A new year, a new publishing direction right? Well, not exactly. It seems like the January slate of Image books is meant to be a showcase for the publisher right now. That means some looking back at perennial sellers, some looking forward at exciting new hits, and building up steam with some recent faves. Oh and “Monstress” won some awards, and Image is really trying to turn that into sales. As well they should, “Monstress” rules. There are a lot of good series actually, but here are ten that caught my eye. As always you can get the full list of solicitations on the Image Comics website.
10. Ink Shaming
At first glance, “The Marked” has a decent hook. Urban fantasy, but with tattoo artists. Urban fantasy is already so into tattoos, and there’s such an overlap between tattoo art and comic art, that something like this seems inevitable. What I did not anticipate was how quickly I’d fall for Brian Haberlin and Geirrod Van Dyke’s art style. The book draws heavily from the kind of early 2010s digital painting that Marvel was trying (and largely failing to make happen). Since then, a few books have embraced hyper-digital art (I really like Clayton Crain’s work in “Rai” from Valiant), but “The Marked” makes it work better than any other comic. It’s a reminder that while there is an accepted visual language of comics, there’s a whole universe out there to explore.
The Marked #4
WRITER: Brian Haberlin, David Hine
ARTIST: Brian Haberlin, Geirrod van Dyke
COVER A / COVER B: Geirrod van Dyke, Brian Haberlin
JANUARY 22 / 32 pages / FC/ M / $3.99As a malevolent darkness spreads out from Shadowgate, The Marked join with The Shangen and The Mages in a final, all-out assault. This time, they have to win, because there is no Plan B.
9. Are you not entertained?
“Spawn” has been part of comics since I was old enough to read them, and I have drifted to and from the property over the years. So then I hear it’s now a Guinness Record breaking series- the longest ever running creator owned comic series. That’s awfully specific, but still impressive. I came back to check out the comic and… it’s OK. I mean, the secret of “Spawn” is that it never changes- the one changing is you! And then I hear that “Spawn” #300 is one of the best selling comic issues of the year, well… I’m starting to ramble here but I do have a point to make: “Spawn” is still coming out, and it’s as good as it has ever been. If you’ve ever liked it, it’s interesting to discover if you still do. And judging by all those numbers and records, a whole lot of you out there still really like “Spawn!” Wild! I don’t know any of you personally. Maybe say hi to me, and let me know why you are still so into it!
Spawn #305
WRITER / COVER A / COVER B: Todd McFarlane
ARTIST: Todd McFarlane, Jason Shawn Alexander
COVER C: Francesco Mattina
JANUARY 29 / 32 pages / FC/ T / $2.99“HELL HUNT,” Part Four Jessica Priest struggles with her new powers. Eddie Frank fights against the influence of the Redeemer. And Spawn has a final showdown with Medieval Spawn that will alter the course of the war between Heaven and Hell. With this gripping story arc finale, featuring a special 5-page bonus comic drawn by TODD McFARLANE, the hunt is on, and a new era of SPAWN has begun!
8. If the blood be true
Maybe it was “Absolute Carnage” that did it for me and Donny Cates. It was like a switch flipped and I asked myself, “Has he always been this good?” And he has! So let’s not treat Cates like some Marvel company man who does whatever his bosses ask. This is a good comic creator, with a distinct style, an unmistakable voice, and a diverse bibliography. He does good horror, and that’s why I’ve been trying to catch up on “Redneck,” which is nothing like I thought it was going to be, except that it’s more of that freaky Cates goodness! Issue #25 seems to be where the story gets way into its own mythology, and I am extremely here for it.
Continued belowRedneck #25
WRITER: Donny Cates
ARTIST / COVER A: Dee Cunniffe, Lisandro Estherren
JANUARY 29 / 32 pages / FC/ M / $3.99“TALL TALES,” Part One Who is Demus, the first vampire?! How did the Human-Vampire War begin?! And just where in the hell did these vampires come from anyway?
7. To boldly go where no one has gone in a while
Wow, speaking of Record setting, “Undiscovered Country” is tearing it up in the pre-orders. Everyone I know is putting this thing on their pull list, and it’s easy to see why. Scott Snyder, the hero of DC comics! And Charles Soule, the hardest working guy in comics! With art by the masterful Giusseppe Camuncoli, who I fell in love with in “Darth Vader.” And Daniele Orlandini, Camunncoli’s fabulous inker! And the legendary Matt Wilson, colorist of like, everything. Their powers combined, they are going to tackle the kind of political sci-fi I think we’re going to be seeing a lot of in the next few years. And I have no doubt that this series is going to be setting the standard.
