Tuesday, January 30, 2018

THE ALL STAR COMICS 7TH ANNIVERSARY $500 GIFT VOUCHER GIVEAWAY!



Sunday, February 4th will see us celebrate our SEVENTH year of being part of the comic book retail industry and the Melbourne comic book community. Later in the month, the 20th of February marks our THIRD year in our Queen St location!  Two exciting dates for us but as important as it is for us, the only reason we are still here is because of the continuing support we get from people just like YOU!

So like last year as a way to show our appreciation, we want to give you all the chance to win a birthday present from us!


Our gift to one of you will be a ALL STAR GIFT VOUCHER for $500 for you to spend on whatever you like in the store!


Now how do YOU get a slice of this excellent prize?

Starting from Monday, February 5th until the 20th of February, every time you spend $50 you will receive a raffle ticket and go into the draw to win! Spend $100, that's two tickets and so on and so forth! Just picking up your weekly comics could score you a further $500 to go crazy with in the store!

Only All Star purchases, not commission item purchases will be included toward ticket totals.
All entries will go into the All Star Barrel and the winner will be drawn at random.
Entries start for open for business on February 5th and end at close of business on February 20th. Then the winner will be drawn and announced the soon after that.


We still find it hard to believe that after seven years how the Melbourne comic reading, collecting and creating community has embrace us and we couldn't be more thankful. We are still doing our very best to give you the best comic retail experience possible so that we continue to earn your already loyal support now and for many years to come!

Best of luck to everyone and here's to the 4th AND 20th of Feb! 

Sunday, January 28, 2018

New Comics For Wednesday 31st of January


Yep yep, it sure is hot. But it's not just a scorcher outside, just have a look at these releases and wait for your temperature to rise...also there looks to be a birthday/anniversary on the horizon...but for who or maybe what for?

Local Canberra creator, Ryan K Lindsay (Beautiful Death, Negative Space) teams up with Eric Zawadzki (The Dregs) to spin a brutal tale of Shield-maidens facing adversity, as Viking men try to take their land. Perfect for fans of TV's Vikings and Brian Wood's Northlanders, grab a copy of this one-off tale, ETERNAL OGN.

Neil Gaiman brings you a fusion of Lovecraft and Zelazny

Keen to find out more about Benicio Del Toro's criminal hacker man DJ from The Last Jedi? Check out STAR WARS LAST JEDI DJ #1 to see how he ended up crossing paths with the resistance.

The Justice League is attacked on all sides as their world sinks into the darkness. Will there be a light at the end of the tunnel? Find out in DARK NIGHTS METAL #5 (OF 6).

Get ready for the upcoming Flash War with FLASH ANNUAL #1. With a major turning point for the Flash family, that sets up the earth shattering stories for 2018.

DC's Young Animal and the current DC Universe collide over the radioactive milk of psychic cows... WAIT WHAT!!! DC's un-event of the year kicks off in JLA DOOM PATROL SPECIAL #1 the MILK WARS part one!

This sci-fi black comedy takes place in a future where intermingling between parallel earths has become common place. New from Vertigo, MOTHERLANDS #1 (OF 6) follows a mother/daughter bounty hunter team up as they hunt down their son/brother criminal across dimensions.

One of the DCU's deadliest assassins is living the quiet suburban life with her family when, surprise surprise, her past comes back to haunt her. Find out if she'll ever be free of her past in DC's crack at Martha Washington meets the Punisher but way of Kick Ass in SILENCER #1.

Are you a hungry ghost? Check out HUNGRY GHOSTS #1 (OF 4) for classic ghost stories tainted with the common thread of food, the next comic outing from famous author and chef, Anthony Bourdain.

More stories and previously unpublished adventures of the Escapist - master of elusion, foe of tyranny, champion of liberation, and epitome of the Golden Age superhero in the new collection of MICHAEL CHABON ESCAPIST AMAZING ADV TP.

Her school mates don't want anything to do with her, so what else is Shade to do but hit the road in SHADE THE CHANGING GIRL TP VOL 02 LITTLE RUNAWAY! First stop is Gotham City, but is Gotham ready for her unique brand o alien teen Madness!

Hard-nosed, chain-smoking tabloid reporter Elena Abbott investigates a series of grisly crimes that the police have ignored. Crimes she knows to be the work of dark occult forces. Forces that took her husband from her. Forces she has sworn to destroy. Jump on board this grisly crime-noir in ABBOTT #1 from award nominated novelist Saladin Ahmed.

Eisner Award-nominated writer Simon Spurrier (The Spire, X-Men Legacy) and breakout talent Jonas Goonface introduce a vast world teeming with bold ideas exploring ownership, freedom, and the pettiness of possession-both physical and spiritual. Tag along with Ennay an outcast of this world as he journeys across the country in GODSHAPER TP.

Why not sit down with a nice White Russian and celebrate the cult classic 20th anniversary with a book by the fans for the fans in I M A LEBOWSKI YOURE A LEBOWSKI 20TH ANNIV ED

Box Brown (Andre the Giant) tackles the tumultuous life of comedic genius Andy Kaufman in 

I challenge anyone not to buy such an adorable face on this SAGA GHUS T-shirt 
In Small to X-Large.

It's that time again to be a kid in a candy store as PREVIEWS #353 FEBRUARY 2018 is arriving. Feast your eyes on all the goodies that are coming out! And get your pre-orders in!

Yes, yes, plenty of great new reads to get the mercury rising with your reading this week. As for the Birthday/Anniversary talk, well more on that later but do keep your eye on all our socials for updates. Beyond that, if you need any extras from this week's list just be sure to let us know before close on Tuesday to get you sorted. Until we see you next Stay cool and stay rad.

