Make a Solicit Check - Best of May 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: we got a comic overload! So many exciting new titles have been announced for May, we just had to increase the regular size of the column. First, though, we'll pay lip-service to the month's least interesting solicitation.

DISHONORABLE MENTION

Secret Empire #1-3 - Nick Spencer, Steve McNiven, Andrea Sorrentino (Marvel)

Nick Spencer sucks and the only good thing coming out of Secret Empire is that the idiotic and offensive "Steve Rogers is secretly a Nazi" plotline will finally go and fucking DIE. Also, this better not be another event series that gets constantly delayed and ends up lasting the entire year like Civil War 2 did, or until we die of old age—whichever comes first.

Now let's talk about good comics.

12. Who's Got the Heart of a Hunter?/Pounding Like Thunder

Youngblood #1 - Chad Bowers, Jim Towe (Image)

And we start off the good comics, surprisingly, with a Youngblood comic. Or maybe not that surprisingly. in the recent several years Rob Liefeld was happily giving his creations into the hands of other, MUCH better writers, which led to exciting series like Joe Keatinge and Sophie Campbell's Glory, Brandon Graham's Prophet and Warren Ellis and Tula Lotay's Supreme: Blue Rose. And since 2017 is the 25th anniversary of Image Comics, it's only fitting the publisher would mark the occasion with a reboot of the comic that started it all. Written by X-Men 92's Chad Bowers and featuring the art of newcomer Jim Towe, whose impressive redesign of the team excited Liefeld a few months back, the series will likely be more fun than the original.

Though we'll all mourn Diehard punching a guy with his crotch.

Youngblood #1 is set to be released on May 3.

11. Phase Two of RessurrXion - No "Ugh" This Time, Because Secret Empire Exists

Secret Warriors #1-2 - Matthew Rosenberg, Javier Garrón (Marvel)

Jean Grey #1 - Dennis Hopeless, Victor Ibanez (Marvel)

Generation X #1-2 - Christina Strain, Amilcar Pinna (Marvel)

Cable #1 - James Robinson, Carlos Pacheco (Marvel)

Black Bolt #1 - Saladin Ahmed, Christian Ward (Marvel)

Actually, I've got one more little rant: Jean Grey is one of Marvel's oldest female characters and finally getting her first ever ongoing series. So who do they pick as the writer? Kelly Thompson? Marguerite Bennett? Mariko Tamaki? Nope - Dennis Hopeless. I'll admit his run on Spider-Woman is stellar, but come on. And apparently the plot will focus on the Phoenix Force, because of course it will. Why test new waters (like he did with Spider-Woman) when you can fall on the tired Jean-Phoenix connection.

As for the other series, I actually don't have any big criticisms. I was going to remark on the oddity of Matthew Rosenberg's Secret Warriors having a roster consisting of Daisy Johnson, Kamala, Lunella (and Devil Dinosaur), the never-really-catching-on Inferno and the nihilistic Karnak. But given the opening arc's premise of fighting off Nazi!Cap's attack on Inhumans it actually makes sense for such disparate characters to form a team.

Other than that, we have a promising Generation X about young X-Men under the care of Jubilee, and an interesting-sounding series about the Inhuman king Black Bolt, written by an accomplished writer Saladin Ahmed and drawn by the master of psychedelic art Christian Ward. And, finally, there's Cable. I guess if you like the epitome of 90s gun-toting anti-heroes, you'll enjoy it?

10. Grrl Power

Samaritan #1 - Matt Hawkins, Atilio Roj (Image)

Grrl Scouts: Magic Socks #1 - Jim Mahfood (Image)

In a pleasant coincidence, Image is releasing two new comics about women kicking butt. The first one, Samaritan by Matt Hawkins, is focused on a woman with a vendetta against one of America's biggest military contractors, and she's going to exact it by stealing all their research and making it public. Hawkins's work is generally hit or miss for me, but the premise is enough to warrant a look. The first issue is set to be released on May 24.

