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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” →

Preview Reviews for the Week of November 24, 2021: Good Boy #1 and Black’s Myth #5

Preview Reviews for the Week of November 24, 2021: Good Boy #1 and Black’s Myth #5

Posted on by Bob Harrison

Welcome to the latest installment of Preview Reviews.

This week we have two books to review for you. The first is Good Boy #1 from the Source Point Press, and the other is Black’s Myth #5 from Ahoy Comics.

You can find these books at your LCS on November 24, 2021. Pick them up for your long weekend.

Good Boy #1
Source Point Press
Written by Christina Blanch & Garrett Gunn
Art by Kit Wallis
Colors by Wallis
Letters by Dave Lentz
Cover Art by Nick Bradshaw

Original Solicitation:

Set in a world where humans and dogs are equals, Good Boy is a thrill-packed treat for anyone who loves action, dogs, and good stories.

Flint Sparks and his human Jon, both former mercenaries, have settled down in quiet retirement from an industry where the job is supposed to be forever. But, unlike anyone before, they found a way out. However, this new life, filled with peace and joy, is not to be. In the dead of night, some of their former “colleagues”, who disagree with their decision to retire, break into their home and murder Jon, leaving Flint alive in the bloody aftermath.

That was their FIRST mistake.

But don’t worry – they haven’t seen anything yet

PCS Review:

This story, which is clearly a take on the John Wick movie franchise, is super fun. It is bombastic and action packed. The tone of the story has a strong beat of determination. The writing pair of Christy Blanch and Garrett Gunn have developed a compelling tale of vengeance. There is a sense that the reader may know where this story will end from the get go, and that is still ok. It is so interesting that you want to see it through. The book is full of heartfelt emotion with some different types of humor sprinkled in to keep it light enough. It is a well written book.

Kit Wallis really completes this book. The thematic color scheme combined with over-the-top action sequences are just breathtaking. Every page of this book is perfectly laid out and moves the story forward. There is care, thoughtfulness, and fantastic art in each panel.  The lettering by Dave Lentz is really well done. While the dialogue is generally sparse, the narration boxes are excellently crafted and placed.

I haven’t been as excited for a new series as I am for this one in a while. Now that it is finally coming out. You won’t want to miss it.

Black’s Myth #5
Ahoy Comics
Written by Eric Palicki
Art by Wendell Cavalcanti
Letters by Rob Steen
Cover by Liana Kangas

Original Solicitation

Final issue of the hit werewolf crime story! Will Strummer figure out who shot her? Is it the same person who stole the bullets? Will there be a “why” to go with the “who?” Will Ben and Aster ever get their beer?

Find out in the thrilling conclusion of Black’s Myth!

PCS Review

This review is a combination piece for both the final issue and the series itself. Both are excellent. This series, a black and white noir detective story with magical creatures, has been delivering high quality issue after issue. The finale give the reader a fantastic conclusion to the mystery that has been explored for the previous four issues.

Eric Palicki writes entertainingly wry humorous dialogue. The characterization of the lead characters is tenderly crafted by both Palicki and Wendell Cavalcanti. Cavalcanti’s ability to render an immersive visual experience with just black and white pages is truly masterful.

This book is smartly crafted and woefully underhyped. This issue marks the end of what I can only hope is the “first” arc. The world building in the series is excellent. I do not want this to be the end of our time with these characters. While I highly recommend this issue, the trade paperback for the series is already solicited for February.  Check it out.

New Number Ones: Comics Coming in November 2021

New Number Ones: Comics Coming in November 2021

Posted on by Bob Harrison

Happy Halloween!

This month we give our readers a list of the exciting new comic book series debuting in November. We have compiled an alphabetical list with cover art and the official solicitation text from the publishers. Check below for our PCS NOTES to find out what we just have to tell you about the new comics in question.

This month we spotlight books from the usual suspects: AfterShock Comics, Boom! Studios, DC Comics, Dark Horse Comics, Vault Comics, Image Comics, Marvel Comics, Dynamite Entertainment, AWA/Upshot Studios, Ahoy Comics, Archie Comics, and Source Point Press.

This is a month full of holidays, and the new series releases are front loaded in the first couple of weeks. Publishers expect that travel schedules around Thanksgiving cause normal purchase disruption. I can only assume that has something to do with the dearth of new books in the last two weeks.

