Greetings and solicitations, Multiversity readers. I bring to you yet another “Best of the Rest” of Previews list where it was yet again nigh impossible to narrow it down to just 10 picks, but I did my best. This month, I went deep to pull in a few alternative graphic novels, Justin Jordan went deep in offering us “Deep State” (as well as another intriguing title), and highlighted a couple of essential collections from Don Rosa and Jack Kirby that hit the Previews catalogue.
So let’s dive in and all start worrying for our wallets.
10. God Is Not Dead?
Well, Avatar Press, which is it? Is God dead or not? Avatar comics come with a very specific look and feel, in my opinion. That’s not to say that they’re all the same – just that they’ll be dealing in some very dark and potentially disturbing subject matter. While Justin Jordan’s work has skewed violent to beautiful effect, I’m anxious to see how writing for Avatar utilizes those same skills. This sounds like Jordan’s headiest concept yet. Well, that is until we meet him later on in this very list. Stay tuned.
“Dark Gods” #1
Publisher: AVATAR PRESS INC
(W) Justin Jordan (A/CA) German ErramouspeJustin Jordan is unleashed in an epic all-new, ongoing series! Murdock leads The Storm, humanity’s last line of defense against the brewing Primordial Chaos and The Serpent, Tiamet herself! But her children slowly emerge ahead of her return, as human-monster hybrids inflicting horrors in their wake. The Storm has to keep this bottled up, prevent the rest of humanity from breaking into panic, and hold back the flood of horrors that come with the return of the original evils, the Dark Gods themselves! Available with Regular and Wraparound cover from series artist German Erramouspe, sultry Siren cover from Christian Zanier, a fully-painted Deity cover by Michael DiPascale, and a special Nightmare Retailer Order Incentive cover also by Zanier.
9. A Graphic Novel to stand on
Van Jensen most recently got scooped up into the world of ‘The New 52’ as a writer on both the Green Lantern and Flash corners of the DCU. Seeing as those are pretty conventional superhero comics right now, imagine my surprise when I discovered that he wrote a story about a heroic disembodied leg from Mexico. As so many independent comics these days are, this began as a Kickstarter project. Peruse the Kickstarter site here to see Jose Pimienta’s art. I love the way Pimienta plays with perspective to create dynamic, almost manga-esque visuals mixed with the bold color scheme that changes from panel to panel.
“The Leg” GN
Publisher: TOP SHELF PRODUCTIONS
(W) Van Jensen (A/CA) Jose PimientaWriter Van Jensen (Pinocchio, Vampire Slayer; The Flash) and artist Jose Pimienta bring you the strangest hero that comics have ever seen! The disembodied leg of Santa Anna has returned from the grave – and with Mexico once again in peril, it’s up to the Leg to save the country in this rollicking, surreal adventure story that blends Spaghetti Westerns with Mexican history and folktales. Join the Leg on his unforgettable journey.
8. A tribute for a master writer
Ray Bradbury has written stories that have perhaps influenced my taste in fiction more than any other. “Dandelion Wine” taught me at a young age that a fantasy & science fiction writer could write prose as beautiful as any novelist. “Fahrenheit 451”, as I’m sure it did for so many others, informed my political beliefs with regards to censorship and the importance of ideas. I can only imagine that “Shadow Show”, a 5 issue miniseries tribute to Bradbury, will show just how appreciated and influential the man was. And with superb talents like Joe Hill on the creative team, it looks like this tribute is being handled with the utmost care.
Continued below“Shadow Show” #1
Publisher: IDW PUBLISHING
(W) Joe Hill, Jason Ciaramella (A) Charles Paul Wilson (CA) Gabriel RodriguezIn Shadow Show, acclaimed writers and come together to pay tribute to the work of the one and only Ray Bradbury, the incomparable literary artist who has given us such timeless classics as Fahrenheit 451, The Martian Chronicles, The Illustrated Man, and Dandelion Wine. Up first is “By The Silver Water of Lake Champlain,” written by Joe Hill and adapted by Jason Ciaramella (The Cape) and Charles Paul Wilson III (Wraith). In this haunting story, Gail and Joel, two young teens, form an unlikely bond over the discovery of a lifetime. But their lives will soon be changed, forever altered by what they found that foggy day by the silver waters of Lake Champlain.