MARVEL

ALL NEW WOLVERINE #30 LEG
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN RENEW YOUR VOWS #15 LEG
AVENGERS #678 LEG
BEN REILLY SCARLET SPIDER #13 LEG
CAPTAIN MARVEL #128 LEG
DEFENDERS #9 LEG
DESPICABLE DEADPOOL #293 LEG
FALCON #4 LEG
INCREDIBLE HULK #712 LEG
INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #596 LEG
JEAN GREY #11 LEG
JESSICA JONES #16 LEG
MOON GIRL AND DEVIL DINOSAUR #27 LEG
MOON KNIGHT #191 LEG
OLD MAN LOGAN #34 LEG
PHOENIX RESURRECTION RETURN JEAN GREY #5 (OF 5)
PUNISHER PLATOON #5 (OF 6)
SPIDER-GWEN #28 LEG
STAR WARS DOCTOR APHRA #16
STAR WARS LAST JEDI DJ #1
TALES OF SUSPENSE #101 (OF 5) LEG

DC COMICS
DARK NIGHTS METAL #5 (OF 6)
DEATHSTROKE ANNUAL #1
DETECTIVE COMICS ANNUAL #1
FLASH ANNUAL #1
HARLEY QUINN #36
JLA DOOM PATROL SPECIAL #1
MYSTIK U #2 (OF 3)
SILENCER #1

VERTIGO
ASTRO CITY #50
MOTHERLANDS #1 (OF 6)

BOOM
ABBOTT #1
AMORY WARS GOOD APOLLO #10 (OF 12)
BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA OLD MAN JACK #5
LAZARETTO #5 (OF 5)
STEVEN UNIVERSE ONGOING #12

DARK HORSE
HUNGRY GHOSTS #1 (OF 4)
JOE GOLEM OCCULT DETECTIVE FLESH & BLOOD #2 (OF 2)

IDW
ATOMIC ROBO SPECTRE OF TOMORROW #4
BLACK CROWN QUARTERLY #2 WINTER 2018
INFINITE LOOP NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH #4 (OF 6)
MY LITTLE PONY FRIENDSHIP IS MAGIC #62
POWERPUFF GIRLS BUREAU OF BAD #3 (OF 3)
SAMURAI JACK QUANTUM JACK #4 (OF 5)
STAR TREK BOLDLY GO #16
STRETCH ARMSTRONG & FLEX FIGHTERS #1 (OF 3)
WALT DISNEY COMICS & STORIES #741

IMAGE
BEAUTY #19
BONEHEAD #2
GOD COMPLEX #4
HACK SLASH RESURRECTION #4
OUTCAST BY KIRKMAN & AZACETA #33
REALM #5
SPAWN #282
UNDERWINTER FIELD OF FEATHERS #4
VOID TRIP #3 (OF 5)

ONI
INVADER ZIM #27
KAIJUMAX SEASON 3 #6
RICK & MORTY #34

VALIANT
ETERNITY #4
QUANTUM & WOODY (2017) #2

MISC
ALL TIME COMICS BLIND JUSTICE #2
ANIMOSITY #12
B & V FRIENDS JUMBO COMICS DIGEST #258
CATALYST PRIME KINO #3
DARK ARK #5
GALAKTIKON #4
GRAVETRANCERS #2
LARKS KILLER #5 (OF 7)
REACTOR #2 (OF 4)
RIVERDALE (ONGOING) #10
SPACE RIDERS GALAXY OF BRUTALITY #4
STREET FIGHTER VS DARKSTALKERS #8 (OF 8)
TALES FROM THE HYPERVERSE (ONE SHOT)
THE BEAUTIFUL DEATH (STATIX) #5 (OF 5)
UBER INVASION #11

MAGAZINES
IMAGE PLUS #6 (WYTCHES THE BAD EGG PT 6)
PREVIEWS #353 FEBRUARY 2018

TRADES
BEN REILLY SCARLET SPIDER TP VOL 02 DEATHS STING
BLACK AF AMERICAS SWEETHEART GN
BRIGGS LAND TP VOL 02 LONE WOLVES
CLANDESTINO COMP COLL TP
COMPLETE CREPAX HC EVIL SPELLS
DC SUPER HERO GIRLS DATE WITH DISASTER TP
DIVINITY COMP TRILOGY DLX ED HC
DOCTOR WHO 11TH SAPLING TP VOL 01 GROWTH
DRAGONSEED DLX HC
DREW FRIEDMAN`S CHOSEN PEOPLE HC
ETERNAL OGN
GODSHAPER TP
GREGORY AND THE GARGOYLES HC VOL 02 (OF 3)
GUNNERKRIGG COURT HC VOL 06
H G WELLS WAR OF THE WORLDS GN
I M A LEBOWSKI YOURE A LEBOWSKI 20TH ANNIV ED
INHUMANS VS X-MEN TP
IS THIS GUY FOR REAL GN
JOJOS BIZARRE ADV 3 STARDUST CRUSADERS HC VOL 06
JOSIE & THE PUSSYCATS TP VOL 02
JUSTICE LEAGUE YR TP BIZARRO & DOPPELGANGERS OF DO
JUSTICE LEAGUE YR TP BLACK ADAM & ETERNITY WAR
JUSTICE LEAGUE YR TP GORILLA GRODD & PRIMATE PROTO
JUSTICE LEAGUE YR TP JOKER & HARLEY QUINNS JLA JAI
KILL THE MINOTAUR TP
LEGION SON OF X TP VOL 01 PRODIGAL
MADE IN ABYSS GN VOL 01
MAGES OF MYSTRALIA TP
MATT WAGNER GRENDEL TALES OMNIBUS TP VOL 02
MERCENARY DEFINITIVE ED HC VOL 02
MICHAEL CHABON ESCAPIST AMAZING ADV TP
MYSTERY MEN TP GOLDEN AGE
NEW TEEN TITANS THE JUDAS CONTRACT DLX ED HC
ONLY END OF THE WORLD AGAIN HC
PERFECT BLUE COMPLETE METAMORPHOSIS NOVEL
REDLINE TP VOL 01
REGULAR SHOW TP VOL 10
RICHARD STARKS PARKER SLAYGROUND TP
ROYALS TP VOL 02 JUDGEMENT DAY
SAUCER STATE TP
SHADE THE CHANGING GIRL TP VOL 02 LITTLE RUNAWAY
SKYLANDERS SPYRO & FRIENDS HC
STEVE CANYON HC VOL 08 1961-1962
SUPERMAN THE COMING OF THE SUPERMEN TP
US AVENGERS TP VOL 02 STARS AND GARTERS
VAMPIRELLA DYNAMITE YEARS OMNIBUS TP VOL 02
VENOM TP VOL 03 LETHAL PROTECTOR BLOOD IN THE WATE
VIGILANTE SOUTHLAND TP
VIOLENT LOVE TP VOL 02 HEARTS ON FIRE
WAYWARD TP VOL 05 TETHERED SOULS
WEIRD WORLD OF LAGOOLA GARDNER
WEREWOLF BY NIGHT COMPLETE COLLECTION TP VOL 02
ZOMBIES ASSEMBLE MANGA TP VOL 02

MERCH
SAGA GHUS LG T/S
SAGA GHUS MED T/S
SAGA GHUS SM T/S

SAGA GHUS XL T/S

Monday, January 22, 2018

INSIDIOUS THE LAST KEY PREVIEW SCREENING DOUBLE PASS GIVEAWAY!


