The August comic book solicitations have escaped into the wild, and we at The Weekly Crisis have gone hunting. We've tracked down some of the best, worst, and coolest things that will be hitting stands come the last month of summer so that you don't have to. So hit the jump to get a glimpse of your potential comic book future!
Grant's Thoughts
Best Things in August
Anthology Vampire
American Vampire continues to be on hiatus, which is the bad news, but this month sees an anthology that features not only Scott Snyder and Rafael Albuquerque, but a whole slew of amazing creators. I'd love to give you more than a simple laundry list of who will be working on the book, but when that list includes Jeff Lemire, Greg Rucka, Gail Simone, Gabriel Ba, Fabio Moon, Becky Cloonan, Francesco Francavilla, Declan Shalvey, and others it's hard to avoid. This book is should be all kinds of fun, and even though I'm not the biggest fan of DC's 80 page comic prices, I'll probably be making an exception to snag myself a copy of it.
Nic Klein Finds a New Home
Nic Klein has been killing things with his phenomenal art on Winter Soldier with Jason Latour, but with that book ending in June, Klein's name was conspicuously absent from Marvel's July solicitations (beyond covers for Secret Avengers and the Winter Soldier trade collection, neither of which really count in my opinion). Thankfully, Marvel is transplanting him to Jason Aaron's Thor: God of Thunder with issue #12. I understand that the series is already awesome, so Klein's arrival should only make things better. And while Latour remains without a Marvel title, his artistry can still be found in the pages of Vertigo's Django Unchained comic book adaptation, which sees another issue this month, all is not lost.
Worst Things in August
DC has answered the prayers of fans everywhere I don't even know who and is launching a DC - Masters of the Universe crossover. What the heck is going on here? I can't imagine that anyone has been clamouring for this book. I mean, what do DC's heroes and He-Man have to do with each other? Beyond wearing questions costumes, that is. And as much as I like what I've seen of Dexter Soy, neither he nor Keith Giffen can really be qualified as any of DC's heavy hitters. So while it remains a mystery as to why DC wants to make this happen, it seems pretty clear that it's going to be dead on arrival.
Coolest Things in August
Sina Grace and Daniel Freedman will be dropping Burn the Orphanage: Born to Lose #1 on an unsuspecting world, and while there's still a lot of unanswered questions surrounding this book, the fact that its aiming to recapture the era of side-scrolling brawler video games is already enough to grab my attention. This book looks like it could be a fistful of fun, and I can't wait to give it a look.
Trillium Blooms!
Jeff Lemire is a top flight talent. He's writing some of DC's best books right now, and he's more than proven he's just as skilled an artist with his work on books like The Underwater Welder and Sweet Tooth. August sees him start up his newest series, an 8-issue book titled Trillium featuring a love story between two lovers who are separated by nearly two thousand years. What more, their love is going to lead to the end of reality itself. If that's not one of the highest concepts you've encountered, I don't know what to tell you. This book is going to be amazing, and you should already be getting excited for it. I know I am.
Hansel's Thoughts
Matt Kindt Double Dosage
There are few books being printed today that give you such a deep and engrossing story like Matt Kindt's MIND MGMT. In August we will be lucky to get the second collected edition and continue with the story.
MIND MGMT easily has three stories in each single issue. The first interior page, the main story, the last three pages are usually their own little deal and in the side bar of every page there is scrolling text that add to this crazy world Matt is building. I urge you to try this book out.
Worst Things in August
DC: Where's the Beef?
DC brings the hammer down on Threshold #8, Dial H #15, Demon Knights #23, and Legoin of Super-heroes #23. Fans of these titles I ask you: Do you take this in stride? Do you take your dollars back to DC for other titles you were unsure of? I myself will miss Dial H and Demon Knights. The latter was losing steam but Dial H was a unique character piece among the rehashed heroes DC keeps milling out.
I think I'll just let my DC pile dwindle down for a while and see what other books get my attention.
Coolest Things in August
Aw Yeah, Hellboy!
Itty Bitty Hellboy! WHAT?!? YES! A tiny cute Hellboy and friends coming at you by the amazing Art Baltazar and Franco! Look at it!
