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Soliciting Multiversity: Image’s Top 10 For June 2018

By | March 28th, 2018
Posted in Columns | % Comments

June at Image is going to be a weird month. The publisher is putting out a ton of strange sci-fi. As we move into the height of spring, the comics are only going to get higher concept. We’re talking rainbows, cosmically altered living weapons, xenophobic haunted apartments, and Martian weathermen. Get ready to be utterly confused, but in a good way.

As always, you can get the full solicits from the Image website.

10. Red sky at morning

When I imagine Martian colonies, my mind either takes me to an ultra-realistic, Mark Watney potato farming place, or a totally bonkers Total Recall mutant uprising sort of place. What I typically don’t think about are the mundane jobs people will have on Mars. What’s cool about a Martian weatherman is that it sort of runs the gamut. The guy reporting the weather on the local news seems sort of quaint. Don’t they have phones on Mars? But then you see that this comic is written by Jody Leheup of “Shirtless Bear Fighter” and you suddenly realize that this story will be anything but quaint and mundane.

In fact, “The Weatherman” sounds ridiculous and epic, and nothing like “Shirtless Bear Fighter.” The titular newsman isn’t just telling us about the red rain and the dust storms, he’s been accused of a terrorist attack that wiped out most life on Earth. And speaking of Total Recall, his memories have been messed with, so he may very well have been involved! With a few images and words, the solicit for “The Weatherman” has established a character, a world, a mystery, and an art style that has totally drawn me in!

THE WEATHERMAN #1
STORY: JODY LEHEUP
ART / COVER: NATHAN FOX
VARIANT COVER: MARCOS MARTIN
JUNE 13 / 32 PAGES / FC / M / $3.99

Nathan Bright had it all: an awesome girlfriend, a kickass dog, and a job as the number one weatherman on terraformed Mars. But when he’s accused of carrying out the worst terrorist attack in human history—an event that wiped out nearly the entire population of Earth—Nathan becomes the most wanted man alive and a target of a manhunt that spans the galaxy. But is Nathan truly responsible for such a horrific crime? And why can’t he remember? Writer JODY LEHEUP (SHIRTLESS BEAR-FIGHTER!), artist NATHAN FOX (DMZ, HAUNT, Dark Reign: Zodiac), and colorist DAVE STEWART (Hellboy, RUMBLE) present a full-throttle, widescreen science fiction epic about the damage we do in the name of justice and what it truly means to be redeemed…You don’t want to miss THE WEATHERMAN!

 

9. The end of the order

With the near cultural ubiquity of “The Walking Dead,” it’s easy to forget that Robert Kirkman, Charlie Adlard and company have been reliably putting out issues of comics’ greatest zombie soap opera. The show has sort of caught up to the broader story beats of the comic, but when things get too predictable, “Walking Dead” always tips the story sideways and introduces something crazy. Remember the battle in the prison? Remember when Negan first appeared? Remember the time jump?

“Walking Dead” #180 is the end of ‘New World Order,’ and will set up the thrust of the story that will probably carry us the the super-sized issue #200. What started out as a small survival story has turned into a sweeping undead political thriller, now complete with stormtroopers! I sometimes joke that you could read the first page and the last page of any issue of “The Walking Dead” and not miss anything. The weight of the story is in its final page twists. That goes doubly so for the end of an arc, and doubly-doubly so (quadrupedally so?) for the end of a massive arc like this one.

THE WALKING DEAD #180
STORY: ROBERT KIRKMAN
ART: CHARLIE ADLARD, STEFANO GAUDIANO, CLIFF RATHBURN
COVER: CHARLIE ADLARD, DAVE STEWART
VARIANT COVER: BILL SIENKIEWICZ
JUNE 06 / 32 PAGES / BW / M / $3.99

“NEW WORLD ORDER,” Conclusion Rick Grimes comes face to face with the Governor of the Commonwealth.

8. Mindy’s got some brand new pals

Mindy Macready is the best character in “Kick-Ass.” That’s why she got her own solo series. The thing is, how do you keep a predictably provocative character fresh? By bringing in a new creative team! Jeff Lemire is practically omnipresent in comics, leaving his mark on major characters across every publisher. It only makes sense that he’d move on to one of the most popular characters at Image. Eduardo Risso cut his teeth on “Moonshine,” and he easily improves the style of John Romita Jr. while still recognizably replicating its familiar chunkiness. Their first act as team “Hit-Girl” is taking the pint-sized assassin to Canada. That’s where all the craziest stuff happens in comics! Wolverine is from Canada! Deadpool too! Scott Pilgrim! This sounds like the chilly energy the “Hit-Girl” comic needed.

