Heads Up: Image Comics Previews – March 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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He came back. For us.

Because you gotta dance with who brung ya, Brian K. Vaughan returns to comics. I predict this will sell more copies than anything else at Image that doesn’t feature zombies and a TV show. Great deal too.

SAGA #1
story BRIAN K. VAUGHAN
art / cover  FIONA STAPLES
MARCH 14
48 PAGES / FC / M
$2.99

Y: THE LAST MAN writer BRIAN K. VAUGHAN returns to comics with red-hot artist FIONA STAPLES for an all-new ONGOING SERIES!  Star Wars-style action collides with Game of Thrones-esque drama in this original sci-fi/fantasy epic for mature readers, as new parents Marko and Alana risk everything to raise their child amidst a never-ending galactic war. The adventure begins in a spectacular DOUBLE-SIZED FIRST ISSUE, with forty-four pages of story with no ads for the regular price of just $2.99!

A new Hickman monthly, you say?

When Jonathan Hickman wants to do a monthly comic, he chooses to go to Image. That says something. Teaming with his Red Wing partner, Nick Pitarra, you can expect the mindbending and imagination explosion we’re used to with Hickman’s creator owned work. With no end in sight. And circles. Obviously, you can expect circles.

THE MANHATTAN PROJECTS #1
story JONATHAN HICKMAN
art NICK PITARRA / CRIS PETER
MARCH 7
32 PAGES / FC / T+
$3.50

“INFINITE OPPENHEIMERS”
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? What if the union of a generation’s brightest minds was not a signal for optimism, but foreboding? What if everything… went wrong?

Welcome to THE MANHATTAN PROJECTS, a brand new, ongoing, monthly comic from the creators of THE RED WING.

Brought to you by award-winning writer JONATHAN HICKMAN and possibly the best new talent of the year, NICK PITARRA, THE MANHATTAN PROJECTS is a look at history through a darker, much stranger, lens.

Because he couldn’t call it F–k Yeah!

It’s an ongoing from a dude who has loved Image Comics as long as there has been Image Comics. They’re taking the long term view of superheroes, and what would happen with them down the road. It’s gonna be big, and it’s gonna be brash, and with that title, there’s a lot to live up to.

HELL YEAH #1
story JOE KEATINGE
art & cover ANDRE SZYMANOWICZ
MARCH 7
32 PAGES / FC / T+ TEEN PLUS
$2.99

THE LAST GENERATION OF HEROES IS HERE!
Twenty years ago, the first-ever superheroes debuted without warning and forever altered our global culture! Now, the generation born in their wake fight to claim their place in a world evolved beyond them! Written by Eisner & Harvey award-winner JOE KEATINGE and illustrated by ELEPHANTMEN and POPGUN’s ANDRE SZYMANOWICZ, HELL YEAH combines the over-the-top excitement of the original Image Comics launch with modern, innovative storytelling. It all begins with a giant-sized first issue containing a full thirty-two pages of story with no ads for the regular price of just $2.99!

They didn’t offer Darkness 101 at my university

Normally, darkness is something you want to avoid, but not so here. A new creative team takes over Darkling duties as David Hine and Jeremy Haun breathe new… life isn’t the right word… as they breathe new darkness into the Darkness. Yeah, that works. Jump on here. Give it a go. Haun’s been doing wonderful work lately.

THE DARKNESS #101
story DAVID HINE
art / cover JEREMY HAUN
variant cover MARC SILVESTRI
MARCH 21
32 PAGES / FC / M
$2.99

NEW CREATIVE TEAM! BOLD NEW DIRECTION!
THE CRACK IN EVERYTHING”, PART 1
Hot on the heels of THE DARKNESS II video game release, Top Cow proudly welcomes the new creative team of DAVID HINE (THE DARKNESS: FOUR HORSEMEN, THE BULLETPROOF COFFIN) and JEREMY HAUN (ARTIFACTS, BATTLE HYMN, Detective Comics)! On the surface, Jackie Estacado has everything he ever wanted – control of the Darkness, a successful career, and happy family life. Only his desire to make his life truly perfect will be his undoing.

She cries MORE, MORE, MORE!

Oh, it’s Rebel BLOOD, not YELL. Oh well. Either way, if you were down with Rossmo’s art on Proof and Green Wake, here’s what’s next, and just from the image alone, I’m swearing off sleeping.

REBEL BLOOD #1 (of 4)
story ALEX LINK & RILEY ROSSMO
art / cover RILEY ROSSMO
MARCH 28
32 pages / FC / M
$3.50

FROM THE DESK OF OFFICER RED PROSPERO; WHILE YOU WERE OUT:
“The world went to hell in a hand basket.  A highly infectious disease has turned every living thing into zombies. Your neighbors will rend your flesh with their bare teeth.  So will the rats.  And if the rats don’t, the squirrels will.  Save yourself.  Stay in the woods.  Pray it hasn’t reached the wolves…and keep your gun loaded.”

From the co-creator of COWBOY NINJA VIKING and GREEN WAKE comes a zombie tale like none you’ve read before, with a Twilight Zone twist!

But not Last of the Trades

All the superhero, godlike dudes are dead, except this one guy, and he’s kind of a jerk. He’s gonna rule the world anyway, and you will thank him for it. He’s also got a thing for Oprah.

THE LAST OF THE GREATS, VOL. 1 TP
story JOSHUA HALE FIALKOV
art / cover  BRENT PEEPLES
MARCH 21
136 PAGES / FC / M
$12.99

MEET THE LAST – He’s mankind’s last hope and he f#@&ing HATES us.
As the Earth stands on the brink of annihilation we must beg the last survivor of a family of superheroes to put aside his hatred and save our asses. From the Eisner and Harvey Award-nominated writer of ECHOES, Tumor and I, Vampire comes the complete first volume of the critically-acclaimed vision of Super Heroes for the 21st century.

Collects LAST OF THE GREATS #1-5

It’s like Sam Elliott once told the Dude…

No! It’s like seeing Han and Chewie go after one another! Surely that yellow liquid about Sterling’s maw is the culprit!

REED GUNTHER #9
story SHANE HOUGHTON
art & cover CHRIS HOUGHTON
MARCH 14
32 PAGES / FC / E
$2.99

“FIENDS FOREVER,” Part One
When an evil spirit is awakened inside of Sterling, Reed must face off against his best friend and become a bear-fighting cowboy!

The end?

This was the first time most of you saw Tradd Moore and Justin Jordan, and they were super impressive. Don’t miss the end of the series, and watch out for more of these guys in the future.

THE STRANGE TALENT OF LUTHER STRODE #6 (of 6)
story JUSTIN JORDAN
art / cover TRADD MOORE
MARCH 7
32 PAGES / FC / M
$2.99

MINISERIES CONCLUSION
It ends here. Luther has lost nearly everything, but can he stop the Librarian from taking away the rest? Blood will flow, guts will fly and lives will change as the hit mini series concludes.

Those are our selections, for the full list, go here.