Comics I’m Picking Up the Week of August 14, 2019

Here are the books I’m looking forward to seeing at my local comic store the week of August 14, 2019.

White Trees

Publisher: Image Comics
Words/Story: Chip Zdarsky
Art/Colors: Kris Anka

“In the fantastical world of Blacksand, peace was hard-won, and three unbending warriors carry the scars to prove it. Now, almost twenty years later, their children are missing and war is on the horizon. Can they put aside their memories of the war-and each other—for one last adventure?”

Category: Tried and True Creators

Why I’m Excited: Kris Anka has become one of my favorite artists working in comics now. The way he draws males reminds me of that meme of Hugh Jackman on the cover of Good Housekeeping (vs. Wolverine on Men’s Health). His work with Brian Michael Bendis on X-Men made the characters seem more like cool people I would want to hang out with. His work with Rainbow Rowell on Runaways brought the characters into the modern era (as if they were Instagram influencers) and dressed them in the fashions I see walking down the street. He’s an artist redefining what it looks like to be a superhero. That Chip guy is having a stellar year too.

Image Comics

Once & Future

Publisher: BOOM! Studios
Words/Story: Kieron Gillen
Art/Colors: Dan Mora

“When a group of Nationalists use an ancient artifact to bring a villain from Arthurian myth back from the dead to gain power, ex–monster hunter Bridgette McGuire escapes her retirement home and pulls her unsuspecting grandson Duncan, a museum curator, into a world of magic and mysticism to defeat a legendary threat.

Gillen and Mora explore the mysteries of the past, the complicated truths of our history, and the power of family to save the day—especially if that family has secret bunkers of ancient weapons and decades of experience hunting the greatest monsters in Britain’s history!”

Category: Return to a Beloved World

Why I’m Excited: Recent news stories about the print run for this issue being doubled at the last minute (I’m not sure it’s correct to call it a second printing before the release date) gives me pause concerning the DH marketing team. How they didn’t realize they had a best seller on their hands after seeing Dan Mora’s initial pages is a head scratcher. Top indie creators tackling an evergreen metaphor with art this good seems like a no brainier—but what do I know about comics retailing? Or maybe it’s just me, excited to to see my husband’s doppelganger in a sword and sorcery book.

BOOM! Studios

Strayed

Publisher: Dark Horse
Words/Story: Carlos Giffoni
Art/Colors: Juan Doe

“In the far future, a military-industrial complex reigns over all humanity and actively destroys distant alien worlds. The galaxy’s only hope can be found through an unlikely pair: an astral-projecting cat named Lou and his loving owner Kiara. Trading nine lives for the well-being of billions, their revolt is a battle for love, friendship, compassion, and the soul of humanity. ”

Category: Support Emerging Creators

Why I’m Excited: An astral-projecting cat, you say? Take my money! This seems like a fresh take on what one does when they realize that they work for an organization that’s evil (or at least doing something questionable). Do you stay and fight/sabotage/change it from the inside? Or do you run and use the insider knowledge to arm the “rebellion” to destroy it from the outside? I’m also a fan of exploring how companioning an animal enhances one’s humanity (and not having it be a dog).

Dark Horse Comics

Omni

Publisher: Humanoids
Words/Story: Devin Grayson
Art/Colors: Alitha Martinez

“A young doctor mysteriously acquires superpowers and quickly discovers that she’s not the only one. There are people all over the planet Igniting with powers, but only her power can answer ‘why’ . . .

Cecelia Cobbina is a gifted doctor. Vibrant, compassionate, and praised by both her peers and her patients. But that was before the incident in Africa. Before she was forced to leave her job at Doctors Without Borders behind. Before she gained the ability to think faster than the speed of light. Overwhelmed with the power to answer almost every question, she must now overcome her own fears and tackle the one code she can’t seem to break: the truth behind the Ignited.”

Category: Support Emerging Creators

Why I’m Excited: For all the steps to add gender and ethnic heritage diversity to their books made by the big two (three?) publishers, the real advances are being made by the even smaller presses. Both Humanoids and Lion Forge have recently launched “universes” (assumedly to allow more diversity) to interact on future occasions. Known for bringing European graphic novels to the American market, Humanoids is in a unique position to understand what other international markets are looking for in terms of story structure and content. I wonder if this new initiative will push content the other direction across the Atlantic.

Humanoids

See you at the racks!