But the comic that's going to get the most critical reaction will likely be Grrl Scouts: Magic Socks by writer and artist, Jim Mahfood. Mahfood is primarily know for the cult-classic Tank Girl, and this is his first new creator-owned comic in years. Originally released as Girl Scouts in 1995 (the name change is the result of a cease and desist letter from Girl Scouts of America), the psychedelic adventures of Gwen, Daphne and Rita were released by Oni Press in a 4 issue miniseries in 1998 and later, in Grrl Scouts: Work Sucks, by Image in 2003. And now the girls return with a new series set to be released on May 17.

9. All-Star

Eternal Empire #1 - Jonathan Luna, Sarah Vaughn (Image)

One of the best Image titles released in recent years was Alex + Ada - a touching science-fiction story about artificial intelligence and relationships. Since the series' end in 2015 its creators were mostly silent, with only Sarah Vaughn writing a terrific three issue Deadman: Dark Mansion of Forbidden Love miniseries for DC. Now they're back, this time with an epic fantasy series about the war against the Eternal Empress and one of her workers' rebellion. While the setup isn't the most original, neither was Alex + Ada's - and the duo made it an unforgettable tale.

Eternal Empire #1 is set to be released on May 3.

8. God Gaves Us Rock'n'Roll

The Last Song #1 (of 4) - Holly Interlandi, Sally Cantirino (Black Mask)

Music can be a saving force in our lives, helping get us through dark days. Such was the case with Nicky Marshall, whose troubled upbringing started by his father's suicide led him to start a rock'n'roll band Ecstasy with his childhood friend Drey. The miniseries from an all-female creative team of newcomers will start with the grassroots clubs of the 80s and chronicle the duo's career.

7. Ave Gillen, Morituri Te Salutant

The Wicked + The Divine: 451 A.D. #1 (one-shot) - Kieron Gillen, André Lima Araújo (Image)

Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie's The Wicked + The Divine is one of Images best ongoing series, and now it's getting another special one-shot issue focused on one of that world's earlier Pantheons. Set in the last years of the Roman Empire, as Atilla the Hun ravages Gaul, it will feature another version of Lucifer, unwilling to take the unraveling of the world lying down. Featuring amazing art by Avengers A.I.'s André Lima Araújo, the one-shot will not be collected in the series' volume 5, so if you don't want to wait for an unspecified amount of time for a volume with all of the special issues, you won't want to miss it.

The Wicked + The Divine: 451 A.D. #1 is set to be released on May 17.

That's not the only one-shot written by Gillen and released in May. There's also the James Bond: Service comic, with art by Antonio Fuso and published by Dynamite, featuring 007 against a backdrop of Britain facing Brexit. That concept might make you interested in it to check it out, even if like me you're apathetic towards the character.

6. A Bug's Life

Bug!: The Adventures of Forager #1 (of 6) - Lee Allred, Michael Allred (DC/Young Animal)

Young Animal is probably the best thing DC is currently involved in. All of the series released thus far has been a quality creation, and now a new comic is joining them. This six-issue miniseries, created by the entire family of Allreds, will celebrate the 100 year anniversary of the legendary Jack Kirby's birth by telling a story using one of his lesser known New Gods creations. Forager originally was a member of humanoid bugs living under the surface of New Genesis. This comic's incarnation will take part in an interdimensional pursuit after General Electric; a villain set on finding a reality bending metal. The Allred involvement promises this to be a fun, enjoyable title, and it's a good way to celebrate the late comics legend.

Bug!: The Adventures of Forager #1 will be released on May 10.

5. Awesome (Co)Mix, Volume 2

All-New Guardians of the Galaxy #1-2 - Gerry Dugan, Aaron Kuder (Marvel)

Rocket #1 - Al Ewing, Adam Gorham (Marvel)

I Am Groot #1 - Christopher Hastings, Flaviano (Marvel)

May 2017 is now officially a Guardians of the Galaxy month. Not only is the second movie premiering, not only do we have good ongoing comics about Star-Lord and Gamora, but we're finally getting a new run on the team itself. While Gerry Duggan wouldn't be my first choice, he's doing good work on Deadpool, so there's hope for a fun title. A twice-monthly one at that, as Marvel decided to ape DC a little bit.