Look at it one more time! I can not wait to dig in to this! Hopefully I will be wrapped in my new NOWHERE MEN “WORLD CORP TEST DIVISON” T Shirt!!!!
Ken's Thoughts
Best Things in August
Infinity
We can be honest here, right? Most Marvel events are nothing but hot air, promising big changes but never delivering on anything that really lasts after a few months, or just rest things from the last big event. Look at Age of Ultron for something that looks to have no real impact outside of a Neil Gaiman Image character appearing.
Infinity looks to be different, if only because this is Hickman getting to steer the whole event, tying in his Avengers and New Avengers work which has been at the top of the quality list since the NOW! relaunch. I'd be genuinely surprised if this doesn't feel like it's actually going to have a real pay-off.
Fables Encyclopedia
The Handbooks of the Marvel Universe always seemed to be out of date the moment they were released, especially in today's comic world. But I think it's because Willingham has had near complete control over everything Fables that makes this Encyclopedia stand out more. Plus you have James Jean returning, that beautiful Adam Hughes cover, and commentary from the regular creators that makes this seem like it will still be something to flip through two to three years from now.
Worst Things in August
DC's Cancellations
It's a fact of the publishing life, but DC has pretty much culled all their cosmic stuff outside of Green Lantern. But Threshold, multiple Legion books, these weren't the books that really had a chance to begin with. Hopefully DC realizes they don't need 52 books just to work with that arbitrary number, or this is going to happen a lot more.
Coolest Things in August
Kaine vs. Doc Ock, Round Two
A fight that needed to happen since Superior Spider-Man began. Kaine won the first fight pretty easily, choosing a neck snap to make Otto rest in peace. This being comics, however, it meant nothing. Now with the marketing might of Marvel behind him, will Otto even the score for this crossover?
Nevin's Thoughts
Best Things in August
Hawkeye Vol. 1 HC
Okay. This looks… awesome, bro! Seriously bro, a HC collection of the first 11 issues of Matt Fraction and David Aja’s amazing Hawkeye sounds like a sweet dish of kick ass that will blow your mind so hard you’re concussions will have concussions. I can’t wait, bro.
The Legend of Luther Strode Vol. 2
Even though the second art of the Luther Strode hasn’t been nearly as smart as the first, there has been some wonderful Tradd Moore porn art. Moore’s art makes my eyes feel dirty for looking at art so beautiful and kinetic. I can’t wait to have this in trade format.
Saga #13 (FINALLY)
“We’d already been there a week.” How can you leave me like that for over three months?! Time to find out how Hazel and her parents’ meeting with D. Oswald Heist went (FINALLY).
The Worst Things in August
Locke & Key: Alpha #1
The end approaches; I am sad. F*ck you for making me cry, Joe Hill.
The Coolest Things in August
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Villain Microseries #5: Karai
I’ve always been a TMNT fan. The Archie books were probably some of the first comics I ever read. Corey Smith’s art has been on my radar for awhile now (look at the way he draws the Turtles, I love it), so seeing him with a chance to draw anything TMNT related is a major plus.
Invincible Compendium, Vol. 2 TP
I’m a big fan of compendiums. I toss them around to friends when there is a series I really want them to read. I’ve given out my two Walking Dead compendiums to so many people now that I really can’t keep track of where they are located. These are a great way to get people to jump into a series, and Invincible is a series everyone should be reading. There is so much good, violent superhero story and art in here. I can’t wait to make friends read it.
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3 comments:
Yeah: Herobaer and the Kid:Inheretence, Itty Bitty Hellboy, East of West and Morning Glories TPB's.
Strange: Last month I joked about another issue of Batman Inc. Will this really be the last issue?
Doubt: JLA Earth 2 HC. I have the TPB, but extra oversised Quitley pages sounds interesting. How do you guys think about it?
Annoyed: I,m still looking for Hellboy Library #2 in the backissue section. I'm from the Netherlands and don't use creditcards. So my hope lies in Diamond Comics.
A Hickman event (Infinity) is much more promising than any of Bendis' previous events.
Am I missing the comic book moments of the week? Where did it go today?
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