Continued below

HIT-GIRL #​5
STORY: JEFF LEMIRE
ART / COVER / COVER B: EDUARDO RISSO
COVER C: KARL KERSCHL
COVER D: OZGUR YILDIRIM
JUNE 20 / 32 PAGES / FC / M / $3.99

HIT-GIRL’S IN CANADA. Leaving behind her Colombian bloodbath, Mindy is locked, loaded, and ready to seriously mess up some Canadians. JEFF LEMIRE and EDUARDO RISSO take on MARK MILLAR’s psychotic 12-year-old Hit-Girl for the next stop in her blood-soaked world tour. No amount of ice or snow will prevent Mindy from slaughtering her latest enemies. Variant covers from awesome Canadian artist KARL KERSCHL and a KICK-ASS #5 connecting cover from ÖZGÜR YILDIRIM.

7. Never think of cute superbabies again

Despite having an unpredictable shipping schedule, the actual issues of “Sex Criminals” are reliably amazing. Whether delivering a gut punch or a gut laugh, it’s a series I never ever ever miss an issue of. ‘Five-Fingered Discount’ has been the sad middle-late part of the over-arching story, and as it concludes, Jon and Suzie will doubtlessly find their second wind and face higher stakes than ever before. In the meantime, we will get to see how everything comes together, and what it is the bad guys have in store for our heroes.

I usually don’t mention the cover as a full reason to get an issue, especially a secret polybagged cover, but this one is too intriguing not to mention. “SexCrims” has done a series of hilarious NSFW covers by a slew of great artists, but Skottie Young is easily the most intriguing. This is a guy best known for cute babies, and drawing the kid-friendly “Wizard of Oz” comics I buy for my baby cousin. What dark depravity is locked away in his brain ought to be a highlight of the month.

SEX CRIMINALS #25
STORY: MATT FRACTION
ART / COVER: CHIP ZDARSKY
VARIANT COVER: SKOTTIE YOUNG
JUNE 20 / 40 PAGES / FC / M / $4.99

“FIVE-FINGERED DISCOUNT,” Conclusion How have we gotten through 24 issues already and not made an “exciting climax” joke in the solicits? C’mon, Matty, wake up and get your head in the game.

SEX CRIMINALS #25 XXX SKOTTIE YOUNG VARIANT COVER Beloved illustrator SKOTTIE YOUNG raw dogs this cover so hard you’ll never think of cute superbabies or The Wizard of Oz when you see his work ever again.

6 NONE. MORE. GOTH.

‘Mothering Invention’ has been the “WicDiv” arc that promises to answer all of our lingering questions, but in classic “WicDiv” fashion, those answers have been thoroughly opaque. We got an explicit flashback highlighting the villain laying out her evil plans point by point, and it still didn’t make a lick of sense. This issue looks like it’s focusing in on the Queen of the Underground herself, the three parts of the Morrigan. She’s easily the most enigmatic character left in the series. I expect this issue to be utterly perplexing, and probably a little bit frustrating. But you know what? If you’ve read 30 plus issues of “WicDiv” and you didn’t like a good puzzler from Gillen, McKelvie, and Wilson, you’re probably more of a masochist than Laura Wilson.

THE WICKED + THE DIVINE #37
STORY: KIERON GILLEN
ART / COVER: JAMIE MCKELVIE, MATT WILSON
VARIANT COVER: ERICA HENDERSON
JUNE 06 / 40 PAGES / FC / M / $3.99

“MOTHERING INVENTION,” Part Four None More Goth.

5. Dark side of the rainbow

“Prism Stalker” features writing and art from Sloane Leong, and describes itself as the intersection of Octavia Butler, Sailor Moon, and David Cronenberg. You know when one of those comparison fails to spark your imagination? This isn’t one of those times. That’s incredibly evocative. Leong has displayed a painterly style in the past, but she has proven that she’s able to adjust her art to match the story she is telling in surprising ways. Prism Stalker has all the psychedelic colors of her previous work, but looks more like a standard adventure comic, creating a sort of uncanny style that challenges your assumptions of either of those genres. The solicit to issue four is utterly baffling but that’s par for the course in such a strange fusion of sci-fi.

Continued below

PRISM STALKER #4
STORY / ART: SLOANE LEONG
LETTERING: ARIANA MAHER
COVER: SLOANE LEONG, DARIUS OU
JUNE 06 / 32 PAGES / FC / T / $3.99

The thrashing, nebulous present collides with the deep-rooted past and threatens more than one future. Vep’s will, crystallized but ravaged, is challenged and set aflame when confronted with a powerful delusive attention.

4. Midnight train to Tokyo

Duggan, O’Sullivan, and Bellarie (with a guest appearance from Phil Noto) is a combo that would get me to pick up an issue regardless of content. Fortunately, “Analog” is smart sci-fi with the momentum of a thriller, the kind of movie that Arnold Schwarzenegger would have starred in 20 years ago. It’s so exciting to me that a team of creators mostly known for fun, charming books would go so high concept. With such a clear endpoint, I can’t wait to see how this series manages to evolve and really stretch its legs.

