Happy New Year!
As we step gently into 2022 being careful to keep safe and healthy, 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 spotlight books from the usual suspects: AfterShock Comics, Boom! Studios, DC Comics, Vault Comics, Image Comics, Marvel Comics, Dynamite Entertainment, AWA/Upshot Studios, Scout Comics, Behemoth Comics, Titan Comics, and ComixTribe.
This month is a little light on new series as publishers usually plan for slow sales in January due to holiday shopping hangover.
There are a few new number ones from Marvel that are interesting additions to their stable of books, and there are a couple of one-shot books that we added to the list that we think you might want to check 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 1/5/22
Week of 1/12/22
Week of 1/19/22
Week of 1/26/22
Week of January 5
Bylines in Blood #1
AfterShock Comics
Written by Erica Schultz & Van Jensen
Art by Aneke Murillenem
Cover Art by Murillenem
The future. The very concept of truth has died. Politicians invent their own facts, and independent newspapers no longer exist. In this world, private detectives serve as ronin, searching out the hard truths that people are desperate to keep hidden.
The best of these is Satya, known as Lady Dick, a former journalist turned gumshoe who runs every lead to ground. But Satya has just received her hardest case yet: her old editor has been murdered. Someone wanted him silenced, and the trail points toward the highest bastions of power. To find justice for her friend, she’ll have to put everything – and everyone – she knows at risk.
Release Date: January 5, 2021
PCS NOTES: We have been looking forward to this book for a while now and are excited to get our hands on it.
Elektra: Black, White & Blood #1
Marvel Comics
Written by Various
Art by Various
Cover Art by John Romita Jr. & Richard Isanove
RED DAWN / NOT THE DEVIL / THE CRIMSON PATH
Fact • noun • fakt – Definition of Fact 1 a: something that has actual existence b: an actual occurrence c: ELEKTRA NATCHIOS IS THE BEST ASSASSIN IN THE MARVEL UNIVERSE!
Release Date: January 5, 2021
PCS NOTES: Despite the plethora of three worded title anthology limited pallet series from the Big2, this book has three shorts by some great creators and we are here for it.
The Fourth Man #1
AWA/Upshot Studios
Written by Jeff McComsey
Art by Mike Deodato & Lee Loughridge
Cover Art by Deodato
Three dead bodies lay in a rural morgue – all murdered in the span of three weeks. It’s up to two detectives from opposite sides of the tracks to determine who put them there, if the murders are linked and what, if anything, they have to do with a pair of dueling car dealerships. A dark comedy mystery thriller by Jeff McComsey and Mike Deodato Jr. that is inspired by an outlandish true crime story, The Fourth Man story will keep you guessing till the last page.
Release Date: January 5, 2021
PCS NOTES: The premise is intriguing and the creative team seals the deal on checking out this new crime series.
Monkey Meat #1
Image Comics
Written by Juni Ba
Art by Ba
Cover Art by Ba
DJELIYA creator JUNI BA introduces a new fantasy universe in this ANTHOLOGY SERIES! The Monkey Meat Company made its fortune selling cans of processed meat all around the world. Using that money to fuel their wacky experiments, they turned their native island into a magical hyper-capitalist hellscape where even demons have to pay rent! Follow the lives of the creatures of Monkey Meat Island in this fun, action-packed romp. Each issue is its own story!
Release Date: January 5, 2021
PCS NOTES: This book looks super interesting, and we love the idea of one and dones. Definitely on the pull list.
Pantha #1
Dynamite Entertainment
Written by Tom Sniegoski & Jeannine Acheson
Art by Igor Lima
Cover Art by Judy Jong
A cruel Egyptian queen eternally cursed to transform into a savage beast. For millennia, Pantha has endured her punishment for angering a powerful goddess, hiding herself away from the world and the ugliness of her humanity. But now someone-something-is killing the gods, and now so it falls upon Pantha to save the pantheon! In exchange for her help comes the promise of redemption and freedom from her curse, but even that comes with a price! Featured in her own series for the first time in a decade, and spinning out of the pages of SACRED SIX, Pantha’s back!
