Hellboy: An Assortment Of Horrors

Hellboy has been in the news quite a bit lately, from the roller coaster that was Ed Skrien’s casting as Ben Daimio to David Harbour’s beefcake reveal. Aside from movie news, there has been pieces on how he is a timely hero in an age where Nazis are a thing again, as well as enjoying a slew of new releases this year. The most recent is a short story anthology, Hellboy: An Assortment of Horrors.

If you’re only familiar with Hellboy’s origin story or the Del Toro films, this is an easy book to get into. The stories are stand-alone features and do not draw much on the big events that have unfolded in Mike Mignola’s comics over the years; there are few references to the Nazis, and I don’t recall any mention of the Plague of Frogs, Rasputin or Baba Yaga. There are some quick references, but nothing that will make you feel lost. Even if you’ve only seen the 2004 movie, just keep in mind that in the comics, Liz and Hellboy never date and you’re good to go.

Short story anthologies from various writers are sometimes hard to review, but the quality here is mostly consistent. I only disliked one or two stories, and even then I just found myself speeding through them rather than actively hating what I was reading. It wasn’t so much that I thought they were terrible, just less enjoyable than the others.

Fans of comics know that when new writers take over a character, it’s common to see their personality totally change to fit the new writer’s view. This isn’t the case here. What is particularly lovable about Hellboy is that even when he’s snarky, he’s ultimately a sweetheart. The stories range over the decades and different periods of his life, but each writer nails what makes Hellboy, Hellboy. The Other Side Of Summer by Chris Roberson, for example, takes place in 1950 when Hellboy is five and decides to investigate a haunting with a girl he just met. Most other stories cover cases he takes on as an adult BPRD agent, but it’s really great to see his brief childhood years covered as well.

There is a story or two that seemed to have been written to showcase an original character the writer thinks is cool rather than concentrate on established ones; The Duelist by Jonathan Maberry features a hot young woman named Lilah who is mildly psychic after a few years of dropping acid and we’re supposed to care. The story works just fine without her. It’s not the only story to have an original character, of course, it just feels like a waste of space to read how pale Lilah’s breasts are, and how she folds her arms under her breasts, when we could be focusing on the ghost haunting her town.

There are some great original characters here, mostly by having Hellboy observed from their point of view. Fire Is The Devil’s Only Friend by Michael Rowe does this extremely well, and I think is my favorite story out of the collection. It focuses mostly on a little girl named Hazel, her mother and the mother’s scheming boyfriend. When Hazel is targeted by a child sacrificing cult, she sends out a psychic cry for help that Hellboy picks up on. Hazel and her family aren’t perfect, and she isn’t exactly a cool new character to show off; mostly, she’s a scared and troublesome young girl that Hellboy has to race to save, and it’s genuinely suspenseful and touching.

Other BPRD characters do get some focus. We are treated to two stories all about Liz Sherman, and one focusing on Kate Corrigan, BPRD’s folklorist. Chelsea Cain’s One More Radical Stone Fox follows a teenage Liz Sherman as she runs away from BPRD Headquarters, and it’s one story I wish I could see in comic format. In fact, I’d follow a whole series by Chelsea Cain about teenage Liz Sherman; Mike Mignola writes women well, but Cain absolutely nails a relatable Liz that explores her past and her powers without delving into self pity or unbearable teen angst.

Really, all this anthology was missing was Abe Sapien.

Hellboy: An Assortment of Horrors was published on August 29th by Dark Horse Books and is available wherever fine books are sold.

Megan “Spooky” Crittenden is a secluded writer who occasionally ventures from her home to give aid to traveling adventurers.

Make a Solicit Check - Best of June 2017 Comics Solicitations

There are many comics coming out every month, it’s easy to lose track of promising new releases. That’s why we here at Critical Writ have started "Make a Solicit Check" — a monthly column devoted to the most interesting announcements.

This month: non-compliant ladies, ice-controlling superheroes and Lovecraftian eldritch monstrosities from beyond time.

10. Hush, Little Baby

Babyteeth #1 - Donny Cates, Garry Brown (Aftershock)

Oh, this one can go really good or horribly wrong. Thus far, Donny Cates had a winning string with Buzzkill, Paybacks, the amazing God Country and the upcoming Redneck; taking the fantastic and looking at it through a more human lens. For instance, God Country is Thor/Kirby's New Gods from the perspective of a family taking care of a member suffering from Alzheimer's, now cured thanks to a Mjolnir-like magic weapon.

This, though, will require more from Cates particularly; it's a Rosemary's Baby-style horror, told from the perspective of a pregnant teenage girl, whose baby will be the Antichrist. This type of horror can be already exploitative of fears and anxieties related to pregnancy, and taking an underage mother's perspective can turn it into a interesting story — or make it even more exploitative, depending on how it is written. Fingers crossed that Cates manages to make it work.

9. One Flew Under the Cuckoo's Nest

The Unsound #1 - Cullen Bunn, Jack T. Cole (Boom! Studios)

Cullen Bunn's Marvel output is mixed, but his creator-owned stuff, especially of the horror genre like Harrow County is top notch. This time, he's trying his hand at a horror set in a psychiatric hospital, which could turn out interesting, or tread old grounds by demonizing people suffering from mental illness. Our protagonist, Ashli, starts her new job in one of the aforementioned hospitals, only to find a new, darker world set in its bowels. I'll say this: even if the writing turns out to be disappointing, at least the art is going to be amazing. Just look at this cover.

8. Ice, Ice, Baby*

Iceman #1-2 - Sina Grace, Alessandro Vitti (Marvel)

The reveal that Bobby Drake of the X-Men is gay was met with trepidation. On the one hand, yay for increased diversity in mainstream comics! On the other hand, the handling of the reveal is commonly considered to be awkward, making the person responsible for the reveal –Jean Grey– look invasive and unconcerned with the privacy of Bobby's thoughts. There's also the fact that Iceman's had a sizable list of female love interests, so identifying him as gay is a bit weird when other orientations like bi or pan seem more fitting. Regardless, it's a new world for Bobby Drake, with his first ongoing solo ever. Sadly, yet in line with Marvel's other picks for RessurrXion (ugh), it will not be written by a gay man (or even a bi or pan one), but a straight man. Of course. Let's hope it's at least enjoyable enough.

*Oh like you wouldn't have done that yourselves.