7. Under pressure
Derf Backderf (not his real name) finally garnered the kind of praise he deserved with “My Friend Dahmer.” Yes, he was friends with that Jeffrey Dahmer. This release collects some of the “best” of his long-running “The City” strip – a satirical comic that’s more surreal than you expect from your average slice-of-skewed-life alternative comic. Fans of Evan Dorkin or Daniel Clowes will feel right at home here.
“True Stories” #1
Publisher: ALTERNATIVE COMICS
(W/A/CA) Derf BackderfDerf, creator of the graphic novels Trashed, Punk Rock & Trailer Parks, and the international bestseller, My Friend Dahmer, presents the best of his True Stories from the long running The City comic strip, as seen in Best American Comics. It’s like Humans of New York, but somewhat stranger. Pressure… Pressure…
6. Who will survive in America?
If you’re at all familiar with Elisabeth Belliveau’s work (and if you’re not, poke around here), you’re imagining what a “graphic novel” from her would look like. I’m imagining it as more of an illustrated travelogue of her life with interstitial text than something in the way of sequential visual storytelling. No matter what it is, it’s going to be deeply personal and look great, I’m sure. Belliveau is an artist in the purest sense, not confining herself to one medium in an effort to express herself. I can’t wait to see what an “Elisabeth Belliveau graphic novel” looks like.
“One Year in America” GN
Publisher: CONUNDRUM PRESS
(W/A/CA) Elisabeth BelliveauBelliveau’s first graphic novel begins with a loss of innocence over ice skater Katarina Witt’s fall from grace by posing in Playboy. It is told through both drawings and email text between friends. The story jumps between Canada and the United States and travels abroad navigating life after art school, marriage and divorce. It is a year in a life, but one that is pregnant with memory, meaning, and desire.
5. Gotta capture ’em all
Becky Dreistadt and Frank Gibson riffing on Pokemon? It’s like someone dove deep into my mind and pulled out something I never knew I wanted and now I definitely need.
“Capture Creatures” #1
Publisher: BOOM! STUDIOS
(W) Frank Gibson (A) Becky Dreistadt (CA) Becky Dreistadt, Lorena GomezWHY WE LOVE IT: Frank and Becky’s sidewriting and gorgeous artwork have always been a favorite of ours, especially with their original web comics like TINY KITTEN TEETH. Getting a chance to tell their original adorable creature story and seeing more of what they can do…yeah, we wouldn’t miss this.
WHY YOU’LL LOVE IT: Becky Dreistadt (ADVENTURE TIME 2014 ANNUAL) and Frank Gibson (THE AMAZING WORLD OF GUMBALL) are two of the most clever and visually arresting creators in the business, and this is one of their most ambitious projects ever. From the vivid visuals to the rad story and hilarious, heartwarming moments, you’ll love every second in this world. If you like titles like POKÉMON or DIGIMON, or just like cool things, this is definitely the comic for you.
WHAT’S IT ABOUT: Over a hundred wonderful and terrifying creatures have suddenly appeared on earth. Two teens investigate the origins of these curious creatures and how they can stop those who are trying to destroy them.
4. Another masterful artist edition
One of the few times where Grant Morrison’s version of a character was not my favorite. No, my favorite is the pure Jack Kirby Mister Miracle, inspired by the irrepressible Jim Steranko. Aside from having the alter ego of “Scott Free”, which I’m pretty sure would have landed any creator other than Jack Kirby into pun jail, Mister Miracle was on point, and about as dynamic as solo Kirby books got.
Continued below“Jack Kirby – Mister Miracle Artist Edition HC
Publisher: IDW PUBLISHING
(W/A/CA) Jack KirbyFollowing in the huge footsteps of the Jack Kirby New Gods Artist’s Edition comes another classic collection of Kirby Fourth Word beauty-Mister Miracle! This latest Artist’s Edition collects SEVEN nearly complete Mister Miracle stories, including issues 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and more! Mister Miracle was one of the core Fourth World books-a multi-generational epic that was one part Star Wars (before Star Wars) and another King Lear-and one of the greatest good-versus-evil storylines to ever be done in comics! One thing is for sure, you’ll never have a better chance to see the King’s cosmic opus any better than in the pages of this Artist’s Edition!