There are a few new number ones from Marvel that represent shuffling of creative teams and we think that there might be some good things to come out of these changes.

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 11/3/21
Week of 11/10/21
Week of 11/17/21
Week of 11/24/21

Week of November 3

After Dark #1
AfterShock Comics
Written by Various
Art by Various
Cover Art by Tony Harris

Tales from the Crypt meets The Twilight Zone-four tales of horror, lost souls and things that go bump in the night.

A prestige format “One-Shock” featuring top creative talent just in time for the most horrific month of the calendar year, AFTER DARK is a collection of tales you’ll want to read with the lights on! A disparate tale from a possible future; a chance encounter with a mythical Black-Eyed Kid, a children’s fable gone awry; and a gut-wrenching last meal at the local diner.

These horrific, bone-chilling tales are conceived and written by Cullen Bunn, Jim Starlin, Joe Pruett, Frank Tieri, and drawn by Cliff Richards, Nikkol Kelenic, Szymon Kudranski, and Joe Eisma.

Release Date: November 3, 2021

PCS NOTES: This book is a one-shot but is full of some truly spooky stories.

Chilling Adventures in Sorcery #1
Archie Comics
Written by Various
Art by Various
Cover Art by Julius Ohta

THE FUTURE OF ARCHIE COMICS STARTS HERE IN AN ALL-NEW ANTHOLOGY-STYLE ONE-SHOT! Madam Satan is our tour guide into this horrific world exploring the underbelly of Riverdale and its surrounding areas! Madam Satan is trying to escape Hell. She goes through the circles of Hell in reverse. Along the way she meets lost/tortured souls who tell their stories-like that of Archie Andrews, who accepted a seemingly normal job as the nighttime security shift at Riverdale’s local pizzeria and children’s mascot entertainment venue. Only to learn that the venue harbors a deep, dark, robotic, monstrous secret! And then there’s Jughead Jones, a teen who never met a food he didn’t like. Until now. What is that eerie noise coming from the kitchen…? All that plus more bonus frightful content sure to delight all Archie horror fans!

Release Date: November 3, 2021

PCS NOTES: We have this other one-shot anthology on this list because we can’t wait to see what is inside.

Dark Knights of Steel #1
DC Comics
Written by Tom Taylor
Art by Yasmine Putri
Cover Art by Putri

An entire medieval world will be forever changed when a spaceship crash-lands from a doomed planet. Monarchs will die, kingdoms will rise, and what seemed the end of the world for many…was only the beginning! An epic high-fantasy story set in a DC Universe where nothing is what it seems…

From worldwide bestselling writer Tom Taylor and acclaimed artist Yasmine Putri comes a generational tale of good and evil within a brand-new DCU!

Release Date: November 2, 2021

PCS NOTES: This creative team inspires confidence in this story’s execution. Looking forward to it.

Fox and Hare #1
Vault Comics
Written by Jonathan Tsuei
Art by Stacey Lee
Cover Art by Lee

When black market coder Aurora Yi uncovers top secret data that has tapped into the past lives of the citizens of Mazu Bay, her world is turned upside down. The mega corporation Synastry Designs wants its data back and is hot on her trail. Aurora has no choice but to turn to the Fox and the Hare, the most feared mercenaries in the city, for protection.

Release Date: November 3, 2021

PCS NOTES: This book has the makings of a great chase story. It looks fun.

The Heathens #1
AfterShock Comics
Written by Cullen Bunn
Art by Heath Amodio
Cover Art by Sami Kivela

When evil men and women escape from the depths of the eternal abyss, the Pirate Queen Lady Shih is sent to retrieve them. But when one of history’s most notorious killers breaks free, even she needs help. Enter the Heathens: Shih, Lucky Luciano, Bumpy Johnson, Sofia the Golden Hand, and Billy the Kid. From Hell they came to mete out a justice as dark as their own tormented souls.

Release Date: November 3, 2021

PCS NOTES: Hell Yeah! This is an intriguing concept from the superactive mind of Cullen Bunn.

Human Target #1
DC Comics
Written by Tom King
Art by Greg Smallwood
Cover Art by Smallwood

Christopher Chance has made a living out of being a human target—a man hired to disguise himself as his client to invite would-be assassins to attempt his murder. He’s had a remarkable career until his latest case protecting Lex Luthor when things go sideways. An assassination attempt Chance didn’t see coming leaves him vulnerable and left trying to solve his own murder…as he has 12 days to discover just who in the DCU hated Luthor enough to want him dead. Human Target is a hard-boiled, gritty story in the vein of classic detective noirs told by bestselling and critically acclaimed creators Tom King and Greg Smallwood!

