A new year means new comic titles! Big questions remain: which of these will inevitably be picked up by some streaming service for an adaptation that doesn’t have as big a budget it deserves? Which of these will resonate with young readers and create life long fans of the medium? Will Diamond even survive another year? You’ve read about upcoming DC, Marvel, Image, and manga titles. Now it’s time to check out the rest!
1. Da 5 Crypto-Terrorists
Matt Kindt’s latest title is a deep excursion into the Vietnam jungle. Much like Kindt’s recent “Mind MGMT” spinoff comic, available only through a non-fungible token, a digital sales Pyramid scheme that destroys the environment with the sheer amount of electricity it utilizes, like 35 kilobytes an hour, the story involves treasure hunters stripping the jungle for buried gold. Tyler Jenkins is on this one, too: when left unhinged, Jenkins is more than capable of conjuring the wild nightmare-imagery a story like this deserves.
Though, destroy the environment in fiction, not reality.
Apache Delivery Service
Written by Matt Kindt
Illustrated by Tyler Jenkins
Published by Dark Horse ComicsTwo haunted men are on a hunt in the jungles of Vietnam, searching for clues to a missing treasure trove of gold that was stolen from all over Asia by a Japanese general during World War II. Eventually they find a series of hidden caves in the mountains near the coast. Bodies start showing up-murder victims and mutilated corpses. There is a rumor that the caves and gold are protected by terrifying witches that have been living in the cave system for thousands of years. As our warriors travel deeper into the mystery, they learn more disturbing facts about each other and become paranoid of one another as they get closer and closer to the gold, while, at the same time, a bizarre serial killer is hunting them down.
2. Long Live Kentaro Miura
You owe it to yourself to read “Berserk” in these oversized editions. Every single time.
Berserk Deluxe Edition Vol. 10
Written and Illustrated by Kentaro Miura
Published by Dark Horse ComicsThe G.O.A.T. adult horror manga continues in deluxe oversized hardcover editions. Guts and his companions have finally arrived at the sea, but their respite is short-lived as bloodthirsty beasts possessed by malefic Kushan sorcery emerge from the surf. Guts must again don the Berserker Armor to give his troupe any hope of survival, but the accursed shell threatens his very soul . . . and the lives of his comrades!
3. The Celery Stalks at Midnight
Georgia cartoonist Pat Rooks’s comics are these elaborate throwbacks to mid-century horror and romance titles. Except, of course, with a good portion of the weird mixed in. “Celery Stalks” takes Rooks’s mini-comics and small publications and assembles them in this larger edition. It’s immersive. It’s bizarre. It’s worth its trip.
Celery Stalks
Written and Illustrated by Patrick Rooks
Published by New FridayPatrick Rooks has created a modern-day masterpiece with Celery Stalks. Rooks’ graphic novel seamlessly blends elements of Silver Age horror and romance comics with the modern mystery twists of Twin Peaks wrapped in a visual language reminiscent of Steve Ditko.
4. Soulful Jams
Dave Chisolm attempts to capture the magic of music in this graphic novel. The artwork is immersive and lyrical, and I hope it tries to go for more of that iconic Blue Note aesthetic throughout the whole thing.
Continued belowEnter the Blue
Written and Illustrated by Dave Chisholm
Published by Z2 ComicsWhen Jessie Choi’s mentor Jimmy Hightower collapses at a gig and loses consciousness, she finds herself reluctantly pulled back into the jazz scene she abandoned years earlier. In investigating the music and mystery behind Jimmy’s comatose state, every thread leads to the same question: is Jimmy somehow trapped in this enigma known as The Blue? In her search to save her teacher, Jessie rubs shoulders with legends, uncovers the secret history of Blue Note Records, and faces her own deepest fears.
5. The Eternals
Even the gods struggle to steer us away from an environmental crisis, all for the same reasons as with people: no one can agree on anything because their interests veer in selfish directions.
Maybe one of them would help give Joe Manchin a reality check, one large enough to cancel out his corporate check.
Hen Kai Pan
Written and Illustrated by Eldo Yoshimizu
Published by TitanANCIENT GODS FIGHT A DESPERATE BATTLE TO SAVE THE EARTH FROM ENVIRONMENTAL DESTRUCTION!
Dismayed by the havoc wreaked on the Earth by humankind, its five guardian spirits decide to act. But as they argue amongst themselves on what the judgement should be, one enraged spirit, Nila, becomes determined to take matters into her own hands.
FROM THE CREATOR OF THE ACCLAIMED MANGA EPIC RYUKO!
6. The First Love, the Only Love
In The Keo’s spin on the magical girl formula, the great chosen hero turns out to be a trans boy. This has already been a genre focused on transformation and identities, on secret worlds and fantastic endeavours, so it makes sense it would be something to appeal toward a trans community. I hope The Keo also takes time to explore how their central character must feel about being called a “magical girl” when they no longer identify as such, and how being trans is as much a fight against norms and traditions as it is a struggle to survive in the modern world.
