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

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

Posted on by Bob Harrison

Welcome to our New Number Ones: One-Shots & Specials for February 2023 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.

A couple of notes for this list. First of all DC Comics is in the midst of an event that is not quite an event. The Lazarus Planet storyline that is re-setting some status quos across the DC Universe is in full swing, but it is being told through a series of one-shots. We noted them here, because it seems pretty important to the cohesive narrative of the DC continuity of the moment.

Also, be aware that this list is very top heavy with the first week, mostly by DC books. The DC books actually hit some stores on January 31st because of their “New on Tuesday” rule. We consider the month to start on the first Wednesday of the month, so they are included in this February list.

One more thing, February is a month with themes and holidays. As such, you will find some anthologies on this page in honor of Black History Month, and there are some Valentine’s Day specials as well.

There are books on the list from: DC Comics, Dark Horse Comics, Marvel Comics, Archie Comics, Vault Comics, Top Shelf Productions, Little Bee Books, and Oni Press.

Batman: Legends of Gotham #1
DC Comics
Written by Andy Diggle
Art by Karl Mostert & Romulo Fajardo Jr.
Cover Art by Carmine Di Giandomenico

ONE-SHOT SPECIAL

With Batman preoccupied, his deepest, darkest, most dangerous secrets are about to be auctioned off to the highest bidder. The guest list is strictly villains only, and the outlaw Red Hood fits the bill–putting him on a collision course with Batman’s deniable black-ops team, the Outsiders! With Lazarus Island spawning wild-card superpowers across the globe, the stakes could not be higher. Jason Todd, Black Lightning, and Katana will have to put aside their differences to save Batman’s legacy–and with it, the world. That’s assuming they don’t kill each other first!

Release Date: January 31, 2023

DC’s Harley Quinn Romances #1
DC Comics
Written by Ivan Cohen, Amanda Diebert, Greg Lockard, Jessica Berbey, Alexis Quasarano, Frank Allen, Zipporah Smith, Raphael Draccon, Carolina Munho`z
Art by Ig Guara, Adriana Melo, John McCrea, Fico Ossio, Will Robson, Max Sarin, Priscilla Petraites, Gulio Macaione
Cover Art by Amanda Conner

ONE-SHOT SPECIAL

STRANGER THAN FAN FICTION / HERE’S TO JACK, HERE’S TO MOLLY / POWER GIRL AND ALL-AMERICAN BOY / GRACE / DATING APP DISASTER / ACROSS THE MULTIVERSE / ONCE UPON A ROMANCE NOVEL / SPLENDOR IN THE FOAM

DC is proud to present a selection of eight stories of rapscallion romance, prodigious passion, and undulating, unbridled affection. Tension builds as Apollo and Midnighter are captured by an unknown alien species who are determined to learn the secrets of their supersoldier success. Harley Quinn gets caught in a scintillating fantasy.

Release Date: January 31, 2023 Continue reading “New Number Ones: One-Shots and Special Editions for February 2023” →

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: 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: 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” →

New Number Ones: Comics Coming in January 2022

New Number Ones: Comics Coming in January 2022

Posted on by Bob Harrison

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.

Reviews: New Number Ones for the Week of 6/2/2021 – Basilisk #1, The Nice House on the Lake #1, Out of Body #1, and The Worst Dudes #1

Reviews: New Number Ones for the Week of 6/2/2021 – Basilisk #1, The Nice House on the Lake #1, Out of Body #1, and The Worst Dudes #1

Posted on by Bob Harrison

It has been a while since we did one of these, but if you are new here, this column is designed to bring you reviews of new comic book series that came out this week. We will try to focus on independent and original series for the most part. This week we have four books for you. They are from DC Comics, AfterShock Comics, Dark Horse Comics and Boom! Studios.

You will usually find the books that we review in this space on our month list of New Number Ones.

Three of the books that we reviewed have heavy conflicts with somber moods and one is a hilariously entertaining romp.

This week we will bring you our thoughts on: Basilisk #1, The Nice House on the Lake #1, Out of Body #1, and The Worst Dudes #1

Check out the reviews below in alphabetical order:

Basilisk #1
Boom! Studios
Written by Cullen Bunn
Art by Jonas Scharf
Colors by Alex Guimarães
Letters by Ed Dukeshire
Cover Art by Scharf

9.03

This book is excellent. The entire creative team lends wonderful craftsmanship to the completed work. The pacing of the beginning pages sets a foreboding mood and the colors marry perfectly with the tone of the line art. There is not a lot of dialogue but Ed Dukeshire does a great job laying it out. Cullen Bunn crafts an interesting premise in this first issue that portends an epic supernatural conflict in the coming issues. We are looking forward to more.

The Nice House on the Lake #1
DC Comics / Black Label
Written by James Tynion IV
Art by Álvaro Martínez Bueno
Colors by Jordie Bellaire
Letters by Andworld Design
Cover Art by Martínez Bueno

9.35

James Tynion has done it again. This book is gripping. There is an opening sequence that sets the stage for this book, but we were sucked into the backstory that occupies the majority of the book, and it is captivating. This is a super dense first issue, but it flows nicely. The art is simply gorgeous, and Jordie Bellaire’s colors are sublime. The story is paced so well, and the end of the book raises the stakes to a level that belies the innocuous narrative that makes up the middle section of the book. We are on the edge of our seat waiting for the next issue.

Out of Body #1
AfterShock Comics
Written by Peter Milligan
Art by Inaki Miranda
Colors by Eva De La Cruz
Letters by Sal Cipriano
Cover Art by Miranda

9.00

This is book is haunting in multiple ways. Peter Milligan is again developing an intriguing supernatural mystery. The point of view shifts between two primary characters as they interact on the fringe of each other’s existence, and that technique is executed marvelously. Inaki Miranda’s linework is wonderful, particularly the facial acting. The colors by Eva De La Cruz are nothing short of spectacular, and Sal Cipriano’s lettering is critical to maintaining the reader’s focus through the multiple scene and point of view changes. Well done all around.

The Worst Dudes #1
Dark Horse Comics
Written by Aubrey Sitterson
Art by Tony Gregori
Colors by Lovern Kindzierski
Letters by Taylor Esposito
Cover Art by Gregori & Kindzierski

8.35

This book is a raucous romp. It is a completely different mood from the other books on this list. While Aubrey Sitterson is developing an interesting narrative, the story is full of outrageous and edgy imagery. The book is a fun space adventure. The innovative character designs by Tony Gregori are well crafted. The bright and iridescent colors that Lovern Kindzierski uses let you know not to take this too seriously and fit the tone of the book. Taylor Esposito’s letters are a wonderful addition to the book. A very enjoyable read.

DISCLAIMER: 

We use a 4 star rating system. It is simple and not to be taken too seriously. Everyone has their own impressions of art. These ratings are just to give our readers an idea of what we thought of the book, and they will be on the generous side, normally. So don’t expect to see a lot of 1 Stars. After all, it’s not often that you have a bad book on your pull-list.

The rating system is as follows:

  • Great
  • Good
  • OK
  •  No