We’ve looked at upcoming comic titles for DC, Marvel, Image, and manga publishers. Now, it’s time to look at everything else slated to come out this November, or thereabouts, in the Previews catalogue. It’s the Best of the Rest!
1. Cycles Circle Round
Good ole Dan DiDio, returning to writing comics, this one through Frank Miller’s publishing imprint. From the looks of it, this title seems to be full of DiDio’s usual ticks, now with a new skin. Danilo Beyruth has been enlisted to illustrate and he has the superhero spectacle you’d want from a title like this.
It’s also coming out later as an NFT, which, I think is hysterical, because it’s so very dumb.
Ancient Enemies #1
Written by Dan DiDio
Illustrated by Danilo Beyrouth
Published by Frank Miller PresentsEarth becomes the final battlefield for a centuries old war between two alien races. But this final conflict becomes the unintentional breeding ground for a new generation of super powers, each with the ability to influence the outcome of the war. Some super powers choose sides, while others struggle to maintain their independence with the hope of saving the Earth. This series explodes with new characters and creations, written by former DC Publisher Dan DiDio, with design and art by the industry’s newest rising star, Danio Beyruth. As first issues, go, this one is not to be missed!
2. Hoop Dreams
A good sports comic abounds with energy and momentum, melodrama and emotion. With copy that promises a blend of basketball and sci-fi action, this has the hallmarks to be cool. Created by Rudy Gobert, who I understand is a “four-time all-NBA team member, basketball superstar,” there’s bound to be some love of the game and genre all throughout.
Bash Vol. 1
Written by Rudy Gobert & Hellef Bay
Illustrated by Vince Serrano
Published by Titan ComicsYoung Rudy comes from the poor neighborhood of Nevilia, but dreams of a being a star of BASH (a brutal, high-octane version of basketball), and his talent might just make it happen: but can he make it while threats come from every corner of the galaxy?
3. So Big, So Bold, So
Tate Brombal and Nick Robles explore trauma and grief in this title that draws from the same vein as “I Kill Giants” and the 2016 Nacho Vigalondo movie, Colossal. Brombal has developed his craft through stuff like “House of Slaughter” and Robles captures emotion and sensation in every panel. This team has the capacity to create something memorable and I think it’ll be an interesting one to explore.
Behold Behemoth
Written by Tate Brombal
Illustrated by Nick Robles
Published by BOOM! StudiosHouse of Slaughter’s Tate Brombal brings his first original series to BOOM! Studios alongside red hot artist Nick Robles (The Dreaming: Waking Hours).
Greyson’s world is crumbling following his brother’s sudden and mysterious death…
His sleepless nights are haunted by vivid nightmares of a terrifying monster, pushing him to the brink of losing both his sanity and his job as a social worker.
But he’s truly shaken to the core when his newest case-a young orphaned girl named Wren-is found at the scene of a brutal murder, just hours after first meeting Greyson.
The line between nightmare and waking life blurs as Greyson soon discovers that the monster from his dreams might just be real-a mythical, ancient beast that is bringing about the end of the world, with shocking connections to both him and Wren…
4. Portrait of the Artist as a Young Fuck Up
It’s been 30 years or more since “Breakdowns” was last widely available. Pantheon presents a new printing of this mixed media memoir, told with the same verve and style and eccentricity we expect from Spiegelman. An underground sensation, an exploration of the possibilities of the medium.
Continued belowBreakdowns
Written and Illustrated by Art Spiegelman
Published by Pantheon BooksNow in paperback from the creator of Maus, a completely original autobiography, the story of his life as a comix artist. Breakdowns is the chronicle of Spiegelman’s story, featuring vignettes of the people, events, and comics that shaped him. It is told in three ways-in 20 pages of comix that give us the story of his rebellious adolescence, a section on the work he did in the 1970s as an underground comix artist (this book brings back into circulation-and restores-the work of his first book, Breakdowns, out of print for 30 years), and an 8-page essay in which Art looks at the role of comics in the 1970s and how, in ways he didn’t understand until much later, it was already coalescing into a medium whose resurgence now is evident everywhere.
5. On Mars, No One Can Hear You Scream
I’m sort of hoping this spins into a “Colombo on Mars” sort of story, but with a character who “prides herself on never having fired a shot on Mars,” well, that just sets up a Chekov’s gun situation. I’m still here for a good murder mystery and the premise sounds promising.
Fear of a Red Planet #1
Written by Mark Sable
Illustrated by Andrea Olimpieri
Published by Aftershock ComicsMars. Fifty years from now, humanity’s first Martian colony is no longer self-sustaining. Under the thumb of its corporate mining overlords, the surviving colonists slave away just to pay for resupply rockets from Earth, will little or no hope of returning home.
One woman has kept a fragile peace: the U.N.’s first and only interplanetary marshal. A lawwoman escaping a violent past on Earth, she prides herself on never having fired a shot on Mars. But when she’s tasked with solving the murder of the colony’s most hated man, her investigation threatens to tear the red planet apart.
