Today is a big day for Image. Not only will Image Expo be happening today, but we’re doing our Soliciting Multiversity column for Image today as well — and we all know how important this column is in the grand scheme of things, now don’t we? Yeah, Image sure is lucky.
Read on as I break down the top 10 things to pick up this October from Image Comics.
10. Anthology Time #1: Brit Style
Thought Bubble is one of those conventions I always wish I could go to but never can because money. Despite that, a little bit of Thought Bubble has been brought to us here in the States for a few years now thanks to the Thought Bubble Anthology, featuring creators both well known and then less so. In past years it has been really great for finding both new artists to follow and I have no doubt this will be more of the same.
Plus: Marc “Mark” Ellerby in a comic I can physically get without massive shipping prices! That to me seems cause enough for celebration. And if it’s new Chloe Noonan, even better.
THOUGHT BUBBLE ANTHOLOGY 2014
story / art: CLIFF CHIANG, BOO COOK, MARK ELLERBY, BARRY KITSON, ALES KOT, SARAH McINTYRE, ERIC POWELL, EMMA RIOS, TIM SALE, RICHARD STARKINGS, & MORE
cover: ANNIE WU
OCTOBER 22 / 32 PAGES / FC / T+ / $3.99
TABLOID FORMAT
A collection of new short stories by some of the best in the business, plus many more names to be announced. This anthology is part of the United Kingdom’s Thought Bubble Festival which takes place in Leeds, Northern England from 9-16 November 2014. All profits from this comic go to Barnardo’s, one of the largest children’s charities in the UK.
9. Anthology Time #2: Legal Defense Style
Ah, the annual Comic Book Legal Defense Fund Liberty Special! These books are absolutely great, with some of the short comics having been recently collected in a nice hardcover earlier this year. And if you bought that (as you well should’ve) and are looking for more, this is the perfect answer.
Plus, look at the talent line-up. Jonathan Hickman. Kate Leth. Joe Quinones and Maris Wicks. Declan Shalvey and Jorie Bellaire. Stan Sakai. Jeff Parker. Tom Fowler! What more do you want in your comics? For it to do your taxes? That’s next year’s edition. (Taxes jokes are still funny, right?)
CBLDF LIBERTY ANNUAL 2014
story: JEFF PARKER, STAN SAKAI, MARC GUGGENHEIM & TARA BUTTERS, JONATHAN HICKMAN, BRIAN WOOD, AMY CHU, AL EWING, ROBIN FURTH, RYAN DUNLAVEY, JEREMY LAMBERT, CHRIS ELIOPOULOS, LARRY MARDER, ROB REGER & MARIAH HEUHNER, JOE QUINONES & MARIS WICKS, & MERYL JAFFEE
art: TOM FOWLER, STAN SAKAI, MATTHEW HOLM, TERRY DODSON, SHANNON WHEELER, RICH ELSON, EMMA VIECELI, RYAN DUNLAVEY, DECLAN SHALVEY & JORDIE BELLAIRE, CHRIS ELIOPOULOS, LARRY MARDER, CAT FARRIS, JOE QUINONES & MARIS WICKS, KATE LETH, & JANET LEE
cover A: MICHAEL ALLRED
cover B: WALTER SIMONSON
cover C: DEREK CHARM
OCTOBER 8 / 48 PAGES / FC / E / $4.99
A COMIC BOOK LEGAL DEFENSE FUND BENEFIT BOOK!
“USED YOUR IMAGINATION LATELY?”
Calling all dreamers and dancers, wanderers and wonderers, free speakers and free thinkers to this year’s CBLDF LIBERTY ANNUAL, compiled by former Marvel editor and ardent imaginaut LAUREN SANKOVITCH. Within the pages of this year’s Annual, a merry band of legendary creators has crafted 48 PAGES of THRILLING ADVENTURE, POWERFUL DRAMA, and GUT-BUSTING HILARITY that is not only ALL-NEW but ALL AGES! So grab your favorite life forms and gather ‘round for a series of tales to test the bounds of your imagination and celebrate our freedom to do so!
