Happy Summer everyone! I assume everyone checking in here is in the northern hemisphere, but I could be mistaken. Give a shout if Winter has begun for you? Curious how many of our fans reside in southern lattitudes.
COVERS
Amazing Spider-man #8 (Jeff Dekal Variant)
This was a tough pick this week, and I flip flopped on this. I’m going to give the slight edge to Dekal on this one. Dekal did some great Catwoman covers, but I think this Black Cat tops them. And unlike some artists he’s going for a bit of a subtle sexy look, and yet it works! This is just a different Black Cat cover than we’re used to seeing. So letting that be the decider here for Dirty D Cover of the Week!
Amazing Spider-man #8 (Gabriele Dell’Otto Variant)
So hard to choose! We’ve seen D.O. do Spidey covers like this in the past, so that was the deciding factor for me in a tight race for #1 this week. And I think many likely will disagree and that’s ok. It’s a sweet cover. I will be grabbing both for the PC.
I’m not sure if Bloop and Bleep are trying to hide Tara from view, or just hogging the view for themselves…
A malevolent force has been set upon the world – a being of pure darkness who wants nothing more than evil and destruction, darkness that lurks in the most seemingly innocent and sunny of places. Beware the evil known as SHADOW JEFF!
Jeff met his shadow last issue who looks to be a future arch nemesis (full appearance, btw). This is the first cover appearance.
REPRINTS & FACSIMILES
Damn…they’re going to get me again. I think this cover would look great foil-ized though.
# DC X Sonic The Hedgehog #1 (Fourth Printing)
I said I was going to keep buying these mashup Sonic character/DC Hero covers if they made them…I’m not backing out now! Popular character Knuckles as Superman here.
Probably could have done without the cleavage shot on this one…but hey, if old sagging hags are your thing…
FIRST APPEARANCES
Round two has begun! But who was able to make it? Now that blood has been spilled, the webs are off as Spider-Man and friends face off yet again against Venom and the symbiotes! But not before TWO new champions are added to the roster! Who could these warriors be? And will they add to the slaughter that has now unleashed among the competitors, or will they betray their own team to avoid the conflict?
We know the drill well by now. New Spidey = potential spec. It also means that these new characters may also be one-and-done. Buyer beware! I like the cover, though (is that Swamp Thing in the background…?).
READS
SAY GOODBYE TO BIZARRO WORLD! Up is down, left is right, and red is green–but danger is still danger as Batman and Superman awaken on Bizarro World with no idea how they got there–or why they’re being hunted by one of the most dangerous beings in the universe! Even if they survive, can they find their way home from a backward planet in time to save their friends from danger?
I’m a sucker for a good Bizzaro story (or am I not a sucker for a bad Bizzaro story…?). And I like Dan Mora’s cover A.
An exclusive new action series from rising star **LUDO LULLABI **(TRANSFORMERS, Battle Chasers) about forgotten heroes, cutthroat food trucks, and saving the world…again. Humanity survived a monstrous threat, but the world isn’t better for everyone. Every day Loloi hits the road to deliver her delicious cooking to the masses, outsmarting her treacherous competition and staying one step ahead of the massive robots “protecting” them all. But everything changes when she serves a mysterious warrior named Ash, whose secrets might just save the world…if his superhuman strength doesn’t destroy it first.
Cover A shown. There are some sexy variant covers as well. Does everyone remember the Dunkin Donuts Ghost Pepper donut during Halloween a few years back? I really liked that. Hopefully this is as good.
MINISERIES PREMIERE. Courtesy of master artist JAE LEE and GERRY DUGGAN . THIS ENDS TONIGHT is the kick-off of three interconnected tales of bloody revenge in Las Vegas. The debut issue stars two sisters hunted by assassins for their shocking family secret. It’s an over-sized, action-packed romp, and every panel is crushed with love by JAE. The series is completed, and we’ve got some special guests, too. Stay tuned for a beautiful ADAM HUGHES variant, and a sketch edition, too…**THIS ENDS TONIGHT! ** **REGISTER PITCH: **A Thelma & Louise-like duo barrelling through classic Quentin Tarantino-esque action.
The Adam Huges covers are 1:25 and 1:50 variants. They’re nice, but this pick is about the story.
INDY SPOTLIGHT
Out of the ashes of EPITAPHS FROM THE ABYSS, we usher THE TORMENTOR, a new horror host with an unhealthy interest in human anatomy into the shadow-strewn halls of EC Comics history for our next monthly horror anthology! Hold onto your head (if its still attached) . . . because no one escapes THE CATACOMB OF TORMENT! For Her Royal Travesty of Pain’s first request: Master storytellers John Arcudi (B.P.R.D.) & Tonci Zonjic (Black Hammer: Skulldigger & Skeleton Boy), Matt Kindt (BRZRKR) & David Lapham (Stray Bullets), and Marguerite Bennett (Batwoman) & Dan McDaid (Shazam!) each take turns manning the rack and turning the red-hot irons for three all-new and blisteringly brutal tales of mayhem and malice in the undying EC tradition! Plus, as an added bonus: A surprise classic from the EC vaults, painstakingly remastered and newly restored to its original coloring.
Seems as though there is a lot of variants for this book. So something is up. Even Third Eye Comics has a store exclusive (below)! Did our fearless leader Anthony put them up to this (we all know he loves the old EC horror books…).
Its comic convention season! And what better way to celebrate comic cons than this extra-length anthology filled with con-related horror stories! Last year, they skewered all things Christmas on the pages of DREAD THE HALLS, and now writers CHRIS RYALL and JORDAN HART, alongside artists NELSON DANIEL, PIOTR KOWALSKI, JIMMY KUCAJ, and CHRIS ANDERSON, bring terrifying convention tales to life! Covers by MARIA WOLF, a convention-line wraparound by NELSON DANIEL, and a con-badge incentive cover by JORDAN HART! The perfect and perfectly terrifying comic to read while waiting to get into that massive convention hall!
These zombies get us. Screw that CGC 9.8!
PICK OF THE WEEK
When jaded private investigator Tris accidentally kills Cupid during a botched wedding proposal, shes forced to team up with his ghost to help people fall in loveor face jail time for manslaughter. The only problem? She doesnt believe in love. LOVESTRUCK weaves humor and heart, taking readers on a journey through the streets of Los Angeles as Tris and Cupid help others find love while confronting their own beliefs about relationships. With its unique premise and character-driven storytelling, LOVESTRUCK offers a fresh perspective on modern romance that will resonate with readers long after they turn the final page. LOVESTRUCK has been optioned by Ryan Reynolds (aka Deadpool’s) production company Maximum Effort for development into a TV series!
In a week full of mostly average stuff, this book wins the pick of the week on the count of it being optioned. It may fly under the radar. Having Ryan Reynolds tied to it is promising…we’ll see where this goes. Maybe worth grabbing a copy and putting away for down the road.
Parting Thoughts.
Yup. That’s it! Not a great week, but not a bad week for covers and reads. Spec is meh. But it’s always possible one of these Indy’s will surprise us. Have a great week!