The creative minds behind the hit Insidious trilogy return for Insidious: The Last Key. In the horror, which welcomes back franchise standout Lin Shaye as Dr. Elise Rainier, the brilliant parapsychologist faces her most fearsome and personal haunting yet: in her own family home.


Thanks to those fear mongers from Sony Pictures and INSIDIOUS THE LAST KEY
In Cinema February 8, we have 10 double passes to a special preview screening of the film to be held at Hoyts Melbourne Central, Wednesday 7th February at 6.30pm to giveaway.

To go into the draw for your chance to win all you need to do is tell us,
"Despite their desperate need for a decent manicure, _______ has the key (fingers) to my heart." filling the blank with the tag of the person who holds all the keys and you will be entered in the draw.

SPECIAL NOTE: 
As this prize is for a specific time and date, please only enter if you are free that evening.

Terms and Conditions:
-Only entries made via the comments on the Facebook post will be included in the draw.
-All entries will go into the All Star Barrel and winners will be drawn at random.
-Entries close 5pm Sunday the 28th of January and winners will be announced Monday the 29th and notified soon after as to how to collect their tickets.

A huge thanks again to Sony Pictures and INSIDIOUS THE LAST KEY  In Cinemas February 8

©2018 Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Sunday, January 21, 2018

New Comics For Wednesday 24th of January


Wowsers! It's this week's new comic list! What's going to be at the top of your reading pile this week?
Maybe find a few unexpected extras below...

The Inhumans and all of Earth with them, face the wrath of the Progenitors, the Inhuman's creators and beings older than the Earth itself in INHUMANS JUDGMENT DAY #1

David Haller, the son of Professor X, has always had trouble containing his multiple personalities, but now a new personalities threatens to take over and consume him in LEGION #1 (OF 5) LEG.

Get ready for one of the biggest movies of the year...in comic form with MARVELS AVENGERS INFINITY WAR PRELUDE #1 (OF 2).

Part 1 of the crossover between X-men Blue and Venom (?!) begins here with
X-MEN BLUE ANNUAL #1 LEG.

Wowing fans and critics alike, the Watchman sequel continues on it's way as the would be defenders and destroyers of another universe dive across to the DCU in the next thrilling chapter of DOOMSDAY CLOCK #3 (OF 12).

An all new mini-series starring Raven as she faces a new other worldly menace that is all too grounded in reality in RAVEN DAUGHTER OF DARKNESS #1 (OF 12).

Artie Buckle is a pretty fine cop but the citizens of Brick City are becoming too much for him. Good thing he's got an extra-dimensional tentacled being helping him put an end to the escalating crime in VINEGAR TEETH #1 (OF 4).

Witness the rise of the most iconic villain in the Gears of War Universe in GEARS OF WAR RISE OF RAAM #1  as he climbs the ranks of the locust horde.

Powerful human/spirit hybrids called Fantasmen populate the earth. Two members from opposing sides must battle to prove their worth to their family. From designer Melita Curphy, writer Singgih Nugroho, and featuring the art of Sami Basri of Powergirl and Witchblade fame, it's
DISSONANCE #1 from Image.

There is a new Iron Fist in town and her name is monk Pei. Danny Rand is ready to teach her everything he knows but will it be enough to defend herself in an all new graphic novel from Immortal Weapons creator, Kaare Andrews.
IMMORTAL IRON FISTS MPGN TP

It's fast paced, 90's Lobo action galore as he searches for who wrote his unauthorized biography in 
LOBO BY KEITH GIFFEN & ALAN GRANT TP VOL 01. Quintessential 90's reading.

The wait is over as a gaming classic returns to the comic pages in full colour. It's the Hitoshi Ariga adventures of Mega Man. MEGA MAN MASTERMIX #1.

For the first time in hardcover comes Scott Morse's epic graphic novel series in a single tome. The tale of of a young boy transported across the universe to find a magical sword.

When you combine the awesomeness of a seal, spy plots and the creative talent of Rich Tommaso you get one epic tale involving espionage in one of Britain's most covert MI-6 divisions.

You better get in quick because we only have limited quantity of this rad
SAGA SWEET BOY PIN. What a good boy!

And for those of you who missed out, this is your week for mega reprints galore.
BATMAN LOST #1 2ND PTG METAL
BATMAN THE DAWNBREAKER #1 3RD PTG METAL
BATMAN THE DROWNED #1 3RD PTG METAL
BATMAN THE MERCILESS #1 3RD PTG METAL
BATMAN THE MURDER MACHINE #1 3RD PTG METAL
BATMAN THE RED DEATH #1 4TH PTG METAL 

Woop, there it is. Yes, woop indeed. If you find an extra something you need us to stash, just be sure to let us know below close on Tuesday for us to get it all sorted for you.
Until next time we see you, stay rad!


MARVEL
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #794 LEG WW
AVENGERS #677 LEG
BLACK PANTHER #169 LEG
INHUMANS JUDGMENT DAY #1 (OF 1) LEG
LEGION #1 (OF 5) LEG
LUKE CAGE #169 LEG
MARVEL TWO-IN-ONE #2 LEG
MARVELS AVENGERS INFINITY WAR PRELUDE #1 (OF 2)
PHOENIX RESURRECTION RETURN JEAN GREY #4 (OF 5) LE
STAR WARS POE DAMERON #23
THANOS #15 LEG
X-MEN BLUE #20 LEG
X-MEN BLUE ANNUAL #1 LEG

DC COMICS
ACTION COMICS #996
BATGIRL #19
BATMAN BEYOND #16
BLUE BEETLE #17
DEMON HELL IS EARTH #3 (OF 6)
DETECTIVE COMICS #973
DOOM PATROL #10 (MR)
DOOMSDAY CLOCK #3 (OF 12)
FLASH #39
GOTHAM CITY GARAGE #8
HAL JORDAN AND THE GREEN LANTERN CORPS #37
HELLBLAZER #18
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #23
NIGHTWING THE NEW ORDER #6 (OF 6)
RAVEN DAUGHTER OF DARKNESS #1 (OF 12)
RUFF & REDDY SHOW #4 (OF 6)
SCOOBY DOO TEAM UP #34
SUICIDE SQUAD #34
TEEN TITANS #16
WILD STORM #11
WONDER WOMAN #39

