Hello and welcome to Multiversity’s look at the “Best of the Rest” of what’s coming your way in the now-available January 2022 Previews catalog. Matt is taking a little break so I’m filling in for him this month. Having already taken a look at what Marvel, Dark Horse<, DC, Image, and the Manga/Purple Previews sections 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. We’re currently on hiatus but will be coming back the week of January 24th, so I hope you’ll check us out when we return.
That said, let’s dive in!
10. A Barbarian By Any Other Name…
Ablaze may not be solely in business to bring European stories of everyone’s favorite barbarian over those of us in North America (they have another non-Cimmerian release on this very list!), but they sure are taking that responsibility seriously. These stories were originally commissioned & published by Glenat and are new adapatations of the original Robert E. Howard Conan works, in a similar vein to Blondel & company’s adaptations of Michael Moorcock’s Elric stories released by Titan Comics. Ablaze does take advantage of the American market’s love of variants to give each issue of The Cimmerian a variety of covers to choose from. While it’s unfortunate that Dan Panosian isn’t doing the interiors for Hour of the Dragon like he is with this cover, you can check out Valentin Sécher’s work here and see that Crom still gets top-shelf talent for drawing his favorite son’s adventures.
The Cimmerian: Hour of the Dragon #1
Written by Julien Blondel
Drawn by Valentin Sécher
Published by Ablaze PublishingRobert E. Howard’s Conan is brought to life UNCENSORED! Discover the true Conan, unrestrained, violent, and sexual. Read the story as he intended!
A world to explore. A throne to be reconquered.Under the funeral vaults of the mausoleum belonging to the ancient and cruel Emperor Xaltotun of Python, three men devoured by ambition come to offer to the inert body of the deceased sovereign the heart of Ahriman, a source of immortality which once belonged to him. Taken away at the cost of his life. In exchange for this offering, the three men claim a single thing: the world. However, there is only one person able to stand in their way, a Cimmerian who seized the throne of Aquilonia: Conan!
The Hour of the Dragon is the only full-length Conan novel written by Robert E. Howard, and is considered by many to be one of his best works. It is now adapted into a comic mini series by two visionaries of heroic fantasy and imagination: Julien Blondel, writer of Elric, and Valentin Sécher, artist of MétaBaron bring forth a grandiose, bloodthirsty epic!
9. Duh Duh-Duh Duh Duh, Duh DUH!
(That’s supposed to be “Funeral March of a Marionette” a/k/a the theme to the old Alfred Hitchcock Presents show)
I am a fan of biographical comics, and NBM does good biographical comics. Has done for years. From celebrities like The Beatles and Billie Holliday to the subjects of Rick Geary’s Treasury of Murder series, NBM’s comics cover a wide range of human activity. And now, with this look at the famous English director of Psycho, Vertigo, Strangers on a Train and more, the two ends of that spectrum come back around to overlap.
Continued belowAlfred Hitchcock: The Master of Suspense
Written by Noel Simsolo
Drawn by Dominique Mé
Published by NBM PublishingIn 1960, the film Psycho traumatized viewers around the world. Never before had the angst or the suspense been so well presented in cinema. But where does the talent of this Alfred Hitchcock come from, the one now nicknamed the “Master of Suspense”? To find out, we must first go back to his youth, in England, during the first half of the 20th century. Having grown up in a Catholic family – a religious originality that will be felt in a large part of his cinema – “Hitch” is an atypical Englishman who, very early on, has a taste for telling stories. The temptation to work for the cinema will not be long in coming, first as a graphic designer at Islington Studios in London where his visual talent will lead him to make his debut behind the camera, as an assistant and then as a full director. It is also here that he will meet Alma Reville, his assistant and wife who will accompany him throughout his storied career, including the jump to the big time in Hollywood. Discover the life of undoubtedly one of the greatest filmmakers of all time. The story of a colorful, demanding and quite simply extraordinary artist.
8. SQUIRREL!
Sticking with the non-fiction genre and biographical sub-genre in particular, this next pick is one a little nearer and dearer to my heart. I was diagnosed with ADHD as an adult and therefore particularly interested in learning about neurodiversity through my favorite storytelling medium. The First Second pedigree is pretty impressive, so when they are releasing a book on a topic I have any interest in, let alone a vested interest, I can’t pass it up, and neither should you.
Plus it looks really good!
