Every week, tons of new books hit the stands, each with potential. Some live up to that potential. We pick the ones we think have the best shot at heating up. Here are the picks of the week for delivery this Wednesday
Kind of a small week, but a ton of cool #1 Indy books I look forward to reading.
New #1’s
Metal Society #1 – New series from Top Cow. ZACK KAPLAN teams up with hot up-and-coming artist GUILHERME BALBI in a dramatic new sci-fi miniseries that’s Blade Runner meets Rocky. In an inverted future, evolved robots have resurrected humans for manual labor. When a tribalistic cultural clash breaks out, a fearless human fighter and a frustrated, displaced robot will square off in a public MMA-style sport fight of epic stakes to determine once and for all who reigns supreme: man or machine.
Archer & Armstrong Forever #1 – The triumphant return of Valiant’s best BFF! When Armstrong seemingly loses his immortality, Archer refuses to let his best buddy go gentle into that good night. But when you live for millennia, you rack up plenty of enemies who’ll be thrilled to find out you’re no longer indestructible. Archer & Armstrong’s globetrotting quest for (more) immortality begins here!
Buzzard And Bone #1 – new Source Point Press book. Attend the tale of the Hangman’s Child. Born in the Tug Fork Valley to the warring magickal families, the Bezoars and Thistledowns, Berk is the child destined to sway the balance of their feud one way or another. Lord knows the feud started long ago over a hog and some infidelity, but now it’s become a full-on war. Will Berk, the Child of the Stormed Rivers, have what it takes to finally end this war? Or will he keep it going on forever and ever, amen?
Dogs Of London #1 – Sold out at Midtown. How deep must you bury a body to make sure it doesn’t haunt you? Frank and Terry are about to find out. They were once members of The Dogs, a feared gang who ruled much of London’s underworld back in the swinging 60s. They thought they’d escaped their troubled pasts, but the past isn’t dead – it’s just bashed about a bit and very pissed off. Spanning different times and classes, DOGS OF LONDON is a brutal, bloody tale of violence, love, revenge and sleeping dogs who refuse to roll over and play dead. Written by Peter Milligan (X-Force, Hellblazer) and brought to bloody life by Artecida, the Dogs have awoken, and they seek more than mere revenge.
Kent Menace Dangers From The Depths #1 – Kent Menace, is a mysterious mariner, as well as a weird hero who radiates – and attracts – excitement, danger, and even a bit of humor. Find out why Diamond’s Steve Geppi said Kent Menace ‘crackles with energy and overflows with possibility’ and Valiant Senior Editor Lysa Hawkins said, ‘…a little dash of pulp, a sprinkle of camp, Kent Menace is what happens if Doc Savage, Namor, and The Tick fused into one!’
One Night In Prague #1 – A new fantasy adventure epic from the mind of screenwriter Constantin Wernerwith art by Tadd Galusha. After young concert pianist Siwan loses part of his hand in a tragic accident, his family falls into a serious crisis. Following a strange prediction by a psychic, he departs for Prague with his supportive father Minkyu and good-humored uncle Jinwoo. They must find a mysterious white cat, who allegedly holds the key to Siwan’s future. Once reaching the Czech capital, they’re drawn into an ancient struggle between two groups of mystical shapeshifters!
Past The Last Mountain #1 – Half a century ago, the United States rounded up and imprisoned all the fantasy creatures that live amongst us. Now, a faun, a dragon and an adorable troll boy have escaped confinement, and are on the run from the United States Army!
Quests Aside #1 – . A skeleton, an apprentice mage, and an exiled princess walk into a bar… for another shift at Quests Aside, the local watering hole run by once legendary, now retired adventurer Barrow. When the King privately explains that he plans to shut the place down, Barrow must find a way to hold onto his business and the family he’s built around it. It’s always sunny in the realms!
Starward #1 – Stephanie Cohen’s life is all going according to plan. The only problem is the plan isn’t hers! She’s crushing it at college, but her fast track to a medical degree is something her parents decided for her, seemingly at birth. Stephanie was never consulted on her own life. So, now she’s drowning in pre-med when she’d rather be studying classics, folklore, and mythology. But on the eve of her twentieth birthday, as Stephanie prepares to stare into her own personal summer abyss for yet another day she gets a gift unlike any she could possibly expect.
Flashpoint Beyond #1 – Batmanâ’s hunt for the Clockwork Killer brings him to Europe and face to face with the mad king, Aquaman. On the eve of Aquamanâ’s sinking of London, Batman infiltrates his stronghold and goes on the warpath for answers. Nothing matters to Batman, whose world is already dead, but if he can track down the Clockwork Killer, Thomas can save his son’s world and put everything back together again.
Star Wars Obi-Wan Kenobi #1 – Just in time for May the Fourth…. A New Star Wars series featuring Obi Wan. Fast approaches the ultimate destiny of one of the Jedi’s most renowned masters! As he spends his final days in the remote deserts of Tatooine, Obi-Wan Kenobi takes time to reflect on – and record – key moments of a heroic life long-lived. Writing in old leather-bound journals from his hermit’s hut, Obi-Wan remembers his days as a young Jedi Initiate, his trials as a Padawan, the crucible of Jedi Knighthood and the Clone Wars, and some of the earliest challenges he faced as a true Master of the Force! In this tale, Obi-Wan considers a watershed Youngling adventure he narrowly survived on Coruscant when he was but eight years of age… This is just the beginning of his Jedi journey!
Notable Reprints
Batman Beyond The White Knight #1 2nd Ptg – Second printing featuring a new Robin in one panel. Needless to say the original did well.
Avengers Forever #4 2nd Ptg – Second printing of the Avengers run by Captain Carter. Great cover on this one.
One and Done
Giant-Size X-Men Thunderbird – All Elite Wrestling superstar Nyla Rose slams into Krakoa with a back-breaking one-shot featuring the first X-Man to die in action! In this mega-sized one-shot, Rose teams up with comics star Steve Orlando and First Nations artist David Cutler to grapple with the ramifications of Thunderbird’s recent resurrection! The world John Proudstar has returned to is completely different from the one he once knew. Looking to find refuge in the familiar, Thunderbird seeks out someone from his past at an Apache reservation
and uncovers a horrifying threat to the Indigenous mutant community. Will Thunderbird be able to save his people? Or will his justified rage lead him astray?
For the Cover
Iron Man #19 Juann Cabal Stormbreakers Cover – I mean, its just cool.
Small Press Pick of the week
Grunch Welcome To The Brudderhood #1 – Really looking forward to this. The woods are alive with the sound of Evil! Straight from the pages of the swampy legends of the Louisiana bayou comes a new generation of terror with BITE! The Grunch! Part twisted human part ghastly beast and all teeth and hunger! Come along with your tour guide, Johnny Detour, and his band of misfit vloggers as they delve deep into the murky myths surrounding the murderous brood! Finding the carnivorous clan is only half the battle. Getting out alive is the real trick. Don’t turn out the lights, Brudder! The Grunch are having YOU for supper! There are a couple of ratios available for this one too.
Pick of the Week
Twig #1 – my buddy Kyle Strahm along with Scottie Young created a lot of buzz on this great read pre-release with the ashcan. Looking forward to it!
Another notable reprint is Gwen-verse #1 2nd.