On Tuesday I hand delivered a look at some choice picks from Dark Horse. Yesterday I whined about my lack of interest in DC Comics’ comics. Today, however, I take a look at Multiversity’s “Publisher of the Year 2011” Image Comics, which I’m sure I’ve shown an obvious bias towards in the past at this point. In reality, just about everything Image is soliciting is something I’d endorse. Sure, I don’t read it all (I’m surprised I have as much time to read as I do!), but Image has proven itself to be a reliable publisher of great material.
To that end, the format is going to change now. Specifically for Image, this column will be transformed into a selection of choice solicits. I’ll show you what books I’m interested in in no particular order, and whether you want to collect in single issues or in trade, these books are the ones that could — if Image wanted to — come with a Matt Stamp Of Approval (I picture it as a picture of me giving a thumbs up with a goofy face) and possibly a money back guarantee.
While I will openly admit I may miss something that I go back and have interest in later (I still kick myself for missing the “Danger Club” #1 solicit), if that idea intrigues you take a look behind the cut to see the choice solicits from Image, and you can find the rest of them here.
PLANETOID #1
story / art / cover KEN GARING
JUNE 13
32 PAGES / FC / T+
$2.99
Silas, an ex-soldier turned space pirate, finds himself stranded on a mysterious planet in alien territory. As he explores the long-abandoned industrial ruins of the planet’s surface he will have to fend off rogue mechanical creatures, roving cyborg militias, and a hostile alien military with a bounty on his head. Silas will have to rely on resourcefulness and bare-bones survival tactics in order to stay alive and ultimately unlock the secrets of a planet where survival is a luxury and escape an impossibility.
CREATOR OWNED HEROES#1
story STEVE NILES, JIMMY PALMIOTTI & JUSTIN GRAY
art / cover PHIL NOTO & KEVIN MELLON
JUNE 6
40 PAGES / FC / M
$3.99
“AMERICAN MUSCLE,” Part One
by STEVE NILES & KEVIN MELLON
The world ended a long time ago. How it happened exactly and what exists in the wasteland have always been a mystery. Now Chloe, Gil and a gang of rebels have escaped the last human stronghold and are blazing across Post-Apocalypse America in search of paradise.
“TRIGGERGIRL 6,” Part One
by JIMMY PALMIOTTI, JUSTIN GRAY & PHIL NOTO
In this sci-fi thriller, the sixth in a series of genetically modified assassins born in a secret laboratory sets her sights on the ultimate target. But what happens when the perfect killing machine takes a personal interest in her target only to uncover a conspiracy that may change the fate of the entire human race?
PLUS! An interview with NEIL GAIMAN! Triggergirl cosplay! Con photos! And original articles all celebrating the creator-owned spirit of independence!
THE BULLETPROOF COFFIN: DISINTERRED #6 (of 6)
story DAVID HINE
art & cover SHAKY KANE
JUNE 27
32 PAGES / FC / M
$3.99
“HOLE”
Amelia is an overweight housebreaker in search of her lost daughter. Oswald Kiss tortures dolls in his basement. Henry likes insects. Deacon went into his bedroom eight years ago and never came out. Don’t miss the hilarious climax to Season Two.
CHEW #27
story JOHN LAYMAN
art & cover ROB GUILLORY
JUNE 20
32 PAGES / FC / M
$2.99
“Space Cakes,” Part Two
Remember last year when CHEW shocked, confounded and enraged the entire comic book industry and indeed the entire world by printing an issue out of sequence? Here’s that issue all over again, in order and in context, and now jam-packed with extras and supplemental material so you’ll feel just fine about handing us 299 pennies all over again!
DANGER CLUB #3
story LANDRY Q. WALKER
art / cover ERIC JONES
JUNE 27
32 PAGES / FC / T+
$2.99
The bodies begin piling up as the world’s governments move against the forces of the teenage superheroes. Meanwhile, Kid Vigilante is concerned about the link between Jack Fearless and the President of the United States.
