Big Gems from the Small Press March Edition

What up CHU Mel V. back with the latest edition of Big Gems from the Small Press. It feels good to get back in my lane and bring to you the latest and greatest books coming from the smaller press companies. This month’s slew of books have a lot of promise to them, a nice mix for readers of all genres. These books are slated to be released in the month of June and the cutoff date to get your orders in is 4/26/16. I also want to give a shout out to Ray of RJ Comics and Toys, check out his online store on eBay rjnieder77, great deals on hot books. Alright y’all let’s get to the getting to.
First up we have:

LUMBERJANES GOTHAM ACADEMY #1 MAIN CVR
Manufacturer/Publisher: BOOM! Studios (Release Date: 6/8/2016)
Description
(Wr) Chynna Clugston-Flores (A) Rosemary Valero-O’Connell (CA) Mingjue Helen Chen
What’s to Love: We adore DC’s Gotham Academy and it’s been on our wish list to have them somehow meet the Lumberjanes. From the great characters to the fun stories, we saw a world in which these two groups could coexist. Fast forward and here we are-the crossover event we’ve dreamed about and can’t wait to bring to you! What It Is: Something sinister is happening at a mysterious building deep in the woods, drawing the Lumberjanes and the Gotham Academy kids separately to investigate. Is it a weird cabin? An abandoned asylum? The two group’s band together to find out what exactly is going on. Featuring a connecting subscription cover by Brooke Allen!
Item #: 1531166 • Diamond code: APR161351 • UPC: 84428400542500111
Why I Like it : On one hand you got DC’s surprise hit in Gotham Academy combine that with an Fan Favorite Hit Indy book that’s being made into a movie. I’m sure you will be in for a treat, I hope to see more cross promotions like this and Batman/Ninja Turtles .

SOLARMAN #1 (OF 5)
Manufacturer/Publisher: Scout Comics (Release Date: 6/29/2016)
Description
(Wr) Joseph Illidge, Brendan Deneen (A) N. Steven Harris (CA) Andrew Dalhouse, N. Steven Harris
Originally published by Marvel Comics and written by Stan Lee, Solarman returns after a twenty-five year hiatus! Ben Tucker is a teenage hacker going after the wealthy and corrupt, fighting bullies, and living in his father’s basement. When a mysterious alien attacks a space station conducting secret experiments, Ben is accidentally exposed to extraterrestrial technology and imbued with nuclear-based power. Now Ben Tucker is a fugitive from the police, an alien menace, and a paramilitary division hunting him down, with the intention to capture…or kill.
Item #: 1531255 • Diamond code: APR161881 • UPC: 85999000232300111
Why I like it: Reboot of the old school Marvel book, Interested in seeing how Scout Comics handle the property, I’m loving what Scout Comics is doing in the comic world slowly but surely making a splash, Also N Steven Harris is yet another artist to be on the lookout for he has done work on Voltron and Watson and Holmes and is pretty darn good with the pen

LOOKERS #0 (MR)
Manufacturer/Publisher: Boundless Comics (Release Date: 6/29/2016)
Description
(Wr) Mike Costa (A/CA) Renato Camilo
A giant 80 page debut issue! Mike Costa delivers a new generation of bad-ass babes in the debut of Lookers! The twenty year-old title gets a fresh launch as twenty year-old sister Michelle and Tanya take down 21st century trolls. Tanya has no inhibitions and Michelle has a violence addiction – but together they help people that are violated in the cyber world. Fresh off the heels of Belladonna, Costa delivers another smoking hot new Boundless series that is a high octane romp through online sex shows and fast powerful women! Lookers is a sultry modern version of Charlies Angels run by Hugh Hefner! This ultra-size issue also features the complete classic Lookers / Pandora graphic novel epic, in color for the first time! Boundless delivers a host of sexy stunning covers with this issue including a Regular & Wraparound Cover by series artist Renato Camilo, POV & Leather cover by Christian Zanier, Sultry Cover by Matt Martin, and a Sexy Sleuths Cover by Raulo Caceres. Plus an array of super limited covers for the collector including a Costume Change Set (limited to 250 sets) by Christian Zanier. For the erotic art collectors, there is a Painted Century Nude Set of 3 books (limited to 100 sets) by Michael DiPascale and a POV Nude cover by Christian Zanier, a Sultry Nude cover also by Martin, a Regular and Wrap Nude Cover by Camilo, and a Sexy Sleuths Nude Cover by Caceres! To see the uncensored adult covers, please visit www.boundlesscomics.com.
Item #: 1531152 • Diamond code: APR161426 • UPC: 82002300814800011
Why I like It: Sex Sells. Violence Sells…predicting a low print run = Possible aftermarket hit. It’s about 12 different variants… keep a watchful eye on this

