Hello and welcome to Multiversity’s look at the “Best of the Rest” of what’s coming your way in the now-available June 2015 Previews catalog. Having already taken a look at what Marvel, Dark Horse, DC, and Image have lined up for us, it’s now time to check out the other 75% of the catalog. Before we jump into the things you should keep an eye out for, a quick reminder:
And second, as one-half of the Robots From Tomorrow podcast, I go through the whole Previews catalog each and every month with co-host Mike Romeo, talking about things that catch our eye and quicken our pulse. If you listen to those episodes, you should still read this column because there will not be a 100% overlap, and if you don’t listen to those episodes, they are a great way to hear Mike & I go into further detail about some of the things I’ve spotlighted here.
That said, let’s dive in!
10. LA’s Got A New King
Perseverance is awesome. Talent is wonderful. But I don’t see how anyone can truly make their mark in writing comics without ideas. Follow writers like Justin Jordan and Charles Soule and Alex DeCampi, and you’ll notice that they can just crank out idea after idea after idea. Josh Fialkov is another one of those perpetual idea machines, and this “King” miniseries is just the latest in a string of concept gems that’s included “The Bunker”, “The Life After”, “Echoes”, “Tumor”, and more. And again, he teams up with someone who can execute the hell out of this premise in Bernard Chang.
King #1 (of 5)
Written by Joshua Hale Fialkov
Illustrated by Bernard Chang
Published by Jet City ComicsFrom critically acclaimed writer Joshua Hale Fialkov (I, Vampire) and superstar artists Bernard Chang and Marcelo Maiolo (Green Lantern Corps) comes a post-apocalyptic Conan the Barbarian as directed by Sam Raimi circa Army of Darkness.
King just wants what anybody wants: not to get fired, eaten, or forced to mate with a cheetah lady. As Earth’s sole human survivor after the apocalypse, life among Los Angeles’ strange, new populace ain’t easy. Working for the LA Department of Reclamation, King gets a lot of crappy jobs going on quests and searching for artifacts from the “old world,” which can range from the mythical (Excalibur!) to the absurd (an iPod Shuffle). The work commute can be a real pain in the asphalt, the 405 freeway is filled with mutants, monsters, mayhem and tentacled Elder Gods. And that’s all before you hit the horrors of the San Fernando Valley.
As the world’s freakish inhabitants battle for supremacy, King searches for the “seed of life,” which may give Earth the second chance it probably doesn’t even deserve.
9. One Word Sums It Up
Seriously, I did not cut that solicit short. That’s all they needed to say about this book because it’s absolutely true in the best possible sense. And I don’t even know if this is the best issue to jump onboard with if you haven’t been following along already, because frankly, every issue is completely bonkers. There IS no safe jumping-on point for this book, and that’s the way I want it. You don’t wade gently into this pool of crazy; you go to the deep end, jump in, and swim.
Tansformers vs G. I. Joe #9
Written by Tom Scioli & John Barber
Illustrated by Tom Scioli
Published by IDWMadness!
8. One For The Kids (And The Kid In Us All)
Graphix is the graphic novel arm of Scholastic Books, purveyor of fine reading material for school children. Craig Thompson is, well, Craig Thompson; acclaimed graphic novelist behind “Habibi”, “Blankets”, “Goodbye Chunky Rice”, and more. So when these two decide to team up and put out a book? It makes this list. Plus? Aliens and spaceships!
Continued belowSpace Dumplins HC/SC
Written by Craig Thompson
Illustrated by Craig Thompson
Published by GraphixHighly acclaimed graphic novelist Craig Thompson’s debut book for young readers about a plucky heroine on a mission to save her dad. For Violet Marlocke, family is the most important thing in the whole galaxy. So when her father goes missing while on a hazardous job, she can’t just sit around and do nothing. To get him back, Violet throws caution to the stars and sets out with a group of misfit friends on a quest to find him. But space is vast and dangerous, and she soon discovers that her dad is in big, big trouble. With her father’s life on the line, nothing is going to stop Violet from trying to rescue him and keep her family together. Space Dumplins weaves themes of family, friendship, and loyalty into a grand space adventure filled with quirky aliens, awesome spaceships, and sharp commentary on our environmentally challenged world.
