Welcome back, once again, to Soliciting Multiversity! You should know the score by now and if you don’t know the score… you don’t know the truth. Wait, wrong site. What I meant to say is that this is where we take a look to the far flung future of May 2016 and trawl through Image Comics’ solicitations for that month and give our Top 10 picks of what to check out that month.
This month’s solicits were pretty light, with most of Image’s series being in the middle of their arcs so it was pretty hard to pick a full ten. There may or may not be some filler in here. Try to guess which is which!
10. “Revival” Continues Strong
Every time I open Image’s solicits, there’s a small part of me that expects this to be the finale issue of “Revival”. Not that I want the series to end, but I am continually surprised that the series has gone on for 40 issues now. For a slow burn, character-focused drama that mixed Twin Peaks, Fargo and Dawn Of The Dead, I’m still surprised it found such a dedicated audience to keep afloat for 40 issue, but part of me is really glad it has.
Keep on keeping on, “Revival”.
REVIVAL #40
STORY: TIM SEELEY
ART: MIKE NORTON
COVER: JENNY FRISON
MAY 18 / 32 PAGES / FC / M / $3.99
General Cale discovers that you can’t keep a good soul down as body-hopping ghosts are unleashed. And Em must save her sister from the blade of Weaver Fanny!
9. Faster Than Faster Than Light
The first of our two entries that are only here because they’re starting new story arcs. “Faster Than Light” was a series I was convinced was a miniseries, so it’s interesting to see it pop up with a new story arc tag. Guess that means it was pretty popular, right? I still haven’t had a chance to actually check out first issue, but seeing that’s it continuing past where I thought it was I might just have to.
FASTER THAN LIGHT #6
STORY / ART / COVER: BRIAN HABERLIN
MAY 11 / 32 PAGES / FC / T / $2.99
NEW STORY ARC
The Return Home. Captain Forest and crew are accused of stealing technology from an advanced aquatic species. Forest is privately court-martialed and Grissom is put in command of the Discovery.
8. “The Beauty” Gets Ugly
Aaaaand the other series that I’ve had to talk about because otherwise this would be our Top 7 picks for May 2016. I really, really enjoyed “The Beauty” #1 when I reviewed it ages ago. It was haunting, freaky and fantastically put together. I’m sad I haven’t had the chance to keep up with the series since then, but this new story arc means the series will be getting its first trade soon and I’ll be able to read that.
THE BEAUTY #7
STORY: JEREMY HAUN & JASON A. HURLEY
ART: MIKE HUDDLESTON
COVER A: JEREMY HAUN
COVER B: BRETT WELDELE
MAY 18 / 32 PAGES / FC / M / $3.99
NEW STORY ARC
Think a criminal wouldn’t be all that affected by The Beauty outbreak? Well, you haven’t met Timo yet. He’ll prove you dead wrong.
7. I Feel Like This Solicit Is A Spoiler…
“Nailbiter” is another series that I’m sad that I haven’t had a chance to keep up with for a few months (this is going to be a running theme), but I feel like that solicit is a hardcore spoiler, honestly. I mean, I’m not any better for including it here and solicits aren’t exactly for consumers they’re more for retailers, but still that’s a hell of a thing to drop in the solicit.
Continued belowNAILBITER #21
STORY: JOSHUA WILLIAMSON
ART / COVER: MIKE HENDERSON
MAY 4 / 32 PAGES / FC / M / $2.99
NEW STORY ARC
“BOUND BY BLOOD,” Part One
Alice now knows that the Nailbiter is her father. Does that mean she will grow up to be a serial killer?
6. Class Is In Session
I haven’t read “Deadly Class” at all. I told you this was a running theme. Mostly because I was hard passing on all Rick Remender books after “Axis”, but I’ve heard some really good things about “Deadly Class” and if there’s one way to get me to read a series it’s to put out a deluxe hardcover of it. I’ll be all over this.
DEADLY CLASS, BOOK ONE HC
STORY: RICK REMENDER
ART / COVER: WES CRAIG
JUNE 29 / 432 PAGES / FC / M / $49.99
Collecting the first three arcs of REMENDER and CRAIG’s twistedly humorous story of a group of damaged teens enrolled in a secret high school, training to become the world’s greatest assassins.
Presented in oversized hardcover format!