7. It's Not Easy Being Dead

September Mourning, Vol. 1 - Mariah McCourt, Emily Lazar, Sumeyye Kesgin (Image)

So here's a weird thing: generally the word "volume" is reserved for collected editions and graphic novels that are part of a series. Even Scott Snyder and Jeff Lemire's A.D.: After Death, despite each of its three parts being extensively longer than a regular issue, refers to each of them as an issue. So this new series, using the word "volume," should be a graphic novel and thus noticeably more expensive, right? Except it's only twice as long as a regular issue and it costs only a dollar more than any other new Image series.

In any case, the series sounds pretty interesting. Created by an all-female team, it'll tell the story of an amnesiac girl turned into a human/grim reaper hybrid by a former Reaper of the lonely, injured and abused. Left in charge of the souls of the "worthless", she aides them in remembering and finishing the last thing they left undone in their lives.

September Mourning, Vol. 1 is set to be released on June 14.

6. Heartbreak Hotel

Heartthrob Season 2 #1 - Christopher Sebela, Robert Wilson IV (Oni Press)

I really like Oni Press's seasonal model of releasing its original comics; on the one hand, it allows creators to test the waters, to see if readers like the concept. It allows them to release shorter and easier to produce regularly stories, with breaks between seasons allowing them a manageable production schedule. On the other, readers get a chance to test new stories from new creative minds and see if they can provide a satisfying payoff without needing to invest in a long-running title that can go off the rails before reaching the destination that might not even be worth the journey. Everybody wins.

Heartthrob is proof it works. Its first season, released in 2016, told the story of Callie Boudreau, a terminally ill woman saved by a heart transplant (at the time when this procedure was revolutionary), who discovered that along with a stranger's organ she also got his soul in the deal, sharing her mind. What followed was a story of love, crime, Fleetwood Mac and the eventual breakup. Now Callie's in hiding from the FBI in Canada, trying to live a normal life. Except Mercer is still inside her mind, waiting for his chance at payback.

Heartthrob Season 2 #1 will be released on June 7.

5. Fghtan! Fghtan! All-Ages Fghtan!

Calla Cthulhu - Evan Dorkin, Sarah Dyer, Erin Humiston (Dark Horse)

H.P. Lovecraft is a touchy subject in the sci-fi/fantasy/horror fandom. On the one hand, he create possibly the world's first and most enduring modern mythology that influenced many works in ways big or small. On the other... the guy was a horrible racist prick with questionable writing skills. Luckily, you don't have to enjoy him or his work to enjoy anything influenced by it, including this all-ages comic. Calla Cthulhu (quality pun) is a regular teenage girl except for the fact that in her veins runs the blood of the Great Old Ones. When others take summer jobs at McDonald's, she has to battle otherworldly threats, like her uncle, the King in Yellow. And this time, she also has to stop a terrifying Dread Dead One from awakening in the ruins of R'yleh. Written by Evan Dorkin (Beasts of Burden) and children's author Sarah Dyer, it's promising to be a fun read, with a subtle smattering of scares.

Given that it's an advance solicit, you'll have to wait until August 16 to read it.

4. Lon the Professional

Beautiful Canvas #1 - Ryan Lindsay, Sami Kivela (Black Mask Studios)

I love how exciting and unpredictable Black Mask's output is. This time, we have a story of a hitwoman named Lon Eisley, hired to kill a little boy—only a few days after finding out her girlfriend is pregnant. She spares the kid and together they hit the road across the dystopian world, which sounds like it's influenced by the Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas aesthetic.

3. Heroes We Need

Secret Weapons #1 (of 4) - Eric Heisserer, Raúl Allén, Patricia Martin (Valiant)

I honestly feel bad for not covering Valiant often enough in those columns. This indie superhero publisher has built itself a nice niche, and I can only compliment its release strategy. Knowing full well it isn't as big a fish as either of the Big Two, Valiant doesn't overstretch its capabilities, only releasing generally about a dozen titles (ongoings and miniseries) and primarily investing in quality by hiring talents like Matt Kindt, Jeff Lemire, Fred Van Lente and Jody Hoser.

Sadly, few releases means not every character gets their chance to shine. And out of all its characters, few have been as underutilized as Livewire. This African American female technopath has been part of the universe since its reboot in 2011, and a key member of Unity; the publisher's Avengers/Justice League equivalent. Well, in June she'll finally get her chance to shine. Written by the screenwriter behind the Oscar-nominated Arrival and upcoming Valiant superhero movies (Harbinger and Bloodshot), this comic will see Livewire build her own team from people ignored by the universe's greatest villain, Toyo Harada, in his quest to build an army that would turn his vision of a utopia into reality. Where he saw disappointments, she sees talent that can be utilized. Secret weapons, if you will.

Secret Weapons #1 will be released on June 28.

2. The B Is Back

Bitch Planet: Triple Feature #1 - Cheryl Lynn Eaton, Andrew Aydin, Conley Lyons, Maria Fröhlich, Joanna Estep (Image)

There hasn't been a new Bitch Planet issue for a while now, and the store shelves are poorer for its absence. To make up for it, Kelly Sue DeConnick and Valentino DeLandro are bringing a special anthology special issue for this feminist sci-fi satire comic. Written and drawn by creators hand-picked by DeConnick and DeLandro, the three stories featured promise to provide us with the series' trademark revolutionary rage and biting criticism of real life patriarchy. This series has been deeply missed, so it's fantastic to see it return with a bang.

Bitch Planet: Triple Feature #1 is set to be released on June 14.

1. It's Just Another Freaky Friday

Crosswind #1 - Gail Simone, Cat Staggs (Image)

She may be taking a break from mainstream comics, her hit Vertigo horror series may be on hiatus, and her all-ages Wonderfalls book may be still in development, but there's still one title by comics queen Gail Simone to look forward to. Announced in late 2015, her ongoing  that mixes body-swapping and mob stories will finally see the light of day. Ever since her exclusivity contract with DC ended, Gail has been on a roll, releasing quality series one after another, so this especially worth looking forward to.

Crosswind #1 is set to be realeased on June 21.

TRADE-SPOTTING - JUNE 2017 EDITION

(NOTE: many of the below trade solicits are advance solicits and won’t be released until August or later.)

