Hello, and welcome to this month’s Soliciting Multiversity for Image Comics! Wait a minute… I’m not the usual unreasonably handsome, bearded host of this column! I’m someone completely new! That’s right, my name is Alice W. Castle and you might remember me from such Multiversity columns as Art Of The Week and the weekly comic reviews. I’ll be taking over Soliciting Multiversity for Image Comics for the foreseeable future, but never fear! You’ll still get your Meylikhov goodness over with the Soliciting Multiversity for Marvel.
Typical me, I took the empty month to begin my run on the column. December looks to be the debut of a number of really good looking books, the end of a dearly departed book and a buttload of trades just in time for the holidays. Check out our Top 10 for the month down below as we see off the year just three months early.
10. ‘Fandemonium Begins’
Nate Grey? What are you doing here? We’re currently four issues into Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie’s pop-inspired romp through mythology and the pantheons, but December sees the beginning of the book’s second arc. I was, sadly, a little lukewarm on the pair’s run on “Young Avengers” due in no small part to the runaround in terms of representation (focusing on the cute gay boys while revealing that the rest of the team aren’t hetero in throwaway lines or in the last issue does not good representation make) and the treatment of female characters (seriously, did Kate and America have a conversation before the last issue?). But this? This I can get behind as it feels like Gillen and McKelvie are much more comfortable in terms of the story they are telling and how they are telling it. ‘Fandemonium’ promises that nothing will ever be the same and with the way these two have built the world of this series, I would not be surprised for this second arc to start with a bang.
THE WICKED + THE DIVINE #6
story: KIERON GILLEN
art / cover: JAMIE MCKELVIE & MATT WILSONDECEMBER 17 / 32 PAGES / FC / M / $3.50
THE FAUST ACT is over. Welcome to FANDEMONIUM.
The second arc of THE WICKED + THE DIVINE begins in its traditional manner (i.e. a ludicrous pun.) We’d say something like “nothing will ever be the same again” but if you think about it, you can say that about literally everything, ever. Er…also some comic story. Probably.
9. Faerber And Bueno Bring More Chills Than December Snow
The first of December’s debuts is a miniseries by the name of “Graveyard Shift” by Jay Faerber and Fran Bueno. Now, I have to admit, I’m not that familiar with either of their work, but that cover certainly looks gorgeous and the solicit has my interest peaked. Name-dropped Fright Night and Castle? Combining the horror and crime genres? A gang of vampires? What more could you ask for? This is certainly one to keep an eye on, especially at just four issues.
GRAVEYARD SHIFT #1 (OF 4)
story: JAY FAERBER
art / cover: FRAN BUENODECEMBER 24 / 32 PAGES / FC / T / $3.50
Reunited after their memorable run on the critically acclaimed NOBLE CAUSES, JAY FAERBER and FRAN BUENO bring you a new tale of crime, horror, and romance! It’s Fright Night-style thrills and Castle-style crime-solving as a homicide detective and his girlfriend find their love put to the ultimate test when they run afoul of a gang of vampires!
8. The Present Of 1,000 Broken Shelves
Have you been reading Nick Spencer and Joe Eisma’s excellent “Morning Glories”? No? Then this is the perfect present for you. Do you know someone who still hasn’t read “Morning Glories” despite your continual pestering? This is the perfect present for them. Do you have enough money to buy multiple copies of this and hand them out on the street? Maybe use that money for something a bit more productive, actually. Still, at a whopping 1048 pages, this first volume of the “Morning Glories” compendium collection is going to have a number of people looking desperately for shelf space this holiday season.
Continued belowMORNING GLORIES, VOL. 1 COMPENDIUM TP
story: NICK SPENCER
art: JOE EISMA
cover: RODIN ESQUEJODECEMBER 3 / 1048 PAGES / FC / T+ / $59.99
Introducing the first seven volumes of the critically acclaimed, New York Times-bestselling series, now collected into one massive paperback edition!At over one thousand pages, this epic volume is the perfect introduction to the spellbinding mysteries and deadly secrets of Morning Glory Academy! From the arrival of six brilliant but troubled new students to the time-spanning perils of the Woodrun contest to the violent insurrection of the Truants, this collection offers the most comprehensive exploration yet of the comic often described as “Runaways meets Lost.”