7. Now You Can Get Your Hip-Hop In Albums Or Singles
Usually you start with the singles and then get the trade/album, but Ed Piskor continues to not give a f*#k about doing things any way other than the way he wants to do them. So now he’s bringing his exploration about the roots of hip-hop out as a monthly series, in addition to continuing the oversized treasury editions that look like they fell out of a timewarp from 1980. And just like singles, these issues will have deep cuts and other stuff to make them worth having, even if you’ve already got the collections. Plus these singles let you get variant covers, like this one for the first issue from Third Eye Comics:
Hip-Hop Family Tree #1
Written by Ed Piskor
Illustrated by Ed Piskor
Published by FantagraphicsThe New York Times bestselling book series debuts as a monthly comic book (!) with new covers, artwork, a “director’s commentary” section that describes the motivation, process, and research involved in making this masterpiece, plus other surprises! This first issue highlights the breakdancers, graffiti artists, DJs and MCs who formed hip hop culture beginning in the tenement rec rooms of the south Bronx in the 1970s. You’ll discover who invented the term “Hip Hop”. You’ll see names you recognize like Grandmaster Flash and Afrika Bambaataa and you’ll discover where they fit into the culture as pioneers… every month!
6. Noir By The Guys Who Wrote The Books
Yes, Gary Phillips is a novelist, but don’t let that make you think for a second that the man can’t write comics. Between “The Rinse” and “High Rollers”, the man knows crime comics like few other writers do. And with this hardcover, we’re getting a re-presentation of his “Angeltown” miniseries with Shawn Martinbrough. Not only that, but the story will be reprinted in black & white. And if you think you’re getting ripped off because the original was in color, may I direct your attention to this book by Martinbrough? Or this podcast? The man composes with black & white in mind; you aren’t losing anything, you’re gaining clarity. The only mystery about this book should be when, not if, you pick it up.
Angeltown: The Nate Hollis Investigations
Written by Gary Phillips
Illustrated by Shawn Martinbrough
Published by MoonstoneAngeltown: The Nate Hollis Investigations reprints the Vertigo mini-series in glorious black-and-white as a cool, tough private eye makes a frenzied search in the shadows for a pro hoopster wanted for murder in “Baller.” Also included, Gary Phillips has penned two original illustrated prose short stories for this volume.
5. Not The Boz That Played Football
We continue the rescue of past comics thought lost forever with this surprise from Dover Publications. “The Bozz Chronicles” originally came out from Marvel’s Epic imprint in the mid-1980’s when it was used in roughly the same capacity as their Icon line is now. Michelinie and Blevins were two solid creators for the company, so when they had an idea for a story they wanted to do that didn’t quite fit the Marvel mold, Epic was considered a way for them to do it without going bankrupt but still retaining at least some ownership. With the likes of other Epic titles like “The Black Dragon”, “Someplace Strange”, and “The Light & Darkness War” showing up at other publishers all within the last year, it’s good to see that trend continuing with other seemingly-forgotten stories.
Continued belowThe Bozz Chronicles TPB
Written by David Michelinie
Illustrated by Bret Blevins
Published by Dover PublicationsWriter David Michelinie (Iron Man, Amazing Spider-Man) and Bret Blevins (The New Mutants) deliver the first trade paperback collection of their six-part comic cult favorite, in which a suicidal alien and a plucky prostitute form a detective agency that accepts cases rejected by Scotland Yard. A Victorian setting evokes the Sherlock Holmes mysteries, spiced up with supernatural sleuthing in the manner of Doctor Who and The X-Files, with a touch of steampunk style. This collection includes a new foreword and bonus pin-up by Brandon Graham.