Boom! Studios: Mega Princess (August); Namesake (August); SLAM! Vol. 1 (August)

Dark Horse: Dead Inside Vol. 1 (August 2)

DC Comics:  Clean Room. Vol. 3: Waiting for the Stars to Fall (July 12); Deathstroke. Vol. 2: Gospel of Slade (July 5); Frostbite (July 26); Midnighter and Apollo (July 19); Mother Panic. Vol. 1: A Work in Progress (July 26); Shade, the Changing Girl. Vol. 1: Earth Girl Made Easy (July 12)

Image Comics: Descender. Vol. 4: Orbital Mechanics (June 21); Monstress Vol. 2 (June 21); The Wicked + The Divine. Vol. 5: Imperial Phase (I) (June 7)

Marvel: Ghost Rider. Vol. 1: Four on the Floor; Hulk. Vol. 1: Deconstructed (July 12); Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur. Vol. 3: The Smartest There Is; Ms. Marvel. Vol. 7: Damage Per Second (July 19); Patsy Walker, A.K.A. Hellcat! Vol. 3: Careless Whisker(s) (July 19); The Totally Awesome Hulk. Vol. 3: Big Apple Showdown (July 12); U.S.Avengers. Vol. 1: American Intelligence Mechanics (July 19)

Oni Press: Angel City: Town without Pity (August 16)

Dominik Zine is a nerdy demisexual lad from northeastern Poland and is generally found in a comfy chair with a book in hand.

Make a Solicit Check - Best of April 2017 Comics Solicitations

There are many comics coming out every month, it’s easy to lose track of promising new releases. That’s why we here at Critical Writ have started "Make a Solicit Check" — a monthly column devoted to the most interesting announcements.

This month: part-time female Grim Reapers, elements-bending bisexuals and deity crafters.

10. Phase One of (Ugh) RessurXion

X-Men Blue #1-2 - Cullen Bunn, Jorge Molina, Matteo Buffagni (Marvel)

X-Men Gold #1-2 - Marc Guggenheim, Ardian Syaf (Marvel)

Weapon X #1-2 - Greg Pak, Greg Land (Marvel)

Royals #1-2 - Al Ewing, Jonboy Meyers (Marvel)

On the one hand, it’s good that Marvel is finally invested in an expansion of the (thus far) sidelined lineup. It’s been a bad year for the X-Men fans, whose favorite titles fell into a slump with an increased focus in favor of the Inhumans, with only Wolverine being really good.

On the other hand… Marvel takes one of its most popular teams (and famously a stand-in for many marginalized real-life groups, from the Black community to the LGBTQIAP* community) and puts two middle aged white dudes in charge of two of the main series. And when it actually give one of the other books an Asian American writer, you saddle him with Greg Land, a.k.a. Mr "Traces Everything From Magazines So Everything Looks Fake And The Characters Shift Their Facial Features Every Goddamn Panel."

X-Men Blue #1-2, which features the time-displaced original five X-Men (what are they still doing in modern day?!) under the tutelage of Magneto (look, just give Bunn a new Magneto ongoing, Marvel - stop looking for excuses), is set to be released on April 12 and April 26.

X-Men Gold #1-2, which features some of the most popular X-Men under the leadership of Kitty Pryde, is set to be released on April 5 and April 19.

Weapon X #1-2, which will explore the resurgence of the infamous project, bent on hunting down its most famous results like Old Man Logan, Sabretooth and Lady Deathstrike, is set to be released on April 12 and April 26.

Royals #1-2, which will feature a group of Inhumans under the leadership of Medusa going into space with Noh-Var, a.k.a. Marvel Boy, in search of their roots (and Ewing saddled with another subpar artist after Land on Mighty Avengers and Sandoval on New Avengers), is set to be released on April 5 and April 19.

9. Dream Bigger

Black Cloud #1 - Ivan Brandon, Jason Latour, Greg Hinkle (Image Comics)

Zelda comes from a world of dream - and now she's on the run in ours, with broken dreams in her hands. But when the rich and powerful get interested in them, she'll have to fight back to stay alive. Written by Ivan Brandon (Drifter) and Jason Latour (Southern Bastards, Spider-Gwen) and drawn by Greg Hinkle (The Rattler) and Matt Wilson, this oneiric new series is set to be released on April 5.

8. Make Your Own Deity

Godshaper #1 - Simon Spurrier, Jason Goonface (Boom! Studios)

The Eisner Award-nominated fantastic writer Simon Spurrier is starting a new series for Boom, the company where he publishes most of his creator-owned series. This time he's taking us to a world where every human has their own deity — except for people like Ennay. He's one of the titular Godshapers, godless social pariahs with the ability to mold the gods of others. He travels with a god without a human named Bud, looking for food, shelter and the next rock'n'roll gig.

7. Aftershock Rising

Eleanor & the Egret #1 - John Layman, Sam Kieth (Aftershock)

World Reader #1 - Jeff Loveness, Juan Doe (Aftershock)

Like I said previously, Aftershock Comics output is a little hit or miss. However, in April they're launching two new series that seem like they belong firmly in the former category. Eleanor & the Egret is the tale of an investigation into an art theft in fin de siecle Paris, where the only clue is a single white feather, which could belong to the thief. Or maybe her talking egret sidekick. The comic comes from writer John Layman, who recently wrapped up his 60-issue Image series Chew and artist Sam Kieth (The Sandman). Though fair warning, Chew has featured offensive portrayals of background trans women courtesy of the series co-creator Ray Dillory which Layman likely signed off on, so I'll leave it up to you to decide whether you want to support this series.

The other new ongoing is World Reader from The Jimmy Kimmel Show writer Jeff Loveness, who penned the 2015 Marvel miniseries Groot and is currently writing Nova for said publisher. With artist Juan Doe (Animosity: The Rise) he's bringing the story of Sarah, an astronaut with the ability to talk to ghosts of dead worlds, on her quest to find what is killing the universe before it kills Earth as well. Having to deal with her maintaining her crew's trust and her own sanity, and fighting Death itself, Sarah has her work cut out for her.

6. Archie's Not Throwing Away Its (One-)Shot

Big Moose One-Shot - Sean Ryan, Ryan Cady, Gorf, Thomas Pitilli, Cory Smith, Wilfredo Torres (Archie)

Little Sabrina One-Shot - Art Baltazar, Franco (Archie)

Continuing March's slew of one one-shots, the company behind Archie Comics has announced two new one-shots for April. The first one is another one under the "Little" heading, featuring the adventures of a very young Sabrina the Teenage Witch. Or, Little Kid Witch, in this case. The second one-shot will be focused on "Big" Moose. As much as I like the "Little" stories for their humor and generally cheerful tone, I'm more excited for the newest addition to the "New Riverdale" lineup. Moose has undergone a surprising amount of character development over the years, including a story arc where he discovered that he had dyslexia. I don't know if the new story will cover any of that, but I'm excited to find out. (Zachary)

5. Everyday Superhero

The Adventures of Superhero Girl (Expanded Edition) - Faith Erin Hicks (Dark Horse)

Like it or not, superheroes comics are the biggest genre in the industry, and while the Big Two publish most of them, both smaller publishers and individual creators release their original superhero stories every month. Those can be both darker and more lighthearted than Marvel/DC output - and Faith Erin Hicks's (The Nameless City) The Adventures of Superhero Girl belongs to the latter. It was originally published in The Cost and released in its entirety online. This comic aimed at younger readers tells a story of a young heroine who can leap tall buildings in a single bound and punch huge monsters with her bare hands, but has to buy second-hand capes and has a weakness for kitties. This reprint of the 2013 collected edition will be fully colored and feature two new stories and art by such great creators like Tyler Crook, Jake Wyatt and Paulina Ganucheau.

