It’s our favorite time of the month again! Time to take a look at all the upcoming solicits for Image’s December offerings, isolated to our Top 10 picks in order to make it easier to discuss what we think is hot.
For the full solicits, head on over to the resource of comic books.
10. Hoax Hunters Wraps Their First Season
For our first item in this December, I’d like to put the spotlight on the finale to the first season of “Hoax Hunters.”
If you ask me, “Hoax Hunters” really hit its stride when it came back. I think I’ve said this before on the site, but the book was always entertaining just not quite at the level I think it wanted to be. The third arc really shows you what “Hoax Hunters” is all about in terms of blending humor with horror and action, and after two solid initial books, the third is the one that nails it. I’m excited to see how they wrap up their first season.
HOAX HUNTERS #13
story MICHAEL MORECI & STEVE SEELEY
art T-REX JONES
cover a MICHAEL WALSH
cover b RILEY ROSSMO
DECEMBER 4
32 PAGES / FC / T+
$3.50
“THE BOOK OF MOTHMAN,” Conclusion
SEASON FINALE
You can also grab a collection of the arc with the release of the third volume, which includes a short that I worked on with Tim Daniel, Nick Pitarra and Greg and Fake Petre. It involves Bill Murray. You’ll dig it.
HOAX HUNTERS, VOL. 3 THE BOOK OF MOTHMAN TP
story MICHAEL MORECI & STEVE SEELEY
art T-REX JONES
cover STEVE SEELEY
DECEMBER 11
128 PAGES / FC / T+
$14.99
Mix X-Files with Mythbusters and you get HOAX HUNTERS, the series about a reality show that is out to cover up the dark, mysterious corners of the world. THE BOOK OF MOTHMAN collects the final arc of the acclaimed first season — dig deeper into the mysteries of Jack’s dad and the multiverse, Regan’s powers, and what the heck is going on with Murder.
Collects HOAX HUNTERS #10-13 and CASE FILES #1
9. Relive the Magic, Bring the Magic Home
Coming in December to hopefully many a home, a trade collection of the first “Multiple Warheads” mini and the original stories printed at Oni will be released. And if you for some reason did not buy the series as it was being released (to which there is no excuse I’ll accept), now is the time to check out another excellent book from Brandon Graham.
I think the “complete” aspect is a bit misleading as Graham has confirmed there will be more “Multiple Warheads” books from him down the line, so it’s more like the “complete for now” collection. But still. The collected “King City” was so phenomenally well done that it made me want to buy it — and I already had every single individual issue. I assume this collection will be pretty well put together as well.
THE COMPLETE MULTIPLE WARHEADS TP
story / art / cover BRANDON GRAHAM
DECEMBER 4
208 PAGES / FC / M
$17.99
Ex-organ smuggler Sexica and her werewolf boyfriend Nikoli travel across a sci-fi/fantasy version of Russia while the hardcore organ hound Blue Nura tracks a bounty across radioactive wastelands.
Slice of life comics from a world where magic and monsters are commonplace.
Collects MULTIPLE WARHEADS #1-4 and MULTIPLE WARHEADS: DOWN FALL
8. Return of the Astounding Wolf-Man, and an Invincible Promise
Sorely under-appreciated when it first came out, Kirkman and Howard’s first collaboration “The Astounding Wolf-Man” was a great book that ran adjacent to Kirkman’s main superhero series “Invincible.” It was a fun series that blended superhero tropes with horror aspects in a way that I think only Kirkman knows how to do, and I wish it didn’t wrap up.
Thankfully, the Astounding Wolf-Man keeps making cameos in the Guardians of the Globe, And, as such, we can now get pretty excited about “Invincible Universe” #8 where one of their “most dangerous operatives” is brought in. Who, he? Yes, he! Couldn’t be. Then who?
Continued belowI’m kidding. You can see him on the cover, alongside some Omega Beam style eye-attacks. I am excite.
INVINCIBLE UNIVERSE #8
story PHIL HESTER
art / cover TODD NAUCK & GABE ELTAEB
DECEMBER 4
32 PAGES / FC / T+
$2.99
Red Eye rules Rio de Janeiro from behind the gold-plated bars of his prison palace…all the more reason for the Guardians of the Globe to unleash their most dangerous operatives to take him out!
