After July’s massive push of amazing new series, August is back to business as usual for Image. Fortunately, Image’s business is super exciting, so that’s not a strike against it at all. This month brings a great combination of titles. We’ve got a #1, a #2, a #3, a #6, a #16, a #24, and the rare milestone, a #300! We’ve even got the elusive original graphic novel, an adaptation of a webcomic and new editions of old favorites. While the Big 2 put out tons of content, they are totally eclipsed by Image in terms of diversity and originality. A month like this should be the norm, not the exception. Fortunately for us and for Image, it is!
10. Level up your library
Of all the major publishers, Image actually has one of the more reasonable printing schedules. Still, it’s easy to let a series fall through the cracks, and when something good comes back in print, that’s a great chance to catch up with a classic series you’ve missed. This month you’ve got three chances. “Fatale” is a great entry point to the works of Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips; it’s got their usual moody noir style but told through a centuries spanning Lovecraft mystery. Most people know Robert Kirkman from “The Walking Dead” but for my money “Invincible” is his best series ever, an epic universe of superheroes told through one easy to follow series. And Ales Kot, Tradd & Heahter Moore are some of the most gonzo, visceral creators in comics, and “The New World” is a great entry to all of their styles.
9. No laughing matter
We at Multiversity are big fans of the recent work of Jeff Lemire and in 2019, he is more prolific than ever. “Gideon Falls” has been going strong and spooky, and Andrea Sorrentino is one of the strongest art partners Lemire has ever worked with. A lot of Lemire partners try to emulate his own style, which can be hit or miss. Sorrentino definitely plays into their similarities, but makes the jagged, wide-eyed world of “Gideon Falls” all his own.
GIDEON FALLS #16
WRITER: JEFF LEMIRE
ARTIST: ANDREA SORRENTINO & DAVE STEWART
AUGUST 14 / 32 PAGES / FC / M / $3.99“ALL THOSE LITTLE SCARS”
The pulse-pounding conclusion to “Season 3” of the hottest supernatural horror story in comics! Clara is finally reunited with her missing brother, Danny—but The Laughing Man doesn’t give up his acolytes without a bloody battle!
8. It’s the last midnight
I can’t believe it’s ending, I can’t believe it’s ending, I can’t believe it’s ending. They say I’m not gonna be sad. I think I am gonna be sad. #TeamMargaret forever!
CURSE WORDS #24
WRITER: CHARLES SOULE
ARTIST / COVER A: RYAN BROWNE
AUGUST 21 / 32 PAGES / FC / M / $3.99There’s only one issue left after this one, which makes us sad on this end—but the issue itself will make NO ONE sad!
All stops continue to be pulled out, as the battle for the fate of… well, everything… blasts toward its conclusion. Wizord, Ruby, and Margaret are finally reunited, but will they be able to enjoy their lives together? Or will the final revenge of the evil demon Sizzajee doom them all? Come see!
7. I’m shipping up to Anvil (woah-oh-oh)
You know when all the elements of the story come together in a way you just know is gonna work for you? That’s “Reaver.” Mature fantasy world? Check. Riff on “Suicide Squad”/”Thunderbolts”/The Dirty Dozen? Check. But they’re a D&D party? Big check! Maybe that doesn’t fulfill all your wishes as neatly as it does mine, but I got a feeling we’re all going to get a kick out of this series.
Continued belowREAVER #2
WRITER: JUSTIN JORDAN
ARTIST: REBEKAH ISAACS & ALEX GUIMARAES
AUGUST 14 / 32 PAGES / FC / M / $3.99Hell’s Half-Dozen’s suicide mission to the Anvil leads them straight through Rael territory, home to the many nations of skin eaters. Five of these dangerous convicts are prepared to fight for their freedom—but which one is working on a secret agenda of their own?
6. Disco Queen, coming through, the girl is you (ooh-ooh)
Am I only including “The Weatherman” here because they featured my quote on the back of the first volume? Well, not only. The truth is, they quoted me because they put nice things on the book cover and I said nice things. I said nice things because the book is awesome. It’s got bounty hunters, brainwashed sleeper agents, high stakes, big action. It’s good yo. Get on it!
THE WEATHERMAN VOL. 2 #3
WRITER: JODY LEHEUP
ARTIST / COVER A: NATHAN FOX
AUGUST 21 / 32 PAGES / FC / M / $3.99Still reeling from last issue’s shocking fatality, the crew of the Disco Queen carry on their relentless pursuit of the hard drive containing Nathan’s lost memory. But a pocket of elite resistance fighters stands in their way and force our heroes to make an excruciating choice—continue on their path to stop a second planet-destroying attack, or save the survivors of the first one…
5. We in the killin’ Nazi business. And cousin, business is a-boomin’.
Hmm, I don’t know why, but I got a hankering for a book about Nazi Hunters. Oh and look at that, the market provided. That’s supply and demand in action baby! Seriously, Original Graphic Novels are in short supply and this one looks like it’s gonna hit that sweet spot. It’s prestige-y enough that you can tell the haters that no, this is literature, but it’s also about a Nazi-hunting vigilante, so it is objectively awesome. I hope it’s got the follow-through that it needs.