Undiscovered Country #3
WRITER: Charles Soule, Scott Snyder
ARTIST: Daniele Orlandini, Giuseppe Camuncoli, Matt Wilson
COVER A: Giuseppe Camuncoli
JANUARY 08 / 32 pages / FC/ M / $3.99The expedition undertakes a desperate attempt to rescue a member of the team from the Destiny Man’s strange caravan city. Success or certain doom hinges on Americana expert Ace Kenyatta, PhD—what he knows about the new lands…and what he doesn’t. HOLLYWOOD BUG: Acquired by New Republic Pictures after a competitive bidding war for potential franchise development. SNYDER and SOULE are attached to adapt the screenplay and serve as executive producers alongside CAMUNCOLI. John Hilary Shepherd will oversee development for New Republic.
6. I love hating the wind
I had the good fortune of speaking to series artist Jorge Corona at NYCC. He was one of those creators who puts a ton of thought into everything he does, and it all shows on the page. “Middlewest” wasn’t intended to be a long series, but it’s a tale that grew larger in the telling. As we get into the endgame, it’s becoming abundantly clear that this is not only a gripping story with a wonderful sense of tone, it’s also masterfully paced. I don’t know a lot of people who are keeping up with “Middlewest,” but I urge you not to sleep on it. There’s nothing else quite like it.
Middlewest #14
WRITER: Skottie Young
ARTIST / COVER A: Jean-Francois Beaulieu, Jorge Corona
JANUARY 22 / 32 pages / FC/ M / $3.99Nicolas Raider is a hard man with a keen eye who recognizes the raw talent, work ethic, and leadership qualities that Abel possesses. Always looking to better his operations, Raider tempts Abel with a chance at a different life.
5. Time trial
Oof, this doesn’t sound like something I want to read at all. Disease thrillers are not my thing, unless they are in the form of a game of Pandemic Legacy. But I saw the names of the creators, and though I couldn’t initially place them, they gave me pause. And for good reason it turns out! Matt Hawkins is an Image stalwart, who did some solid issues of “Aphrodite IX” and is a writer on “Swing.” And Colleen Doran, well you might know her as the Eisner Award-winning artist of a little series called “Sandman.” So I will be reading “The Clock,” it will be very good, and it will totally freak me out.
Continued belowThe Clock #1 (of 4)
WRITER: Matt Hawkins
ARTIST / COVER A: Colleen Doran
JANUARY 08 / 32 pages / FC/ T+ / $3.99Within three weeks, hundreds of millions of healthy people worldwide contract various forms of aggressive cancer, and the proliferation, seemingly a viral outbreak, stumps the best scientific minds available. But after a leading cancer researcher loses his wife and watches his nine-year-old daughter begin to succumb to the same illness, he must race against the clock to end a global conspiracy that could propel the world straight into WWIII…or worse.
4. Now, with romance!
Of everything Image is currently publishing, I have the easiest time recommending “Crowded” to people. It’s got the sense of humor and fun that people have come to expect from their Hollywood comic book movies, but the kind of sci-fi high concept that makes for an excellent comic book. It’s not hard to find a comic with a sly sense of fun, but rarely do they have as much to say as “Crowded” does. The one thing I was hoping was that the series wouldn’t turn the will they/won’t they central relationship into a full odd couple romance. But it happened, and I liked that too! So “Crowded” is the book that can do no wrong, and everyone should be reading it.
Crowded #11
WRITER: Christopher Sebela
ARTIST / COVER A: Triona Farrell, Ro Stein, Ted Brandt
COVER B: Zoe Thorogood
JANUARY 22 / 32 pages / FC/ T+ / $3.99Charlie and Vita look for safe harbor in a community of reformed cultists and militia nuts. And with their new romance in full bloom, everything is coming up Charlie. What could possibly go wrong?