I should also note that this is the solicit for “Invincible” #109:
INVINCIBLE #109
story ROBERT KIRKMAN
art / cover RYAN OTTLEY & JOHN RAUCH
DECEMBER 18
32 PAGES / FC / T+
$2.99
What the what?! After one hundred and nine issues…things take a sharp turn.
Which is interesting, to say the least. I like the “After one hundred and nine issues…” bit.
But it’s interesting to me because, honestly, I don’t think “Invincible” has been quite the same since the end of the Viltrumite War. That was the book’s peak in many ways, and it has never really recovered from it in terms of being one of the most intense and entertaining books around. “Invincible” carries with it the title of the best superhero book in the universe, but it hasn’t been in quite sometime — but I keep reading because I’m very eager to take that mantle back.
7. Tom Muller Knows How To Make Cover
Tom Muller is going to end up as the unsung hero of “Zero,” but if you’re a fan of covers (as I’d be willing to bet you are, as a comic book fan) then it stands worth noting that the reason that “Zero’s” covers look so awesome is because of Tom. Tom does the design for the book and works with each artist to make something truly special for each issue, something that plays off the unique talents of the artist involve, and out of the four covers we’ve seen, #4 is my favorite.
I mean, just look at it. Tradd had been getting more detail-oriented with the later issues of “Luther Strode”, really exploring the amount of detail and design he could incorporate into his work. The last issue of “Strode,” for instance, featured stunning architecture. And with #4, the combination of Muller and Moore allows for such a sleek and keen design that it’s impossible not to just lose it for this cover.
So, yeah. “Zero” and Muller, man. I expect to see impressive stuff all throughout this book’s run.
ZERO #4
story ALES KOT
art TRADD MOORE & JORDIE BELLAIRE
cover a TRADD MOORE & TOM MULLER
cover b CHRISTIAN WARD & TOM MULLER
DECEMBER 18
32 PAGES / FC / M
$2.99
Belfast, 2001. Zero is nine years old. The Agency sends him on his first mission. Zero’s target: a supposedly ex-IRA terrorist.
Oh, and speaking of covers…
6.Emma Rios and Chris Mitten Battle for Best Cover of the Month
It’s SUCH a close battle, isn’t it? But, just look.
Here is the cover to Pretty Deadly #3:
PRETTY DEADLY #3
script KELLY SUE DeCONNICK
art EMMA RÍOS & JORDIE BELLAIRE
cover EMMA RÍOS
DECEMBER 18
32 PAGES / FC / M
$3.50
All blood spilled into the earth makes its way to a river. Where those rivers meet, Fox attends the birth of a beast, the child of a thousand violent deaths.
And here is the cover to Umbral #2:
UMBRAL #2
story ANTONY JOHNSTON
art / cover CHRISTOPHER MITTEN
DECEMBER 11
32 PAGES / FC / M
$2.99
“FALLING INTO DARK”
The nightmare creatures called Umbral are invading, and only the young thief Rascal knows it! But in a world where magic and religion are outlawed, will anyone believe her? And is the mysterious hobo Dalone an ally… or a deadly enemy?!
I’ll let you decide which is the winner, as they’re both pretty wonderful. I certainly can’t decide. However, keep in mind that you can only see half of the “Pretty Deadly” cover there as it’s a wrap-around, so that might influence you one way or the other.
Continued below
5. Oh, Dammit, Not Again!
Y’know, Image has this habit of re-releasing books that I already own, but creating new versions of them that I feel like I need. And they do it during the holidays too, of all itmes. It doesn’t matter that I already own the “Officer Downe” one-shot, but I need the Bigger, Better Bastard version because it is bigger, it is better and it is bastard.
And now there is going to be a deluxe version of “Happy!” by Robertson and Morrison, featuring 10 new pages of story and coming oversized to boot. Come on! Stop doing this to my wallet! You’re just doing it on purpose now…
HAPPY! DELUXE HC
story GRANT MORRISON
art / cover DARICK ROBERTSON
DECEMBER 4
128 PAGES / FC / T+ / OVERSIZED
$24.99
Meet Nick Sax: a corrupt, intoxicated ex-cop turned hit-man, adrift in a stinking twilight world of casual murder, soulless sex, eczema, and betrayal. With a hit gone wrong, a bullet in his side, the cops and the mob on his tail, and a monstrous child killer in a Santa suit on the loose, Nick and his world will be changed forever this Christmas by a tiny blue horse called Happy…
Re-presented as an oversized hardcover just in time for the holidays, this deluxe edition of HAPPY! includes an all-new 10-page story by creators GRANT MORRISON and DARICK ROBERTSON.