VERTIGO
IMAGINARY FIENDS #3 (OF 6)

BOOM
ADVENTURE TIME COMICS #19
GO GO POWER RANGERS #6
LUMBERJANES #46

DARK HORSE
DEPT H #22
EMPOWERED & SISTAH SPOOKYS HIGH SCHOOL HELL #2
SHERLOCK FRANKENSTEIN & LEGION OF EVIL #4 (OF 4)
VINEGAR TEETH #1 (OF 4)
ZODIAC STARFORCE CRIES OF FIRE PRINCE #3

DYNAMITE
BETTIE PAGE #7

IDW
30 DAYS OF NIGHT #2 (OF 6)
GEARS OF WAR RISE OF RAAM #1
JUDGE DREDD BLESSED EARTH #8
KID LOBOTOMY #4
MY LITTLE PONY LEGENDS OF MAGIC #10
ROM & THE MICRONAUTS #2 (OF 5)
STAR TREK DISCOVERY #2
TRANSFORMERS LOST LIGHT #13

IMAGE
BLACK CLOUD #7
BLACK MAGICK #10
BLACK SCIENCE #34
DISSONANCE #1
GASOLINA #5
MAESTROS #4
MANIFEST DESTINY #33
MONSTRESS #13
MOONSTRUCK #5
REDNECK #9
REGRESSION #6
RINGSIDE #14
SEX CRIMINALS #21
SOUTHERN BASTARDS #19
WARFRAME #3

VALIANT
NINJA-K #3
X-O MANOWAR (2017) #11

MISC
BACKWAYS #2
BETTY AND VERONICA VIXENS #3
GRIMM FAIRY TALES #11
JUGHEAD THE HUNGER #3
MEGA MAN MASTERMIX #1
SINK #4 (OF 5)
STREET FIGHTER RELOADED #6 (OF 6)

MAGAZINES
NOW #2

TRADES
ADVENTURE TIME ORIGINAL GN VOL 11 PRINCESS & PRINC
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN WORLDWIDE TP VOL 07
AQUAMAN TP VOL 04 UNDERWORLD (REBIRTH)
BACK TO THE FUTURE TP VOL 05 TIME SERVED
CHECKMATE BY GREG RUCKA TP VOL 02
COURTNEY CRUMRIN GN VOL 02 THE COVEN OF MYSTICS
DISHONORED PEERESS AND THE PRICE HC
FRANKENSTEIN ALIVE TRIO
GREEN ARROW THE ARCHERS QUEST TP NEW ED
GUARDIANS OF GALAXY TELLTALE GAMES TP
HELLBLAZER TP VOL 18 THE GIFT
IMMORTAL IRON FISTS MPGN TP
INCIDENTALS TP VOL 01 POWERS LIES SECRETS
IRON MAN EPIC COLLECTION TP DOOM
LOBO BY KEITH GIFFEN & ALAN GRANT TP VOL 01
MINE CELEBRATION OF LIBERTY & FREEDOM FOR ALL GN (
MOORCOCK LIB CORUM HC VOL 01
NANCY DREW HARDY BOYS TP THE BIG LIE
NEW MUTANTS COMPLETE COLLECTION TP BACK TO SCHOOL
PREDATOR HUNTERS TP
PROJECT SUPERPOWERS HERO KILLERS TP
PUNISHER TP VOL 03 KING OF NEW YORK STREETS
RENATO JONES TP SEASON 02
SAGA SWEET BOY PIN
SAVAGE THINGS TP
SOULWIND HC
SPY SEAL TP VOL 01 CORTEN-STEEL PHOENIX
THE ALTERED HISTORY OF WILLOW SPARKS GN
TRANSFORMERS OPTIMUS PRIME TP VOL 02
WOLVERINE OLD MAN LOGAN TP VOL 06 DAYS OF ANGER
WWE ONGOING TP VOL 02
X-MEN GOLD TP VOL 03 MOJO WORLDWIDE
X-O MANOWAR (2017) TP VOL 03 EMPEROR

MERCH
SAGA SWEET BOY PIN

BACK IN STOCK
BATMAN LOST #1 2ND PTG METAL
BATMAN THE DAWNBREAKER #1 3RD PTG METAL
BATMAN THE DROWNED #1 3RD PTG METAL
BATMAN THE MERCILESS #1 3RD PTG METAL
BATMAN THE MURDER MACHINE #1 3RD PTG METAL
BATMAN THE RED DEATH #1 4TH PTG METAL

Saturday, January 13, 2018

New Comics For Wednesday 17th of January

 

Early in the new year and already Image is dishing out a large list of interesting and varied titles. Beyond that this week has heaps of other great releases, find out about just a few below!

Ales Kot gives us a glimpse into a bleak somewhat near future like only he can. With haunting artwork by Danijel Zezelj, this is a story of love and hate and how two can be torn apart by idealism and subjective morality in Image's new DAYS OF HATE #1 (OF 12).

Nick Wilson was once a name everyone knew, he had super powers, he helped the world but when the powers went, so did his fame and now he's no more than a of a late-night show punchline. Nearly 30, 20 pounds heavier and constantly checking for 4:20pm, he's realised he needs a long look in the mirror. How can Nick rebuild his life in FURTHER ADV OF NICK WILSON #1 (OF 5).

Chocolate, vanilla, existential horror, drug addiction, musical fantasy... it's a whole tub load of weirdness! ICE CREAM MAN #1 is a genre-defying comic book series featuring "one-shot" tales of terror, sorrow, wonder, and redemption.

One of last year's biggest sellers returns with it's next volume in LEGEND OF KORRA TP VOL 02 TURF WARS PT 2.


DC get's its very own Hulk in DAMAGE #1. Can DC's new hero, Ethan control the monster within or will it be too much!

Tensions and water levels rise in Matt Kindt's mind-bending undersea sci-fi murder mystery in its latest collection, DEPT H HC VOL 03 DECOMPRESSED.

Sam Keith spins a tale of paranoia like only he can in FOUR WOMEN TP. Told mainly in the claustrophobic confines of their vehicle, these four women comfort one another and learn more about each other as their ordeal continues, drawing ever closer to its inevitable conclusion.

