A Look Ahead to May and June: Small Press Comics

In comic speculation, you have to stay on your toes, not only looking at what is hot now, but what coming out could be hot. Here is a look ahead at what books we are keeping our eye on:

BABY TEETH #1
6/14/2017
(W) Donny Cates (A/CA) Garry Brown
Aftershock
NEW SERIES! Sadie Ritter is sixteen years old, nine months pregnant, and scared out of her sweet nerdy mind. Having a baby that young is tough, but with the support of her loving family behind her, everything should be okay. OH YEAH, and also her baby is the antichrist and it’s going to break open the barriers between the earthly and demonic planes and unleash eternal suffering to all of humankind. Other than that, though…should be fine. From the writer of Buzzkill, Paybacks, Redneck and the break-out hit God Country comes a pulse-pounding new series with art from THE REVISIONIST’s Garry Brown!”
Why we like it: Donny Cates has been on fire. God Country is doing great, Redneck Preview was fantastic, and now he is taking a crack at a Rosemary’s Baby. Donny says he doesn’t like horror movies, that they scare the crap out of him, but this sounds like it could be creepy.

PESTILENCE #1
5/3/2017
(W) Frank Tieri (A) Oleg Okunev (CA) Tim Bradstreet
Aftershock
NEW SERIES! It’s the late 14th Century, and a Great Pestilence-the ‘Black Death’- is sweeping across Europe, killing over 100 million people. BUT, what if history as we know it was a lie? What if, in reality, this was no straightforward plague, but the FIRST non-recorded Zombie Infestation of man? Ex-Crusader Roderick Helms and his fellow ‘black ops’ agents the Church, Fiat Lux, must seek out the cause of this undead outbreak and vanquish it before mankind ceases to exist! Written by the master of violence, gore, and mayhem, Frank Tieri (Marvel vs Capcom, Wolverine, Deadpool), with spectacular art from Disney illustrator, Oleg Okunev, and covers by Eisner Award-nominated artist Tim Bradstreet (The Punisher, Hellblzer)!
Why we like it: Zombies during the dark ages, I have read the book and it is good. Adult themes and language. The story is previewed in Animosity #6, if it hits, you know where to look for the first preview.

MOTHER RUSSIA #1
(W/A/CA) Jeff McComsey
6/14/2017
Alterna Comics
One baby. One rifle. Two million zombies! As a zombie apocalypse breaks out in WWII, a Soviet sniper risks her life to protect an innocent baby boy. Created by New York Times-bestselling author and artist Jeff McComsey. The smash hit is now on newsprint!”
Why we like it: A Mother Russia #0 came out a while ago and was a good read. At this price point, it is hard to pass up.

MARVEL COMICS DIGEST #1 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN
(W) Stan Lee, Len Wein (A) Steve Ditko, Ross Andru (CA) Mike Wieringo, Karl Kesel
6/7/2017
Archie Comics
Excelsior! Marvel Comics’ best-selling heroes are now in the ever-popular digest format! Each digest is a mixture of over 200 pages of the most memorable classic and modern stories, spanning every decade of Marvel history and readership. This first issue spotlights the Amazing Spider-Man, featuring art and stories from comic greats including Stan Lee, Steve Ditko, Len Wein, Ross Andru and more. This is a can’t-miss collector’s item that will not be reprinted!
Why we like it: I know what you are thinking, Spider-Man is not small press. However, this is coming out from Archie, like their Archie Digest books. Features old Steve Ditko drawn and Stan Lee and Len Wein written comics… cool.

BEAUTIFUL CANVAS #1
(W) Ryan Lindsay (A/CA) Sami Kivela
June 28, 2017
Black Mask Comics
Lon Eisley is a hitwoman hired to kill a small child a few days after discovering her girlfriend pregnant. In a bold declaration of uncertainty, she saves the boy and hits the road, despire the fact her boss clearly wanted him dead for a reason. This warped crime dystopia delves into the emotional dichotomy of creator/destroyer as Lon tries to connect the two very different worlds she now inhabits. From Sami Kivela (Chum) & Ryan K Lindsay (Negative Space, DC Writers Workshop) comes a gonzo tale of personal discovery, animal/hybrid hit troupes, and reactive pyrokinesis.”
Why we like it: I loved Chum. It was a great read. Not going to miss Ryan Lindsay’s new book.

UNSOUND #1
(W) Cullen Bunn (A/CA) Jack Cole
6/7/2017
BOOM! Studios
Ashli’s first day as a nurse at Wiermont Psychiatric Hospital turns into a nightmare as a bloody riot sends her fleeing into the bowels of the hospital. Her descent takes her to a hellish world populated by lunatics and monsters, cloaked in a secret history of black magic and heinous scientific experiments.”
Why we like it: First off it is Cullen Bunn. It is also from Boom, who have a first look deal for turning comics into other media. Cullen, besides being a good writer, gets books optioned. Could be the perfect combination.

Die Kitty Die Hollywood Or Bust #1
(W/A) Fernando Ruiz, Dan Parent (CA) Fernando Ruiz
The hit series is back! Kitty Ravencraft, the beautiful magical witch and star of her own comic book, re-turns! This time Kitty is on top of the World! Her new comic book series is a huge success and she’s once again the talk of the comic shops! Naturally, Kitty’s publisher wants to capitalize on her new-found popularity with a big budget blockbuster Kitty movie! To make this happen, Kitty goes off to Hollywood, but once again she finds herself in danger! Die Kitty Die: Hollywood or Bust will be Kitty’s biggest… scariest… and funniest adventure yet!
Why we like it: Die Kitty Die is a fun read and a cool homage to old Harvey comics.