SIMON SAYS: NAZI HUNTER, VOL. 1 OGN TP
WRITER: ANDRE R. FRATTINO
ARTIST / COVER: JESSE LEE
SEPTEMBER 18 / 120 PAGES / FC / M / $16.99An artist, forced to paint swastikas on train cars for the Nazis during the Holocaust, has become an unlikely vigilante in pre-Cold War Europe. Alongside his army companion, Bruno, he hunts down the criminals responsible for murdering his wife, his family, and his people. SIMON SAYS is one part action-adventure, one part crime-noir and all high-stakes drama!
4. Split the party? YOU NEVER SPLIT THE PARTY!
It’s no secret that I’m a big mark for Kieron Gillen comics and if anything, a bigger mark for comics about roleplaying games. So the writing was on the wall when “Die” was announced. Did I love it from day one? I did, but I reservations, a lot of questions. Gillen comics are often maddeningly opaque (which is one of the reasons why I love them, but still). Then issue #5 was the mission statement this book needed. You want to know why the party is splitting? Read the first arc! This is going to be something special.
Continued belowDIE #6
WRITER: KIERON GILLEN
ARTIST / COVER A: STEPHANIE HANS
AUGUST 7 / 32 PAGES / FC / M / $3.99“SPLIT THE PARTY,” Part One
Forget escaping Die—half of our heroes can’t even escape the remains of shattered Glass Town. Is there any way out? Of course there is. It’s just whether or not you can pay the price. Jump aboard the commercial smash series here!
3. The Thirteenth Sign
I really oughta be more into webcomics than I am. They’re usually free for starters. But also, creating a comic away from market forces gives you total creative freedom. When a webcomic gets enough attention to be put into print, I pay attention. So I’m going to take this as a sign that I really need to read “Ophiuchus” which looks gorgeous and awesome. I’m sure there are fans all over the world who are facepalming and screaming, “yes, this is what we’ve been telling you! Why didn’t you listen!?” Let’s do them a favor and make them feel seen.
OPHIUCHUS OGN TP
WRITER / ARTIST: ALI LERIGER DE LA PLANTE & NATASHA TARA PETROVIĆ
COVER: NATASHA TARA PETROVIĆ
AUGUST 21 / 144 PAGES / FC / T / $16.99ALI LERIGER DE LA PLANTE and NATASHA TARA PETROVIĆ bring their popular webcomic OPHIUCHUS to Image Comics!
OPHIUCHUS is the story of the lone sentry of an ancient, inactive gate. One day, a strange being breaks through and infects her with a virus. And shortly after, she is approached by two machines, who implore her to follow them to the center of the universe to put an end to that virus—a malevolent being which rots all worlds.
2. Go to hell
Do you read “Spawn?” Do you know anyone who reads “Spawn?” Do I read “Spawn?” Doesn’t seem to matter, the 90siest hero to ever 90s has been going strong for 300 issues. Demonic clowns couldn’t stop him. Legal battles couldn’t end him. John Leguizamo in scary makeup couldn’t kill him. A pretty good HBO cartoon that nobody watched couldn’t discourage him. I don’t think Jamie Foxx or a cameo appearance in Mortal Kombat 11 are gonna do anything but get more people into Spawn. Love it or hate it, he is an important part of comics. “Spawn” is as influential as “Sandman” or “Saga.” It’s probably left as big an impact on the culture as “Watchmen” has. And it’s been going for 300 goddamn issues. I salute you “Spawn,” but it’s an ironic salute, followed by a middle finger while I listen to nu-metal and pop a trick on my old skateboard. I think that’s the way you do things.
Continued belowSPAWN #300
WRITER: TODD McFARLANE & SCOTT SNYDER
ARTIST: TODD McFARLANE, GREG CAPULLO, JASON SHAWN ALEXANDER, J. SCOTT CAMPBELL & JEROME OPEÑA
AUGUST 28 / 72 PAGES / FC / T+ / $7.99SPAWN MAKES HISTORY!
With this 300th issue, SPAWN becomes the longest-running independent series in comic book history. To celebrate, legendary artists TODD McFARLANE and GREG CAPULLO return with ALL-NEW interior pencils, with additional art provided by JASON SHAWN ALEXANDER, J. SCOTT CAMPBELL, and JEROME OPEÑA, a cavalcade of celebratory covers, and additional writing by SCOTT SNYDER!
And next month, RECORDS WILL BE BROKEN with SPAWN #301!
1. Double tap
Some stories get told in big series, some in little miniseries. Sometimes you do a one-shot. But a twofer? Two issues, one two, and done? That’s almost unheard of. And this one is by a couple of hotshots: Chip Zdarsky and Kris Anka, with Matt Wilson doing the colors. The format is weird, the idea sounds cool, and the creative team is stellar. Look at that cover! Is that a sexy lion-man? I’m in, that’s all I need. What else are you waiting for?
THE WHITE TREES #1 (OF 2)
WRITER: CHIP ZDARSKY
ARTIST / COVER: KRIS ANKA
AUGUST 14 / 40 PAGES / FC / M / $4.99Acclaimed Daredevil writer CHIP ZDARSKY teams up with superstar Runaways artists KRIS ANKA and MATT WILSON for this spectacular OVERSIZED TWO-ISSUE MINISERIES!
In the fantastical world of Blacksand, peace was hard-won, and three unbending warriors carry the scars to prove it. Now, almost twenty years later, their children are missing and war is on the horizon. Can they put aside their memories of the war—and each other—for one last adventure?
