This month we give our readers a list of the exciting new comic book series debuting in April. We have compiled an alphabetical list with cover art and the official solicitation text from the publishers. Check below for our PCS NOTES to find out what we just have to tell you about the new comics in question.
There are a bunch of great new and interesting series starting this month from AfterShock Comics, Boom! Studios, DC Comics, Dark Horse Comics, Oni Press, Image Comics, Marvel Comics, AWA/Upshot Studios, and Bad Idea Comics.
Both DC and Marvel are continuing to debut new series this month with some interesting offerings. DC has a couple of notable crossover series starting this month that you will see below. This month is very heavy on new books in the first two weeks; so, get your wallets adjusted accordingly.
We will bring you reviews of most of these debut issues as they come out, and don’t forget to use the comments section to let us know what you think of this list.
You will find the books listed below in the order of when they are released.
Week of 4/7/21
Week of 4/14/21
Week of 4/21/21
Week of 4/28/21
Week of April 7th
Beasts of Burden: Occupied Territory #1
Dark Horse Comics
Written by Evan Dorkin & Sarah Dyer
Art by Benjamin Dewey
Cover Art by Dewey
The eight-time Eisner Award-winning comic book series blending fantasy and humor returns in a historical adventure blending Japanese and Western occult! An elder member of the occult-battling pack of Wise Dogs recalls a harrowing mission-in U.S-occupied Japan after World War II, a mysterious curse creates an army of crawling, disembodied heads which threatens to overwhelm the region. Emrys and a team of canine companions attempt to solve the mystery, bringing them into conflict with shape-changing tanuki, evil oni, and a horde of vengeful demons.
Release Date: April 7, 2021
PCS NOTES: Even if you are not familiar with this series, this solicitation is intriguing.
Geiger #1
Image Comics
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Gary Frank & Brad Anderson
Cover Art by Frank
Industry heavyweights GEOFF JOHNS and GARY FRANK of DC’s DOOMSDAY CLOCK reteam for what will be one of the most anticipated new series of 2021 in the forthcoming GEIGER. This mind blowing new series will take local comic shops by storm in April from Image Comics.
Who are the scavengers of a dying earth? GEIGER is set in the years since a nuclear war ravaged the planet, desperate outlaws battle for survival in a world of radioactive chaos. Out past the poisoned wasteland lives a man even the Nightcrawlers and Organ People fear. Some name him Joe Glow, others call him The Meltdown Man. But his name… is Geiger.
Release Date: April 7, 2021
PCS NOTES: Superstar comic creators brining their original story to Image this month.
Green Lantern #1
DC Comics
Written by Geoffrey Thorne
Art by Dexter Soy & Marco Santucci
Cover Art by Bernard Chang & Alex Sinclair
THE SOURCE OF PEACE
As this new Green Lantern series begins, the newly formed United Planets and the Guardians of the Universe hold an intergalactic summit to decide who can best serve and protect the cosmos from danger. With the majority of Green Lanterns called back to Oa, John Stewart arrives alongside Teen Lantern Keli Quintela, whose powerful gauntlet could be one of the most powerful and unstable weapons in the universe. With the entire landscape of the universe in flux, is this the end of the Green Lantern Corps…or a new beginning?
Release Date: April 6, 2021
PCS NOTES: Fans of the Emerald Light will need to check this out for the state of the ring slingers in the current DCU. Our own Mike Gold opined on the history of GLs earlier today on his Brainiac On Banjo column.
Magic: The Gathering #1
Boom! Studios
Written by Jed MacKay
Art by Ig Guara
Cover Art by Matteo Scalera
A new beginning for the pop culture phenomenon of Magic starts here from Jed MacKay and Ig Guara, perfect for new readers and long time fans.
Across the vast Multiverse, those gifted with a “spark” can tap into the raw power of Magic and travel across realms: They are Planeswalkers.
When coordinated assassination attempts on Guildmasters Ral Zarek, Vraska, and Kaya rock the city of Ravnica and leave Jace Belleren’s life hanging in the balance, a fuse is lit that threatens not just these three Guilds, but the entire plane of Ravnica.
