Well well welly well well...Look who has come back to read about the news they missed for the week. We meet after the shocking news of the new X-Men titles, which I won't be covering because they don't send me their press releases. How dare they?! As always this remains a pun free zone. If you spot one, please notify me immediately for a prize because I can claim contract tampering from the one Mr. Yeti. (I don't know what contract tampering actually means, I assume it doesn't fall under tree law) Continue on with me to the news!!!
NEWS
We start our delicious week with the news of a new book from the company Mad Cave and their imprint Maverick. On sale now is the book Silver Vessels by Steve Orlando and Katia Vecchio. This OGN is about a group of friends searching for treasure in the Florida Keys. Things are going to get exciting! I'm told Steve is available for interview- - please ignore that, that is for the rest of the Yeti team, Doug.
Moving on we come to the Oni Press section of our newsie bits. Starting with the OGN A Quick and Easy Guide to Coming Out. Kristin Russo and cartoonist Ravi Teixeira are covering the fear, joy and nuances of "coming out".
From the release: "Whether you're queer, trans, questioning, or anything in between, coming out to the folks in your life can be nerve-racking and stressful. Luckily, writer Kristin Russo and cartoonist Ravi Teixeira are here to guide you through the process, no matter where in your journey you are. From finding supportive resources, navigating awkward conversations, and embracing queer joy and community, this guide explores the twists and turns of coming out as every shade of LGBTQ+, helping you walk the path of sharing the truest you."
Book hits stores September 24th.
Rounding out the Oni Press news is the newly remastered and expanded Haphaven. By Norm Harper and Louie Joyce, Haphaven follows a kid who is fastidious in his avoidance of jinxes. When an accidental step on a crack breaks her mothers back she is forced to team with a leprechaun to save her mom.
This reaches shops June 4th.
We need the news with a pair of Image Comics releases. The Little Bird prequel series Precious Metal is coming! Re-pairing creators Darcy Van Poelgeest and Ian Bertram, we will see the earlier look at the dystopian American Empire.
The series is so large, they say the 6 issues will finish with nearly 300 pages. Look for it starting June 5th.
To end the news we run into Self Help from Image Comics imprint Syzygy. Novelists and writing duo Owen King and Jesse Kellerman work with artist Marianna Ignazzi for what they are calling California noir.
From the release: "In Self Help, readers are introduced to down-on-his-luck rideshare driver Jerry Hauser, whose existence is a bleak one…especially because every fare he picks up tells him how much he looks like ultra-successful self-help guru Darren Hart. But in a twist of fate, Jerry is given the chance of a lifetime…which, if he’s not careful, may well end his lifetime. So begins this rollicking and gleefully lurid pulp crime story."
If this is your sort of self help look for it June 19th.
CROWDFUNDING LAUNCHES
Huge launch of the week sees Brian Level uniting with Kurt Belcher for some grotesque horror. The Unsleeping Eye is a 40 page b&w comic following the odd happenings in the town of Mercurial.
From the campaign: "Strange and violent sorta-people known only as "Oddfellows" have besieged the small town of Mercurial. Unable to escape the chaotic place, several faithful citizens find themselves bound together and dedicated to chronicling and spreading knowledge of the weird and horrific events happening inside the city limits by way of a neighborhood newspaper that seems to be blessed. THE UNSLEEPING EYE, printed and compiled in a landlocked lighthouse at the edge of town. THE EYES distribute their paper to the people in hopes of staving off the evil that's made it's way to their town. Unnerving constructions, malevolent evangelists, and nightmare creatures of unknown origin are around every corner of Mercurial, and THE EYES intend on turning every one of those corners to learn the truth. Join them."
Click to back this book now!
Crowdfunding Specialist Jeff Rider has a new one-shot out now on Kickstarter. He teams with artist Jarret Katz for a prequel to Jeff's main title. Jarret is fresh off of being named a winner of Spawn cover contest. So you know that art is hot!
