Welcome back to our ongoing cover of monthly solicits, with today’s batch of solicits point our eye towards what Image is offering up in September. As one could expect from the publisher, there’s quite a few must buys in this month’s list, so without further ado lets break it all down.
10. Ugh.
Gross.
SPREAD #3
STORY: JUSTIN JORDAN
ART / COVER: KYLE STRAHM
SEPTEMBER 10 / 32 PAGES / FC / M / $3.50
It’s chow time at Fat Jack’s Cannibal Café!
9. The “Return” of Blue Estate
You may remember this book from a few years ago, but it flew decidedly under the radar. A pretty grim noir book where almost no one was likable but everyone was worth following, “Blue Estate” was almost like an anthology of sorts. It featured the work of some of my favorite artists, like Nate Fox and Marley Zarcone, and while the book went away and sort of fell off the face of the Earth for a while, the legend of “Blue Estate” lives on in the form of a game on PSN.
But, in lieu of getting that game, you could pick up this nice hardcover comic and be treated to all kinds of great artwork. That seems like a pretty good deal to me.
BLUE ESTATE: THE GRAPHIC NOVEL HC
STORY: VIKTOR KALVACHEV, KOSTA YANEV, & ANDREW OSBORNE
ART: VIKTOR KALVACHEV, TOBY CYPRESS, NATHAN FOX, ROBERT VALLEY, PETER NGUYEN, TOMM COKER, REV. DAVE JOHNSON, ANDREW ROBINSON, PAUL MAYBURY, MARLEY ZARCONE, ANDY KUHN, KIERAN, & ALEKSI BRICLOT
COVER: VIKTOR KALVACHEV
SEPTEMBER 10 / 288 PAGES / FC / M / $29.99FINALLY AVAILABLE IN ONE DELUXE EDITION!
Catch the entire Eisner-nominated saga of a desperate starlet and a hapless private dick as they tangle with dueling crime families, a homicidal action hero — and each other — on the mean streets of L.A. in one deluxe, bonus-packed edition.
“A dark, funny slice of pulp fiction.” — USA Today
Collects BLUE ESTATE #1-12
8. The Reign of Terror Ends
One of my favorite books that seems to be flying under the radar a bit, “Burn the Oprhanage’s” second volume reaches its conclusion in September with an oversized issue.
The series is incredibly fun, initially picking up its pace as a send-up of old-school two-person beat ’em up games, yet it quickly evolved from there. The original mini-series (which is collected in trade, by the way) set the stage for a much bigger adventure and conflict, that which we have been seeing in the pages of this second book — and it’s not one to miss. As fun as it is to see Daniel and Sina set up the dominoes, it’s going to be even more fun to watch them knock it all down.
BURN THE ORPHANAGE: REIGN OF TERROR #5 (of 5)
STORY: DANIEL FREEDMAN & SINA GRACE
ART / COVER: SINA GRACE
COVER B: SETH DAMOOSE & SHAUN STEVEN STRUBLE
SEPTEMBER 3 / 40 PAGES / FC / M / $3.99The epic, oversized conclusion of Reign of Terror is here! Rock, Bear, Lex, and their allies go toe-to-toe with the foes at MannCorp. Are they strong enough to survive? This finale is not to be missed!
7. Happy Returns, Part 1: The Third Arc of Five Weapons
Orignally debuting as a five-issue mini, I can not tell you how happy I am that “Five Weapons” has converted into an ongoing. The first arc was a lot of fun, with Jimmie Robinson putting some of his best work to paper, and the second arc has been pretty relentless as well; the ante was upped considerably, and while “Five Weapons” originally ended in a good place to stop, Robinson has found a great way to continue it.
And now there’s a third arc, and a new club to boot. I can’t wait to see what Robinson and the kid at the school of Five Weapons do with this one.
Continued belowFIVE WEAPONS #11
STORY / ART / COVER: JIMMIE ROBINSON
SEPTEMBER 24 / 32 PAGES / FC / T / $3.50“CLASS WARFARE,” Part One
The school of Five Weapons adds a NEW class: the psionic club. But, not everyone is happy about the new students and conflicts arise between the assassin class and their servants. Enrique has to take action between his friends and what’s right or a new class warfare will erupt.