Release Date: November 2, 2021

PCS NOTES: I am very excited for this book as Tom King and Greg Smallwood explore this character and often ignored areas of the DC Universe. Continue reading “New Number Ones: Comics Coming in November 2021” →

New Number Ones: Comics Coming in January 2021

New Number Ones: Comics Coming in January 2021

Posted on by Bob Harrison

This month we give our readers a list of the exciting new comic book series debuting in January. We have compiled an alphabetical list with cover art and the official solicitation text from PREVIEWSworld. Check below for our PCS NOTES to find out what we just have to tell you about the new comics in question.

We will bring you reviews of most of these debut issues as they come out, and don’t forget to use the comments section to let us know what you think of this list.

You will find the books listed below in the order of when they are released.

Week of 1/6/21
Week of 1/13/21
Week of 1/20/21
Week of 1/27/21

 

Week of January 6th

Eternals #1
Marvel Comics
Written by Kieron Gillen
Art by Esad Ribić
Cover Art by Ribić

NEVER DIE. NEVER WIN. ETERNALS. What’s the point of an eternal battle? For millions of years, one hundred Eternals have roamed the Earth, secret protectors of humanity. Without them, we’d be smears between the teeth of the demon-like Deviants. Their war has waged for all time, echoing in our myths and nightmares. But today, Eternals face something new: change. Can they—or anyone on Earth—survive their discovery? From the thought provoking minds of Kieron Gillen and Esad Ribić comes a new vision of the classic Marvel mythology!

Release Date: January 6, 2021

PCS NOTES: I have always enjoyed the Eternals storylines, and I can’t wait to see what Kieron Gillen does with it.

The Last Witch #1
Boom! Studios
Written by Conor McCreery
Art by V.V. Glass
Cover Art by Glass

It’s the one time of the year when the witch known as Cailleach hunts the children of the village – so Saoirse, a brave and reckless young girl, decides this is the perfect opportunity to defy her father and discover the secrets of the witch’s tower!

But when the Cailleach captures Saoirse and her brother Brahm, their lives are forever changed in ways they never expected.
Now, Saoirse will have to save everyone she loves by discovering the truth about the mysterious mark on her shoulder – and embracing her secret magical powers!

Release Date: January 6, 2021

Scouts Honor #1
AfterShock Comics
Written by David Pepose
Art by Luca Casalanguida
Cover Art by Andy Clarke

Years after a nuclear apocalypse, a new society has risen from the ashes…and their bible is an old Ranger Scout manual.

A young Ranger Scout named Kit has endured the harsh survivalist upbringing needed to conquer the irradiated Colorado Badlands. But after discovering a terrible secret once lost to history, Kit must risk everything on a dangerous quest to uncover the truth behind the Ranger Scouts’ doctrine.

From multiple Ringo Award-nominated writer David Pepose and artist Luca Casalanguida comes a post-apocalyptic coming-of-age tale that proves when all you know is a lie, a Scout’s Honor is the only way to move forward.

Release Date: January 6, 2021

PCS NOTES: We are big fans of writer David Pepose and have been waiting to get our hands on this book for a while.

Continue reading “New Number Ones: Comics Coming in January 2021” →

New Number Ones – Comics Coming in December 2020

New Number Ones – Comics Coming in December 2020

Posted on by Bob Harrison

This month we give our readers a list of the exciting new comic book series debuting in December. We have compiled an alphabetical list with cover art and the official solicitation text from PREVIEWSworld. Check below for our PCS NOTES to find out what we just have to tell you about the new comics in question.

December is a relatively slow month for new series, and this is a list of just some of the new series coming this month. Check with your LCS or wherever you get comics to make sure you find new things to thrill you. We hope you will take a look and think about giving these a try. We will bring you reviews of most of these debut issues as they come out, and don’t forget to use the comments section to let us know what you think of this list.

You will find the books listed below in the order of when they are released.

Week of 12/2/20
Week of 12/9/20
Week of 12/16/20
Week of 12/23/20

Continue reading “New Number Ones – Comics Coming in December 2020” →

Preview Review for the Week of 8/26/20: Broken Gargoyles #1

Preview Review for the Week of 8/26/20: Broken Gargoyles #1

Posted on by Bob Harrison

Welcome to the latest installment of Preview Reviews.  This is where we give advanced glimpses at some of the comics that will be coming out this Wednesday.