Sherlock Holmes is known the world over, but his nephew is ready to follow in his footsteps and take up the mantle of the Great Detective. In the thrilling new prequel stand-alone comic The Adventure of the Errant Slipper, we find a young Captain Sheffield Holmes serving in India with the British army and training with a very special unit. But when a man-eating tiger threatens the local populace and kills a fellow officer, Holmes uncovers a dark secret about his command and helps hunt both the tiger... and a murderer!
This team has already reached their goal, so hop in now for an exciting comic!
Comic wunderkind Winston Gambro has a new OGN campaign on Kickstarter. Host of Lights in the Sky, a paranormal radio show is over it. After years of dubious calls about ufos, bigfoot, and conspiracies, he’s become a cynical skeptic to all things alien. One of his biggest fans has an incredible claim: her baby was taken by extraterrestrials. She needs the host's help to get her back, no matter the cost.
Already at his goal you can back with no stress.
LEAVING CROWDFUNDING
Leaving Kickstarter March 27 is Our Sins are Scarlet. Writer Jordan Alsaqa and artist Skylar Partridge are doing a sexy espionage comic. A rookie handler finds herself caught in the orbit of an expert assassin in the opening chapter of this twisted espionage comic.
They have cleared their goal, so make sure you get in here an pick out one of these fantastic rewards they are offering.
Leaving Kickstarter March 27 is Thistle. J.L Collins and J. Schiek are making a fantasy comic. An elf ranger has volunteered to traverse a magical one-way portal though the mountains of the world on a mission of revenge against the Necromancer.
This comic has not made its goal yet. If you have the funds please help them make their goal!
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jlcollins/thistle?ref=discovery_category?ref=discovery_category
Leaving Kickstarter March 27 is Slice of Life. Phil Franco and Kat Calamia team with Valeria Peri for the collected edition of their comic. When gritty anime protagonist is brought to the real world by a super fan, she'll learn there's more to life than darkness and revenge...and she'll find love with the super fan's twin sister - a closeted cheerleader.
This campaign is funded, come get yourself a massive trade of the teams comic.
WHAT I WOOD BUY
I end this with a homage to something I adored from the old Comic Book Resource site. I dug into the Diamond Previews catalog and I tell you what I would buy if I had $5, $15 or magically $30 to spend on comics in a given week. Hopefully, I will bring on some friends and we can get some varied tastes and maybe help you find a new favorite?
If I Had $5
I walk into the comic shop with a crisp fiver this week, it is a no brainer I take home Man's Best issue 1. Writer Pornsak Pichetshote has teamed with artist Jesse Lonergan on a comic about a ship crash landing on an alien planet and the people onboard captured. Now its up to three emotional support pets, equipped with outrageous tech, to save their owners.
I remember being on a short family trip when I stumbled upon a comic shop. I happened upon a copy of Hedra by creator Jesse Lonergan. He was making pages of comics art that blew my mind. I will continue to purchase books with his art because I enjoy art that does something new and different.
If I Had $15
If I am lucky and have $15 to spend on comics this week I must immediately grab another comic from an outstanding artist, and that comic is Dawn Runner. This comic sees the energetic art of Evan Cagle paired with the galaxy-brained writer Ram V. I might not understand all that is going on in the previews pitch of the book, but this has mechs and a young pilot trying to combat an overwhelming invasion. Whew, that is the good stuff. Fresh and pure.
Additionally, I would pick up Dutch issue 2. I picked up the 0 issue on a whim and now I am hooked. (Technically I am subscribed to this book, but want to point more fans to it) Dutch sees Joe Casey exploring a 90's Image character in late age. He manages to make the titular Dutch feel fresh while hitting that 90's nostalgia you crave. Simon Gane does all the explosive action that can be rated on the Youngblood/WildC.A.T.S scale.
If I Had $30
And if I stumble into the shop with $30 after negotiating for a non-existent raise from my non-existent boss, I would add Ms. Marvel The New Mutant on to my pile. This has the collection of Ms. Marvel 1-4 that was written by the Ms. Marvel actress Iman Vellani and drawn by Adam Gorham. I don't know much about the mini-series but my kid and I enjoy the character so this would be an easy win at home.