Talented French comics artist Claire Wendling breathes life into a new world of imagination with her stunningly illustrated tale LIGHTS OF THE AMALOU TP.

The Ultimate Universe's Thor died defending the Multiverse but his hammer remains. Who wields it now? Will too many Thor's spoil the broth?
Catch up in MIGHTY THOR PREM HC VOL 04 WAR THOR.

One of the greatest military mights of our time. Catch a glimpse into the rise of General Ursus. Find out what fuels his hatred for mankind in PLANET OF THE APES URSUS #1.

To celebrate its 25th-Anniversary, the Eisner Award-winning series STRANGERS IN PARADISE XXV #1 is back with an all-new story beginning with this #1 issue!

Perfect for the collectors shelf Shirow Masamune's cyber-punk classic Ghost in the Shell gets a boxed collection in GHOST IN SHELL DLX COMP BOXED SET.

The dream team Brubaker and Phillips continue their vigilante's journey into madness as he comes to terms with the truth about the demon on his shoulder in KILL OR BE KILLED TP VOL 03.

Popular anime RWBY's world gets bigger with these never before revealed adventures of Ruby, Weiss, Blake & Yang before they came together as a team in RWBY GN.

Richard Corben follows up 2014's Spirits of the Dead with a new collection of original short stories in SHADOWS ON THE GRAVE HC.

A captivating parable and timeless tale of love, passion, violence, and humor in the spirit of 1001 Nights and Aladdin-but one that blasts the conventional clichés to bits! More European goodies hitting our shelves with TALES FROM THE AGE OF COBRA TP.

Dark and unabashed THREE ROOMS IN VALERIES HEAD TP blends British humor and universal regret in a series of vignette's, told through the mind of Valerie she imagines that her ex-boyfriends bodies are all in a mummified state in her basement and each day she brings one upstairs to discuss what went wrong.

Ever had that sinking feeling when you look at the shelf and a hype series you've been told to read has no number ones left? Fear not we've you covered as some popular titles are BACK IN STOCK with 2017 biggest selling singles returning to the shelves.
BATMAN WHITE KNIGHT #1 (OF 8) 4TH PTG
BATMAN WHITE KNIGHT #2 (OF 8) 3RD PTG
BATMAN WHITE KNIGHT #3 (OF 8) 2ND PTG
DARK NIGHTS METAL #1 (OF 6) 3RD PTG
DARK NIGHTS METAL #2 (OF 6) 3RD PTG
DARK NIGHTS METAL #3 (OF 6) 2ND PTG

And there you go. As good a week as any! If you've spotted an extra something you need us to reserve for you, just be sure to let us know before close of Tuesday for us to lock it in.
Also this week's All Star Lottery Secret Recipient has yet to show, so there is still two days to get yourself a $50 gift voucher just for picking up your order before Wednesday!



MARVEL
ALL NEW WOLVERINE #29 LEG
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN VENOM INC OMEGA #1 LEG
AMERICA #11
AVENGERS #676 LEG
BEN REILLY SCARLET SPIDER #12 LEG
CHAMPIONS #16 LEG
DEADPOOL VS OLD MAN LOGAN #4 (OF 5)
DOCTOR STRANGE #384 LEG
GENERATION X #86 LEG
MIGHTY THOR #703 LEG WW
MONSTERS UNLEASHED #10 LEG
PETER PARKER SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #299 LEG
SPIRITS OF VENGEANCE #4 (OF 5) LEG
STAR WARS #42
WEAPON X #13 LEG
X-MEN GOLD #20 LEG

DC COMICS
AQUAMAN #32
BATMAN #39
BATMAN TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES II #3 (OF 6)
BATWOMAN #11
BOMBSHELLS UNITED #10
DAMAGE #1
FUTURE QUEST PRESENTS #6
GREEN LANTERNS #39
HARLEY QUINN #35
INJUSTICE 2 #18
JUSTICE LEAGUE #37
NIGHTWING #37
SUPER SONS #12 SONS OF TOMORROW
SUPERMAN #39
TRINITY #17
WONDER WOMAN CONAN #5 (OF 6)

BOOM
ADVENTURE TIME #72
FENCE #3
JIM HENSON STORYTELLER FAIRIES #2 (OF 4)
KONG ON PLANET OF APES #3
MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS #23
PLANET OF THE APES URSUS #1
RUGRATS #4
STEVEN UNIVERSE ONGOING #11
WWE #13

DARK HORSE
JENNY FINN #3 (OF 4)

DYNAMITE
JAMES BOND THE BODY #1
RED SONJA #12
WILL EISNER SPIRIT CORPSE MAKERS #5 (OF 5)

IDW
ASSASSINISTAS #2
OPTIMUS PRIME #15

IMAGE
ANGELIC #5
COPPERHEAD #18
DARK FANG #3
DAYS OF HATE #1 (OF 12)
EVOLUTION #3
FAMILY TRADE #4
FURTHER ADV OF NICK WILSON #1 (OF 5)
ICE CREAM MAN #1
KILL OR BE KILLED #15
MAGE HERO DENIED #5 (OF 15)
RUMBLE #2

MISC
BRILLIANT TRASH #3
JIMMYS BASTARDS #6
MIRACULOUS #19
MIRACULOUS #20
MIRACULOUS #21
PACIFIC RIM AFTERMATH #1 (OF 6)
ROBOTECH #6
SIMPSONS COMICS #242
STRANGERS IN PARADISE XXV #1
STREET FIGHTER RELOADED #5 (OF 6)
TICK 2017 #2
UNDER (STATIX) #2 (OF 2)
WRAPPED UP #4