Here at Pop Culture Squad, we are decidedly Anti-Spoiler.  We feel that ruining someone’s experience with something for the sake of getting a scoop or clicks is the wrong thing to do. Therefore, we have decided to publish this column, as necessary, with mostly spoiler-free reviews of upcoming issues.  Hopefully, the information that we share with you will increase your excitement for these books.

This week we feature Broken Gargoyles #1 from Source Point Press.

You can find it at your LCS on August 26, 2020 or on September 2, 2020. Comic shipping for Independent publishers in today’s world is still a little hit or miss.

Broken Gargoyles #1
Source Point Press
Written by Bob Salley
Art by Stan Yak
Colors by Marco Pagnotta & Robert Nugent
Letters by Justin Birch
Cover Art by Raymond Gay, Jeremy Clark, & Juan Fernandez

Original Solicitation:

In this Dieselpunk post-WWI mini-series, two men come home from the war scarred and forgotten. One man is looking for redemption as the other looks for revenge. Both are on a collision course toward each other and nothing can stop them.

PCS Review:

The world building in this book is well crafted. There are subtleties that are woven into the narrative that give the reader the right frame of reference to navigate how this interesting new world fits in our existing historical backdrop. The characters are intriguing, and Bob Salley does an excellent job of differentiating the voices of each character that is introduced. The story in this issue is built through various scenes of action and dialogue, and Salley and Stan Yak manage to produce a very good understanding of what this series is going to be about.

The art in this book by Yak with Marco Pagnotta and Robert Nugent is beautiful. The character designs have a strong influence on the tone of the book. The retro-futuristic setting is gorgeously rendered and adds an exciting aspect to the book.  The lettering by Justin Birch  is strongly executed and over all the production value of this book is very good.

This is a fun and intriguing story that we are looking forward to exploring.

New Number Ones: Comics Coming in August 2020

New Number Ones: Comics Coming in August 2020

Posted on by Bob Harrison

Welcome back to new month of New Number Ones!!

This is where we give our readers a preview of the exciting new comic book series debuting each month. We have compiled an alphabetical list with cover art and the official solicitation text from PREVIEWSworld. Check below for our PCS NOTES to find out what we just have to tell you some more about the new comics in question.

There are a bunch of new series of interest starting in August. This is a list of just some of the new series coming this month. Check with your LCS or wherever you get comics to make sure you find new things to thrill you.  We are very excited for this list of books.

We hope you will take a look and think about giving these a try. We will bring you reviews of most of these debut issues as they come out, and don’t forget to use the comments section to let us know what you think of this list.

We are trying something new this month and listing the books in order of when they are released. We hope that will help if you come back to check this list of books weekly.

 

Week of August 5th

ATLANTIS WASN`T BUILT FOR TOURISTS #1
SCOUT COMICS
Written by Eric Palicki
Art by Wendell Cavalcanti

Lovecraft meets Sergio Leone in a modern tale of corruption, family legacies, and nightmarish dread. Lucas Lewis drifts into Atlantis County, Oregon wanting nothing more than a hot meal and a soft bed for the night. What he finds instead is a small town in thrall to eldritch creatures lurking in the surrounding wilderness, possibly guided by an even more sinister force. Lucas becomes determined to eradicate all Atlantis’s demons, but these monsters are not what they seem. Unfortunately for the monsters, neither is Lucas.

Release Date: August 05, 2020

PCS NOTES: This book jumped out of the solicitations. We haven’t seen it but we are excited just based on the premise alone. 

Continue reading “New Number Ones: Comics Coming in August 2020” →

New Number Ones: Comics Coming in July 2020

New Number Ones: Comics Coming in July 2020

Posted on by Bob Harrison

Welcome back to new month of New Number Ones!!

After a three month break, we are finally able to give you a run down of the new comic series coming in the month of July.

This is where we give our readers a preview of the exciting new comic book series debuting each month. We have compiled an alphabetical list with cover art and the official solicitation text from PREVIEWSworld. Check below for our PCS NOTES to find out what we just have to tell you some more about the new comics in question.

There are a bunch of new series of interest starting in July. Some very familiar titles are coming back, and there are a lot of new series from some of our favorite creators, by a diverse set of publishers. We are very excited to see what they have in store for us.

