Back in March, I decided to change the format for this column when talking about Image. It really became too difficult to keep saying “I like this, I like this, I like this too!” I basically resigned to just posting the damn Image solicits without commentary, with the caveat being that I had put all the ones I planned to buy in an effort to share what maybe you should buy too. Assuming, of course, you think my opinion is worth a damn.
Of course, I’m changing it up a little bit more. Now, at the top of the post will be the Top 10 comics I am looking forward to the most in July. This additional element will hopefully shine a secondary spotlight on a few titles I think are particularly noteworthy. They are the ones that, if I was forced onto a desert island on my birthday (July 21st!) and was only allowed five comics that came out that month, I would pick to keep me company, despite having not read them yet.
Additionally, a few of these solicits came with previews, so expect to see a few more posts about Image in July shortly.
So, without further ado, take a look at our abridged Image July 2012 solicitations after the cut. Please keep in mind, these are not all the comics coming out from Image in July. They’re simply the ones that come with the Matt Seal Of Approval. Take that as you will. (Normally I’d link to a site that has the full solicits up, but at the time of writing this the only site with them up is Bleeding Cool, and even that doesn’t have everything.)
Matt’s Top 10 For July 2012 (In no particular order)
1. Saga #5
2. The Manhattan Projects #5
3. The Walking Dead #100
4. Enormous
5. Wild Children
6. Glory #28
7. Haunt #28
8. Mind the Gap #3
9. Chew: Secret Agent Poyo
10. Debris #1
Additional notes: no “Morning Glories” this month makes me sad, although it can be assumed that since they are behind schedule they are taking a month of solicitations to catch up. That Craig Thompson cover to “Revival” is amazing, and holy crap, that is a lot of covers for “the Walking Dead”!
THE WALKING DEAD #100
story ROBERT KIRKMAN
art CHARLIE ADLARD & CLIFF RATHBURN
cover a CHARLIE ADLARD
cover b MARC SILVESTRI
cover c FRANK QUITELY
cover d TODD McFARLANE
cover e SEAN PHILLIPS
cover f BRYAN HITCH
cover g RYAN OTTLEY
cover h CHARLIE ADLARD WRAP-AROUND
retail incentive cover: B&W CHARLIE ADLARD WRAP-AROUND 1:200
JULY 11
40 PAGES / BW / M
$3.99
“SOMETHING TO FEAR” CONTINUES!
This extra-sized chapter contains one of the darkest moments in Rick Grimes’ life, and one of the most violent and brutal things to happen within the pages of this series. 100 issues later, this series remains just as relentless as the debut issue. Do not miss the monumental 100th issue of THE WALKING DEAD!
REVIVAL #1 — GEM OF THE MONTH
story TIM SEELEY
art MIKE NORTON
cover by JENNY FRISON
incentive cover by CRAIG THOMPSON
Continued below
retail incentive cover: CRAIG THOMPSON 1:10
retail incentive cover: CRAIG THOMPSON 1:10
JULY 11
32 PAGES / FC / T+
$2.99
For one day in rural central Wisconsin, the dead came back to life. Now it’s up to Officer Dana Cypress to deal with the media scrutiny, religious zealots, and government quarantine that has come with them. In a town where the living have to learn to deal with those who are supposed to be dead, Officer Cypress must solve a brutal murder, and everyone, alive or undead, is a suspect. A beautiful “farm noir” that puts a new twist on the zombie genre, created by NYT Bestselling author TIM SEELEY and acclaimed artist MIKE NORTON.
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| Craig Thompson’s wonderful variant cover |
CHEW: SECRET AGENT POYO #1
story JOHN LAYMAN
art / cover ROB GUILLORY
JULY 11
36 PAGES / FC / M
$3.50
Hey retailers/readers/speculators! Still kicking yourself for not ordering and/or passing by CHEW #1, now that you see what it’s going for on eBay? Here’s your chance to get sweet, sweet, revenge, with an all-new CHEW #1, a one-shot spinning off CHEW‘s most popular supporting character, and comics’ most beloved homicidal cybernetic kung-fu rooster. Concentrated mayhem. Feathers, rage and hate! Plus: an all-star pin-up gallery from some of the most staggeringly talented artists in the industry!