But that's only the start of Guardians news. Gwenpool's Christopher Hastings is scripting I Am Groot, which is the third time he's taken a bizarre idea: a whole ongoing focused on Baby Groot. Hopefully, he will make it work like Zachary's favorite new character.

But the true star of this month's news is that Al Ewing is taking over Rocket Raccoon. The book will feature our favorite mammal building an Ocean's Eleven-style team for one last heist. And that team? Technet. Leave it to Ewing to bring back a mostly forgotten team of interdimensional bounty hunters. Plus, Pip the Troll.

By the way, if you're worried about Gamora's absence in May solicitations, don't worry. The series wasn't cancelled (yet), issue #5 was just delayed from April.

4. *insert Stranger Things theme*

Misfit City #1 - Kiwi Smith, Kurt Lustgarten, Naomi Franquiz (Boom!/Boom!Box)

Kiwi Smith is a pretty big deal in the movie industry, having written scripts for films like 10 Things I Hate About You and Legally Blonde. Now she's joining forces with Kurt Lustgarten and artist Naomi Franquiz to bring a new fun-sounding Boom!Box series, joining the imprint's star titles like Lumberjanes and Giant Days. The comic will join the growing numbers of media inspired by 80s entertainment (particularly The Goonies), like last year's Stranger Things show or upcoming video games Knights and Bikes and Crossing Souls. Misfit City will tell the story of an all-female group of friends living in a town famous for being the set for an 80s movie (appropriately enough), who find adventure in the form of Black Mary's treasure map.

3. Who's The Cat That Won't Cop Out/When There's Danger All About?/(Cage!)

Luke Cage #1 - David F. Walker, Nelson Blake (Marvel)

David F. Walker's Power Man and Iron Fist has been one of Marvel's highlights in recent years. The comic is ending, and the band is breaking up again; Iron Fist is moving to his own series written by Ed Brisson in March, while Luke Cage remains in Walker's hands. The new series, starting in May, will see Luke take on a more detective role (hence the Shaft theme above). The opening arc is little bit of a noir cliche; a person travels to a city to take part in a funeral of an important person for them (in this case Dr Burstein, the man who made Luke unbreakable), only to get involved in mysteries/crime surrounding said town. However, Walker has a good enough track record that I'm willing to give it a chance.

2. Ain't No Time for Subtlety

Calexit #1 - Matt Pizzollo, Amancay Nahuelpan (Black Mask)

We're living in terrifying times, and we really need fiction to help us deal with reality and inspire us. That's the goal of the creative team behind the astounding (both in quality and the length of hiatus between each issue) Young Terrorists. The duo will bring the not-really-serious idea of California seceding from the US –based on the the state hard stance against #45's hateful politics– and craft a story imagining a world where that concept is reality. It's not going to be subtle, but given that we live in a world where punching Nazis is inexplicably controversial, we don't really have time for subtlety.

1. Very Likely Better Than Penny Dreadful's Frankenstein Monster

Victor LaValle's Destroyer #1 - Victor LaValle, Dietrich Smith (Boom!)

Victor LaValle is a renowned and award-winning African American novelist.  He is the author of Big Machine, and most recently nominated for the Nebula award for his The Ballad of Black Tom novella. So as you can imagine, an announcement of his first comic book is a pretty big deal. Destroyer will tell the tale of the last heir of the infamous Victor Frankenstein; a Black woman Dr. Jo Baker, who resurrects her son Akai, killed by Chicago police; mirroring the disturbing number of real-life tragedies in recent years. In fact, Akai's name is based on one of the victims of those shootings, Akai Gurley. Unfortunately for Dr Baker and her son, that act puts her on a collision course with her ancestor's original creation, who's working towards the destruction of humanity.

