The long summer months are on us, and we’re all still collectively working through our respective pulls before this new batch of comics drops this September. We’ve looked at offerings from DC, Marvel, Image, and manga publishers; it’s time to see what all the other publishers are offering, from new series to reprints to archival editions, in the Best of the Rest for September 2022.
1. Nurse Saviors
The metaphor’s a little heavy-handed in this IDW title, but then again, when aren’t comics about superheroes heavy-handed? Morgan Beem contributes the art for this, which makes it worth a look in and of itself. “Crashing” sounds intense and dramatic and is bound to keep your knuckles white.
Crashing #1
Written by Matthew Klein
Illustrated by Morgan Beem
Published by IDW ComicsRose Osler is a specialist. Her focus? Patients with Powers… at a hospital with a No Powered Patients policy. When a battle between Boston’s protectors and destroyers erupts, Rose is trapped between saving the city’s beloved hero by day and greatest villain at night. Except Rose could become a casualty when she’s forced to risk her recovery. As Rose pushes past her limits to save everyone else, will she be able to save herself?
2. Don’t Just Topple Statues
Stephen Graham Jones is a giant in horror fiction, so good (after working for so hard for so long) even the mainstream literary establishment has embraced him. In his ongoing debut, Jones teams up with Italian artist Davide Glanfelice for this store about time travelling indigenous people attempting to assassinate Columbus. Glanfelice’s burly art seems perfectly cut for this, and it’s cool to see Jones expanding his reach.
Earthdivers #1
Written by Stephen Graham Jones
Illustrated by Davide Glanfelice
Published by IDW PublishingStephen Graham Jones makes his ongoing comics debut with Earthdivers! The year is 2112, and it’s the apocalypse exactly as expected: rivers receding, oceans rising, civilization crumbling. Humanity has given up hope, except for a group of outcast Indigenous survivors who have discovered a time travel portal in a cave in the middle of the desert and figured out where the world took a sharp turn for the worst: America. Convinced that the only way to save the world is to rewrite its past, they send one of their own on a bloody, one-way mission back to 1492 to kill Christopher Columbus before he reaches the so-called New World. But taking down an icon is no easy task, and his actions could prove devastating for his friends in the future.
3. Humanity, Chaotic
David Duchovny has a bibliography as wild as his characters. Mulder. Denise. That weird energy carries into this OGN illustrated by Philip Sevy. Here’s a title that promises to be weird and wild.
Kepler
Written by David Duchovny
Illustrated by Philip Sevy
Published by Dark Horse ComicsWhen the Benadem, benevolent space gods, return to Kepler, a planet where homosapiens went extinct and all other hominid species thrived, their arrival threatens to plunge the world into chaos. West, a 16-year-old Neanderthal girl, is thrust into the conflict and her efforts-unique because of her mixed hominid heritage-not only change her life, but also reveal the merciless ambition and identity of the gods themselves.
4. The Truth, and How We Found It
I think it’s wonderful there are so many comics available for younger and young adult queer readers. Stuff like “Check Please” or “Heart Stopper” give comfort, direction, and empathy to their audiences. Yet, since queerdom is inherently a desire-driven, sex-fueled thing, I wish we could see more material that’s decidedly adult. Tommi Parrish seems prepared to bring that mentality to this comic about fast encounters and friendships, about lusts and desires and connections. Their art is intoxicating and reads as if it can hypnotize you into some deeper truths.
Continued belowThe Lie & How We Told It
Written and Illustrated by Tommi Parrish
Published by FantagraphicsA friendship creaks under the strain of a fumbling encounter between its two participants, leaving them even more lonely and uncertain than before. Parrish’s first graphic novel for Fantagraphics is a visual tour de force, navigating queer desire, masculinity, fear, and the ever-in-flux state of friendships. The Lie and How We Told It is a remarkably resonant work from an exciting new voice in contemporary graphic novels.
5. Neuralpunk
In this title from Nobrow, Dr. Matteo Farinella and Dr. Hana Roš use the medium as a way to explore the brain. Numerous paths form and diverge, twist and wind in a way that evokes our synapses firing. It’s done in black-and-white, too! Here’s a journey into our mind, one which thinks by understanding the mechanics, we can ultimately understand ourselves.
Neurocomic
Written by Dr. Hana Roš
Illustrated by Dr. Matteo Farinella
Published by NobrowNeurocomic is a psychedelic journey through the human brain that explores how we feel, remember, and dream by way of graphic novel. Examining the differences between brain, mind, and soul as well as how different mental illnesses and substances impact our brain activity, it ventures from deserted islands and neuron forests to memory caves and castles of deception. Using a mythical brigade of characters like guitar-playing sea slugs, giant toads, and sea monsters to tell the story, Hana Ros creates a “down the rabbit hole” atmosphere that takes the reader on a trip that feels at times psychedelic, although the art is done entirely in black and white.
6. To Wish
As queer people, I feel like we constantly look toward the old stories and legends for clues about identity. Whether it’s how we re-contextualize them or reshape them to fit modern norms or how we pull them apart to sort through the ways fundamentalist thinking has eroded them. Certainly Melanie Gillman, who created “As the Crow Flies,” keys into this, a queer retelling of several fairy tales. New perspectives on old items helps us see the world in an entirely new context.