Button Pusher OGN
Written by Tyler Page
Drawn by Tyler Page
Published by First Second BooksA graphic memoir about Tyler, a child who is diagnosed with ADHD and has to discover for himself how to best manage it.
Tyler’s brain is different. Unlike his friends, he has a hard time paying attention in class. He acts out in goofy, over-the-top ways. Sometimes, he even does dangerous things-like cut up a bus seat with a pocketknife or hang out of an attic window.
To the adults in his life, Tyler seems like a troublemaker. But he knows that he’s not. Tyler is curious and creative. He’s the best artist in his grade, and when he can focus, he gets great grades. He doesn’t want to cause trouble, but sometimes he just feels like he can’t control himself.
In Button Pusher, cartoonist Tyler Page delves into his childhood experiences and explores what it means to grow up with ADHD. From diagnosis to treatment and beyond, Tyler’s story is raw and enlightening, inviting you to see the world from a new perspective.
7. Ready To Set Things Off
It may look like I’m contractually obligated to talk about anthologies whenever the subject of comics comes up, but I can assure you that isn’t the case. I just think they’re generally a neat idea, and when done right (which is tougher than one would think) can really give you bang for your buck. Anthologies like Catalyst are an even greater treasure because they showcase new talent. Is every story going to be an absolute banger? Probably not. But all it takes is one to make this a book to remember. And SelfMadeHero is a publisher that knows comix and knows how to pick people that can comic expectionally well (see their long association with INJ Culbard for starters). Given that, the chances that NOTHING in this book will speak to you are practically zero. So what are you waiting for? Give this book a chance and start paying attention to a whole new crop of cartoonists!
Continued belowCatalyst OGN
Written by Asia Alfasi, Catherine Anyango Grunewald, Woodrow Phoenix, and more
Drawn by Sonia Leong, Woodrow Phoenix, and more
Edited by Ayoola Solarin
Published by SelfMadeHeroCatalyst, a collection of short stories from established artists such as Asia Alfasi, Catherine Anyango Grünewald, Sonia Leong, and Woodrow Phoenix, aims to reflect up-and-coming new voices and the diversity and wealth of talent in the UK comics scene. United by a single theme-“catalyst”-the contributors have each written and drawn an eight-page story that explores ideas of reaction and transformation. Edited by Ayoola Solarin, this provocative, intriguing, and revelatory anthology invites readers to consider the situations, people, and events that might accelerate change in their own lives and in our society as a whole.
Collecting stories from a range of artists of color across the UK, this comics anthology unites their voices under a single theme: ‘catalyst’. In one story, the accidental witnessing of a horrific scene turns a regular day into a nightmare; in another, the truth of what it really took to put a man on the moon is revealed. From tales of misplaced memories to battles with the id, Catalyst offers a look at the consequences of big and small acts alike.
Showcasing a mix of established and emerging artists, this collection imagines the myriad ways in which a chain of events might end in either euphoria or catastrophe. Sometimes both. Edited by Ayoola Solarin, this provocative, intriguing and revelatory anthology invites readers to consider the situations, people and events that might accelerate change in their own lives and in our society as a whole.
6. Get The H Outta Here
And we’re back to Ablaze Publishing with this award-winning thriller. So much of what goes in to making a list like this, as you can probably tell by getting this far into my descriptions, is about judging these books by not only their covers but also their pedigree. I don’t have a clue who any of the three creators are, so that’s no help. But we (1) established Ablaze as a publisher of note for importing & translating foreign material, (2) know that Angouleme is the largest comics festival in the world, akin to Cannes for film, so any comic winning a prize there is something to check out, (3) think having a thriller co-written by a former policeman means the technical aspects of it are probably going to be spot-on, (4) enjoy a good thrill now and again, and (5) like the cover art. This is a book to look out for; case closed.
GoSt111 OGN
Written by Henri Scala & Mark Eacersall
Drawn by Marion Mousse
Published by Ablaze PublishingWinner of the Angouleme 2021 Fauve Polar SNCF prize for “Best Thriller”!
A dizzying dive into the world of police informants.
A model father but unemployed, Goran Stankovic accepts a shady job, gets arrested and has no other choice but to collaborate by becoming an informant. Stuck between thugs and the police, in a world of manipulation, Goran will have to play a perilous double game to get out of it. GoSt111 is as much a perilous thriller as a vertiginous dive into the unknown world of police informants.
