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Soliciting Multiversity: Image’s Top 10 for October 2022

By | August 2nd, 2022
Posted in Columns | % Comments

The theme of October is artists writing their own books. Well actually the theme of October is what it normally is, mainly Halloween. Image Comics is putting out a decent serving of spooky books, so you’re covered on that front. But also take a look, you may be surprised to see how many artists are also writing Image comics this October. I for one, am excited. It’s every comic fan’s favorite time of year!

As always, full solicitations can be found on the Image Comics website.

10. Junkyard Geoff

I’ll be honest. I’m probably not going to get into this one, but I needed to include it for the novelty. It’s genuinely weird to see Geoff Johns working anywhere other than DC. (I know it’s happened before, I get this way every time). This time he is doing a war comic. That’s cool! That was a vibrant comics genre for a good long while. I’m sure if this is your thing, you will be very happy to have it! And sure, I will check it out because I am curious.

JUNKYARD JOE #1 
Written by Geoff Johns
Illustrated by Gary Frank
Colored by Brad Anderson

By the critically acclaimed team of GEOFF JOHNS, GARY FRANK & BRAD ANDERSON!
Throughout history, unlikely and strange heroes have risen and fallen, their identities and lives a secret. But for a Great Evil to be stopped, their stories must be told. They are The Unnamed fighting The Unknown War.

From the explosive pages of GEIGER comes JUNKYARD JOE! The world knows him as the comic strip by cartoonist Muddy Davis, but the truth stretches back to the Vietnam War. This is their story of sacrifice and brotherhood.

9. Vlad’s discount scares

Ugh, “Hack Slash” variant covers always make me really embarrassed that I still really like “Hack Slash.” I know it’s always been sorta leery, sorta pervy. But I insist it actually has a really compelling protagonist at the center. And Tim Seeley, that guy has a pretty wild imagination. I say let’s bring out “Hack Slash” once a year, for Halloween! A seasonal treat.

HACK SLASH HOT SHORTS (ONE-SHOT)
Written by Tim Seeley
Illustrated by Jim Terry
Colored by Daniel Leister 

Slasher hunters Cassie Hack and Vlad are back with a one-shot collecting the all-new short stories from the HACK/SLASH DELUXE EDITION HARDCOVERS. Our heroes battle bloodstains in “Slice of Life,” written and drawn by SEELEY, while a new kind of monster slayer stalks the backroads of America in “Highwayman to Heaven” and Cassie meets up with the baddest bad girl in the multiverse in “I Will Destroy You All.” Also contains all-new pin-ups! The perfect celebration of the slasher season!

8. More wandering samurai

I played Ghost of Tushima not that long ago, and I remembered how much I love Kurasawa and the Samurai-Westerns he inspired. You see elements of it all the time in comics, but rarely do we get a straight up Samurai tale, much less from Image. Give me moonlight sword duels and shocking betrayal, all wrapped up in a historical morality play!

HITOMI #1 (OF 5)
Written by H.S. Tak 
Illustrated by Isabella Mazzanti
Colored by Valentina Napolitano

In Feudal Era Japan, a drifter with no prospects begins training in secret under Yasuke, a once-famous, displaced, disgraced warrior, as she struggles to find her place in a society entrenched in discrimination and violence.

Combining the historical sweep and elegance of Kurosawa with the visceral action of Tarantino, this saga follows the trials and tribulations of a young female warrior who travels the countryside unendingly as she works to gain the rank of Samurai-a title no man, monster, or myth can give to her, but one that she will have to take for herself.

7. All-New All-Different Locke and Key

This one sounds an awful lot like “Locke & Key” what with all the Cthulhu stuff and all the keys. This is one of a handful of Image number ones that are written and drawn by the same person. I know I like David Messina’s visual style, so this book looks great. No idea what he’s like as a writer. The story sounds pretty wild, so I can’t wait to find out.

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3KEYS #1 (OF 5)
Written by David Messina
Illustrated by David Messina

Han Solo artist DAVID MESSINA invites you to explore the mysterious world of 3KEYS!
Did the inhabitants of another dimension flee into our reality to save themselves from the terrible wrath of the Great Old Ones…or to help prepare us for a final devastating invasion? And what if humanity’s only chance against these Great Old Ones is an impetuous, mischievous young woman and her sardonic, furry, and surprisingly violent mentor?

All questions are asked and answered in this five-part introduction to writer and artist DAVID MESSINA’s epic, apocalyptic universe, featuring 27 full story pages!

6. Just like your life but drawn pretty

I always like to spot these memoir comics. Librarians love ‘em and I’m always around a whole lot of librarians. This one looks lonely and heartfelt! If that’s your thing, we get these slice-of-life stories but rarely. Treasure this OGN like the precious object that it is.

ITS LONELY AT THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH TP
Written by Zoe Thorogood
Illustrated by  Zoe Thorogood

Cartoonist ZOE THOROGOOD records six months of her own life as it falls apart in a desperate attempt to put it back together again in the only way she knows how. IT’S LONELY AT THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH is an intimate metanarrative that looks into the life of a selfish artist who must create for her own survival.

