Here are some recommendations from this month’s Previews catalog for product shipping mostly in September.

Dark Horse

• I first saw Paybacks previewed at ECCC 2015, and it looked fun enough to try, so now I can. I do wonder if the parody has legs for an ongoing.
• Also seen at ECCC 2015 was Aaron Lopresti’s Power³ (or Power Cubed). I like Lopresti’s art well enough, but he’s doing everything on this mini-series. The only issue I have based solely on the description is how much tension can there be when the main character has a device that conjure anything he wants? Maybe he’s limited by his own imagination, like I would be?

DC Comics

• Every time I read “Donna Troy” in a Wonder Woman solicitation, I want to resubscribe, but word on my street is this new direction ain’t so wonderful (but I’m guessing I may get the trade).
• Artist Jock is back with Scott Snyder in Batman #44 to tell the origin of new villain, Mr. Bloom.
• Batman Annual #4 reveals that Bruce Wayne is alive. Given how Endgame ended, I’m very curious what that experience has done to Bruce and his future as Batman.
• This month features Green Lantern variant covers, and Detective Comics #44 showcases Batman of course and Golden Age Alan Scott Green Lantern. I really want to get this issue just for that variant.
• Grayson #12 has Dick returning to Gotham, and the second annual teams Dick up with Superman.
• That Lee Berjemo We Are…Robin #4 cover is pretty cool.
• Convergence arrives again, but this time in collected form: the main series gets a HC edition, while the two-issue mini-series are collected in various trades divided by “event” (Crisis, Zero Hour, etc.).
• Teen Titans: Earth One arrives in trade as well (you can skip it…).
• Catwoman gets a 75-year HC collection, and Batman gets a Golden Age Omnibus edition.
• If you loved Scott Snyder’s and Jim Lee’s Superman Unchained and wanted a trade, here you go.
• Over in Vertigo, Sandman: Overture finally completes AND you can order the deluxe edition as well.

IDW

• Star Wars gets the Artifact treatment spotlighting the first ten issues of Marvel’s seminal run.
• Atomic Robo is now calling IDW home, and to celebrate, you can order a new mini-series (Atomic Robo and The Ring of Fire) and The Everything Explodes Collection trade ($40). I am very tempted to get that trade.
• The Infinite Loop ends with #6, so if you were trade waiting, wait a bit longer and then go buy it!
• I was intrigued by the Amelia Cole and the Impossible Fate trade, then realized it was not the first one. I may start reading this series from Monkeybrain Comics.

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• Plutona sounds good: kids find the dead body of the world’s greatest superhero, and Emi Lenox is doing the art.
• I’m also interested in Faster Than Light because of one line from the copy: “With all the idealism of the original Star Trek and the grit and immediacy of Gravity, the story of humanity’s first thrilling and terrifying adventures to the stars takes flight!”. I don’t give a hoot about the Augmented Reality connection–put the cool stuff in the comic, not an app.
• I’m totally getting the new version of the Science Is the New Rock ‘n’ Roll t-shirt.

Marvel

• The almost forgotten Jeph Loeb/Tim Sale collaboration Captain America: White is finally back with the first two issue (of 5). Issue one is extra-sized with a reprint of #0.
• The Mark Waid/Chris Samnee run on Daredevil comes to a close with #18. sigh
• The Neil Gaiman run on Miracleman begins to be reprinted.
• To capitalize on the immense popularity of Agents of SHIELD (I guess?), a bunch of the characters get one shots. It’s striking how much Agent May on the cover of her one-shot does not look like the actress at all. Maybe that’s intentional?
• Hey, fans of Damage Control, not you can get that complete collection trade! I’ve never read the series, but always wanted to.

Other publishers

• Boom is issuing a new Wild’s End mini-series (The Enemy Within) by Dan Abnett and INJ Culbard. Plus, you can get the trade of the first mini.
• The Third Witch tugs at my literary heart: it’s about the witches from Shakespeare’s MacBeth.
• Finally from Boom, the 128-page Peanuts: A Tribute to Charles M. Schulz. That realistic drawing of Charlie Brown on the cover kind of freaks me out.
• Chartwell Books is collecting the War Years for Wonder Woman, Superman, and Batman, each in their own book.
• Dynamite is throwing Vampirella against Aliens for six issues. I’m so surprised to see an Alien anything these days.
• Sadness. Uncanny, Season Two is ending with issue 6. Hopefully I’ll–I mean we’ll–get a season 3!
• Are you a fan of E-Man? Me neither, but in case someone is, now that someone can order the 10-issue Charleton Comics run in one $28 trade.
• Want a lesson on how not to write solicitation copy? Read the blurb for Moon Streak #1 (hint: don’t include a hashtag as part of your sentence. Or at all.).
• Colleen Doran is drawing Stan Lee’s Amazing, Fantastic, Incredible, and Marvelous memoir. I don’t know, this might too much Stan the Man for me.
• I think I’m going to have to get the Dick Grayson, Boy Wonder book celebrating 75 years of the Dickster.

What are you ordering this month?

Here are some thoughts and recommendations about this month’s Previews catalog for product shipping mostly in July.