A chiseled and hyper realistic dark story, brought to life by the expressive lines of Marion Mousse. Co-written by screenwriter Mark Eacersall, and Henri Scala, who was Commissioner of the French National Police for more than 20 years.
5. Tops Shelf
If you’re like me, you recognize the name Charles Biro as someone associated with Golden Age comics. But I had him pegged as not only the co-creator of Crime Does Not Pay, as mentioned below, but also creating Airboy and working on the public domain boomerang-throwing, not-Matt-Murdock version of Daredevil you see pop up in the pages of Savage Dragon every now and again. I had zero idea he was involved in something as groundbreaking as this. Leave it to the folks at Fantagraphics to bring the knowledge, and to get someone as sharp as cartoonist Michael T. Gilbert (himself of stranger to bizarro comics with Mr. Monster) to put it all together.
Continued belowTops: The Complete Collection of Charles Biro’s Visionary 1949 Comic Book Series HC
Edited by Charles Biro & Michael T. Gilbert
Published by Fantagraphics BooksFrom their inception in 1935, comic books – starring Superman, Batman, Captain Marvel – had been primarily written for and aimed at adolescents. There were always the occasional outlier artists who pushed back against the commercial constraints of comic books and envisioned the next evolutionary artistic leap in the artform: Charles Biro was one of those artists.
In 1949, the ambitious Biro – who had previously co-created the realistically brutal comic Crime Does Not Pay- edited and wrote an oversized comic aimed at adults, called Tops. Like several other radical adult comics projects that would follow, it proved to be a commercial failure and lasted only two Life magazine-sized issues. The original comics have since become a legendary holy grail among comics fans and historians, fetching as much as $6,000 on the collector’s market: written about but rarely seen and never reprinted. Until now.
Fantagraphics’ Tops collects both issues of these oversized experimental comics in their entirety. Some of the best craftsmen working in comics at that time drew these pulpy, sexy, and melodramatic stories: Dan Barry, George Tuska, and others. It includes two stunning pre-EC crime tales illustrated by Reed Crandall, reminiscent of his Crime SuspenStories work. Actor Melvyn Douglas (believe it or not) takes the reader on a tour of utopia, entitled “How Would You Live Under A World Government?” – a positive spin on global Socialism!
A treasure trove of fascinating and revelatory comics history for scholars and fans, this compilation includes an introduction by the editor, the historian and cartoonist Michael T. Gilbert, as well as several other essays providing background on the creation of the series and the publisher, editors, and cartoonists who realized it. It includes a chronicle in essay form of experimental, adult comics endeavors throughout the first half of the 20th century. Tops is a landmark work of historical importance and a mind-boggling reading experience from a bygone era meticulously restored and reproduced in a deluxe hardcover in its originally published dimensions.
4. Read It Again, For The First Time
I recently started a from-the-top re-read of Sakai’s Usagi Yojimbo, a series I’ve treasured for years. One thing that struck me right from jump was how good the series was from those early days and how quickly so much of what the series does well was established very quickly. “Dragon Bellows” predates epics like “Grasscutter” or “Grasscutter II” but it shares with those stories Sakai’s ability to weave so many seemingly disparate threads into one exciting and still accessible tapestry. Even if you HAVE read these comics before, either in their original publication or one of the Fantagraphics reprints, this release has those B&W stories colored by the talented Ronda Pattison, giving this dragon’s breath a little extra heat to it.
Usagi Yojimbo: Origins v3: The Dragon Bellows Conspiracy TPB
Written by Stan Sakai
Drawn by Stan Sakai
Colored by Ronda Pattison
Published by IDW PublishingPresenting one of Usagi’s greatest story arcs in an all-new full-color edition for the first time, giving new readers the perfect opportunity to explore the groundbreaking series while offering longtime fans a new reading experience.
“The Dragon Bellow Conspiracy” stands out among the early issues as the first novel-length storyline, combining all of the characters that had previously appeared separately into one epic tale!
A sinister plot to overthrow the Shogun percolates and one of Usagi’s friends is captured! The ensuing machinations will draw in not only Usagi, but also bounty hunter Gen and the Blind Swordspig, Zato-Ino!
Beginning with these early issues, find out why this series has won ten Eisner Awards, two Harvey Awards, an American Library Association Award, and has been called “one of the most original, innovative, well-executed comic books anywhere to be found” by Stan Lee.
