Heads Up: Image Comics Previews – August 2012

Being a comic fan can be tough. With so many publishers printing more and more books, canceling titles and starting new ones, it can be daunting when you head to the comic book shop on a Wednesday to know exactly what’s coming out.

The current system of presenting and ordering comics three months ahead of their release as set forth by the sole comics distributor, Diamond Comics, doesn’t make it any easier either. We’re not a fan of that system, we think it’s slowly strangling comics to death, but we realize it’s a harsh reality of how the industry works and we definitely don’t want you to miss out on any of the cool comics being published.

And so, as opposed to regurgitating the list of comics solicited in Previews each month, we present to you some of the highlights of things you probably won’t want to miss out on.

SPOILER WARNING – in order to get people to order comics, the publishers have a funny habit of revealing what’s happening in the books. If you don’t want anything at all to be spoiled, then you’ll probably want to skip this post and take your chances with your pre-orders and/or your shopping.

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…Another Man’s Treasure

It’s another weird, wild creator owned saga from Kurtis Wiebe, with Riley Rossmo operating at a whole new level. The monsters might be made of trash, but this one’s gonna be a treasure.

DEBRIS #2 (of 4)
story KURTIS J. WIEBE
art / cover RILEY ROSSMO

AUGUST 29
32 PAGES / FC /M
$3.50

A deadly junk storm forces Maya to take refuge in an ancient, forgotten place where she soon discovers that she’s not alone in the land beyond the safe zone.

 

The Ballad of Josephine

Brubaker and Phillips chronicling a femme fatale’s sultry swatch through the decades? Enough to make a good dog snap his leash.

FATALE #8
story ED BRUBAKER
art SEAN PHILLIPS & DAVE STEWART
cover SEAN PHILLIPS

AUGUST 29
32 PAGES / FC / M
$3.50

It’s the turning point of the second arc of BRUBAKER & PHILLIPS’ white-hot series FATALE!  What is Josephine’s secret plan, and what has she been doing all these years on the run from the ‘50s to the late ‘70s?  And has the monster that’s hunted her most of her life returned?

And remember, FATALE features back pages articles and art that is only available in the printed single issues.

 

Get read for It

It Girl doesn’t need the Atomic boys, but she’s gonna need a whole lot of gumption and even more orange zest to clean up the Skunk’s stench!

IT GIRL & THE ATOMICS #1 – GEM OF THE MONTH
story JAMIE S. RICH, MICHAEL ALLRED & MIKE NORTON
art MIKE NORTON
cover MICHAEL & LAURA ALLRED

AUGUST 8
32 PAGES / FC / E
$2.99

Fresh from the pages of Mike Allred’s MADMAN: Snap City’s favorite heroine is ready for her own crimefighting adventures! With the Atomics boys in outer space, it’s up to It Girl to keep the streets safe. Easier said than done: The Skunk, the man who murdered her sister, is out of jail and back to old tricks. Meanwhile, Dr. Flem has a brand new space-time experiment and wants It Girl to be his guinea pig!

 

Smooches

25 years is a long time between trysts, but Chaykin’s ready to prove Black Kiss wasn’t just a one-night stand.

BLACK KISS II #1 (of 6) – GEM OF THE MONTH
story / art / cover HOWARD CHAYKIN

AUGUST 1
24 PAGES / BW / M
$2.99

Sex, death, and the movies — what else really matters?

Nearly twenty five years ago, HOWARD CHAYKIN brought the ’80s to a close, and comics to the brink, with his landmark erotic thriller, BLACK KISS.  Now, after years of anticipation, he’s back with issue one of BLACK KISS II, a six-part miniseries that tells the story behind that legendary story – like the original, in glorious black and white.

And really, now – does it have to be so dirty?

Spike Through the Heart

LDB is this century’s Charlie Brown. Hold on to your hearts as things with Spike get a bit more serious. Things are looking up for our favorite rag doll these days, but you just know Struble and Grace are gearing up for a Temple of Doom style takedown.

THE LI’L DEPRESSED BOY #16
story S. STEVEN STRUBLE
art SINA GRACE
cover CHRIS GIARRUSSO

AUGUST 29
32 PAGES / FC / T
$2.99

“I’M IN LOVE WITH A GIRL NAMED SPIKE”
Things get serious.

Featuring a cover by the always-astounding G-MAN wunderkind, CHRIS GIARRUSSO.

 

It doesn’t take a rocket surgeon…

Ready for some red scares? Things are about to get chillier in the race for scientific dominance!

THE MANHATTAN PROJECTS #6
story JONATHAN HICKMAN
art / cover NICK PITARRA & JORDIE BELLAIR

AUGUST 22
32 PAGES / FC / T+
$3.50

“STAR CITY”
While the Americans have progressively built the Manhattan Projects into massive success and thrust the west into future dominance, on the other side of the world the cold war rages on. Find out the secret history of the Russian science machine.

The thrilling FEEL GOOD, BAD SCIENCE series continues in THE MANHATTAN PROJECTS #6: STAR CITY!

