Every month we spend an evening scouring the pages of the latest issue of Previews and pick the ten titles we are looking forward to the most. This month it's the November issue of Previews which includes comics scheduled to ship in January 2009.
VELOCITY #1
Writer: Joe Casey
Art: Chirs Cross
Image/Top Cow $2.99
Andy H: A winner from Top Cow's 2007 Pilot Season, Velocity gets her own book. Not totally convinced she will be able to maintain a regular series but the creative team will make it worth my time to check it out. Joe Casey has a proven track record as a writer and I loved the art of Chris Cross way back in Captain Marvel (the Peter David run). Storywise: the past is a about to catch up Velocity, no matter how fast she runs, as she discovers saying no can get her killed!
THOR #600
Writers: J. Michael Straczynski, Stan Lee & Chris Giarrusso
Art: Olivier Ciopel & Various
Marvel $4.99
Matt C: By Odin’s beard, this constant bouncing back and forth on Marvel titles from new numbering to old numbering to new numbering again irritates the shit out of me! That aside, any opportunity to big up Straczynski’s revitilisng run on the Thunder God’s book must be taken. It sounds like the slowburning storyline that commenced in #1 finally reaches boiling point here so I’m anticipating things kicking off in a big way. Not so fussed on the new story from Stan Lee (he’s an absolute legend but hasn’t written anything essential in an age) but this should be worth forking out the extra money for.
SECRET INVASION: WAR OF KINGS
Writer: Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning
Art: Paul Pelletier & Bong Dazo
Marvel $3.99
Stewart R: SIWOK is soon upon us! Black Bolt is back upon his throne! Emperor Vulcan has the Starjammers tied up as playthings and the Shi'ar Empire in his hand! And of course the super-duo of Abnett and Lanning are providing us with consistently good book after good book. With the Secret Invasion dividing opinions of fans it's time to get away from all of Earth's troubles and find out just how the galaxy the Skrulls once called home, the Annihilation Wave once decimated, and Ultron almost assimilated, is to be divided up and fought over. War of Kings on paper looks to be the epic story that some may say Marvel has failed to deliver in 2008 with Secret Invasion. Throw in the possibility of a touch of Groot and Rocket Raccoon and I think you may have the book to look forward to in January.
G-MAN #1
Writer & Art: Chris Giarrusso
Image $5.95
Stewart R: Through these past couple of years of highs and lows for the Marvel catalogue one thing has remained constant: Mini Marvels is the cutest superhero chucklefest that there is to be read! Mini Marvels however is not the only project that writer and illustrator Chris Giarrusso has puts his pen to. His own character, G-Man, appeared in the Savage Dragon 'Comic Bits' backup strip many moons ago and this January Image are giving us another chance to catch this one-shot. With characters named Tanman, Billy Demon and Timmy Two-Hats I'm looking forward to a light-hearted bout of comical super heroics with this origin story. Bring on the japery!
ALAN MOORE’S NEONOMICON HORNBOOK
Writer: Alan Moore
Art: Jacen Burrows
Avatar $1.99
ALAN MOORE’S LIGHT OF THY COUNTENANCE GN
Writers: Alan Moore, Antony Johnston
Art: Felip Massafera
Avatar $7.99
James R: Yee-haw! Whereas it's not as exciting as the prospect of the next League of Extraordinary Gentlemen series (and anyone who has checked out the Black Dossier should know it’ll be a corker - les Hommes Mystereaux! Raffles! etc etc) serious Alan Moore acolytes like myself will be psyched to see that Avatar Press are giving us some double-fisted Moore action. First up, Neonomicon is the continuation of the excellent but all too brief mini-series The Courtyard, so expect Alan delving even further into the H.P. Lovecraft/Cthulu mythos and a dastardly cult hell-bent on dragging the world into an unspeakable one's stomach!
Light Of Thy Countenance is the other title, and it's in keeping with Avatar's previous Alan Moore releases - first they find something (usually a prose piece) that Moore wrote a while ago and then get an artist to realise it in reassuring comicy form - for example Another Suburban Romance contained short stories based on his poems and song lyrics. Coutenance follows the same path, and it's all about TV and the power it has over our minds and imaginations. Because of Alan's interests, there are parallels drawn with the world of magic. It might not be for everyone's pull-list, but if you've followed everything the master has done you know this will be an essential purchase for the New Year.
I AM LEGION #1
Writer: Fabien Nury
Art: John Cassaday
Devil’s Due Publishing $3.50
Matt C: Never thought I’d see this again. Several years ago DC started a partnership with French publisher Humanoids with the aim of putting out English translations of some of their best work. Unfortunately it didn’t last long, but amongst the books that did make it out was the first volume of I Am Legion. It’s been a while since I read it, but I remember thinking it was pretty amazing, so I was a bit gutted when I heard the remaining two volumes wouldn’t see the light of day in the English-speaking world. Kudos to Devil’s Due Publishing for giving the project another crack, and this time it looks like we’ll get the whole story, albeit as a monthly rather the extended format more familiar to French readers. I assume this means the first three issues will reprint what we’ve already seen, but if you like the ideas of vampires and Nazis in WWII told with an obvious European sensibility, this comes highly recommended.