Now these three must covertly infiltrate the wild plane of Zendikar and form a tenuous alliance to uncover why the targets of the assassins have all been Planeswalkers…
…which will lead them straight to one of the most enigmatic characters in Magic history!
Release Date: April 7, 2021
PCS NOTES: New series for fans of the card game that looks like an interesting new storyline.
The Next Batman: Second Son #1
DC Comics
Written by John Ridley
Art by Tony Akins, Mark Morales, & Rex Lokus
Cover Art by Doug Braithwaite
A new miniseries by Academy Award-winning writer John Ridley and artists Tony Akins and Travel Foreman begins! Readers now know that after the events of Future State, Tim Fox is the next Batman…but what’s his origin story? Why has he been estranged from Lucius Fox and his family for so long? Connected to the dramatic events of Infinite Frontier #0, these questions and many more will be explored in this thrilling new digital-first miniseries!
Release Date: April 6, 2021
PCS NOTES: First new Batman series of the month.
Project: Patron #1
AfterShock Comics
Written by Steve Orlando
Art by Patrick Piazzalunga
Cover Art by David Talaski
Thirty years ago, the world watched in horror as THE PATRON, a hero sent as humanitarian aid from a different dimension, went punch for punch with WOE, a primordial beast and a perfect match for our mighty protector. In the end, hero and villain alike fell…but the Patron returned – and continues to defend us to this day!
At least, that’s what we’ve all been told.
The truth is, the Patron died that day along with Woe. The UN replaced the Patron with a Reploid, designed to mimic the real Patron and continue on his mission of protection.
Today, the Patron Reploid is secretly piloted by an elite team – a team prepared for anything… except for the death of one of their own.
Release Date: April 7, 2021
PCS NOTES: What a great concept from an innovative mind?! We are eagerly looking forward to reading this one.
The Resistance: Uprising #1
AWA / Upshot Studios
Written by J. Michael Straczynski
Art by C.P. Smith
Cover Art by Rahzzah
Acclaimed writer J. Michael Straczynski returns the prescient, ambitious world of The Resistance! In the wake of the assassination of their leader, the Resistance is in disarray, disconnected from each other and hunted by authorities around the world – including an army of “reborns” recruited by the American government. To avert decimation at the hands of a fascistic government crackdown, the Resistance must discover the ace up their sleeve, and then the key to unlocking it.
Release Date: April 7, 2021
PCS NOTES: We certainly enjoyed volume one of this series. We are hopeful that Straczynksi will continue the excellent work.
The Silver Coin #1
Image Comics
Written by Chip Zdarsky
Art by Michael Walsh
Cover Art by Walsh
Eisner-winning artist MICHAEL WALSH teams with an all-star lineup of collaborators (CHIP ZDARSKY, KELLY THOMPSON, ED BRISSON, and JEFF LEMIRE) on a new horror anthology miniseries for mature readers. Each issue will tell a tale of terror in a shared supernatural world. The story starts in 1978 with a failing rock band whose fortune suddenly changes when they find the mysterious Silver Coin. Little do they know that fame comes with a cost, and a curse is always hungry.
Release Date: April 7, 2021
PCS NOTES: We have been looking forward to this innovative series for some time and are glad it is finally here.
Tankers #1
Bad Idea Comics
Written by Robert Venditti
Art by Juan Jose Ryp & Jordie Bellaire
Cover Art by Ryp
The CEO of global energy conglomerate Greenleaf Oil has just discovered a terrifying secret: the planet only has a decade or less of petroleum left before it’s gone forever. But he has a plan to make sure his great-great grandchildren can continue to generate maximum shareholder value – and secure his own legacy in the process. Rather than develop a game-changing renewable energy source through the power of corporate innovation, Greenleaf has perfected the next best thing – time travel (duh) – so that a team of six field-rat contractors armed to the teeth in individually customized mech suits can go back to the Cretaceous Period, tweak the trajectory of the meteor that killed the dinosaurs, and give mankind another 500 millennia worth of oil reserves. What could go wrong? Only all of human history, of course – because when Greenleaf’s team of Tankers come home, they’ll discover that not only did the dinosaurs never die out, they’ve kept evolving for another 60 million years… and they’re more pissed off than ever.