6. Happy Returns, Part 2: The Second Arc of Deadly Class
Honestly, I’ve found “Deadly Class” to be nothing but impressive. Remender’s return to creator-owned comics has been great, with “Black Science” somewhat filling the void left by “Fear Agent” in our hearts and minds. But “Deadly Class” is something else entirely; it’s a warp on genre-storytelling, essentially existing as a coming of age/slice of life book more than it is just a school about assassins and the like — and that’s incredible, and should not be understated.
That Remender and Craig have taken a concept that’s clearly part of a zeitgeist (this is Image’s third ongoing book about a peculiar school for kids, mind you) and managed to successfully remove it from its initial trappings so quickly makes “Deadly Class” a must read. Craig’s wildly inventive and fast-paced artwork is certainly enough of a selling point as is, but Remender’s honest and raw writing in this book is the icing on an already delicious comic book cake. And while I mix metaphors, you should just buy the damn comic.
DEADLY CLASS #7
STORY: RICK REMENDER
ART / COVER: WES CRAIG & LEE LOUGHRIDGE
SEPTEMBER 17 / 32 PAGES / FC / M / $3.50CLASS IS BACK IN SESSION AS RICK REMENDER & WES CRAIG’S HIT SERIES ROLLS INTO ITS SECOND ARC!
Narrowly escaping death in Las Vegas, Marcus and his remaining gang return to Kings Dominion High School for the Deadly Arts. But they’re about to learn a hard lesson: blood begets blood, and no bad deed goes unpunished.
5. Happy Returns, Part 3: The Second Arc of Rocket Girl
There it is! Honestly, I was worried for a minute after all that talk of sales.
But no, DaYoung Johansson is back and so are Amy Reeder and Brandon Montclare, and that’s very good for the sci-fi loving comic nerd in me. The first arc of “Rocket Girl” was a lot of fun, and featured some career-defining work from Amy Reeder; if you liked her stuff on “Batwoman” or “Madame Xanadu,” Reeder blew it out of the water with “Rocket Girl,” putting that rocket to full use in the comic. The book is a sight to behold, with light 80’s flair and a whole lot of sci-fi excitement and dystopia. I can only imagine what’s to come.
ROCKET GIRL #6
STORY: BRANDON MONTCLARE
ART / COVER: AMY REEDER
SEPTEMBER 17 / 32 PAGES / FC / T / $3.50“SPLIT SECOND”
Rocket Girl returns for a second time-travelling story arc!
In 1986 NYC, DaYoung Johansson vowed to hang up her helmet and jetpack — now there’s no one’s left to right the city’s wrongs. And what could possibly be happening in the time-travelling 2014 that shouldn’t exist at all?
4. Goodbye, Starlight
So, OK, look: those of you who are regular denizens of the internet will know that Mark Millar, despite his success and popularity outside of comics, isn’t so universally revered inside comics. In fact, I’ve taken him to task particularly on his penchant for writing what feels like “creator-owned fan fiction”. “Starlight” is not unguilty of this.
But, man, what a surprise this book has been. I’d chalk up a major part of that to the simply beautiful work of Goran Parlov here, but if that’s what it takes to get a great Millar book than Millar and Parlov should collaborate forever. To me, “Starlight” is the standard that Millar should be setting all of his Image books against; it’s emotional, it’s smart, it’s fun and it doesn’t fall into any of the trope-based trappings of his other work. I sincerely hope this isn’t the last we see of Duke and Space-Boy, but if it is then I’m at least happy we got to spend some time with these not-Flash Gordon characters for a little while — because this journey has been a great ride.
Oh, and a double-sized finale? I’ll take it; at Image Comics it’s a lot easier to have unbridled faith in the $4.99 price tag.
Continued belowSTARLIGHT #6
STORY: MARK MILLAR
ART: GORAN PARLOV
COVER A: JOHN CASSADAY
COVER B: CLIFF CHIANG
SEPTEMBER 17 / 40 PAGES / FC / M / $4.99
Duke, Space-Boy, and their rebel friends face off in their final, defining battle against the Brotean regime. But there’s been a traitor in their midst, and their plans aren’t all they’re cracked up to be. It’s not only their lives in the balance, but the future of the entire planet Tantalus. Millar and Parlov’s space epic concludes here!
3. Brian K. Vaughan’s New Favorite Book
That’s what the press release said, anyway. While I’ve not seen too much from this book yet, the cover is fairly striking and Jay Faerber is a very smart writer; if you’ve read “Anti-Hero,” “Near Death” or any of “Noble Causes/Dynamo 5” then you know what I’m talking about.
