We had noted that Brubaker had said that “Criminal” was moving over to Image for new collections and “something special” in January, and today with Image’s solicits we found out what that entails — and it’s something I can’t wait to pre-order, honestly.
So, as “The Fade Out” reaches the end of its first arc, Brubaker and Phillips are going to be taking a break before the next arc. During that break in January, we’re going to be getting a special 48-page one-shot of their seminal series “Criminal” as it arrives at its new home with Image. The book will feature Teeg Lawless, a character that has appeared in several “Criminal” stories (‘Lawless,’ ‘Last of the Innocents’, ‘A Wolf Among Wolves’). While fans of the series will likely recognize that name as we know a few things about him, it’s important to note that “Criminal” can be read in order as an entire story or separate as individual installments by design — meaning that those unfamiliar with Lawless will be able to pick this up and not in any way be lost. As a matter of fact, we’ve mostly seen him as a side character (outside of ‘A Wolf Among Wolves’) acting somewhat as a unifier to the overall “Criminal”-verse, so it’ll be interesting to see what happens when he steps back into the starring role with 48 pages to once again prove his worth to us.
Here’s the solicit:
CRIMINAL SPECIAL EDITION (ONE-SHOT)
STORY: ED BRUBAKER
ART: SEAN PHILLIPS & ELIZABETH BREITWEISER
COVER: SEAN PHILLIPSJANUARY 28 / 48 PAGES / FC / M / $4.99
CRIMINAL COMES TO IMAGE!
To celebrate the return of CRIMINAL to print, BRUBAKER & PHILLIPS return to their award-winning title for the first time in years for a 48-page special sure the thrill their readers, old and new alike!It’s 1976, and Teeg Lawless is doing 30 days in county jail with a price on his head, his only safe company from the savagery a beat-up old comic magazine his dead cellmate left behind. It’s CRIMINAL like you’ve never seen it before, with a comic within the comic and all those slick ‘70s thrills!
“Brubaker and Phillips are the gold standard of the crime graphic novel.” – Warren Ellis
Additionally, just like “The Fade Out” #1, this special one-shot of “Criminal” will be printed in the overszied magazine format, geared to look like a book thats just been uncovered from the 70’s. I don’t imagine that we’re going to get a Tarzan edition of a “Criminal” story given the solicit for the actual book, but it’s still a damn great cover.
CRIMINAL SAVAGE EDITION MAGAZINE-SIZE VARIANT
STORY: ED BRUBAKER
ART: SEAN PHILLIPS & ELIZABETH BREITWEISER
COVER: SEAN PHILLIPSJANUARY 28 / 48 PAGES / FC / M / $5.99
MAGAZINE FORMATAs an added bonus—and due to the overwhelmingly positive response to the magazine-size variant of THE FADE OUT—the CRIMINAL SPECIAL EDITION will also be released in a Savage Edition, a variant in the style of magazine-size comics of the ‘70s!
I actually bought the magazine-size iteration of “The Fade Out,” and I have to admit: it’s quite the production. The bigger size really gives Phillips’ art room to breathe and (pun intended) illustrates well why Phillips is one of comics’ best. That said, the book is huge and I have no idea where to put it now, but if you’re a fan of art — and since you’re on a comic book website reading about this comic I’ll imagine that you are — then it’s definitely a worthwhile investment.
Additionally, as noted previously, “Criminal” will get new collections from Image to go with its new home, so if you have yet to read the book and can’t find it in your local shop, there’s no need to worry; Image has you covered.
New “Criminal” is always good news, though, and this is just one of many reasons that January is looking to be a pretty exciting time in comics. So far it seems like Brubaker and Phillips’ exclusive deal to do whatever they want at Image is paying off.
The “Criminal” one-shot arrives January 28th, alongside a new printing of the first volume, “Coward.”