Bone-shredding destruction! Wanton corporate malfeasance! Reckless use of industrial machinery! And lots and lots of ammunition. Like a Saturday morning cartoon that’s run irresponsibly overbudget, New York Times bestselling writer Robert Venditti, blockbuster artist Juan Jose Ryp, and Eisner Award-winning colorist Jordie Bellaire are here to take all of our insecurities about mankind’s most self-destructive impulses and turn them up until the knob snaps off with Three double-sized issues shipping bi-monthly (that means every other month, don’t look it up).
Release Date: April 7, 2021
PCS NOTES: Here is an excellent looking series from Bad Idea Comics. Find an LCS that participates with this publisher.
Week of April 14th
Batman: The Detective #1
DC Comics
Written by Tom Taylor
Art by Andy Kubert & Brad Anderson
Cover Art by Kubert & Anderson
THE DETECTIVE, PART ONE
An epic tale begins that will take Batman on a harrowing, action-packed European adventure in a new miniseries by superstar creators Tom Taylor and Andy Kubert! A horrific tragedy in the United Kingdom sends a very personal and deadly message to the Dark Knight—one that will draw Batman out of Gotham City to investigate! From the moment he lands in Europe, Batman will face a difficult investigation and unheard-of adversaries and find the assistance of a partner once more—all in the hunt for the villain known as Equilibrium! New villains! New allies! A thrilling overseas adventure begins for the Dark Knight, starting with an extra-sized 26-page debut story!
Release Date: April 13, 2021
PCS NOTES: The second new Batman series this month. Fantastic creative team and interesting storyline.
Challenge of the Super Sons #1
DC Comics
Written by Peter J. Tomasi
Art by Max Raynor
Cover Art by Jorge Jimenez
The boys are back! Picking up where the sensational Adventures of the Super Sons left off, the sons of Batman and Superman are back in the spotlight and ready to give evil a good spanking. But are Robin and Superboy in over their heads this time? A mysterious woman from beyond time has appeared to the DCU’s favorite sons, and her arrival heralds certain doom (that’s a hint, everyone) of things to come! In fact…it seems she’s sent the boys on a bogus journey that they’ve already…returned from? Huh? What did the boys learn when they were whisked away? Why on earth do they have to save the Flash from instant death? Tune in for the first chapter in the most epic odyssey Robin and Superboy have ever been on!
Release Date: April 13, 2021
PCS NOTES: Come on, Who doesn’t love these boys getting into trouble together. We are glad to see Peter Tomasi get another go at these kids.
Home #1
Image Comics
Written by Julio Anta
Art by Anna Wieszcyck
Cover Art by Lisa Sterle
When a young boy is torn away from his mother while seeking asylum at the U.S. border, something begins to change in him, and it isn’t just the trauma, anxiety, and guilt you’d expect. He doesn’t know it yet, but it’s the onset of superhuman abilities that will change his life forever.
JULIO ANTA and ANNA WIESZCZYK debut with a deeply grounded and heartfelt five-issue series that explores the real-world implications of a migrant with extraordinary powers.
Release Date: April 14, 2021
PCS NOTES: I have to say that this one has got us very interested.
Locke & Key / Sandman Universe: Hell & Gone #1
IDW Publishing
Written by Neil Gaiman & Joe Hill
Art by Gabriel Rodriguez
Cover Art by Rodriguez
If you think you can unlock the gates of Hell and just invite yourself in, you must be Dreaming!
The epic crossover between two of the most beloved fantasy universes in comics begins here. John “Jack” Locke is ten years dead, but that hasn’t stopped him from posting the occasional letter home… from Hell. Now Mary Locke will do anything to save her brother’s soul, including cut a deal with Roderick Burgess-the most evil man in England-to search for answers in the House of Mystery and risk the walking nightmare known as the Corinthian to find help in a disintegrating Kingdom of Dreams!
Release Date: April 14, 2021
PCS NOTES: Wow!!! Talk about head spinning clashes of fan-favorite properties. Get your popcorn ready.
