A Look Ahead: January 2017 Small and Midsize Publishers

It is always good to watch what the markets are doing now, but always keep an eye towards what is coming out in the future. Here are the small and mid sized publisher’s books that we are keeping an eye on.
This is some of, but not all the small in mid size publisher books we are watching coming out in January

Blood Blister #1
Aftershock Comics January 25, 2017
Sin is a joke to Brandon Hull. Morality a crutch for the weak, laws mere tools to be abused. But when the corruption he scoffed at begins to manifest on his once-perfect body, Hull finds himself cast into a hidden world of unspeakable horror from which there is no escape.
How can you be saved when the evil possessing you is your own soul? Opening a jarring window on to a world of horror. Opening a jarring window on to a world of horror.
Why We like it: Aftershock has been doing some really good books lately. A new horror book by them is right up our alley.

GOD COUNTRY #1
Image Comics January 11, 2017
Emmet Quinlan, an old widower rattled by dementia, isn’t just a problem for his children-his violent outbursts are more than the local cops can handle. When a tornado levels his home-as well as the surrounding West Texas town-a restored Quinlan rises from the wreckage.
The enchanted sword at the eye of the storm gives him more than a sound mind and body, however. He’s now the only man who can face the otherworldly creatures the sword has drawn down to the Lone Star State…
Why We Like It: The previews on this have been pretty solid. Check out the latest Image Plus for a preview. It is a story of a man trying to keep his mentally ailing father in check. A mix of family drama and fantasy elements, think Birthright.

SLAYER REPENTLESS #1 ERIC POWELL VARIANT
Dark Horse January 25, 2017
The planet’s most badass metal band takes control of comics! The ultimate thrash juggernaut, Slayer has dominated stages and destroyed audiences for over thirty years, with their latest album, Repentless, showing no signs of slowing down or showing mercy. Based on the brutal Repentless videos, this expansion of the video story lines drives deep into the darkest heart of America, a raging road trip down a bloodstained highway, a tale of the doomed, the damned . . . and the repentless!
Why We Like It: Eric Powell is on fire right now. He is putting out some of the craziest self published books on the market. Have him do the cover for a rock band’s new comic and you could have a book that crosses multiple niches.

RIFT #1
Red 5 Comics January 11, 2017
Presented by Academy Award nominee Jeremy Renner, The Rift tells the story of a single mother and her son whose lives change forever after witnessing a WWII fighter pilot from 1941 crash land in present-day Kansas. They find themselves drawn into the work of Section 47, a secret government organization responsible for responding to Rifts that open in space and time.
Why We Like It: Jeremy Renner is attached to this small press story. Movie connection?

ATOLL #1
Creative Mind Energy 12/28/2016
When the burlap sack is ripped from her head, decorated Olympic athlete Story Helms finds herself seated on a steel platform overlooking an arena somewhere far off the northwestern coast of Australia. Welcome to The Atoll, where abductees are pitted in combat against the world’s deadliest apex predator, Majesty, a twenty-one foot Great White shark. Story is next in the ring; how long will she last? Place your bets!
Why We Like It: Tim Daniel of Enormous fame writes a story that is part Hunger Games and Part Jaws. I love anything with Great White Sharks, and throw in the survival aspect and it looks to be a great story. Plus, very small new publisher, that I cannot see having a huge print run on.

DEEP #1
Boom! Studios January 11, 2017
Journey into The Deep with the daring aquanaut family, The Nektons, aboard their state-of-the-art (and oh so shiny) submarine, The Aronnax. When an earthquake off the coast of Greenland leads to strange reports of monster sightings, William and Kaiko Nekton, along with their kids, Fontaine and Ant (and of course, Ant’s pet fish, Jeffrey), dive into the mystery!
Will they find what they’re looking for? Will they teach a fish to fetch? Will they be accidentally eaten? Find out in the all-ages adventure from #1 New York Times bestselling author
Why We Like It – A comic based on a TV show based on a graphic novel. Already streaming in the US. My kids love the show.