Collects MORNING GLORIES #1-38
7. Completing Image’s “Casanova” Collections
At last! Matt Fraction and Gabriel Bá’s wonderful “Casanova” will be collected in three full hardcovers by the end of the year. All three, or just this one if they’ve already got the first by then, would make excellent presents and, as mentioned by Matt last month, this could very well mean a fourth volume incoming in January. One can only hope, right?
CASANOVA, VOL 3: AVARITIA – THE COMPLETE EDITION HC
story: MATT FRACTION
art / cover: GABRIEL BÁDECEMBER 17 / 176 PAGES / FC / M / $29.99
Destroying whole universes is easy until you meet the man destined to destroy your life. Just ask Casanova Quinn. The finale of the first CASANOVA trilogy collected with a massive slab of bonus material.
COLLECTS CASANOVA: AVARITIA 1-4
6. The Return Of “Shutter”
It’s going to be a long, long and lonely wait, but December will mark the return of “Shutter” for the beginning of its second arc. I cannot get enough of “Shutter”, I think Joe Keatinge and Leila del Duca have created an endlessly fascinating world that gets weird and more charming with every issue. And after that cliffhanger last issue, I cannot wait to see where the future will take this series. Bring on December!
SHUTTER #7
story: JOE KEATINGE
art / cover A: LEILA DEL DUCA & OWEN GIENI
cover B: FRANK CHO
cover C: RAY FAWKES
cover D: JOHN WORKMANDECEMBER 10 / 32 PAGES / FC / M / $3.50
INDIANA JONES FOR THE 21ST CENTURY RETURNS IN AN ALL-NEW STORY ARC! Kate Kristopher’s finally face-to-face with the sibling she never knew about, who’s dead set on destroying what little Kate has left. Family rivalry was never so cataclysmic in the globe-trotting and mind-melting second arc of the comic book ROBERT KIRKMAN (THE WALKING DEAD) describes as “so completely and utterly new that it reminds you of the potential of this medium!” ALL THIS PLUS: say hello to SHUTTER’s new letterer, the legendary JOHN WORKMAN (Thor, Doom Patrol, Heavy Liquid) with his commemorative variant cover and a comprehensive career retrospective written by SHEA HENNUM!
5. The End Of “Sheltered”
R.I.P. “Sheltered”, we hardly knew ye. “Sheltered” is a book I’ve loved and followed for every issue, despite there never being a lot of conversation about it online. I really think it was one of Image’s most underrated books and I’ll be sad to see it come to an end. The writing was pitch perfect from issue to issue and the artwork was full of suspense and atmosphere. And the kicker? This issue comes out on my birthday. Thanks, Ed and Johnnie, I hope you can feel my tears.
SHELTERED #15
story: ED BRISSON
art / cover: JOHNNIE CHRISTMASDECEMBER 17 / 32 PAGES / FC / M / $2.99
THIS IS IT! THE FINAL ISSUE!
It’s the end of Safe Haven, but is it the end of the world?
4. “East Of West” Enters Year Two
It should be noted that I love Jonathan Hickman. His writing is superb and the aesthetic of his design is right up my alley. Perhaps my favourite of the series he writes right now, though, is “East Of West”. The world is inventive, the drama gripping, the character writing intense and personal and the artwork by Nick Dragotta is simply gorgeous from issue to issue. This December sees “East Of West” enter its second year with #16 and if that’s how epic the first year was then I can’t wait to see where this goes next. Plus, it’s an oversized issue of Hickman and Dragotta goodness, who can say no to that?
Continued belowEAST OF WEST #16
story: JONATHAN HICKMAN
art: NICK DRAGOTTADECEMBER 10 / 40 PAGES / FC / T+ / $3.50
“THE APOCALYPSE: YEAR TWO” begins in the over-sized EAST OF WEST #16!