TRADE-SPOTTING - MAY 2017 EDITION

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

Archie Comics

• Betty and Veronica Vol. 1 (Adam Hughes, Jose Villarrubia, Jack Morelli; collects issues #1-3; out on May 10)
• Josie & the Pussycats Vol. 1 (Marguerite Bennett, Cameron DeOrdio, Audrey Mok, Kelly Fitzpatrick, Jack Morelli; collects issues #1-5; out on May 24)

Boom! Studios

• The Backstagers Vol. 1 (James Tynion IV, Rian Sygh; collects issues #1-4; out in July 2017)
• Giant Days: Not on the Test Edition Vol. 1 (James Allison, Lissa Treiman, Max Sarin; hardcover; collects issues #1-8; out in July 2017)
• Lumberjanes To the Max Edition Vol. 3 (Noelle Stevenson, Shannon Watters, Kat Leyh, Brooke Allen, Carey Pietsch, Carolyn Nowak; hardcover; collects issues #18-24; out in July)
• The Woods Vol. 7 (James Tynion IV, Michael Dialynas; collects issues #25-28; out in July 2017)

Dark Horse

• Dept. H. Vol. 2: After the Flood (Matt and Sharlene Kindt; collects issues #7-12; out on July 5)
• Ether. Vol. 1: Death of the Last Golden Blaze (Matt Kindt, David Rubin; collects issues #1-5; out on July 19)

DC Comics

• Cave Carson Has a Cybernetic Eye. Vol. 1: Going Underground (Gerard Way, Jon Rivera, Michael Avon Oeming; collects issues #1-6; out on June 28)
• DC Comics Bombshells. Vol. 4: Queens (Marguerite Bennett, Mirka Andolfo, Laura Braga, Marguerite Sauvage, Sandy Jarrell, Pasquale Qualano, Matias Bergara, Richard Ortiz; collects issues #19-24; out on June 21)
• Harley Quinn. Vol. 2: Joker Loves Harley (Amanda Conner, Jimmi Palmiotti, John Timms, Chad Hardin and others; collects issues #8-13; out on June 21)
• Justice League of America. Vol. 1: Road to Rebirth (Steve Orlando, Jody Houser, Ivan Reis, Joe Prado, Mirka Andolfo, Stephen Byrne, Jamal Campbell, Andy MacDonald; collects /The Atom/ #1, /Vixen/ #1, /The Ray #1/, /Killer Frost/ #1 and /Rebirth/ #1; out on June 7)
• New Super-Man. Vol. 1: Made in China (Gene Luen Yang, Viktor Bogdanovic, Richard Friend; collects issues #1-6; out on June 21)
• Nightwing. Vol. 2: Back to Blüdhaven (Tim Seeley, Marcus To, Marcio Takara, Minkyu Jung; collects issues #9-15; out on June 14)
• Teen Titans. Vol. 1: Damian Knows Best (Benjamin Percy, Khoi Pham, Jonboy Meyers, Diogenes Neves; collects issues #1-5 and /Rebirth/ #1; out on June 14)

Image Comics

• Mayday (Alex de Campi, Blond, Tony Parker; collects entire miniseries; out on May 17)
• Motor Crush Vol. 1 (Brenden Fletcher, Cameron Stewart, Babs Tarr; collects issues #1-6; out on June 14)
• No Mercy Vol. 3 (Alex de Campi, Carla Speed McNeil, Jenn Manley Lee; collects issues #9-14; out on May 24)
• Revival Deluxe Collection Vol. 4 (Tim Seeley, Mike Norton; hardcover; collects issues #36-47; out on May 31)
• Violent Love. Vol. 1: Stay Dangerous (Frank J. Barbiere, Victor Santos; collects issues #1-5; out on May 24)

Marvel Comics

• Black Panther: World of Wakanda. Vol. 1: Dawn of the Midnight Angels (Ta-Nehisi Coates, Roxanne Gay, Yona Harvey, Rembert Browne, Alitha E. Martinez, Afua Richardson, Joe Bennett; collects issues #1-5; out on June 14)
• Occupy Avengers. Vol. 1: Taking Back Justice (David F. Walker, Carlos Pacheco; collects issues #1-4; out on June 21)
• Star-Lord. Vol. 1: Grounded (Chop Zdarsky, Kris Anka; collects issues #1-6 and Annual; out on June 21)
• Star Wars: Doctor Aphra. Vol. 1: Aphra (Kieron Gillen, Kev Walker; collects issues #1-6; out on June 21)
• Ultimates 2. Vol. 1: Troubleshooters (Al Ewing, Travel Foreman; collects issues #1-6; 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.

