Well, here we are again. Another month, another lot of solicits and this time we will looking into the far flung future of August to see what Image Comics has in store for us. Spoiler alert: there’s not a whole lot of new series this month so I’ll be taking a look at the interesting stuff that might have slipped under your radars while you focused on making your checklist for the month. I mean, I’m not the only person who does that, right?
But first, shout-outs:
- “Alex + Ada” will be getting its third trade paperback in August which will wrap up the last few issues of the series and will complete the collection for anyone reading in trades. It will also mean I’ll have no excuse not to read that series anymore.
- “Invisible Republic” gets its first trade at Image’s $9.99 introductory price. I’ve only read the first issue of the series at time of writing, but I enjoyed it immensely. If you missed this one, it’ll be a good chance to catch up.
- “RUNLOVEKILL” also gets a first trade, but after reading the first issue I wasn’t quite as impressed. Maybe it’ll read better in trade?
That’s it! Those are the shout-outs. Now onto the Top Ten:
10. Has Anyone Checked On Chip Zdarsky Lately?
Because I think writing these “Sex Criminals” solicitations are doing more harm than good at this point.
SEX CRIMINALS #13
story: MATT FRACTION
art / cover: STEVE ZDITKO
AUGUST 19 / 32 PAGES / FULL COLOR / MMMMMM / $3.50
Bwakka-chikka-wakka-chikka-wakka-chikka-wakka-chikka-wakka-chikka-wakka-chikka-wakka-chikka-wakka-chikka-wakka-chikka-wakka-chikka-wakka-chikka-BWOMP
9. “Southern Bastards” Goes True Detective
So far, “Southern Bastards” has been an eclectic mix of genres and protagonists that has segued from a Coen Brother-esque black comedy revenge thriller to a coming-of-age drama about football. Now, Jasons Aaron and Latour are delving deep into the horrors of Southern Gothic as they introduce a character describe as “more dangerous than Coach Boss” and who hates football. I can think of no greater crime in this book. And from the looks of that cover, things are about to go nuts.
SOUTHERN BASTARDS #11
story: JASON AARON
art / cover: JASON LATOUR
AUGUST 26 / 32 PAGES / FULL COLOR / MATURE READERS / $3.50
Deep in the woods of Craw County lives a man who may be even more dangerous than Coach Boss. He hunts with a bow. Handles snakes. Hates football. And has just been given a special mission from God.
8. The Punniest Omnibus Around
I’m quite a fan of the artwork of Michael Avon Oeming, but unfortunately because I haven’t yet read “Powers” I haven’t really found a way to experience his work yet. Thankfully, Image is doing me and many others a favour by collecting many of Oeming’s out of print stories from the last 15 years in one handy dandy omnibus. And the best part? The title is a pun. It’s a pun! Who doesn’t want this book?
OEMNIBUS TP
story / art: MICHAEL AVON OEMING, NEIL VOKES, BRYAN J.L. GLASS, DANIEL BERMAN, & ETHAN BEAVERS
AUGUST 05 / 304 PAGES / FULL COLOR / 12+ / $24.99
Collecting seven one-shots and short stories created with Image Comics over the past 15 years, this volume includes out of print and rarely seen stories by Powers co-creator MICHAEL AVON OEMING. Collects 86 VOLTZ, PARLIAMENT OF JUSTICE, GOD COMPLEX, SIX, & more
7. “Morning Glories” Turns Five
“Morning Glories” is kind of a big deal around these parts what with Multiversity being the home to MGA Study Hall and all, but the bummer is that I’ve only read the first deluxe hardcover worth of issues. I enjoyed them a lot and want to keep collecting those books, but as far as I can tell I never got into the deep end of how weird this series. However, I can commend it for being a creator owned book that has hit 50 issues without being “The Walking Dead”. That’s an impressive feat and I can’t wait to eventually read this issue some time in the next ten years.
Continued belowMORNING GLORIES #50
story: NICK SPENCER
art: JOE EISMA
covers A-D: RODIN ESQUEJO
AUGUST 19 / 48 PAGES / FULL COLOR / MATURE READERS / $4.50
SPECIAL FIFTH ANNIVERSARY EDITION! Celebrating five years of mind-bending mysteries with a blockbuster Season Two finale! It’s our biggest issue yet—with an ending that will leave EVERYONE talking. A true can’t-miss moment in one of the longest-running epics in comics today.
6. The Return Of “Nowhere Men”… Sort Of?
Okay, so I’ll admit that the actual solicitation for this book isn’t the really exciting part here. Sure, a new printing of the “Nowhere Men” trade paperback with the cover recoloured all fancy like by the ever great Jordie Bellaire means you can throw this book at anyone you know who hasn’t read “Nowhere Men” yet. But you know what’s the really exciting part? The really exciting part is that this trade is being reprinted “to herald the series’ return in Fall 2015”. “Nowhere Men” is coming back! Hell yeah!
NOWHERE MEN, VOL. 1: FATES WORSE THAN DEATH TP (NEW PRINTING)
story: ERIC STEPHENSON
art / cover: NATE BELLEGARDE, JORDIE BELLAIRE, & FONOGRAFIKS
AUGUST 05 / 144 PAGES / FULL COLOR / MATURE READERS / $9.99
The Eisner-nominated sci-fi hit returns in a new printing, with an all-new cover to herald the series’ return in Fall 2015.
5. A New Story From “8House”
“8House” is a series I featured in this column a couple months back largely because the solicit for the first issue featured the words “genderqueer knight”. I’m featuring it again to highlight the fact that the third issue of the series features the first change in stories. I don’t know if anyone remembers, but “8House” was originally marketed at a series of miniseries linked by common thematic threads. If the lineup of stories and creators is the same then the next story will be by Emma Rios and Hwei Kim and I will just as excited for that one.
