It’s that time again. Here at Multiversity, we have this little thing called Soliciting Week. It’s a week where we take a look at the future of comics and, using the solicitations of comic book publishers, judge what we’re excited to pick up in the coming months. Today, I’m taking a look at what Image will have to offer in October 2017!
10. What Is It Good For? Absolutely Nothing
One thing you don’t see too often at Image Comics is licensed comics. True, this is being published through Top Cow Productions, but it’s still weird to see it rubbing shoulders with creator owned stories. That being said, I’m interested in giving this a look. Warframe as a video game is a pretty interesting shooter with, as far as I can remember, and interesting science fiction aesthetic that could be mined well with interesting creators. We’ll see, this could be cool.
WARFRAME #1
STORY: MATT HAWKINS, RYAN CADY
ART: STUDIO HIVE
COVER: STJEPAN SEJIC
OCTOBER 04 / 32 PAGES / FC / T+ / $3.99The critically acclaimed free-to-play cooperative shooter comes to comics! In the far future, humanity’s descendants scramble to survive in a galaxy rife with conflict, scavenging for ancient technology and long-forgotten secrets. Only the Tenno, powerful warriors, battle to preserve peace and keep the technological masterpieces of the long-dead Orokin out of the wrong hands. Now, a faction of enhanced Grineer soldiers, under the tactician Captain Vor, scour the Earth for a hidden artifact, and only a lone Tenno and a blinded girl can stop them…
9. Oversummer
Ray Fawkes is great. I really don’t have much to add to that thought except I think he’s a fantastic artist with a moody, unique style of painted comics and an atmospheric sense of writing that makes “Underwinter” as a fascinating read. The first volume isn’t even over and they’re already soliciting a continuation, which I’m glad to see. There’s been a trend with Image Comics to take half a year off between arcs and volumes, but “Underwinter” seems to be continuing steadily.
UNDERWINTER: A FIELD OF FEATHERS #1
STORY / ART / COVER / VARIANT COVER: RAY FAWKES
OCTOBER 25 / 32 PAGES / FC / M / $3.99NEW STORY A family is torn apart by a terrible curse. This horrifying new volume in the world of the critically acclaimed UNDERWINTER features lush, fully painted artwork by RAY FAWKES, named by Paste Magazine as one of the “ten best comic artists of 2017.”
8. Viva Las Vegas
I am half convinced that I’ve already talked about this? I can’t find it, but I genuinely think this got advance solicited or something because I remember talking about this in the past. Dan Panosian has been a mainstay of my time on Art Of The Week and is a fantastic artist and I can’t wait to see what he does as a writer and artist on a series. Admittedly, this solicit text isn’t the most original setup, but that doesn’t really matter if the execution is worth it.
SLOTS #1
STORY / ART / COVER / VARIANT COVER: DAN PANOSIAN
OCTOBER 04 / 32 PAGES / FC / M / $3.99NEW SERIES You can say this about the life of Stanley Dance: he did it his way. Unfortunately, his way never took getting old into account. Now, the former boxer is on his last legs, looking for redemption…but he’ll settle for going down swinging. Roll the dice with superstar artist DAN PANOSIAN as he creates a bold and breathtaking vision of Las Vegas, where everything old can become new, and superstition influences how the chips fall.
7. Like Stranger Things, But It’s A Comic And Good
One of the things that’s frustrating about Brian K. Vaughn is that he’s largely very consistent in how good of a writer he is. Despite a massive hiccup in transgender representation within the last year or so, “Saga” continues to be so good that it’s almost fallen under the radar. One of the books that took over as critical and reader darling is “Paper Girls” so I’m excited to be picking up the oversized hardcover. Image has been great for well produced oversized hardcovers of their series, especially “Saga,” so this will be awesome.
