Welcome back to another month of Soliciting Multiversity. As usual, we kick things off with Dark Horse and May looks like a great month for collections. In May “Berserk” returns, two great Matt Kindt series get new collections and a Kickstarter favorite gets a print edition. Read on for our full top 10.
10. A Long Wait Finally Ends
I’ve never actually been able to stick with “Berserk” because it is super not my thing but as one of the longest running manga series, I have to give it its due and mention it here. There is a new show currently in production and a full season has aired so far so “Berserk” might be having a moment again.
Berserk Volume 38 TP (advance solicit)
Kentaro Miura (W/A/Cover)
On sale July 5 • b&w, 208 pages • $14.99 • TP, 5 1/8″ x 7 1/4″
Guts and company reach the isle of Skellig in hopes that elven magic can cure the afflicted Casca. Meanwhile, Guts’s Band of the Hawk comrade Rickert journeys to Falconia, the seat of power for Griffith, the Hawks’ former commander. But the glittering towers of Falconia cast deadly shadows!
Over a million copies sold of Dark Horse Berserk manga!
One of the most popular long-running adult manga series ever published.
New Berserk anime TV series to air in 2017.
9. A Darker Brand Of Superhero
I don’t want to compare this to Batman because I haven’t read it but the idea of a rich vigilante going the route of brutality is definitely something I’m into. I think Kaare Andrews is one of the more underrated writers in comic books so I’ll be sure to pick this up. Plus it’s only $10 which is a steal for a complete, original comic story.
The Black Sinister HC (advance solicit)
Kaare Andrews (W), Troy Nixey (A/Cover), and Dave McCaig (C)
On sale July 26 • FC, 72 pages • $9.99 • HC, 7” x 10”
A pitch-black tale of a city that lives in fear—not of crime or gangs, but the billionaire vigilante sworn to protect them.
Emerson Black’s superhero identity is no secret: patrolling the night skies as the Black Sinister, he enforces his own brand of psychotic justice, no matter the cost. Joined by his unhinged butler Danby, Emerson protects the citizens of Coal City from kidnappers, gangs, and jaywalkers alike. But who will protect the city from the Black Sinister? And what happens when the mayor hatches a plan to finally rid Coal City of its deranged antihero?
From the creator of Renato Jones, and the artist on Lobster Johnson and director of Guillermo del Toro’s horror masterpiece Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark!
An original graphic novel for only $10!
8. Guest Artist Alert
It is no secret that I love “Black Hammer” and while I’ve tried to avoid being too repetitive here, I have to include it this month because of who’s doing the art. David Rubin is a spectacular artist and I’m super excited to see what he’ll do with these characters.
Black Hammer #9
Jeff Lemire (W/Variant cover), David Rubín (A/C/Cover), and Dave Stewart (C)
On sale May 24 • FC, 32 pages • $3.99 • Ongoing
In the golden age of space exploration, Colonel Randall Weird was on the frontlines. In his interstellar travels he encountered many strange worlds and alien civilizations, but none more curious than the technological marvel that became his best friend: Talky-Walky! Guest artist David Rubín reveals her robotic backstory in this special issue of Black Hammer!
“Black Hammer isn’t just a five-star comic, it’s a five-star series and it has taken fans by storm.”—All-Comic
Featuring guest artist David Rubín (Ether)!
7. Joe Golem Returns
This is a character I don’t know nearly enough about but have always been incredibly interested in. With a new miniseries launching, now might be the right time to jump in.
Continued belowJoe Golem: Occult Detective—The Outer Dark #1 (of 3)
Mike Mignola (W), Christopher Golden (W), Patric Reynolds (A), Dave Stewart (C), and Dave Palumbo (Cover)
On sale May 31 • FC, 32 pages • $3.99 • Miniseries
Two years after he killed a child-snatching monster and stopped an undead takeover in the Drowning City, occult detective Joe Golem searches for a man with superhuman strength who is attacking citizens under orders from the otherworldly voices in his head. But Joe has his own demons to wrestle with . . .
“Joe Golem continues to be everything you could possibly want it to be. Mike Mignola and Christopher Golden are a heck of a team, and Patric Reynolds continues to complement them perfectly by bringing unique worlds to life stunningly with his art.”—Big Comic Page
6. A Grand Finale
I still haven’t had a chance to read the second volume of “Angel Catbird” but really enjoyed the first one. I am all in on this but the real highlight has been the art team of Christmas and Bonvillain. They’ve done some great work together and I hope they work together again soon.
Angel Catbird Volume 3: The Catbird Roars HC (advance solicit)
Margaret Atwood (W), Johnnie Christmas (A/Cover), and Tamra Bonvillain (C)
On sale July 4 • FC, 104 pages • $14.99 • HC, 6” x 9”
It’s all-out war in the madcap conclusion to Angel Catbird’s superhero saga. The evil rat army is aiming for world domination, and only a ragtag gang of half-cats stands in their way. Internationally best-selling novelist and animal lover Margaret Atwood pens the conclusion to the dramatic, hilarious, and heartwarming trilogy.
Featuring a foreword by Kelly Sue DeConnick!