Jenny Zero #1
Dark Horse Comics
Written by Dave Dwonch & Brock McKinney
Art by Magenta King
Cover Art by King
Meet Jenny Tetsuo, the hard drinkin’, hard partyin’ daughter of beloved superhero, Mega Commander Zero. After washing out as the military’s top kaiju killer, ‘Jenny Zero’ now lives the celebutante life with her hotel heiress and publicist best friend, Dana Sheraton. But when the massive creatures return, Jenny must decide if she can sober up and save the world! From Dave Dwonch, Brock McKinney and superstar in the making, Magenta King comes a new hero for a new decade!
Release Date: April 14, 2021
PCS NOTES: For those who are looking for more Kaiju comics, Dark Horse has this one for you this month.
Phantom on the Scan #1
AfterShock Comics
Written by Cullen Bunn
Art by Mark Torres
Cover Art by Torres
Twenty years ago, a comet fell to earth. Since that night, Matthew has been haunted – haunted by a spirit that gives him incredible psychic abilities. But these abilities come with a price…and payment is due.
Every time Matthew uses his gifts, he draws closer to death, and other psychics – all of whom gained their powers on the night the comet fell – are dying in the most horrible of ways. To save himself, Matthew gathers a group of psychics to solve the mystery of their powers before it’s too late.
Release Date: April 14, 2021
PCS NOTES: I will say this. Cullen Bunn brings good stuff to AfterShock time and again, and I want to get my hands on this one.
Spider-Man: Spider’s Shadow #1
Marvel Comics
Written by Chip Zdarsky
Art by Pasqual Ferry & Matt Hollingsworth
Cover Art by Phil Noto
WHAT IF PETER PARKER BECAME VENOM? Peter Parker once put on an alien suit that nearly destroyed his life – but what if he’d never taken it off? Ignoring every warning, Spidey embraces the dark symbiote! Haunted by terrible nightmares and exhausted by an endless barrage of bad guys, Peter can’t seem to catch a break these days. So when the Hobgoblin attacks, he finds a hero at the end of his rope…and vulnerable to new dark impulses. Spider-Man is about to change his rules – but is it truly Peter who is in charge? Creative powerhouses Chip Zdarsky, Pasqual Ferry and Matt Hollingsworth bring you a terrifying tale of a Peter Parker possessed and on the edge!
Release Date: April 13, 2021
PCS NOTES: New month, New Spider-Man series. This one has a great team of creators exploring a terrifying question.
Week of April 21st
Batman / Fortnite: Zero Point #1
DC Comics
Written by Christos Gage
Art by Reilly Brown, Nelson DeCastro, & John Kalisz
Cover Art by Mikel Janin
A crack splits the sky above Gotham City… a tear in reality itself. This rift pulls the Dark Knight into a bizarre and unfamiliar world, with no memory of who he is or where he came from…Batman has been drawn into Fortnite!
As he fights to recall his past and escape an endless loop of chaos and struggle, he’ll come face-to-face with the likes of Renegade Raider, Fishstick, Bandolier, and more. While the world’s greatest detective strives to make sense of this strange new world, he’ll uncover the shocking truth about the Island, what lies beyond the Loop, and how everything is connected to the mysterious Zero Point.
Batman/Fortnite: Zero Point uncovers secrets never before revealed in game or anywhere else! Every fan of Batman, Fortnite, stunning art and edge-of-your-seat excitement won’t want to miss the Caped Crusader facing off against Fortnite champions on the Island, in a desperate attempt to save not only himself, but other familiar faces from the DCU…and perhaps the Multiverse itself!
Release Date: April 20, 2021
PCS NOTES: DC will continue to cross over their characters with different media properties. This is the latest. We are hoping that the story is captivating.
The Girls of Dimension 13 #1
AfterShock Comics
Written by Graham Nolan
Art by Brett Blevins
Cover Art by Blevins
Four young women are brought together by a mysterious invitation to live in a creepy building in NYC. They soon learn that the building houses a portal to the other twelve known dimensions, and that a malevolent creature known as Abraxis has bound these dimensions together, enslaving them to his will. For centuries, the portal has been guarded by a gatekeeper to prevent the evil on the other side from gaining access to OUR dimension.
