Tag: Dark Horse Comics

Pop Culture Squad > Dark Horse Comics
New Number Ones: New Comic Series Coming in February 2023

New Number Ones: New Comic Series Coming in February 2023

Posted on by Bob Harrison

One month down, already? Well if it’s the beginning of the month, we have new comics series to show you. If you are new here, in this column, we have compiled an alphabetical list with cover art and the official solicitation text from the publishers of some of the cool new comics that are coming out this month. Check below for our PCS NOTES to find out what we just have to tell you about the new comics in question.

This month, we have books on the list from: DC Comics, Marvel Comics, Image Comics, Boom! Studios, Dynamite Entertainment, Dark Horse Comics, AWA Studios, Comics Experience Publishing, Mad Cave Studios, and IDW Publishing.

One thing to remember, we continue to measure the “comic week” as Wednesday. As such, if we have a month like February or the next one that starts on a Wednesday, the comics released the day before count as week one. #NCBD is Wednesday.

Special Note: As part of the Sins of Sinister Event. Marvel is rebranding and renumbering a few of the “X” titles.. We will note those below with the Logo for the event.

We will bring you reviews 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 2/1/23
Week of 2/8/23
Week of 2/15/23
Week of 2/22/23

Week of February 1  

Almighty #1
Image Comics
Written by Edward Laroche
Art by Laroche & Brad Simpson
Cover Art by Laroche

MINISERIES PREMIERE

THE WARNING writer/artist EDWARD LAROCHE returns to comics with a five-issue epic! Max Max: Fury Road-style action combines with the mutated horror of Annihilation in this original sci-fi/fantasy epic for mature readers.

The year is 2098 in a Third World America ravaged by economic collapse, anarcho-warfare, and a mysterious environmental disaster contained behind a massive wall. A girl has been abducted, and a killer has been hired to find her and bring her home.

Release Date: February 1, 2023

PCS NOTES: Sounds like this will be a fun ride.

Black Tape #1
AWA Studios
Written by Dan Panosian
Art by Dalibor Talajic& Ive Svorcina
Cover Art by Panosian

Jack King was a rock’n’roll god who projected a stage persona on par with the devil. After Jack dies on stage, his widow, Cindy, grapples with grief and struggles to protect his legacy, unaware that she is being surrounded by dark forces that covet the master tapes to Jack’s final, unreleased album – a heavy metal masterpiece that just might open a doorway to hell.

Release Date: February 1, 2023

PCS NOTES: We have always known that Dan Panosian is a gifted artist, but his writing has had us cheering up a storm the last few years. Dalibor Talajic is another creator who has been laying down excellent work. This is a combination we think will make some excellent comics.

Blood Tree #1
Image Comics
Written by Peter Tomasi
Art by Maxim Simic
Cover Art by Christian Alamy & Brad Anderson

SERIES PREMIERE

Two obsessed NYPD detectives hunt for a vicious butcher called the Angel Killer, a sociopath who preys on the innocent family members of known murderers in order to “purify” the rest of society.

From comics super team PETER J. TOMASI and MAXIM SIMIC comes a story that confronts the battle of nature versus nurture, considers how present and future generations are tainted by past generations, and asks the age-old question: Who must pay for the sins of the fathers-and perhaps even the sins of the mothers?

Release Date: February 1, 2023

PCS NOTES: Great creators interesting topic. We are in. Continue reading “New Number Ones: New Comic Series Coming in February 2023” →

New Number Ones: One-Shots and Special Editions for January 2023

New Number Ones: One-Shots and Special Editions for January 2023

Posted on by Bob Harrison

This is the first column of the year for our fan-favorite New Number Ones: One-Shots & Specials column.

In this regular column, we collect the one-shot books, special anthologies, and original graphic novels that are being released this month. You can check out our regular New Number Ones column for the month here.

There is an alphabetical list of these special books below by release date, and don’t forget to check for our PCS NOTES to find out what we just have to tell you about these comics.

There are books on the list from: First Second Books, DC Comics, Image Comics, Dark Horse Comics, Marvel Comics, Archie Comics, and Oni Press.

Now Let Me Fly: A Portrait of Eugene Bullard HC
First Second Books
Written by Ronald Wimberly
Art by Brahm Revel
Cover Art by Revel

ORIGINAL GRAPHIC NOVEL

From author Ronald Wimberly, creator of the viral comic Lighten Up, comes a soaring graphic biography that casts new light on the first African-American fighter pilot.

On the eve of World War I, Eugene Bullard was a refugee of the Jim Crow South who was determined to find a place where a Black man would be treated as a fellow human being. His search took him from rural Georgia to the streets of Paris, from the vaudeville stage to the boxing ring, and finally, from the muddy trenches to the open skies. In 1914, Bullard joined the fight to defend France—and made history as the world’s first African American fighter pilot.

In this candid but sensitive portrait of Bullard, author Ronald Wimberly balances the personal and the historical to interrogate concepts of cynicism, idealism, fear, glory, and the pervasiveness of anti-Black racism.