Following the dramatic conclusion of YEAR ONE, the Great Beast now roams the fractured United States of America.
Deep into an all-consuming war between the splintered nations, the Four Horsemen move to further their individual agendas while resisting the inevitability of The Message.
3. Stephenson, Gane & Bellaire Are Not Like Us
I love “Nowhere Men” and I cannot wait for it to return. I also think that Nate Bellegarde was incredibly brave to be as open as he was about the problems causing the series delay. However, while we wait for its return, there is something of a stopgap coming in December to tide us over until then. Eric Stephenson and Jordie Bellaire will be teaming up with artist Simon Gane to bring us “They’re Not Like Us”, which sounds like Stephenson’s take on the superhero genre. If “Nowhere Men” is any indication, this will be dense and intricate and wonderful. I can’t wait.
THEY’RE NOT LIKE US #1
story: ERIC STEPHENSON
art: SIMON GANE & JORDIE BELLAIRE
cover: SIMON GANE & FONOGRAFIKSDECEMBER 3 / 24 PAGES / FC / M / $2.99
Eisner-nominated NOWHERE MEN writer ERIC STEPHENSON teams up with red-hot artist SIMON GANE for an all-new ongoing series! We all have advantages over one another, but what if you were capable of things most of us can only imagine? What would you do – and who would you be? A doctor? An athlete? A soldier? A hero? Everyone has to make a choice about how to use the abilities they’re born with… but they’re not like us.
2. Arcudi And Harren Are Ready To Rumble
John Arcudi and James Harren are two creators that are possibly most well known for their contribution to Mike Mignola’s “Hellboy” universe over at Dark Horse. That means I’ve had to admire their efforts from afar as, unfortunately, I haven’t actually read on of those comics (I’ll get to them eventually), but that is the case no longer. The two are teaming up to launch a new series at Image in December titled “Rumble”. When you’re name dropping Louis C.K., Robert E. Howard and David Fincher in the solicit, you have me very interested. Keep an eye on this one.
We also just held an interview with John Arcudi about “Rumble”, which you should check out if you’re interested in this series. It’s good stuff.
RUMBLE #1
story: JOHN ARCUDI
art / cover: JAMES HARRENDECEMBER 17 / 32 PAGES / FC / M / $3.50
Okay, so a scarecrow walks into a bar…and proceeds to wreak havoc across two worlds! After a long absence, Rathraq, Scarecrow Warrior God, is back—and very unhappy. Bad news for his old enemies, yes, but worse news for everybody else! JOHN ARCUDI and JAMES HARREN bring you a modern day action/adventure fantasy thriller where rundown dive bars, undead kitty cats, psycho skinheads, and giant mummies all play a part. It’s Louis C.K. meets Robert E. Howard in a David Fincher universe.
1. Women In Prison… IN SPAAAAAACE!
Kelly Sue DeConnick is a writer who is not afraid to write the stories that interest her and that is something I deeply respect. While that may make those stories very divisive and niche, as shown by the response to “Pretty Deadly” which I loved, but was clearly not for everyone, it also shows a very deep connection between her and the matters she writes about. Cue “Bitch Planet”, which is the series she is writing and Valentine De Landro is illustrating, which is her take on the women in prison exploitation films. This is a series I’ve been looking forward to since it was announced and if it was only going out a week later, it would be the best birthday present ever.
BITCH PLANET #1
story: KELLY SUE DeCONNICK
art / cover: VALENTINE DE LANDRODECEMBER 10 / 32 PAGES / FC / M / $3.50
2014 Best Writer Eisner Award nominee KELLY SUE DeCONNICK (PRETTY DEADLY, Captain Marvel) and VALENTINE DE LANDRO (X-Factor) team up for the very third time to bring you the premiere issue of BITCH PLANET, their highly-anticipated women-in-prison sci-fi exploitation riff. Think Margaret Atwood meets Inglourious Basterds.
Well, I hope you enjoyed my first run around with Soliciting Multiversity and if you want to check out the full solicitations for Image’s releases in December, check out their website.