DEBRIS #1 (of 4)
story KURTIS J. WIEBE
art / cover RILEY ROSSMO
JULY 25
32 PAGES/FC /M
$3.50
In the far future, humanity has doomed planet earth to rot and decay, covering her surface with garbage. Now, ancient spirits called the Colossals rise from the debris and attack the remaining survivors, forcing the human race to the brink of extinction. One warrior woman, Maya, sets out to find the last source of pure water to save the world before the monsters bring it all to an end.
ENORMOUS #1 (one-shot)
story TIM DANIEL
art / cover MEHDI CHEGGOUR
art / cover MEHDI CHEGGOUR
JULY 5
64 PAGES / FC / T+
TREASURY SIZED
$9.99
$9.99
In the midst of a planetary battle for food and fuel, a vast ecological cataclysm spawns THE ENORMOUS, massive beasts unlike anything ever witnessed. Humankind struggles to stave off extinction and the only law is to hunt or be hunted. It’s an epic action adventure featuring the survival of the biggest!
TAG:
A HUGE TREASURY-SIZED ONE-SHOT FROM HEAVY METAL’S MEHDI CHEGGOUR!
HOAX HUNTERS #1
story MICHAEL MORECI & STEVE SEELEY
art AXEL MEDELLIN
cover TIM SEELEY
JULY 5
32 PAGES / FC / T — TEEN
$2.99
“DIE OFF ANOTHER DAY,” Part One
The acclaimed backup begins its own series! A rash of mass animal deaths leads the Hoax Hunters to the Louisiana bayou. What they find is a mystery that harkens to Jack’s past — and a dangerous cryptid bent on revenge!
Continued below
WILD CHILDREN (one-shot)
story ALES KOT
art RILEY ROSSMO
JULY 11
64 PAGES / FC / T+
$9.99
Guns. Acid. Cameras. School.
The themes behind the controversial Hellblazer: “Shoot” by WARREN ELLIS and PHIL JIMENEZ merge with the attitude of the GRANT MORRISON and PHILIP BOND masterpiece of teenage revolt, Kill Your Boyfriend, delivering a story of magic, passion and disinformation.
WILD CHILDREN: A different type of education.
SUNSET HC
story CHRISTOS GAGE
art / cover JORGE LUCAS
JULY 18
160 PAGES / BW / M
DIGEST
$19.99
SOMETIMES ALL YOU CAN DO IS GO OUT WITH GUNS BLAZING…
In the noir tradition of Chandler and Spillane comes SUNSET, a two-fisted tale of revenge and redemption. On the surface, Nick Bellamy looks like any other veteran retiree left behind by a modern world. In reality, Nick is a former enforcer, who stole a fortune and years of freedom from his former mob boss. Now, in the twilight of his life, Nick will lose everything he cares about except two things: revenge… and the chance to die with his guns blazing.
Writer CHRISTOS GAGE (Avengers Academy, GI Joe: Cobra) and artist JORGE LUCAS (THE DARKNESS) promise to hit hard with Minotaur Press’s first original graphic novel that will make you forget all about your Prius and organic whole-grain trans-fat-free diet.
SUNSET: FIRST LOOK (one-shot)
story CHRISTOS GAGE
art / cover JORGE LUCAS & FELIX SERRANO
JULY 5
32 PAGES / FC / M
STANDARD
$1.00
SAMPLE IT BEFORE YOU BUY IT!
Take a first look at CHRISTOS GAGE and JORGE LUCAS‘s SUNSET with this introductory priced, full color issue for only one dollar! Collecting the first 22 pages of the hard hitting noir tale, SUNSET: FIRST LOOK is a perfect low risk way to sample Minotaur Press’s first original graphic novel.