LOCKE & KEY: HEAD GAMES #1
Writer: Joe Hill
Art: Gabriel Rodriguez
IDW $3.99
Andy H: My favourite mini series of 2008 was Locke & Key: Welcome To Lovecraft, so I've been checking out Previews every month eagerly awaiting the next instalment. And lo, my wait is over! Hill and Rodriguez are back and we return to Lovecraft for more strange goings on. A professor at Lovecraft Academy is disturbed by a new pupil and believes him to be the ghost of a student that disappeared 20 years ago. When he digs around to discover the truth he has no idea how far the 'ghost' will go to keep his secret buried. Joe Hill's writing and Gabriel Rodriguez's art had me hooked in for the first book and I expect no less this time round.
LOCAL HC
Writers: Brian Wood & Ryan Kelly
Art: Ryan Kelly
Oni Press $29.95
Rob N: It’s a quiet month dominated mostly by Marvel’s “we’re not telling you what it is” Dark Reign releases, but this collected edition of a 12-part Oni maxi-series managed to catch my eye. It’s a slice of life story, or rather collection of stand alone stories, told (mostly) through the eyes of a connecting character, Megan, as she travels around various cities and states of North America. I enjoy character driven ‘road’ stories, but somehow the original serial print escaped my attention. The creative team is strong – including the writer of my current favourite monthly title (Northlanders) - and the ad blurb comes with glowing praise from both Brian K Vaughan and Warren Ellis, which bodes well.
G.I. JOE #1
Writer: Chuck Dixon
Art: Robert Atkins
IDW $3.99
Stewart R: With the live action movie imminent in 2009, IDW set about the reboot of GI Joe for a new generation of readers while offering plenty for the die-hard fans to remain happy about. We're promised a more contemporary feel to the GI Joe / Cobra conflict with the Joes heavily outnumbered and outgunned by the enemy and having to resort to smarter 21st Century tactics to get the job done. This should avoid the unnecessary and cumbersome character-creation machine that plagued the later years of the original Marvel run, and more recently Devil Due's shaky handling of the licence. We still get Snake Eyes, we still get Storm Shadow, and Atkins preview work seems to be up to task as well! I simply say to you “Go JOE!".
VELOCITY #1Writer: Joe Casey
Art: Chirs Cross
Image/Top Cow $2.99
Andy H: A winner from Top Cow's 2007 Pilot Season, Velocity gets her own book. Not totally convinced she will be able to maintain a regular series but the creative team will make it worth my time to check it out. Joe Casey has a proven track record as a writer and I loved the art of Chris Cross way back in Captain Marvel (the Peter David run). Storywise: the past is a about to catch up Velocity, no matter how fast she runs, as she discovers saying no can get her killed!
THOR #600
Writers: J. Michael Straczynski, Stan Lee & Chris Giarrusso
Art: Olivier Ciopel & Various
Marvel $4.99
Matt C: By Odin’s beard, this constant bouncing back and forth on Marvel titles from new numbering to old numbering to new numbering again irritates the shit out of me! That aside, any opportunity to big up Straczynski’s revitilisng run on the Thunder God’s book must be taken. It sounds like the slowburning storyline that commenced in #1 finally reaches boiling point here so I’m anticipating things kicking off in a big way. Not so fussed on the new story from Stan Lee (he’s an absolute legend but hasn’t written anything essential in an age) but this should be worth forking out the extra money for.
SECRET INVASION: WAR OF KINGSWriter: Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning
Art: Paul Pelletier & Bong Dazo
Marvel $3.99
Stewart R: SIWOK is soon upon us! Black Bolt is back upon his throne! Emperor Vulcan has the Starjammers tied up as playthings and the Shi'ar Empire in his hand! And of course the super-duo of Abnett and Lanning are providing us with consistently good book after good book. With the Secret Invasion dividing opinions of fans it's time to get away from all of Earth's troubles and find out just how the galaxy the Skrulls once called home, the Annihilation Wave once decimated, and Ultron almost assimilated, is to be divided up and fought over. War of Kings on paper looks to be the epic story that some may say Marvel has failed to deliver in 2008 with Secret Invasion. Throw in the possibility of a touch of Groot and Rocket Raccoon and I think you may have the book to look forward to in January.
G-MAN #1
Writer & Art: Chris Giarrusso
Image $5.95
Stewart R: Through these past couple of years of highs and lows for the Marvel catalogue one thing has remained constant: Mini Marvels is the cutest superhero chucklefest that there is to be read! Mini Marvels however is not the only project that writer and illustrator Chris Giarrusso has puts his pen to. His own character, G-Man, appeared in the Savage Dragon 'Comic Bits' backup strip many moons ago and this January Image are giving us another chance to catch this one-shot. With characters named Tanman, Billy Demon and Timmy Two-Hats I'm looking forward to a light-hearted bout of comical super heroics with this origin story. Bring on the japery!