Written by Mark Sable (MISKATONIC, WHERE STARSHIPS GO TO DIE) and illustrated by Andrea Olimpieri (Dishonored, Dark Souls), MARTIAN LAW is a near-future western with the hard sci-fi of The Expanse and the hard-boiled gunslinging of Justified.
6. Wound, Naturally
Here’s the kick off of Bayleigh Underwood and Zac Thompson’s most dangerous game miniseries. Underwood’s vision and style are fantastic, with a strong sense of scale and movement that looks like it lends well to a hyper-violent premise.
Nature’s Labyrinth #1
Written by Zac Thompson
Illustrated by Bayleigh Underwood
Published by Mad Cave StudiosIn the middle of the ocean lies a remote island complex lined with traps and an ever-changing landscape. Created by a mysterious man known only as “Ahab,” the island was designed to test the wills of the world’s most notorious criminals. In a battle royale style game, eight violent felons will fight for survival and to the death over the course of three days of relentless action. The winner receives a wealth or riches and complete anonymity, but at the cost of keeping their silence about the island’s existence. What Ahab doesn’t know is that someone is on to him. Someone has infiltrated his island with the intention of revealing the truth about this twisted game.
7. Compass Points Mean Nothing in Space
Sometimes, this book proposes, you find love and acceptance and grace for those closest to you when you’ve interacted with someone completely different from you.
Navigator
Written by John Bruno
Illustrated by Jordi Armengol
Published by Dark Horse ComicsAn alien navigator, captured in battle on Jupiter’s fourth moon, Europa, seeks sanctuary. In return, the alien will provide his advanced technology to help defend mankind from the alien force that enslaved him and has come to destroy us. In this backdrop is a story of love and reconciliation between a young Marine officer-placed in command of Earth’s forces-his estranged wife, and Amy . . . the daughter he’s never met.
-Visual effects mastermimd John Bruno creates a space adventure of epic proportions.
8. Apocalypse Now
Jason Aaron’s chops are never in doubt and he’s sure to bring his usual spectacle and humanity to this post-apocalyptic story. Illustrated by Alexandre Tefenkgi whose panel rhythms and sense of atmosphere make his work fascinating and immersive. This is bound to be a book comic readers will talk about.
Continued belowOnce Upon a Time at the End of the World
Written by Jason Aaron
Illustrated by Alexandre Tefenkgi
Published by BOOM! StudiosIn this epic post-apocalyptic tale, Maceo and Mezzy have never met anyone like each other, and they’ll need all the help they can get to survive a planet ravaged by environmental catastrophe.
This epic trilogy-each issue overflowing with 30 story pages-spans a lifetime as philosophical differences tear at the threads holding Maceo and Mezzy together.
Will they, and the earth beneath their feet, ultimately be torn apart? New York Times bestselling, Eisner and Harvey Award-winning, and Marvel flagship writer Jason Aaron (Thor, The Avengers, Southern Bastards) launches his most ambitious creator-owned series to date with the first of three unique artistic partners – Eisner-winning artist Alexandre Tefenkgi (The Good Asian) – to take on a vision of the end of the world that’s brutal and nostalgic, whimsical and grounded… and ultimately, timeless
9. Vitruvian Kid
Humanoids and William Augel presents a biographical comic aimed at younger readers. A celebration of curiosity and exploration, it’s certain to inspire readers of any age that they can achieve wonderful things with enough dedication.
Young Leonardo
Written and Illustrated by William Augel
Published by HumanoidsA spirited glimpse at the childhood of one of the world’s greatest artists and thinkers: Leonardo da Vinci.
Have you ever wondered what the great masters were like when they were young?
Meet Leonardo, a curious little boy who closely examines the inner and outer workings of the world around him, gaining inspiration for beautiful paintings and wild machines of all kinds (even some that fly!). Little does he know he’ll one day paint some of the world’s greatest masterpieces like the “Mona Lisa” and “The Last Supper,” and even spur the great period of cultural rebirth known as the Renaissance!
Young Leonardo is a charming tale, riddled with humor and poetry. This book resonates with art lovers of all ages!
10. That Little Vulgar Man (Though His Music Isn’t)
Not content to only do one book, Augel also offers a glimpse into the youth of young Wolfgang Amadeus. Like Miloš Forman, Augel plays loose with history, but in the name of inspiration and celebration, I think that’s O.K.
Young Mozart
Written and Illustrated by William Augel
Published by HumanoidsEnter Young Mozart, the boy genius! Follow the many, real and imaginary, childhood adventures of the world’s greatest composer, as he finds inspiration in the most unexpected places! A journey filled with music and humor, that always ends on a high note! Included: Young Mozart’s Playbook. Play and learn with the musical legend!
O.K. that’s it! Bye! See you next month.
