Hello and welcome to Multiversity’s look at the “Best of the Rest” of what’s coming your way in the now-available February 2016 Previews catalog. Having already taken a look at what Marvel, Dark Horse, DC, and Image have lined up for us, it’s now time to check out the other 75% of the catalog.
Before we jump into the things you should keep an eye out for, a quick reminder. As one-half of the Robots From Tomorrow podcast, I go through the whole Previews catalog each and every month with co-host Mike Romeo, talking about things that catch our eye and quicken our pulse. If you listen to those episodes, you should still read this column because there will not be a 100% overlap, and if you don’t listen to those episodes, they are a great way to hear Mike & I go into further detail about some of the things I’ve spotlighted here.
That said, let’s dive in!
10. TOGETHER AGAIN…FOR THE FIRST TIME?
Dynamite continues to work the Gold Key license, bringing Phil Hester in to spin some more gold with these characters. They should be given credit for tapping solid creators for these efforts; the last wave saw Fred van Lente, Mark Waid, Greg Pak, and Frank J. Barbiere take over four of the characters you see here. Phil Hester is certainly a strong enough creator to do these characters justice, and I’ve enjoyed Peeples’ art previously. If there’s gold still left in the hills for this property, I think Hester and Peeples can find it.
GOLD KEY ALLIANCE #1 (OF 5)
Written by Phil Hester
Illustrated by Brent Peeples
Published by Dynamite EntertainmentTurok, Dinosaur Hunter. Magnus, Robot Fighter. Solar, Man of the Atom. The Mighty Samson. The legendary heroes whose adventures have thrilled comic book readers for over half a century are back, only this time they all share the same time and the same world – ours! In this breakneck first issue, each warrior wrestles with the perils of the twenty-first century, but a greater evil is approaching, one that will unify the legendary champions in a struggle that will change each forever. Join Eisner-nominated writer Phil Hester (Wonder Woman, Green Arrow, The Bionic Man) and rising star artist Brent Peeples (Last of the Greats, Legenderry: Green Hornet) for the latest and greatest chapter in the Gol
d Key saga.
9. WALLY WOOD WESTERN WORK WE-DISCOVERED?
When they called “Shattuck” a super-rare Wally Wood work, they aren’t kidding. I consider myself at least a semi-knowledgeable fan of the man’s work and I’d never even heard of it. Let alone his bringing (very young) Dave Cockrum and Howard Chaykin on board to work from his layouts. That’s quite the artistic posse to have at your disposal, even that earlier in the latter two’s careers. But thankfully, the folks over at Fantagraphics know their stuff and are getting ready to bring us this material in an affordable, Artist Edition-style presentation. Yee-haw!
Continued belowWALLACE WOOD PRESENTS: SHATTUCK
Written by Wallace Wood & Nick Cuti
Illustrated by Wallace Wood, Howard Chaykin, Dave Cockrum
Published by Fantagraphics BooksAlong with Wallace Wood’s trademark 1970s Sally Forth and Cannon strips that ran in the Overseas Weekly military newspaper, Wood created a super-rare third strip, a sexy western, produced in 1972, named Shattuck. Wood originally conceived of, co-wrote (with Nick Cuti), and drew the layouts forShattuck as a vehicle for his studio-mate, Golden Age Captain America artist Sid Shores, but turned it over instead to two young up-and-comers —Howard Chaykin (American Flagg!, Black Kiss) and the now-legendary X-Menartist, Dave Cockrum. Shattuck, the historic, very first credited ongoing feature for both Chaykin and Cockrum, has never been re-published or collected since it first appeared in Overseas
Weekly more than 40 years ago. Full of gun-toting femmes fatale, fastdrawing lawmen, and snarling outlaws,Shattuck is a Western romp published in the same format as Fantagraphics’ bestselling Wood production of Cannon. As a bonus, while appearing to be in black and white, the entire book has been scanned from the carefully preserved originals in full-color to mimic as closely as possible the experience of viewing the actual original art, complete with paste-overs, notes, art corrections, etc. Previously enjoyed only by American servicemen in the Vietnam era, Fantagraphics Books and The Wallace Wood Estate and proud to present the missing link in Wood’s oeuvre in a beautifully designed and affordable format.
8. SHOULD I STAY OR SHOULD I GO NOW?
This month’s entry into the “Cartoonists I’ve Never Heard Of” Club (although I’m kidding myself if I say there’s only one entry per month, aren’t I?) is Barbara Yelin. Google tells me she is a German cartoonist and that “Irmina” was originally published in German but is now being translated into English by SelfMadeHero. My eyeballs tell me that this is something I do not want to miss. Hopefully my mentioning it here will tell you that you don’t want to miss it either.