“Full of action, romance, humor, and even a message about making our world safe for cats and birds. It’s also beautifully illustrated by Atwood’s collaborators, artist Johnnie Christmas and colorist Tamra Bonvillain.”—Mental Floss
5. Lovecraft Inspires The World
H.P. Lovecraft is an incredibly divisive person due to his horrid racial views but his work and his influence cannot be denied. This collection is full of manga adaptation of some of his short stories and for anyone who’s a fan of the Japanese art style, it will be a must have. I don’t have a huge familiarity with all of Lovecraft’s work but I’m interested in this.
H. P. Lovecraft’s The Hound and Other Stories TP (advance solicit)
Gou Tanabe (W/A/Cover)
On sale July 12 • b&w, 184 pages • $12.99 • TP, 5” x 7 1/8”
A pair of decadent young men pursue the abhorrent thrill of grave robbing . . . A German submarine’s crew is driven mad by the call of an underwater temple . . . An explorer in the Arabian Desert discovers a hideous city older than mankind. This moody and evocative manga gets back to the dark foundations of the Cthulhu mythos, adapting three of H. P. Lovecraft’s original stories that first shaped the outlines of cosmic horror!
Artist Gou Tanabe’s first publication in English!
Gou Tanabe is a favorite creator of Taiyo Matsumoto (Sunny, Tekkonkinkreet).
From Japan’s magazine Comic Beam, acclaimed home of the manga Thermae Romae, Emma, and Wandering Son.
4. When The Hunters Become The Hunted
How do you hunt a Predator? I’m not sure but these aliens have figured it out and I’m super interested in finding out how when they don’t have Jesse Venture or Arnold Schwarzenegger on their side.
Predator: Hunters #1 (of 5)
Chris Warner (W), Francisco Ruiz Velasco (A/Variant cover), and Doug Wheatley (Cover)
On sale May 3 • FC, 32 pages • $3.99 • Miniseries
Space aliens have been coming to Earth for centuries—but not with any message of brotherhood or peace. They’re here to hunt the toughest, most dangerous humans they can find. Only now their former prey have teamed up against them. Predators, watch your backs!
Written by Predator comic series veteran Chris Warner!
Art by Francisco Ruiz Velasco.
Covers feature special metallic ink!
3. The Mystery…Deepens (Get it?)
I’m woefully behind on “Dept. H” but I cannot hype these hardcovers enough. Like “Mind MGMT”, “Dept. H” is getting these big, beautiful deluxe editions instead of your standard paperback. They cost more but you get more for your money and Matt Kindt even opens up pre-orders to get one with a unique sketch inside. If you don’t want to order it from your LCS, there’s always that option.
Continued belowDept. H Volume 2: After the Flood HC (advance solicit)
Matt Kindt (W/A/Cover) and Sharlene Kindt (C)
On sale July 5 • FC, 168 pages • $19.99 • HC, 7” x 10”
Six miles below the surface of the ocean, Mia has to solve a locked-room murder mystery before the crime scene is completely flooded. As the crew tries to save the Dept. H base from destruction, some of them start to take matters into their own hands. But the bottom of the ocean is full of unknown dangers, and with time running out, rescue is almost impossible. Collects issues #7-#12.
A complete arc! A perfect jumping-on point for new readers!
“[Kindt’s comics are] nothing short of genius.”—Jesse Alexander, producer of Lost
2. An Explanation For Everything
“Ether” is a really beautiful looking, magical mystery with some science thrown in for good measure. It’s one of the most memorable genre books I read last year so I’m excited that it’s collected for trade waiters to finally get into.
Ether Volume 1: Death of the Last Golden Blaze TP (advance solicit)
Matt Kindt (W) and David Rubín (A/Cover)
On sale July 19 • FC, 152 pages • $14.99 • TP, 7” x 10”
A science-minded adventurer gets mixed up in the mysteries of a fantasy world in this charming new adventure from an award-winning creative team. Boone Dias is an interdimensional explorer, a scientist from Earth who has stumbled into great responsibility. He’s got an explanation for everything, so of course the Ether’s magical residents turn to him to solve their toughest crimes. But maybe keeping the Real and the Abstract separate is too big a job for just one man. Collects issues #1–#5.
“Kindt is one of the smartest genre writers in comics.”—Mental Floss on Ether
1. Finally, A Doc Unknown Collection Done Right
FINALLY! Fabian Rangel Jr. is like the best kept secret in comics books. He’s run a bunch of really successful kickstarter campaigns and is starting to snag high profile gigs. He’s also awesome and now you can get “Doc Unknown” from your comic shop. It is a great series that combines a lot of different genre elements into one completely unique thing. This is something you should do because it’s cool and you want to be cool.
The Complete Doc Unknown HC(advance solicit)
Fabian Rangel Jr. (W) and Ryan Cody (A/Cover)
On sale July 19 • FC, 360 pages • $24.99, 6” x 10”
After crash-landing his fighter plane during World War II, Warren Williams is taken in and trained by the warrior monks of the secret temple of Min-Yao. After a Nazi ambush, Warren returns to Gate City as Doc Unknown, a mystery man on the side of light in a world being consumed by darkness.
Read as Doc Unknown must protect Gate City from ruthless gangsters, monstrous mobsters, possessed museum attractions, evil secret societies, vampire ninjas, vengeful ghosts, hypnotizing fish-women, and much more!
Pinups by Mike Mignola, Eric Powell, and more.
Did I miss anything? Let me know in the comments below and go over to CBR for the full solicitations!
