Heads Up: Image Comics Previews – January 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.


Tried and True.

They made the switch from Icon to Image, and now we’ve got a new series from the two guys known for doing the best in crime and noir, and now they’re back at it. With an octopus head guy.

FATALE #1
story ED BRUBAKER
art & cover SEAN PHILLIPS
colors DAVE STEWART

JANUARY 4
32 PAGES / FC / M
$3.50

GUNS! SEX! SECRET CULTS! AND MONSTERS!

Nothing the BEST-SELLING and AWARD-WINNING creators of SLEEPER, CRIMINAL and INCOGNITO have done so far will prepare you for the explosive debut of FATALE!

A reporter in 2012 stumbles on a secret that leads him down the darkest path imaginable… to a seductive woman who’s been on the run since 1935, a mobster who may be an immortal demon monster, and the stories of all the doomed men who’ve been caught in their decades-long struggle.

FATALE blends noir and horror to tell a riveting epic unlike anything you’ve seen before.

Luna Bro

Will one Luna brother be enough? Joshua Luna takes his swing in this new series.

WHISPERS #1
story JOSHUA LUNA
art & cover  JOSHUA LUNA

JANUARY 11
32 PAGES / FC / T+
$2.99

A mentally troubled man is suddenly empowered with the ability to leave his physical body in “ghost” form and manipulate people in strange and disturbing ways. With this incredible power, will he control his demons…or discover even more?

JOSHUA LUNA of the Luna Brothers (ULTRA, GIRLS, THE SWORD) makes a solo debut with a dark, supernatural thriller that questions free will and explores the obsessions, addictions and urges we all have and may not have control of at all.

Mc-F’ing-Keever

Never heard of Ted McKeever? The guy is an indie comics giant, and here’s some new material.

MONDO #1 (of 3)
story, art & cover TED McKEEVER

JANUARY 4
48 PAGES / BW / M
GOLDEN-AGE FORMAT
$4.99

Catfish’s daily grind of “enhancing” poultry comes to a halt when he is accidentally tripped up by a loose chicken, causing him to fall victim to his own process. What proportions of his that were once human are now beyond anything normal. Add villainous corporate and military big wigs, a roller-skating weapon-toting chick named Kitten Kaboodle, a gang of tattooed babies, and there’s still that enormous beach monster…

And what you have is MONDO, in all its raging glory!

That is a large book.


13 issues and a poster!

ARTIFACTS DELUXE HC
story RON MARZ
art MICHAEL BROUSSARD, WHILCE PORTACIO, JEREMY HAUN & DALE KEOWN
cover DALE KEOWN

JANUARY 25
448 PAGES / FC / T+
OVERSIZED
$99.99 / S&N LTD ED $109.99

ULTIMATE EVENT, ULTIMATE COLLECTION!
Individually, thirteen ancient and mystical Artifacts have guided mankind since the beginning of time. Now together, thirteen Artifacts will threaten to destroy everything when a mysterious antagonist known only as the Survivor orchestrates a grand symphony to draw the Artifact bearers together. Featuring virtually every character in the Top Cow Universe, including Witchblade, The Darkness, Angelus, Magdalena, Cyberforce, Hunter-Killer, and many more, this over-sized, slip-cased edition collects the entire ARTIFACTS series.
Written by Top Cow Universe architect RON MARZ (WITCHBLADE, MAGDALENA) and featuring art from MICHAEL BROUSSARD (THE DARKNESS), WHILCE PORTACIO (UNCANNY X-MEN), JEREMY HAUN (THE DARKNESS), and DALE KEOWN (THE DARKNESS/PITT), ARTIFACTS is an event done right!

Collects ARTIFACTS #0-#13 and ARTIFACTS: ORIGINS. Includes 24” x 36” poster insert.

He is not the same.

Oh, right. This. Who else is really looking forward to the comment sections this one generates?

INVINCIBLE #89
story ROBERT KIRKMAN
art & cover RYAN OTTLEY

JANURY 11
32 PAGES / FC / T+
$2.99

EVERYTHING IS DIFFERENT NOW!
There’s someone new in the Invincible costume, but why – and for how long?  Answers to all these questions and more in this monumental status-quo-altering issue!

Bear & Werewolf & Cowboy

That cover makes me happy all by itself. Yet I do not like to see Sterling so stressed.

REED GUNTHER #7
story SHANE HOUGHTON
art & cover CHRIS HOUGHTON

JANUARY 11
32 PAGES / FC / E
$2.99

“WEREWOLF WOES!”
The bear-riding cowboy loses all of Starla’s money buying a nifty new pair of boots. In order to make that money back, Reed plans to collect the bounty on a rowdy cowboy who strolls into town once a month to spread terror as a werewolf! A done-in-one adventure!

If you want the full list of Image Comics solicitations for January 2012, go CBR has them.

Comments

  1. does anyone else hate the octopus head guy in Fatale? he just looks so dumb, maybe it’s just me

    still, that first cover with the woman is awesome

  2. nice. Looks like Kirkman is taking a page from Bendis w/ the ulitmate spiderman angle. But i thought Kirkman plan this before Bendis. If anyone can clear this up for me, i would appreciate. Thanks Guys

  3. ‘Invincible and the new pulp world building from Bru and Phillips is at the top of my list. I’ll keep an eye out for McKeever and Luna’s new book too.

  4. Finally! I’ve been curious about that Invincible image since it came out in like April.

  5. That TopCow Deluxe version is made of sexyness. And a lot better deal then the Identity Crisis Absolute, 7-8 issues compared to 13 from TopCow. I wonder if the signed and number edition is signed by all the artists?

  6. i was trying to trim my pull list but i’ll be adding fatale for sure

  7. Pssst, both Bendis and Kirkman are just ripping off 90’s Punisher.

    • I’m confused. Are Ultimate Spidey and Invincible being resurrected as supernatural agents of angels with holy guns?

    • Or… you know… both of them are just trying to write the best comics they can and decided that using a person of color would fit the best…

    • I was joking. and http://www.the-isb.com/?p=81

    • Wow, I actually had never heard of that. That’s hilarious. I kept getting to points in that article and thinking “oh that’s a clever joke”, only to scroll further down and see that it actually happened. Awesome.

      As for the supernatural thing, I remember seeing the first issue and hopping on board, assuming that’s the way the Punisher would be from now on. Ah the naivete of youth. I think it lasted only through two four-issue minis, one of which was shared with Wolverine.

  8. A BLACK Viltrumite?!?

    And why not? Worked in Blazing Saddles!

  9. it seems like Robert Kirkman is just copying Bendis

  10. I like how Reed Gunther #7 says “one shot” on the cover. I’ll give it a try because I know it’s a done in one. I’ve been wanting to give it a shot and that looks like a good spot. Good idea there.

  11. Had it not been recently done in Ultimate Spiderman, I wonder if it would be an issue. For some Spidey is a major icon and you associate him with Peter Parker. Even people outside the comic book world know who he is. Not a lot of people really know invincible outside of the comic book world. Ultimately I think this will just be a non issue once everyone stops associating it Ultimate Spidey.