8HOUSE: KIEM #3
art / cover: XURXO G. PENALTA
story: BRANDON GRAHAM
AUGUST 19 / 32 PAGES / FULL COLOR / MATURE READERS / $2.99
A new 8HOUSE storyline starts this issue with amazingly detailed art by XURXO G. PENALTA as an astral projection soldier is sent on a secret mission.
4. Because Everyone Wants That Artist Edition Money
With the ever growing popularity of IDW’s Artist Editions, I’m not at all surprised that other publishers are moving to capitalise on that popularity with their own versions. We’ve already seen DC and others do it, so now it’s Image’s turn and what better place to start than with the Most Popular Comic Ever™: “The Walking Dead”. However, what’s noticeable about this is that it’s only collecting the artwork of a single issue as opposed to multiple issues. This is likely to cut down on costs and keep this book at $20 instead of the $100+ price tags of the IDW Artist Editions. Still, this could be cool depending on what issues Image decide to push in this format.
IMAGE GIANT-SIZED ARTIST’S PROOF EDITION: THE WALKING DEAD #1
story: ROBERT KIRKMAN
art / cover: TONY MOORE
AUGUST 26 / 32 PAGES / B&W / MATURE READERS / $19.99
The all-new IMAGE GIANT-SIZED ARTIST’S PROOF EDITION series presents special artist achievements in their raw form in an oversized format. TONY MOORE’s gritty line work from THE WALKING DEAD #1 is presented here in glorious black and white inks, free of grey tones, at 11×17.
3. The Darkest Of Corridors
We’re finally at the new books for the month! Yay! Now, I haven’t encountered Rich Tommaso’s work before now, but when a solicit describes a book as “Goodfellas as re-imagined by Quentin Tarantino” then you have my attention. Add to that Image reputation of putting out great crime books like “Secret”, “The Fade Out” and “Stray Bullets” and I will very likely give this a read. I don’t really have much to say about this one as there isn’t a lot to go on, but it seems pretty interesting.
Continued belowDARK CORRIDOR #1
story / art / cover: RICH TOMMASO
AUGUST 05 / 24 PAGES / FULL COLOR / MATURE READERS / $3.99
From the author of Clover Honey and 8 ½ Ghosts, RICH TOMMASO, comes an all-new ONGOING SERIES set in the fictional coastal city of RED CIRCLE—a city totally controlled by mobsters—who, after decades of wielding power, are silently being picked off oneby- one by unidentified female assassins. Like a Goodfellas script re imagined by Quentin Tarantino, this sprawling crime-adventure will keep you guessing and tuning in for more month after month!
2. Enter “Beauty Is Only Skin Deep” Pun Here
Now, this is what I’m talking about. Jeremy Haun is a creator whose work I’ve been following for a while (and featured in Art Of The Week more than once), but never had a chance to actually pick up any of his work before now. That’s definitely going to change with “The Beauty” that sounds like the perfect mix of sci-fi, horror and crime drama with a very interesting concept: what if physical beauty was attainable by anyone by way of a sexually transmited disease? What if it also had a price? These are the kind of books that I really dig into and this reminds me just enough of Cullen Bunn and Vanesa del Rey’s “The Empty Man” to have me excited. I’ll definitely be checking this one out.
THE BEAUTY #1
story: JEREMY HAUN & JASON A. HURLEY
art / cover A: JEREMY HAUN
cover B: JENNY FRISON
cover C: KEVIN WADA
AUGUST 12 / 32 PAGES / FULL COLOR / MATURE READERS / $3.50
THE PILOT SEASON WINNER RETURNS! Modern society is obsessed with outward beauty. What if there was a way to guarantee you could become more and more beautiful every day? What if it was a sexually transmitted disease? In the world of The Beauty, physical perfection is attainable. The vast majority of the population has taken advantage of it, but Detectives Foster and Vaughn will soon discover it comes at a terrible price. Writer/artist JEREMY HAUN (Constantine, Batwoman) and co-writer JASON A. HURLEY offer up a startling reflection on the cost of looking good in this procedural science fiction tale.
1. Move Over, “WicDiv”, The Champ Has Returned
Calling all millennials: the prodigal comic has returned. The book that made a name for Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie before they went on to bring their flair of the London party scene to Marvel with “Young Avengers” is back! “Phonogram” is a book I’ve heard a lot about, but never had a chance to check (gee, it’s almost as if there’s more comics out there than we’ll ever have time to read, huh?) out and it looks like I’ll have to check out before this new series hits. I’ve loved what Gillen and McKelvie have done with “The Wicked + The Divine” and really dug their work together on “Young Avengers” and seeing them return to the book that brought them together will be very interesting to see. I can’t wait.
PHONOGRAM: THE IMMATERIAL GIRL #1
story: KIERON GILLEN
art / cover: JAMIE MCKELVIE & MATT WILSON
AUGUST 12 / 32 PAGES / FULL COLOR / MATURE READERS / $3.99
The team behind the New York Times bestselling and Eisner-nominated smash hit THE WICKED + THE DIVINE return to the acclaimed urban fantasy where they first made their names. Nearly a decade ago, Emily Aster sold half her personality for the power to rule a coven of phonomancers. I’m sure nothing could go horribly, monstrously wrong now. In a world where Music is Magic, a song can save or ruin your life. In THE IMMATERIAL GIRL, we discover what a video can do.
As always, the rest of this month’s solicitations for Image can be found at their website. Be sure to check them out!