Make a Solicit Check: Best of November 2016 Comic 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: Wakandan lesbians, princess detectives, and genderqueer knights!

10. Don’t Panic

Mother Panic #1 – Jody Houser, Tommy Lee Edwards (DC/Young Animal)

The final title of the first wave of Gerard Way’s DC imprint Young Animals—this time written by Faith’s Jody Houser. The titular Mother Panic is a vigilante identity used by Violet Paige—Gotham’s newest "celebutante"—to get revenge for her traumatic childhood. It sounds like a curious antithesis to Faith, whose escapades Houser scripts over at Valiant. Also it seems like Mother Panic is the most connected to DC universe of all the Young Animal titles, what with the outright mention of Gotham City.

Mother Panic #1 is set to be released on November 9.

09. No More Days

Spider-Man: Renew Your Vows #1 – Gerry Conway, Ryan Stegman

Well, it might be in a separate universe, but Mary Jane and Peter Parker are back to being married and having their daughter, Annie. With a twist—both MJ and Annie have Peter’s spider powers, turning superheroing into a family business.

Spider-Man: Renew Your Vows #1 is set to be released on November 9.

08. From Hitwoman to P.I.

Angel City #2 – Janet Harvey, Megan Levens (Oni Press)

 

In last month’s struggle to cover most of Marvel’s new announcements, I ended up ignoring the release of Oni Press’s new female-led comic: a 1930s noir story. Time to fix this oversight.
Angel City stars Dolores Dare, former Hollywood hopeful, current enforcer for the Volante mob family. This changes when her best friend is found, another victim of the April Fool’s Killer. She starts her own investigation, which ends up setting her against a conspiracy of Hollywood studios, LA’s finest, and her own gang peers.

The first issue is set to be released on October 5; the second issue is coming out on November 16.

07. Have You Seen This (Bat)Man?

Super Powers #1 – Art Baltazar, Franco (DC)

Fans of adorable comics Tiny Titans and Superman Family Adventures—rejoice! The creative duo behind those titles is back with a new miniseries filled with cuteness and fun. Batman has gone missing and Wonder Woman is on the case. After Superman finds a clue in Gotham, she begins her search—in space!

Super Powers #1 is set to be released on November 23.

06. Emptying the 8house

Arclight #3 – Brandon Graham, Marian Churchland (Image)

Last year, Brandon Graham started his new project for Image: 8house. It was a line of miniseries published with the same main title, but otherwise completely unconnected. Those series were Graham and Marian Churchland's Arclight, Graham and Xerxe D. Penalta’s Kiem, Helen Maier and Fil Barlow’s Yorris and, finally, Emma Rios and Hwei Lim’s Mirror. The twist was that all four minis would be published incomplete (only 1 or 2 issues) and moving to the next in the order I listed them—until Mirror, which would be the first released in its entirety. And then everything else would be finished in the opposite order: Yorris, Kiem and, finally, Arclight. Basically, it was an attempt to imitate the structure of Cloud Atlas (the book, not the movie) with monthly published comics.

It didn’t work out, thanks to delays and not exactly sky-high sales, and the project was mostly dropped. By which I mean: all the series will end (Mirror ended earlier this year), but not as part of 8house, and not in the order presented above.

And thus we get to Arclight, which tells the story of the titular genderqueer knight, helping free his sorcerer princess trapped in an alien body, in a beautifully-rendered science-fantasy world. The first two issues are available digitally, so there’s plenty time to catch up with the series before it returns.

Arclight #3 is set to be released on November 23.

