones, but now they run the gamut from moody period pieces to Keith Giffen writing about bunnies. I think I’m going to like November. I think you will too.

As always, get the full solicits at the Image website.

10. Bunnies on the run

When I think Keith Giffen I think Lobo. I think Nova. I think the Defenders and the Justice League. I do not think about “damaged and dysfunctional rabbits.” From incongruity alone, that’s enough to grab my attention. But Giffen is more than a gimmick man, he’s an experienced comic book storyteller. He’s from a generation that defined the superheroes that are currently making billions in the box office. He can write any story he comes up with. And this is it. A woman and her niece trying to save PTSD rabbits from the evils of corporate America. I’m in. And so is Pixar probably.

AUNTIE AGATHA’S HOME FOR WAYWARD RABBITS #1 (OF 6)
WRITER: KEITH GIFFEN
ARTIST / COVER: BENJAMIN ROMAN
NOVEMBER 07 / 32 PAGES / FC / T / $3.99

Auntie Agatha’s Home for Wayward Rabbits is in danger. Run by the titular Agatha and her niece, Julie, this peculiar shelter cares for damaged and dysfunctional rabbits—and now it’s being threatened by a wealthy businessman who will stop at nothing to tear it down. This charming series marks the return of critically acclaimed writer KEITH GIFFEN to creator-owned work.

 

9. Beyond the stars

John Layman is inextricably linked to disgusting grossness. “Chew” was gross. His new series “Leviathan” is already a little gross. “Outer Darkness” looks clean, almost sterile. Space after all, is notoriously empty. An adventure beyond it? Freaky as hell, and new territory for not just the characters, but Layman as well. A lot of the style can be credited to artist Afu Chan, and it looks like the two of them are ready to plumb the depths of their imagination to come up with freaky stuff that none of us ever could have invented. There is a place for novelty in comics, and if Layman and Chan let themselves run wild, this could turn out to be an exciting series.

OUTER DARKNESS #1
WRITER: JOHN LAYMAN
ARTIST / COVER: AFU CHAN
NOVEMBER 07 / 32 PAGES / FC / M / $3.99

Sci-fi and horror collide in this new series from the co-creator of CHEW! Mankind has colonized the galaxy, but during our interstellar travels, we discovered a terrifying secret out in the Outer Darkness of space. Join Captain Joshua Rigg and the crew of the starship Charon as they encounter demonic possessions, hauntings, cosmic horror, and more! All-star writer JOHN LAYMAN (CHEW) and artist AFU CHAN (Immortal Iron Fists) are ready to let you know that outer space is terrifying.

 

8. Save the weatherman, save the world

A few issues into “The Weatherman,” it’s clear this is going to be a classic sci-fi epic. Jody Lehup already has a reputation as a silly funnyman, but “The Weatherman” goes far beyond simple comedy. Sure it’s made me laugh, but this is a book with deep pathos, imaginative villains, and an enormous conflict that really sells the planet-sized stakes. I can’t wait to watch Agent Cross squirm as she has to protect Nate Bright, a man she professes to hate. These two have a classic dynamic, and watching them come together is a joy.

THE WEATHERMAN #6
WRITER: JODY LEHEUP
ARTIST / COVER: NATHAN FOX
VARIANT COVER: MARCOS MARTIN
NOVEMBER 14 / 32 PAGES / FC / M / $3.99

Agent Cross finds herself in a battle to the death to save the life of a man who may be responsible for the murder of billions. But if Nathan Bright dies, so does what’s left of humanity… Don’t miss the shocking conclusion of the first chapter of JODY LEHEUP and NATHAN FOX’s riveting sci-fi thriller THE WEATHERMAN. THE WEATHERMAN will return in May 2019!

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7. Wish you never met her at all

This just in: “Man-Eaters” is great. It’s like nothing else in comics. There are a couple of feminist sci-fi dystopias on the stands today, but none have the irreverent visual flair that “Man-Eaters” is bringing to the table. We’re talking wacky charts, gruesome dismemberment, and a fabulous use of glitter. Maude is a fantastic everyteen, but the real selling point of issue #3 is the backmatter. Featuring angry letters from whatever we’re calling the generation after millenials, it’s a real opportunity for us old folks to connect with the kids. To quote another modern classic in feminist dystopia fiction: “who killed the world?”

MAN-EATERS #3
WRITER: CHELSEA CAIN
ARTIST: KATE NIEMCZYK
COVER: LIA MITERNIQUE
NOVEMBER 28 / 24 PAGES / FC / T+ / $3.99

“A VISIT FROM AUNT FLO,” Day Three Maude suspects that the cat lady downstairs may be part of a cult. The toilet is clogged by a strange blockage in the septic system. And a recent spat of deadly mauling attacks takes its toll on the community. Plus: bonus backmatter featuring art and words by smart, angry teens!

