Hello and welcome to Multiversity’s look at the “Best of the Rest,” where we try to summarize what’s coming your way this September 2019. We’ve already looked at DC, Marvel, Image, and manga offerings. Now let’s check out what else the Previews Catalogue has in store!
Get your pull lists ready because September has a lot of great stuff slated to come out.
10. How Many Ways to Illustrate a Scream?
No doubt Ridley Scott’s Alien has lodged itself into the cultural zeitgeist. In this appreciation of the film from 40 different artists, Titan Books hopes to give us an overview of its influence, its status, and its permeance. Considering how well Titan generally assembles their art books, this should be a thing of beauty.
Alien: 40 Years 40 Artists
Written and Illustrated by Various
Published by Titan BooksAn artistic tribute to the sci-fi horror masterpiece. 40 artists, filmmakers, and fans contribute a piece of original art to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Alien. Pieces range from alternative posters to gothic interpretations of key scenes. Sketches, process pieces, and interview text accompany each new and unique nightmare. Contributors include Blade Runner 2049 director Denis Villeneuve; and Star Wars creature designer Terryl Whitlatch.
9. An Unwanted Child in a Hellish Marriage
This looks like a book that’s trying to push everything the medium can offer to its extremes. The murder-mystery element is whatever, but Vecchio’s art is haunting and open and eerie.
Wild Strawberries at World’s End
Written by Bruce Kim
Illustrated by Katia Vecchio
Published by Source Point PressA supernatural murder mystery set in the ’90s rural South Korea. A powerful and emotion-fueled story by Bruce Kim, with haunting art and colors by Katia Vecchio.
8. But Then the Marriage is Over
Bennett and Leiz are going Gothic with this one. I hope it’s as ridiculous and melodramatic and visually ambitious as it sounds, or as what these two creators have given us previously.
Horde
Written by Marguerite Bennett
Illustrated by Leila Leiz
Published by Aftershock ComicsAfter the death of her father, Ruby Ando tries to reconnect with her estranged and isolated mother, whose hoarder house is a nightmare labyrinth of secrets and dangers. All the love Ruby was never shown she sees her mother lavish on her treasures and trinkets, the possessions that possess her. But when Ruby desperately tries to free her mother, the house wages war, ensnaring both women within its maze. Brought to hideous and twisted life by a mother’s love, the “Horde” is determined to purge Ruby from the collection-or see her join it forever.
Brought to life by Marguerite Bennett (ANIMOSITY, DC’s Bombshells, Batwoman) and Leila Leiz (ALTERS, Nvrlnd), HORDE is a haunting, housebound horror story about the things we let control us.
7. P. A. R. T. Why? Because Why Not?
Dark Horse digs out the old material for its latest revival. Maybe the material’s gruesome zaniness and go-for-broke cartoonish tone will match the gruesome cartoon that is our modern political world. Or maybe it’ll just be gruesome. We’ll see.
The Mask: I Pledge Allegiance to the Mask #1
Written by Christopher Cantwell
Illustrated by Patric Reynolds
Published by Dark Horse ComicsThe best-selling comic series that inspired the blockbuster film returns with gruesome hilarity from the showrunner of AMC’s Halt and Catch Fire and Hellboy’s Patric Reynolds.
Years ago, a weird mask of unknown origin and limitless power was buried in the cement of an apartment building’s basement floor. Edge City and its residents have all but forgotten the mysterious green-faced killer known only as “Big Head.” But now, decades later, the bizarre Tex Avery-style killings are happening all over again and are on a collision course with a bizarre political campaign where a homicidal maniac wants to “Make America Green Again”!
6. La Casa de Los Espiritus
Roca’s latest effort delves further into his explorations of mortality and relationships. Much like “Wrinkles,” this sounds like it’s going straight for the soul with its honesty, its grief, and its heart. (Fantagraphics also offers this book in Spanish.)
The House
Written and Illustrated by Paco Roca
Published by Fantagraphics BooksIn this graphic novel by the internationally acclaimed, award-winning Wrinkles cartoonist, three adult siblings relive old conflicts as they clear out the family vacation home after their father’s death.
The graphic novel The House is at once deeply personal (dedicated to Roca’s own deceased father) and entirely universal. Three adult siblings return to their family’s vacation home a year after their father’s death. They each bring their respective wives, husbands, and children with the intention to clean up the residence and put it on the market. But, as garbage is hauled off and dust is wiped away, decades-old resentments quickly fill the vacant home. Roca asks what happens to brothers and sisters when the only person holding the family together is now gone.
5. You’re in for a Whole Mess of Awesome
“Tintin” is one of the greatest comics of all time. Little Brown has collected all 23 of his adventures (including some that haven’t appeared in the three-in-one omnibi) in this handsome box set. I actually don’t have any idea if this is going to be printed in full-size album pages — which would be ideal — or the digest formats. Either way, Tintin is fantastic.