Release Date: January 3. 2023

PCS NOTES: This is the kind of important content that needs to be seen in the comic form. Continue reading “New Number Ones: One-Shots and Special Editions for January 2023” →

New Number Ones: New Comics Series Coming in January 2023

New Number Ones: New Comics Series Coming in January 2023

Posted on by Bob Harrison

Welcome to 2023! There are new comics coming. If you are new here, in this column, we have compiled an alphabetical list with cover art and the official solicitation text from the publishers of some of the cool new comics that are coming out this month. Check below for our PCS NOTES to find out what we just have to tell you about the new comics in question.

This month, we have books on the list from: DC Comics, Marvel Comics, AfterShock Comics, Image Comics, Boom! Studios, Dynamite Entertainment, Dark Horse Comics, AWA Studios, Oni Press, and Ablaze Comics.

This month has a mixed bag of new books. Some are restarts to existing properties and some are brand new debuts.

We will bring you reviews 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 1/4/23
Week of 1/11/23
Week of 1/18/23
Week of 1/25/23

Week of January 4  

Children of the Black Sun #1
Ablaze Comics
Written by Dario Sicchio
Art by Letizia Cadonici
Cover Art by Cadonici

From the artist of the hit series The House of Slaughter!

“It is not difficult to be happy under a blue sky. But it takes a lot of courage to be strong even under a black sun.”

Over the years, a black sun has risen twice. A dark dawn whose rays have done terrible things to people’s minds, driving them to all sorts of horror. Twelve years have passed since the last time and the world still fears the return of that inexplicable phenomenon. But fear is not the only legacy of those terrible days. All the women who got pregnant under the influence of the black sun have given birth to babies with some… peculiarities. White hair, ashy skin, abnormal proportions, and eyes as red as fire: the Children of the Black Sun.

Brightvale is a small town like many others. Here the Children of the Black Sun are treated with particular contempt, especially in the days leading up to the anniversary of the two disasters. The hatred of their fellow villagers, terrified of a possible return of that horror, will push these kids to unite and embark on a hallucinatory journey to discover themselves and their true nature. But is the black sun really about to return?

Release Date: January 4, 2023

PCS NOTES: I have to say, I am intrigued by the premise of this book.

Joe Fixit #1
Marvel Comics
Written by Peter David
Art by Yildiray Çinar, Dee Cunniffe, & Matt Milla
Cover Art by Cully Hamner & Jordie Bellaire

PETER DAVID RETURNS TO JOE FIXIT! Peter David’s tour de force through some of his greatest Hulk hits continues with a return to JOE FIXIT! Gone are the ripped-up shorts of the Hulk of yore—this enforcer prefers the slick suave of a striped suit, and the Hulk has traded in “monster” for “mobster” as he lends his strength to the Las Vegas casino scene. Of course, the Kingpin has his own ideas about who the toughest guy in town is, and it’s up to Spider-Man to keep the two of them from destroying Sin City!

Release Date: January 4, 2023

PCS NOTES: Peter David writing the Hulk is always entertaining and this return to the “Mobster era” looks like fun.   Continue reading “New Number Ones: New Comics Series Coming in January 2023” →

New Number Ones: New Comic Series Coming in December 2022

New Number Ones: New Comic Series Coming in December 2022

Posted on by Bob Harrison

2022 is almost over. We here at PCS hope is has been a good year for you. In this column, we have compiled an alphabetical list with cover art and the official solicitation text from the publishers of some of the cool new comics that are coming out this month. Check below for our PCS NOTES to find out what we just have to tell you about the new comics in question.

This month, we have books on the list from: DC Comics, Marvel Comics, AfterShock Comics, Image Comics, Boom! Studios, Dynamite Entertainment, Dark Horse Comics, IDW Publishing, Frank Miller Presents, and Black Mask Studios.

In some months we get five weeks of great comics. This month as the year crawls to an end, the first two weeks of the month have a bunch of cool and interesting new books but then it winds down in the last two weeks. That is mostly function of publishers being aware of the economic disruption in retail purchasing due to the Christmas holiday season and that they hold back new releases for the new year to begin.

We will bring you reviews 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 12/7/22
Week of 12/14/22
Week of 12/21/22
Week of 12/28/22

Week of December 7

All Against All #1
Image Comics
Written by Alex Paknadel
Art by Caspar Wijngaard
Cover Art by Wijngaard

Writer ALEX PAKNADEL, artist CASPAR WIJNGAARD, and letterer HASSAN OTSMANE-ELHAOU present a primal vision of humanity gone terribly wrong.

In All Against All, it is the distant future. Earth is long gone, but a race of alien conquerors knows as “the Operators” have preserved its most savage animals in an artificial jungle environment they barely understand.

With no bodies of their own, the Operators move from world to world, harvesting bodies for the organic exosuits they use to wage their endless wars. Ignored and underestimated by his captors is the habitat’s sole human specimen, Helpless.

However, when their efforts to find and harvest an apex predator intensify, he gives them far more than they bargained for.

Featuring variant covers by artistic powerhouses as SEAN PHILLIPS, MARTIN SIMMONDS, and CHRISTIAN WARD!

Release Date: December 7, 2022

PCS NOTES: This book is one of our most anticipated books of the month. Having had a sneek peak at it, we are confident it will be a big hit.

Frank Miller’s Pandora #1
Frank Miller Presents
Written by Anthony Maranville & Chris Silvestri
Art by Emma Kubert
Cover Art by Kubert

What if you could have everything you ever wanted, but it was at everyone else’s expense?