Collects HAPPY! #1-4
4. Mind The Gap Enters Into its Second Act
The whole “season”/”act” thing is so hot right now, and “Mind the Gap” is certainly not skipping out on it. Starting with issue #16, “Mind the Gap” moves into Act II. Billed as a jumping-on point (though, with a series like this so heavy on the mystery that’s always debatable), the book teases that something huge has happened in order to essentially change the landscape of the book. I’d be interested to know what that is, certainly.
That Frison cover is wonderful as well.
MIND THE GAP #16
story JIM McCANN
art RODIN ESQUEJO
cover a RODIN ESQUEJO
cover b JENNY FRISON
DECEMBER 11
32 PAGES / FC / T+
$2.99
NEW STORY ARC
ACT II BEGINS!
Everything has changed, and the world as these characters know it will never be the same. New mysteries, higher stakes, bold action. Welcome to the next phase of MIND THE GAP.
If you’ve been waiting to jump on, now’s the time!
3. Shut Up and Take My Money – Frank Quitely Edition
I’ll be honest with you: “Jupiter’s Legacy?” Not doing it for me. It’s a book I want to like because any excuse to buy new Frank Quitely art is one I want to take, but outside of appreciating his contribution to the book, the script and story does nothing for me.
But. Speaking of any excuse to buy Frank Quitely art is one I’ll take, Image will be releasing a special edition of the first issue — which was beyond impressive artistically — that is completely black and white. It’s just Quitely’s art. It’s just what I want.
JUPITER’S LEGACY #1 STUDIO EDITION
story MARK MILLAR
art / cover FRANK QUITELY
DECEMBER 04
32 PAGES / BW / M
$4.99
In Jupiter’s Legacy #1, superstar creators MARK MILLAR and FRANK QUITELY introduced an epic tale about the explosive tensions between two generations of superheroes. Now, this special edition spotlights Quitely’s artwork in detailed black and white, plus includes Millar’s original script and other special features.
2. Burn the Orphanage Returns
The first installment of “Burn the Orphanage”, part of the “Born to Lose” trilogy, was a lot of fun. It was wild, it was kind of zany, it was Streets of Rage with a modern slant and deranged sensibilities. And now it’s back, with a plot that sounds like something out of Enter the Dragon but with freaking monsters. What?! I don’t even know, dude, but I don’t care. Let’s fucking do this!
Continued belowBURN THE ORPHANAGE: BORN TO LOSE #2 (of 3)
story SINA GRACE & DANIEL FREEDMAN
art / cover a SINA GRACE
cover b TRADD MOORE
DECEMBER 4
48 PAGES / FC / M
$4.50
PART TWO OF THE BORN TO LOSE TRILOGY!
The events of BURN THE ORPHANAGE have led Rock down a dark path, where he finds himself on a hidden island, forced to compete in the ultimate martial arts tournament… one where the participants may not all be human. New foes, new hos, this is one oversized romp you can’t miss!
1. The Saviors Debuts (Finally)
Since initially being announced that Robinson and Bone would be bringing a new creator-owned series to Image Comics, I can thinking of nothing more that we could’ve wanted. Robinson is one of the most influential creators to a lot of us here at Multiversity, “Starman” in particular being one of the most celebrated runs in comics that I can think of. With the announcement that Robinson and Bone would do something new, especially after their most excellent recent collaboration in “The Shade” (and, admittedly, a peak at this series in a CBLDF annual last year), the anticipation for this one has been wicked high.
And, hey, look! December! YES!
I mean, I don’t even need to read the solicit to know that this is something that I want. James Robinson. J. Bone. Get into it.
story JAMES ROBINSON
art / cover J. BONE
DECEMBER 26
32 PAGES / FC / M
$2.99
Eisner Award winner JAMES ROBINSON (Starman, Earth 2) and artist extraordinaire J. BONE (The Rocketeer: Hollywood Horror, The Spirit) present an all-new saga of monstrous alien horror.
When Tomas Ramirez stumbles upon an extraterrestrial conspiracy to take over the world, his life is changed forever. He must now seek out those few souls who share this terrible knowledge. But even united, how can they hope to defeat a shadowy alien cabal that is both indestructible and eager to kill anyone who threatens it?