All proceeds from this book benefit the important First Amendment work of the COMIC BOOK LEGAL DEFENSE FUND, who’ve been fighting censorship in comics for over 25 years!
8. This American Death
“East of West” is taking a break in October in order to publish a print version of what the talented and handsome Vince Ostrowski does in his monthly column here at the site covering the series. And while Vince isn’t involved in this one-shot, not to boost his ego too much but I think the necessity of this one-shot kinda proves that what he’s doing in the column is worth it! So if you haven’t been following it, now’s the time to hop in, yeah? (Plug, plug, plug.)
Continued belowBut seriously, it actually will be handy to have some of this information in an easy to reference print edition, and it will apparently contain new information as well. “East of West” is a massive, sprawling book; I’m intrigued to see how it gets boiled down to 40 pages of information.
EAST OF WEST: THE WORLD (ONE-SHOT)
story: JONATHAN HICKMAN
art / cover: NICK DRAGOTTA
OCTOBER 29 / 40 PAGES / FC / T+ / $3.99
“THE WORLD”
A STAND ALONE, all-encompassing look at the wider world of EAST OF WEST. Part atlas, part encyclopedia, part timeline, and part apocrypha, EAST OF WEST: THE WORLD is the must-have one-shot companion to the spellbinding series.
NOTE: EAST OF WEST: THE WORLD will contain pivotal plot and character info that will not be in the regular series…so don’t miss out!
The Apocalypse is illuminated in EAST OF WEST: THE WORLD.
7. Finally.
I’m a big fan of James Harvey’s artwork and have wanted to pick up a physical copy of “Masterplasty” (and “Zygote”) for some time now. Some of you may have already read it (and if you haven’t, now is the time), but it’s an excellent and undersung comic from a very imaginative mind that will hopefully see some renewed life in print — and, if nothing else, kick Harvey in the bum to get more comics out.
MASTERPLASTY (ONE-SHOT)
story / art / cover: JAMES HARVEY
OCTOBER 1 / 32 PAGES / FC / T+ / $3.99
OVERSIZED
“A MODERN CLASSIC” – Ronald Wimberly, Prince of Cats, Black Dynamite.
A young man decides to leave his college girlfriend after getting a new medical technique which drastically modifies the physical appearance of the human body in ways both beautiful and hideous. Will changing the outside change what’s within?
The cult online comic is finally available in print. The print debut of UK writer/artist JAMES HARVEY, beautifully illustrated in the tradition of Jamie Hewlett and Katsuhiro Otomo.
6. Punks: The Comic: The Write-Up
Remember “Punks”? I do. I remember a grimy little comic in print at NYCC a few years ago (reviewed here on the site), and I remember the same comic popping up on MTV.com of all places. And now the series is coming back, assumedly bringing the same irreverent humor and counter-culture that made the first iteration of the book worth reading. Plus: Kody Chamberlain is back after an extended absence from comics! Isn’t that… (*puts on sunglasses*) sweet?
YEEEAAAAHHHHHH!!!!
PUNKS: THE COMIC #1
story: JOSHUA HALE FIALKOV
art / cover A: KODY CHAMBERLAIN
art / cover B: ROB GUILLORY
OCTOBER 8 / 32 PAGES / FC / T+ / $3.99
Dog, Skull, Fist, and Abe Lincoln live in a house, beat the #### out of each other, and frequently humiliate themselves. There is bleeding and sadness; Morrissey would likely approve.
The cult hit comedy returns with new stories and a classic in the back. From Eisner/Harvey nominees JOSHUA HALE FIALKOV (The Bunker, I, Vampire) and KODY CHAMBERLAIN (SWEETS, The Ride).
Exclusive Variant cover by Eisner Award Winner ROB GUILLORY.
