Comics I’m Picking Up the Week of June 5, 2019

Here are the books I’m looking forward to seeing at my local comic store the week of June 5, 2019.

Black Cat

Publisher: Marvel Comics
Words/Story: Jed Mackay
Art/Colors: Travel Foreman, Michael Dowling, Nao Fuji

“Felicia Hardy has a taste for the finer things in life and a certain set of skills that can get her into any mansion, vault, or museum to . . . procure said finer things. But due to her actions in Amazing Spider-Man, Felicia’s not only on the run from the police but also by the New York Thieves Guild and their boss Odessa Drake! High-octane heists, climactic chases, and twist after twist that will keep you on the edge of your seat like a cat on a perch.”

Category: Like They Need My Help

Why I’m Excited: The “distinguished completion” has done pretty well with the current take on the female crime boss, appreciator of sparkly baubles and the will-they-won’t-they love interest of a flagship character. With that book consistently their top-selling title with a female lead, it makes perfect sense for the “house of ideas” to borrow a good one. Personally I’ve loved the portrayal of Ms. Hardy in the recent Dardevil, Defenders, and better-than-it-had-a-right-to-be Star-Lord (“Grounded” story line). I’m looking forward to seeing if they can further distinguish her from the obvious template.

Marvel Comics

Guardians of the Galaxy Annual

Publisher: Marvel Comics
Words/Story: Al Ewing, Donny Cates, and more
Art/Colors: Yildiray Cinar, Ibrahim Moustafa, and more

“Since the Black Order’s attack on the galaxy’s greatest defenders, the cosmos has been without its heroes. Find out what really happened to Nova, Quasar, Adam Warlock, and Darkhawk! And who better to tell this story than Cosmo, the Spacedog?”

Category: Tried and True Creators

Why I’m Excited: As discussed in last week’s rack preview, I’m a sucker for animal sidekicks. While not nearly as old as Bat-Cow at only ten years old (comic time makes it hard to calculate that in dog years), he’s become a much-loved part of the Marvel outer space stories and even made an appearance in the MCU. Al Ewing has been great in recent issues of Immortal Hulk and Donny Cates has a way of making even the wackiest promises seem totally believable—the resurrection of Sin City complete with demons, anyone?

Marvel Comics

Star Wars Adventures: Destroyer Down

Publisher: IDW Publishing
Words/Story: Scott Beatty
Art/Colors: Jon Sommariva

“On sweltering Jakku, explore with Rey as she races to uncover the secrets inside a crashed Star Destroyer! Swallowed by the shifting sands, the Imperial Star Destroyer Spectral has been lost for two decades, giving rise to rumors of hauntings and buried treasure. But an epic sandstorm has revealed the ruins of the starship, and renowned scavenger Rey now leads the race to claim whatever lies within! Also includes a backup story depicting the Battle of Jakku, revealing how the Star Destroyer Spectral met its fate during the last days of the Empire. ”

Category: Return to a Beloved World

Why I’m Excited: Ever since the opening of The Force Awakens I’ve wondered how an Imperial Star Destroyer wound up on the surface of a desert planet. The secondary story here is actually the draw for me, but I assume that the target audience will eat this Rey story up with an ice cream paddle. As an aside: Does anybody know why Disney provides comics licenses to comics publishers other than Marvel? (Although if they didn’t, this week might be even less diverse than I like them to be.)

IDW Publishing

P. Craig Russell’s Jungle Book and Other Stories and Salome and Other Stories (Fine Art Editions)

Publisher: Wayne Alan Harold Productions
Words/Story: P. Craig Russell
Art/Colors: P. Craig Russell

Jungle Book: “This beautiful 12×17 oversized hardcover features complete stories scanned from P. Craig Russell’s stunning original art. While appearing to be in black and white, each page has been scanned in color to recreate as closely as possible the experience of viewing the actual originals—including blue pencils, notes, art corrections, and more. The 148-page Fine Art Edition includes the following complete Jungle Book stories—‘The King’s Ankus,’ ‘Red Dog,’ and ‘The Spring Running’—as well as ‘Siegfried and the Dragon,’ ‘La Sonnambula and the City of Sleep,’ and ‘Breakdown on the Starship Remembrance.'”

Salome: “Includes the following complete stories: ‘Salome,’ ‘The Clowns,’ ‘The Godfather’s Code,’ ‘Unto this World,’ ‘Eine Heldentraum,’ and ‘Between Two Worlds.’ This special signature edition comes with an illustrated bookplate that is personally signed and numbered by Eisner and Harvey award–winning creator P. Craig Russell.”

Category: Tried and True Creator

Why I’m Excited: P. Craig Russell is one of the greatest artists of the medium, if you have the funds available this book will offer hours of enjoyment just going through the large-format pages appreciating the skill and thoughtfulness poured into lines. Many of the works have been colored in their initial publication but here the scans capture all of the subtle black and gray tones that are the result of intricate and detailed pen/pencil control. If you can stand to just look at the pictures on a screen and not feel the paper, there is a YouTube preview here. Otherwise ask your local comic shop to order it for you.

Wayne Alan Harold Productions

See you at the racks!