4. Breathtaking Is More Like It!
Conventional wisdom says the 1990’s were a horrible time for comics. And while there are many, many, many, MANY cases to be made for proving that statement, there are a surprising amount of counterarguments. One of which is Breathtaker, published in 1990 by Vertigo (maybe this gets a pass because it was essentially published in the tenth year of the 1980’s?). But whatever criteria you want to judge it against, this book will pass. And it’s now available again in a remastered edition, so go forth and enjoy this slab of 1990’s goodness!
Breathtaker TPB
Written by Mark Wheatley
Illustrated by Marc Hempel
Published by Titan ComicsChase Darrow is a beautiful weapon. The US government gave her a sexual power that makes her utterly alluring – the prefect weapon for espionage. Yet to kiss a man leaves his lifeforce drained and means that no one can love her without paying the ultimate price. But Chase is now on the run from The Man, another government creation and the first superhero. All machismo, he is sent to bring Chase back, but which weapon will prove the most powerful – love or death? A darkly psycho-sexual conspiracy thriller that taps deep into the worst of American politics and black ops while telling the bitterest of bittersweet romances. Introduction by Neil Gaiman!
3. Dream The Dream Again!
As you may have heard, the guys behind Locust Moon Press put out an oversized anthology hardcover last year with contemporary artists riffing on the character and world of Windsor McCay’s Little Nemo. It’s up for an Eisner award this year; we’ve talked about it a few times here on the site. I don’t think anyone, in the close to a year since it has been seen by the public, has described it or its contents in less than glowing praise. But the sheer size and cost of the 16″x22″ book kept a large amount of people from obtaining one. While not completely solving that problem, the top pick this month from Toon Graphics shrinks that problem almost in half.
Joshua O’Neill, Andrew Carl, and Chris Stevens who published the spectacular broadsheet-size edition of Little Nemo in Slumberland under their Locust Moon imprint, have provided the original McCay designs. The “Who’s Who” of contemporary comic creators who riff on McCay’s original dreams includes Charles Vess, Yuko Shimizu, Mark Buckingham, Art Spiegelman, Peter Diamond, Roger Langridge, Paolo Rivera, Carla Speed McNeil, Cliff Chiang, Craig Thompson, David Mack, R. Sikoryak, Marc Hempel, J.G. Jones, and many others.
In-depth forewords by Francois Mouly and Art Spiegelman put McCay’s pioneering work in context, and make this a volume that will be as interesting for older comics fans as it is for younger readers. Plus an index of contributors gives readers more information on the contemporary cartoonists involved in the project and provides further opportunities for those who want to learn more about McCay and the history of American comics.
I have the Locust Moon book and I’m still going to pick this up. How about you?
Little Nemo’s Big New Dreams HC
Written by Various w/ Art Spiegelman and Francoise Mouly
Illustrated by Various
Published by Toon GraphicsWinsor McCay’s legendary comic strip, Little Nemo in Slumberland, has inspired today’s foremost cartoonists to craft their own dreamlands. From the original broadsheet-sized edition, we have selected more than thirty glorious, unforgettable, or even silly dreams. Join Nemo on his journey out of 1905 and, dream by dream, explore the wild and wonderful world of today’s most imaginative dreamers!
2. He Is The Law!
When picking books for this column, I try my best not to go with 100% safe picks. There should at least be one thing per month that you wouldn’t have expected me to pick. Knowing that I co-write Multiver-City One, this site’s weekly 2000 AD column, the fact that I picked a Judge Dredd book isn’t going to be one of those surprises. But there was no hemming & hawing when I saw “America” pop up in this month’s Previews; it was going to be a pick and it was going to be up near the top. Because “America” is one of, if not THE, best Dredd stories ever told. It’s not the origin or the biggest or loudest of the mega-epics, but it’s the one that shows you why Dredd is different from every other comic out there. If you need more convincing, Mike & I did a whole episode on ‘America’ and why it’s so good.