TRADES
ANARKY THE COMPLETE COLLECTION TP
BATMAN BLACK & WHITE STATUE BY JOHN ROMITA JR
BOTTOMLESS BELLY BUTTON SC
COMPLETE OKKO TP
DEADPOOL CLASSIC TP VOL 21 DVX
DEPT H HC VOL 03 DECOMPRESSED
DIRK GENTLY EVERYTHING IS CONNECTED GAME
FLOWERS OF EVIL COMPLETE ED TP VOL 01
FOUR WOMEN TP
GEORGE PEREZ SIRENS HC DIRECT MARKET EXC
GHOST IN SHELL DLX COMP BOXED SET
GIANT DAYS NOT ON THE TEST EDITION HC VOL 02
GOOD NIGHT PLANET HC
GREEN ARROW TP VOL 09 OLD TRICKS
HILO GN VOL 04 WAKING THE MONSTERS
KILL OR BE KILLED TP VOL 03
LEGEND OF KORRA TP VOL 02 TURF WARS PT 2
LIGHTS OF THE AMALOU TP
LITTLE SID HC PICTURE BOOK
MASS EFFECT DISCOVERY TP
MICHAEL ALLRED CONVERSATIONS SC
MIGHTY THOR PREM HC VOL 04 WAR THOR
NIGHTWING TP VOL 04 BLOCKBUSTER (REBIRTH)
ONCE UPON A TIME MACHINE TP VOL 01
PAUL KIRCHNER AWAITING THE COLLAPSE SELECTED WORK
PUNISHER MAX TP COMPLETE COLLECTION VOL 07
RWBY GN
SHADOWS ON THE GRAVE HC
SKYLANDERS SPYRO & FRIENDS HC
STAINED TP
STAR WARS LEGENDS EPIC COLLECTION LEGACY TP VOL 02
SUPER POWERS BY JACK KIRBY TP
TALES FROM THE AGE OF COBRA TP
THREE ROOMS IN VALERIES HEAD TP
TRANSFORMERS WINDBLADE LAST CITY TP
VALERIAN GN VOL 20 ORDER OF THE STONES
VALERIAN GN VOL 21 TIME OPENER
WARLORD OF MARS OMNIBUS TP VOL 02
X-MEN LEGION SHADOW KING RISING TP

MERCH
BATMAN BLACK & WHITE STATUE BY JOHN ROMITA JR
DIRK GENTLY EVERYTHING IS CONNECTED GAME

BACK IN STOCK
BATMAN WHITE KNIGHT #1 (OF 8) 4TH PTG
BATMAN WHITE KNIGHT #2 (OF 8) 3RD PTG
BATMAN WHITE KNIGHT #3 (OF 8) 2ND PTG
DARK NIGHTS METAL #1 (OF 6) 3RD PTG
DARK NIGHTS METAL #2 (OF 6) 3RD PTG
DARK NIGHTS METAL #3 (OF 6) 2ND PTG

X-MEN GRAND DESIGN #2 (OF 2)

Tuesday, January 9, 2018

ALL STAR RECOMMENDS 2018 COMIC BOOK FORECAST


ALL STAR RECOMMENDS FOR JANUARY 9TH: THE 2018 COMIC BOOK FORECAST EDITION
 By Cameron Ashley

Forget comic books, if there is one recommendation I currently feel qualified to give, it is this: never move home at Christmas time with your five-month old child and overseas in-laws visiting. I return to you from a short stint in the Sanatorium, surrounded by boxes but with faculties renewed and crystal ball once more in hand.

2018 already looks bountiful on the comics front. It also looks a little heartbreaking, with two industry titans giving us their farewells to the medium and the final volume of a cult-smash project making its long-awaited arrival. This, the Golden Age of reprints and translated material, continues also with newly translated classic manga and work from Heavyweight European creators also forthcoming. It's a massive year already, so let's take a look at some of what awaits us, alphabetically with tentative release dates included.


ALACK SINNER: THE AGE OF DISENCHANTMENT
Carlos Sampayo & Jose Munoz
IDW
Due May

Will this follow up to one of 2017s most welcome reprints be called The Age of Disenchantment or The Age of Discontent as I've seen it listed both ways? We'll find out upon its release in May, but who cares anyway because its bound to be special. It took two years, give or take, from IDW announcing the return of Alack Sinner to English to actually hit store shelves, but 2017s volume one, The Age of Innocence, proved well worth the wait, easily one of the best releases of the year. Even if you're half as sick of detective stories as I am, you'll still find yourself captivated by Argentinian creators Sampayo and Munoz's take on 1970s New York and Sinner himself whose adventures prove, ultimately, to be meditations on violence, racism, greed and love. And the art. My God the art. Here readers will find the mid-point from Krigstein and Toth to Sin City-Miller and Eduardo Risso, but it's so much better and cleverer and lovelier than that sounds. In fact my only complaint about IDWs reprint is that the creators for some reason requested Sinner's tales be presented chronologically rather than by publication date, depriving us of seeing the remarkable growth in Munoz's art, the ever-creeping surrealistic flourishes, as they happened. A small quibble, really, for what is a comic that lives up to the mountainous critical hype that preceded its long-awaited return to English.



BATMAN BY GRANT MORRISON OMNIBUS/SEVEN SOLDIERS OF VICTORY OMNIBUS
Grant Morrison & Various
DC
Batman due July/Seven Soldiers due August

Are you, like me, an obsessed weirdo with mental problems who cannot handle the fact that your Morrison Batman comics are in, like, five different formats?? Hello..? Hello...?

Hmm.



Well thankfully for me DC are fixing this problem and easing my nervous ticks with the impending release of the Batman by Grant Morrison Omnibus. Ahhh. I can breathe at last. Drawn by a slew of excellent artists (and Tony Daniel), Morrison's epic run on Batman was notable for its author's attempts to treat the entire backlog of Bat-adventures as canon, building to Bruce Wayne's inevitable nervous breakdown. But Batman being Batman, there's always a plan, even when you're as crazy as a guy screaming, "Why aren't these Morrison Batman comics all the same sizzzeee?" Ahem. Also worth mentioning here is that DC is also finally releasing Morrison and friends' quite wonderful Seven Soldiers of Victory in a single, very large book. Huzzah.


BLOODSTRIKE
Michel Fiffe
Image (TBA)

Wait, what? In surely the year's most inspired piece of creative casting, Michel Fiffe brings his colour pencil set over to Image, ready to reanimate the corpse of yet another Rob Liefeld creation littering the comics character graveyard. Yes, Bloodstrike returns and actually will be readable for the first time in the title's history. All jokes aside, with his self-published Copra, Fiffe has proven ability to channel a classic superhero aesthetic into his own idiosyncratic style. It's so easy to rip off a certain pose or artistic style and pass it off with a cheeky wink and a nod. Not Fiffe though, who goes arthouse with his hero-homage. Expect the reinvigorated super-assassin team to return with visual homage aplenty, to both the titles original early-Image style and the preceding '80s Suicide Squad title (in many ways the proto-Bloodstrike) which Fiffe is so fond of, but in the process looking quite unlike anything else other than a Michel Fiffe comic. Should be fantastic.



