A Look Ahead to November and December

Mel does a great job looking at the small press books in Big Gems from Small Press, but there are other books worth looking at as well. Here the books on our radar for the end of November and December:

Vertigo:

Unfollow #1– A dying social media mogul leaves his billions to be split evenly between 140 random people-or however many of them are still alive at the moment of his death. Rob Williams (MARTIAN MANHUNTER, THE ROYALS: MASTERS OF WAR) and Michael Dowling (Death Sentence) assemble a cast that includes a young black man trying to get by in St. Louis, an Iranian reporter in need of hope, a retired special forces soldier with a strange sense of purpose, and a thrill-seeking heiress, in this thriller that shows we’re all still part of the food chain.

Why I Like it:This one is that the top of my list. It just sounds awesome. Start with 140 random people and start killing them off. Hmm, sold.

Jacked #1- Eric Kripke (creator of Supernatural) teams up with Vertigo veterans John Higgins (HELLBLAZER) and Glenn Fabry (PREACHER) to bring you a very Vertigo take on the modern superhero in this six-issue miniseries. Josh Jaffe, a neurotic family man mid-midlife crisis, buys an online ‘smart pill’ to increase his focus and jolt him out of his slump. But to Josh’s surprise, the pill gives him incredible strength and power-but its cost is that it’s extremely addictive. This irreverent and brutally realistic story examines both the mighty highs and humiliating lows of being a real-life

Why I Like it: Eric Kripke created Supernatural and I loved that show. He also has some good comic works to his credit. The story sounds amazing and as I am entering the dreaded “middle age” I can relate.

Lucifer #1– The anti-hero who made his debut in THE SANDMAN and starred in his own hit series is back in a new series by best-selling writer Holly Black (The Spiderwick Chronicles) and artist Lee Garbett (Loki)! As this series begins, God is dead-and Gabriel has accused Lucifer of His murder. Lucifer had motive and opportunity, but claims he can prove his innocence. If Gabriel finds the killer and takes the culprit into custody, his sins will be forgotten, and he’ll be welcomed back to Silver City. So, despite the fact that Lucifer just opened a nightclub on Earth and is hiding a mysterious wound, the two brothers set off to solve their Father’s murder. Their investigation will span Heaven, Hell, Earth and beyond in this antagonistic buddy-cop noir with an angelic flair.

Why I Like it: Loved Sandman, and really loved the Lucifer spin-offs. Hope they can keep the flair of the previous creative team.

Slash & Burn #1– Another day, another hot date. Firefighter Rosheen Hayes takes her relationships with conflagration seriously, whether it’s the trigger-happy burn victim with his sights on her partner or a chance encounter igniting memories of arson at the orphanage. But is she the super-sleuth fire-whisperer or twisted firestarter?

This new ongoing series from writer Si Spencer has all the mystery and intrigue of his hit Vertigo miniseries BODIES, with art by Max Dunbar (Dungeons & Dragons) and veteran inker Ande Parks (The Irredeemable Ant-Man), SLASH & BURN is a tricky thriller that explores both the excitement and the consequences of succumbing to one’s darkest impulses.

Why I Like it: Another female led book, plus I love a good mystery.

Dark Horse:

The Massive: Ninth Wave #1– In the pages of The Massive, Ninth Wave was struggling to repair a broken world. But before that, they were the preeminent global environmental-rescue unit, taking on criminals, polluters, politicians, and rogue states. The Massive: Ninth Wave tells these stories in a stylish, high-action, done-in-one format, reuniting the entire creative team from the original series.

Why I Like it: The original Massive team is back for another go.

Mystery Girl #1– Trine Hampstead knows everything. Ask her a question like “Where are my keys?” or “Is he cheating on me?” or “How are there perfectly preserved mammoths in recent ice?” and she just knows. She’s the Mystery Girl. The only thing Trine doesn’t know is how she knows-or anything else from the last ten years of her life.

Why I Like it: A mixture of iZombie and Marvel Girl. Female led books end up doing well. Worth the look.

Others:

Replica #1– Meet Trevor Carter, an Earth-born peacekeeping agent on the intergalactic hub known as The Transfer. When Trevor’s already near impossible assignment becomes a bit too much for the errant detective, he turns to the only logical approach, Replication. More of a good thing can’t hurt, right? A single clone could be helpful; unfortunately the replication process doesn’t go as planned! Written by Eisner-award winning author Paul Jenkins (Wolverine: Origin, The Incredible Hulk, Spider-Man) and art superstar Andy Clarke (Batman, Judge Dredd), this monthly series promises to be fun, daring, adventurous and most times, quite offensive.

Why I Like it: Paul Jenkins + fun book + offensive humor = sign me up

Seduction Of The Innocent #1 (IDW)- San Francisco, 1953. FBI Agent Thomas Jennings has just arrived in the city, fresh-faced and ready to tackle crime in the big city… he thinks. In fact, Jennings is not nearly prepared for what he’s about to encounter. The city’s crime lords are being systematically murdered, and the killers waiting to fill the void are the pure stuff of Jennings’ nightmares. Jennings will be forced to question every belief he holds dear to protect his wife and unborn child from the madness. Gritty, sometimes depraved crime fiction in the tradition of James Elroy, Jim Thompson and EC-era crime and horror comics, from the team that brought you The Death of Zorro and The Lone Ranger.

Why I Like it: Gritty Crime and Horror. Plus Francavilla art, there is a Francavilla Virgin Variant as well.