Drawn to a mystic Relic that can deliver all her heart’s desires, Anabeth Dean uses this power in an attempt to recreate the world and fill her empty life with friendship and love. But power comes at a price and her “perfect new world” is replacing the real world around us. Anabeth now has all she’s ever wanted, but her better place is an invasion, and she’s the gateway to the end of the world. Only she can stop it, but to do so, she must sacrifice everything she loves…

A new Young Adult Fantasy, created by Frank Miller – with art by new sensation Emma (Inkblot) Kubert, and script by Anthony Maranville and Chris Silvestri (Star Trek Discovery) – tbhis is the latest book in the great line of titles from Frank Miller Presents.

Release Date: December 7, 2022

PCS NOTES: FMP is making an impression and we are excited to see Emma Kubert on the art duties for this book. She is excellent.

Continue reading “New Number Ones: New Comic Series Coming in December 2022” →

New Number Ones: One-Shots and Special Editions for November 2022

New Number Ones: One-Shots and Special Editions for November 2022

Posted on by Bob Harrison

In this regular column, we collect the one-shot books, special anthologies, and original graphic novels that are being released this month. In November, there are quite a few that caught our attention. You can check out our regular New Number Ones column for the month here.

There is an alphabetical list of these special books below by release date, and don’t forget to check for our PCS NOTES to find out what we just have to tell you about these comics.

There are books on the list from: DC Comics, Marvel Comics, Image Comics, Dark Horse Comics, Humanoids, Inc., AfterShock Comics, and AWA Studios.

Crossgen Tales #1
Marvel Comics
Written by Barbara Randall Kesel, Ron Marz, & Mark Waid
Art by Butch Guice, Greg Land, Ben Lai, & Brandon Peterson
Cover Art by Paco Medina

ONE-SHOT SPECIAL

Surprising tales from a universe of fantasy, folklore and science fiction! The debut issues of four of the signature titles from the 21st century’s most innovative imprint—and some of the biggest names in comics—offer a window into other worlds! In RUSE (2001) #1, Detective Simon Archer and his assistant Emma Bishop face magic and mystery on the Victorianesque planet Arcadia! In MYSTIC (2000) #1, meet sisters Genevieve and Giselle—one is a sorceress, one is a socialite, but their destinies are about to be transformed! In SIGIL (2000) #1, a planetary union is locked in a centuries-long war with the starfaring Saurians! And in SOJOURN (2001) #1, the archer Arwyn and her allies fight for survival in the shadow of the undead dictator Mordath! But who are the Sigil-Bearers who unite these four stories?

Release Date: November 2, 2022

PCS NOTES: This is a reprint collection but if you are a fan of Crossgen or brand new to the concept of this imprint, this is a great place to get aquainted.

The Death of Superman 30th Anniversary Special #1
DC Comics
Written by Dan Jurgens, Jerry Ordway, Louise Simonson, & Roger Stern
Art by Jurgens, Butch Guice, Tom Grummett, Lee Weeks, John Bogdanove, Bill Sienkiewicz, Clay Mann, Brett Breeding, Walter Simonson, Gabriel Rodriguez, Fabio Moon, Jamal Campbell
Cover Art by Jurgens & Breeding

ONE-SHOT SPECIAL

THE LIFE OF SUPERMAN / STANDING GUARD / TIME / ABOVE AND BEYOND

30 years ago, the unthinkable happened. The Man of Steel died. After sacrificing himself to stop the unstoppable global threat, Doomsday, Metropolis and the rest of the DC Universe mourned the loss of their greatest hero. To mark this monumental moment in comics, DC has reunited the complete creative team behind the original event for four brand-new stories. Led by Dan Jurgens and Brett Breeding, the special kicks off with a new Superman story and villain…DOOMBREAKER! Followed by a series of short stories revisiting some of Superman’s greatest allies and exclusive pinups done by some of comics’ greatest artistic talent including LEE WEEKS, GABRIEL RODRIGUEZ, BILL SIENKIEWICZ, and WALTER SIMONSON.

Release Date: November 8, 2022

PCS NOTES: The event that helped to define comics in the 90s is remembered in this special issue with legendary creators contributing new content.

It’s Lonely at the Centre of the Earth
Image Comics
Written by Zoe Thorogood
Art by Thorogood
Cover Art by Thorogood

ORIGINAL GRAPHIC NOVEL

Cartoonist ZOE THOROGOOD records six months of her own life as it falls apart in a desperate attempt to put it back together again in the only way she knows how. IT’S LONELY AT THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH is an intimate metanarrative that looks into the life of a selfish artist who must create for her own survival.

A poignant, slice-of-life-style story perfect for fans of Adrian Tomine’s The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Cartoonist.

Release Date: November 9, 2022

PCS NOTES: As soon as I heard about this OGN, I was excited for it. I can’t believe it is almost here. Zoe Thorogood is a fantastic cartoonist.  