3. Did you hear they won some awards?
Ever since “Saga” became a monster hit, Image has had no trouble raking in Eisner awards. But rarely has a book swept as much as “Monstress” did this last year, and it was a long time coming. “Monstress” is a fantastic, singular, dark-as-hell fantasy work that has no equal. I want to see it adapted into every medium, with the understanding that nothing could measure up. I want a disappointing “Monstress” movie, followed up by an OK anime series from the team that does Castlevania. I want a “Monstress” video game. I want a tabletop roleplaying game too. And hell, give me a board game while we are at it. None of them will equal the comic, because it is a story best suited for the medium. So be excited that we are getting new issues!
Monstress #25
WRITER: Marjorie Liu
ARTIST / COVER A: Sana Takeda
JANUARY 29 / 32 pages / FC/ M / $3.99The long-dreaded war between the Federation and Arcanics is about to explode as secret peace negotiations are threatened and the Old Gods conspire. Now, Maika must choose her next steps: will she help her friends, or strike out on her own?
2. Sweet Home Shikka-Go
Remember a few points ago, when I said “Undiscovered Country” was about to usher in a whole sub-genre? Here it is. “Protector” is going to be the second new ‘post-America’ series in as many months. Unlike “Undiscovered Country” though, it seems distinctly wacky. I say this, because the names in the solicits are silly as hell. Silly, but I really really dig them. The Hudsoni tribe? Going up against the old world demons of Shikka-Go? That is… pretty damn funny. I don’t know if this is going to be as epic and thoughtful as “Undiscovered Country,” but Mad Max uses silliness to get really real, I have high hopes that “Protector” will do the same.
Protector #1
WRITER: Daniel M. Bensen, Simon Roy
ARTIST: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou, Artyom Trakhanov, Jason Wordie
COVER A: James Stokoe
JANUARY 29 / 32 pages / FC/ M / $3.99From SIMON ROY (Prophet), Sideways Award-winning author DANIEL M. BENSEN (Junction), ARTYOM TRAKHANOV, JASON WORDIE (GOD COUNTRY), and HASSAN OTSMANE-ELHAOU (Red Sonja) comes a sci-fi adventure equal parts Conan the Barbarian, Mad Max, and The Expanse. Of all the tribes that dwell in the hot ruins of far-future North America, the Hudsoni reign supreme, but even they fear and obey the godlike Devas. When the Devas warn of an old-world demon in the conquered city of Shikka-Go, Hudsoni war chief First Knife decides to deal with the threat personally.
1. Money shot in the bank
Whenever “Sex Criminals” wakes from its slumber, looks across the bed at me, and winks, I remember our whole story. The week of September 2013 when “Sex Criminals” #1 came out, was one of the best weeks of comics that I can remember. I fell for “Sex Criminals” immediately. I tried to tell everyone that it was just a fling, that I wasn’t committing. But no one was fooled. And then “Sex Criminals” stopped calling, we stopped spending a lot of time together. There was a moment when I told everyone it was over between us. But no one was fooled. I don’t know if our relationship is healthier now. I don’t wait by the phone for “Sex Criminals” to call me, but I’m always happy when it swings by. And it’s telling me it’s for the last time, but I’m not even heartbroken. I know that this isn’t a sustainable relationship for me, but I can’t ever forget the good times we’ve had, and I’m looking forward to spending one final, wild arc with a series that has meant so much to me, even if I know it’s for the last time.
Continued belowSex Criminals #26
WRITER: Matt Fraction
ARTIST / COVER A: Chip Zdarsky
JANUARY 29 / 32 pages / FC/ M / $3.99• THE SERIES? It’s back.
• JON AND SUZE? Also back.
• THE BANK? MUST BE TAKEN DOWN.
• THIS ARC? THE LAST. Gasp!
• BULLET LISTS?
How do you turn them off in Microsoft Word The highly anticipated return of the #1 New York Times bestselling humor/romance series SEX CRIMINALS kicks off its final story arc. Praised for its emotionally compelling characters, taut storytelling, and comedic genius, Time Magazine called it “the best comic of the year” upon launch. Since its debut, SEX CRIMINALS has garnered coverage from such mainstream media outlets as Entertainment Weekly, Rolling Stone, NPR, and The Washington Post and won multiple awards. SEX CRIMINALS follows the adventures of Suzie and Jon—a couple who discover they can stop time when they have sex. This final chapter sees the reunion of writer MATT FRACTION (NOVEMBER, Hawkeye) and CHIP ZDARSKY (THE WHITE TREES, Daredevil).