CAPTAIN HARLOCK: THE CLASSIC COLLECTION/SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO: THE CLASSIC COLLECTION
Leiji Matsumoto
Seven Seas
Harlock due April/Yamato due Oct

How are Seven Seas pulling this off? Not only content to bring us the early adventures of Go Nagai's Devilman (see below), They've snatched up English rights for both of Leiji Matsumoto's heavyweight creations: Captain Harlock: Space Pirate and Space Battleship Yamato. If you didn't get around to Kodansha's two-volume presentation of Matsumoto's Queen Emeraldas, I suggest you start there as it's the perfect primer of Matsumoto's striking work. His expanses of space feel endless, his ship consoles seem to blink from the darkness of his surrounds, his characters are bouncy, lively always and in Harlock, he found the perfect rogue with which to liven up his dense space operas. From the publicity: "After a mysterious sphere collides with Tokyo, legends seemingly born of the ancient Mayan civilization appear. In truth, however, the beings are alien invaders known as the Mazone, plant women who wandered the earth in bygone ages--and have now returned to make it theirs. With a ragtag crew of renegades at his side, only the space pirate Captain Harlock has what it takes to save the planet." Translated by Zack Davisson, who really must be living his dream right now, quality is assured along with the boundless adventure on offer.



But that's not all! Seven Seas are coming for your wallet and your reading time in 2018. The entirety of Matsumoto's Space Battleship Yamato, possibly the ultimate comics space opera, due October, is of course better known to us as Star Blazers and it is collected into a single volume. Seriously, what a year.


DEVILMAN THE CLASSIC COLLECTION
Go Nagai
Seven Seas
Due March

Translator Zack Davisson has his fingerprints all over 2018s best classic manga reprints, kicking off in March with massive, 600+ page volumes of Go Nagai's horror classic, Devilman. I'm not sure how many volumes will be considered "classic" by publisher Seven Seas but Nagai kicked off his epic about a human imbued with the powers of a devil (with which he fights literal devils) in 1972, wrapping up the original run roughly a year later, only to return from 79-81 after anime kept his creation well and truly alive. It's influential stuff, becoming something of a pop culture phenomenon in its native Japan, unsurprising given Nagai's Tezuka-goes-blood-and-guts style. Fun stuff and a much-needed return to print for this beloved character's earliest adventures. Curse you, Seven Seas!


DIE LAUGHING
Andre Franquin
Fantagraphics
Due April

April promises to break some budgets, but do ensure you at least give some thought to Andre Franquin's Die Laughing. Considered arguably the best draftsman of all time, Franquin's Die Laughing has been in the works at Fantagraphics for years and, as with many comics on this year's list, finally appears in 2018. Franquin, noted mainly for his gag-filled Spirou and Fantasio and Gomer Goof comics (both published these days by the UK's Cinebook) goes dark here, very, very dark. Modern life is skewered by the late Belgian genius in strips that sound like Mad magazine gone utterly nihilistic. Sure to be cruel, it's also bound to be beautiful, with images like this, which show Franquin at his inky best, his satire at its darkest:



THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN VOLUME FOUR: THE TEMPEST
Alan Moore & Kevin O'Neill
Top Shelf/Knockabout
Due June

This would be a notable inclusion solely for the fact that it's the final volume in Alan Moore and Kevin O'Neill's largely excellent The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen series. However, given that Alan Moore, indisputably the most highly-regarded writer to ever grace the medium (whatever you may think of the old curmudgeon) will retire from comics with its publication, it becomes more of an actual "event" than anything else this year, no matter what the Big Two try and tell you. Given that artist O'Neill, the man whose very style was once banned by the Comics Code Authority, is also calling time on his long and incredible career, I'm not sure how that prior statement can even be disputed. Skipping ahead to the far future, this final six-issue League story promises to wrap thing up with characters new and old from the series' time-jumping adventures.


LONE WOLF & CUB GALLERY EDITION
Goseki Kojima & Kazuo Koike 
Dark Horse Comics
Due May

It is frequently difficult to resist the lure of the oversized "art edition" book. Pioneered by IDW's Scott Dunbier ("Artist's Edition"), both Fantagraphics ("Studio Edition") and Dark Horse ("Galley Edition") have also jumped aboard to wave giant hardcovers filled with high quality scans of original comics artwork under the noses of process nerds worldwide. This one right here though is a real standout, presenting the gorgeous, forty-year-old Lone Wolf & Cub artwork of Goseki Kojima (from scripts by the brilliant Kazuo Koike) at a size which readers have never even come close to seeing before - particularly if you've got the original Dark Horse run of Lone Wolf (as I do) which were books a little larger than your palm. Adding to the appeal is pages presented in the original Japanese as well as English, something else English readers have probably never seen before. Kojima was a consummate draftsman and a thorough researcher and the chance to get as close as possible to his original art boards is a tantalising one. Bring this on.




MASTER RACE AND OTHER STORIES
Bernard Krigstein
Fantagraphics
Due January

I am quite behind on collecting the beautifully designed, black and white EC Comics reprints that Fantagraphics have been serving up for the past few years, but the latest instalment, each compiled by artist, is a total must-own-now. Bernard (or simply "B.") Krigstein was one of the medium's most gifted visual storytellers, fabulously cinematic and moody at all times even when faced with the cramped, multi-panelled, heavily captioned stories he crafted for EC Comics in the 1950s. Master Race and Other Stories collects the titular tale (one of the finest EC ever published, smashing the mould for what artists could achieve with such tight narrative restrictions) and many more genre-spanning tales by the master, many either unpublished or never reprinted. The care Fantagraphics puts into this line ensures Krigstein's art will look its sharpest. Out shortly after this column hits (supposedly), get in store to order.