Given that it's an advance solicit, you'll have to wait until June 14 to read this comic.

4. The Reaper Is A Part-Timer

Kim Reaper #1 - Sarah Graley

Like practically all American university students, Kim has to work a part-time job.  The twist is that hers is guiding deceased souls into the afterlife. But everything goes to hell* after her fellow student Becka finally gathers the courage to ask her out on a date, unaware that her crush is an angel of death. This sets off a chain of events that will set them against such diverse threats like vengeful cat-dads, zombies and the underworld itself.

The comic will be out on April 5.

*I regret nothing!

3. The End Is Nigh

Clean Room #18 - Gail Simone, Walter Geovani (DC/Vertigo)

I know I seem like a broken record, but I can't help it — the decline of DC's Vertigo imprint remains one of the publisher's biggest crimes. But even in those dire times there are a few good comics coming out of Vertigo. Sadly after April there's going one less them, at least for a while. Gail Simone's amazing horror series Clean Room imagines a world where a cultish organization, resembling the Church of Scientology in its structure, is Earth's only line of defense against psychopathic entities imprisoned by their compatriots in our orbit. And now it's reaching its season finale. It's hard to tell when /Clean Room/ returns, but rest assured, you'll find out in this column.

Clean Room #18 will be out on April 26.

Also ending on that same day, by the way, is Jeff Parker and Evan Shaner's Future Quest, a mega-crossover of Hanna Barbera's science-fiction cartoon series.

2. The Panther Thrives

Black Panther: The Crew #1 - Ta-Nehisi Coates, Yona Harvey, Butch Guice 

Ta-Nehisi Coates's run on the Black Panther has been an unquestionable success. The series, originally intended to run for 11 issues, took advantage of the MacArthur genius's knowledge of politics and sociology and explored the nature of government through an Afrofuturist lense. Now it's been extended to a 24 issue run (and Coates apparently has story ideas for up to 60 total), with a new storyline starting in April, set to explore the relationship between Wakandan state and its religion. But there's more to Black Panther than the main series a spin-off series World of Wakanda started in November, exploring the backstories of the comic's supporting characters, the Midnight Angels, and now it's going to be joined by The Crew. The original short-lived series by Christopher Priest (author of thus far the definitive run on the Wakandan hero) intended to showcase Marvel's less known characters like Kasper Cole (Panther's apprentice - who coincidentally is also getting his own one-shot/story arc in April's Black Panther: World of Wakanda), led by the late James "Rhodey" Rhodes, a.ka. War Machine. This version of the team is much more high profile, joining together the Panther, Luke Cage, Misty Knight, Storm of the X-Men and Manifold, and is set to explore modern day issues that are the focus of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Black Panther: The Crew #1 is set to be released on April 12.

1. About Damn Time

The Legend of Korra: Turf Wars Part One - Michael Dante DiMartino, Irene Koh (Dark Horse)

If it feels like it's been years since we last saw Korra and her Team Avatar, it's because it has. Since the series finale in December 2014 we haven't had any new content set in Korra's timeline — until now. Series co-creator Michael Dante DiMartino and artist Irene Koh (Secret Origins: Batgirl, Afrina and the Glass Coffin) bring us this long-awaited official continuation. After their spirit world honeymoon, Korra and Asami return to Republic City to find it in peril from greedy entrepreneurs and triad turf wars.

Given that it's an advance solicit, you'll have to wait until June 7 to read this comic

TRADE-SPOTTING - APRIL 2017 EDITION

(NOTE: many of the below trade solicits are advance solicits and won’t be released until May or later.)

Archie Comics

• Archie Vol. 3 (Waid, Eisma, Szymanowicz, Morelli; collects Archie #13-17; out April 19)

Boom! Studios

• Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers Vol. 3 (Higgins, Prasetya, Lam; collects Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #9-12; out in June)
• Giant Days Vol 5 (Allison, Sarin, Fleming; collects Giant Days #17-20; out in June)

Dark Horse

• Empowered Vol. 10 (Warren; out on June 21)
• Spell on Wheels (Leth, Levens; Sabrina the Teenage Witch-style road story from writer of Patsy Walker, A.K.A. Hellcat!; collects entire miniseries; out on June 7)

DC Comics

• Doctor Fate. Vol. 3: Fateful Threads (Levitz, Liew, Miranda, McCarthy; collects Doctor Fate #13-18; out on May 3)
• Doom Patrol. Vol. 1: Brick by Brick (Way, Derrington; collects Doom Patrol #1-6; out on May 31)
• Blue Beetle. Vol. 1: The More Things Change (Giffen, Kolins; collects Blue Beetle: Rebirth #1 and Blue Beetle #1-6; out on May 10)
• Detective Comics. Vol. 2: The Victim Syndicate (Tynion IV, Bennett, Barrows, Martinez, Oliver and other; collects Detective Comics #943-949; out on May 10)
• Supergirl. Vol. 1: Reign of the Cyborg Supermen (Orlando, Ching, Lupacchino; collects Supergirl: Rebirth #1 and Supergirl #1-6; out on May 17)
• Superwoman. Vol. 1: Who Killed Superwoman? (Jimenez, Santorelli, Herbert, Lupacchino, McCarthy; collects Superwoman #1-7)
• Wonder Woman. Vol. 2: Year One (Rucka, Scott, Evely; collects Wonder Woman #2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 14; out on May 3)

Image Comics

• Southern Cross. Vol. 2: Romulus (Cloonan, Belanger, Loughridge; sci-fi horror series in an Alien-inspired universe minus xenomorphs; collects Southern Cross #7-12; out on April 26)
• Surgeon X. Vol. 1: The Path of Most Resistance (Kenney, the late John Watkiss; story about a vigilante surgeon in an antibiotics apocalypse; collects Surgeon X #1-6; out on April 26)
• We Stand On Guard (Vaughan, Skroce; sci-fi miniseries about Canadian resistance against US mech invasion, now much more prescient than when initially released; out on April 5)