IRMINA OGN
Written by Barbara Yelin
Illustrated by Barbara Yelin
Published by SelfMadeHeroIn the mid-1930s, Irmina, an ambitious young German, moves to London. At a cocktail party, she meets Howard Green, one of the first black students at Oxford, who, like Irmina, is working towards an independent existence. However, their relationship comes to an abrupt end when Irmina, constrained by the political situation in Hitler’s Germany, is forced to return home. As war approaches and her contact with Howard is broken, it becomes clear to Irmina that prosperity will only be possible through the betrayal of her ideals. In the award-winning Irmina, Barbara Yelin presents a troubling drama about the tension between integrity and social advancement, reflecting with compassion and intelligence
on the complicity that results from the choice, conscious or otherwise, to look away.
7. SOONER OR LATER…EVERYTHING GETS COLLECTED
One would think following 2000 AD as we do, week in and week out, that by this point we would be at least vaguely familiar with what that comic has published. Sure it’s been going full-on for almost 39 years, but we like to do our homework here at Multiversity Comics. And yet, while I knew that Milligan & McCarthy had worked together on the Progs, I had literally never heard of this strip until I saw these solicits. Guess this means I’ve got more ‘homework’ to look forward to!
SOONER OR LATER TPB
Written by Peter Milligan
Illustrated by Brendan McCarthy
Published by Rebellion/2000ADThe complete surreal tale from master comics creators Peter Milligan and Brendan McCarthy. Never before collected in one edition!
1986. THATCHER’S BRITAIN. THE FINANCIAL ‘BIG BANG’ SAW THE RICH GET RICHER. RIOTS ERUPT IN PRISONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. AND MICKY SWIFT IS STILL ON THE DOLE!
Disillusioned with his dour existence in dreary Camden, Micky’s life is suddenly turned inside out, when he is plucked from the present and dragged into the 30th century as the property of one Mr & Mrs Katsbreath – a case of mistaken identity.
Unwanted, trapped in the future and still unemployable, If Micky wants to return home (time travel isn’t cheap you know!), sooner or later he will need to find a job!
6. WHAT’S THE SIGN WHOSE AVATAR IS AN AWESOME COMIC BOOK?
J. Torres has a pretty consistent track record of good comics, from “Copybook Tales” to “Teen Titans Go” to “Days Like These” to “Jinx” to about a dozen other titles I could name. Corin Howell is much more of a newcomer but her work on the recent “Bat-Mite” not only impressed me but also made me wish for a book where she could work those artistic muscles without having to conform to a setting seemingly designed to play against her every instinct. Looks like the stars aligned for me to get my wish! Thanks Oni!
MIGHTY ZODIAC #1 (of 6)
Written by J. Torres
Illustrated by Corin Howell
Published by Oni PressWhen the Blue Dragon dies, six stars fall out of the night sky! Ailing Master Long, leader of the Mighty Zodiac, orders his warriors to gather the stars, lest they fall into the hands of the malevolent Moon Rabbit Army. With the stars, the Mighty Zodiac may yet revive their master, rescue their world, and restore the light. Without the stars, the darkness threatens to divide the tribes and destroy Gaya…
5. SECOND COMING
Matt Kindt got all kinds of love for his monthly “Mind MGMT” series (including from this very site) and every single iota of that praise was well-deserved, but what makes that achievement even more incredible is that he was writing a few other monthly titles at the same time. As his Big Two commitments tapered off, Kindt aimed his non-MGMT output at Valiant for such books as “Ninjak”, “Rai”, “Unity”, and the original “Divinity” miniseries. That original story was even more new-reader-friendly than the other titles, which is saying something for Valiant. I’m excited for this follow-up for the same reason I would recommend that title for any science fiction fan: smart, well-
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executed science fiction.
DIVINITY II #1 (of 4)
Written by Matt Kindt
Illustrated by Trevor Hairsine
Published by Valiant EntertainmentThe much-anticipated follow-up to the fi ve-time sold-out series that The Onion/A.V. Club calls the “Best New Superhero of 2015” is here! The acclaimed creative team returns for a perfect new jumping-on point into the expansive sci-fi saga that shook the world!
At the height of the Cold War, the Soviet Union – determined to win the Space Race at any cost – green lit a dangerously advanced mission. They sent three cosmonauts farther than anyone has gone before or since. Handpicked orphans with no connections to Earth, trained as devout Communists, and restricted from having families, they became lost in the stars and encountered something Unknown… Something that changed them.
Long thought lost and erased from the history books, Abram Adams was the first to return. The few that have been able to reach him believe him to be a deity. They say he can bend matter, space, and even time to his will. But, even with limitless powers, he is concerned only with the secret love he hid away from his superiors and the unborn child he never met.
Now, Miska, the female co-pilot of the group, has also returned to Earth…but, unlike Abram she had no secret family. Unlike Abram, she still believes in the Communist ideal. And, unlike Abram, she intends to play a very real role in the return of Soviet glory.
Earth is about to meet a new god. And she’s a Communist. How long can it be before the nations of Earth bend before DIVINITY?
