Post-Crisis Comic Book Previews for 10/30/13

We're moving ever closer to All Hallows' Eve, and while that promises to be filled with potential spookiness, you can rest assured that our Post-Crisis Comic Book Previews remain spook-free!  Indeed, there's plenty of treats on the docket, including Saga #15, Itty Bitty Hellboy #3, and lots more.  So please join me on the other side to take a look at all this comic book goodness!

Major Releases

PLANETOID TP Volume 1

Written by Ken Garing

Art by Ken Garing

Silas, an ex-soldier turned space pirate, finds himself stranded on a mysterious planet in alien territory. As he explores the long-abandoned industrial ruins of the planet's surface, he will have to fend off roving cyborg militias and a hostile alien military with a bounty on his head. Ultimately, Silas will have to build a coalition amongst the planetoid's nomadic tribes in order to make a final stand against the larger tyrannical forces that rule over them. Collects PLANETOID #1-5 

Grant: So you may have gathered that I was a pretty big fan of Ken Garing's most excellent science fiction comic, Planetoid.  I raved about it at every opportunity I could, because it was a fantastic combination of beautiful art, fascinating storytelling devices, and an engaging narrative.  Tomorrow sees it finally collected in trade, and if you've been trade waiting for the book, you should have this on the top of your list.  You will not be disappointed.

SAGA #15

Written by Brian K. Vaughan

Art by Fiona Staples

Everything starts coming together. 

Grant: I love this cover.  Alana's steamy romance novel has already played a huge role in pushing Saga's story forward, and it looks like there's still more for it to do.  Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples continue to wow comic book readers with their delicious collaboration, and at this point, it's hard to imagine not following this whole story through to its ultimate conclusion - whenever that may or may not be.

SANDMAN: OVERTURE #1

Written by Neil Gaiman

Art by J.H. Williams III

Twenty-five years since THE SANDMAN changed the landscape of modern comics, Neil Gaiman's legendary series is back! THE SANDMAN: OVERTURE heralds New York Times best-selling writer Neil Gaiman's return to the art form that made him famous, ably abetted by artistic luminary JH Williams III (BATWOMAN, PROMETHEA), whose lush, widescreen images provide an epic scope to The Sandman's origin story. From the birth of a galaxy to the moment that Morpheus is captured, THE SANDMAN: OVERTURE will feature cameo appearances by fan-favorite characters such as The Corinthian, Merv Pumpkinhead and, of course, the Dream King's siblings: Death, Desire, Despair, Delirium, Destruction and Destiny.

"People have often asked me what happened to Morpheus to make it possible for him to be captured in THE SANDMAN #1," Gaiman said. "And now they get to find out. And finding out, they get to learn secrets of the Endless that I've kept to myself for 25 years. Family secrets. And I should warn you: one of the Endless dies on page five."

The first issue of this 6-issue, bimonthly miniseries features a stunning double-page interior foldout. 

Grant: Confession time: I've never read any of Neil Gaiman's Sandman.  So while I recognize that Sandman: Overture is inherently a big deal, I cannot count myself among those excited to read it.  I have plenty of trades to work through before this kind of thing is going to have any kind of meaning to me.  Better get on that, I guess.

New Kids on the Block

ADVENTURE TIME 2013 SPOOOKTACULAR #1

Written by Derek Fridolfs and Roger Langridge

Art by Derek Fridolfs, Dustin Nguyen & Roger Langridge

WHY WE LOVE IT: The surreal, post-apocalyptic world of Ooo is already a little bit spooky, which makes it perfect for a collection of funnily scary stories.

WHY YOU WILL LOVE IT:This time of year, everyone loves a good scare! Why not get in the spirit with all of your favorite characters from Cartoon Network’s top-rated series?

Grant: A surprising dearth of Halloween stories thus far, but fear not because kaboom! has you covered with a holiday-themed issue of Adventure Time.  While it's not our usual team of North, Paroline, and Lamb, I must admit that Derek Fridolfs, Roger Langridge, and Dustin Nguyen are pretty decent substitutes.  At this point I have a hard time imagining a bad Adventure Time comic, so you better believe I'll be all over this book.

DAMIAN: SON OF BATMAN #1

Written by Andy Kubert

Art by Andy Kubert

Damian Wayne, the son of Batman, has adopted the cape and cowl as his own . . . but what horrific events set this troubled hero on the path of his dark destiny?

