Oh, it’s that time of the month again: where we sit down and comb over solicits to bring you the best and brightest for your upcoming July. You’ve seen Dark Horse and DC, but now it’s time for Image Comics! And boy do we have some fun things for you this month.
For the full Image July 2013 solicits (since we still haven’t figured out we can post them all here, right?), click right here.
Three New #1s
As is usually the case, Image is debuting a few new #1s in the month of July that are easily more intriguing/exciting than what is debuting over at Marvel or DC. And, wouldn’t you know it, but they’ve got some Marvel and DC creators in the mix!
First up is Fraction and Chaykin’s “Satellite Sam,” a noir mystery book for the mature reader in us all. Fraction is a huge fan of Chaykin (as anyone who has read the “Casanova” backmatter is probably aware of) and the two have collaborated a few times in the past. Should be interesting to see what they’ve got coming for a creator-owned ongoing.
SATELLITE SAM #1 – GEM OF THE MONTH
story MATT FRACTION
art / cover HOWARD CHAYKIN
JULY 3
32 PAGES / BW / M
$3.50
SEX • DEATH • LIVE TV!
NEW YORK CITY, 1951: The star of beloved daily television serial “Satellite Sam” turns up dead in a flophouse filled with dirty secrets. The police think it was death by natural causes but his son knows there was something more… if only he could sober up long enoguh to do something about it. This noir mystery shot through with sex and violence exposes the seedy underbelly of the golden age of television.
By MATT FRACTION (CASANOVA, Hawkeye, FF) and HOWARD CHAYKIN (BLACK KISS I & II, AMERICAN FLAGG!).
And, I should note: this is Fraction’s first big creator-owned book since “Casanova.” It’s about time, dammit!
Next up we’ve got “Ghosted,” a new book from Josh Williamson, Goran Sudzuka and Miroslav Mrva. Williamson’s first ongoing, “Xenoholics,” was not as well received around MC when it debuted, but his Captain Midnight shorts over at Dark Horse are great and his closing to Marz’s “Voodoo” was really strong as well. After meeting Williamson at ECCC I have to say this: I’ll happily check out anything he puts his name on. Incredibly enthusiastic guy. Just kinda makes you want to read his books!
GHOSTED #1 – GEM OF THE MONTH
story JOSHUA WILLIAMSON
art GORAN SUDZUKA & MIROSLAV MRVA
cover SEAN PHILLIPS
JULY 10
32 PAGES / FC / M
$2.99
A HORROR/CRIME MASHUP THAT’S EQUAL PARTS OCEAN’S 11 AND THE SHINING.
Jackson T. Winters is one of the greatest criminal masterminds to ever live…except he’s rotting in jail after his last, doomed score. But when a filthy rich collector breaks him out, he’s tasked with putting together an elite team of paranormal experts to do the impossible: Steal a ghost from a haunted house of horrors!
Last but not least, your friend and mine Ed Brisson’s second book launches at Image with the incredibly talented Johnnie Christmas. I had the pleasure of hanging out with both Ed and Johnnie at Emerald City and I can say, in a completely unbiased way, that you want to read this book. Honest. From everything I know about it, it sounds fantastic, and Ed and Johnnie are completely dedicated to telling a hard-hitting and compelling tale in a new iteration of the apocalypse genre. Don’t miss out.
SHELTERED #1
story ED BRISSON
art / cover JOHNNIE CHRISTMAS
JULY 10
32 PAGES / FC / T+
$2.99
A PRE-APOCALYPTIC TALE OF SURVIVAL AT ANY COST.
The men and women of Safe Haven have been preparing for any-and-all end of world scenarios for years. However, their bunkers, weapons and training can’t save them from the one threat they never could have expected: Their own children.