CURSE WORDS #1
Image Comics January 18, 2017
The new ongoing series from CHARLES SOULE (Daredevil, Death of Wolverine, Star Wars) and RYAN BROWNE (GOD HATES ASTRONAUTS) is COMING FOR YOU! A wizard has appeared in New York City, and he’s casting wonderful spells, getting famous, getting rich-it’s great! But it’s not.
This wizard has everyone fooled. He is actually an EVIL WIZARD, and EVIL THINGS are on the way. CURSE WORDS is a gonzo modern fantasy, full of darkness, light…and MAGIC.
Why We Like It: When you mix Charles Soule’s writing with Ryan Browne’s incredible art and an over the top story, you are looking at a winner. Preview ashcans were available at the Baltimore Diamond Retailers Summit and the story and art are just fun.
 

DOLLFACE #1
Action Lab – Danger Zone January 11, 2017
Debuting at Halloween ComicFest, creators Bryan Seaton and Dan Mendoza (Zombie Tramp) unleash the all-new breakout character DollFace in her own ongoing series with issues 1 & 2 combined into this special double-sized issue!
In the town of Boston, a witch-hunter lurks among the shadows, but this witch-hunter is like none you’ve ever seen. She is Lila, a 17th century soul that has been transported into present time and into the body of a life size, ball jointed doll, created by a couple of MIT students trying to use technology and a 3D printer to create the perfect women.
Join in this super-sized debut issue and learn how she came to be known as DollFace, the ball jointed witch hunter
Why We Like it: We have been watching this one since the start of the Kickstarter. Dan Mendoza’s Zombie Tramp is a cult phenom. The Baltimore Retailers Variant sells well. It got exposure with the Halloween Comic Fest book. Fans will be looking to grab this one.

FEW #1
Image Comics January 18, 2017
Critically lauded writer and playwright SEAN LEWIS follows up the cult favorite SAINTS with his newest book THE FEW. Teaming with red-hot artist HAYDEN SHERMAN for a LIMITED MAXI-SERIES, THE FEW combines Mad Max action with a Station Eleven sensibility in this sci-fi series for mature readers.
In a dystopian future, two survivalist brothers stumble across an unlikely sight: a woman asleep in the woods holding nothing but a gun and a baby wearing a gas mask. As these boys begin to embark on helping this woman, betrayals, secrets, and revolutions abound in the fight for what’s left of America.
Why We Like it: Another book that premiered in this month’s Image Plus. The preview looks excellent.

LOOSE ENDS #1
Image Comics January 25, 2017
No one seemed to notice Sonny Gibson as he stepped back into ‘The Hideaway,’ a dusty little honky-tonk nestled off the Carolina highway. But before the night was over, Sonny would be on the run-from the law, from the criminals, even from himself.
LOOSE ENDS is a gritty, slow-cooked, Southern crime romance that follows a winding trail down Tobacco Road, through the war-torn streets of Baghdad, and into the bright lights and bloody gutters of South Florida.
From JASON LATOUR, the Eisner-winning co-creator of SOUTHERN BASTARDS and the writer of Spider-Gwen, CHRIS BRUNNER (SOUTHERN BASTARDS, Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight), and RICO RENZI (Spider-Gwen, Squirrel Girl).
Why We Like It: Spoke to Jason Latour at NYCC about this series. He said, “This is Southern Bastards but with younger characters.” Southern Bastards is a great gritty southern-fried crime book so this one is a winner for me.
 

REASSIGNMENT #1
Titan Comics January 04, 2017
Hitman Frank Kitchen’s assignment to kill a fashion designer, who’s fallen behind on his debts, takes a turn when his victim’s sister, a sociopathic surgeon, decides to punish him in the unique way only she can. Abducted and operated on against his will, Frank comes to in an unexpected place – but with a hitman’s hunger for revenge…
Why We Like It: I like these new Crime Noir/Pulp books from Titan. This one already has a movie built in, thats right, staring Sigourney Weaver, Michelle Rodriguez, Tony Shalhoub. Here is the IMDB page.

THE DREGS #1
Black Mask Comics January 25, 2017
A gentrified city. Its homeless population restricted to six square blocks called The Dregs. When people start disappearing, a drug-addled homeless man obsessed with detective fiction becomes addicted to solving the mystery.
Equal parts Raymond Chandler and Don Quixote set in a thriving metropolis that literally cannibalizes the homeless, THE DREGS is the first homeless meta noir ever made.
Why We Like It: Black Mask does crime with social commentary well. They have branched off into some other genres, but these gritty stories are the best.