Hey there! Welcome to the first installment of Preview Reviews. We will give advanced glimpses at some of the comics that will be coming out this Wednesday. Here at PopCultureSquad, we are decidedly anti-Spoiler. We feel that ruining someones experience with something for the sake of getting a scoop or clicks is the wrong thing to do. Therefore, when we have graciously been granted access to some advanced copies of upcoming comics, it raised a question for us. “What do we do with that?” We have decided to publish this column as necessary on Mondays with mostly spoiler-free reviews of debut issues to upcoming series. Hopefully, the information that we share with you will increase your excitement for these books.
The following books will be released this Wednesday September 26th 2018.
MAN-EATERS #1
Image Comics
Written by Chelsea Cain
Art by Kate Niemczyk
Colors by Rachelle Rosenberg
Letters by Joe Caramagna
Cover Art by Lia Meternique
Official Solicitation:
Eisner-nominated and New York Times bestselling thriller writer CHELSEA CAIN returns to comics with a new ONGOING SERIES! A mutation in Toxoplasmosis causes menstruating women to turn into ferocious killer wildcats—easily provoked and extremely dangerous. As panic spreads and paranoia takes root, the fate of the world rides on the shoulders of one twelve-year-old girl. Part Cat People, part The Handmaid’s Tale, MAN-EATERS will have everyone talking. From the creative team behind the Eisner-nominated series Mockingbird: writer CHELSEA CAIN, artist KATE NIEMCZYK, colorist RACHELLE ROSENBERG, letterer JOE CARAMAGNA, and joined by LIA MITERNIQUE, KATIE LANE, and STELLA GREENVOSS. This September… the cat wants in.
PCS Review:
Visually, this is a fantastic comic book. Niemczyk’s line work and Rosenberg’s colors are a wonderful match. There is a softness and lighthearted feeling to the illustrations that slowly and importantly becomes darker and harsher ever so slightly as the mood of the story moves that way. Even though this issue is narrated by a young girl, it is not a flat story. There are ebbs to the emotional tension in this book, that is supported by the art.
Chelsea Cain does a great job of setting up the plot line to this book. The fact that there is history to the current story is not immediately apparent, but is clear by the end of the book. It is not a unique writing device, but it works very well in building the tension to this issue.
We are excited for this series. There is an immediate concern for the characters and the world being created in general. It is visually dynamic and welcoming. Definitely give it a read.
High Heaven #1
Ahoy Comics
Written by Tom Peyer
Art by Greg Scott
Colors by Andy Troy
Letters by Rob Steen
Cover Art by Richard Williams
Official Solicitation:
Chronic malcontent David Weathers dies and goes to Heaven-where everything is terrible, and everybody hates a complainer. A savage satire by writer Tom Peyer (Hourman, Batman ’66) with art by Greg Scott (Black Hood, X-Files). And! The socially awkward science-adventurers known as Hashtag: Danger kill a dinosaur! Backup story by Tom Peyer, art by Chris Giarrusso (G-Man, Mini-Marvels). And And! A cartoon by Shannon Wheeler, and an all-new text story by comics legend Grant Morrison: ‘Festive Funtimes At The New World’s Fair,’ illustrated by Rick Geary! Painted cover by Richard Williams
PCS Review:
This comic puts forth some very interesting ideas about life and afterlife. The premise is intriguing. The odd thing about this book is that the protagonist is annoying. He is whiny and the other characters know it. However, despite the irritating nature of the main character, the questions he asks are important. There is an exploration of the afterlife in this story that is fresh and entertaining.
Scott’s art is a great compliment to the story. The rough lines express a kind of dinginess to this “heaven” that plays well. His use of mostly tight camera angles works well for the narration of the story, but when they are juxtaposed with occasional wide shots, there is a hidden grandness to this world. The muted color pallet that Andy Troy uses is also a great decision for this book.
Keep in mind that this is from the newly launched publisher Ahoy Comics and that means that there are extras in each issue. The backup story by Peyer and Chris Giarrusso is a fun little not so subtle dig at modern society.
Absolutely, we are looking forward to seeing where this story goes, especially after reading the last page of the main story.