Collects DEADLY CLASS #1-16
5. I.D., Please
I was very interested in seeing if and how the stories in “Island” would be collected separately. I kind of assumed they would be somehow as it would be a bit shitty to only be able to access them by buying the anthology issues so I’m glad this trade of Emma Rios’ “I.D.” is coming. This was my favourite story of all the ones I’ve read in “Island” so far so it’ll be great to have it all collected in one place because I need more Emma Rios art in my life.
ID TP – ADVANCE SOLICIT
STORY / ART / COVER: EMMA RÍOS
JUNE 22 / 80 PAGES / FC / M / $9.99
A dystopian tale that analyzes the conflict between perception and identity through the struggle of three people who consider a “body transplant” as a solution to their lives.
4. No “Injection” until later this year, world weeps.
“Injection” is one of my favourite series to exist right now. Ellis, Shalvey and Bellaire are maybe my favourite creative team and their entire aesthetic – from “Moon Knight” to “Injection” – has enthralled to me. While I can’t wait to read this issue, I know I’m going to be dreading the hiatus it will taking afterwards. I need my injection of “Injection”!
INJECTION #10
STORY: WARREN ELLIS
ART / COVERS A & B: DECLAN SHALVEY & JORDIE BELLAIRE
MAY 25 / 24 PAGES / FC / M / $2.99
END OF STORY ARC
Vivek, Simeon, and Brigid are hunted by ghost-thieves, secret societies, and sandwich criminals. Maria tries to hold the world together, and Robin makes a decision that might end it.
INJECTION will return with Volume 3 later in the year.
3. What If Bernie Sanders Was A Superhero?
I kind of can’t top that headline so I’m going to keep this short: after “Iron Fist: The Living Weapon”, I cannot wait to see what Kaare Kyle Andrews has next because his artwork is gorgeous and one of the most versatile styles I’ve ever seen. Very excited for this.
RENATO JONES: THE ONE% #1 – GEM OF THE MONTH
STORY / ART / COVER: KAARE KYLE ANDREWS
MAY 4 / 48 PAGES / FC / M / $3.99
Special double-sized first issue!
The One% own more than half the world’s wealth. They’ve crashed economies, bought governments, and have amassed more power than any other group in history. And they still don’t have enough. With this kind of power how can anyone make them pay? WHO will make them pay? Enter Renato Jones, a mysterious vigilante, out to even the score. And when he enters the fray THE SUPER-RICH ARE SUPER F***ED.
From acclaimed creator KAARE KYLE ANDREWS (Iron Fist: The Living Weapon, Spider-Man: Reign) comes a supercharged capitalist action thriller for a post-Great Recession world.
2. What?
I have no idea what this is. Is it a fantasy? Is it about samurai? What’s the weird kabuki looking dude on the cover for? How is there a comic featuring Ryan Browne, Simon Bisley and Brian Azzarello and the world hasn’t imploded yet?
This is a lot to take in. I’m gonna need a minute.
Continued below3 FLOYDS: ALPHA KING #1 (OF 5) – GEM OF THE MONTH
STORY: NICK FLOYD & BRIAN AZZARELLO
ART: SIMON BISLEY & RYAN BROWNE
COVER: SIMON BISLEY
MAY 4 / 32 PAGES / FC / M / $3.99
Set a long time ago in a suburb far, far away (Munster, Indiana), Brewer and CiCi are producing a home-brew so distinct that it attracts a monstrous king and his horrid minions from another dimension. Swords are unsheathed, lines are crossed, and sieges are laid for the rise of the Alpha King!
1. The End Of An Era
I can’t believe it’s finally come to this. Luther Strode’s story is coming to an end. This series has been a part of my life since just before NYCC 2012 and has been so closely linked to my time here at Multiversity Comics that I really don’t know what I’m going to do without out.
God speed, Jordan, Moore and Sobreiro. It was an honour.
THE LEGACY OF LUTHER STRODE #6 (OF 6)
STORY: JUSTIN JORDAN
ART / COVER: TRADD MOORE & Felipe Sobreiro
MAY 18 / 32 PAGES / FC / M / $3.50
THE LUTHER STRODE SAGA ENDS HERE.
Luther versus Cain.
As always, you check out the full solicits for Image in May 2016 over at CBR.
