May is already looking pretty great from the previous solicit articles we’ve run, so there’s only one thing we can do now: continue to do solicit analysis articles!
Read on for some choice highlights from Image’s May solicits, and be sure to check out the full solicits here, because they are generally full of awesome stuff you’re probably going to want. I don’t think I can possibly cover it all without developing carpal tunnel.
The Return of Joe’s Comics
Yeah, remember that? “Midnight Nation” and “Rising Stars”? Say what you will about “Superman: Grounded,” “Wonder Woman: Odyssey” and all that “Before Watchmen” nonsense, but those were some damn good comics.
And now JMS is back, just like he said he would be, and he’s bringing Ben Templesmith with him. Given how much I remember watching the aforementioned books and, y’know, how fucking awesome Ben Templesmith’s art is, I find it kind of hard not to be pretty damn excited about this. I’m even willing to forgive all that other stuff that I didn’t like. (Well, I liked the “Wonder Woman” story, and I didn’t read “Before Watchmen”… I’ll stay judgemental anyway. I’m a comic reader!)
Here’s the grandiose solicit:
TEN GRAND 1 – GEM OF THE MONTH
story J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
art / cover BEN TEMPLESMITH
variant cover BILL SIENKIEWICZ
MAY 1
32 PAGES / FC / M
$2.99
Joe Fitzgerald was a mob enforcer until the day he met Laura, who convinced him to leave that world behind. Before quitting, Joe agreed to one last job, little realizing that the man he’d been sent to kill was deeply involved in demonlogy. He survived Joe’s attempt and came after him, fatally wounding Joe and killing Laura. As he lay dying, an angelic force (who may or may not be what she appears) pointed out that where she is going, he can’t follow, and where he is going, he wouldn’t want her to follow. But if he will agree to work for them as a different kind of enforcer, they will bring him to life and keep on bringing him to life every time he is killed in a righteous cause. The reward: for those five minutes of death, he will be with Laura again. Would you endure an eternity of pain and death, dying over and over, to be with the woman you love for just five minutes each time you died? Most people might say no. But Joe Fitzgerald isn’t most people.
A bold new era begins with the long-anticipated return of Joe’s Comics, the imprint that brought you MIDNIGHT NATION and RISING STARS. All-new stories from J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI (Babylon 5, Jeremiah, Thor, Amazing Spider-Man, Superman: Earth One) return in 2013 with an action packed line up featuring everything from superhero action to supernatural thrillers. Watch this space as a new wave of exciting, challenging and experimental stories begins!
Anyone know if Ben Templesmith has done anything before this? Sounds like a pretty cool newcomer.
I kid. I’m full of sass. Lets move on.
More Joe Casey = More Awesome!
Because it’s not good enough for you to be excited about one new Joe Casey book, here’s another one!
We’ve done some posts about this book, so I won’t spend all my time telling you about how you should be excited about this book. Instead, I’ll say two words:
Joe Casey.
You’re sold, right?
Here’s the solicit:
THE BOUNCE 1 – GEM OF THE MONTH
written by JOE CASEY
art and cover by DAVID MESSINA
MAY 22
32 PAGES/FC/M
$2.99
FIRST ISSUE SPECTACULAR!
Meet the ultimate slacker superhero for the 21st Century! Jasper Jenkins is a super-head AND a super-hero! He’s relatable AND reliable and he’s embarking on the adventure of a lifetime! The sensational debut of the new feel-good hero of the decade! You can’t afford to miss it!
I’m looking forward to my new favorite superhero book.
And One More New #1 Just For Good Measure
Also launching in May, a new book from your favorite Nathan Edmondson, Nathan Edmondson! He’s had some good minis for you recently by way of last years “Dancer,” and so far what little we’ve seen (ie that cover) of this book gives me loads of faith in Konstantin Novosadov. If you’re a fan of Edmondson’s work at Image, DC or Marvel, this is certainly something to keep on your radar.