3. Al Ewing Cannot Be Stopped
And who would want to? Certainly not me. From his 2000AD work to his ascent at Marvel with books like Immortal Hulk and The Defenders, Ewing is a must-read for me. This series has been his first creator-owned work, mixing futuristic science-fiction with the feel of a sea-faring, freebooting past. But as good as he is on it, Ewing is matched every step of the way by Di Meo’s art being like little or nothing else I’m seeing on the stands today. This book is as convention-breaking as that cover’s title treatment, and its readers are all the better for having it on their pull lists. Wouldn’t you like to be one of them?
We Only Find Them When They’re Dead vol. 2 TPB
Written by Al Ewing
Drawn by Simone Di Meo
Published by BOOM! Studios* Fifty years have passed since Captain Malik and the crew of the Vihaan II embarked on their fateful mission – and the universe has changed in ways no one ever expected.
* Jason Hauer, one of the fated crew, lives a life on the razor’s edge between the Harvesters and the Worshippers.
* But the only people who can help Jason have their own secret agenda – one that may bring him face to face with Captain Malik in ways beyond comprehension in the next chapter of the acclaimed sci-fi epic from superstars Al Ewing (Immortal Hulk) and Simone Di Meo (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers).
* Collects We Only Find Them When They’re Dead #6-10.
2. Taxi Driver
Taxis are a favorite subject of storytellers, from Scorsese & Schrader on down. Who drives them, who rides in them, where they go… if there are eight million stories in a city like New York (as the old saying goes), a taxi cab probably connects to every one of them. So even though I don’t know anything about the creators and only what you see below about the story, I’m definitely interested in taking the ride they offer because who knows where it goes and what we’ll see on the way?
Continued belowYellow Cab OGN
Written by Benoit Cohen & Christophe Chabouté
Drawn by Christophe Chabouté
Published by Top Shelf ComixAfter twenty years working on film and series shoots, Benoit Cohen is drained. His enthusiasm gone, a desire to stop writing and put down the camera takes over. In the city for a year, he still wonders about how best to absorb the rich diversity of the cosmopolitan metropolis, settling on a simple idea: he will become a taxi driver.
Behind the iconic Yellow Cab, behind the fantasy of freedom and independence, behind the faces of his thousands of passengers, Benoit discovers a world to which he is a stranger. He dives into his new life with the idea of turning it into a screenplay for a future film, but the material he collects from this social experiment marks him deeply, leading down unsuspected paths: First, the administrative maze that leads to the taxi driver’s license. Then the world behind the scenes. And finally, the prejudices that surround the profession and lead customers, cops, and the entire city to look at it-quite randomly-either with indifference, kindness, or aggression. The project transforms into an autobiographical novel interspersed with reflections on the creative process, and with the help of Chabouté, it is now a sensitive, deeply human graphic novel with breathtaking illustrations that pay vibrant tribute to New York City.
1. Another Chance At The Darkness You Need
I sometimes come late to the party. ADHD, remember? I get distrac-SQUIRREL!
*ahem*
I can get distracted and let things fall by the wayside. Especially in comics when there’s not only decades of material I want to catch up on but new and interesting-looking work coming out EVERY SINGLE WEEK! Beautiful Darkness is one of those books I’ve heard about and heard about but never seemed to get. Thankfully, Drawn + Quarterly is making sure I have another chance at picking it up new by putting out this paperback edition. Why should you care? Since I haven’t read it, I’ll point you to Multiversity founder Matthew Meylikhov’s 2014 review.
Beautiful Darkness TPB
Written by Fabien Vehlmann
Drawn by Kerascoet
Published by Drawn + QuarterlyNewly homeless, a group of fairies find themselves trying to adapt to their new life in the forest. As they dodge dangers from both without and within, optimistic Aurora steps forward to organize and help build a new community. Slowly, the world around them becomes more treacherous, as petty rivalries and factions form. Beautiful Darkness became a bestseller and instant classic when it was released in 2014. This paperback edition of the modern horror classic will contain added material, preparatory sketches and unused art.
Well, that was fun! Matt will be back next month. If you want to hear about more Green Section goodness, be sure to check out the next Robots From Tomorrow Previews episode coming soon and hear us talk about books like these books a whole lot more. And let us know what books YOU’RE excited for in the Comments section!