Marvel Comics

• All-New Wolverine. Vol. 3: Public Enemy II (Taylor, Virella, Morissette-Phan; collects All-New Wolverine #13-18; out on May 3)
• Black Panther. Vol. 1: A Nation Under Out Feet (Coates, Steelfreeze, Sprouse; collects Black Panther #1-12; out on August 2)
• Champions. Vol. 1: Change the World (Waid, Ramos; collects Champions #1-5; out on May 3)
• Hawkeye: Kate Bishop Vol. 1 (Thompson, Romero; collects Hawkeye #1-6; out on May 3)
• Jessica Jones. Vol. 1: Uncaged! (Bendis, Gaydos; collects Jessica Jones #1-6, and probably more manageable than its monthly releases; out on May 10)
• Loki: Journey Into Mystery (Gillen, Abnett, Lanning, Fraction, Braithwaite, Elson, Portacio, Breitweiser, Di Giandomenico, Hans, Davis; collects entire Kieron Gillen run on Journey Into Mystery starring Kid Loki, plus connected issues of The Mighty Thor, New Mutants and Exiled; out on August 2)

Oni Press

• Night's Dominion Vol. 1 (Naifeh; DnD-style fantasy series; collects Night's Dominion #1-6; out on June 28)
• Space Battle Lunchtime. Vol. 2: A Recipe for Disaster (Riess; second half of adorable sci-fi/cooking show miniseries; collects Space Battle Lunchtime #5-8; out on June 21)

Dominik Zine is a nerdy demisexual lad from northeastern Poland and is generally found in a comfy chair with a book in hand.

Zachary Krishef is an evil genius. Do not question his knowledge of Saturday Night Live trivia or Harry Potter books.

Comics That Didn't Suck 2016

And we're back with things that didn't suck in 2016! Yesterday we gave you a few smatterings of good news from the year, but today we're giving a doozy of a list! Check out Critical Writ's Comics That Didn't Suck in 2016 below!

• In a world of madness, a talking duck is (seemingly) the only one advocating for sanity, albeit delivered grumpily. No, (INSERT POLITICIAN HERE) isn’t an Animagus, I’m talking about Howard The Duck! Throughout 2016, Chip Zdarsky provided a breath of fresh air to anyone who was tired of massive events, overpowering darkness, or typical superhero stories. (Zachary) 


• Although it was released long before the initial teasers for DC Rebirth started popping up, I still feel that Poison Ivy: Cycle Of Life And Death holds up as a wonderful miniseries focused on the premiere plant-based antagonist in the DC universe. (Sorry, Floronic Man.) Specifically, it reminded me of the excellent Gotham City Sirens, which was ironically cancelled for the New 52. It has some great character moments with Poison Ivy and Catwoman, especially with Pamela’s relationship with her Sporelings. Additionally, a background photo shows Harley in her classic jester outfit, so I’m considering it the lost finale arc to Gotham City Sirens. Definitely check it out for a bounty of flowers and a suspenseful mystery! (Zachary) 


• The intersectional feminist historical AU you didn’t know you needed—issue after issue, DC Bombshells continues to impress. The plot gives a lot of room for its leading ladies to find their place in WWII and assert their agency. Rather than affirming the usual “straight until proven otherwise” standard, we're made to expect every main character falls into the LGBTQ spectrum, from the usual suspects (Batwoman, Harley, Ivy, Alysia Yeoh) to the surprises (Big Barda, Dr. Light, Mera) and a canonically bi Wonder Woman before her sexuality was declared canon across the multiverse. It’s a story of badass ladies, solidarity and hope—something we all desperately need. (Stephanie) 


• It feels like I’ll never write that Nighthawk review and will instead keep writing new mini-reviews. Regardless, it’s still the most important comic Marvel published this year, tackling systemic (and regular) racism, with a Batman-like vigilante at the center of it all. Its cancellation after a single story-arc remains an unspoken tragedy, but at least David F. Walker will get to continue Kyle Richmond’s story in Occupy Avengers, a similarly socially-conscious comic. (Dominik) 


• This year, DC’s Rebirth is rightfully getting praise for fixing many of the issues of the widely-loathed 2011 reboot. But the most interesting thing the publisher did in 2016 was launching a mini-imprint helmed by Gerard Way of My Chemical Romance. Kicked off by Way and Nick Derrington’s Doom Patrol, Young Animal is a small, surreal niche for weird and exciting titles, bringing back DC’s weirdest and most obscure characters. It even started their own ones with Jody Houser and Tommy Lee Edwards’s Mother Panic. The bleak and depressing final quarter of the year was immeasurably lighter due to the existence of Shade, the Changing Girl and Cave Carson Has a Cybernetic Eye. The best part of the imprint is that it sometimes feels like anything can happen in its titles—and that it will be wondrous, insane and fun. (Dominik) 


• Harper Row actually said she was bi in Detective Comics #945. I know that we’ve had bigger heroes with better brand recognition get confirmed queer this year, but for certain personal reasons the little blue-haired electrician who idolizes Batman is very dear to me. Also unlike a lot of DC’s bisexual lady leads, she actually said she was bi in the pages of the comic rather than being declared bi by an author in an interview. (Miz Opifex)


• Jeff Lemire and Dean Ormston’s Black Hammer is one of the best comics Dark Horse published this. While in many ways it’s a superhero story, it takes a group of Golden Age inspired characters (for instance: a female Captain Marvel stand-in and a gay Martian Manhunter) and puts them into a setting similar to Twin Peaks. All that filtered through Lemire’s somber and melancholic writing, and depicted in Ormston’s style, for a result quite unlike any modern superhero story. (Dominik) 


• The financial operations of Wall Street always seem occult in nature, as if people working there conduct their own black magic rituals to shape the world to their will. Jonathan Hickman’s newest creator-owned title, The Black Monday Murders, makes that concept real and, through the author’s usual deft world-building, crafts an alternate universe of mysteries and dark magic, where corporations succeed thanks to ominous rites and elaborate deals with devils. We explore this world—which is presented like a noir film by Tomm Coker—through the eyes of a black male police detective and the prodigal lesbian daughter of one of the families controlling the world from the shadows. (Dominik) 


• Traditionally, Western fantasy settings take Celtic-German influences to craft a Tolkien-inspired world. Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda took a more creative route, by creating a setting inspired heavily by Eastern stories—and mixing a little cosmic horror for good measure. In Monstress, Maika Halfwolf’s search for her mother’s mysteries is an exciting, fantastically written story with a compelling, driven and imperfect protagonist. It’s also a tale of prejudice and how xenophobia and religious fanaticism can break the world. All that is drawn in Sana Takeda’s detailed, amazing style. (Dominik) 