05. Fresh Meat!

New Talent Showcase #1 (DC)

A while back, DC started its Talent Development workshop for writers and artists, where entrants would learn from the company’s master storytellers. (Insert joke about DC’s less-than-stellar track-record of stories from their masters here.) The catch is that a resumé had to be submitted to be part of the workshops—this means this one-shot, which features stories written by its graduates, boasts about showcasing "new" talents even though most of them have already been working in the industry for a while. Chris Sebela, Michael Morecci, Joëlle Jones and Long Walk to Valhalla co-writer Adam Smith are the biggest stand-outs. On the plus side, the list of writers is diverse and it’s nice of DC to give a chance for writers to play in their toybox, even if it's just for one issue.

The full list of featured authors is as follows: Vita Ayala, Emma Beeby, Joelle Jones, Hena Khan, Michael McMillan, Michael Morecci, Erica Schultz, Christopher Sebela, and Adam Smith.

New Talent Showcase #1 is set to be released on November 30.

04. #TakeBackJustice

Occupy Avengers #1 – David F. Walker, Carlos Pacheco (Marvel)

If there’s one lesson from Civil War II, it’s that you can’t trust superheroes to do their job instead of petty squabbling. That’s where Hawkeye (Clint Barton) and friends come in, standing up for the little people. After Nighthawk and Power Man and Iron Fist, David F. Walker is among the best Marvel writers, so this is a comic to look out for. And if you’re worried there’s no sign of the other Hawkeye, Kate Bishop, don’t worry and have patience—she’ll star in her own future comic titled Hawkeye by Kelly Thompson, and with art by Leonardo Romero. We’ll keep you updated.

Occupy Avengers #1 is set to be released on November 2.

03. The Study in Cute

Mega Princess #1 (of 5) – Kelly Thompson, Brianne Drouhard (Boom! Studios/KaBoom)

Speaking of Kelly Thompson: the writer of Jem and the Holograms and A-Force is teaming up with a Disney artist, Brianne Drouhard, to tell a new all-ages comic for KaBoom, a Boom! Studios imprint.

Princess Maxine gets the traditional gifts from her fairy godmother on her tenth birthday, none of which she actually cares for because they don’t help her achieve her greatest dream: to become a detective. And when her baby brother, Prince Robert IV, goes missing, she and her sarcastic pony Justine are on the case! And those Mega Princess powers might actually come in handy.

02. Beyond the Panther

Black Panther: World of Wakanda #1 – Roxanne Gay, Alitha Martinez (Marvel)

Ta-Nehisi Coates’s current Black Panther run is a smash hit for Marvel, and a damn good comic for an industry newcomer. And now it’s getting a companion book that will fill in the blanks in world-building and develop the comic’s supporting characters. The first arc will be written by renowned writer Roxanne Gay, with art by Alitha Martinez; it will focus on Ayo and Aneka, the former Dora Milaje lesbian lovers, and will depict the blossoming of relationship before the start of Coates’s run. The first issue will also have a back-up story by Coates himself and poet Yona Harvey, with art by Afua Richardson; this one will focus on another female character, the Panther’s mysterious antagonist Zenzi.

Black Panther: World of Wakanda #1 is set to be released on November 9.

01. Be the Change

CBLDF Liberty Annual 2016 (Image)

Comic Book Legal Defense Fund is a wonderful organization, founded in 1986 to protect the First Amendment rights of comic book creators, publishers and retailers by covering their legal expenses. They also sponsor Banned Book Week and help libraries keep graphic novels on their shelves. I’ve already covered their book, She Changed Comics (reminder: out on October 5), focused on female comics creators.

As a non-profit organization, one of CBLDF’s ways of getting funding is releasing yearly anthologies, Liberty Annuals—one of which is the subject of this entry. This time, writers and artists from the industry are saluting real-life legends, people who changed the world: suffragettes, visionaries, and sports legends. And all proceeds go to CBLDF and their mission, with Image not keeping a single penny.

The full list of writers and artists featured is as follows: Andrew Aydin, Anina Bennett, Tim Fielder, Paul Guinan, Joe Keatinge, Larry Marder, JM Ken Niimura, Paul Pope, MK Reed, Dan Schkade, Bryan Talbot, Mary M. Talbot, Shannon Wheeler and Ronald Wimberly.

CBLDF Liberty Annual 2016 is set to be released on November 2.

