Thomm: You’re all over the board with that lead in. Image has been pushing new doors open in the last year or so, and, like Lee, I’m rewarding them with more purchases.
story KURTIS J. WIEBE
art / cover ROC UPCHURCH
incentive cover FIONA STAPLES
32 pgs / FC / $3.50
Who are the Rat Queens? A pack of booze-guzzling, death-dealing battle maidens-for-hire, and they're in the business of killing all gods' creatures for profit.
It's also a darkly comedic fantasy series starring Hannah the Rockabilly Elven Mage, Violet the Hipster Dwarven Fighter, Dee the Atheist Human Cleric and Betty the Hippy Hobbit Thief. This modern spin on an old school genre is a violent monster-killing epic that is like Buffy meets Tank Girl in a Lord of the Rings world on crack! Visit the artist here with a link to the Rat Queens facebook page.
Lee: As soon as I read “Atheist Human Cleric” I knew I had to pick this. That line is for you Thomm! Anyway, I wasn’t thrilled with Wiebe’s Peter Panzerfaust but I’m not willing to give up on him yet. I’ll give this a try. It doesn’t hurt that Upchurch’s art looks fantastic.
Thomm: Come on. Lord of the Rings parody? That’s a great premise. Can they match the body total of the original, though?
SEX CRIMINALS #1
story MATT FRACTION
art / cover CHIP ZDARSKY
32 pgs / FC / $3.50
A sex comedy for comics! Suzie's a normal girl with an extraordinary ability: when she has sex, she stops time. One night she meets John... who has the same gift. And so they do what any other sex-having, time-stopping, couple would do: they rob banks. Image Comics invites you to come along with Matt Fraction and Chip Zdarsky (Prison Funnies, Monster Cops) for the series that puts the "comic" back in "comics" and the "sexy" back in "sex crimes."
Lee: The concept sounds interesting enough and Fraction’s Hawkeye has been so good that I am sold. Zdarsky’s art seems solid enough so this should be fun.
Thomm: The sexy back in sex crimes? That’s a cringe worthy phrase. That aside, I’m thinking we have the potential for Todd: The Ugliest Kid on Earth level humor here.
story ALES KOT
art MICHAEL WALSH & JORDIE BELLAIRE
covers MICHAEL WALSH & TOM MULLER, BECKY CLOONAN, CHRIS BURNHAM
32 pgs / FC / $2.99
Saving the World. One Murder at a Time. Edward Zero is the perfect execution machine – a spy who breaks the rules to get things done. When a stolen device appears in the center of a long-running conflict, Zero comes to retrieve it. The problem is, the device is inside a living, breathing, bio-modified terrorist and there's an entire army after it.
Lee: Let’s be honest… the hype is less than appealing. In fact, it’s rather bland. So why am I talking about this? Because Kot’s run on Suicide Squad has been stellar! If he can write that well with DC editorial influence then imagine what he can do when he’s left to his own devices. This is either going to be a complete disaster if Kot can’t edit himself or over the top good. I’m betting good.
Thomm: I passed on the Suicide Squad this go round, so I’ll have to take Lee’s word for it. The blurb is not enticing.
story A.J. LIEBERMAN
art / cover RILEY ROSSMO
304 pgs/ FC / $39.99 Oversized HC
Collected at last in one giant, oversized, deluxe hardcover are both volumes of the critically acclaimed fan-favorite series Cowboy Ninja Viking! Featuring all the material in both trades plus brand new, never-before-seen extras! This is one gorgeous volume you'll want to add to your permanent collection!
Collects Cowboy Ninja Viking #1-10
Lee: This is the series that launched Rossmo’s career in one super shiney oversized hc collection. The art was a little muddy the first time so I am sure the extra space will really help it. Lieberman’s script started hot, went cold, and then got hot again. The series wasn’t perfect but it was entertaining.
Thomm: Rossmo’s the main reason to get this, especially if you’re an art guy like a certain someone. I wasn’t thrilled by the story.
story JIM McCANN art/cover JANET LEE
128 pgs / FC / $14.99
The Eisner Award-winning team behind Return of the Dapper Men reunite to create a completely different, and far more dangerous cosmos filled with intrigue as one gambler-turned-slave has 24 hours to go all in and pull off the greatest heist the universe has seen. Aboard a luxury star-cruiser whose glamour hides deep secrets that endanger the entire galaxy, will Roland choose his own freedom or expose the greatest lie hiding in plain sight? High risk stakes where either choice means someone will lose everything! Collects Lost Vegas #1-4
Lee: McCann’s work has always been hit/miss for me so that holds me back. But, Lee’s art is really, really good. I’m betting Lee’s influence will bring out the best in McCann (sorta like Lee’s influence on Thomm) and this will be good. It’s worth a look.
Thomm: Well, if that analogy didn’t turn you off from this book… On the merits, though, it looks like a good concept and I like a good heist caper.
Thomm: Some very interesting looking new series from Image. That’s what I’ve come to expect from them as they’ve moved beyond being a Kirkman platform (at least to me).
Lee: Yeah, it was late when I wrote the lead in. And, you are correct, Image has come a long long way from it's days of all things Kirkman.
No comments:
Post a Comment