Aaaaaaaand… welcome to 2023! Sure, it’s just after Halloween when you are probably reading this, but time works different for comic solicitations. And you know what? It’s good we are looking at these during the spooky season because there are LOTS of witches and cannibals in these books. Check out our top ten below!
As always, you can seek out the full solicits on the Image Comics website.
10. In the 31st Year
First up, we’re going to look at a series that’s still fresh after it’s sell-by date. Image was founded in 1992, which makes 2022 it’s 30th anniversary. To celebrate, Image has put out an anthology of stories from like, nearly every notable creator in comics (or it sure feels that way). This issue includes stories from team “Bitter Root,” as well as Tula Lotay, Geoff Johns, Skottie Young, Brendan Fletcher, and Erika Henderson. To name a few. Is it funny that this issue is coming out in January 2023? A little. But it still oughta be a fun read.
IMAGE 30TH ANNV ANTHOLOGY #10 (OF 12)
Written by Geoff Johns, David Walker, Chuck Brown, John Layman, Jeff Boison, Ivan Brandon, Skottie Young, Brenden Fletcher, Patrick Kindlon, Dean Haspiel
Illustrated by Andrea Mutti, Jok, Zoe Thorogood, Tula Lotay, Paper D, Simon Gane, Katie Skelly, Andy MacDonald, Skottie Young, Erica Henderson, Maurizio Rosenzweig, Dean Haspiel
Illustrated and Colored by Sanford GreeneAs we head toward the finish line with our all-star celebration of Image’s 30th anniversary, DAVID WALKER, CHUCK BROWN & SANFORD GREENE join in with an all-new BITTER ROOT short, JOHN LAYMAN & JOK premiere their new upcoming series IN HELL WE FIGHT, IVAN BRANDON & ANDY MacDONALDS reunite for a new NYC MECH tale, and JEFF BOISON teams up with ZOE THOROGOOD, TULA LOTAY, PAPER D, SIMON GANE & KATIE SKELLY for “WTFK, A Lyrical.”
Plus: more of “The Blizzard” by GEOFF JOHNS & ANDREA MUTTI, “Red Stitches” by BRENDEN FLETCHER & ERICA HENDERSON, “Gehenna” by PATRICK KINDLON & MAURIZIO ROSENZWEIG, “Billy Dogma” by DEAN HASPIEL, and, of course, “Stupid Fresh Mess” by SKOTTIE YOUNG! In Shops: Jan 25, 2023
9. Hecate’s Download
Regular followers of this column know that I have a weak spot for Tim Seeley’s goth nonsense. He can be pulpy, grindhouse, hilarious, dark as night, and maybe just a little bit hornier than is acceptable. I’m also a sucker for genre mashups, and this witchcraft/cyberpunk nonsense looks pretty rad. I’m less familiar with the artwork of Zulema Lavina, but it’s love at first sight. She has the kind of girtty pin-up style that should do nicely for this story. Looks like it’s going to be a visual treat.
HEXWARE #2 (OF 6)
Written by Tim Seeley
Illustrated and Colored by Zulema LavinaThe service android Which-Where has purchased a soul, saving Jessie Marks. But, there is a cost: she must return beings who escaped from Hell to their masters…vampires, werewolves, demons. Now she hunts Low-Town for monsters, unaware that she’s also hunted…by the vampire-witch, Sister Invictus! In Shops: Jan 11, 2023
8. Fourth Time’s the Charm
I kind of forgot for a while that Mark Millar usually has a handful of Image ongoing titles. I often forget about Millar. Are we as a people done with him? Millar has been criticized for writing Netflix pitches in comic book form, and his own actual Netflix series, “Jupiter’s Legacy,” was a bomb. Meanwhile, comics’ more senior shock jock, Garth Ennis, is behind the smash hit “The Boys.” All of this is to say, if you like your stories straightforward and your humor floating somewhere between <i>South Park</i> and Kevin Smith, this is your reminder that “Magic Order” is deeply readable.
MAGIC ORDER 4 #1 (OF 6)
Written by Mark Millar
Illustrated and Colored by Dike RuanBRAND NEW ARC! The Magic Order is in turmoil after Cordelia is forced to expel her brother. Whispers of discontent persist among the other wizards. They’re tired of the rules they’ve all been living under-and now a coup is brewing. In Shops: Jan 25, 2023
7. Cannibal Cult
Between Halloween viewings of <i>Yellowjackets</i>, <i>The Terror</i>, <i>Raw</i>, and <i>Hannibal</i>, I noticed I might be into cannibal horror. Did you even know that was a thing? Me neither. And yo, this book looks nasty. In a good way. Luana Vecchio is pulling out all the stops to disgust and delight, and who are we to argue?
Continued belowLOVESICK #4 (OF 7)
Written by Luana Vecchio
Illustrated and Colored by Luana VecchioAs Domino struggles with the aftermath of a near-fatal ambush by the Bloodcels, her cannibal partner in crime Jack barges back into her life with buried memories and unresolved grudges in tow to push her fragile psyche even further. In Shops: Jan 25, 2023
6. Furry and Furious
Wait, how did I miss the solicits for the first two issues in this series? Plush is ANOTHER cannibalistic horror series, though this one edges into spoof. In this one, the cannibals aren’t just a witchy cult, they are fetishists who like dressing up as cartoon animals… and then eating people like those animals. This is an idea that has so much potential to explore that area between death and sex and food and nature. Or maybe it’ll just be kind of silly. Either way, I’m in.