The New Golden Age #1
DC Comics
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Jerry Ordway, Steve Lieber, & Diego Olortegui
Cover Art by Mikel Janín

ONE-SHOT SPECIAL

From the Justice Society of America to the Legion of Super-Heroes, The New Golden Age will unlock DC’s epic and secret-ridden history of heroism, launching a new group of titles set firmly in the DC Universe. From the 1940s to the 3040s, heroes take on the great evils of their time. But in the aftermath of Flashpoint Beyond, those heroes and villains will have their lives turned upside down. DC’s future…and its past…will never be the same again. But how are Mime and Marionette connected to this? Why are Rip Hunter and the Time Masters the most unlikable heroes in the DC Universe? And who or what is…Nostalgia? Don’t miss the start of the strangest mystery to have ever plagued the DC Universe.

Release Date: November 8, 2022

PCS NOTES: I am not sure what Geoff Johns is up to, but I think I might like it. This book should lead into the Justice Society of America book that launches later in the month. Check out our regular New Number Ones for the details.  Continue reading “New Number Ones: One-Shots and Special Editions for November 2022” →

New Number Ones: New Comic Series Coming in November 2022

New Number Ones: New Comic Series Coming in November 2022

Posted on by Bob Harrison

Welcome to November. The leaves are falling outdoor decorations are making there way into yards, and new comic series are hitting the stands. In this column, we have compiled an alphabetical list with cover art and the official solicitation text from the publishers of some of the cool new comics that are coming out this month. Check below for our PCS NOTES to find out what we just have to tell you about the new comics in question.

This month, we have books on the list from: DC Comics, Marvel Comics, AfterShock Comics, Image Comics, Boom! Studios, Dynamite Entertainment, Dark Horse Comics, Mad Cave Studios, Source Point Press, Ahoy Comics, and Ablaze Comics. Also this marks the first time that books from Frank Miller Presents has made this list.

This is another month with FIVE Wednesdays. That is a win for everyone!!!!

We will bring you reviews 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 11/2/22
Week of 11/9/22
Week of 11/16/22
Week of 11/23/22
Week of 11/30/22

Week of November 2

Batman & The Joker: The Deadly Duo #1
DC Comics
Written by Mark Silvestri
Art by Silvestri & Arif Prianto
Cover Art by Silvestri

The Joker will go to any lengths to get Harley Quinn back after she is abducted by a strange culprit. But who? Mysterious, Joker-like monsters are stalking the streets of Gotham, collecting severed heads. But why? Jim Gordon is missing, and after receiving a package containing a bloody piece of Gotham’s commissioner, Batman knows he must be willing to do anything to save him. But how? When The Joker proposes an uneasy alliance with Batman, the answers to those questions begin to become clear— and they will shake Gotham City and the Bat-Family to their core. This meticulously crafted tale of the Dark Knight’s deadliest team-up will introduce you to a grim and gritty Gotham that only Marc Silvestri could bring you.

Release Date: November 1, 2022

PCS NOTES: A legendary master returns to serialized storytelling. We are interested to see what this series brings.

Behold, Behemoth #1
Boom! Studios
Written by Tate Brombal
Art by Nick Robles
Cover Art by Robles

Greyson’s world is crumbling following his brother’s sudden and mysterious death. His sleepless nights are haunted by vivid nightmares of a terrifying monster, pushing him to the brink of losing both his sanity and his job as a social worker. But he’s truly shaken to the core when his newest case—a young orphaned girl named Wren—is found at the scene of a brutal murder, just hours after first meeting Greyson. The line between nightmare and waking life blur as Greyson soon discovers that the monster from his dreams might just be real—a mythical, ancient beast that is bringing about the end of the world, with shocking connections to both him and Wren…

Release Date: November 2, 2022

PCS NOTES: This sounds very interesting and I am eagerly anticipating what Nick Robles does on a book like this. 

Cherish #1
Dynamite Entertainment
Written by Katana Collins
Art by Gabriel Caitano
Cover Art by Marc Silvestri

Dynamite Entertainment proudly presents a new series by bestselling author Katana Collins and rising star artist Gabriel Caitano: Cherish, featuring character designs by Marc Silvestri!

When the blood on the boardroom floor moves from metaphorical to literal… Cherish is the story of Amelia Fellows, a young woman who witnessed the betrayal and murder of her father at the hands of those he once trusted. Unfortunately for Amelia, the people behind her father’s death are some of the richest, most powerful people in the world. If Amelia wants justice for her father, she’ll have to get it herself as the well-armed hi-tech vigilante, Cherish.

Issue #1 comes out swinging as Cherish infiltrates the corporate headquarters of Unicon. The company, led by chairwoman Valerie Nolan, had once worked with Cherish’s father. The only way Amelia will get the incriminating evidence she needs to take down everyone involved in her father’s death is to integrate herself into the staff and hide in plain sight. But things get complicated when Valerie’s son, Conrad, who Cherish has been seducing for information, becomes suspicious. Now it’s a race against time for Cherish to see if she can survive long enough to get the justice she seeks.

Release Date: November 2, 2022

PCS NOTES: This seems like a character that fits nicely into Dynamite’s wheelhouse, and we are looking forward to what the creative team has in mind. 