ANALOG #3
STORY: GERRY DUGGAN
ART / COVER: DAVID O’SULLIVAN
COLORS: JORDIE BELLAIRE
VARIANT COVER: PHIL NOTO
JUNE 13 / 32 PAGES / FC / M / $3.99

CHAPTER THREE Jack’s partner Oona crashes a meeting of white nationalists and ends up making a real mess. Mostly of them, but also for herself. Jack’s got to get a briefcase to Tokyo on time, but he’s not gonna leave her to twist in the wind. Plus, Jack’s new nemesis in our government keeps the heat on.

3. Make a new Friendo

I know, this isn’t really a comic book, but are you complaining? Since he first appeared way back when, Ghüs has easily been my favorite design by Fiona Staples in the whole “Saga” saga. He’s an adorable seal in overalls. He rides a magical legged walrus. He has a sweet battle axe. Let us take the time and give thanks to live in a time when not only do we get to read awesome comics like “Saga,” but we get merchandise of wonderful supporting characters. If you tell me this isn’t a delightful and important entry to this list, I’ll ask to to repeat yourself to Lying Cat, and we’ll see what you really think.

GHÜS COLLECTIBLE PLUSH
/ 0 PAGES / FC / E / $25.00

From BRIAN K. VAUGHAN and FIONA STAPLES’ epic series SAGA comes everyone’s favorite character, Ghüs. This 10” Ghüs plush doll comes dressed in his awesome yellow coveralls. Pick up your favorite companion today!

2. Another brick in the wall

Science Fiction is entertaining, but it exists for a serious reason, to challenge our way of thinking and to show us a possible future. That’s why it’s so cool that we’re getting stories like “Infidel.” It’s one thing to make points about the American political system, or to represent a facet of the Muslim experience, but to insert those ideas in genre fiction somehow makes them real in a whole new way. That isn’t to say we don’t need memoirs like “Persepolis.” We need both.

“Infidel” is a horror story that’s as subtle as any pulpy horror schlock, which is to say not very subtle at all. It’s a ghost story where the ghost feeds off of xenophobia and bigotry. That could be trite, but Pornsak Pichetshote writes the book with attention and care and nuance. This issue looks like it doubles down not just on the terror of the monster, but on the connections of the different people who live within the haunted building. Sometimes when things feel scary in real life, it feels nice to distract yourself with nice feelings, but sometimes turning your fears into a slasher flick is what you need to really face them.

INFIDEL #4 (OF 5)
STORY: PORNSAK PICHETSHOTE
ART: AARON CAMPBELL, JOSÉ VILLARRUBIA
COVER: AARON CAMPBELL
VARIANT COVER: YUKO SHIMIZU
JUNE 20 / 32 PAGES / FC / M / $3.99

The death toll rises as the power of the mysterious creatures haunting Aisha’s home increases. As they test everyone close to her, setting friend against friend, one resident discovers the entities’ possible origin…and link to an ancient evil.

Continued below

1. Seventh wonder of the galaxy

Sometimes I get excited about a solicit because it shamelessly includes a bunch of buzzwords that get me excited. That’s at least partially the case with “Stellar” #1, which is a new series about a girl taken from her family, turned into a cosmic superweapon, escaping, and becoming a bounty hunter in a groovy space opera redemption story. None of that screams originality, but it’s the kind of thing that, when executed well, makes a great playground for ideas and characters. All depends on the creative team, and “Stellar” has one that has me way too excited.

Joseph Keatinge is a fantastic writer, and more than that, knows how to work with high quality artists. The universe he created with Leila del Duca in “Shutter” was breathtaking and full of wonder and nightmares. What he did with “Glory” was nothing short of masterful. But Keatinge isn’t working alone here, he’s teaming up with Bret Blevins. Bret Blevins!! Blevins is one of the all time great Marvel artists, lending his talents to New Mutants throughout the 80s. When you take a premise that sounds simple on paper, put a great writer behind it, and throw in one of the all-time great comic book artists, you get a recipe for good good comic books.

STELLAR #1
STORY: JOSEPH KEATINGE
ART / COVER: BRET BLEVINS
JUNE 13 / 32 PAGES / FC / T+ / $3.99

Stellar was taken as a child and transformed into the ultimate weapon, one that would end an intergalactic war. She succeeded…at everything except finding peace. Reduced to a bounty hunter, she scours the worlds she’s broken, searching for redemption. But there are other weapons loose in the galaxy, who just can’t leave the war behind them. JOSEPH KEATINGE (GLORY, SHUTTER) and legendary artist BRET BLEVINS (New Mutants, Sleepwalker) will transport you to another dimension, filled with crashed spaceships, fast-talking aliens, and ageless wonders.


//TAGS | Soliciting Multiversity

Jaina Hill

Jaina is from New York. She currently lives in Ohio. Ask her, and she'll swear she's one of those people who loves both Star Wars and Star Trek equally. Say hi to her on twitter @Rambling_Moose!

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