Oh, and a 52 page first issue? They’re spoiling you.
story NATHAN EDMONDSON
art/cover KONSTANTIN NOVOSADOV
MAY 15
52 PAGES / FC / T
$3.50
“PART ONE.”
A double-size issue to kick off a new sci-fi series from Nathan Edmondson and newcomer Konstantin Novosadov. Haunted by recurring dreams, a boy named Winslow is hunted by mysterious beings and protected by an old traveler. Soon Winslow will realize that what is in his dreams is what the rest of the world has been made to forget–and what strange entities will stop at nothing to erase from his mind.
Skullkickers and More Shtick Than You Can Shake a Stick At
Starting with the issue that comes out next week, “Skullkickers” is going to go through a bit of a phase with joke issues that parody the industries reboot trends. And it is hilarious. So here’s the latest one, which doubles as issue #22 for you “regular” readers. But who has time to read regularly?
No One Can Contain The Hitch!
It was noted somewhere else (I forget where) that “America’s Got Powers” would be moving from a six issue mini-series to a seven issue mini-series because there’s just so much stuff to jam pack into it. This confirms it – assuming they can stay on schedule now that Hitch isn’t doing all of the “Age of Ultron” mini-event thing, this all wraps up in May.
I should note – this isn’t the first time a Hitch series has been given an extra issue in order to go the full mile. Remember “Captain America: Rebirth?” And how balls to the wall that ending was? I do too. So I can only assume that this ending is going to be pretty darn flashy as well.
Truth be told, I’ve been quite enjoying the miniseries. But that’s another post for another time, right? Right.
Ryan Takes Over for Riley in Bedlam
Nick Spencer’s second creator-owned ongoing “Bedlam,” which began with artist Riley Rossmo, is switching gears a bit as Ryan Browne comes in to take the reigns. It’s a bit sad to see Riley go as he definitely made the series with his creepy artwork, but let us not forget that time “The Walking Dead” changed artists back in the day and how well that ultimately worked out, right?
Plus, May will see the release of the first “Bedlam” trade, so if you haven’t been reading yet, May seems like a good time to get into the game.
Ryan also has a neat little Kickstarter out there right now for his creator-owned book “God Hates Astronauts”, which you can read online for free right here and then head on over to Kickstarter to support right here. Ryan’s a great artist, and while it’ll be sad to see Riley go, it turns out Riley has a million more awesome books to illustrate to break his previous world record as an art machine.
Tally in Snap City!
Wait, what? David already made that remark kinda sorta? Well, shut up. This is my column. Who the heck is this David guy, anyway!
So. One of our favorite artists here at Multiversity, Natalie Nourigat, will be joining “It Girl” for an arc (maybe more?) in place of Mike Norton with ‘Tweenage FBI.’ I, for one, have already pre-ordered. There’s no reason not to be super excited about this, folks, as fans of great art and fans of Madman.
Morning Glories: Season 2
“There is no beginning.” That’s all the solicit says. I wish I could tell you more about what that means. I really do. But I can not. All I can say is: Season 2 begins! Get excited!
Continued belowAnd as added incentive, this issue is going to come with variant covers from folks like Jenny Frisson, Rob Guillory, Shawn Martinbrough, Jamie McKelvie and Emma Rios. Oh, yeah, and this dope cover by Joe Eisma, which I’ve seen him note may end up as a print. AND I’ve seen Christian Ward tweeting Morning Glories pictures, so that’s even more exciting, yeah? Yeah.
The One Trade You Need To Make Sure To Buy In May
Ok, sure, there are a whole bunch of trades you should probably buy. But, this one is my favorite.
“Comeback” is one of my favorite minis right now, and as good as it reads now, it’s going to make a great read in trade. Trust me on this one. Pre-order this as soon as you can if you haven’t been picking up the singles.