Release Date: January 5, 2021
Week of January 12
Daredevil: Woman Without Fear #1
Marvel Comics
Written by Chip Zdarsky
Art by Rafael de Latorre & Frederico Blee
Cover Art by Chris Bachalo & Tim Townsend
The next pulse-pounding chapter in the saga of New York City’s Guardian Devil, this time starring ELEKTRA as Daredevil! Joined by Rafael De Latorre, Chip Zdarsky continues his landmark run and the DAREDEVIL story that spins directly out of the shocking revelations in the pages of DEVIL’S REIGN! Elektra is the world’s deadliest assassin—and she’s taken a vow not to kill. Someone puts themselves directly in her path with deadly consequences. What else would you expect from the MARVEL UNIVERSE’S GREATEST HUNTER?!
Release Date: January 12, 2021
PCS NOTES: Zdarsky’s Daredevil run has been some of the best comic storytelling that Marvel has put out in the last few years. We look forward to it continuing here.
Distorted #1
Scout Comics
Written by Salvatore Vivenzio
Art by Gabriele Falzone
Somewhere in the world, there is someone who feels different/special/cursed, who is losing their mind right now. You’re not alone. Take James for example. He would like to run away from his parents and from a life that doesn’t belong to him. On the other hand, Tom is forced to face his past and hunt down his own kind, like a hound on the leash of an unknown master. Brennar is on the hunt for money and a peace he can’t find anywhere. They are three people whose superpowers are more like a burden. In this world, there are no superheroes.
Release Date: January 12, 2021
PCS NOTES: Yeah, this looks good.
Justice League vs. The Legion of Super-Heroes #1
DC Comics
Written by Brian Michael Bendis
Art by Scott Godlewski
Cover Art by Godlewski
One thousand years in the future, a Legion of Super-Heroes comes together to dedicate their lives to recapturing the great age of heroes of the 21st century. When the heroes discover that reality is falling to a great darkness in both times simultaneously, the Justice League and the Legion of Super-Heroes must team up to stop it all. But what is the connection between the secrets of the new Gold Lanterns and the coming of the Great Darkness? A monumental DC epic event miniseries!
Release Date: January 11, 2021
PCS NOTES: Well, we are hopeful for some good team comic storytelling in this series.
Quad #1
Behemoth Comics
Written by Eduardo Schaal
Art by Schaal
Cover Art by Schaal
In the last decades of the 21st century, a Massive Solar Storm hit planet Earth, destroying all technology in its way. Global communications were lost, nuclear reactors collapsed, the climate suffered the worst drastic changes and financial systems were gone. The survivors had to adapt to the harsh new reality. New societies were built over the ruins of those that crumbled. Four generations have passed.
The mechanic Terah and her black cat Elvis accept a quick and simple repairing job in the middle of nowhere. There’s something odd about this job. It’s never really simple.
Release Date: January 12, 2021
PCS NOTES: We have seen post-apocolyptic survival stories before, but this looks intriguing. Plus as a black cat owner, I kind of have to give it a shot.
Rain #1
Image Comics
Written by Joe Hill & David M. Booher
Art by Zoe Thorogood & Chris O’Halloran
Cover Art by Thorogood
THE FIRST IN CHRIS RYALL & ASHLEY WOOD’S NEW SYZYGY PUBLISHING IMPRINT LINE OF TITLES AT IMAGE COMICS!
On a seemingly normal August day in Boulder, Colorado, the skies are clear, and Honeysuckle Speck couldn’t be happier. She’s finally moving in with her girlfriend Yolanda. But their world is literally torn apart when dark clouds roll in and release a downpour of nails—splinters of bright crystal that shred the skin of anyone not safely under cover. RAIN makes vivid this escalating apocalyptic event, as the deluge of nails spreads across the country and around the world, threatening everything young lovers Honeysuckle and Yolanda hold dear.