We hope you will take a look and think about giving these a try. We will bring you reviews of most of these debut issues as they come out, and don’t forget to use the comments section to let us know what you think of this list.

Continue reading “New Number Ones: Comics Coming in July 2020” →

Squadcast Spotlight Interview with No Heroine writer Frank Gogol

Squadcast Spotlight Interview with No Heroine writer Frank Gogol

Posted on by Bob Harrison

Welcome back to another spotlight interview. In this session, we talked with comic writer Frank Gogol.

Frank Gogol is a comic writer who if following up the hit series Dead End Kids with his latest creator-owned story, No Heroine. He is an alumnus of the Comic Experience program and also produced the Ringo Award nominated anthology Grief. All three of those books are published by Source Point Press.

No Heroine is a three issue mini-series on which he is working with Chris Madd on art, with colors by Shawna Madd and letters by Sean Rinehart.

We spoke to Frank in May, and below, is the result of that conversation.

You can find the audio recording of our discussion below, and we transcribed a big portion of it for you as well.

We hope you enjoy the conversation.

Download

Pop Culture Squad: Frank! Welcome back to Pop Culture Squad.

Frank Gogol: Good to see you again or to hear you again, I suppose.

PCS: Sure. So, let’s start out with this. We are on the verge of a new “Frank Gogol” story. What do you want people to know about No Heroine, in terms of the story?

FG: That is a big question. I’ve been talking about this book for, what is it the middle of May, for about six months now, and I still don’t really know how to say everything succinctly. I guess, this is my love letter to Buffy, The Vampire Slayer. I grew up on Buffy. I started watching Buffy, the Vampire Slayer way too young. I was eight when it premiered in 1997, and I’ve been watching it pretty religiously ever since.

So, I was a little too young for it, but I watched it and knew sort of immediately, instinctively, it was something different, something special. I always loved the storytelling, and it has definitely informed my storytelling. Joss [Whedon] is a dark guy. He writes these stories, and he really sticks the knife in and twists it. I think that’s the stories I try to tell. It’s definitely the case in No Heroine. It doesn’t pull a lot of punches, it’s a dark book about a young woman dealing with drug recovery, and there are vampires too, I guess. But that isn’t really the point.

PCS: I think that is a good starting point. This book is clearly not the slice-of-life or reality-based books that I have read of yours. How did you find having the shackles of human-only characters being removed? As you said, it’s not necessarily a vampire book. There are vampires in it, but there ARE vampires in it?

FG: When I starting writing four years ago last month, and I remember about that time right before and right after. I was sort of setting down some sort of principles or pillars for myself as a writer, like the kind of stories I want to tell and the things that I would not do and things I would do. One of the things I said I would do, and I think I stuck to this pretty well, was to tell character forward stories and have a genre and action take a back seat in favor of really good character work. Weather its good or not, it’s definitely taken a front seat. Definitely in Dead End Kids and definitely in Grief.

In this book, I wanted to do the same thing. So, the vampires are not an afterthought in the story but an afterthought in the creation of the story. I wanted to tell a story that gave a fair and honest, sort of “gray space”, look at the recovery part of addiction. We have a lot of pop culture that deals with addiction. We see this sort of phase of people’s lives where they are using drugs, and we see the rehabilitation phase quite a bit, but we don’t usually see the part that comes next, which is, for the people who find success in rehab, the recovery phases. Continue reading “Squadcast Spotlight Interview with No Heroine writer Frank Gogol” →

New Number Ones For the Week of 3/25/20

New Number Ones For the Week of 3/25/20

Posted on by Bob Harrison

Hey There Folks!! 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 three books for you. They are from Albatross Funny Books, Dynamite Entertainment, and Source Point Press.

You will usually find the books that we review in this space on our month list of New Number Ones. You might want to check over there to see what you can expect for the rest of the month.

The books this week are all continuations of other stories, but eminently worthwhile. As we all adjust to the new reality of a COVID-19 world, this column may undergo some changes but we will bring you debut reviews as we can.

This week we will bring you our thoughts on four books: Grumble: Memphis and Beyond the Infinite #1, Killing Red Sonja #1, and Viking Queen: Sleepers in Shadow #1 

Check out the reviews below in alphabetical order:

Continue reading “New Number Ones For the Week of 3/25/20” →