5. Many Unhappy Returns
I just moved into a new house, and the other day I was unpacking boxes only to find a copy of “Li’l Depressed Boy” v0, the prequel graphic novel that assembled all the online material of LDB and put it in a physical place for those of us who discovered the series in print when it debuted a few years ago. I remember looking at it and thinking, “man, I miss this comic.”
Well now Struble and Grace’s depressing little book is back. I’ve had nothing but good things to say about the series in the past, and I’m very excited to add this book back into my pull. Good music, good humor, and an oddball Spike Jonze-esque outlook on the world and dealing with it — what’s not to love? (He says, supplying a pull quote for the next eventual trade.)
Continued belowTHE LI’L DEPRESSED BOY: SUPPOSED TO BE THERE TOO #1
story: S. STEVEN STRUBLE
art / cover: SINA GRACE
OCTOBER 1 / 32 PAGES / FC / T / $3.99
“ALWAYS SOMETHING IN MY BLINDSPOT”
The fan favorite LI’L DEPRESSED BOY returns for the everyday adventures of love, life, and vinyl. LDB enjoys his new relationship in spite of work woes. But how will he cope when the last person he wants to see reappears?
4. Oh, those Russians…
There lived a certain man in Russia long ago. He was big and strong, in his eyes a flaming glow. Most people looked at him with terror and with fear, but to Moscow chicks he was such a lovely dear. He could preach the bible like a preacher, full of ecstacy and fire; but he also was the kind of teacher women would desire.
RA-RA-RASPUTIN! Lover of the Russian queen! There was a cat that really was gone! RA-RA-RASPUTIN! Russia’s greatest love machine! It was a shame how he carried on!
Oh, and it’s Alex Grecian and Riley Rossmo teaming up again (“Proof”). Always something to be excited about, that.
RASPUTIN #1
story: ALEX GRECIAN
art: RILEY ROSSMO & IVAN PLASCENCIA
cover A: RILEY ROSSMO
cover B: RYAN STEGMAN
OCTOBER 29 / 32 PAGES / FC / M / $3.50
DRACULA AT DOWNTON ABBEY!
In one night Rasputin was poisoned, beaten, stabbed, shot in the head, drowned, then tied up and thrown in a frozen river. It was really bad timing. His beard was just coming in nicely.
New York Times bestselling author ALEX GRECIAN and fan favorite artist RILEY ROSSMO reunite for the first time since their critically acclaimed series PROOF!
3. This is the part I talk about “Birthright,” but first I have to tell you about this one time at a comic con
Here’s a fun story that I’m sure Josh’ll be happy for me to re-tell.
At ECCC 2014, I was walking from seeing the Thrilling Adventure Hour and Night Vale perform together, and I stopped by the Sheraton to see who was around. It was packed to the brim, and while I stood talking with Brian Salvatore, we were approached by the always great to see Joshua Williamson, very drunk. We had some chats, we had some laughs, and he left to go get another drink. I looked around the place and told Brian I would be heading out to that Rat Queens party up the street, and so off I went.
It was a decent walk, not too long but a bit uphill. As I walked in and looked around, who should I see but Josh Williamson! Turns out he’d left his card at the Rat Queens Party bar and so he hoofed it back, getting their before me and somehow never running into me on the way. So we took what is still my all-time favorite selfie (pro-tip: look at the photo time stamp), and that’s arguably my favorite ECCC 2014 story.
Anyways: the point of that story is that Williamson showed me some artwork from “Birthright,” and holy shit is it incredible. I can’t recommend it enough from just seeing a few tiny black and white photos on an iPhone. It’s an incredibly gorgeous looking book, perfect for fans of big, sprawling and imaginative fantasy, and I have no doubts Williamson and Bressan are going to churn out a hit with this one.
However, I’ll still always think of that selfie whenever I read the book. And now you can too!