Deadpool #1
Marvel Comics
Written by Alyssa Wong
Art by Martín Cóccolo & Neeraj Menon
Cover Art by Cóccolo

MARVEL’S TOP MERC IS BACK IN BUSINESS! We all know Wade Wilson is one of the top mercenary/assassins in the Marvel Universe, even if he is simultaneously the most annoying one…but he’s pushing to make that recognition official as he auditions for the elite group known as the Atelier. Now, he has 48 hours to kill one of the world’s most famous supervillains. Only problem? He’s been kidnapped, and something…strange…is GROWING INSIDE HIM. Things are going to get gross as writer Alyssa Wong and artist Martín Cóccolo  take out their pent up aggression on everyone’s pizza-faced, jabber-mouthed, misguided, hate-to-love, love-to-hate fave…Deadpool!

Release Date: November 2, 2022

PCS NOTES: Who doesn’t love Deadpool? We are happy to see this book in the hands of Alyssa Wong.

Hell To Pay #1
Image Comics
Written by Charles Soule
Art by Will Sliney & Rachelle Rosenberg
Cover Art by Dave Johnson

The Shrouded College will give you magic… but you’ll incur a debt. Until it’s paid, you belong to them. Married couple Maia and Sebastian Stone took that deal. They have worked for the College ever since, using their new abilities to track down 666 cursed coins: qurrakh… aka, the Devil’s Dollar. Only a few remain. The Stones are almost free… but the devil’s in the details.

Hellboy meets Indiana Jones in this supernatural adventure from CHARLES SOULE and WILL SLINEY.

Release Date: November 2, 2022

PCS NOTES: The thing is that when Charles Soule lays out the rules of engagement, the Devil is always in the details, but that is also where the fun is. Looking forward to this.  Continue reading “New Number Ones: New Comic Series Coming in November 2022” →

New Number Ones: One-Shots and Special Editions for October 2022

New Number Ones: One-Shots and Special Editions for October 2022

Posted on by Bob Harrison

This month there are a bunch of special release that are timed with the season. So many in fact that we decided that they needed a special post. A few publishers are putting out anthology one-shot issue or books to celebrate the Halloween season and some others have just timed the release of their books to coincide nicely.

There is an alphabetical list of these special books below, and don’t forget to check for our PCS NOTES to find out what we just have to tell you about these comics.

There are books on the list from: DC Comics, Marvel Comics, Image Comics, Dark Horse Comics, Scout Comics, StormKing Productions, Archie Comics, and OffRegister Press.

Batman: One Bad Day – The Penguin #1
DC Comics
Written by John Ridley
Art by Giuseppe Camuncoli, Cam Smith, & Arif Prianto
Cover Art by Camuncoli

The Penguin’s criminal enterprise and the Iceberg Lounge have been stolen from underneath him by his former associate the Umbrella Man. The Umbrella Man has removed all of the rules for crime in Gotham City that the Penguin put in place, and the city is in chaos. The Penguin is a broken man, and he’ll have to travel through the burning streets of Gotham with a gun and a single bullet putting together a new crew to take back what he’s built. Will Batman help the devil he knows or face the devil he doesn’t in the form of the Umbrella Man? A crime epic from the team behind the critically acclaimed Other History of the DC Universe, John Ridley and Giuseppe Camuncoli–don’t miss it!

Release Date: October 18, 2022

PCS NOTES: This is the next installment in the series of one-shots that focus on one Batman villain at a time. Definitely entertaining.

Crypt of Shadows #1
Marvel Comics
Written by Al Ewing, Christian Cooper, Danny Lore, Chris Condon, Rebecca Roanhorse, & Adam Warren
Art by Warren, Ibrahim Moustafa, Geoff Shaw, & Karen S. Darboe
Cover Art by Leinil Francis Yu & Sunny Gho

The heroes of the Marvel Universe spend most of their time in the bright sun, flying high above it all…but every once in a while, they venture into the darkness that lurks in the hidden corners of the world. There lurk the creatures, the monsters, the vampires…the ones who prey on innocence and goodness. Join us, and some of your favorite heroes, for tales of fangs, claws and silent, stalking swamp creatures to celebrate All Hallows’ Eve!

Release Date: October 19, 2022

PCS NOTES: This is the kind of fun spooky season anthology that we get excited for each October. I am particularly interested in the Chris Cooper story in this book. 

DC’s Terrors Through Time #1
DC Comics
Written by Paul Levitz, Jeremy Haun, Tim Seeley, Zac Thompson, & Karla Pacheco
Art by Juan Doe, Kelly Jones, Peter Nguyen, & Andy MacDonald
Cover Art by John McCrea

October is here, and that means it’s time for fables of fear, time for stories of suspense, and time for tales of…time? Join us for a terrifying tour across the ages from some of comics’ top talent! Witness zombies menace the JSA in the 1940s. Experience the haunting of the Gotham City Sirens in the 1990s. Watch as Swamp Thing goes up against an irradiated monstrosity in the far future. These are just a taste of the time-hopping terrors we have in store for you in our fright-filled Halloween anthology!

Release Date: October 11, 2022

PCS NOTES: DC has its own anthology this month. I am pleasantly surprised by the lineup of creators. It marks the return to DC for Paul Levitz and a group of excellent creators that are not the ususal suspects in a DC anthology. Great to see.