Here’s the solicit:
story ED BRISSON
art & cover MICHAEL WALSH
MAY 8
136 PAGES/ FC/ T+
$14.99
Reconnect agents Mark and Seth go back in time to save people from their untimely demise – for a fee. But, when a rescue mission goes awry, both agents find themselves trapped in the past and on the run from both the FBI, who want to jail them, and their own employers who want to kill them to protect their own dark and deadly secrets.
Collects COMEBACK 1-5, plus never-seen-before extras.
The Other Trade You Need To Make Sure To Buy In May
Right, I can’t just pick one. That’s too hard. So lets go with this second collection of “Hoax Hunters,” featuring a cover by our favorite Joe Eisma!
story MICHAEL MORECI & STEVE SEELEY
art AXEL MEDELLIN & BRENT SCHOONOVER
cover JOE EISMA
MAY 1
112 PAGES / FC / T+
$9.99
The recipient of numerous “best of” accolades in 2012, HOAX HUNTERS continues its critically acclaimed run! In this collection, the Hoax Hunters visit Haunchyville to bust the myth of the gnomes and their albino king while trying to prevent the Hoax Hunters Hunters from blowing their cover. Also included is the fan-favorite flip issue spoofing a certain ghost-hunting reality show and two all-new shorts!
Collects HOAX HUNTERS 6-9
You know we do a whole column about “Hoax Hunters”, right? Good. Just checking.
More Chin Music!
I’ve not had any kind of previews for this book yet, but I’ll say this: Tony Harris and Steve Niles working together is just one of those combinations where all the stars have aligned and there is no reason not to be excited. And I know I said something essentially similar last month too, but honestly, just looking at this cover now, I’m still pretty pumped for the book.
All, uh, comments from certain people aside.
Two Great Covers For Your May
Here’s the cover for “East of West” #3, courtesy of Nick Dragotta:
And here’s the cover for “Five Ghosts: The Haunting of Fabian Gray” #3, courtesy of Chris Mooneyham:
Those are two books I’ll buy just from the cover alone. I can’t imagine you’d feel any differently.
More or Less Joe Keatinge On The Way (Or, The Mysterious “Hell Yeah” Solicit)
So, OK, lets think about this for a bit.
First, the cover. You’ll maybe remember the cover in a similar fashion back in the day before “Hell Yeah” was a series that took breaks in between arcs, when it looked a little something like this. Then you’ll maybe remember this re-done teaser for the second arc, which didn’t end up being used as a cover. Now in May’s solicits, we get a file literally titled “notfinal.” Will this cover ever adorn a book? (Maybe the second trade – that’d look lovely in comparison with the first.)
But, there’s more. The solicit reads at the bottom, “Series One Concludes.” Series one? Well, it’s the second arc, so that doesn’t fully make sense. Unless “Hell Yeah” is ending? In some form or fashion? We knew that “Hell Yeah” would be one of those books that took breaks in between arcs, but that line strikes me as odd. And also, I don’t care for it.
Continued belowLast but not least, there is: “Bonus: What Is Joe Keatinge and James Harvey’s NULL/VOID?! (Find out!)” Less sinister than the last message, and I would imagine this is a tease for something coming from Keatinge, perhaps related to this book and perhaps not with artist James Harvey. A replacement “Hell Yeah,” perhaps? Or something more?
We know Keatinge has more comics coming on the way regardless because Keatinge is a comic book machine, but I’m still casually raising my eyebrow here.
Sami Basri Joins “Mind the Gap”
Last but certainly not least, we have some news regarding “Mind the Gap.” With Hoodie standing revealed, it seems that Rodin Esquejo is taking a short break from the book while Sami Basri, fresh off some stints at DC Comics, comes in to do a two-part arc. I love Basri’s work and he makes for an excellent addition to Esquejo’s art, so this is certainly something to get pumped about.
Oh, and did I mention that Michelle took up my old “Mind the Gap” column for your reading pleasure? She’s really quite good at it. You should read it.