I like space comics, though, and I like Westerns as well. Combining the two seems very out of Faerber’s established wheelhouse so to speak, and with Scott Godlewski on art the book seems like it’ll shape up into something quite nice. I’m definitely looking forward to checking it out.
COPPERHEAD #1
STORY: JAY FAERBER
ART / COVER: SCOTT GODLEWSKI & RON RILEY
SEPTEMBER 10 / 32 PAGES / FC / T / $3.50Welcome to Copperhead, a grimy mining town on the edge of a backwater planet. Single mom Clara Bronson is the new sheriff, and on her first day she’ll have to contend with a resentful deputy, a shady mining tycoon, and a family of alien hillbillies. And did we mention the massacre?
Writer JAY FAERBER and the art team of SCOTT GODLEWSKI & RON RILEY bring you this gritty 24th Century Western with an extra-long first issue for the regular price of $3.50!
2. The Big Sci-Fi Blockbuster of September
“Roche Limit” is from the wonderful creative team of Michael Moreci and Vic Malhotra (who both love dogs, for those of you who call them only by their first names together), and is a sci-fi book set out in the vast darkness of space. From what I know about the book, this seems like the exact kind of sci-fi that’s up my alley: dark, foreboding, but thoughtful and wildly removed from the current spectrum of reality — yet removed just far enough that it can still reflect back on us.
I’ll note, though: I’m in the middle of conducting an interview with the creative team, hopefully to be online on the site next week, so I have a small bit of insight into the book. While I’m going to avoid using any of that interview material here, I will note that the way Mike and Vic talk about the book is very enticing; it’s the kind of smart sci-fi we’ve been spoiled with from people like Terry Gilliam and Chris Nolan, and I have very high hopes for “Roche Limit” and all to come with it.
ROCHE LIMIT #1
STORY: MICHAEL MORECI
ART / COVER: VIC MALHOTRA
SEPTEMBER 24 / 32 PAGES / FC / T+ / $3.50“OUR DESTINY IS THE STARS, AND I WILL LEAD US THERE.”
Twenty years after this promise, billionaire Langford Skaargard’s dream of cosmic exploration is no more. Roche Limit, a colony situated on the cusp of a mysterious energy anomaly, is a melting pot of crime and terrible secrets. When Bekkah Hudson goes missing, the search to find her will plunge her sister and a cadre of the colony’s underworld figures into an odyssey that reveals a grim future for mankind.
Blending 2001: A Space Odyssey with Blade Runner, ROCHE LIMIT is the first part of a bold sci-fi/noir trilogy.
1. GOD! HATES! ASTRONAUTS!
Speaking of sci-fi, right?
Look: it’s hard for me to write about “God Hates Astronauts” without just wanting to shout “GOD HATES ASTRONAUTS!” at people while shaking them, with Murder By Death plays in the background. To me, me literally screaming three words in your face is probably the strongest sales pitch I could ever give for this off the wall, gonzo sci-fi book. I’m not adverse to sitting down and going over the merits of the craft and content of the book, and perhaps we’ll do that soon too; Ryan Browne is an incredibly sharp wit and talent and he very much deserves your attention and consideration.
But really, the book stars a superhero with a ghost-cow head who for a while walked around with a giant smoosh-face, and the first volume ended with a giant ghost-astronaut-unicorn named Super Sullivan being defeated by having his mustache punched off. I don’t think we really need to get into all that other stuff right now
Continued belowTHIS IS ME SHAKING YOU! GOD HATES ASTRONAUTS! GOD! HATES! ASTRONAUUUUTTTTSSSS!
GOD HATES ASTRONAUTS #1
STORY / ART / COVER A: RYAN BROWNE
COVER B: GEOF DARROW
SEPTEMBER 3 / 32 PAGES / FC / M / $3.50RYAN BROWNE’s (THE MANHATTAN PROJECTS, BEDLAM) farcical cult-sensation returns with a new story perfect for new readers!
A NASA funded group of arrogant “super people” must stop a rash of farmers that have been using rocket-powered silos to launch themselves into outer space! As these Astro-Farmers fire themselves all over the galaxy, NASA must utilize their every resource (a guy with a ghost-cow head, a bunch of magic bears, and a Chicago cop with robot arms) to avoid an intergalactic incident!
For the full Image Comics September 2014 solicitations, please visit their website.