Chilling Adventures of Salem #1
Archie Comics
Written by Cullen Bunn
Art by Dan Schoening & Matt Herms
Cover Art by Schoening

Salem the Cat has always been known as Sabrina’s familiar, but what happens when Sabrina’s not around to protect him (or, as is more the case, when he doesn’t have to protect her)? This special one-shot explores a different side of Salem’s life, one in which he acts as an anti-hero enacting vigilante justice on those who hurt others like him… animals, in a horror story that’s equal parts Pet Sematary and Hereditary.

Release Date: October 12, 2022

PCS NOTES: Cullen Bunn writing a Salem the Cat backstory stand alone comic? Yes. Please. Give me some of that!

Filth & Grammar: The Comic Book Editor’s Secret Handbook
OffRegister Press
Written by Shelly Bond
Art by Imogen Mangle, Laura Hole, & Sofie Dodgson
Cover Art by Phillip Bond

Award-winning DC/Vertigo editor Shelly Bond presents her step-by-step approach to making comics informed by a thirty-year career in mainstream and indie publishing. All-star creatives including Neil Gaiman, Jill Thompson, and Grant Morrison offer pro-tips. Originally funded on Kickstarter, this unprecedented, entertaining handbook is peppered with short comics illustrating Bond’s early days as a young editor in New York City. This mass market edition of FILTH & GRAMMAR: THE COMIC BOOK EDITOR’S (SECRET) HANDBOOK includes 8 new pages and an updated cover.

Release Date: October 25, 2022

PCS NOTES: This book was Kickstarted last year and has been delivered to backers. It is now being distributed to comic shops this month. This is an excellent book for anyone interested in how comics get made and what happens behind the scenes. It is highly recommended reading. We spoke to writer Shelly Bond when the Kickstarter was going on and you can check that out here.

Ghost Planet #1
Scout Comics
Written by Jeffrey Burandt
Art by Sean Von Gorman
Cover Art by Von Gorman

A family of deep space explorers rushes to solve the mystery of Ghost Planet before their recently dead loved ones return to kill them next! Murder birds, eye stalks and space pigs abound in this 40-page graphic novella. Ghost Planet is a classic sci-fi tale with a body horror twist

Release Date: October 19, 2022

PCS NOTES: We have been excited about this book for a while now. It is a fantastic little story that will capture your imagination. You can check out our review and interview with the creators, here.

Hack/Slash: Hot Shorts #1
Image Comics
Written by Tim Seeley
Art by Seeley, Daniel Leister, & Jim Terry
Cover Art by Seeley

Slasher hunters Cassie Hack and Vlad are back with a one-shot collecting the all-new short stories from the HACK/SLASH DELUXE EDITION HARDCOVERS. Our heroes battle bloodstains in “Slice of Life,” written and drawn by SEELEY, while a new kind of monster slayer stalks the backroads of America in “Highwayman to Heaven” and Cassie meets up with the baddest bad girl in the multiverse in “I Will Destroy You All.” Also contains all-new pin-ups! The perfect celebration of the slasher season!

Release Date: October 12, 2022

PCS NOTES: I am a big fan of Cassie Hack and love seeing this collection of shorts by Tim Seeley in the list of books coming this October.

John Carpenter’s Tales for a HalloweeNight Vol. 8
StormKing Productions
Creators: John Carpenter, Sandy King, Jaime Carrillo, Elena Carrillo, Luis Guaragna, Sian Mandrake, Alec Worley, Tom Foster, Frank Tieri, Cat Staggs, Kealan Patrick Burke, Tom Mandrake, Jack Mandrake, Sean Sobczak, Conor Boyle, Sara Richard, Neo Edmund, Jason Felix, Amanda Deibert, David J. Schow, Andres Esparza, Jennie Wood, Richard P. Clark, Michael Moreci, Scott Hampton, Duane Swierczynski, Heather Vaughan, Trevor Denham, Ryan Winn, Tim Bradstreet, Nick Percival and Andy Price.

From the mind of John Carpenter, the man who brought you the classic horror film Halloween and all of the scares beyond, and the heart of writer, editor, and producer Sandy King, comes a whopping 14 brand new twisted tales of terror, tricks, and treats. In volume 8 of the award-winning graphic novel series, Carpenter and King bring together the best storytellers from movies, novels, and comics for another spine-tingling collection of stories that will haunt you. Each story is a standalone surprise that captures the essence of the best night of the year. We dare you to read it all the way to the end. If you get too scared, remember, it’s only a comic. It’s only a comic… or is it? Happy Halloween!

Release Date: October 5, 2022

PCS NOTES: This book is a staple for every Autumn. StormKing assembles a fantastic lineup of amazing creators and lets them play in the horror genre. This is the book you grab and settle in to read on a dark and stormy night this fall. 

Killchella #1
Scout Comics
Written by Mario Candelaria
Art by Serg Acuna
Cover Art by Sean Von Gorman

A group of friends drive up from Los Angeles to attend an ultra-trendy music festival in the Coachella Valley desert. They soon face a bloody night of terror when a reclusive pop star making her big return after five years recruits her most fanatical devotees to assist in a massive human sacrifice ritual.

Release Date: October 19, 2022

PCS NOTES: This book has been a long time coming and we are excited to get our hands on it. It is another example of the publishing schedule and calendar synching up perfectly.

