Previews! (November 2015)

Here are some recommendations from this month’s Previews catalog for product shipping mostly in January. You can also see some pix that I took of other items from the catalog at my Instagram page (#previews).

Dark Horse

Hellboy gets a Winter Special one-shot, featuring art by Michael Avon Oeming and Tim Sale. Writing credits to Mike Mignola (natch!), Chris Roberson, and Chelsea Cain. I’m not big into Hellboy, but this looks like some potential wintertime fun.
But I am into Leaving Megalopolis by Gail Simone and Jim Calafiore, and there’s a sequel called Surviving Megalopolis. The first volume was a high octane survival tale in its own right, so I’m very interested to see where this six-issue tale in this universe takes me.

DC Comics

There’s a new Green Lantern Corps six-issue limited series: Edge of Oblivion. I like this idea of doing focused stories as limited series in lieu of an ongoing, sort of like how the Brits do short tv seasons.
Wonder Woman gets the obligatory origin story with the 9 issue Legend of Wonder Woman by Renae de Liz writing and arting, along with Ray Dillon. The preview image looks lovely.
There’s another miniseries with Poison Ivy: Cycle of Life and Death by Amy Chu and Clay Mann. I’m not as enamored with this character as many I’ve seen online are, but I support DC focusing on other characters besides Batman with these limited series.
This is interesting, and yet another six issue series: Suicide Squad Most Wanted: Deadshot/Katana. This appears to be two distinct stories in this first issue focusing on each of the titular characters, so I wonder if the rest of the series will be this way? I wonder why DC is doing this? It’s too soon at the front end to somehow tie in to the Suicide Squad movie, but the series will end close to the release. Why not start the series right before the movie? Perhaps they have other titles in the works.
Swamp Thing by Len Wein and Kelley Jones is the second DC miniseries that I will be getting. It’s Len Wein returning to his character along with the perfect artist for this.
Titans Hunt #4 features Hawk and Dove! I’m very excited about this because I love those characters.
Speaking of returning to the past, Batman/Superman #28 starts an arc examining one of the early adventures, and I’m a sucker for those ever since the New 52 began. It’s only three issues, so it’s not a huge commitment.
Robin War #2 ends the titular mini (?) event.
I didn’t read these but heard from many who enjoyed the Bat-Mite and Bizarro miniseries. These are now collected into trades.
If you’re newer or younger to comics and didn’t get into Dark Knight Returns like this old fogey but you’re interested because of the hubbub surrounding DK III, well, there’s a new edition of the trade for DKR.
The superhero fun of the Darkseid War in Justice League gets its first hard cover collection.
Speaking of Justice League, there’s a new trade collecting the initial Silver Age adventures of the team, if you’re so inclined.

IDW

If you’re a fan of George Perez’s Avengers run from the last century, then the Marvel Artist Select Series hardcover is for you. There will only be 999 copies made (and signed!), so order now!
DC gets similar treatment in an Artist’s Edition hardcover featuring the Best of DC War. This will feature material by Robert Kanigher, Russ Heath, Jack Kirby, Joe Kubert, John Severin, and Alex Toth.
The four issue miniseries Gutter Magic by Rich Douek and Brett Barkley looks interesting. I may not wait for the trade.
The Orions get the spotlight in a two-part tale starting in Star Trek #53. Also, the next John Byrne Star Trek: New Visions photobook features Mr. Checkov’s early days on the Enterprise.
If you were a fan of the webcomic Insufferable by Mark Waid and Peter Krause, or just knew of it but didn’t want to shell out the $4 per month entry fee for Thrillbent access, now you can get the first print collection of the series, which is pretty good.

Image

Image starts the new year with new story arcs on many titles, starting with Bitch Planet #6.
Even better, Nowhere Men returns with a new story arc starting with #7. Those first six issues were a hoot, and I’m happy to see this return after a 2+ year hiatus.
The Walking Dead #150!!! ZOMG!
I haven’t yet read the conclusion of Nameless by Grant Morrison, Chris Burnham, and Nathan Fairbairn, but I’m going to recommend you get the hard cover collection because its a trip.
Every Invincible trade collection that I order I ask myself if this is the last one, and I wonder the same thing with volume 22, Reboot.

Marvel

Bunch of new number ones and Star Wars comics that I’m not interested in.
The long awaited Captain America: White by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale gets a hard cover collection. I think I’ll wait for the trade.
However, this hard cover I will be getting: Miracleman: The Golden Age, Book 1 by Neil Gaiman and Mark Buckingham. We’re getting closer to new Gaiman Miracleman stories!
Do you like the early Spider-Man and X-Men stories? Then you’ll want the new omnibus printings.
Hmm, I might be interested in the Black Widow collection (Itsy-Bitsy Spider) of stories from 1999 and 2001 by Greg Rucka, Devin Grayson, J.G. Jones, and Scott Hampton.

Other publishers

Master comic storyteller Terry Moore has a new issue of Rachel Rising.
ZOMG! Boom is launching The Mighty Morphin Power Rangers with a zero issue and 7 different covers featuring each Ranger.
Remember Classic Illustrated? Well, they’re back with a vengeance in this month’s Previews with 10 titles! I wonder if the Les Miserables trade comes with a soundtrack?
First Second’s series of Greek god spotlight trades appeals to the younger me.
Supporting character Faith from Valiant’s Harbinger series gets a spotlight miniseries. Faith was a breath of fresh air in that series.