So begins a gripping 5-issue presentation of New York Times bestselling author JOE HILL’s acclaimed novella, adapted by rising stars DAVID M. BOOHER, ZOE THOROGOOD, and CHRIS O’HALLORAN.
Release Date: January 12, 2021
PCS NOTES: We are fans of everyone involved with this book and can’t wait to read it.
The Scorched #1
Image Comics
Written by Sean Lewis
Art by Stephen Segovia
Cover Art by Puppeteer Lee
The first ALL-NEW issue of TODD McFARLANE’s superhero team book!
There’s a threat so big that no single hero can stop it, and the formation of this new supergroup is the only thing standing in its way. Members will include SPAWN, REDEEMER, GUNSLINGER, MEDIEVAL SPAWN, and SHE-SPAWN, with many more heroes waiting in the wings!
Join the battle in this FIRST ISSUE extravaganza as the forces of heaven, hell, and earth collide!
Release Date: January 12, 2021
PCS NOTES: Fans of Spawn and his expanded universe won’t want to miss this.
We Ride Titans #1
Vault Comics
Written by Tres Dean
Art by Sebastian Piriz
Cover Art by Piriz
Kaiju hit hard. Family hits harder. Trying to keep your family from imploding is a tall order. Kit Hobbs is about to find out it’s an even taller order when that family has been piloting the Titan that protects New Hyperion from kaiju for generations. Between a spiraling brother, a powder keg of a father, and a whole bunch of twenty-story monsters, she’s got her work cut out for her.
Release Date: January 12, 2021
PCS NOTES: New Year, New Comics from Vault. All is good.
Week of January 19
Angel #1
Boom! Studios
Written by Christopher Cantwell
Art by Daniel Bayliss
Cover Art by Nimit Malavia
Welcome to Detective TV, starring Angel and his co-star, Cordelia! But wait, Angel isn’t just a celebrity? No, he leads a double life… as a real monster hunter for Angel Investigations! Sometimes this double life can get his friends in trouble. As Wesley is recovering from a horrific curse, Angel stumbles into a series of supernatural events, and finds himself sucked into an unexpected and mysterious world.
He soon faces a terrifying enemy, who sees him as an intruder…
Release Date: January 19, 2021
PCS NOTES: It will be interesting to see what Christopher Cantwell does in the Buffy-verse.
Batman: The Knight #1
DC Comics
Written by Chip Zdarsky
Art by Carmine Di Giandomenico & Ivan Plascencia
Cover Art by Di Giandomenico
The origin of Batman and his never-ending fight against crime in Gotham City is modern mythology, but what about the story in between? How did an angry, damaged young man grow into the most accomplished detective and crime-fighter the world has ever known? How did the Dark Knight…begin?
Release Date: January 18, 2021
PCS NOTES: What a great team of creators for this book! Should be entertaining.
Ben Reilly: Spider-Man #1
Marvel Comics
Written by J.M. DeMatteis
Art by David Baldeon & Israel Silva
Cover Art by Steve Skroce & Dave Stewart
THE HUMANITY AGENDA, PART ONE
BECAUSE YOU DEMANDED IT! Iconic Spider-Man scribe J.M. DeMatteis returns to spin his webs once more within the Spidey mythos, this time joined by explosive artist David Baldeón! Together, they’re bringing you unlocked memories in the life of BEN REILLY, A.K.A. SPIDER-MAN! Darkness looms over New York City as murders begin to pile up…but how are they all connected? Do the answers Ben is looking for reside in the haunted halls of the RAVENCROFT INSTITUTE?
Release Date: January 19, 2021
PCS NOTES: Despite not being a huge fan of Ben Reilly, we are interested in this book based on our faith in this creative team.
Bolero #1
Image Comics
Written by Wyatt Kennedy
Art by Luana Vecchio
Cover Art by Vecchio
A new series from two bright-eyed and bushy-tailed little scamps!