Leonide the Vampyr: Miracle at the Crow’s Head #1
Dark Horse Comics
Written by Mike Mignola
Art by Rachel Aragno & Dave Stewart
Cover Art by Aragno

A small, coastal village is home to normal people living quiet and simple lives––until a shipwreck brings a small coffin and its smaller occupant into their midst. What begins as a miracle soon takes a turn toward the horrible in this ghostly tale from celebrated Hellboy creator Mike Mignola and artist extraordinaire Rachele Aragno (Mel the Chosen)!

The first issue of a new series of stories, Leonide the Vampyr is shiveringly spectacular.

Release Date: October 5, 2022

PCS NOTES: What Halloween season is complete with out a spooky story from Mike Mignola?

The Return of Chilling Adventures in Sorcery #1
Archie Comics
Written by Sina Grace, Eliot Rahal, & Casey Gilly
Art by Vincenzo Federici, Corin Howell, & Liana Kangas
Cover Art by Julius Ohta

Madam Satan escaped Hell a fugitive and hated woman by Satan and his thralls. She’s now principal of Baxter high and Hell has come to Earth. With each classroom acting as a portal to the different circles in Hell, Madam Satan must recruit similar tortured souls if she has any chance of survival… all leading up to a Madam Satan and her army vs. Satan and his in this highly-anticipated follow-up to last year’s hit Chilling Adventures in Sorcery!

Release Date: October 26, 2022

PCS NOTES: Archie Comics does not disappoint. This “Chilling” anthology has a great lineup of creators and we are excited to see what they have to share with us.

New Number Ones: New Comics Series Coming in October 2022

New Number Ones: New Comics Series Coming in October 2022

Posted on by Bob Harrison

October is here. It is every ghouls favorite month. In this column, we have compiled an alphabetical list with cover art and the official solicitation text from the publishers of some of the cool new comics that are coming out this month. Check below for our PCS NOTES to find out what we just have to tell you about the new comics in question.

This month, we have books on the list from: DC Comics, Marvel Comics, AfterShock Comics, Image Comics, Boom! Studios, IDW Publishing, Dynamite Entertainment, Dark Horse Comics, Top Cow Productions, Vault Comics, Mad Cave Comics, and Black Mask Studios.

One of the trends that we noticed with this month’s new release is that there are quite a few cartoonists taking on the writing and art chores in their projects. We are excited to see the results of those books and wish the creators great success!

We will bring you reviews 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 10/5/22
Week of 10/12/22
Week of 10/19/22
Week of 10/26/22

Week of October 5

3Keys #1
Image Comics
Written by David Messina
Art by Messina
Cover Art by Messina

Han Solo artist DAVID MESSINA invites you to explore the mysterious world of 3KEYS!

Did the inhabitants of another dimension flee into our reality to save themselves from the terrible wrath of the Great Old Ones…or to help prepare us for a final devastating invasion? And what if humanity’s only chance against these Great Old Ones is an impetuous, mischievous young woman and her sardonic, furry, and surprisingly violent mentor?

All questions are asked and answered in this five-part introduction to writer and artist DAVID MESSINA’s epic, apocalyptic universe, featuring 27 full story pages!

Release Date: October 5, 2022

PCS NOTES: This has an interesting premise and we are confident in the art being amazing.

Dark Ride #1
Image Comics
Written by Joshua Williamson
Art by Andrei Bressan & Adriano Lucas
Cover Art by Bressan

Devil Land has been the world’s premiere horror-themed amusement park for over 50 years, home to the scariest ride ever created – The Devil’s Due. But when lifelong fan Owen Seasons begins his first day on the job, he will discover the true horrors happening behind the scenes, the truth about the park’s reclusive creator Arthur Dante and that the job of his dreams might just be a living nightmare.

Release Date: October 5, 2022

PCS NOTES: The Birthright team looks for a second hit, and we are looking forward to it.

Earthdivers #1
IDW Publishing
Written by Stephen Graham Jones
Art by Davide Gianfelice
Cover Art by Rafael Albuquerque

Stephen Graham Jones makes his ongoing comics debut with Earthdivers! The year is 2112, and it’s the apocalypse exactly as expected: rivers receding, oceans rising, civilization crumbling. Humanity has given up hope, except for a group of outcast Indigenous survivors who have discovered a time travel portal in a cave in the middle of the desert and figured out where the world took a sharp turn for the worst: America. Convinced that the only way to save the world is to rewrite its past, they send one of their own on a bloody, one-way mission back to 1492 to kill Christopher Columbus before he reaches the so-called New World. But taking down an icon is no easy task, and his actions could prove devastating for his friends in the future.

Release Date: October 5, 2022

PCS NOTES: This is a great first issue. It is the start of something big. Continue reading “New Number Ones: New Comics Series Coming in October 2022” →

New Number Ones: New Comics Series Coming in September 2022

New Number Ones: New Comics Series Coming in September 2022

Posted on by Bob Harrison

As the calendar turns to September and summer starts to fade, hopefully, we have compiled an alphabetical list with cover art and the official solicitation text from the publishers of some of the cool new comics that are coming out this month. Check below for our PCS NOTES to find out what we just have to tell you about the new comics in question.