Continued belowPAPER GIRLS, BOOK ONE HC
STORY: BRIAN K. VAUGHAN
ART: CLIFF CHIANG, MATT WILSON
COVER: CLIFF CHIANG
NOVEMBER 01 / 320 PAGES / FC / T+ / $34.99From BRIAN K. VAUGHAN, New York Times bestselling writer of SAGA, and CLIFF CHIANG, legendary artist of Wonder Woman, this gorgeous oversized deluxe hardcover is the perfect way to experience the first two storylines of the smash-hit series that The Chicago Tribune named one of the “Best Books of the Year.” In the early hours after Halloween of 1988, four 12-year-old newspaper delivery girls uncover the most important story of all time. Suburban drama and otherworldly mysteries collide in this critically acclaimed story about nostalgia, first jobs, and the last days of childhood. Collects PAPER GIRLS #1-10, along with exclusive extras and a brand-new cover from CLIFF CHIANG!
6. God In The Machine
Despite his recent foray into being that cis dude who wrote a comic about a trans person and got more press than actual trans creators in comics, I’m still largely a fan of Paul Jenkins. At least, the goodwill he generated by creating The Sentry means that I at least have to give his stuff a shot before writing it off. That said, “God Complex” sounds genuinely interesting. Most science fiction tends to divorce itself from notions of religion and faith and when it doesn’t, it largely focuses on Christian theology, but there’s something going on under the surface here.
The solicit text seems to be teasing a fusion of science fiction with fantastic theology, a kind of faith in the technology itself. I want to check this out, this sounds cool.
GOD COMPLEX #1
STORY: BRYAN LIE, PAUL JENKINS
ART / COVER: HENDRY PRASETYA
OCTOBER 11 / 32 PAGES / FC / M / $3.99In the futuristic city of Delphi, a young digital-forensics investigator named Seneca finds himself embroiled in the bizarre murders of three church acolytes. Guided by his cryptic mentor, the Ruler named Hermes, Seneca uncovers a stunning conspiracy and a mystery that will turn his entire world upside down. From writer PAUL JENKINS (Inhumans, Wolverine: Origin) and artist HENDRY PRASETYA (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers) comes a unique vision of a digital future powered by mythological gods.
5. Golgotha: Covenant
When I first read this solicit text, I immediately flashed back to Alien: Covenant (a movie that was sorely underrated) before it took a new path. This is the kind of simple, to-the-point solicit text that gets me interested in a book. The solicit text doesn’t spend a paragraph talking about why you should recognise the creators’ names or their previous works, but instead, opens with a familiar set up only to deliver a unique payoff. And that’s what gets me interested in a comic.
GOLGOTHA OGN
STORY: MATT HAWKINS, RYAN HILL
ART: YUKI SAEKI
COVER: RAFFAELE IENCO
OCTOBER 25 / 128 PAGES / FC / T+ / $16.99In the near future, a group of scientists and military operatives are sent on an interplanetary mission to develop Earth’s first off-world colony. While the crew of the Golgotha hibernates for travel, technology on Earth continues to advance, and when they land on the planet, the crew finds it already inhabited…by another team from Earth that arrived years before they have. Now the crew of the Golgotha find themselves relics of their own time, unwanted by the colony that’s been expecting them for a generation…and this planet holds its own secrets—secrets that could change the nature of mankind itself.
4. Hack’s Back, Baby
“Hack/Slash” is one of the first comics I ever really got into as a teenager. Being a 14-year-old, the idea of a hot goth girl hunting down various horror movie icons was like catnip to me and it also introduced me to Tim Seeley who is still crushing it. Now, the series is returning with a new writer, Tini Howard. I’m glad this is happening because, looking back on it, “Hack/Slash” indulged in some pretty gross and exploitative stuff and I’m hoping that returning with a woman writing the series will be able to, let’s say, slash that.
Continued belowHACK/SLASH: RESURRECTION #1
STORY: TINI HOWARD
ART: CELOR, K. MICHAEL RUSSELL
COVER: TIM SEELEY
VARIANT COVER: JIM RUGG, STEFANO CASELLI
OCTOBER 25 / 32 PAGES / FC / M / $3.99The fan-favorite title returns with hot new writer, TINI HOWARD! Cassie Hack has been living off the grid, but when a new monstrous threat arises to torment promiscuous teens, it’s time for Cassie to pick up the baseball bat once again! Gory, sexy, twisted, and funny…HACK IS BACK!