Continued belowThis volume will collect all three stories in the ‘America’ cycle (all written and drawn by Wagner & MacNeil) and bring them back into print here in the US for the first time in a while. Given the cover treatment’s similarity to the recent “Mega-Collection” which started off with ‘America’, I can only hope this will lead to more of those reprints making their way over here, because they are all fantastic stories.
Judge Dredd: America
Written by John Wagner
Illustrated by Colin MacNeil
Published by 2000 ADIN MEGA-CITY ONE, THE JUDGES ARE THE LAW – acting as judge, jury, and executioner. But how do the citizens really feel about a system where they are powerless? America Jara and Bennett Beeny grow up as best friends, living a fairly trouble-free life in a dangerous city… bar the odd encounter with a Judge. Time draws them apart, and when they are brought back together, Beeny is a successful singer and America has become involved with a terrorist organisation – with the Judges in its sights! Written by John Wagner (A History of Violence) with art by Colin MacNeil (Judge Dredd: The Chief Judge’s Man) this dark and complex tale is a true 2000 AD classic!
3. Stormy Weather
I’d almost consider this a bit of a cheat since it’s an illustrated novella rather than comics. But with Schultz’s own comics pedigree (not only “Xenozoic Tales” but also as a writer for “Superman” and “Prince Valiant”) but the fact that the illustrations are GORGEOUS, I’m giving this a pass. “Storms at Sea” has been in the making for years, and I’m thrilled beyond thrilled to see it finally being solicited, because that means it’s that much closer to being in my hands.
And if you’re somehow bummed by only getting 31 Mark Schultz illustrations, you can take comfort that the collection of all his sketchbooks is also solicited for August. So between all those words and pictures, that should be enough comics for this to count.
Storms At Sea
Written by Mark Schultz
Illustrated by Mark Schultz
Published by Flesk PublishingStorms at Sea is Mark Schultz’s new, heavily illustrated novella that explores the border between what we want to believe is true and the reality that we’d prefer to keep concealed. From a crime-fiction framework, it opens up into a breathtaking journey through cryptic history, cautionary science-fiction and a speculative vision of the deep future The story is told through 31 pages of prose and 31 full-page illustrations.”
And with supplementary images! In glorious carbon pencil and watercolor! Ten years (gulp) in the making! With a musical score! And dinosaurs! Like nothing you’ve ever seen before!
Continued belowPortfolio: The Complete Various Drawings
Illustrated by Mark Schultz
Published by Flesk PublicationsDuring an impressive period—2005 through 2012—Mark Schultz turned his attention to producing a body of personal works and private commissions. The results, collected in the five Various Drawings volumes, focused on subjects about which Schultz feels most passionate. Among them are characters and tableaux pulled from mythology, science-fantasy and pulp adventure, featuring steely warriors and femme fatales—his popular pulpette women included. Schultz’s Xenozoic world is profusely explored through a series of dynamic compositions with his protagonists, Jack and Hannah, placed in a variety of impossibly dangerous situations. In addition to his self-generated pieces, there are many examples of Schultz’s commercial works done for comics, film and books, as well as renderings of newly discovered dinosaurs and more.
Portfolio: The Complete Various Drawings compiles the 275 drawings found in the original five volumes as well as the cover illustrations and special bookplates. Reformatted into this oversized version, the scan for each image has been reviewed and meticulously adjusted. All images originally reproduced in black-and-white are now presented in full color.
Found within are fully rendered drawings executed in brush-and-ink, carbon or graphite pencil. In addition, Schultz shows his process with a wealth of preliminary sketches done for a range of projects, including his upcoming Storms at Sea illustrated novella. Add to this rare sketchbook material and Schultz’s increasing exploration of color-tinted imagery , and you have one fascinating and diverse portfolio!
Well, that was fun! Be sure to check out this month’s Robots From Tomorrow Previews episode, and hear us talk about these books and a whole lot more. And let me know what books YOU’RE excited for in the comments section.