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

Make a Solicit Check: Best of October 2016 Comic Solicitations

There are many comics coming out each 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, it’s Marvel madness, as we move from Civil War II to a second Marvel Now!—but there’s still room for alien girl bodyswappers and ancient conspiracies.

But before that, two quick notes. First, a reminder that on October 5 will be the release of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund book about female comics creators, She Changed Comics, that I wrote about last time. Second, last month I listed No Mercy #10 by Alex de Campi and Carla Speed McNeil as one of the Image comics returning in September. The title has since been delayed until October 5. With that out of the way...

12. Oh Thank God It’s Over

Civil War II #7 – Brian Michael Bendis, David Marquez (Marvel)

‘Nuff said.

11. ...You Gotta Be F***** Kidding Me.

Death of X #1-2 – Jeff Lemire, Charles Soule, Aaron Kuder (Marvel)

One crisis crossover where heroes fight each other instead of bad guys ends, another begins—and the Inhumans are in the center of both. And Marvel wonders why people aren’t excited about their position rising in favor of the X-Men.

Basically, since the ANAD relaunch, the Inhumans’ Terrigen mists have been encompassing greater swaths of land—and that's bad news for Mutants, because inexplicably the substance kills most of them and sterilizes the rest. So Mutants are on the verge of extinction (again) and would like to stop the mists, but Inhumans need them to live. So instead of reaching a diplomatic solution, they’re gonna punch each other (of course). The good news is, this seems to be restricted to the main 4-issue miniseries and apparently will not affect other Inhuman or X-Men titles. And with half of the series done in the first month (and a better writing team than Civil War II), this should be tolerable.

10. I Want to Believe – and Kick Butts

Romulus #1 – Bryan Hill, Nelson Blake II (Image)

Let’s leave Marvel’s madness for a while. If there’s one thing everyone seems to love, it’s ancient conspiracies, running everything from the shadows. This particular one is called the Ancient Order of Romulus— and if there’s another thing people really like, it's badass warriors opposing shadowy conspiracies. This book's badass is Ashlar, a female assassin the Order raised, trained, and betrayed.

Female buttkicking is set to begin on October 5.

9. From Zero to... Wait, No, They’re Still Zeroes

Great Lakes Avengers #1 – Zac Gorman, Will Robson (Marvel)

With last month’s announcement of Howard the Duck reaching its conclusion and this month's information that October means the end of Nick Spencer’s The Astonishing Ant-Man, it might seem like funny books are on the decline at Marvel. But if Marvel taketh away, it also giveth: in this case, Marvel’s biggest losers get their first ongoing (and first longer series since Squirrel Girl and the Great Lakes Avengers). The team (consisting of Big Bertha, Doorman, Flatman and Mr. Immortal) gets reinstated as permanent Avengers and get back to work in their hometown, Detroit (which I hear is up for a resurgence!). Hijinks will most definitely ensue.

8. Sing O Muse of the Fall of House Atreus

ODY-C #11 + #12 – Matt Fraction, Christian Ward (Image)

ODY-C is one of Image’s most high concept titles—a retelling of the Odyssey in space, in a future with only women. Most of it is written in a style similar to its classic source, and everything is drawn beautifully and mindbendingly by Christian Ward. And it returns in October, with two issues, promising an arc focused on its Agamemnon counterpart—and if you know your classic literature/Greek mythology, you can probably guess what’s coming. Of course, this being a Matt Fraction book, it’s only prudent to expect at least one of them to be delayed.

If all goes, ODY-C #11 will be out on October 5, and ODY-C #12 – on October 26.

7. *Insert Your Own David Bowie Song Reference*

Shade the Changing Girl #1 – Cecil Castellucci, Marley Zarcone (DC/Young Animal)

October is the month when Young Animal, DC’s insane new imprint headed by Gerard Way, is in full swing. Doom Patrol will have its second issue and two more series join it. One of them is Cave Carson Has a Cybernetic Eye, written by John Rivera and Way himself, and drawn by Powers’s Michael Avon Oeming. But it’s this title that sounds the most promising: written by Cecil Castellucci, drawn by Marley Zarcone (Effigy) and reimagining the classic DC and Vertigo title Shade the Changing Man, Changing Girl tells the story of a bored alien girl using a "madness coat" to inhabit a dying Earth girl’s body. And then things get messier.