3. That’s Heavy, Doc
It’s been firmly established that Donny Cates is one of the best current writers in comics. Between “God Country,” “Redneck” and “Babyteeth” and now his exclusive contract with Marvel, he’s been routinely killing it. Now, his story that was serialised in “Heavy Metal” is being collected at Image Comics. Why the jump from “Heavy Metal” to Image? Beats me, but with that #0 tag I can only hope we’ll continue to see more of the series.
ATOMAHAWK #0
STORY: DONNY CATES
ART / COVER: IAN BEDERMAN, TAYLOR ESPOSITO
OCTOBER 11 / 40 PAGES / FC / M / $5.99Behold, puny earth things! A deluxe, oversized collection of the story originally serialized in Heavy Metal magazine, this is the complete adventure of the Cyberzerker and his mighty Atomahawk! Join them on their quest to free their imprisoned God, and find out why GRANT MORRISON calls it: “A screaming black hole feedback squall of death metal Kirby-kozmik energy spinning straight towards your prefrontal cortex. DONNY CATES and IAN BEDERMAN forge a stylish, super-heavy 21st-century mythology of blood, sentient steel, and rebel circuitry. A razor-nova of explosive writing and searing visuals that bury themselves deep in your skull. ATOMAHAWK REX!”
2. Magical Avocado Toast
Now, I know what you’re thinking. I too am very afraid of what the tone of this book will be after reading the word millennial in the solicit text. I’m very much hoping this isn’t going to turn out to be a book where the creators vent their frustrations at the generation after them because god knows we have way too many of those.
Outside of that one aspect, though, “Maestro” seems pretty interesting. For one, you’ve got Steve Skroce and Dave Stewart working together and for two, you’ve got Dave Skroce telling the story of a magic kingdom. I’m excited just to see what kind of mad visuals these too can come up with. Just, please, no safe space jokes.
MAESTROS #1
STORY: STEVE SKROCE
ART / COVER: DAVE STEWART, STEVE SKROCE
OCTOBER 18 / 40 PAGES / FC / M / $3.99The Maestro and his entire royal family have been murdered. Now, his banished son from Earth will inherit the Wizard King’s throne along with a spell that turns its user into GOD. With enemies everywhere, will this Orlando-born millennial be able to keep his new magic kingdom? From STEVE SKROCE, the storyboard artist of The Matrix trilogy, the artist and co-creator of WE STAND ON GUARD and Doc Frankenstein, the writer / artist of Wolverine, and the artist of Amazing Spider-Man and ALAN MOORE’s YOUNGBLOOD.
1. Not The Assassin’s Creed You’re Thinking Of
As you might know, from how often I’ve mentioned “Luther Strode” in my time in this column, I’m something of a fan of Justin Jordan’s writing. “The Family Trade” is, I’m pretty sure, a story I’ve seen him discuss on social media in the past and I’m pretty excited to check it out. Now, I still get hives whenever I read the word steampunk, but I’m going to ignore it here in favour of focusing on the alternate history aspect of the series.
This is a solicit text that doesn’t actually give much away but interests me all the same. It’s a brief overview with a few buzzwords thrown in to catch my attention and, boy, is it effective.
STORY: JUSTIN JORDAN, NIKKI RYAN
ART / COVER: MORGAN BEEM
OCTOBER 11 / 32 PAGES / FC / T / $3.99“THE FAMILY,” Part One Introducing an all-new ongoing series from the creator of LUTHER STRODE, SPREAD, and DEAD BODY ROAD! Steampunk, alchemy, and adventure meet the ocean. On an island city in a world where history didn’t quite turn out like ours, a hidden family of spies, thieves, and assassins makes sure that the world keeps going. Or they did, until Jessa Wynn, their youngest member, manages to start a civil war.