ALAN MOORE’S NEONOMICON HORNBOOKWriter: Alan Moore
Art: Jacen Burrows
Avatar $1.99
ALAN MOORE’S LIGHT OF THY COUNTENANCE GN
Writers: Alan Moore, Antony Johnston
Art: Felip Massafera
Avatar $7.99
James R: Yee-haw! Whereas it's not as exciting as the prospect of the next League of Extraordinary Gentlemen series (and anyone who has checked out the Black Dossier should know it’ll be a corker - les Hommes Mystereaux! Raffles! etc etc) serious Alan Moore acolytes like myself will be psyched to see that Avatar Press are giving us some double-fisted Moore action. First up, Neonomicon is the continuation of the excellent but all too brief mini-series The Courtyard, so expect Alan delving even further into the H.P. Lovecraft/Cthulu mythos and a dastardly cult hell-bent on dragging the world into an unspeakable one's stomach!
Light Of Thy Countenance is the other title, and it's in keeping with Avatar's previous Alan Moore releases - first they find something (usually a prose piece) that Moore wrote a while ago and then get an artist to realise it in reassuring comicy form - for example Another Suburban Romance contained short stories based on his poems and song lyrics. Coutenance follows the same path, and it's all about TV and the power it has over our minds and imaginations. Because of Alan's interests, there are parallels drawn with the world of magic. It might not be for everyone's pull-list, but if you've followed everything the master has done you know this will be an essential purchase for the New Year.
I AM LEGION #1Writer: Fabien Nury
Art: John Cassaday
Devil’s Due Publishing $3.50
Matt C: Never thought I’d see this again. Several years ago DC started a partnership with French publisher Humanoids with the aim of putting out English translations of some of their best work. Unfortunately it didn’t last long, but amongst the books that did make it out was the first volume of I Am Legion. It’s been a while since I read it, but I remember thinking it was pretty amazing, so I was a bit gutted when I heard the remaining two volumes wouldn’t see the light of day in the English-speaking world. Kudos to Devil’s Due Publishing for giving the project another crack, and this time it looks like we’ll get the whole story, albeit as a monthly rather the extended format more familiar to French readers. I assume this means the first three issues will reprint what we’ve already seen, but if you like the ideas of vampires and Nazis in WWII told with an obvious European sensibility, this comes highly recommended.
LOCKE & KEY: HEAD GAMES #1
Writer: Joe Hill
Art: Gabriel Rodriguez
IDW $3.99
Andy H: My favourite mini series of 2008 was Locke & Key: Welcome To Lovecraft, so I've been checking out Previews every month eagerly awaiting the next instalment. And lo, my wait is over! Hill and Rodriguez are back and we return to Lovecraft for more strange goings on. A professor at Lovecraft Academy is disturbed by a new pupil and believes him to be the ghost of a student that disappeared 20 years ago. When he digs around to discover the truth he has no idea how far the 'ghost' will go to keep his secret buried. Joe Hill's writing and Gabriel Rodriguez's art had me hooked in for the first book and I expect no less this time round.
LOCAL HCWriters: Brian Wood & Ryan Kelly
Art: Ryan Kelly
Oni Press $29.95
Rob N: It’s a quiet month dominated mostly by Marvel’s “we’re not telling you what it is” Dark Reign releases, but this collected edition of a 12-part Oni maxi-series managed to catch my eye. It’s a slice of life story, or rather collection of stand alone stories, told (mostly) through the eyes of a connecting character, Megan, as she travels around various cities and states of North America. I enjoy character driven ‘road’ stories, but somehow the original serial print escaped my attention. The creative team is strong – including the writer of my current favourite monthly title (Northlanders) - and the ad blurb comes with glowing praise from both Brian K Vaughan and Warren Ellis, which bodes well.
G.I. JOE #1
Writer: Chuck Dixon
Art: Robert Atkins
IDW $3.99
Stewart R: With the live action movie imminent in 2009, IDW set about the reboot of GI Joe for a new generation of readers while offering plenty for the die-hard fans to remain happy about. We're promised a more contemporary feel to the GI Joe / Cobra conflict with the Joes heavily outnumbered and outgunned by the enemy and having to resort to smarter 21st Century tactics to get the job done. This should avoid the unnecessary and cumbersome character-creation machine that plagued the later years of the original Marvel run, and more recently Devil Due's shaky handling of the licence. We still get Snake Eyes, we still get Storm Shadow, and Atkins preview work seems to be up to task as well! I simply say to you “Go JOE!".
1 comment:
"Double-fisted Moore action" - possibly the best phrase that's ever graced this blog!!
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