EPIC KILL #2
story / art / cover RAFFAELE IENCO
JUNE 6
32 PAGES / FC / T+
$2.99
The newly elected President weapons up and joins the special ops team hunting teen assassin, Song, in the wilderness. Yeah, he’s crazy — but he’s the Prez. Song hunts his butt right back. Tough ass soldiers have never been dispatched so spectacularly.
FATALE #6
story ED BRUBAKER
art SEAN PHILLIPS & DAVE STEWART
cover SEAN PHILLIPS
JUNE 27
32 PAGES / FC / M
$3.50
The second arc of FATALE begins here! In modern times, Nicolas Lash hunts for more information about the mysterious Josephine… while in mid-1970s Los Angeles, Jo is trying to establish a new life. But this is post-free love LA, post Manson Family LA, and the hills of Hollywood have dark secrets all their own. BRUBAKER and PHILLIPS’horror-noir masterpiece continues!
GLORY #27
story JOE KEATINGE
art ROSS CAMPBELL
cover KRIS ANKA
JUNE 20
32 PAGES / FC / T+
$2.99
“DESTROYER,” Part Two
Glory’s home in Mont St. Michel is under siege. Her allies are not prepared. Not everyone survives.
GRIM LEAPER #2 (of 4)
story KURTIS J. WIEBE
art & cover ALUISIO SANTOS
JUNE 20
32 PAGES / FC/M
$3.50
Lou Collins: Serial Leaper. Lou desperately tries to find Ella, the woman with an identical curse, before his next horrific death. But, there’s malevolence waiting in the darkness, something that wants to kill Lou before he even gets the chance. Something alive.
HAUNT #27
story JOE CASEY
art / cover NATHAN FOX
JUNE 27
32 PAGES / FC / T+
$2.99
THE SECRET OF LADY HAUNT REVEALED!
The Kilgore brothers face a challenge unlike any other — and what is Still Harvey Tubman’s agenda? All this and a “death cherry” on top! Do not miss this issue!
HELL YEAH #4
story JOE KEATINGE
art & cover ANDRE SZYMANOWICZ
JUNE 6
32 PAGES / FC / T+
$2.99
“LAST DAY ON EARTHS,” Part Four
The penultimate chapter of HELL YEAH’s first storyline brings an unexpected enemy set on destroying Benjamin Day once and for all. She’s not alone.
INVINCIBLE #93
story ROBERT KIRKMAN
art RYAN OTTLEY & CORY WALKER
cover RYAN OTTLEY, CORY WALKER & JOHN RAUCH
JUNE 13
32 PAGES / FC/ T+
$2.99
More secrets about Robot’s and Monster Girl’s time spent in the Flaxan Dimension are revealed. Meanwhile, in the present — things go to hell, and the new Invincible has to prove if he’s worthy of the mantle in the face of… INVASION.
THE LI’L DEPRESSED BOY #14
story S. STEVEN STRUBLE
art SINA GRACE
cover CHYNNA CLUGSTON-FLORES
JUNE 27
32 PAGES / FC / T
$2.99
“WOKE UP CLIPPED”
With everything going well in the Li’l Depressed Boy’s life, the world finds a way to rain on his parade. Featuring a cover by the super ginchy BLUE MONDAY creator, CHYNNA CLUGSTON-FLORES.
THE MANHATTAN PROJECTS #4
story JONATHAN HICKMAN
art NICK PITARRA & CRIS PETER
JUNE 13
32 PAGES / FC / T+
$3.50
“THE ROSE BRIDGE”
The Life and Death of Albert Einstein.
The blockbuster FEEL GOOD, BAD SCIENCE series continues in THE MANHATTAN PROJECTS #4: THE ROSE BRIDGE!
MIND THE GAP #2
story JIM McCANN
art / cover RODIN ESQUEJO & SONIA OBACK
variant cover FRANCESCO FRANCAVILLA
JUNE 6
32 PAGES / FC / T+
$2.99
Last issue’s THREE cliffhangers are answered here, leading to even more questions surrounding the attack on Elle Peterssen. A new person is introduced, but are they friend or foe? And Elle quickly finds that the situation she is in has rapidly gone from a 10 to 10,000!
The anxiously awaited ongoing mystery deepens as the web of suspects and lies spreads.
