It’s time now to point the Soliciting Finger back in the realm of the creator-owned with a look at what Image is bringing to the party next year. Are you excited? You should be.
For the full offerings Image plans to give you this January, head on over to the Resource of Comic Books. In the meantime, our coveted 10:
10. Lying Cat!
I’ve got nothing clever to say here. I was just excited to see a Lying Cat cover. Also, what a foreboding solicit.
SAGA #18
story BRIAN K. VAUGHAN
art / cover FIONA STAPLES
JANUARY 22
32 PAGES / FC / M
$2.99
Our heroes’ stay on Quietus reaches its inevitable conclusion.
9. New Book Alert: EGOs #1
I know very little about this book beyond what CBR tells me but it’s described as “futuristic costumed adventure and harsh, HBO-style characterization” which is certainly fun. The preview of it also looks relatively neat. I generally like sci-fi, so I’m in to check out an issue — plus, it’s Image, so you can probably assume there is going to be quality to the fact they’ve chosen to put this out.
EGOs #1
story STUART MOORE
art / cover GUS STORMS
JANUARY 15
32 PAGES / FC / T+
$2.99
A twisted far-future epic! An aging hero risks everything to rebuild his former team – but to do so, he must cross a line with his wife that can’t be uncrossed.
8. New Book Alert: Minimum Wage #1
Ok, “new” is a bit off. It’s not “new.” But it’s coming back. After a great and memorable initial run of the series (recently collected at Image, I might add), “Minimum Wage” is back and I can only expect more amusing hilarity of the same quality and caliber that we came to expect from the first run. I’m excited to see what Bob Fingerman comes up with next.
MINIMUM WAGE #1
story / art / cover BOB FINGERMAN
JANUARY 8
24 PAGES / BW / M
$3.50
After a nearly 15-year hiatus, BOB FINGERMAN’s edgy, critically-acclaimed title returns as a monthly. When last we left Rob and Sylvia they were exchanging vows at the altar. Three years later (in Rob’s world), much has changed. Rob has a cell phone. He’s 25. And oh yeah – spoiler alert – he’s single again. Oops. Living again with his mom, it’s get-back-on-the-horse time as the daunting prospect of dating looms large as a horny Kraken.
7. Satellite Sam Gets Collected, with a Tease for More
So, one of my favorite current comics “Satellite Sam” wraps up its story and gets collected. But, ah, what’s that I spy at the end of the solicit? A Volume One, eh? So you’re saying there is room for more? Of course there is. There is always room for more in my heart.
“Satellite Sam” hasn’t been solicited past issue #5 in November and hasn’t been seen since, but I do hope it comes back for more. If I remember correctly (and I may not), the book was one of those series that was original teased as a mini with room for further growth, and lots of books that Image solicits seem to have that caveat to it. Here’s fingers crossed for more Fraction, Chaykin and whiskey dick sound effects.
(It’s also perhaps worth noting that “Sex Criminals,” Fraction’s other sexy book, is also not in single issues in the solicit. I wouldn’t be worried.)
Continued belowSATELLITE SAM, VOL. 1 TP
story MATT FRACTION
art /cover HOWARD CHAKYIN
JANUARY 15
144 PAGES / BW / T+
$14.99
Collects SATELLITE SAM #1-5
NEW YORK CITY, 1951: The star of the hit TV show “Satellite Sam” turns up dead in a flophouse filled with dirty secrets. If his son can sober up, he might be able to figure out why in this noir mystery shot through with sex and violence in the seedy underbelly of TV’s golden age. By MATT FRACTION (SEX CRIMINALS, Casanova, Hawkeye) and HOWARD CHAYKIN (BLACK KISS I & II, AMERICAN FLAGG!).
6. The Return of “Five Weapons”
I don’t think it’s too hyperbolic to state that we went kind of crazy for the first “Five Weapons” mini, and now that it’s an ongoing (hey — weren’t we just talking about that?) I’m without words to express excitement. So, here’s a bunch of random letters as I mash the keyboard: dogisdjlkgjreturguhnghnbtgbrrresksdlkjfdlskgjhgh!!!!
But, seriously. Pick up the “Five Weapons” trade in stores right now and try telling me with a straight face you don’t want to see more of that.
FIVE WEAPONS #6
story / art / cover A JIMMIE ROBINSON
alternate cover ROB GUILLORY
JANUARY 29
32 PAGES / FC / T
$3.50
“BACK TO CLASS,” Part One
Enrique returns to the School of Five Weapons, a place where kids learn the art of assassination. This time everyone knows his true identity as a low-class servant. Everyone knows he can’t use a weapon. Everyone accepts Enrique’s status, except for one student…Tyler, who knows every trick up Enrique’s sleeve. This time, school is for revenge!
A NEW STORY ARC BEGINS HERE! GREAT JUMPING ON POINT!
5. Peter Panzerfaust Enters the Hunt
On the bus ride to NYCC, I caught up on “Peter Panzerfaust” among other things, and I have to say — the third arc of the book was the best so far. I was actually kind of blown away; I’d enjoyed the first two, but the third was where the series really hit a different kind of stride for me. I’m very enthused on this book again, and I’m very excited to see what comes next. You should be too.
PETER PANZERFAUST #16
story KURTIS J. WIEBE
art / cover TYLER JENKINS
JANUARY 15
32 PAGES / FC / T
$3.50
“THE HUNT,” Part One
In the aftermath of the assault on The Sticks, the team is fractured and Lily’s father is dead. Parsons returns to Lily to hear of what happened and he learns her side of the story for the first time. It’s a tale of revenge… with the Hunters becoming the hunted!