 

6. BDSM = Best Damn Story of the Month

Whenver I get the chance I recommend “Sunstone.” It’s just so well done: heartfelt and sexy as hell. Lots of comic fans know and love the work of Stjepan Sejic from “Aquaman” and the like, but how many superhero fans get the chance to read a wonderfully put together romance comic, let alone a a queer BDSM romance? This sixth volume is a perfect opportunity to get on board as the series is expanding to follow a new couple. But you know what? Five great trades won’t take you a long time to read, and you’ll be happy you did. If you still need convincing, why not explore Stjepan’s wonderful social media presence where he draws smutty pictures of your favorite superheroes?

SUNSTONE, VOL. 6 OGN
WRITER / ARTIST / COVER: STJEPAN SEJIC
NOVEMBER 14 / 200 PAGES / FC / M / $16.99

“MERCY,” Part One How can you teach a broken heart to trust again? How can you embrace each other with hands still clinging to your past? Why do you always need to pee after I tie you up? Anne and Alan have more than a few questions to answer as the world of SUNSTONE deepens with this new story arc.

 

5. Dial C for Comics

Boy, they are really pushing this “Crowded” is going to be a movie someday narrative huh? But you know what? As obnoxious as I find that, this is a real good series. The first issue is already out, and it’s a lot of fun. This is the comic I’m telling my non-comics friends about, and they are all getting really excited for it. It’s clever, and it’s the kind of goofy sci-fi nearly anyone can get behind. Let’s all vow not to wait for the movie. Let’s all make our friends feel like cool hipsters and get them into this comic before it becomes “cool” and “mainstream.”

CROWDED #4
WRITER: CHRISTOPHER SEBELA
ARTIST / COVER: RO STEIN, TED BRANDT, TRIONA FARRELL
VARIANT COVER: CLAIRE ROE
NOVEMBER 07 / 32 PAGES / FC / T+ / $3.99

Following their move into (much) closer quarters, Charlie and Vita get to know each other better. But the results might be more disastrous than the incompetent crowdfunded gunmen hunting them across Los Angeles. As Vita struggles with the fallout of losing her only sense of security, Charlie looks for a way to slip free of her leash, placing her directly in the crosshairs of Trotter, who’s hoping his hugest kill yet will launch him back to the top of death charts. Rebel Wilson has optioned the rights with the goal of starring in and producing the movie adaptation. Wilson will develop the project and produce it via her Camp Sugar production banner. Also producing is Oni Entertainment.

 

4. Rattle the bones

The smartest decision Mark Millar ever made for the “Kick-Ass” universe was to hand over the keys to other creators. That’s not to say his tenure on the books was bad (I’d call his issues a mixed bag), but giving the series to different creators has infused them with a brand new energy and more than that, have made the characters timeless. Hit-Girl can be in this murder mystery, or an underground fight story; you can use her to tell any kind of story you please. So putting Mindy in the hands of the excellent Rafael Albuquerque has me very excited. He’s proven himself to be a great artist in “American Vampire,” so I can’t wait to see his auteur’s take on comics most foul-mouthed murderteen.

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HIT-GIRL #10
WRITER: RAFAEL ALBUQUERQUE, RAFAEL SCAVONE
ARTIST / COVER: RAFAEL ALBUQUERQUE
VARIANT COVER: RAFAEL ALBUQUERQUE, CHRIS BURNHAM
NOVEMBER 14 / 32 PAGES / FC / M / $3.99

A human skull is Hit-Girl’s only clue, and the thief who stole it just leapt off a bridge. Whoever this dead guy was, there are psychos across the city hunting his bones. In the Colosseum, Mindy must put her gladiatorial skills to the test.

 

3. The Licked and the Canine

It was never going to be OK. “WicDiv” is sad. Everyone is miserable and they are all doomed to die. But now… dogs? The final arc is starting up, so Kieron, Jamie, Matt and the gang are giving their beautiful creations to their friends, stepping back, and cringing because they realized that one of their friends is Chip Zdarsky. This murderer’s row of creators is, in the immortal words of Star-Lord, “going to make some weird shit.” This is gonna be nuts.