BIRTHRIGHT #1
story: JOSH WILLIAMSON
art / cover: ANDREI BRESSAN & ADRIANO LUCAS
OCTOBER 8 / 40 PAGES / FC / T+ / $2.99
For the Rhodes family, losing their son was the most devastating thing that could’ve ever occurred… but it couldn’t prepare them for what happened when he returned.
Skybound’s newest original series turns fantasy into reality in this EXTRA-SIZED FIRST ISSUE for just $2.99, by creator/writer JOSH WILLIAMSON (GHOSTED, NAILBITER) and artist ANDREI BRESSAN.
2. American Witches
Back when Dick Grayson became Batman and all the Batbooks had to adhere to the new status quo, there were some fairly interesting books. You’d still find that most people would tell you to just read whatever Morrison was doing, but at the time there was a somewhat unknown name writing “Detective Comics” that was just blowing doors down with the always excellent artwork of Jock. And as Scott Snyder made a name for himself and the New 52 reared its head, we all waited patiently for the two to get back together.
Continued belowAnd here we are. It’s not Batman, but it’ll feature at least one man somewhere and probably some bats as well, so I think we’re all good. Snyder has made for himself a unique name in horror comics (to the point where I now refer to certain types of stories as “Snyder horror” — the kind that spend a lot of time telling you about the past only for it to catch up and hit you in the face at the end), and bringing back his old partner in crime Jock to do a new creator-owned ongoing is nothing short of exciting. I think you’d be hard pressed to find anyone not planning to pick this up this October.
WYTCHES #1
story: SCOTT SNYDER
art / cover: JOCK
OCTOBER 8 / 32 PAGES / FC / M / $2.99
Across the globe, century after century, men and women were burned, drowned, hanged, tortured, imprisoned, persecuted, and murdered for witchcraft. None of them were witches. They died protecting a terrible and hidden truth: witches, real witches, are out there. They are ancient, elusive, and deadly creatures that are rarely seen and even more rarely survived. This October, superstar creators SCOTT SNYDER (SEVERED, Batman) and JOCK (SNAPSHOT, Batman) unveil WYTCHES, and introduce you to a world of unimaginable horror in a special EXTRA-SIZED FIRST ISSUE with 30 pages of story and no ads for just $2.99
But most of you are probably thinking, “Matt! What kinda dummy are you? Snyder and Jock should be #1!” Maybe, if it weren’t for…
1. Casa-fucking-nova is Back (Again (Again))
Literally any chance you can get to pick-up “Casanova” is a chance you should take.
Sure, you may have the pint-sized single issues from the original run. Sure, you may have that hardcover Image put out collecting all of “Luxuria” from back in the day. Sure, you may have all the single issues of the re-colored issues from Icon. Sure, you may have the trade of those re-colored issues from Icon.
I literally do not care.
“Casanova” is one of my all-time favorite comics, and Ray, when someone asks you if you want an ultra-deluxe oversized hardcover collection of “Casnova,” you say “YES!”
CASANOVA, VOL. 1: LUXURIA – THE COMPLETE EDITION HC
story: MATT FRACTION
art / cover: GABRIEL BÁ
OCTOBER 8 / 32 PAGES / FC / M / $29.99
Casanova Quinn, a decadent thief and black sheep to the most famous family in global super-espionage, gets kidnapped across parallel dimensions where survival means masquerading as the greatest secret agent the world has ever known…Casanova Quinn. The first volume of the ultimate in science fiction spy psychedelia collected in an ultra-deluxe oversized edition. At long last, all the covers, all the content, all the comics, between two gorgeous covers. By MATT FRACTION (SEX CRIMINALS, SATELLITE SAM, Hawkeye), GABRIEL BÁ (Umbrella Academy, Daytripper), and FÁBIO MOON (Daytripper, BPRD).
Collects CASANOVA #1-4
For the full Image Comics October 2014 solicitations, please visit their website.