Elephantmen Hits 50
Continued belowI’ll admit, I’m not a big reader of the Elephantman books, but here’s what I know: 1, Richard Starkings is an insanely talented individual. Like, beyond belief. 2, Axel, Gabriel and Moritat are all great artists, and any excuse to read sequential art by them is one to take. 3, Quitely and Ladronn covers? Come on!
Every time I pick up a random issue of “Elephantmen,” I enjoy it. A big landmark issue like #50 seems like a great time to check out the series if you never have.
ELEPHANTMEN #50
story RICHARD STARKINGS
art AXEL MEDELLIN, GABRIEL BAUTISTA & MORITAT
cover FRANK QUITELY
flip cover LADRÖNN re-presenting the cover of ELEPHANTMEN #1
JULY 17th
64 PAGES / FC / $5.99
“BLUE COLLAR BLUES”
The work of an Elephantman who died quietly after living a solitary life in a loft in downtown Los Angeles, paints a different picture of the lives of all the Elephantmen.
PLUS: A gallery of art and ELEPHANTMEN #1, re-presented in celebration of our 50th issue!
Masks and Mobsters Gets Printed
Speaking of Joshua Williamson, Monkeybrain goes to print with a hardcover collection of Williamson’s “Masks and Mobsters.” But you know why you’re buying this book? Because of the following names: Mike Henderson. Ryan Cody. Jason Copland. Justin Greenwood. Fantastic artists, beautiful storytelling, great series.
If you don’t believe me, the book is available for 99 cents a pop on comixology right now.
MASKS AND MOBSTERS, VOL. 1 HC
story JOSHUA WILLIAMSON
art MIKE HENDERSON, RYAN CODY, JASON COPLAND & JUSTIN GREENWOOD
cover MIKE HENDERSON
JULY 3
128 PAGES/BW/M
$19.99
One of USA Today’s Best Digital Comics of 2012
When Mob enforcer Bobby Silver killed masked hero Doctor Daylight in cold blood, it sent shock waves through the Masked community. Now in the eyes of the heroes, the mob is their #1 enemy—and it’s war!
Five Ghosts, or Perhaps More?
One of the more ominous solicits of the month, “Five Ghosts'” final issue reads “… the end?” “Five Ghosts” is a pretty big concept and seems easily accessible to an ongoing, or at least something like “Luther Strode” is doing. Don’t be surprised if this isn’t the last we’ve heard of this fine book.
Issue 2 is out on stands right now, by the way. What’s your excuse for not picking it up?
FIVE GHOSTS: THE HAUNTING OF FABIAN GRAY #5 (of 5)
story FRANK J. BARBIERE
art / cover CHRIS MOONEYHAM
JULY 24
32 PAGES / FC / T+
$2.99
…THE END?
Invincible is Back… Again
“Invincible” is in… well, a weird place right now. There was a time, only really 25 issues ago, where I would call this series one of the best on the stands. But since the Viltrumite War ended, it’s been up and down in terms of quality. Now, with #105, Invincible is “back” — again, for maybe the third time? I’m honestly not sure anymore. Kirkman made his own superhero book to escape from the confines created working on something he didn’t own, and we’re at one hundred plus issues now! So why does Kirkman still ostensibly rely on all these tropes and trends?
I mean, it’s not a relaunch or anything like that, but still.
And, truth be told, I am still excited for it. I like “Invincible” a lot. Ryan Ottley? Man. Man. Worth the price of admission alone, that guy. I just wish we had some clue of what was going on with the book.
INVINCIBLE #105
story ROBERT KIRKMAN
art / cover RYAN OTTLEY & JOHN RAUCH
JULY 17
32 PAGES / FC / T+
$2.99
INVINCIBLE IS BACK!
It’s a new day dawning for everyone’s favorite superhero. If you’ve ever wanted to jump onto INVINCIBLE without shelling out the money for 18 collected editions, this would be the perfect issue to start with.
Best Tiger is Best, Tiger
That said, Phil Hester’s version of Kirkman’s characters with Todd Nauck and Gabe Eltaeb is pretty great. And you know who is the best? Best Tiger. And Best Tiger is apparently going to step up his game, and I am very, very excited for that.