GATECRASHER, VOL. 1: RING OF FIRE TP
story MARK WAID & JIMMY PALMIOTTI
art / COVER by AMANDA CONNER & JIMMY PALMIOTTI
JULY 11
104 PAGES / FC / T
$12.99
Unbeknownst to the human race, a great and terrible evil threatens to engulf the earth. College freshman Alec Wagner is the “Gatecrasher,” a somewhat reluctant member of a covert brigade of warriors dedicated to protecting Earth. As sole possessor of the ability to predict the opening of inter-dimensional gates, Alec assumes nearly overwhelming responsibility for his team, conducting the Split-Second Squad against alien invaders. However, battling aliens is not the only thing on Alec’s mind. While juggling college and inter-dimensional combat, Alec also has high prospects for his social life, if he could ever show up on time for a date!
Collects Black Bull Media’s GATECRASHER #1-4.
HEART TP
story BLAIR BUTLER
art & cover KEVIN MELLON
Continued below
JULY 11
120 PAGES / BW / M
$12.99
Witness the rise of cage fighter Oren “Rooster” Redmond in this gritty tale of self-discovery illustrated by KEVIN MELLON (LOVESTRUCK, SHIELD) and written by BLAIR BUTLER (G4’s Attack of the Show). Packed with flying knees, crazy submissions, dudes getting punched in the face, and a narrative Alex Zalban at MTV Geek calls, “Something exciting and different. In a world awash with generic stardom stories, this one rings true.”
“HEART is a comic worth taking a chance with. It ain’t superheroey, it ain’t in color, and it ain’t your run of the mill comic. What it is is some powerful reading.” — Aint It Cool News.
Collects HEART #1-4
INVINCIBLE, VOL. 16: FAMILY TIES TP
story ROBERT KIRKMAN
art RYAN OTTLEY, CORY WALKER & CLIFF RATHBURN
cover RYAN OTTLEY, CLIFF RATHBURN & JOHN RAUCH
JULY 5
136 pages/ FC / T+
$16.99
The aftermath of the Viltrumite War continues on! Mark is unprepared for the challenges his brother Oliver and Allen the Alien set before him… get ready for a beat down in the grand Invincible fashion!
Collects INVINCIBLE # 85-90
MUDMAN, VOL. 1 TP
story & art PAUL GRIST
JULY 11
144 PAGES / FC / T
$9.99
It’s the first day back at school for Owen Craig, and it’s not going too well. He’s been run over, got detention, and his police officer father has been taken prisoner by armed bank robbers.
And now his body seems to be turning to mud…
Collects MUDMAN #1-5
CREATOR-OWNED HEROES #2
story STEVE NILES, JIMMY PALMIOTTI & JUSTIN GRAY
art / cover PHIL NOTO & KEVIN MELLON
JULY 5
40 PAGES / FC / M
$3.99
“TRIGGERGIRL 6,” Part Two
by JIMMY PALMIOTTI, JUSTIN GRAY & PHIL NOTO
In this sci-fi thriller, Triggergirl hits the ground running, fighting her way to the White House to assassinate the President of the United States. Can nothing stop this one woman killing machine?
“AMERICAN MUSCLE,” Part Two
by STEVE NILES & KEVIN MELLON
Facing the realization that he has led the gang to a dead end, Gil takes matters into his own hands. Unfortunately, heading into a mutant infested desert my yourself leads to big, nast trouble.
PLUS! An interview with PAUL POPE, a PHIL NOTO art gallery, con photos, and original articles all celebrating the creator-owned spirit!
DANCER #3
story NATHAN EDMONDSON
art / cover NIC KLEIN
JULY 11
32 PAGES / FC / T+
$3.50
“CAVALIER”
In Dresden, the dance is underway as two sniper rifles are poised on the city’s icy rooftops. Alan finds that taking the lead is far more difficult than he anticipated, and that if he can’t win, his ballerina’s life will be shorter than a snowflake’s.
Continued below
EPIC KILL #3
story / art / cover RAFFAELE IENCO
JULY 5
32 PAGES / FC / T+
$2.99
She’s walking death. A goddess of carnage. Bare-handed she’s unbelievable but put a gun in her hand? You’d have to be out of your mind. Elsewhere… the newly elected Prez is accused of fraud on Election Day by the candidate that lost.
FATALE #7
story ED BRUBAKER
art SEAN PHILLIPS & DAVE STEWART
cover SEAN PHILLIPS
JULY 25
32 PAGES / FC / M
$3.50
Brubaker and Phillips best-selling occult noir series continues its second arc, as the dark secrets of mid-70s Los Angeles begin to creep into Josephine’s new life. Drugs, sex, cults, fame, and murder, all walk hand in hand in the shadow of demonic forces.