• While Brandon Graham’s 8house initiative didn’t pan out, a few good comics did come out of it. One of them is Mirror, an ongoing series written by the talented artist Emma Rios and similarly skilled Hwei Lim. It’s a beautiful fable, telling a science-fantasy story of humans and uplifted animals. It’s a delightful tale, gorgeously rendered with Hwei Lim’s masterful art. (Dominik) 


• Simon Spurrier is one of the industry’s rarely spoken-about, extremely talented individuals. In 2016 he finished his amazing The Spire and wrote Weavers, a Boom! miniseries mixing a mob story with cosmic horror. But by far my favorite of his new series was Cry Havoc, which told the story of a lesbian werewolf (...sort of) going to Afghanistan as part of a special, occult task force. It’s probably the most creative and intelligent urban fantasy published by Image, mixing real world politics with insanely diverse bestiary of mythical creatures this genre has ever seen. (Dominik) 


• Marguerite Bennett has had a good year. While Angela: Queen of Hel met an untimely end, she got to continue the ever delightful DC Comics Bombshells, write classic characters like Red Sonja and Josie & the Pussycats. But most importantly, she continued writing creator-owned stories at Aftershock, with InSeXts and newly started Animosity, drawn respectively by Ariela Kristantina and Rafael de Latorre. Both series—the first tells the story of shape-changing lesbian lovers in Victorian London, while the other is a post-apocalyptic tale of uplifted animals—are a masterful mix of righteous anger at injustices both past and current with her signature sense of humour. Both are definite standouts of Aftershock’s catalogue and a must-read for fans of socially-conscious and fun comics. (Dominik) 

Did we miss any? Probably lots! Let us know what your favorite comics of 2016 were, in the comments below! 

Make a Solicit Check - Best of January 2017 Comics Solicitations

There are many comics coming out every month, so it’s easy to lose track of promising new releases. That’s why we here at Critical Writ have started "Make a Solicit Check" — a monthly column devoted to the most inspiring announcements.

This month: ...um. Look, there are new titles revealed in January solicitations, but for the most part, they’re a little... okay, at best? I managed to find only 7 that I’d mark as "most interesting”. So this time, I’m using this spot to promote awesome books that have been coming out for a while and deserve a shout-out. The new titles are at the top 7 spots, if that’s all you’re interested in.

12. Ready... Set... Riot!

Generation Zero. Volume 1: We Are the Future – Fred Van Lente, Francis Portela (Valiant)

Valiant doesn’t get the spotlight DC and Marvel have, but it’s a good superhero comics company, with a whole library of interesting titles. We already talked about the light-hearted Faith, and now I’d like to recommend its darker counterpart Generation Zero. It’s about a group of psiot (sorta X-Men) kids that have molded since birth into living weapons by a secret government project. Freed by Harbinger Renegades (the good guys), they’re now in hiding, helping other kids in need . In the case of the comic’s first arc, that’s Keisha Sherman. It’s a fantastically written comic, sort of like a cross between Runaways, Life Is Strange and Stranger Things – and even better than that sounds.

Generation Zero. Volume 1: We Are the Future, collecting the first 5 issues, will be out on January 25.

11. F*** the Planet

Horizon. Volume 1 – Brandon Thomas, Juan Gedeon, Frank Martin (Image)

With the year we’ve been having,  how humanity seems to be screwing everything up for itself, it can be hard to imagine that things will ever improve. Horizon is borne of that anger, though not unaware of our good side.  It’s set in an unspecified future when everything is so bad, we ourselves no longer likely to survive any longer. Humanity’s solution? Invade another planet, and likely screw it up as well. Its inhabitants won’t allow it, and send a preemptive strike team led by Zhia Malen, a badass female captain (in fact, most of the team is female). It’s a clever twist on the alien invasion story, where humanity is the bad guy, rendered dynamically by Juan Gedeon.

Horizon. Volume 1 will be out on January 18.

10. There Ain’t No Heaven

Black Hammer Giant-Sized Annual – Jeff Lemire, Dustin Nguyen, Emi Lenox, Nate Powell, Matt Kindt, Ray Fawkes (Dark Horse)

I’ve read people call Black Hammer the best superhero comic currently published, and while I wouldn’t agree, there is a case to be made for it. The comic tells the story of a group of Golden Age superheroes after saving their world from a disaster, now stuck in limbo-like reality resembling small-town America, unable to leave it. It’s an fantastically written story with a Twin Peaks feel, with amazing art by Dean Ormston that seems like a cross between Lemire’s and Mike Mignola’s. And it’s a treat an annual featuring stories about every one of the stranded heroes, each drawn by a different talented artist.

Black Hammer Giant-Sized Annual will be out on January 18. The comic’s first trade, Secret Origins, will be out on March 29.

9. Like That Zoo TV Show, But Smarter

Animosity: The Rise – Marguerite Bennett, Juan Doe (Aftershock)

Aftershock’s catalog is a very mixed bag. For every InSeXts and Shipwreck there’s a disappointment like Captain Kid or Alters (I know I mentioned it in the very first "Make a Solicit Check" post – I only report about comics, not make them). Luckily, Animosity is one of the good titles. It's a tale of a post-apocalyptic world, where animals gained consciousness (an event called The Wake) and revolted against humans for their horrible abuse. It’s a smartly written comic, with a lot of heart and anger (and a number of funny and insanely fun scenes), depicted by the talented Rafael de Latorre. In January, the series will release its one-shot special with guest art by Juan Doe, showing how The Wake affected other parts of the world.

Animosity: The Rise is set to be released on January 18.

8. Hell’s Kitchen... IN! SPAAAACE!

Space Battle Lunchtime #8 – Natalie Riess (Oni Press)

Here’s a fun one: a lesbian Earth baker named Peony is plucked from her workplace to take part in an intergalactic cooking show. She deals with all the typical behind-the-scenes backstabbing and developing a crush on a fellow contestant, a badass loner fishlady Neptunia. It’s fun, it’s cute, it’s a little Lumberjanes in spirit; how much more enticing do I have to make it? The first volume, Lights, Camera, Snacktion! is already out, and this final issue will be out on January 4, with the second trade likely out in February.

7. Mistress of the Universe

Red Sonja #1 – Amy Chu, Carlos Gomez (Dynamite)

I’m a little ambivalent about this one. On the one hand, more of She-Devil of Hyrkania! And Amy Chu on writing duties! Awesome! But on the other hand, the story has Sonja transported from her Hyperborean Age to modern day New York, and the "sword & sorcery character is transported to the modern times" doesn’t have a good track record. Still, I’m willing to give it a shot.