Magical Boy
Written and Illustrated by The Keo
Published by GraphixA breathtakingly imaginative fantasy series starring Max-a high schooler chosen to become the next “Magical Girl.” There’s just one catch . . . he’s a trans boy! Although he was assigned female at birth, Max is your average trans man trying to get through high school as himself. But on top of classes, crushes, and coming out, Max’s life is turned upside down when his mom reveals an eons old family secret: he’s descended from a long line of Magical Girls tasked with defending humanity from a dark, ancient evil! With a sassy feline sidekick and loyal gang of friends by his side, can Max take on his destiny, save the world, and become the next Magical Boy? A hilarious and heartfelt riff on the magical girl genre made popular by teen manga series, Magical Boy is a one-of-a-kind fantasy series that comic readers of all ages will love.
7. Another Drift
This latest tie-in title veers more toward the animated prequel series released on Netflix rather than the Guillermo del Toro original. I like Cavan Scott and the work he has done with Star Wars titles, so I hope he can bring that same sensibility to this franchise. Nelson Dániel’s art also veers away from the messy, overdone illustrations stuffed into these kinds of books, and has the jittery Evangelion energy in its lines, like everything is about to fall apart. I keep hoping the extended Pacific Rim stuff will be good but that original movie was such a confluence of influences and personality that nothing has ever lived up to it.
Pacific Rim: Blackout
Written by Cavan Scott
Illustrated by Nelson Dániel
Published by Legendary ComicsFrom writer Cavan Scott (Star Wars: The High Republic) and artist Nelson Dániel (Detective Pikachu), Pacific Rim: Blackout allows readers to revisit the world of Netflix’s original anime series Pacific Rim: The Black in an all-new prequel adventure featuring fan favorite character Herc Hansen. Herc Hanson, the PPDC Ranger returns as a world-weary jaeger pilot dragged into battle as an influx of kaiju threatens to destroy the Australian continent and all its inhabitants. Along with his niece Olivia, his copilot Cooper, and Marshal Rask, Herc faces brand-new kaiju of epic proportions while battling his own inner demons.
8. Little Fox, Little Fox
A fable about adulthood. A parable of an impending environmental disaster. Gatignol’s art is all fine lines and motion while Merwan’s script hits hard on the emotion. Directed toward younger readers, there’s still a lot to appreciate for anyone searching for an immersive, charged experience.
Continued belowPistouvi
Written by Merwan
Illustrated by Bertrand Gatignol
Published by Magnetic PressJeanne is a little girl who lives with Pistouvi, a young fox, in a charming little cabin at the top of a giant tree, surrounded by a prairie tended by a giant ‘tractor-man’ and the wind-spirit he loves. Together they spend days frolicking without responsibility, but soon, adulthood creeps into their lives… An adorable, endearing, manga-like fairy tale.
9. A Wok in Mustafar
More Star Wars stories that veer off in a completely different direction please!
Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures — Galactic Bake-Off Spectacular
Written by Daniel José Older and Vita Ayala
Illustrated by Toni Bruno and Jo Cheol-Hong
Published by IDWTorban “Buckets of Blood” Buck and Kantam Sy face off in a brutal, intense, ruthless… bake-off!
Lightsabers and Jedi robes are put aside in favor of whisks and aprons as the two competitors bake Master Yoda’s special pastry recipe. But the recipe requires one extra special ingredient: a story! “Buckets of Blood” and Kantam recount the tale of an epic battle as they whisk away, both hoping to win the prize of Padawan approval.
Daniel José Older and Vita Ayala team up in this heart-warming one-shot. Plus, bake Master Yoda’s pastries yourself, with the recipe included in the back!
10. Take that Bottle of Ink and Spill It Over Your Soul
Santos is a keen stylist, and even when his works lose their stride or veer off track, his pages always look so cool. Stark black and white. Blocky character designs. Imaginative layouts. It hits hard.
Until My Knuckles Bleed
Written and Illustrated by Victor Santos
Published by Behemoth ComicsFrom the creator of the bestselling comic, Polar, now a NETFLIX HIT MOVIE starring Mads Mikkelsen, comes a new creator owned series. A tale of crime and capes in the style of THE BOYS, WATCHMEN and SIN CITY. The 90s were the most extreme age of the superheroes… but times have changed. Gabin Hart, AKA Damager, now works as a bouncer in a strip club managed by the Russian mob, hangs out sporadically with his ex Avengelady, and wrestles with the long-term effects of his cyber-implants. But Fate always keeps one last cheap shot up its sleeve for a hero.
See you next time, space cowboys….
