Hello and welcome to Multiversity’s look at the “Best of the Rest,” where we try to summarize what’s coming your way this April 2020. We’ve already looked at DC, Marvel, Image, and some manga options. Now let’s check out what else the Previews Catalog has in store for the rainiest month of the year.
Get your pull lists ready because April is drenched.
10. The Saga is Over, Long Live the Saga
Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker might have been a major disappointment and a reductive conclusion to the saga, but its design work was impeccable, per usual. The Abrams books are often very well put together and full of interesting information and behind-the-scenes tidbits. It’s too bad J.J. Abrams and Chris Terri weren’t working as hard on building the story as these artists and artisans were working on building the world.
Also out this month, the latest IDW miniseries series, “Star Wars Adventures: Clone Wars.”
The Art of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Written by Phil Szostak
Supervising Art Directed by Paul Inglis
Published by AbramsThe official behind-the-scenes book of concept, production, and post-production art for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker! Go inside the creative process behind the most anticipated film of the century. The latest trilogy in the Star Wars film series brings the Skywalker Saga to a close and The Art of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker will take readers into the creative process behind visualizing the epic worlds, creatures, characters, costumes, weapons, and vehicles of the landmark conclusion to a saga more than 40 years in the making.
9. Fly Fly Fly
Amelia Earhart, one of history’s greatest pilots, is the center of this biographical comic from Sarah Stewart Taylor and Ben Towle. It looks like it’s targeted toward kids, so it likely won’t offer more than an overview of Earhart’s life. The Center for Cartoon Studies helped bring this to life (though it’s published by Hyperion), so I think we’ll see a wonderful presentation.
Amelia Earhart: This Broad Ocean
Written by Sarah Stewart Taylor
Illustrated by Ben Towle
Published by HyperionAmelia Earhart developed a love of flying at a very young age. What began as a simple joy became something much deeper, a commitment to open doors for all women. As Amelia built a name for herself in the field of aviation, breaking numerous records along the way, she inspired future trailblazers to soar to new heights. With an introduction by astronaut pioneer Eileen Collins, Amelia Earhart: This Broad Ocean focuses on Amelia’s triumphant crossing of the Atlantic Ocean in 1928. Panel by panel, it offers a glimpse of her relentless ambition and tireless will to promote women’s rights. Available in softcover and hardcover editions.
8. Resist Everything, Except Temptation
Beehive Books collects Oscar Wilde’s fairy tales in one handsome, expensive volume. Yuko Shimizu provides the illustrations, and that alone should make you start searching shops for this thing.
Fairy Tales of Oscar Wilde: Illuminated Edition
Written by Oscar Wilde
Illustrated by Yuko Shimizu
Published by Beehive BooksOscar Wilde’s fairy tales are some of his most elegant and charming pieces of writing. He produced two books of fairy tales, The Happy Prince and Other Tales and A House of Pomegranates. They’ve rarely been collected in one volume, and never with stunning artwork by Yuko Shimizu, one of the modern masters of illustration and graphic art. Wilde’s original fairy tales are moving, sweet, sad and magical, much like Yuko’s artwork. Yuko is one of the most celebrated and admired editorial illustrators in the world, and her work is perfectly aligned with Wilde’s witty, rueful voice. The edition also features an original introduction by the Pulitzer Prize winning novelist Michael Cunningham.
7. Man, Condemned to Be Free
Another book from Abrams. Gary Cox and Ben Argon try to dismantle and understand exactly what existential conundrums Jean-Paul Sartre was exploring through comics. There’s a chance this book can go crazy and weird. If there was every an opportunity to truly explore the mind, to open the page and blow the lid off our imaginations, a comic book just might be it.
Continued belowThe Labyrinth: An Existential Odyssey with Jean-Paul Sartre
Written by Ben Argon
Illustrated by Gary Cox
Published by Abrams ComicartsAn original look at the philosophy of Jean-Paul Sartre-told in cartoons. As graduates embark on the next phase of their lives, what better way to get them accustomed to the rat race they are about to enter than by introducing them to the philosophy of Jean-Paul Sartre? Cleverly told through the story of a pair of rats trapped in the labyrinth of existence, this allegory humorously conveys the key ideas of Sartre’s existential philosophy in graphic-novel form, accessible for students and readers of all ages.
6. Journey into the Unknown
Laura Lee Gulledge explores adolescent depression in this original graphic novel from Amulet. Tilted toward younger readers, this sounds like it’s trying to give them a language and visualization in understanding their emotions. And if it helps kids figure out what’s wrong with them and push them in the direction to get the help they need, I’m all for it.
The Dark Matter of Mona Starr
Written and Illustrated by Laura Lee Gulledge
Published by Amulet BooksSometimes, the world is too much for Mona Starr. She’s sweet, geeky, and creative, but it’s hard for her to make friends and connect with other people. She’s like a lot of sensitive teenagers-but in the hands of graphic novelist Laura Lee Gulledge, Mona’s struggle with depression takes on a vivid, concrete form. Mona calls it her Matter. The Matter gets everywhere, telling Mona she’s not good enough, and that everyone around her wishes she would go away. But through therapy, art, writing, and the persistence of a few good friends, Mona starts to understand her Matter, and how she – and readers – can turn their fears into strengths. Available in softcover and hardcover editions.