THE FOURTH INCREDIBLE STORY ARC BEGINS HERE!
4. The Last Hurrah of Prophet (For Now)
Well, we’d known that the book was coming to an end because all good things must, but it’s sad to see it in writing: “Prophet” is ending with issue #45 in January. New year begins and this ends? Phooey.
But, Graham has adamantly teased on tumblr that more would be coming down the line, and the solicit indicates as much as well. So I wouldn’t be too bummed just yet.
I’m sure when “Prophet” ends we’ll do a big send-off article so I won’t take up too much of your time to bury it before the body has even gone cold, but I’ll say this: I’ve never not been impressed at how “Prophet” was able to successfully utilize a non-mainstream narrative and frankly European approach on an otherwise high profile title successfully to an American sci-fi audience as a successor to its 90’s counterpart. I’m sure I’m not alone in that sentiment.
PROPHET #45
story BRANDON GRAHAM & SIMON ROY
art GIANNIS MILONOGIANNIS & SIMON ROY
cover SIMON ROY
JANUARY 22
32 PAGES / FC / T+
$3.99
FINAL ISSUE OF PROPHET!
The War in Space reaches its climax, but the story will continue…
3. An Extra Hurrah for Drumhellar
I’ll admit, not a lot of comics make it onto this list a) after their first issue debuts and b) before they’ve come out and we’ve all had a chance to get a handle of the first few issues. The only change to that is if there’s a cover I particularly like, but that varies from solicitation to solicitation.
However, in this instance I’ve had a chance to read an early copy of “Drumhellar.” We’ve even ran an early review of it with Riley’s blessing. And I just have to say: I really want to see this book take off. Like, a lot.
Continued belowSo, this is your reminder to check out “Drumhellar” next month. I think you’re going to like what you see.
DRUMHELLAR #3
story RILEY ROSSMO & ALEX LINK
art / cover RILEY ROSSMO
JANUARY 8
32 PAGES / FC / M
$3.50
Dinosaurs ravage South Dakota and it’s up to psychedelic detective Drum Hellar to stop them. But when everything goes wrong, Harold the ghostly sidekick has to use his mysterious powers to save the day — that’s if he can figure out what they are and not kill anybody in the process!
2. (This Better Not Be) The End of “Bad Dog”?
I was pretty jazzed that “Bad Dog” was back in the solicits for November, so much so that I wrote about it two times. But with the new issue and a new solicit, I’m scared — it sounds like the story is coming to an end! But we can’t possibly let that happen, now can we?
No. No we can not. Bad Dog Forever.
BAD DOG #6
story JOE KELLY
art / cover DIEGO GRECO
JANUARY 22
48 PAGES / FC / M
$3.99
“WHAT HAPPENS STAY,” CONCLUSION
Like all good trips to Vegas, this saga ends in tears and spilled milk. Spend your New Year in a pit of misery and mayhem with Lou and Wendell as they face down the Dairy Queen, her Well-Horned Lord, and Baker the raging jackhole.
1. Let’s Get Deadly
This is the second time a book from Image with the word “Deadly” has been in the top spot of this column, and it’s certainly not the first time we’ve extolled about the virtues and wonder of a comic about a school of assassins (like, you know, earlier in this column — and with the same shade of blue!). However, to say that I am excited — nay, that we, the collective Multiversitan we, aren’t silly excited over this book is putting it lightly.
I’ll be honest: I’ll trust Rick Remender on any comic. I don’t care what it is. It could be a book about a carrot whose super power is to shit into buckets. That’s fine. I’ll buy it. Remender has proven to me beyond the shadow of a doubt with “Fear Agent” and “Uncanny X-Force” and so much more that he’s a writer worth following, and after “Black Heart Billy” (which I’ve seen him describe at a con as his ode to punk by way of a crazier Deadpool), I’ll happily buy any book that brings back Remender’s love of the genre into comic form — especially when we’re talking the 80’s.
And, honestly, have you seen Wes Craig’s art? Because it looks absolutely stunning. Image is making names for itself all over the place with the type of content they’re curating under their roof, and Wes Craig makes an amazing new talent to appear monthly on the shelves. We’ve only seen a little bit in previews, but his work on this title alone seems rather phenomenal — and with Lee Loughride of “Fear Agent” coloring?
I’ve got to stop. I’m gushing. I’m just stoked. Here’s the solicit — go forth and pre-order:
DEADLY CLASS #1
story RICK REMENDER
art / covers WESLEY CRAIG & LEE LOUGHRIDGE
JANUARY 22
32 PAGES / FC / M
$3.50
It’s 1987. Marcus Lopez hates school. His grades suck. He has no money. The jocks are hassling his friends. He can’t focus in class, thanks to his mind constantly drifting to the stunning girl in the front row and the Dag Nasty show he has tickets to. But the jocks are the children of Joseph Stalin’s top assassin, the teachers are members of an ancient league of assassins, the class he’s failing is “Dismemberment 101,” and his crush, a member of the most notorious crime syndicate in Japan, has a double-digit body count.
Welcome to the most brutal high school on Earth, where the world’s top crime families send the next generation of assassins to be trained. Murder is an art. Killing is a craft. At King’s Dominion High School for the Deadly Arts, the dagger in your back isn’t always metaphorical, nor is your fellow classmates’ poison.
Join writer RICK REMENDER with rising star WESLEY CRAIG (Batman) and legendary colorist LEE LOUGHRIDGE (Fear Agent) to reminisce about the mid-1980s underground through the eyes of the most damaged and dangerous teenagers on Earth.