Red Sonja #1 is set to be released on January 11.

6. Declassified

Star Wars: Doctor Aphra #3 – Kieron Gillen, Kev Walker (Marvel)

Last month, I mentioned a new upcoming Star Wars title by Kieron Gillen, that I suspected might be a spin-off from his Darth Vader comic, featuring the amoral adventure archeologist/smuggler Doctor Aphra. Turns out I was right, and now we have our first comic starring a non-movie/cartoon Star Wars character introduced after Disney got hold of the franchise. And, best of all, we get Kieron Gillen write a fun female character. Nothing but clear skies ahead.

Star Wars: Doctor Aphra #3 is set to be released on January 18.

5. Assembling Is Half the Battle

USAvengers #1-2 – Al Ewing, Paco Medina (Marvel)

As part of the Marvel Now initiative both Al Ewing team books, New Avengers and Ultimates, are getting relaunched. And while the latter practically remains the same, aside from getting a squared symbol in its title, the former is getting a complete makeover. Ditching its predecessor’s Thunderbirds concept for aesthetics closer to G.I.Joe, the comic will likely retain the all-out fun attitude that characterized the previous comic. It’s Al Ewing, when has he ever failed us?

The first issue of USAvengers is set to be released on January 4, and the second – on January 18.

4. Sing O Muse of the Adventurers of Themyscira

The Odyssey of the Amazons #1 – Kevin Grevioux, Ryan Benjamin (DC)

The Amazons have been a major part of the DC universe, but there rarely was any effort to tell the story of their society before Wonder Woman’s time, beyond their origin. There was an Amazon character in Demon Knights...and that’s it, I guess? In any case, this new miniseries will fill in some of the blanks in a story of globe-trotting Amazons having to fight Storm Giants from the Norse mythology.

The Odyssey of the Amazons #1 will be released on January 18.

3. Dudes, Amirite?

Ladycastle #1 – Delilah S. Bowen, Ashley A. Woods (Boom)

Novelist Delilah S. Bowen (Wake of Vultures, as Lila Bowen) brings her first comic with the artist of Niobe: She Is Life. It’ll tell the story of women from Mancastle, forced to defend their home after all the men got eaten by a dragon while adventuring and  left the castle with a curse that attracts monsters. With the blacksmith’s wife as the new king, and the princess as the captain, the ladies have their work cut out for them.

2. Abuzz

The Unstoppable Wasp #1 – Jeremy Whitley, Elsa Charretier (Marvel)

Spinning off from All-New, All-Different Avengers, Nadia Pym is ready to save the world as the Red Wasp, with the guidance of one of the founding Avengers, Janet Van Dyne, and while trying to get her US citizenship. Written by the creator of the fun, girl-power infused Princeless series and the artist of Harley Quinn #30, the comic sounds like oodles of fun. Plus, Ms. Marvel and Mockingbird guest-star. You can’t say "no" to this.

The Unstoppable Wasp #1 is set to be released on January 4.

1. Recruitment

Say what you will about DC (and you can say a lot), but they have a huge number of diverse characters to draw from. And now, with the upcoming Justice League of America by Steve Orlando, they draw from the catalog to make the team more diverse. In preparation for that, DC will release a series of one-shot all throughout January to reintroduce these characters in a post-Rebirth continuity. First up, on January 4, Steve Orlando and Andy MacDonald will bring back Ryan Choi as The Atom, DC’s size-changing hero. On January 11, Orlando, Jody Houser and Jamal Campbell will showcase Vixen, the animal empowered Black superheroine. On January 18, Orlando and Steven Byrne will gave the gay hero The Ray a chance to shine. And finally, on January 25, Orlando, Houser and Mirka Randolfo will parole Killer Frost, the ice-themed former villainess, for her first turn as a hero. And according to the recent news, the new team is rounded up with Batman (of course), Lobo (with his old design back) and Black Canary. It’s a pretty good time for DC fans, is all I’m saying.

Dominik Zine is a nerdy demisexual lad from northeastern Poland and is generally found in a comfy chair with a book in hand.

Make a Solicit Check: Best of September 2016 Comic Solicitations

There are many comics coming out each month, so it’s easy to lose track of something interesting coming out. That’s why we here at Critical Writ have started Make a Solicit Check – a monthly column devoted to the most interesting announcements.

In our inaugural edition, we’ve got Romantic century deities, vigilante surgeons, black superheroes and trans superheroines.

HONORABLE MENTION

Angel Catbird Volume 1 – Margaret Atwood, Johnnie Christmas (Dark Horse)

Before we begin the list proper, let’s take a moment to talk about a comic coming out in September that isn’t mentioned in solicitations released this month. That’s called an "advance solicit," and publishers use them generally for graphic novels. So technically I shouldn’t be writing about it – but considering it’s a comic book written by Margaret freaking Atwood, I think I can bend the rules to mention it. The first volume of a humorous trilogy about a genetic engineer who accidentally spliced his DNA simultaneously with cat and owl DNA. So obviously he becomes a superhero.

It will be released on September 6.

THE LIST PROPER

12. Neverending Story

Everafter: From the Pages of Fables – Matthew Sturges, Dave Justus, Travis Moore (DC/Vertigo)

Most of the list is focused on exciting new titles and returns. But the last spot is perfect to talk about how there’s something wrong going on with Vertigo since the firing of Shelly Bond. Don’t get me wrong – there are good comics coming out from DC’s once great imprint. There’s Astro City, Gail Simone’s Clean Room, Tom King’s The Sheriff of Babylon (ending in November) and this month’s solicitations also announce Frostbite – a miniseries from Joshua Williamson set after the second ice age.

But it also brings news of the premature end of Art Pop and this comic, which shows how much of a shadow of its old self Vertigo became. I mean – a new Fables series? The comic just ended last year, and even that happened with a whimper, as the series lost its momentum long ago. But if you feel your life is empty without this series, I won’t begrudge your interest. It’s going to be set after the end of the original series, in a world with mundanes (i.e. us) aware of the existence of magic. It’ll be about The Shadow Players – a global organization made up of both humans and Fables (with returning characters Bo Peep, Peter Piper, Hansel and Connor Wolf). The first issue of Everafter will be out on September 7.

11. So Long, Howie

Howard the Duck #11 – Chip Zdarsky, Joe Quinones (Marvel)

The majority of Marvel solicitations this month are devoted to Civil War II and its tie-ins. This madness will end in October, and you can expect our summary then. Thankfully though, there are other, more self-contained titles coming out – but sadly, after September we’ll have one less Marvel comic to look forward to. Chip and Joe’s comedy series Howard the Duck is ending with issue eleven, after 16 issues total. This is the effect of the series reaching its natural end, instead of a cancellation – which should make the pain more bearable. Expect a heartfelt goodbye review from Zachary sometime in September.

