Previews gives us a glimpse of what’s to come. Here’s the spotlight new books coming out of December Previews for the small publishers, Dark Horse, IDW and Image.
These books could see some heat potential but normally I’m just chasing a great read with great art.
Dark Horse
Fear Case #1 by Matt Kindt and the Jenkins Clan. I really enjoy Kindt’s work along with Jenkins interiors.
Fear Case #1 (Francesco Francavilla Variant Cover)
Fear Case #1 (Duncan Fegredo Variant Cover)
“A new, horrific detective series by Matt Kindt (Ether, Mind MGMT) and Tyler Jenkins (Grass Kings)! A no-nonsense Secret Service agent and his new-age partner investigate a mysterious box known as the ‘Fear Case,’ which has appeared throughout history at sites of disaster and tragedy. Whoever comes into possession of this case must pass it on within three days or face deadly consequences. The agents must track down this Fear Case while staying one step ahead of a psychotic cult and the otherwordly forces behind the Case’s existence.”
Black Hammer Visions #1 is a must for any Black Hammer fan. Of course this one is going to be by guest writers. Let’s just hope they live up to Lemire’s standards for his creation.
“An exciting reimagination of the Eisner Award-winning Black Hammer series told by guest writers and artists such as Patton Oswalt, Geoff Johns, Mariko Tamaki, Chip Zdarsky, Kelly Thompson, and more of comic’s top talents! Patton Oswalt joins artists Dean Kotz and Jason Wordie to explore the life of youthful super heroine Golden Gail on the Black Hammer Farm before the beginning of Black Hammer #1, and her struggle to maintain sanity as a middle-aged woman trapped in the unchanging body of a superpowered grade-schooler.”
Image Comics
Crossover #4 is on previews and you have to give him a little credit, Cates gets people talking about his work. Who needs a marketing team when the creator does his own marketing right? Either way, this issue follows what is claimed to be a huge issue out of Crossover #3 (which most are anticipating Spawn to appear and possibly Shogun Warriors since the shadow aligns properly). Most of Crossover #3 is still available at TFAW, including some of the ratio variants up to the 1:50.
Hate him or love him, it’s actually been a entertaining read so far. Issue #2 gave us a little more direction of the story.
Mirka Andolfo is one of the rare talents of those who can not only draw great art but also write stories.
So you better believe I’m going to pick up Deep Beyond #1. Although she’s not doing the interiors, we can expect some great covers though.
Image seems to be banking on this one though. There’s 8 covers already for this one and that’s not ratio variants and potentially the store exclusives that might be coming down the pipeline. Here’s the list so far, really looking forward to seeing what some of these look like:
Deep Beyond #1 (of 12) (Cover B – Andolfo)
Deep Beyond #1 (of 12) (Cover C – Jung GI)
Deep Beyond #1 (of 12) (Cover D – Momoko)
Deep Beyond #1 (of 12) (Cover E – Tocchini)
Deep Beyond #1 (of 12) (Cover F – Checchetto)
Deep Beyond #1 (of 12) (Cover G – Sejic)
Deep Beyond #1 (of 12) (Cover H – Blank Cover)
You probably can’t find this next book out in the wild and Image is getting into the Facsimile game with these. So for you Savage Dragon fanboys out there, now you can own the books where it all started.
Graphic Fantasy #1 and Graphic Fantasy #2.
Kyle Higgins is coming out with a new book, Radiant Black #1. Claims to be for the fans of Invincible and Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.
I really dig the B cover for this one. There’s also a blank.
Radiant Black #1 (Cover B – Ferigato & Costa)
Radiant Black #1 (Cover C – Blank Cover)
This next title by Arcudi (Rumble which was a great book I think that’s often overlooked) is one I’m really looking forward to.
Two Moons #1 mixes horror and Civil War together. Being a war buff myself, it’s a must check out.
Two Moons #1 (Cover B – Zaffino)
Two Moons #1 (Cover C – Blank Cover)
“RUMBLE and B.P.R.D. writer JOHN ARCUDI is back at Image with rising star VALERIO GIANGIORDANO for an all-new ONGOING HORROR SERIES! This issue starts the long journey of a young Pawnee man named Virgil Morris – a.k.a. Two Moons.- fighting for the Union during the Civil War. When he is suddenly confronted with his shamanic roots, he discovers horrors far worse than combat as the ghosts of his past reveal the monstrous evil around him!”
IDW Books
Chained to the Grave #1 (of 5) is a new magic mystery story in the wild wild west. It’s a check out book for me as I’m intrigued when writers can pull in some gritty western into their story telling.
With all the recent Star Wars news coming out of the Disney Investor webinar (or whatever you want to call it), it’s a no brainer to just pick up and buy anything Star Wars. So many past books that nobody would of thought could see heat are now in demand.
So IDW has Star Wars High Republic Adventures #1 to accompany the Marvel counterpart title that’s coming out around the same time. Even if you aren’t a Star Wars fan and just spec’ing, it’s a small gamble picking these up.
The Last Ronin made waves a month or so ago. Everyone went crazy when IDW and retailers claimed “allocations” so that made collectors and speculators catch the case of high FOMO for the first issue.
Marketing ploy or not, it worked to make this series hotter than it initially appeared (TMNT fans were gonna get it but it was a cover price book up until the news hit on pre-sales secondary market) to be before the news hit. But I really dig the regular cover for TMNT The Last Ronin #3 that’s in previews. A very nice swipe at a very classic cover from the 90s.
Peach Momoko was born to draw this book.
Usagi Yojimbo Wanderers Road #4 (of 6) Peach Momoko Cover continues her run for the regular covers which would look great displayed side by side.
Maybe when her cover art demand dies down, she could do this series interiors which would just be awesome.
That’s my highlight picks for the smaller guys. I’ll try and get my Marvel, DC and Indie highlight picks up soon, for those that actually care.
Yeah, Deep Beyond and Radiant Black look great!
Two Moons has an awesome premise, but doesn’t seem like my gig (I read This Scorched Earth earlier this year… and I’m not keen to read more Civil War era horrors any time soon, let’s just say).