It’ll be out on October 5.

6. From Cowboy to Punisher

The Vigilante: Southland #1 – Greg Phillips, Elena Casagrande (DC)

Vigilante is one of the oldest characters DC has rights to. Originally an Old West gunslinger, he’s reimagined in this comic as a Black man taking to the streets to avenge his girlfriend Dorrie, thereby  uncovering the conspiracy that killed her. So on one hand, we have a new Black character, written by a Black novelist—but the only way they thought of to motivate him is to kill his more socially- and politically-active girlfriend. Dammit.

The first issue of this miniseries will be out on October 26.

5. Everything Ends

Shutter #23 – Joe Keatinge, Leila del Duca (Image)

Shutter never got the reception some of its Image peers have, but it got enough to continue to its natural end. Because that's what this is: the start of the final, extended story arc, "So Far Beyond." The issue promises to provide an answer to every question raised during the comic’s run. I for one can’t wait—even though it entails the end of one of my favorite series.

The issue is set to be released on October 12.

4. A.K.A. The B Is Back

Jessica Jones #1 – Brian Michael Bendis, Michael Gaydos (Marvel)

I’ll be honest, I haven’t finished reading Jessica Jones’s debut series Alias. Plotwise I like what it did—showing the mundane and a touch more real side of the Marvel universe, and being probably the only good MAX imprint title. I just have a hard time tolerating Bendis’s dialogue style (Scarlet being the notable exception), and I’m not a fan of his pacing. But it’s a critically-accomplished title, and after the great and popular Netflix series put the character in the spotlight, it’s only natural the publisher would take advantage of it. Though I honestly doubt it will be as enjoyable and delightful as Jessica Jones’s recent cameos in Kate Leth and Brittney Williams’s Patsy Walker, A.K.A. Hellcat!

3. *Insert Your Own Queen Song Reference*

Champions – Mark Waid, Humberto Ramos (Marvel)

Mark Waid’s All-New, All-Different Avengers is—controversial? It’s not horrendous or offensive, it’s just... there. It doesn’t feel like the series had any major concept beyond "make an Avengers team we can call the official Avengers”. It doesn’t help that Waid—who is a creator of many popular DC runs (especially The Flash) and the recently rebooted Archie (plus he knocks it out of the park with Chris Samnee on Black Widow)—just seems to be going through the motions.

Well, if it’s a central idea he lacked, Champions has a good one—the younger members of the ANAD Avengers (Ms Marvel, Miles Morales and Nova) are dissatisfied with the adult superheroes (and after Civil War II, I ain’t blaming them) and strike out on their own to actually do some good in the world. Joined by the new, totally awesome Hulk Amadeus Cho (angry after the death of his hero, Bruce Banner), the teenage Cyclops from the past and the Vision’s daughter Viv (presumably influenced by whatever happens in The Vision’s finale), they want to change the world. Here’s hoping, kids.

2. Sweet Christmas

Cage! #1 – Genndy Tartakovsky (Marvel)

It’s not every day you get an animation star to create a comic for you. And if it’s the creator of Dexter’s Laboratory and Samurai Jack (and, admittedly, the director of the Hotel Transylvania movies)—well, you just can’t say no. Sadly the downside is that said star’s work-schedule might get in the way of actually releasing the comic. But after 9 years, the satirical series about one of Marvel’s biggest black superheroes will finally be out.

1. Long Live the King

The Vision #12 – Tom King, Gabriel Hernandez Walta (Marvel)

This is it—one of the best and most critically acclaimed comics released during the ANAD Marvel relaunch is coming to an end. This is also (for the foreseeable future) the last comic King will write for Marvel since signing an exclusivity contract with DC. This is—well, I don’t really have words. Let’s hope the big finale is as grand as the entire series thus far.

Dominik Zine is a nerdy 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.