Oh, and the first trade paperback collection is out too!

THE MANHATTAN PROJECTS, VOL. 1: SCIENCE. BAD. TP
story JONATHAN HICKMAN
art NICK PITARRA & JORDIE BELLAIRE
AUG 22
144 PAGES / FC / T+
$14.99

“SCIENCE. BAD.”
What if the research and development department created to produce the first atomic bomb was a front for a series of other, more unusual, programs?

Collecting the coolest new series of the year into one super science package.

Collects THE MANHATTAN PROJECTS #1-5

It’s not that easy being…blue?

Planetoid isn’t just about taking down mechanical behemoths. In this issue, a marooned space pirate must become a leader of men in a world where automatons rule supreme.

PLANETOID #3
story / art / cover KEN GARING

AUGUST 8
32 PAGES / FC / T+
$2.99

Having made a stand against the cyborg militia, Silas must now lead the tribes in building a settlement.

 

How could you object?

You’re gonna need a big gavel. A sledge-gavel. A big, cosmic, sledge-gavel.

SAVAGE DRAGON #184
story / art / cover  ERIK LARSEN

AUGUST 29
32 PAGES / FC / T+
$3.99

“THE TRIAL OF SAVAGE DRAGON”
When he was Emperor Kurr, Savage Dragon came close to destroying the world. Now his past deeds come back to haunt him as the Savage Dragon is brought up on charges. This is the one battle he may not win. Savage Dragon is on trial and things may never be the same! Comes with our highest possible recommendation!

Did they just out-Liefeld Liefeld?

Damn right they did.

PROPHET #28
story BRANDON GRAHAM
art GIANNIS MILONOGIANNIS
cover SIMON ROY

AUGUST 22
32 PAGES / FC / T+
$2.99

Great-grandfather Prophet hunts a younger clone of himself while searching for his old Starship.

Oh, and the first trade paperback collection is out too!

PROPHET, VOL. 1: REMISSION TP
story BRANDON GRAHAM
art SIMON ROY, FAREL DALRYMPLE, GIANNIS MILOGIANNIS & BRANDON GRAHAM
cover SIMON ROY

AUGUST 1
136 PAGES / FC / T+
$9.99

On distant future Earth, changed by time and alien influence, John Prophet awakes from cryosleep. His mission: to climb the the towers of Thauili Van and restart the Earth empire. News of the Empire’s return brings old foes and allies out of the recesses of the vast cosmos.

Collects PROPHET #21-26

 

Leaf on the Vacuum.

These guys could really use a babysitter right about now.

SAGA #6
story BRIAN K. VAUGHAN
art / cover  FIONA STAPLES

AUGUST 15
32 PAGES / FC / M
$2.99

The epic hit series continues, as Alana and her baby finally reach the legendary Rocketship Forest, where everything changes forever.

The Law of the Letter

Have you ever wanted to letter comic books? Grab this before you even consider double clicking that Adobe Illustrator icon.

COMIC BOOK LETTERING THE COMICRAFT WAY (one-shot)
RICHARD STARKINGS & JG ROSHELL
with JEPH LOEB & KURT BUSIEK
art IAN CHURCHILL & STUART IMMONEN
cover BRIAN BOLLAND

AUGUST 1
64 PAGES / FC / T
$9.95

Because You Demanded It, Image is re-offering 64 pages of lettering tips and tricks from Active Images and the world-famous Comicraft studio – in One Handy Volume! This full color step-by-step guide is filled to the brim with the wisdom – and wit! – of Comicraft founders RICHARD STARKINGS and JOHN ‘JG’ ROSHELL. From font design to balloon placement, sound effects, signage, title page and publication design, the creators of The World’s Greatest Comic Book Fonts cover every conceivable aspect of comic book lettering. Lavishly illustrated by examples drawn from Comicraft’s twenty years as America’s premier comic book lettering studio, this manual is an essential tool for comic book creators everywhere.

One Song: Glory

She’s just big-boned. And she’ll break yours too. The first collection from Keatinge and Campbell’s no-holds-barred update of Extreme’s resident warrior maiden.

GLORY, VOL. 1: THE ONCE AND FUTURE DESTROYER TP
story JOE KEATINGE
art / cover  ROSS CAMPBELL

AUGUST 22
144 PAGES / FC / T+ TEEN PLUS
$9.99

After being missing for almost a decade, GLORY’s whereabouts are uncovered by a lone reporter, but the globe-spanning conspiracy keeping her hidden from humanity could make her return more dangerous than anyone ever anticipated! This first collection of a brand-new saga written by Eisner & Harvey award-winner JOE KEATINGE (HELL YEAH) and illustrated by  acclaimed artist ROSS CAMPBELL (Wet Moon, Shadoweyes) reintroduces GLORY to a new century by revealing secrets from her past, journeying to the far-flung future and beginning a war unlike any we’ve seen before.

Collects GLORY #23-28

 

Check out the full list of Image Comics solicits for August 2012 over at CBR.