GLORY #28
story JOE KEATINGE
art / cover ROSS CAMPBELL
JULY 18
32 PAGES / FC / T+
$2.99
“DESTROYER,” Part Three
Mont St Michel is on the brink of annihilation. Riley Barnes is in the hands of the enemy. Gloria West is on the verge of death. All of it’s Glory’s fault and only her friends can stop her. All this plus the face smashing introduction to the newest, most deadliest member of the Extreme universe!
GRIM LEAPER #3 (of 4)
story KURTIS J. WIEBE
art / cover ALUISIO SANTOS
JULY 25
32 PAGES / FC/M
$3.50
Life’s no picnic. Still, Ella and Lou find some quiet time for romance. Too bad death proves to be a frequent third wheel. Don’t miss the issue that changes the game for our star crossed lovers forever.
HAUNT #28
story JOE CASEY
art / cover NATHAN FOX
JULY 25
32 PAGES / FC / T+
$2.99
How well does Still Harvey Tubman know the Kilgore brothers? What secret past does he share with Kurt? And what does this have to do with Daniel’s life with the Agency? All this — and the return of Purgatory! This monster lives!
HELL YEAH #5
story JOE KEATINGE
art / cover ANDRE SZYMANOWICZ
JULY 6
32 PAGES / FC / T+
$2.99
“LAST DAY ON EARTHS,” Conclusion
Benjamin Day lays dying as HELL YEAH‘s first storyline comes to its bloody end! Secrets blowing out of issue one, page one finally come full circle as the truth behind who Ben really is, who’s trying to kill him and what this book is actually about all come to a head. This is creator-owned, so when we say nothing will ever be the same again, we’re not screwing around!
Continued below
INVINCIBLE #94
story ROBERT KIRKMAN
art RYAN OTTLEY & CORY WALKER
cover RYAN OTTLEY, CORY WALKER & JOHN RAUCH
JULY 11
32 PAGES / FC/ T+
$2.99
The new Invincible faces defeat at the hands of the Flaxan Army! The Guardians of the Globe have fallen! What is Monster Girl and Robot’s part in all this? How are they responsible? More of their past in the Flaxan dimension is revealed. And where is Mark Grayson during all this?
THE LI’L DEPRESSED BOY #15
story S. STEVEN STRUBLE
art SINA GRACE
cover ANIS MOJGANI
JULY 25
32 PAGES / FC / T
$2.99
“IT’S NOT A LIE, IT’S A SECRET”
Things are moving fast with the Li’l Depressed Boy and his new girl, but can they survive keeping their relationship hidden? Featuring a cover by amazing poet and The Feather Room author, ANIS MOJGANI.
THE MANHATTAN PROJECTS #5
story JONATHAN HICKMAN
art / cover NICK PITARRA & JORDIE BELLAIR
JULY 18
32 PAGES / FC / T+
$3.50
“HORIZON”
A glimpse into the NEW FUTURE that the scientists of the Manhattan Projects have built on the foundation of their amazing breakthroughs. They’ve changed the world…is it for better or for worse?
The thrilling FEEL GOOD, BAD SCIENCE series continues in THE MANHATTAN PROJECTS #5: HORIZON!
MIND THE GAP #3
story JIM McCANN
art / cover RODIN ESQUEJO & SONIA OBACK
JULY 11
32 PAGES / FC / T+
$2.99
Lines are forming and fingers begin pointing as a clue to the identity of Elle’s attacker is found. Friends and families are strained, and a mysterious figure lurks in the shadows, ready to make a game-changing move. Meanwhile, Elle’s struggle to regain her memory finds her starting from the very first memory she has–and it’s a shocker!
MUDMAN #7
story / art / cover PAUL GRIST
JULY 18
32 PAGES / FC / TEEN
$3.50
He’s the newest superhero in Burnbridge on Sea. He’s cool. He’s confident. And the public love him.
The only problem is, he’s not Mudman.
