Welcome once again to my spec and my drek and Happy Halloween Eve.. if there is such a thing. I pick what I think will be winners, not only if you make money by flipping but winners as in either a great read or just awesome art.
Then there’s the pesky drek, the comic you should avoid altogether or not fall into the buying every variant trap.
First things first, you still got 2 days to enter the awesome Ghost Rider Blank Variant Sketch giveaway (it’s the perfect Halloween giveaway book).. So go sign up on the forums if you haven’t done so already and enter to win. Then stick around and discuss comics with the other CHU community…
DC Picks
This week I have several, because it’s a good week for DC, at least in terms of really great reader picks. If they heat up, even better.
The first book and top pick is a book DC has a lot of faith in, sending retailers extra books on the house (they just have to pay for the damn freight, which makes me ask, can you reject the extras to save freight costs?)
I don’t blame them, the first read was great and you can appreciate Federici’s artwork for this one as well.
THE LAST GOD tells the story of two fellowships of heroes struggling with the same threat…30 years apart. One group will doom their world, the other must save it.
Thirty years ago, a band of heroes traveled beyond the borders of creation and killed the last living god, saving the realm of Cain Anuun from an apocalyptic army of the undead. The legendary companions became the rulers of their world and ushered in a new era of peace and prosperity. But it did not last.
Now the foul legions of the Last God march once more, laying waste to all of Cain Anuun and revealing that the aging fellowship may not be the great heroes they claim to be. With the world burning down around them, a new group of unlikely champions must band together and accomplish what no other has done: kill the Last God, once and for all.
THE LAST GOD: BOOK ONE OF THE FELLSPYRE CHRONICLES is a high-octane, no-holds-barred dark fantasy epic from writer Phillip Kennedy Johnson (Last Sons of America, Warlords of Appalachia, AQUAMAN) and artist Riccardo Federici (DARK NIGHTS: METAL, AQUAMAN), featuring additional work from Kai Carpenter (BOOKS OF MAGIC), Dean White (ALL-STAR BATMAN, Uncanny X-Force) and Jared Blando (Dungeons & Dragons).
This next pick is another book I’m looking forward to (I’ve read the first issue and most of the second which was in black and white). Another reader book, if it heats up, even sweeter. I don’t anticipate any spec though, if they do, it’s gonna be a bit down the beaten path if these ever get optioned or turned into shows.
DC AND BEST-SELLING AUTHOR JOE HILL PRESENT HILL HOUSE COMICS, A NEW POP-UP LINE DEDICATED TO BONE-CHILLING HORROR!
The rain lashes the grassy dunes of Brody Island, and seagulls scream above the bay. A slender figure in a raincoat carries a large wicker basket, which looks like it might be full of melons… covered by a bloodstained scrap of the American flag.This is the story of June Branch, a young woman trapped with four cunning criminals who have snatched her boyfriend for deranged reasons of their own.
Now she must fight for her life with the help of an impossible 8th-century Viking axe that can pass through a man’s neck in a single swipe-and leave the severed head still conscious and capable of supernatural speech.
Each disembodied head has a malevolent story of its own to tell, and it isn’t long before June finds herself in a desperate struggle to hack through their lies and manipulations… racing to save the man she loves before time runs out.
Plus, in the premiere chapter of the backup story ‘Sea Dogs,’ which sails across all the Hill House Comics titles!
The last DC pick is another book I was able to read and review. Great Joker story, particularly coming from Lemire. So this is a must pickup for any Joker fan.
Everyone knows The Joker doesn’t have the most promising history with psychotherapists. In fact, no one’s even been able to diagnose him. But that doesn’t matter to the confident, world-beating Dr. Ben Arnell; he’s going to be the one to unravel this unknowable mind.
There’s no way The Joker could ever get through the therapeutic walls Ben has built around himself. Right? There’s no way The Joker’s been entering his house at night…right? There’s no way The Joker has stood over his son’s bed, and put that book in his hands, the one with the, the, the…
The Eisner-nominated creative team of Jeff Lemire and Andrea Sorrentino (GREEN ARROW, Gideon Falls) reunite for a psychological horror story where nothing is as it seems, your eyes can’t be trusted and Mr. Smiles is waiting behind the basement door. Wait, who’s Mr. Smiles?
Marvel Picks
As a fan of the original series long ago, this one I’m hoping turns out to be a great read.
A NEW DAWN IS FORGED!
The Otherworld is rocked by war! It is a new era for mutantkind as a new Captain Britain holds the amulet, fighting for the Kingdom of Avalon with her Excalibur at her side – Rogue, Gambit, Rictor, Jubilee…and Apocalypse. Rated T+
This one does have several variants but honestly, none really stick out. The best cover art I think is the regular cover. If I had to pick one of the others, I’d have to go with the Hidden Gems which is pricey, so only grab if you can find for cheap.
The Muller Design variants are cool but I wouldn’t expect those to ever catch any heat or go up in value much.
The other pick goes to Silver Surfer Black as I’ve already read the spoilers on this one and I want to see where this takes us next with this character.
The final stand against Knull!
The Surfer’s severely depleted of his Power Cosmic, will desperate lengths force him to use his secret weapon and unleash a new horror upon the galaxy?
Trust us, you won’t want to miss this epic conclusion! Rated T+
Also don’t forget, FOC is tonight for Captain Marvel #12. If you haven’t seen the spoilers for this, could be a shocker.. or a ploy, but either way, a major Avenger has died at the hands of Carol.
Indie and Small Publisher Picks
I still haven’t read the first issue but it’s still on my list of reads.
Secrets fester in the Blaine family-and in their home.
Chase uncovers a piece of history best left hidden, while Mackenzie explores the fraught past between her uncle and Reese.
Just a cool cover as well. This one I noticed sold out initially on Midtown but is now back in stock. Also in stock at TFAW.
Nothing new on this next one as being groundbreaking for the plot and story but it will still attract some fans of this style of story telling.
Led by the legendary professor Van Helsing, Wolvenheart is an organization dedicated to monitoring anomalies in the space-time continuum.
After the group is infiltrated and decimated by a cabal of history’s most infamous villains, led by the most notorious serial killer of the 16th century, Elizabeth Bathory, Sterling Cross, the organization’s most prolific monster slayer, winds up trapped in an alternate reality where his only choice is to fight his way through time and change the course of history!
For fans of Doctor Who, Castlevania, Penny Dreadful, and League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.
Now on with the dreaded “avoid” pick, every writer and artist worst nightmare when it comes to selling their hard work.
Chrononauts Futureshock #1 through #4. What are they doing? Why would they release all four copies of a book on the same day? Just make it a trade or wait for the trade. Millar books are usually geared for media deals and then there’s not much love for them on the secondary market nowadays. If you want to read it, wait for the trade I say. I’m pretty sure Millar wants your money in his pocket, waiting for you to buy all 13 issues of this 4 issue mini-series.
the original Chrononauts series was options some time………….4 + years ago
I think all of Millar’s books get optioned… I don’t spec on his books anymore, they don’t do much in the aftermarket.
I’ll be curious what his secret Christmas book turns out to be. The assumption is Wanted. Which gave us a film adaptation with Charles Xavier knocking Star-Lord’s teeth out. So it can’t be all bad, right?
Meh.. I need to make a new meme that says.. Never Bet on Millar! 🙂
“Death of an Avenger”… for this issue anyways. Best buy 100 copies, ‘cuz investing in comic book deaths is always a sure bet. ?
Do it already…. 😉