Continued belowINVINCIBLE UNIVERSE #4
story PHIL HESTER
art/ cover TODD NAUCK & GABE ELTAEB
JULY 3
32 PAGES / FC / T+
$2.99
No one is better than Best Tiger.
It Girl Comes to an End
I wrote more about this in a separate post, but it bears repeating that this makes me sad. Jamie Rich mentioned on Twitter that there are plans to come back someday, just not someday soon unfortunately. Fingers crossed.
IT GIRL & THE ATOMICS #12
story JAMIE S. RICH
art CHYNNA CLUGSTON FLORES, MIKE NORTON, NATALIE NOURIGAT
cover MICHAEL & LAURA ALLRED
JULY 17
32 PAGES / FC / E
$2.99
“STOP AS YOU MEANT TO GO ON”–SERIES FINALE!
All the ATOMICS artists return for a triptych of international superspies, dopey costumed villains, and mummy attacks. Rights will be wronged, relationships repaired, and seriously, it’s going to be one heck of a party!
Finite Oppenheimers, Part Deux
In issue #10 of the Eisner-nominated series, Ryan Browne joined with Hickman to look inside Oppenheimer’s brain as war began. Issue #16 marks the sequel to that series, but no Browne credit!
When we chatted with Browne on The Hour Cosmic, he alluded to working on the sequel to this issue. Perhaps with “Bedlam” and “God Hates Astronauts” he’s just too much of a superstar to work on this lowly Eisner-nominated series. Good on you, Browne! Make Pitarra work for that nom!
THE MANHATTAN PROJECTS #16
story JONATHAN HICKMAN
art NICK PITARRA
JUNE 24
32 PAGES / FC / T+
$3.50
“FINITE OPPENHEIMERS,” Part Two
An in-depth look at the second decade of the ongoing war inside Oppenheimer’s brain. It’s endless brothers versus brothers: It’s the Oppenheimer Civil War!
More Dan McDaid On “Mind the Gap”
After a fantastic issue (see our analysis here) with #9, the silent issue, it looks like Dan McDaid is staying with “Mind the Gap” for a while. Zero complaints here. What a fantastic storyteller. It’d be silly not to keep him around!
MIND THE GAP #13
story JIM McCANN
art RODIN ESQUEJO & DAN McDAID
cover A RODIN ESQUEJO
cover B DAN McDAID
JULY 17
32 PAGES / FC / T+
$2.99
“R.I. PETERSSEN,” Part One
The race to kill Elle begins here! Min and her lackeys wrestle to control the final fate of Elle, but there are others who may be one step ahead. The only thing that’s certain is that Elle must die. As Elle’s time as she knows it winds down, learn how it all began, with the flashbacks to the origin of Jairus! Is this the beginning of the end…or just the end of the beginning?
Skottie Young Covers and Art Baltazar Joins “Revival” for a Special Issue
Last, but certainly not least, Seeley and Norton’s “Revival” is getting a special issue of “Revival,” as young Cooper takes the spotlight and we see the world through his innocent and naive eyes. Skottie Young gives us the above playful cover, and Art “Aw Yeah!” Baltazar illustrates the interiors. How can you even think about not reading this book now?
I’m reminded a lot of another horror-based comic, “Locke and Key,” which has periodically showed events of the book through the eyes of younger characters, who view the landscape and events in entirely different styles. I can only hope “Revival”, Baltazar and Seeley capture the same magic Hill and Rodriguez regularly do. (I have no doubt, honestly.)
REVIVAL #12
story TIM SEELEY
art MIKE NORTON w/ ART BALTAZAR
cover by SKOTTIE YOUNG
JULY 17
32 PAGES / FC / M
$2.99
The “Revival Event” as seen through the eyes of young Cooper Cypress.