The story of Damian Wayne begins in this epic miniseries written and drawn by one of Damian's co-creators, Andy Kubert! 

Grant: While I'm not really on the DC train in much of a capacity at present, part of me is intrigued at the concept of this miniseries.  With Damian dead and this story taking place in the Batman #666 continuity, it's hard to see how this has anything to do with the New 52, which is a good thing in my books.  While it's hard to believe we'll ever see an actual return to DC's Elseworlds series of titles, it's always at least somewhat refreshing to see some out-of-continuity comics.

FIVE GHOSTS #6

Written by Frank J. Barbiere

Art by Garry Brown

NOW AN ONGOING SERIES! Fabian travels to Japan to aid an old ally in the search for a mythical weapon: the legendary sword known as MASAMUNE! A special stand-alone tale featuring artist GARRY BROWN (The Massive, Mass Effect)! 

Grant: I remain quite pleased to see that Five Ghosts has become an ongoing series.  Frank J. Barbiere and Christopher Mooneyham rolled some fast and fun pulp stories with those first five issues, so it's great to see that rewarded by reader buy-in and a new lease on life as a continuing book.  I also dig the idea of bringing Fabian Gray back in a one-shot to reintroduce him and his world to readers.  A good way to introduce new readers and remind old ones what this series is all about.  Of course, it doesn't hurt to have a talented artist like Garry Brown on board for the issue either.

WILD BLUE YONDER #3

Written by Mike Raicht and Austin Harrison

Art by Zach Howard

Before he can become a full member of the Dawn, Tug will have to pass one last test. . . getting past Scram. Plus, the crew of The Dawn will be put to the test when an unexpected attack comes from irradiated Sky-Pirates. 

Grant: It's been a mighty long time since the last Wild Blue Yonder issue came out (July, if memory serves), but some things are worth the wait.  While this series hasn't been perfect, I would nonetheless argue that it is one of those things.  Mike Raicht and Austin Harrison have created an interesting post-apocalyptic world of flight and sky-piracy, and Zach Howard has done a heck of a job realizing the whole thing with his art.

You May Have Missed

ITTY BITTY HELLBOY #3

Written by Art Baltazar and Franco

Art by Art Baltazar

It had to happen! Because you demanded it! Hellboy and the gang go to the fiery pits of HELL! How did they get there anyway? ALSO, our B.P.R.D. heroes' search for Sasquatch continues! But what does Rasputin have to do with all this? OOOOH! Is he just trying to scare us? You WILL find out in this exciting issue!!!

* Highly recommended by Franco's mom.

* AW YEAH!!!! HELLBOY! 

Grant: Art Baltazar and Franco are honestly two of the nicest people you will find in the comic book industry, and so I'm extra pleased to see them succeeding with their latest Aw Yeah venture of Itty Bitty Hellboy.  An all-ages Hellboy book sounds ludicrous, but Art and Franco have brought along their usual charm and wit to make such a venture reality.  And what's a Hellboy book without a little Hell?  Check out this week's issue to find out!

TRUE LIVES OF THE FABULOUS KILLJOYS #5

Written by Gerard Way and Shaun Simon

Art by Becky Cloonan

"To put it as clearly as possible . . . there is something wrong with you and we are going to fix it."

Better Living Industries works to reeducate Korse and is met with deadly consequences just as the Girl learns lessons from her forgotten past. The big battle is brewing in the sands of the desert as the Killjoys march on Battery City!

* From Gerard Way, creator of The Umbrella Academy!

* One of Wired magazine's and IGN's Most Anticipated Comics of 2013!

"Buy into the hype. Killjoys . . . is killin' it."-Newsarama 

Grant: After quite a bit of initial set up, The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys has really been hitting its stride the last two issues.  Now that we're two issues out from the conclusion, I'm mighty eager to see how the whole thing is going to shake out.  Gerard Way, Shaun Simon, and Becky Cloonan have been weaving some most excellent comics.

Pick of the Week

As usual, there are lots of great issues dropping this week, but my pick has to go to the Planetoid trade that's releasing on the morrow.  Ken Garing's work was so strong that I still think back fondly on some of the scenes in that series (particularly from issue #3...), so I'm excited at the prospect of more people picking it up (and grabbing myself another copy of the book as well).

What about yourselves?  Which titles are you hotly anticipating?

Related Posts