Other Ever Afters
Written and Illustrated by Melanie Gillman
Published by Random House GraphicOnce upon a time… happily ever after turned out differently than expected. In this new, feminist, queer fairy-tale collection, you’ll find the princesses, mermaids, knights, barmaids, children, and wise old women who have been forced to sit on the sidelines in classic stories taking center stage. What if the giant who abducted you was actually thoughtful and kind? What if you didn’t want to marry your handsome, popular, but cold-inside suitor? What if your one true love has all the responsibilities that come with running a kingdom? A gorgeous all-new collection in graphic novel format from a Stonewall Honor-winning author and artist.
7. The Bureaucracy Burns
Over the years, Jeff VanderMeer has become one of the preeminent environmental writers. His concerns have always been present throughout his fiction, although maybe not as pronounced as his current work, including in an early story, “Secret Life.” Theo Ellsworth adapts this for comics, infusing the pages with a sense of dread, the weird, and the psychedelic. Our planet is exploding, and the government refuses to do anything about it, so we have to turn to art to phrase it.
Secret Life
Written and Illustrated by Theo Ellsworth
Based off a Story by Jeff VanderMeer
Published by Drawn & QuarterlyWith deft insight, Secret Life observes the sinister individualism of bureaucratic settings in contrast with an unconcerned natural world. As the narrative progresses you may begin to suspect that the world Ellsworth has brought to life with hypnotic visuals is not so secret after all; in fact, it’s uncannily similar to our own.
8. Down Fear Street
Yo, let’s hear it for R. L. Stine, who introduced so many of us, especially us millennials, to horror fiction. That he’s still going, that his work continues to find some connection. For this, A. L. Kaplan bring his cool, moody, and atmospheric visionals to the page, all of it adding up to make this title a blast.
Continued belowStuff of Nightmares #1
Written by R. L. Stine
Illustrated by A. L. Kaplan
Published by BOOM! StudiosR.L Stine is back-but not for the faint of heart-with a chilling take on an iconic character, perfect for fans of Fear Street and EC Comics horror titles!
In Stine’s reanimated reimaginingIn the first of Stine’s reanimated reimaginings, you’re familiar with the classic tale of a mad scientist hell-bent on creating life, but what these two demented brothers have created is something else entirely!
Horror lovers won’t want to miss the legendary author’s return to comics in his first creator-owned single issue series, with art by A.L. Kaplan (Maw, Jim Henson’s The Storyteller).
Fans also won’t want to miss celebrating this milestone event with a Björn Barends variant signed by R.L. Stine and not one but two extra spooky glow in the dark covers by Francesco Francavilla and original Goosebumps cover artist Tim Jacobus!
9. Moon Child
Sourya brings the energy of shonen manga and the spirit of Franco-Belgian albums to this adventure fantasy. There’s so much going on here, so much scope, ambition, and landscape, it sounds like a great time.
Talli: Daughter of the Moon
Written and Illustrated by Sourya
Published by Oni PressTalli is a Summoner: a nearly extinct people, hunted by those who fear their mysterious powers. As a baby, she was adopted by Lord Borin, and all was well for many years… But one day, their castle is sacked by Borin’s rival, Lord Ulric. Talli escapes in the chaos and darkness with the help of the noble (some might say too noble) knight Sir Alan.
With Ulric’s forces hot on her heels, Talli and Alan keep one step ahead, gathering a motley crew of companions and protectors that includes the lethargic-but-incredible swordsman Lélo. Ulric’s Captain Nina pursues them doggedly, but she is unaware of the secret of Talli’s blood: the secret of the Summoners!
Talli, Daughter of The Moon is an incredibly epic adventure from French-Laotian cartoonist Sourya that evokes the best of manga and bandes dessinées in one sweeping narrative.
10. Crack a Noble Heart
“Tragic” is to Hamlet what Scotland, PA is to Macbeth.
Tragic
Written by Dana Mele
Illustrated by Valentina Pinti
Published by Legendary ComicsIn a contemporary re-telling of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Tragic follows the 17 year-old Harper Hayes as she unravels the mystery and grief surrounding her father’s death. After her father Hamilton Hayes dies a mysterious and tragic death, Harper Hayes is convinced that he was murdered. Her first suspect is her uncle Clayton, who has been sleeping with her mother, Greta. With the help of her ex-girlfriend Talia and her best friend (sometimes with benefits) Holden, Harper is determined to find her father’s killer. But when Caius, Talia’s father and Hamilton’s business partner, is found dead, Harper realizes the answer to Hamilton’s murder is more complicated than she had initially realized. And when Harper starts seeing his ghost in the form of a teenage Hamlet everywhere and slipping into hallucinations of his murder that end with blood on her hands, one thing becomes clear-to uncover the truth about what happened to her father, Harper has to confront her own demons and ones that haunt the Hayes family.
Let us know what you’re looking forward to in the comments.