Now the gatekeeper, Anna Nightlinger, is missing, and the only thing standing in Abraxis’ way is a quartet of young women with powers and abilities they don’t even know they have…for now.
Written by Inkpot Award-winning writer/artist Graham Nolan and illustrated by Emmy Award-winning artist, Bret Blevins, THE GIRLS OF DIMENSION 13 is a fantasy tale of discovery and empowerment, proving that sometimes all you need is a little help from your friends.
Release Date: April 21, 2021
PCS NOTES: AfterShock is definitely bringing it this month. This one looks fun. You can also check out an interview that Ed Catto did last year with Graham Nolan in With Further Ado.
Many Deaths of Laila Starr #1
Boom! Studios
Written by Ram V
Art by Filipe Andrade
Cover Art by Andrade
A powerful new series for fans of The Wicked + The Divine and The Dreaming from Ram V and Filipe Andrade that explores the fine line between living and dying in Mumbai through the lens of magical realism.
With humanity on the verge of discovering immortality, the avatar of Death is fired and relegated to the world below to live out her now-finite days in the body of twenty-something Laila Starr in Mumbai.
Struggling with her new-found mortality, Laila has found a way to be placed in the time and place where the creator of immortality will be born…
But will Laila take her chance to permanently reverse the course of (future) history…or does a more shocking fate await her?
Release Date: April 21, 2021
PCS NOTES: Yeah! I want to read this book!
The Mighty Valkyries
Marvel Comics
Written by Jason Aaron & Torunn Grønbekk
Art by Mattia de Iulis
Cover Art by de Iulis
JANE FOSTER GETS A FRESH START – AND ALLIES BOTH NEW AND OLD! Jane Foster believed she was the only Valkyrie left – but the fight against Knull, the King in Black, proved her wrong. Now the Valkyries must redefine their roles in a changing world – and Asgard’s not going to make it easy. When Loki comes to Jane with rumors of a beast stalking the souls of Midgard, she leaps into action – but she’s not the only one after the strange wolf’s hide. She’ll need backup…but her ancient coworker has other priorities. Years ago, the warrior made a promise to a woman she loved. And now, it’s time to follow through. Get the real story behind the Marvel Universe’s newest star – and don’t miss the start of an all-new epic adventure from powerhouses Jason Aaron, Torunn Grønbekk and Mattia de Iulis!
Release Date: April 21, 2021
The Old Guard: Tales Through Time #1
Image Comics
Written by Greg Rucka & Andrew Wheeler
Art by Leandro Fernandez & Jacopo Camagni
Cover Art by Fernandez
A STAR-STUDDED ANTHOLOGY EVENT!
The bestselling, critically acclaimed THE OLD GUARD, now a hit Netflix movie starring Charlize Theron, returns with all-new stories by writers GREG RUCKA, VITA AYALA, BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS, KELLY SUE DeCONNICK, MATT FRACTION, DAVID F. WALKER, and more, and artists LEANDRO FERNÁNDEZ, HORACIO ALTUNA, RICK BURCHETT, VALENTINE DE LANDRO, JUSTIN GREENWOOD, KANO, NICOLA SCOTT, and more!
Andromache the Scythian-a warrior over six thousand years old, who has fought more battles than she cares to remember-has kept one constant companion through her long lifetime of combat…her labrys. Andy’s battle axe takes many forms, and many lives, in its centuries at her side, a story told by THE OLD GUARD creators GREG RUCKA & LEANDRO FERNÁNDEZ.
Meanwhile, Nicolo “Nicky” di Genova and Yusuf “Joe” al-Kaysani, lovers since they tried (and failed) to kill each other in the First Crusade, spend an evening at Berlin’s famed Eldorado nightclub in the twilight era of 1932, sharing drinks with drag queens and fistfighting Nazis in an all-new story by writer ANDREW WHEELER and JACOPO CAMAGNI!
Release Date: April 21, 2021
PCS NOTES: We will always be excited for new content in the world of The Old Guard, and bringing in the heavy hitters to see their takes in this storyverse is a brilliant idea.