3. The original duck dynasty
Let me be perfectly clear: The Don Rosa & Carl Barks Duck books are as good as comics get. Period. Nothing surpasses – only matches – the pure imagination, humor, adventure, and heart of these Donald Duck & Uncle Scrooge stories. These are desert island comics – if I had to take only one box of comics with me somewhere, a couple of these volumes would be coming with.
“Uncle Scrooge & Donald Duck – Return to Plain Awful” – The Don Rosa Library Vol. 2 HC
Publisher: FANTAGRAPHICS BOOKS
(W/A/CA) Don RosaFantagraphics proudly presents our second complete, chronological book of Duck adventures by fan favorite Don Rosa. Star stories in our second Rosa book include “Return to Plain Awful,” Rosa’s sequel to Carl Barks’ “Lost in the Andes” and “His Majesty McDuck,” where Scrooge beats the IRS by seceding from the Union… only to have his new country colonized by the Beagle Boys! Plus more! Presented with a rich archive of Rosa’s cover art and behind-the-scenes factoids, these Duckburg epics are getting a definitive, comprehensive North American edition for the very first time!
2. Teen Age Riot
Archie Comics has been ballin’ recently, what with “Life with Archie” and “Kevin Keller” pulling big time comic news headlines, and “Afterlife with Archie” garnering amazing reviews from critics, creators, and fans alike. By achieving success through unexpected avenues, they get the cache to do some really different stuff with their properties. One of those properties in “Sabrina the Teenage Witch”, which looks like it’s going to be a darker, more serious take on the character. Normally I speak out against overly dark tones in long-running comic books like these, but when they’re sprinkled in with the low frequency of these Archie books, and when they are something truly different – that’s when they can be something special.
“Sabrina” #3
Publisher: ARCHIE COMIC PUBLICATIONS
(W) Roberto Aguirre Sacasa (A) Robert Hack, Rachel Deering (CA) Robert HackNew Ongoing Series! Rejected by the Council, Sabrina takes matters into her own hands to find Harvey’s missing soul. Recruiting two other young witches (from a neighboring coven), Sabrina holds a séance to locate her missing friend, but as ever, Madame Satan is pulling the strings behind the scenes, and what Sabrina taps into is much more dangerous-and diabolical. And will send our beloved teen witch on an epic quest. For TEEN+ readers. With a regular cover by Robert Hack and a “Creepshow” variant also by Hack.
1. Justin Jordan goes deep
Justin Jordan makes the list twice this month, in what looks to be his deepest title yet – in more than name alone. Up until now, Jordan’s greatest storytelling abilities lied in showing his influences to the world and applying them to taut, action-packed stories (“Luther Strode”, “Spread”). “Deep State” looks to have some of that, citing political and espionage thrillers in the solicitation, but it also sounds like something sprawling and totally different for Jordan. The keen design sense of Ariela Kristantina on art is an exciting boon to the book, as well.
“Deep State” #1
Publisher: BOOM! STUDIOS
(W) Justin Jordan (A) Ariela Kristantina (CA) Matt TaylorWHY WE LOVE IT: You know all those conspiracy theories you hear about? Like how the Jonestown Massacre was a failed MKULTRA experiment by the government, or how Lee Harvey Oswald was trained and brainwashed to be an assassin? Well, what if some of those were true? DEEP STATE is a dream (nightmare?) come true for conspiracy theory nuts like us here at BOOM!
WHY YOU’LL LOVE IT: With LUTHER STRODE, DEAD BODY ROAD, and SPREAD Justin Jordan has become one of the eminent voices in hardintelligent, original comics, and Ariela Kristantina (DEATH OF WOLVERINE) brings her unique, idiosyncratic style that has made her a breakout talent. If you’re even remotely interested in conspiracy theory stories from comics like PLANETARY and SLEEPER to films like ENEMY OF THE STATE and THREE DAYS OF THE CONDOR, you’ll be gripped by DEEP STATE!
WHAT IT’S ABOUT: John Harrow doesn’t exist, and his job is to make sure that other things don’t exist, too. At any given time, the government is running dozens of black book operations, experiments that aren’t on any official record and are never acknowledged to exist. Some of these are innocuous. Some of them are monstrous beyond reason. And most of the time, they go as expected and the public is never the wiser. Most of the time. John Harrow’s job is to handle them when things go wrong, and do anything to make sure the government’s secrets stay just that-secret.