Dark Horse

• Remember Barb Wire? I barely do too. Anyway, she’s back! The Adam Hughes covers will likely be worthwhile.
• The Tomorrows miniseries by Curt Pires and Jason Copeland sounds like Transmet if Spider Jerusalem was a team of angsty youngsters (I’m totally reading into this).
• The New Deal HC by Jonathan Case looks and sounds like a good read.
• Finally! The Lady Killer tpb is offered! Now I can preorder this and not feel like I’m missing out on what all the cool kids are saying is a fun period romp.

DC

• The final member of the New 52 version of the Justice League (and former New Teen Titan in another, better DCU ;) gets his own solo series. Cyborg is by David Walker, Ivan Reis, and Joe Prado. Because it’s Cyborg and that it’s being drawn by Ivan Reis, I’ll give it a shot.
• Interesting that DC is coming out with two one-shots starring versions of Batman and Superman from the upcoming Justice League: Gods and Monsters animated movie, but Wonder Woman’s absence is conspicuous (but at least DC Collectibles is releasing an action figure).
• What looks to be the pre-Crisis Supergirl is in Justice League 3001 #2. Now I kind of want to read this series.
• The Batgirl Annual guest stars Helena Bertinelli and a certain former Robin. While I’m not buying the series, I’ll be getting this.
• Speaking of Dick Grayson, his self-titled series features his interaction with the man who killed him in Forever Evil, Lex Luthor (who looks more like a Silver Age Brainiac without the electrodes).
• Never one to not milk a fan favorite creator, DC/Vertigo is releasing the two-issue The Children’s Crusade bookends by writer Neil Gaiman, along with a new “middle” chapter by Toby Litt and Peter Gross.

IDW

• IDW continues its string of franchise crossovers with Star Trek/Green Lantern: The Spectrum War six-issue miniseries. I have to admit, seeing two of my favorite space series crossover does appeal to me, but I’ll probably wait for the trade on this one.
• I talked about this new miniseries in my Emerald City Comicon podcast episode, but now you can preorder Onyx, an all-new character/concept from the company.
• Here’s a high-concept series for you: Godzilla in Hell. That about says it all, doesn’t it?
• If you’re a fan of adaptations, you can indulge yourself with The Shrinking Man, an adaptation of Richard Matheson’s story.
• John Byrne entices me with a Star Trek: New Visions story featuring Gary Seven!
• If you were waiting for the trade to read October Faction, you can now order it. But be warned, the story is s l o w going.

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• There are a few creators whose new work I will simply buy. Brian K. Vaughan is one of those creators. I will be buying his new series, We Stand on Guard (with art by Steve Skroce). What will our former friends the Canadians do when we invade their country?! I’m dying to find out.
• I really want to support a comics magazine, but Island is asking a bit much with an $8 price tag. I need to think about this one.
• There’s another Criminal trade (The Last of the Innocent) for you to preorder.
• Also: Bitch Planet vol 1 tpb, Supreme: Blue Rose tpb.
• The Dodson drawn series Red One gets a hard cover, but of the first two issues (and some bonus material)?! It’s only $15, but two issues? Wth, Image?

Marvel

• The OHOTMU fan in me wants to get the Secret Wars: Official Guide to the Marvel Multiverse, but is this a one shot or the start of multiple issues? This is 64 pages, so I’m guessing the former.
• Simone Bianchi replaces John Cassaday on Star Wars with issue 7, and Stuart Immonen is doing the art on issue #8.
• I really want to get the Avengers: Ultron Forever tpb because Al Ewing wrote it and Alan Davis drew it. It also includes some reprints featuring Ultron so that Marvel can justify the $17 price tag.
• Speaking of buying things because of an artist, I may get the Angela: Asgard’s Assassin tpb because of Phil Jimenez’s pencils.
• I’ve heard some good things about the Operation S.I.N. series, featuring Peggy Carter, so I may get the trade.
• Watch out! Marvel is finally reprinting the Christopher Priest Black Panther series that I’ve heard is so good (I have #1-12 of the singles). This is the vol. 1 of the Complete Collection containing issues 1-17.
• Sweet Christmas! Power Man and Iron Fist get an Epic Collection (22 issues) that shows the beginning of their partnership.

Other publishers

• Ok, Archie has officially jumped the shark (probably literally) with Archie vs. Sharknado.
• Archaia/Boom’s new OGN Long Walk to Valhalla (by Adam Smith and Matthew Fox) evokes the fan favorite I Kill Giants OGN, but still sounds interesting enough on its own.
• Are you a fan of Mouse Guard? Then you just might want the The Art of Mouse Guard 2005-2015 HC.
• Dynamite is giving us a new The Spirit series by Matt Wagner and Dan Schkade to commemorate the Will Eisner character’s 75th anniversary.
• Grant Morrison is back on a new series 18 Days with artist Jeevan Kang from Graphic India. I’m not sure what it’s about, but I have to try it out.
• Graphic India also has a new Stan Lee creation, Chakra the Invincible. Have you heard of Graphic India before? Me neither.
• Twomorrows is printing the next volume in its American Comic Book Chronicles series covering 1965-1969. I have the 1980s book and it is wonderful.
• Oh, I will be preordering this new printing of Will Eisner’s A Contract With God tpb. WW Norton has a bunch more Will Eisner books and related materials.

What are you ordering this month?