THE WICKED + THE DIVINE: THE FUNNIES #1 (ONE-SHOT)
WRITER / ARTIST: KIERON GILLEN, ERICA HENDERSON, CHIP ZDARSKY, KATE LETH, LARISSA ZAGERIS, KITTY CURRAN
COVER: JAMIE MCKELVIE, MATT WILSON
VARIANT COVER: MARGAUX SALTEL
NOVEMBER 07 / 32 PAGES / FC / M / $3.99

Every ninety years gods are reborn as dogs. They are good dogs. They are very good dogs. In two years, they may have learned how to sit, which is one of several (count ‘em!) stories in this special. As THE WICKED + THE DIVINE prepares for its final arc, we invite a bunch of friends over, pass out the fizzy pop and sherbet and have a lovely time. Join us!

 

2. You must take the A Train to fight monsters

If you’ll forgive the pun, there’s been a Renaissance in urban fantasy. This new wave (which includes “Abbott” and “Infidel” to name a couple) combines history, magic, and the dark corners of American prejudice. “Bitter Root” looks like the crystallization of that genre in that it takes each to extreme heights. We’ve got the setting- Harlem in the 1920s. And we have the cast of characters- the Sangerye Family, (only they “can save New York—and the world”). Both the place and the people are rich with history, legacy, and culture. Add to that some monsters and an apocalypse or three and you have the recipe for a good supernatural horror adventure. And who is shepherding this story to us? Why, it’s none other than David F. Walker (of the fabulous “Power Man and Iron Fist” and the too-short-lived “Nighthawk”) joined by the stylish Sanford Greene (also of “Power Man and Iron Fist” fame) and Chuck Brown (with urban fantasy bonafides thanks to “Trench Coats, Cigarettes, and Shotguns”). The Image solicit sounds excited for this book, and I’ve got a feeling we should be too.

BITTER ROOT #1
WRITER: DAVID F. WALKER, CHUCK BROWN
ARTIST / COVER: SANFORD GREENE
VARIANT COVER: MIKE MIGNOLA, DENYS COWAN, BRITTNEY WILLIAMS
NOVEMBER 14 / 32 PAGES / FC / M / $3.99

In the 1920s, the Harlem Renaissance is in full swing, and only the Sangerye Family can save New York—and the world—from the supernatural forces threatening to destroy humanity. But the once-great family of monster hunters has been torn apart by tragedies and conflicting moral codes. The Sangerye Family must heal the wounds of the past and move beyond their differences… or sit back and watch a force of unimaginable evil ravage the human race.

DAVID F. WALKERand SANFORD GREENE, the creative team of Power Man and Iron Fist, along with indie veteran CHUCK BROWN(Trench Coats, Cigarettes and Shotguns) bring you 24 action-packed pages of monsters, mayhem, and family dysfunction in a brand-new ongoing series.

BITTER ROOT Cover As by SANFORD GREENE will be connecting through the first story arc.

 

1. Dragon flyover country

Skottie Young books are cute. Right? But they are a particular type of cute. Superhero babies, bratty kids, and cussin’ princesses. It’s a style that’s worn out its welcome, at least for me, even though it is abundantly clear that Young is a great talent. Enter Jorge Corona and his silly, heightened style. Then something weird happens. “Middlewest” doesn’t look wacky and it doesn’t look twee. It looks sort of forlorn. And melancholy. And nostalgic. It’s a fantasy comic, but one that takes place in the American Midwest. You know, Stranger Things territory. It looks like it hopes to capture childhood, but not the fun sort of childhood we try to sell to kids, the real deal. The sort of childhood where the world is new and scary, where real life has no respect for whether or not your story is child-friendly or not. This is the world of “Joe the Barbarian” and “I Kill Giants” and all the other fantasies about the brutality of childhood. This looks like a new face for Skottie Young and I can’t friggin’ wait.

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MIDDLEWEST #1
WRITER: SKOTTIE YOUNG
ARTIST: JORGE CORONA
COVER: MIKE HUDDLESTON
VARIANT COVER: SKOTTIE YOUNG, JORGE CORONA
NOVEMBER 21 / 40 PAGES / FC / M / $3.99

The lands between the coasts are vast, slow to change, and full of hidden magics. Mistakes have been made, and in this NEW ONGOING SERIES, an unwitting adventurer searches for answers to quell a coming storm that knows his name. From author SKOTTIE YOUNG (I HATE FAIRYLAND, Deadpool) and artist JORGE CORONA (NO. 1 WITH A BULLET, Feathers, Big Trouble in Little China: Old Man Jack) comes the tale of Abel, a young boy who must navigate an old land in order to reconcile his family’s history.


//TAGS | Soliciting Multiversity

Jaina Hill

Jaina is from New York. She currently lives in Ohio. Ask her, and she'll swear she's one of those people who loves both Star Wars and Star Trek equally. Say hi to her on twitter @Rambling_Moose!

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