Way of X #1
Marvel Comics
Written by Simon Spurrier
Art by Bob Quinn & Javier Taraglia
Cover Art by Giuseppe Camuncoli & Marte Gracia
THE WAY TO THE FUTURE OF X! Mutantkind has built a new Eden…but there are serpents in this garden. Some mutants struggle to fit in. Some mutants turn to violence and death. And the children whisper of the Patchwork Man, singing in their hearts… Only one mutant senses the looming shadows. Snared by questions of death, law and love, only NIGHTCRAWLER can fight for the soul of Krakoa. Only he—and the curious crew he assembles (including fan-favorites Dr. Nemesis, Pixie, and Blink)—can help mutants defeat their inner-darkness and find a new way to live. This is the WAY OF X. Simon Spurrier and Bob Quinn push the frontiers of Krakoa in this unmissable entry into the bold new REIGN OF X.
Release Date: April 13, 2021
PCS NOTES: This is the way….. to put together a creative team. This book looks good and we are excited to see the work that Bob Quinn is doing in these pages.
Week of April 28th
The Marvels #1
Marvel Comics
Written by Kurt Busiek
Art by Yildiray Çinar
Cover Art by Alex Ross
PAST & PRESENT Combine in an All-New Ongoing Series! Kurt Busiek is back, with the biggest, wildest, most sprawling series ever to hit the Marvel Universe, telling stories that span the decades and range from cosmic adventure to intense human drama, from the street-level to the cosmic, starring literally anyone from Marvel’s very first heroes to the superstars of tomorrow. This first issue includes an invasion from orbit, a picnic in Prospect Park, super hero sightseeing in Manhattan, the All-Winners Squad in 1947, Reed Richards during his time in military intelligence, cosmic beings beyond space and time— and that’s only for starters.
Featuring Captain America, Spider-Man, the Punisher, the Human Torch, Storm, the Black Cat, the Golden Age Vision, Aero, Iron Man and Thor, and introducing two brand-new characters, all beautifully drawn by Yildiray Çinar in the opening act of a thriller that’ll take us across the Marvel Universe…and beyond. Plus: Who (or what) is KSHOOM? It all starts here. And it goes…everywhere.
Release Date: April 28, 2021
PCS NOTES: Just add it to your pull list and enjoy!!
Robin #1
DC Comics
Written by Joshua Williamson
Art by Gleb Melinkov
Cover Art by Melinkov
After learning of the deadly League of Lazarus tournament, Damian Wayne has a new mission: to win the tournament and prove he is the greatest fighter in the DC Universe! But first he must find the secret island where the tournament is being held!
Release Date: April 27, 2021
PCS NOTES: We are interested to see what Joshua Williamson will do with the grumpy little smart-ass.
RWBY / Justice League #1
DC Comics
Written by Marguerite Bennett
Art by Aneke
Cover Art by Mirka Andolfo
The DC Universe and the world of RWBY collide in this new miniseries! Discover the Bruce Wayne, Clark Kent, and Diana Prince of Remnant as Team RWBY comes face to face with new versions of DC’s paragons of justice. A new Grimm is running rampant around the island of Patch, and Ruby and Yang must team up with a young farm boy to stop it! Meanwhile, Blake meets a mysterious woman who’s appeared on Menagerie, but what is her purpose? And why does she act like she hasn’t been around modern society?
Release Date: April 27, 2021
PCS NOTES: One more multiplatform crossover for the month.
Shadowman #1
Valiant Entertainment
Written by Cullen Bunn
Art by Jon Davis-Hunt
Cover Art by Davis-Hunt
A BRAND-NEW HORROR SERIES!
From the bestselling master of horror Cullen Bunn and bone-chilling artist Jon Davis-Hunt comes a shocking supernatural odyssey.
The forces of darkness are awakening and they are hungry for life. Will Jack Boniface, feared by the forces of evil as the protector Shadowman be able to save us all?
Release Date: April 28, 2021
PCS NOTES: This one has been a long time coming and is not to be missed. You can check out our SquadCast with editor Heather Antos to find out more about Valiant and this book.
