What Up CHU?? Mel V here with you latest edition of Big Gems from the Small Press. Thank you to all the readers for making Big Gems from the Small Press one of the most read new segments on comicsheatingup.net. Don’t forget to check the diamond order numbers to each of the selected books so it will make things a bit easier for you guys when you order stuff from your local LCS.
Ok, here are some of the books to be on the lookout for in the month of January, the cutoff date to order via Diamond is 11/22 so be sure to order from your LCS so you won’t be left out in the dark when these books get released. So let’s get started:
LONE WOLF 2100 #1 (OF 4)
Manufacturer/Publisher: Dark Horse (Release Date: 1/6/2016)
Description
(W) Eric Heisserer (A/CA) Miguel Sepulveda
2100 CE: A devastating manmade plague is turning the human race into cannibalistic monsters known as the Thrall. But there is hope: young Daisy Ogami’s blood holds the secret to a cure-if Itto, her android protector, can get her to a place where it can be extracted!
Item #: 1495298 • Diamond code: NOV150093
Why I like it: I loved Lone Wolf and Cub growing up, I’m expecting a fantastic series.
<a href="http://shrsl.com/?~aa8r"AMERICAN MONSTER #1 (MR)
Manufacturer/Publisher: After-Shock Comics (Release Date: 1/20/2016)
Description
(W) Brian Azzarello (A/CA) Juan Doe
In a small Midwestern town, a large man with a horribly scarred face gets off a bus, and takes a room. He spooks the locals–nobody knows him–or do they? It’s impossible to say be-cause he seemingly has no face. The man’s intentions remain unknown, until he takes on a corrupt sheriff and the rural crew of racist arms dealers. The town’s impression of the man changes, and he’s seen as a hero…until his real intentions bubble to the surface. The man isn’t there to end the gang, but to take it over. And he’s just getting started.
Item #: 1495318 • Diamond code: NOV151012 • UPC: 66257827196300111
Why I like it: I have said it before and I will say it again, After Shock Comics will be a studio to look out for in the upcoming months. I love the creative team behind this one. THIS IS ONE TO WATCH
Manufacturer/Publisher: After-Shock Comics (Release Date: 1/27/2016)
Description
(W) Justin Jordan (A/CA) Juan Gedeon
The world is full of monsters. Strayer kills them, but, of course, for a small fee… Nothing is free. Mala does magic of a sort… sometimes when she wants, sometimes not… She may be the only one who can save the world and Strayer is going to help her… whether he likes it or not… From the popular creators behind the Luther Strode trilogy, Spread, and Ghost Racers.
Item #: 1495582 • Diamond code: NOV151014 • UPC: 66257827197000111
Why I like it: Justin Jordan is a master of his craft, I love his style of making you feel like you’re a part of the world he is writing. And again After Shock Comics makes an appearance on Big Gems Small Press.
Manufacturer/Publisher: BOOM! Studios (Release Date: 1/27/2016)
Description
(W) Ed Brisson (A/CA) Lisandro Estherren
What’s to Love: Last year, John Wick reminded everyone why hitmen make for awesome stories. Of course, we’ve known that for years as evidenced by The Killer and Hit. Ed Brisson’s (Cluster, Sheltered) take on a retired hitman who finds himself as the target is a well-paced thriller that kept us guessing until the end, and newcomer Lisandro Estherren’s (Tall Tales from the Badlands) noirish art perfectly sets the mood. What It Is: A retired hitman, known only as ‘The Man,’ is forced back into the game when a list of his kills is leaked by a mysterious Broker. The list makes targets out of anyone associated with one of the The Man’s previous jobs, not to mention The Man himself. As he fights to protect those the list exposes, The Man sets off to uncover the identity of the Broker so he can move on with his new life once and for all. But will the truth ruin those chances forever?
Item #: 1495507 • Diamond code: NOV151138 • UPC: 84428400520300111
Why I love it: Are you kidding me…They had me at “A retired Hit man forced back into the game “The premise sounds great, I absolutely cannot wait for this book to come out. MY PICK OF THE MONTH
THE GUN #2 (OF 4) (MR)
Manufacturer/Publisher: Creature Entertainment (Release Date: 1/27/2016)
Writer: John Ulloa Artist: Andres Labrada
Description
(W) John Ulloa, Jerale Cleborne (A) Andres Labrada (CA) Patrick Reilly
Norman is a good man bagged in a big sack of loser. He has always done ‘the right thing,’ and the right thing has never brought him anything but misery. Crap job. Crap life. Wife gone. The one point of light in his dark, dismal bucket of existence is his children. But he is failing even them. He’s starting to realize that there is no just reward. The world is what you make of it, what you take of it. At the end of his rope, he decides to take what is owed him. And, as the world comes crashing around him, he decides to take hold of fate, and fate comes in the form of a gun.
