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.
Angel's in America. Faith is too.
Avengers Academy writer Christos Gage takes the helm of the all new Angel and Faith ongoing spinning off from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The early season 8 Faith arc was a high point for many readers, and the inclusion of Angel, finally a full-fledged member of the Dark Horse family, makes this one especially enticing. Gage was also soliciting information about the whereabout of Kitty Fantastico the other day on Twitter, so you know there's a dedicated fan in the pilot's seat. Add in the art of Rebekah Isaacs, and it might be time to head back to the Buffyverse, even if you didn't make it all the way through season eight.
Good mourning, Baltimore
Baltimore is back! And The Curse Bells toll for he! Him? Whatever, he's got a peg-leg and a rapier and a hatchet, and more demon blood is about to be spilt. Mike Mignola and Christopher Golden return with another tale featuring one of Dark Horse's latest breakout stars. We're thrilled that this sequel happened so quickly and can't wait to see Baltimore the vampire hunter storm a cloister in pursuit of the foul Haigus! You may also note that Mike Mignola has taken notice of another iFanboy favorite, swooping in and snatching up Francesco Francavilla for covers. The beginning of a horrific friendship? We certainly hope so!
Sith happens…
We're typically out of our depth when it comes to Star Wars comics, but novelist John Jackson Miller's Star Wars: Knight Errant: Deluge #1 seems like a nice jumping on point for all our Old Republic needs.
From DH:
In answer to a distress call, Kerra returns to her Sith-controlled homeworld for a daring rescue . . . but her arrival on the planet coincides with an ambush from a Hutt mastermind! The clash with his invasion and a number of other unexpected surprises place Kerra’s small-scale rescue into a hot spot. She has to troubleshoot fast—and, as always, alone!
"Dark Horse Presents" is a Homonym.
August sees the third installment of the thankfully relaunched Dark Horse Presents anthology, and the hits keep on coming. In addition to the continuing adventures of Concrete and more of that weird wild Richard Corben sword and sandal yarn, this issue features a twelve pager from Dave Gibbons and a thirteen-page preview of Jim Steranko's hard-boiled Red Tide. There's the easiest eight bucks you'll ever spend.
AKA: Best of the Best of the Week in Panels, with Bonus Content
The three issue Axe Cop event: Bad Guy Earth makes its way to hardcover just in time to be considered a summer blockbuster. This is where fun lives. Thank you, bros. Nicolle.
More Skeletons for Your Closet: Collected Editions
Did Free Comic Book Day's Baltimore/Criminal Macabre flipbook whet your appetite for more of Steve Niles' supernatural detective series? DH is offering nearly 400 pages of the stuff in their terrific paperback omnibus format. There's even some Ben Templesmith in there.
"In 2003 Steve Niles, creator of the 30 Days of Night comics series, launched a series of occult detective stories featuring the monstrously hard-boiled Cal McDonald. A pill-popping alcoholic reprobate, Cal is the only line of defense between Los Angeles and a growing horde of zombies, vampires, possessed muscle cars, mad scientists, werewolves, and much more weirdness!"
Hellboy: The Bride of Hell and Others collects a bunch of those blink and you'll miss 'em one-shots that you'll hear us diehards raving about. Here's a clue. Any time you see the words Mignola and Corben together, you're in for a treat. This one's worth it for "Hellboy in Mexico" alone.
The 670 page Megatokyo Omnibus (Volumes 1-3) TP commemorates ten years of the ultra-popular, ultra-influential webcomic online and in print. For twenty bucks, you'd be hard-pressed to find a better deal.
For more comics and collected editions forthcoming from Dark Horse, check out their official website.
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I will have that Lord Baltimore book.
I also will have that Lord Baltimore book. =)
Awesome that more Baltimore is coming, since I missed the FCBD freebie.
I’ll have to look at the Cal McDonald book and see how much of it I may already have in other formats.
@Paul One important thing you missed, or probably I missed rather, was the return of Star Wars Dark Times: Out of the Wilderness #1. It’s the only Star Wars book I ever enjoyed. Same creative team as the original series.
Hey Keenyg, you can get the FCBD Lord Balitmore from Dark Horse Digital for free. I missed it as well and was bummed but I got it yesterday. Digital kinda sucks but I at least got to read it.
@kennyg –it was pretty good. it was only half the issue, so maybe it’ll show up in a trade at some point.
Sith happens- Ha
How long have you been holding that one in?
It’s not exactly the center of my latest HBO special. Can I help you?
You said Bettie Page. Tease.
I will definitely be getting the Faith an Angel book, as well as Dark Horse Presents.
Am I the only person who has no idea what this Baltimore comic is?
@JohnVFerrigno Baltimore: The Plague Ships #5 was named Pick of the Week. It’s a comic filling in the gaps of an illustrated novel Mignola and Golden did several years ago.
@PaulMontgomery Yeah, I remember it was a POTW, but didn’t get to hear that particular episode. I had heard of it, had zero clue what it was actually about.