PLUSH #3 (OF 6)
Written by Doug Wagner
Illudtrated by Daniel Hillyard
Colored by Rico RenziROAD TRIP! The cannibalistic furries have abducted Devin away on a fiery SWAT van road trip to visit the group’s creepy mansion of horrors. Keebler drives and Scratch rides shotgun as Kasha and Devin argue whether he’s suitable enough to eat or not. In Shops: Jan 25, 2023
5. Hazel’s Big Score
“Saga” still exists, and you should be reading it. It is as good now as it was ten years ago. I don’t normally recommend “Saga” because everyone knows they should be reading “Saga.” But it’s a new year. Read “Saga!”
SAGA #61
Written by Brian K. Vaughan
Illustrated by Fiona StaplesNEW STORY ARC SAGA is back, and it’s time for another epic season of emotional adventures and shocking surprises for Hazel and her star-crossed family!
SAGA has sold seven million copies to date across single issue, trade paperback, compendium, hardcover, and digital editions and has been translated into 20 languages. The series also boasts multiple Eisner Awards, Harvey Awards, a Hugo Award, British Fantasy Award, Goodreads Choice Award, Shuster Award, Inkwell Award, Ringo Award, and more. It has been featured in such mainstream media outlets as TIME, Entertainment Weekly, The Atlantic, NPR, and more. The series has become a pop culture phenomenon and has been immortalized with references and easter eggs appearing in such popular TV shows as Supernatural, The Big Bang Theory, The Simpsons, and even a recent Taco Bell commercial featuring the characters dressed in cosplay. In Shops: Jan 25, 2023
4. Peak Darkness
And some more witch stuff too! Not only that, this looks to blend witchery and tech, maybe not to cyberpunk levels, but definitely verging into sci-fi. Oh, and this is by Matt Groom who wrote the excellent “Self/Less.” And not only that, this is part of the greater “Radiant” series, taking place in the Massiveverse. I can’t deny I need to know how this witch cult is connected to all the Super Sentai stuff.
INFERNO GIRL RED BOOK ONE #1 (OF 3)
Written by Matt Groom
Illustrated by Erica D’Urso
Colored by Igor MontiA new school, new relationships, new possibilities-for any teenager, big moves are both challenging and exciting. But it’s a whole other thing for Cássia Costa…because an ancient cult and their army of demons has ripped her new home of Apex City out of our universe and cast it into darkness!
To have any hope of saving it, Cássia must survive the worst night of her life, embrace a secret legacy, and find the courage to fight when all seems lost-as the blazing light of hope in the dark, Inferno Girl Red!
From creators ERICA D’URSO (The Mighty Valkyries) and MAT GROOM (SELF / MADE, Ultraman), the saga of the newest Image Comics superhero begins here!
INFERNO GIRL RED is a Massive-Verse series. In Shops: Jan 25, 2023
3. The Debt is Your Mortal Soul
Here’s another no-brainer. Charles Soule has proven himself to be one of the most clever writers in comics. No matter what tone the story is (and the man has range!) he always makes the most out of his series’ high concepts (check out “Curse Words” and “Eight Billion Genies.” And his “Darth Vader” run. And his “Daredevil.” And “She Hulk,” “Swamp Thing,” and yeah, even his “Inhumans.”) Soule is great, and teamed up with Will Silney, this book oughta be great. But man, what’s gonna happen with all these folks trading their (Charles) souls like they’re at a stock market.
Continued belowHELL TO PAY #3 (OF 6)
Written by Charles Soule
Illustrated by Will Sliney
Colored by Dave JohnsonThe source of the plague of cursed hellcoins upon the earth has been revealed-and Maia and Sebastian Stone have realized they cannot destroy it alone. They must recruit aid from another of the Shrouded College’s agents, retired magical bon vivant Arturo Peroni. But he has racked up a sorcerous debt of his own, and it’s about to come due! In Shops: Jan 25, 2023
2. Can the Bears Be Stopped!?
Look at that cover. Has Shirtless Bear Fighter given up? Has the Ursine Horde of the BEarth crushed the human spirit once and for all? Will Shirtless Bear Fighter be forced to start fighting humans, to break his spirits, he gets renamed as Shirtless Human Fighter? If you keep up with the freaking delightful “Shirtless Bear Fighter” you know the answer is nah. Shirtless Bear Fighter gonna fight some bears. And those bears won’t know what hit ‘em.
SHIRTLESS BEAR-FIGHTER 2 #6 (OF 7)
Written by Jody LeHeup
Illustrated by Nil Vendrell
Colored by Dave JohnsonThe final battle begins as Silva leads a citywide revolt against Ursa Major and his forces. Will Shirtless finally rejoin the fight? In Shops: Jan 18, 2023
1. The Most Terrifying Place on Earth
Solicits are 3 months out so when you see an issue #4, chances are good that I’ve read the issue #1. “Dark Ride” is probably going to turn out to be one of my favorite new Images series of 2022. It merges theme park minutia with haunted happenings. The first issue introduced a huge ensemble of characters, and I can’t wait to see them all get tormented by this evil friggin’ amusement park. Expect to see a lot of “Dark Ride” being recommended well into 2023.
DARK RIDE #4
Written by Joshua Williamson
Illustrated by Andrei Bressan
Colored by Adriano LucasThe secret of Arthur Dante’s deal with the devil is revealed.
Now, Halloween and Sam, heirs to the empire, must decide whose side they’re really on. In Shops: Jan 11, 2023