10. Many Happy Returns

The only downside of Image’s creator-owned titles is that in order to allow the artist a pace of work to be certain they don’t die of exhaustion, long hiatuses between story arcs became a necessary evil.

On the plus side, every return is cause for celebration. September marks the returns of:

- Deadly Class by Rick Remender and Wes Craig – a coming of age story in an assassins school with a diverse cast of characters (September 28);

- Invisible Republic by Gabriel Hardmand and Corinna Bechko – a Blade Runner/Breaking Bad resembling science fiction political thriller in space (September 21);

- Monstress by Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda – an amazing steampunk fantasy (September 7);

- No Mercy by Alex de Campi and Carla Speed McNeil – a Lord of the Flies-inspired story about lost teens (September 14);

- Southern Cross by Becky Cloonan and Andy Belanger – Alien-like space horror series (September 14);

- Wayward by Jim Zub and Steve Cummings – urban fantasy set in Japan, mixing American Gods and Buffy (September 28).

9. Back to School

Gotham Academy: The Next Semester – Brenden Fletcher, Becky Cloonan, Karl Kerschl

By September, DC’s Rebirth will be in full swing, with most of the announced title out, some of them finishing their opening arcs and even their very first crossover (mentioned below). One of the last additions is the return of one the most praised series DC released in recent years, Gotham Academy. Considering the writing team is the only one unchanged for the relaunch, we can pretty much expect more of the same – which is good news for the fans and groan-worthy news for the detractors. The first issue will be out on September 14.

8. It’s Crossover Time

Yep, barely a quarter of the year after it started, DC’s Rebirth will have its very first crossover event. Batman, Nightwing and Batwoman’s team will join forces (following the conclusions of their respective story arcs the same month) for Night of the Monster Men – an attack of giant monsters. It will take two issues of each comic (which means that with the twice-monthly release schedule the crossover will be over in the middle of October) and will consist of the following titles:

- Batman #7, written by Steve Orlando; and Tom King, drawn by Riley Rossmo (out on September 21);

- Nightwing #5 – written by Steve Orlando and Tim Seeley, drawn by Roge Antonio (out on September 21);

- Detective Comics #941 – written by Steve Orlando and James Tynion IV, drawn by Andy McDonald (out on September 28.

7. The Comic I Couldn’t Leave Off the List If I Wanted To

Doom Patrol – Gerard Way, Nick Derington (DC/Young Animal)

Now we’re talking! The surprise announcement for DC’s new imprint headed by the famous musician Gerard Way, Young Animal, overshadowed Rebirth in some circles. I literally have no idea what to expect from the comics that will come out under Young Animal, but I personally can’t wait. The first comic released under this imprint will be Doom Patrol, a.k.a. the proto-X-Men, a.k.a. the bonkers team Grant Morrison wrote in the 90s. The first issue will be out on September 14.

6. The Old Romantics

The Wicked + The Divine 1831 #1 (one-shot) – Kieron Gillen, Stephanie Hans (Image)

WicDiv’s current explosive story arc might end in August, but we’ll be getting more from Kieron Gillen in September, while Jamie McKelvie works on the next – a look at one of the previous Pantheons from the comic world’s past. The second to be shown and the first to get their own one-shot comic, the gods of the Romantic period will be drawn by the talented Stephanie Hans (who drew the Amaterasu focused issue #15), and feature among others a Byronesque Lucifer. A must have for the fans, especially since it won’t be collected in the volume 4 trade. It’s set to be released on September 21.

5. Eat the Rude

Glitterbomb #1 – Jim Zub, Djibril Morissette-Phan (Image)

September is a good moment to start releasing new horror comics – and good horror tends to put a mirror in front of our fears and obsessions. Such is the case with Glitterbomb starring Farrah Durante, a middle-aged actress looking for work in a Hollywood – the shallow, youth-obsessed place we know and (do not) love. Her frustrations open her to an entity that will help her exact revenge on the unjust system she’s been forced to live with until now. The comic is set to be released on September 7.

4. The Surgeon General

Surgeon X #1 – Sara Kenney, John Watkiss (Image)

Sara Kenney (a famed documentary, drama and animation filmmaker) joins forces with artist John Watkiss and Karen Berger – the legendary editor and founder of Vertigo – for an exciting dystopian comic. Surgeon X tells the story of a vigilante surgeon, using her skills and black market medicine to save lives in a far-right governed Britain (insert UKIP, David Cameron and Brexit reference here) after an antibiotics apocalypse. The first issue is set to be released on September 28.

3. The Women of Comics

CBLDF: She Changed Comics (Image)

This is advance preview for a book that will be released on October 5, but I’m putting it here – because it’s part of the September solicitations, and because of how important it is. This isn’t a comic book, but instead it’s a book about women writing them. It will showcase female creators changing the medium today (including Raina Tegelmeyer, Noelle Stephenson and G. Willow Wilson), and present the plights of women imprisoned and threatened for making comics – and talk about women whose comics are banned in the US. If you’re deeply interested in comics and their creators, it’s a must have. It’ll be out on October 5.

2. Black Powers

Black #1 – Kwanza Osajyefo, Tim Smith 3, Jamal Igle, Khary Randolph (Black Mask)

When big publishers disappoint you in terms of diverse comics, turn to the indie ones. Black Mask continues its winning streak with Black – a comic successfully Kickstarted during this year’s Black History Month. It’s a story set in a world where only Black people get superpowers – and the US makes sure no one knows about it. Created by an all-Black team, the comic will explore institutional racism through the lense of a superhero comic.

1. Representation Matters

Alters #1 – Paul Jenkins, Leila Lenz, Tamra Bonvillain (Aftershock)

Here she is – the world’s first trans superheroine! Written by Paul Jenkins (the creator of Marvel’s Sentry), drawn by Leila Lenz and colored by a trans woman herself, Tamra Bonvillain (who hopefully had a hand in the comic’s handling of trans issues), it tells the story of Chalice, a trans girl just before transitioning who discovers she has gravity manipulating powers. This means she’s one of the titular Alters – a group of humans that suddenly develops superpowers (yes, just like the X-Men/Inhumans). Not out of the closet yet, she becomes the superheroine Chalice – and has to maintain two secret identities – as a heroine and as a trans girl. The (hopefully good) comic will be out on September 7.

Dominik Zine is a nerdy lad from northeastern Poland and is generally found in a comfy chair with a book in hand.