This month, we have books on the list from: DC Comics, Marvel Comics, AfterShock Comics, Image Comics, Boom! Studios, Ablaze Comics, AWA/Upshot Studios, Valiant Entertainment, IDW Publishing, Dynamite Entertainment, Dark Horse Comics, Ahoy Comics, and Scout Comics. We also have two smaller publishers in Opus Comics and Comics Experience Publishing.

There are some interesting titles this month that are revivals of older series that haven’t been around for a while. We are interested in checking those out.

We will bring you reviews 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 9/7/22
Week of 9/14/22
Week of 9/21/22
Week of 9/28/22

Week of September 7

Alien #1
Marvel Comics
Written by Phillip Kennedy Johnson
Art by Julius Ohta & Yen Nitro
Cover Art by Björn Barends

PHILLIP KENNEDY JOHNSON AND JULIUS OHTA LAUNCH A NEW ALIEN EPIC! MAN, MACHINE, AND THE MOST TERRIFYING CREATURE IN THE UNIVERSE…IT’S AN EXPRESS ELEVATOR TO HELL, AND YOU’RE GONNA WANT TO BE ON IT! A small colony of synths have settled in secret on a backwater moon. When a company of United System soldiers come to them for help retrieving biotechnology on a hostile planet that could be the key to saving humanity, the synths must decide whether the prospect of peace between man and machine is worth the risk of betrayal.

Release Date: September 7, 2022

PCS NOTES: We are interested to see where this arc goes. Phillip Kennedy Johnson has been doing excellent things on this series. You can check out our recent interview for more about his work on Alien. 

All-Out Avengers #1
Marvel Comics
Written by Derek Landy
Art by Greg Land, Jay Leisten, & Frank D’Armata
Cover Art by Land & D’Armata

INTRODUCING: THE ALL-NEW AVENGERS SERIES THAT STARTS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE EXPLOSIVE ACTION AND RACES TO A SHOCKING CLIMAX! An alien attack. A missing piece of wormhole tech. A city warped, its citizens transformed into hideous creatures loyal to an Empress from the far side of the universe. And a certain Captain Marvel, looking to her fellow Avengers with murderous intent… Plunge into the action and take a deep breath because you will not be allowed up for air as a thrilling new series kicks off in the strongest, strangest way possible.

Release Date: September 7, 2022

PCS NOTES: Well, if superhero action is what you want, this is the place for it.

 

Antioch #1
Image Comics
Written by Patrick Kindlon
Art by Marco Ferrari
Cover Art by Ferrari

FRONTIERSMAN creators KINDLON & FERRARI pick up where that series left off with an all-new ONGOING SERIES!

A king from a lost continent enters the world of man with a purpose: to stop us from killing the planet. But when he finds himself in a superhuman prison, his title is useless and his powers only matter if they help him survive!

Release Date: September 7, 2022

PCS NOTES: We are interested in this based on the concept and the trust we have in the creative team. Continue reading “New Number Ones: New Comics Series Coming in September 2022” →

Spotlight SquadCast Interview and Review with Cecil Castellucci, writer of Shifting Earth

Spotlight SquadCast Interview and Review with Cecil Castellucci, writer of Shifting Earth

Posted on by Bob Harrison

We have a special post today. This is a presentation of an interview that we did with writer Cecil Castellucci a few weeks ago as well as a review of her newest graphic novel, Shifting Earth.

Cecil is a fantastic writer and never fails to capture my attention. She has written comics, graphic novels, prose, opera, and was a rock singer at one point. Some my her favorite works of hers include: The Plain Janes, Shade: The Changing Girl, Girl on Film, Batgirl, and Female Furies just to name a few. We are very excited to get this recorded conversation to our audience. We delved into some of the interesting process that she uses in her writing and talked about her motivation for the stories she tells.

Cecil created her latest book, Shifting Earth, with artist Flavia Biondi for Dark Horse Comics’ Berger Books imprint. It is in stores now and it is wonderful.

The Squadcast linked below is a fun conversation that covers a lot of her work as well as her super interesting hobbies. We hope you enjoy the conversation.

 

Shifting Earth
Dark Horse Comics
Written by Cecil Castellucci
Art by Flavia Biondi
Colors by Fabiana Mascolo
Letters by Steve Wands
Cover Art by Biondi & Mascolo

Original Solicitation:
In a not-so-distant future, a freak particle storm has landed botanist Dr. Maeve Millay on an idyllic yet strange parallel Earth, with no way back home.

Here, two moons rule society, and nature outshines science. But just like her own climate ravaged planet, this verdant Earth has a sinister side. Children are rare. Humans must serve a purpose or pay an unthinkable price. Astronomer Zuzi battles this underlying darkness every day—just like Maeve did at home. Both women are fighters, and both face a choice: forge new paths, or save the worlds they’ve always known? Maeve will have to decide, and fast—because she’s fighting for more than just herself.

PCS Review:
I was blown away by this book. There are a lot of moving parts to the plot to this book and it is difficult to land on the proper cadence and pace of the story. Castellucci does not falter in that endeavor. The plot reveals seem to always come at the appropriate moment throughout the book. The interesting environmental and political topics that are explored in this book serve as a backdrop to a tale of two brilliant women and their struggles to both be heard and save their respective worlds. Continue reading “Spotlight SquadCast Interview and Review with Cecil Castellucci, writer of Shifting Earth” →