A woman running away from a broken heart discovers a mother-key into parallel universes. The rules are:
* The key can work on any door.
* The mother will only let you visit 53 universes.
* Do not ask to speak to the mother.
* Never hop more than 53 times.
Release Date: January 19, 2021
PCS NOTES: I love this concept. The possibilities are limitless… Wait. The possibilities are limited to 53. Fun!
Cowboy Bebop #1
Titan Comics
Written by Dan Watters
Art by Lamar Mathurin
Cover Art by Stanley Lau
An original story set in the year 2171. The bounty hunter crew of the spaceship Bebop chase an ex-gang member who holds a vest which gives the wearer unlimited luck.
Release Date: January 19, 2021
PCS NOTES: Dan Watters is a really good comic writer. I am hopeful that fans of the original anime will enjoy this new take.
Cursed Pirate Girl: The Devil’s Cave #1 – ONESHOT
Boom! Studios
Written by Jeremy Bastian
Art by Bastian
Cover Art by Bastian
In the long awaited continuation of Cursed Pirate Girl, her loyal companion Pepper Dice reveals that there’s still time to bring back her father, the Pirate Captain Douglas! If she can escape the Sea King’s Palace with The Bright Star, will she be bold enough to enter The Devil’s Cave in the hope to bring her father back? Or will the Devil Jonah and his minions stop her?
Release Date: January 19, 2021
PCS NOTES: We are big fans of Jeremy Bastian and the Cursed Pirate Girl and are excited to see this next installment in this story.
Silk #1
Marvel Comics
Written by Emily Kim
Art by Takeshi Miyazawa & Ian Herring
Cover Art by In-Hyuk Lee
SILK IS BACK! Cindy Moon returns as the web-spinning Spider-Hero SILK in an all-new, all-star series! As Silk gains popularity in the public eye, Cindy is questioning her place in the world. But existentialism will have to wait when a powerful new villain is turned loose! In a race against the clock, Silk discovers the dangers of ancient Korean magic—and social media. Don’t miss the comics debut of stunning storyteller Emily Kim and the return of legendary comic artist Takeshi Miyazawa!
Release Date: January 19, 2021
Silver Surfer: Rebirth #1
Marvel Comics
Written by Ron Marz
Art by Ron Lim, Don Ho, & Israel Silva
Cover Art by Lim, Ho, & Silva
THEY’RE BACK! No, we don’t mean the guys on the cover… We’re talking about legendary creators Ron Marz and Ron Lim returning to tell a story set during their fan-favorite run of SILVER SURFER! Someone has stolen the Reality Gem, an object that allows the user to fulfill any wish no matter the consequences! But whoever has taken it is doing things like bringing back the dead hero Captain Mar-Vell. It’s up to Silver Surfer to team up with the least likely of allies, Thanos, to find the Gem and restore reality to its proper form!
Release Date: January 19, 2021
PCS NOTES: A pair of Rons on the Surfer book. Sounds like a win to me.
She-Hulk #1
Marvel Comics
Written by Rainbow Rowell
Art by Roge Antonio & Rico Renzi
Cover Art by Jen Bartell
The best character ever is back in her own series and about to glam up the whole Marvel Universe! Jennifer Walters, A.K.A. the Sensational She-Hulk, is no longer savage and needs to put her life back together. She’s got a career to rebuild, friends to reconnect with (and maybe represent in a court of law) and enemies to…well, she may not want to connect with them, but they are DEFINITELY going to connect with her. And the last page of this first issue is going to send Jen down a road she’s never traveled and that will shake up her life and possibly the whole Marvel Universe.
Release Date: January 19, 2021
PCS NOTES: Rainbow Rowell is an excellent choice to bring Jennifer back to her own series. Looking forward to it.
Special Note: These are the first two issues of this major Wolverine event. It runs through two series that are released every other week. Ultimately it is a twenty week event. It looks interesting.