5. Guided Tours of Hell
This satirical comic from Sebastián Piriz and Joe Harris follows an organization that curates guided tours through disaster zones for rich people. I think the concept sounds intriguing and it could be a lot of fun. Though, no doubt, Harris and Piriz walk a fine line between the timely and astute and the exploitative and sensationalist.
Disaster, Inc #1
Written by Joe Harris
Illustrated by Sebastián Piriz
Published by Aftershock ComicsIn 2011, the worst earthquake in Japan’s history (and the catastrophic tsunami that followed) breached the costal Fukushima Daiichi power plant, causing three of its four nuclear reactors to melt down. Forced evacuations followed as the event released enough radioactive material into the air, ground and water to force officials to set up an “Exclusion Zone” for only the second time in history after the Chernobyl disaster, effectively sealing off the land for what may well be the rest of human history.
But that’s only if you don’t have the right connections, the right people to pull the strings, and the desire to experience catastrophe, failure and misery as it really is! Enter DISASTER INC., an underground tourism outfit intent on helping people of means, secrets and agendas explore the dark corners and off-map attractions typical tour groups won’t go to (and various laws don’t al-low). Only Fukushima, known for its famed warrior class and their protection of the land and people dating back to ancient times, is full of deadly surprises and old ghosts.Writer Joe Harris (Great Pacific, Rockstars, The X-Files) and artist Sebastián Piriz begin a disas-ter tour checking out the worst places on earth while digging up more trouble than they can prob-ably handle. Then, in a world on fire and rife with calamity, catastrophe, war and unrest… you’re going to need the right guides to see it for yourself!
4. Muscle n Flo
Vivian Chong presents this companion comic to her theatrical production, “Dancing with the Universe.” She enlists cartoonist Georgia Webber to help portray her struggle with going blind and learning how to express herself through dance. Everything I’ve seen from the art makes this look flowing and moving and presses the medium forward.
Continued belowDancing After Ten
Written by Vivian Chong and Georgia Webber
Illustrated by Georgia Webber
Published by Fantagraphics BooksIn late 2004, a rare skin disease, Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis, left Vivian Chong blind, forcing her to learn a new way of being in the world. She not only survived but thrived, discovering anew how to express herself creatively. Teaming up with cartoonist Georgia Webber to tell of her journey out of darkness and into the spotlight, she released her artistic vision in a variety of ways – including singing, stand-up, drumming, running, and dance. To be released simultaneously with the debut of Chong’s dance-theatre production “Dancing with the Universe,” this graphic novel is an inspirational tale and a powerful work of graphic medicine.
3. This Way It Comes
I don’t know if we’ll ever see “The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina” return, but Kelly Thompson and Veronica Fish’s first “Sabrina” series was crisp and cool that it more than stands on its own. It sounds like they’re bringing the same energy and style to this latest “Sabrina” miniseries, which is definitely a treat in its own right.
Sabrina the Teenage Witch: Something Wicked #1
Written by Kelly Thompson
Illustrated by Veronica Fish
Published by Archie ComicsBecause you demanded it: Volume Two of the critically acclaimed Sabrina the Teenage Witch series by Kelly Thompson and Veronica & Andy Fish! Sabrina saved the day-saved her friends, her family-the whole town of Greendale really, and she should be riding high. But things are never quite that simple. She’s trapped in a love triangle, she’s having trouble balancing the mortal and witch parts of herself, oh yeah, and she’s being blackmailed. As if all that wasn’t enough, while trying to help Radka and Ren with their…supernatural problem, her aunts suddenly starting to look like people she can’t trust. What’s a teen witch to do?!
2. Break the Multiverse
Tyler Crook comes aboard for the latest spin-off of Jeff Lemire’s “Black Hammer” world. Crook’s work is always top notch and I think the combination of his and Lemire’s imaginations will turn in something memorable.
Colonel Weird Cosmagog #1
Written by Jeff Lemire
Illustrated by Tyler Crook
Published by Dark HorseFrom the world of the Eisner Award-winning Black Hammer series comes a bizarre sci-fi adventure origin story!
Wacky space adventurer Colonel Randall Weird leaves Black Hammer farm and embarks on a strange journey through space and time for something that he’s long forgotten with his sanity and life at stake!
1. The Future of Law Enforcement
I’ve followed “OMG Check Please!” for years and I’ve found myself more invested in the lives of these adorable hockey twinks than I thought I could be. It’s a wonderful series and continues to be wonderful to see in print.
Check Please! Book 2: Hockey & Scones
Written and Illustrated by NGOZI Ukazu
Published by First SecondA collection of the second half of the mega-popular webcomic series of the same name, Check, Please!: Sticks and Scones is the last in Ngozi Ukazu’s hilarious and stirring two-volume coming-of-age story about hockey, bros, and trying to find yourself during the best four years of your life. Eric Bittle is heading into his junior year at Samwell University, and not only does he have new teammates, he has a brand new boyfriend! Bitty and Jack must navigate their new, secret, long-distance relationship, and decide how to reveal their relationship to friends and teammates. And on top of that, Bitty’s time at Samwell is quickly coming to an end. Available in softcover and hardcover editions.
Well that was fun! Feel free to let us know what you’re excited for!