Item #: 1495589 • Diamond code: NOV151264 • UPC: 68047400062300211
Why I love it: I had a chance to preview this book back at Baltimore Comic Con .John Ulloa has hit yet another homerun with GUN #2. The fast paced, yet detailed storytelling, grabs the reader and leaves them wanting more. A great follow up to the 1st issue of the Gun. Definitely pick this one up.
Manufacturer/Publisher: Overground Comics (Release Date: 1/6/2016)
Writer/Artist: Jon Hughes
Description
(W/A/CA) Jon Hughes
In a world full of extraordinary people, HeroCorp is the source of that power, and they give it freely to anyone who will join them. Creating heroes leads to great profits, but also to a singular event that may destroy them in the process!
Item #: 1495466 • Diamond code: NOV151552 • ISBN: 9781942519140
Manufacturer/Publisher: Overground Comics (Release Date: 1/6/2016)
Description
(W) Jon Hughes (A/CA) Matthew Weldon
A book that takes on the hot button issue of how the female hero is portrayed in comics. Plus Ultra markets herself with her looks and her body, and sex sells, but is it worth losing the respect of her community? The evolution of a hero begins in issue one!
Item #: 1495540 • Diamond code: NOV151553 • ISBN: 9781942519119
Why I like it: Both of these books from Overground Comics have this incredible and original concept. Anyone can become a super hero pending a review of a resume. Taking place in the world of Overground comics. Overground Comics was founded to be the first existing comic book multi-title universe to exist in a real time continuity. Really want to see where they go with their titles.
CODE PRU #1 (MR)
Manufacturer/Publisher: Avatar Press (Release Date: 1/27/2016)
Description
(W) Garth Ennis (A/CA) Raulo Caceres
Garth Ennis and Raulo Caceres bring you a black humor horror book unlike anything you’ve read! Pru wanted nothing more than to join the FDNY and help people as a paramedic. However, that was not to be, as she gets assigned to a special unit that tends to the monsters that live in modern day New York. Vampires, zombies, ghouls and all the creepy things that live around us in he shadows. But no one told her that was her assignment. Learning on-the-job is much more challenging with the supernatural! This series is a lead-in to the ongoing monthly Code Pru stories running in an anthology to be announced shortly! Raulo Caceres’ art never looked better than in the luscious black and white of this series. Available with Regular, Wraparound, Movie Poster, Nightlife, and a special Pure Art Incentive cover, all by series artist Raulo Caceres.
Item #: 1495357 • Diamond code: NOV151086 • UPC: 82002300810001011
Why I Like it: The Art on most books from Avatar Press have a certain beauty to them…this books looks to carry on tradition of stylish art and off the wall premise. Worth checking out.
FAITH #1 (OF 4) CVR A KEVIC-DJURDJEVIC
Manufacturer/Publisher: Valiant Entertainment (Release Date: 1/27/2016)
Description
(W) Jody Houser (A) Francis Portela, Marguerite Sauvage (CA) Jelena Kevic-Djurdjevic
FAITH BEGINS! VALIANT’S MOST DEMANDED HERO STEPS OUT OF HARBINGER…AND INTO AN ALL-NEW ADVENTURE! Faith Herbert, the psionically gifted ‘psiot’ known as Zephyr, has been a neglected child, a pawn of the Harbinger Foundation, and a washout with the government superteam called Unity. But now she’s taking control of her life and becoming the hero she’s always known she can be – complete with a secret identity, a codename, and a cover assignment that routinely throws her into harm’s way! But flying solo is going to be tougher than she ever thought as she uncovers a deep-rooted alien conspiracy that could destroy human civilization from the inside out! Is Faith out of her depth…or in for her biggest adventure yet? Rising star Jody Houser (Orphan Black) and red-hot artist Francis Portela (Green Lantern) pilot a new chapter for Valiant’s high-flying hero right here in her first-ever limited series!
Item #: 1495408 • Diamond code: NOV151702 • UPC: 85899200334500111
Why I like it: I think Faith Herbert is a great, upbeat character to be showcased. I expect Valiant to be pushing her like crazy, she has tons of potential. Her 1st App was Harbringer #1 which is already a triple digit book, expect that see a nice bump in price.
This concludes this month’s edition of Big Gems from the Small press, get your orders in to the LCS so you won’t miss out on these great low print run books. And always thank you for reading
Nice list Mel. I am looking forward to reading Last contract, herocorps knights and Strayer.
I already have a copy of Last Contract ordered. That book looks excellent!
I was going to order American Monster but It’s $3.99 for 24 pages. I know that’s standard fare for Marvel/DC but I don’t buy any of the superhero stuff and I hate to see the “indies” go that way. I may give in and order it anyway but for now I’m holding out.
I said this last month but I really love these posts. Helps highlight some of the books that could easily be missed. Thanks for taking the time to put it together!
Thank you for the list
always the dope list!