MORNING GLORIES #21
story NICK SPENCER
art JOE EISMA
cover RODIN ESQUEJO
JUNE 27
32 PAGES
$3.50 / FC / M
Always somebody to run from.
NEAR DEATH #9
story JAY FAERBER
art SIMONE GUGLIELMINI
cover FRANCESCO FRANCAVILLA
JUNE 20
32 PAGES / FC / T+
$2.99
Markham relives the events leading up to his near death experience when he’s asked to protect the FBI agent who shot him.
PETER PANZERFAUST #5
story KURTIS J. WIEBE
art & cover TYLER JENKINS
JUNE 13
32 PAGES / FC / M
$3.50
“THE GREAT ESCAPE,” Conclusion
Paris isn’t safe. The plan failed. A journey that began with promise comes crumbling down when the Nazi’s take the capital and France plunges into occupation. With nowhere to run, the Lost Boys make their final stand.
PIGS #10
story NATE COSBY & BEN McCOOL
art BRENO TEMURA & WILL SLINEY
cover BEN TEMPLESMITH
JUNE 27
32 PAGES / FC / M
$3.50
“LITTLE LESS CONVERSATION, LITTLE MORE ACTION”
The KGB assassins continue their reign of terror on Las Vegas, and one of them…falls in love?
PROPHET #26
story / art / cover BRANDON GRAHAM
JUNE 27
32 PAGES / FC / T+
$2.99
Jaxson must find a way to warn John Prophet of the newly awakened Earth Empire.
REBEL BLOOD #4 (of 4)
story ALEX LINK & RILEY ROSSMO
art / cover RILEY ROSSMO
JUNE 20
32 PAGES / FC / M
$3.50
Guided by a mysterious voice through a night of carnage, you know the worst of it is still coming. After all, every step of the way home has been a fight for your life, against a whole world out for your blood. Any nightmare could be waiting for you around the next corner.
The terrifying conclusion to a night of carnage, with the trail of blood leading right to your own front door!
SAGA #4
story BRIAN K. VAUGHAN
art / cover FIONA STAPLES
JUNE 20
32 PAGES / FC / M
$2.99
Welcome to SEXTILLION, a distant planet where even your darkest fantasies become reality. See why everyone’s talking about this hit new ongoing adventure from BRIAN K. VAUGHAN and FIONA STAPLES!
SECRET #3
story JONATHAN HICKMAN
art RYAN BODENHEIM & MICHAEL GARLAND
JUNE 20
32 PAGES / FC / T+
$3.50
“THE SYSTEM”
Things begin to unravel as we learn the identity of who Steadfast is working for. Billions and billions of bits of data floating through the air screaming to anyone who will listen, FOLLOW THE MONEY.
Check out the next chapter of the most thrilling new series of the year, SECRET #3: THE SYSTEM!
SKULLKICKERS #15
story JIM ZUB
art EDWIN HUANG & MISTY COATS
cover SAEJIN OH
JUNE 13
32 PAGES / FC / T
$3.50
“SIX SHOOTER ON THE SEVEN SEAS,” Part Three
Our real cover is a CRAZY SPOILER of glorious secrets inside so we CAN’T show it to you here! Until release, enjoy this NOT FINAL COVER image of a CUTE KITTEN. This issue: heinous violence, trouble making and all the skullkicking you can handle. (If you love the kitten cover, let us know… maybe we can work something out).
“One of the greatest new series out there.” – Johnny Confidence, CrazyDelicious
THIEF OF THIEVES #5
story ROBERT KIRKMAN & NICK SPENCER
art / cover SHAWN MARTINBROUGH & FELIX SERRANO
JUNE 6
32 PAGES / FC / T
$2.99
Conrad Paulson — AKA Redmond — is making final moves for his pending heist, and the FBI may have enough on his past to be one step ahead.
THE WALKING DEAD #99
story ROBERT KIRKMAN
art / cover CHARLIE ADLARD & CLIFF RATHBURN
JUNE 20
32 PAGES / BW / M
$2.99
“SOMETHING TO FEAR” CONTINUES!
The unthinkable happens, as we all gear up for next month’s monumental issue 100!
