We’re starting a little bit late, but this week sees the return of Soliciting Multiversity, our monthly look at comic book solicits. We got a bit stalled due to the lateness of Marvel’s solicits, but here we are. Less talking about the article, and more article, am I right?
As a note, this month sees two things different, for those of you who are regular readers of the column: a) I will not be writing about DC’s solicits this month, or ever again. After my overwhelming outburst of negativity, it was decided that it’s probably best for someone more interested in their comics than I am to take over. Look for that from Brian later this week. b) This month will see the addition of several other publishers collected into one post in addition to be more encompassing. While they won’t get individual posts due to the sparseness of their releases in comparison to others, we’re going to do our best to give you a wider look at everything coming from comics as opposed to the four publishers we regularly cover.
Alright, then! With all that out of the way, let’s jump right in with the usual starter – Dark Horse Comics! For my commentary, peep behind the cut. For the full solicits sans commentary, check this link.
Willow Comes To “Angel and Faith”
In “Buffy Season 9”, Willow left Buffy. No, not in that way (despite Buffy’s brief experimental phase in the last season), but due to Buffy cutting off all access to magic, Willow has had to make do in a magic-less world — which in turn has led to a Buffy-less world. It was always assumed she would be back at some point (this is comics, after all; no actor has to be written out of the story due to time commitments or anything), but there was never any clue as to when or where.
Which was too bad, if only to me, because Willow was always my favorite Buffy character. I had a crush on the pre-glammed up HIMYM-era Alyson Hannigan, and I’m not afraid to admit it.
At C2E2, it was announced that Jeff Parker would be writing a Brian Ching-illustrated “Willow” mini-series, but it looks like before that, Christos Gage and Rebekah Isaacs are going to get their own crack at the everyone’s favorite witch. Not only that, but apparently they’re going to be playing with Dark Willow from Season 6 a little bit, which is alright by me.
“Angel and Faith” is the better of the two Buffy titles anyway, if you ask me. Gotta love Gage, Isaacs and London-based vampires!
You Had Me At “Axe”
I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m still fairly enamored with “Axe Cop.” I’ll admit that I’m behind on the website and I’m certainly not caught up on the stories, but you’ve gotta love the wild imagination of “Axe Cop.” The Nicolle brothers are fantastic at what they do.
So now I get more new print “Axe Cop” stories, which is my preferred medium for digesting comics? Done deal!
Mignola x 3!
I’m a huge “Hellboy”/”BPRD” et al. fanboy, almost to a ridiculous extent at this point. If I see Mignola’s name on something, I’m immediately likely to check it out, perhaps even more so than with most comic creators. Mignola has proven time and time again that he is a creator worth trusting, and I don’t see that stopping any time soon.
Seeing that there are three Mignola comics coming out this month (all co-written, admittedly) is excellent. Two new “BPRD” books (including the second issue of Cameron Stewart’s story, pictured here) as well as the end of the new “Baltimore” mini is more than welcome in my collection.
Continued belowAlso — that’s one nasty looking bird creature.
Oh, and don’t forget:
“Joe Golem and the Drowning City” Deluxe Hardcover Is Epic
The solicit information reads:
Mike Mignola (W/Cover) and Christopher Golden (W)
On sale Sept 26
FC, 256 pages
$99.99
HC, 7″ x 10″
After a séance gone horribly wrong, strange men wearing gas masks and rubber suits abduct the aging psychic Orlov the Conjuror, sending his young assistant Molly McHugh racing through the canals of a submerged Manhattan.
As Molly flees her captors through a sunken city full of scavengers, her one hope comes in the form of two strange men: Simon Church, a Victorian-era detective kept alive by clockwork gears and magic, and his assistant, Joe Golem, whose mysterious past is hinted at in dreams of stone and witches.
– The deluxe limited-edition collection features multiple illustrations, an exclusive print signed by the writers, and a handsome slipcase. Limited to 1, 000 copies.
– Features the previously unpublished in print Joe Golem story “Joe Golem and the Copper Girl.”
“Joe Golem and the Drowning City is a warm, wicked, frantic tale of noble monsters and monstrous men. Not merely weird and not simply gorgeous, this supernatural steampunk fable is intimate and profound. It is dreadful and sublime.” –Cherie Priest (Boneshaker)
At $99.99 it’s a bit of a doozy, and will it be easy to read a 256-page hardcover that is over-sized (compared to the version on shelves now, anyway)? No, probably not. But hey, Mignola and Golden are great together. Keep in mind — this isn’t a comic book. This is prose through and through. But you know what? Even though we’re a comic book website, we will admit: sometimes it is ok to read books without pictures
Sometimes.
The Collected Bucko!
We were quite excited when Jeff Parker and Erika Moen launched a webcomic together, and we remained enamored throughout (it made #2 of our Top 5 Webcomics of last year!). The charming murder mystery story is a delightful Portland-based romp, full of character and sass
Here’s the full solicit information for you:
Jeff Parker (W) and Erika Moen (A/Cover)
On sale Sept 19
FC, 136 pages
$19.99
HC, 8″ x 8″
After discovering a dead body in an office bathroom, hungover job interviewee Rich “Bucko” Richardson becomes suspected of the murder. What he thinks is a quest to find the real killer turns into a weeklong romp through the wilds of Portland, Oregon, complete with bike-mounted cover bands, steampunk Makers, Juggalos, SuicideGirls, meth heads, so much absinthe, and an entire city made of books. After taking the Internet by storm, Jeff Parker and Erika Moen’s dirty, funny murder mystery is now the most hilarious book in comic shops!
– Includes brand-new strips, commentary, and info on the real-life inspirations for Bucko!
– Best new webcomic of 2011!
I don’t think there is going to be a quote from me anywhere on the book recommending it, so let me give you one here instead: Buy “Bucko” or else.
Jo Chen’s Buffy Library Cover Is Gorgeous
Jo Chen was the regular cover artist on “Buffy Season 8” for quite sometime, and while he still does “Angel and Faith” covers he has been replaced on the main “Buffy” title by Phil Noto (whose work is great as well). To have him doing the Library Editions of Buffy is a great idea, as his painted covers full of photo-realism are a site to behold, and as nice as this looks on a computer screen I can only imagine how much better it will look on the actual book.
I Can’t Tell Which Cover To “The Massive” I Want More
Here is JP Leon’s cover to “The Massive #2”:
And here is Rafael Grampa’s:
Seriously. How am I supposed to pick?
Oh, and speaking of covers…
Matt Kindt’s “Mind MGMT” Cover Is Creepy From A Distance, Beautiful Close-Up
Seriously. Back away from the computer screen and look at the cover from afar, then get right up next to it and check out how fucking gorgeous this cover is. I absolutely love it.
The Goon! Monthly!
Get into it!