LA MUERTA DESCENT #1 BONES ED (MR)
Manufacturer/Publisher: Coffin Comics (Release Date: 6/29/2016)
Description
(Wr) Brian Pulido, Mike MacLean (A/CA) Joel Gomez
Present day. Maria Diaz, a US soldier, returns from Afghanistan to be reunited with her family on the Mexican holiday, Dia de los Muertos. But her brother has fallen in with The Zavalas, a death-worshipping crime cartel led by the nefarious Mama Z. When they see the family celebrating, they believe they’ve been ripped off by them. The entire family is murdered in cold blood. Maria wakes out of a coma Eight months later to find her family dead and gone. She seeks justice finds none: Daring the impossible, Maria decides to avenge her family and send the Zavala’s to hell. Can one woman defeat an entire crime cartel and what will be the cost to her humanity? Featuring 48 pages of story & art!
Item #: 1531141 • Diamond code: APR161492 • UPC: 74911066394000121
Why I like it: I’m a fan of Brian Pulido work, and I sure as hell love a great revenge plot book. I was always intrigued by this book, but especially since it went on to be a successful Kickstarter campaign, I’m definitely looking forward to this. Multiple premium covers on this one too.

JADE STREET PROTECTION SERVICES #1
Manufacturer/Publisher: Black Mask Comics (Release Date: 6/29/2016)
Writer: Katy Rex • Artist: Fabian Lelay
Description
(W) Katy Rex (A) Fabian Lelay (CA) Annie Wu, Kiki Jenkins
In this new series that mashes The Breakfast Club with Sailor Moon, Kai, Saba, Noemi, Divya, and Emma are (bad) students at Matsdotter Academy, an elite private school for magical girls. When they all meet for the first time in a totally unfair detention, these punk rock witch delinquents cut class and discover the fates Matsdotter has in store for them are even more sinister than they suspected. With JSPS, the creative team of writer Katy Rex, penciler/inker Fabian Lelay, colorist Mara Jayne Carpenter, and series cover
artists Annie Wu and Kiki Jenkins channel Black Mask’s edgy, subversive sensibility into a whipsmart adventure for delinquents young and old.
Item #: 1531128 • Diamond code: APR161334 • UPC: 045778024933
Why I like It: Black Mask was one of my favorite companies back in 2015, I’m glad to see them getting back on track. Black Mask is a company that always has fresh ideas and this title seems to keep with that tradition

BOLTS #1 CVR B WHYNOT (MR)
Manufacturer/Publisher: Danger Zone (Release Date: 6/1/2016)
Description
(W/A/CA) James Whynot
During a brutal attack by the townspeople in his own time, Frank is torn apart and loses one of his neck bolts as well as his memory. After Frank’s mangled body is pieced back together by a mysterious and powerful being, he is thrown into a new and strange dimension. He suddenly finds himself faced with merciless monsters and the looming watchful eyes of creatures in the shadows. After crossing paths with Casey, a scavenger with a penchant for trouble, Frank doesn’t have to fight alone but the road ahead only grows more perilous. Amid all the blood soaked violence, Frank also fights an inner battle of whether to become the spiteful villain or righteous hero of this new adventure!
Item #: 1530963 • Diamond code: APR161137 • UPC: 70238269131800121
Why I like It: Ok. Once in a blue I get what I tell Tony I is a “Mel Feeling” about a book, sort of like my own Spidey sense, well this book…I have a Mel Feeling about. Everything down to the creators name, JAMES WHYNOT, has such a cool gritty feel. I’m loving the art as well as the premise of the book, I can’t wait to read this one. Mel’s Book of the month right here
Ok folks that will do it for this month’s edition of Big Gems from the small press, I want to thank all the readers, as I do every month, for checking out my articles. It really means a lot to me. Happy hunting and don’t forget to support the Indys.