The Adventures of Tintin: The Complete Collection
Written and Illustrated by Hergé
Published by Little BrownTintin, Hergé’s classic comic book creation, is one of the most iconic characters in children’s books. To celebrate Tintin’s 90th anniversary, the original 23 adventures have been collected together for the first time. Now including Tintin and Alph-Art and Tintin in the Land of the Soviets, this unique collection will delight Tintin fans old and new. Perfect for lovers of graphic novels, mysteries, and historical adventures. From the Soviet Union to America, to outer space and the depths of the ocean, there are over 1,600 pages of delight in these eight volumes. The ultimate gift for any Tintin fan.
4. Walk Down the Wrong Alley….
There was a time Ann Nocenti could really pull off the dark, gritty atmosphere necessary in a neo-noir story. It’s Biondi who’s the real object of interest here, though, is Biondi, making her American comics debut. She did the evocative and immersive “Generations,” and I hope she can carry that same level of tension and emotion here.
Ruby Falls #1
Written by Ann Nocenti
Illustrated by Flavia Biondi
Published by Dark Horse ComicsRuby Falls is a sleepy town. But sleep brings nightmares, and Lana is about to wake up in the middle of her hometown’s biggest secret: the “disappearance” of infamously progressive Betty Gallagher during the mobster-ruled heyday of the old mining town. When details of the cold-case murder start to come out through her grandmother Clara’s foggy, dementia-jumbled memories, Lana becomes obsessed with cracking the case, even if it splinters the peaceful town-and endangers everything she loves.
From Ann Nocenti (The Seeds, Daredevil) and rising talent Flavia Biondi (Italian artist of La Generazione making her American comics debut) comes Ruby Falls: a neo-noir tale of love, memory, and murder mysteriously woven through three generations of women, and hinging on their individual, intertwined fights for freedom.
3. Through the Cosmos
I’m getting major Solaris vibes from the concept.
Continued belowLupus
Written and Illustrated by Frederik Peters
Published by Top ShelfLupus Lablennorre is a man on the run. Like a cosmic Odysseus, he wanders from planet to planet, haunted by his past and orbiting around a woman. It starts as a fishing trip with his ex-military pal Tony. Their lifelong friendship has started to feel different lately, and not just because of the drugs. Picking up Sanaa, a wealthy and mysterious runaway, only complicates the situation. When tragedy strikes and they’re forced to flee, new worlds await with many ways to disappear. But Lupus will find that the tendrils of friendship, love, and family are not so easily severed. Armed with astonishingly expressive brushwork and a dreamy, intimate narrative, Frederick Peeters drifts on the solar winds to a new understanding of memory, guilt, isolation, and connection.
Award-winning Swiss graphic novelist Frederik Peeters (Blue Pills) soars to new heights with an existential interplanetary epic that never strays far from the human heart.
2. Contain the Apocalypse
“Kaijumax” is wild. “Kaijumax” is savage. “Kaijumax” consistently remains one of the best, most interesting, most thought-provoking comics being published today. We could talk about how much Cannon understands the genre, especially in how it uses these creatures for its social commentary and bleak worldview. We could also talk about how much Cannon understands the genre, especially in how he knows how much fun it is to watch giant monsters fighting other giant monsters. The latest season heads toward death row. If this latest arc is anything like the other, expect to be taken on a ride.
Kaijumax Season 5 #1
Written and Illustrated by Zander Cannon
Published by One PressNEW SEASON! NEW JUMPING ON POINT! The longest rampage is the Orange Mile. Follow us down into the bowels of the earth to Kaijumax’s Death Row, where all appeals to cosmic justice have been exhausted and the planet’s worst killers await their fates. Powerful mob boss Pikadon is defiant as he is finally brought to trial for an infamous cop-killing, but his legendary reputation is on the wane after a long time in hiding. Up on the pound, the remnants of the prison’s other gangs adjust to the arrival of a charismatic new inmate Sprinkles the Unidragon whose history (and charges) are shrouded in mystery. Also: Exonerating special effects footage! Giant-sized side hustles! And… ominous onomatopoeia?
1. Onward and Upward
For the course of its run, “Giant Days” was consistently one of the most delightful and touching offerings on comic stands. It’s sad to see it end, just like it’s sad when you watch your friends cross the stage on graduation day, knowing in the back of your mind you’re probably never going to see these people again, but it’s also necessary. Some readers may want to buy two copies, just in case one gets ruined by their tears.
Giant Days: As Time Goes By
Written by John Allison
Illustrated by Max Sarin
Published by BOOM! Studios* One year after their graduation from university, Esther De Groot and Daisy Wooten are back in Sheffield for a reunion with Susan and McGraw.
* The year apart has not been easy for all of them, and this reunion will only draw out the secrets they have all been keeping for too long!
* The series finale of one of the most acclaimed comics series of the decade reveals the future of everyone’s favorite best friends!
Well that was fun! Feel free to let us know what you’re excited for!