NEAR DEATH #10
story JAY FAERBER
art SIMONE GUGLIELMINI
cover FRANCESCO FRANCAVILLA
JULY 25
32 PAGES / FC / T+
$2.99
Markham’s greatest failure comes back to haunt him! A man Markham failed to protect wages war against those who tried to kill him — and Markham’s caught in the middle.
Continued below
PIGS #11
story NATE COSBY & BEN McCOOL
art WILL SLINEY
cover CHARLIE ADLARD
JULY 25
32 PAGES / FC / M
$3.50
“WHAT HAPPENS HERE…”
The CIA has discovered the Pigs…but our team of terrorists has another problem: The casino owner they stole from has found them…and he’s NOT the forgiving type.
Featuring a dynamic cover by THE WALKING DEAD’s CHARLIE ADLARD!
PLANETOID #2
story / art / cover KEN GARING
JULY 11
32 PAGES / FC / T+
$2.99
After crash-landing in a vast heap of space junk, wayward space-pirate Silas now journeys on to an area of the planetoid, known as “The Slab”. It’s rumored that human tribes eke out a living on this endless surface of fabricated metal… BUT, so do gangs of sadistic robots! Silas will have to gather information and find allies in order to make a stand against the larger tyrannical forces that control the planetoid.
PROPHET #27
story BRANDON GRAHAM
art / cover GIANNIS MILONOGIANNIS
JULY 25
32 PAGES / FC / T+
$2.99
A team sent by the Earth empire searches an alien world for a mysterious giant.
SAGA #5
story BRIAN K. VAUGHAN
art / cover FIONA STAPLES
JULY 18
32 PAGES / FC / M
$2.99
The smash hit ongoing series from Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples continues, as Prince Robot IV’s hunt for Hazel and her parents takes a deadly turn.
SECRET #4
story JONATHAN HICKMAN
art RYAN BODENHEIM & MICHAEL GARLAND
JULY 25
32 PAGES / FC / T+
$3.50
“NOCTURNAL”
Everything clicks into place as we discover who’s really behind KodiaK. Someone lives. Someone dies. Someone knows…a secret.
Check out this enlightening chapter of the newest blockbuster series of the year, SECRET #4: NOCTURNAL!
SKULLKICKERS #16
story JIM ZUB
art EDWIN HUANG & MISTY COATS
cover SAEJIN OH
JULY 18
32 PAGES / FC / T
$3.50
“SIX SHOOTER ON THE SEVEN SEAS,” Part Four
Ancient evil has arisen aboard the pirate ship called the Mermaid’s Bottom in this, the penultimate part of our 3rd story arc. Mind-control, maidens, monsters, meat, and more words that start with “M”. Everybody say it with me now: “Mmmmmmmmm…”
“Skullkickers is a finely-polished effort providing eager appeal” – Gonzobarbarian
SUPER DINOSAUR #12
story ROBERT KIRKMAN
art / cover JASON HOWARD
JULY 25
32 PAGES / FC / E
$2.99
“ESCAPE FROM INNER-EARTH,” Part One
Derek Dynamo is a prisoner of The Exile — who has taken him deep into Inner-Earth! Super Dinosaur must assemble a team to track down The Exile and save his best friend, but along the way, he will learn the secret of Inner-Earth — something that could bring about the fall of human civilization!
THIEF OF THIEVES #6
story ROBERT KIRKMAN & NICK SPENCER
art / cover SHAWN MARTINBROUGH & FELIX SERRANO
JULY 5
32 PAGES / FC / T
$2.99
The heist you’ve been waiting months to see goes down! Will Redmond — AKA Conrad Paulson — be able to pull this off, or will his final caper leave him behind bars, or worse… six feet under?
YOUNGBLOOD #73
story JOHN McLAUGHLIN
art JON MALIN & ROB LIEFELD
cover ROB LIEFELD
JULY 25
32 PAGES / FC / T+
$2.99
When an international role playing internet game becomes a conduit to world wide evil, it is up to Youngblood to pull the plug. Unfortunately, Lady Photon’s solution might be enough to endanger the team’s continued existence! While Jeff gets closer to solving the case of a time-hopping serial killer, something is alive inside of the critically injured Badrock — something that wants out!