4. NAMELESS CITY BUT BIG-NAME CREATOR
Looks like Faith Erin Hicks is following up her last all-in-one graphic novel with :01 First Second, “Friends With Boys”, with this trilogy, bringing colorist extraordinaire Jordie Bellaire in tow. Based on the action and movement I’m feeling just from this cover, I think she could have gone with the alternate title “Girl Kicks Ass”. Methinks she has another hit on her hands with this series!
NAMELESS CITY VOL. 1 (of 3) HC
Written & Illustrated by Faith Erin Hicks
Published by :01 First SecondEvery nation that invades the City gives it a new name. But before long, new invaders arrive and the City changes hands (and names) once again. The natives don’t let themselves get caught up in the unending wars. To them, their home is the Nameless City, and those who try to name it are forever outsiders. Kaidu is one such outsider. He’s a Dao born and bred–a member of the latest occupying nation. Rat is a native of the Nameless City. At first, she hates Kai for everything he stands for, but his love of his new home may be the one thing that can bring these two unlikely friends together. Let’s hope so, because the fate of the Nameless City rests in their hands. Available in softcover and hardc
over editions.
3. TRYING NOT TO GET A SWELLED HEAD OVER THIS
IDW unveils another slab of Mike Mignola original art goodness with this tome. In terms of additional material (as if AS-OH wasn’t enough for you), the similarly titled hardcover from Dark Horse also collects “The Magician and the Snake” from Dark Horse Maverick: Happy Endings, and “nearly fifty pages of brand new material, all as weird and hilarious as the beloved Screw-On Head.” So while that is not guaranteed to be in this edition as well, it does show you what Mignola had in mind as appropriate companion material for a Civil War-era automaton fighting a zombie and a skeleton shouting “Poppycock!”.
Continued belowMIKE MIGNOLA’S THE AMAZING SCREW-ON HEAD AND OTHER CURIOUS OBJECTS – ARTIST EDITION HC
Written by Mike & Katie Mignola
Illustrated by Mike Mignola
Published by IDW PublishingIDW Publishing is proud to present the second Artist’s Edition by Mike Mignola, the Eisner Award-winning creator of Hellboy. Mike Mignola’s The Amazing Screw-on Head and Other Curious Objects features the classic Eisner Award-winning story of Screw-on head’s epic battles with Emperor Zombie and a host other bizarre and quirky villains, all in the greatest Mignola tradition! This collection will also feature a great selection of other stories as well as an expansive gallery section.
2. THE SPEED OF LOVE?
This being February, there might be a bit of a romantic theme in some of these picks, but with this book showing up, it certainly isn’t one without heartbreak. While this year’s Angouleme Festival and its Grand Prix award has been … uh… controversial, that doesn’t mean titles having won that award previously were without merit. This book took home that prize in 2010 and from everything I can read about it without spoiling things (and with the help of Google Translate), it more than earned it. Last month saw me picking a book from EuroComics for my European translated comics fix; this month has me going to old mainstay Fantagraphics for that pleasure.
5,000 KILOMETERS PER SECOND
Written & Illustrated by Manuele Fior
Published by Fantagraphics BooksWinner of the prestigious Grand Prize at both the 2010 Angoulême Comics Festival in France and the 2010 Lucca Comics Festival in Italy, 5,000 Kilometers Per Second tells—or almost tells—the love story between Piero and Lucia, which begins with a casual glance exchanged by teenagers across the street through a window and ends with a last, desperate hook-up between two older, sadder one-time lovers. Executed in stunning watercolors and broken down into five chapters (set in Italy, Norway, Egypt, and Italy again), 5,000 Kilometers Per Second manages to refer to Piero and Lucia’s actual love story only obliquely, focusing instead on its first stirrings and then episodes in their life during
which they are separated—a narrative twist that makes it even more poignant and heart-wrenching. 5,000 Kilometers Per Second is one of the most delicate graphic-novel masterpieces of the past decade, and certain to delight American readers.
1.HAIL TO THE CHIEF
It’s about time! We brought you Heavy Metal’s announcement of Morrison’s ascension to the magazine’s top spot back in July of last year, and it’s been a LOOONNNGGGG wait to see which issue will be his first. We still have almost three more months to wait, since the Morr-insanity won’t start shipping until April, but at least now we have a date to go along with that Brian Ewing cover and all the anarchic c
omicbooking hiding under it.
HEAVY METAL MAGAZINE #280
Written by Various
Illustrated by Various
Edited by Grant Morrison
Published by Heavy MetalThe curtain hits the cast on the debut of newly crowned Editor-in-Chief Grant Morrison’s Heavy Metal debut! The legendary writer has plenty of surprises up his sleeve, with announcements to be rolled out in the weeks leading up to release of this landmark issue!
Well, that was fun! Be sure to check out the Robots From Tomorrow January Previews episode this week and hear us talk about these books and a whole lot more. And let me know what books YOU’RE excited for in the comments section.