A poignant, slice-of-life-style story perfect for fans of Adrian Tomine’s The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Cartoonist.

5. Beyond the Thunderdome

It’s kind of crazy that we’ve always made Wes Craig drawn normal human people. The mutants on the cover of “Kaya” are instantly iconic to me. And I can’t say I have an overabundance of fantasy stories set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland right now. Apocalypses were so ten years ago. Hey! Here are those samurai genre tropes I was mentioning above. And this is a comic written and drawn by a renowned artist. “Kaya” is the median book this October, representing the sort of story Image wants to put out!

KAYA #1
Written by Wes Craig
Illustrated by Wes Craig

A jam-packed series premiere with 31 gorgeous story pages, plus bonus material and a Jack Kirby-inspired variant cover by DEADLY CLASS co-creator WES CRAIG!

After the destruction of their village, a young girl with a magic arm and a fighting spirit is tasked with delivering her little brother to a faraway safe haven. There, he’s destined to discover the secret to overthrowing the all-powerful empire that destroyed their home.

From writer and artist WES CRAIG (DEADLY CLASS, GRAVEDIGGERS UNION) comes an astonishing new ongoing fantasy-adventure series about siblings surviving in a world of monsters and mutants.

4. Years you say!?

The idea of leaping ahead exponentially in time was such a damn good one. Now, every single month when I see the new issue of “Eight Billion Genies,” I freak out. How long? Years this time? But I just read the ‘Eight Days Later’ issue. And that was freaking nuts, the moon ate a Santa Clause. I cannot even imagine what years looks like. And this isn’t even the end of the series!

EIGHT BILLION GENIES #6 (OF 8) 
Written by Charles Soule
Illustrated by Ryan Browne

We’re now exploring the FIRST EIGHT YEARS after G-Day, the moment when everyone on Earth got a genie and one wish.

Humanity has found new ways to live. Come with us to explore the secrets of HOPE’S HOLLOW, TOMORROWVILLE, and the grooviest little town this side of Poughkeepsie…FUN CITY!

3. Tricky treat

There was this little book called “Marked” I used to recommend. It does truly interesting things with digital art, plus it’s got a fun urban fantasy thing going on. If you like Harry Dresden stuff, this is sorta like that but with tattoos. There hasn’t been a new issue of “Marked” in a minute, but a Halloween special is something I didn’t know I wanted. I’ll be sure to check this one out!

MARKED HALLOWEEN SPECIAL #1 (ONE-SHOT) 
Written by David Hine
Illustrated by Brian Haberlin
Colored Brian Haberlin

YOUR FAVORITE TATTOOED WITCHES RETURN FOR A VERY SPECIAL HALLOWEEN ONE-SHOT!

The Marked are faced with a terrifying once-in-a-century threat. It’s Halloween, and the town of Holy Mountain Texas has been invaded by a horde of Trickster Demons whose bloody version of trick-or-treat leaves a trail of the maimed and the dead. The Marked are tasked with protecting the locals, even though most of them happen to be rabid right-wing bigots. When Bad goes Evil, the Good go Ugly!!!

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2. There’s no escape and no one will survive

This is probably my favorite comic going on right now. Daniel Warren Johnson, DWJ, that guy is great. And I think this is his best comic yet. His passion for wrestling is apparent in every panel, and he manages to tell a story that is simultaneously so naked and real, but also so heightened and silly. It’s the way he jumps from a family dealing with the loss of a loved one to a demon comically misunderstanding the concept of fiction. It’s great. I hope it never ends.

DO A POWERBOMB #5 (OF 7) 
Written by Daniel Warren Johnson
Illustrated by Daniel Warren Johnson 
Colored by Mike Spicer

FYSO have made it clear: They think they’re better than every other wrestler in the Deathlyfe. But are they ready for an anything-goes DEATHMATCH? Sun and Steel bring the barbed wire to a final like no other!

1. You must be this tall

All that said, there is one comic that excites me this spooky month than any other. Haunted amusement park? That sounds good. Oh, and it’s got a great design drawn by Andrei Bressan? You have my full attention. And it’s a new original story from Joshua Williamson? Oh hell yes. I love Spooky October Month, and if this new ongoing is as fun as it looks, the spooky times can continue year-round!

DARK RIDE #1
Written by Joshua Williamson
Illustrated by Andrei Bressan
Colored by Adriano Lucas

WELCOME TO THE SCARIEST PLACE ON EARTH!? Devil Land has been the world’s premiere horror-themed amusement park for over 50 years, home to the scariest ride ever created – The Devil’s Due.?

But when lifelong fan Owen Seasons begins his first day on the job, he will discover the true horrors happening behind the scenes, the truth about the park’s reclusive creator Arthur Dante, and that the job of his dreams might just be a living nightmare.

Joshua Williamson (Batman, Nailbiter) and Andrei Bressan (BIRTHRIGHT) reunite for a thrilling plunge into murder, mayhem, and sinister family secrets in this all-new Skybound original series.


//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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