X Lives of Wolverine #1
Marvel Comics
Written by Benjamin Percy
Art by Joshua Cassara, Frank Martin, & Chris Sotomayor
Cover Art by Adam Kubert & Martin
THE BIGGEST WOLVERINE STORY OF ALL TIME BEGINS HERE! WEEK 1—Logan. James Howlett. Weapon X. The mutant best known as WOLVERINE has lived many lives under many identities and in many places, but never before has the fate of the future been so entwined with the past! Fan-favorite eras of Wolverine’s saga are explored anew, along with never-before-seen episodes as Logan must travel to various points in time to prevent the death of a key figure in mutant history. But these LIVES are only one side of the story… Be here for the start of the time-shredding saga across all of Wolverine’s history and future yet to come!
CONTINUED IN X DEATHS OF WOLVERINE #1
Release Date: January 19, 2021
X Deaths of Wolverine #1
Marvel Comics
Written by Benjamin Percy
Art by Federico Vicentini, Federico Blee & Chris Sotomayor
Cover Art by Adam Kubert & Frank Martin
DEATH IS NOT THE END. DEATH IS THE OMEGA. WEEK 2—If WOLVERINE’s future lies in the past, what does that mean for the present? The reciprocal series to X LIVES OF WOLVERINE, X DEATHS OF WOLVERINE is can’t-miss reading, chock-full of revelations for the best there is as well as the fate of mutantkind!
CONTINUED FROM X LIVES OF WOLVERINE #1 / CONTINUED IN X LIVES OF WOLVERINE #2
Release Date: January 26, 2021
Week of January 26
Batman / Catwoman Special #1
DC Comics
Written by Tom King
Art by John Paul Leon w/ Bernard Chang, Tommy Lee Edwards, & Mitch Gerads
Cover Art by Leon
Some great romances are destined to be. The Batman / Catwoman series shows readers the romance between Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle as it changed over their lives, but what about their connections from before they became costumed adventurers? This special one-off issue, meticulously illustrated by John Paul Leon (Batman: Creature of the Night), traces the life of Selina Kyle from her earliest days to her entry into the criminal underworld, and reveals that Bruce was actually a presence in her life all along. Whether it was fate or coincidence, this story gives even more reasons why Selina and Bruce’s connection is one of the most enduring love affairs in comics.
Release Date: January 25, 2021
PCS NOTES: This is the last thing that John Paul Leon was working on when he passed away last year. Friends and colleagues stepped in to finish the book and we highly recommend getting this book.
End After End #1
Vault Comics
Written by Tim Daniel & David Andry
Art by Sunando C & K. Michael Russell
Cover Art by Sunando C
Life is nothing if not a series of endings.
School. Jobs. Friendships. Love.
Until THE end.
Walter Willem’s end was fast and unexpected. His was an unremarkable life. So, how is it that his story continues as cannon fodder in an endless war waged against an insatiable darkness hellbent on consuming all of existence?
And is Walter right in believing he’s arrived in the midst of this titanic battle as the one destined to finally end it?
That’s the tale of the End After End.
Release Date: January 26, 2021
PCS NOTES: Yeah. Sound good to me.
Happy Hill #1
ComixTribe
Written by Rich Douek
Art by Joe Mulvey & Chris Sotomayor
Cover Art by Mulvey
When a child goes missing on the grounds of an exclusive vacation resort, the investigation uncovers dark secrets hidden for decades, and an unstoppable supernatural menace who will make this vacation permanent! Happy Hill is a vacation horror thriller. Available with two enhanced covers, Happy Hill reveals the horrifying truth about how far some people will go to be happy. The hills are alive with the sound of screaming!
Release Date: January 26, 2021
PCS NOTES: This series was kickstarted last year and we spoke with the creators about it. You wont want to miss it.
Check out our discussion here.
Great
Good
OK
Not Good
Followers of this column, as well as its predecessor somewhere over there, are well aware of my observation that our friends over at DC have a tendency to hit the reset button as though they were voting against Trump. The latter is admirable. The former is… confusing.