MORT CINDER
Alberto Breccia & Hector German Oesterheld
Fantagraphics
Due July

Wandering through time and across the world is poor Mort Cinder, who rises from the grave each time he is murdered. If this is a familiar premise, DC's Resurrection Man is what's ringing the bell, but make no mistake on which is the original- Mort Cinder dates back to 1962. Oesterheld writes this one, he of The Eternaut fame (look Oesterheld up - he has quite the life story), but the star of the show is undoubtedly artist Alberto Breccia, whose work was simply decades ahead of its time. Amazing stuff:




MY FAVORITE THING IS MONSTERS CHAPTER 2
Emil Ferris
Fantagraphics
Due February

Look, let's be real for a moment. The only comic released in 2017 that will still be talked about with any real relevance in a decade's time is the first volume of Emil Ferris' My Favorite Thing Is Monsters. With the second, concluding, volume arriving shortly, it's just as likely Ferris' astonishing ballpoint artwork and beautiful writing steals the year once again. If you've yet to read My Favorite Thing Is Monsters, I envy you and recommend holding off for the concluding volume's arrival to ensure you don't have to endure even a sliver of the twelve-month wait the rest of us have. An absolute, top-of-the-list must-buy. I can't really say any more than that.


PAPER DOLLS
Kerascoet
NBM
Due February

Long delayed, cancelled even at one point as it was simply too expensive for publishers NBM to bring into English, Paper Dolls by the French husband and wife art team Kerascoet finally arrives this February and it is limited to 1000 numbered copies. Yikes. Giant, intricately designed, Paper Dolls showcases the gorgeous art the duo produce and if you're familiar with their work on Beauty, Miss Don't Touch Me, Beautiful Darkness, Satania and more, you know we're in for a treat. The advance word from NBM promises the book will lift "the veil on the immensity and diversity of their work in comics, animation and advertising showing sketches, studies, paintings, even work on textile." Poised to be possibly the year's loveliest book, Paper Dolls also may prove to be the most fun, armed as it is with bonus cut outs, stickers and more.


POOCHYTOWN
Jim Woodring
Fantagraphics
Due July

Not only the final Frank book, but also the final comic that the incomparable Jim Woodring will ever make, Poochytown seeks to wrap up the surreal adventures of Woodring's anthropomorphic critter's travails through the world of the Unifactor and will apparently do so with fairly shocking event. Troubling, but as long as Pupshaw and Pushpaw make it unscathed, I'll be fine. The idea of Woodring ending his time in comics is a terribly sad one - Frank has been with us since 1996 - and underneath all those trippy sequences lies some pretty heavy symbolism. Few comics have reworked old archetype into something startlingly unique and visually immersive as Jim Woodring's and for the first time, the arrival of a new Frank book is a sad one. Not to be missed.


PRISON PIT VOLUME 6
Johnny Ryan
Fantagraphics
Due July

All manner of atrocity surely awaits readers in the concluding volume of Johnny Ryan's hyper-violent, wrestling and manga-inspired Prison Pit. Volume 6 of the cult hit is three years in the making, capping off what surely must be seen as a pretty stunning success for the cartoonist. An animated adaptation and a merchandise bonanza later, Ryan's...um..."anti-hero," Cannibal F@#kface, faces one final epic brawl on the landscape populated by violent alien criminals that he's trapped in. How over the top will this final volume get? Off the charts would be my guess, but whatever the case, Prison Pit's conclusion is sure to be the year's most offensively hilarious read.



SABRINA
Nick Drnaso
D&Q
Due May

Nick Drnaso's debut graphic novel, Beverley, was a standout for me in 2016, a supremely accomplished effort from a newcomer whose thin lines and sterile environments matched the frequent iciness of his character’s interactions. Back at publishers D&Q again this year, Drnaso's follow up, Sabrina, ups the ante. Featuring an airman in the US airforce drawn into the mystery of the titular Sabrina's disappearance, encountering "modern world devoid of personal interaction and responsibility, where relationships are stripped of intimacy through glowing computer screens," it's a premise that may cause some sighs. I know, I know, it's the kind of thing I would probably roll my eyes at too, but Drnaso's work leans toward the Ballardian and I expect an uncomfortable, clever examination of the "fake news climate" rather than some tossed-off references to Twitter and how shallow we all are in a desperate attempt to make the comic relevant. I guess I'm saying, trust me. If you don't, go take a look at 2016's Beverly and remember that excellent comic was Drnaso's first.



SLUM WOLF
Tadao Tsuge
NYRC
Due May

Okay, in 2018 can we please show some more love to New York Review Comics who is consistently putting out incredible reissue after reissue of long lost comics gold? Sure, there are a number of companies doing this, but few with the design and willingness to take go the extra mile with presentation. Two different paper stocks? Sure. Massively oversized? Why not. There's almost a recklessness here that rivals Fantagraphics go-for-broke presentation aesthetic. Anyway, on tap for this May is Slum Wolf by the brilliant Tadao Tsuge. Long delayed, this collection assembles stories the alt-manga master created in the sixties and seventies. Tsuge's last collection Trash Market showed readers the real life grime of Japan at the time and Slum Wolf would appear to up the ante, focussing as it does on "punks, vagrants, gangsters, and other lost souls..." Like Trash Market before it, Slum Wolf is translated and edited by the excellent Ryan Holmberg, a man who has forgotten more about obscure Japanese comics than you or I could ever learn. Again: what a time this is for comics. Seriously.



TOTAL JAZZ
Blutch
Fantagraphics
Due February

Blutch is back! Exploring the music and sub-culture of the jazz scene is the French artist's newest arrival in English, which is great if you love jazz and almost as great even if you don't. Blutch possesses a striking, singular artistic voice and a beautifully inky line and it's just possible that this collection of vignettes and shorts, drawn in a variety of styles ("as improvisational as Coltrane and Mingus," Fantagraphics promises) will be the perfect introduction to his craft for the new reader. Can't wait.



X-MEN: GRAND DESIGN TREASURY EDITION
Ed Piskor
Marvel
Due April

Alright! This is what I've been holding off for. Ready to shelve right next to your volumes of Ed Piskor's beloved Hip Hop Family Tree is the collection of the cartoonist's massively-praised X-Men project which sandwiches almost the entire continuity of everyone's favourite mutants into one smartly-cartooned package. It's pretty cool to see such a unique project strike such a large vein in the fanbase - it feels like the kind of thing Marvel would do back in the Jemas/Quesada days (how strange that I now look back at that period with nostalgic pangs). Hopefully Grand Design spurs the publisher on to take greater chances with its creators once again as, from simply a visual standpoint, X-Men: Grand Design looks utterly unlike anything else from the supposed House of Ideas. Its success proves that projects like Grand Design and the similarly lauded Lethem/Dalrymple Omega The Unknown comic of a few years back should not be outliers in Marvel's immense catalogue. 



YELLOW NEGROES AND OTHER IMAGINARY CREATURES
Yvan Alagbe
NYRC
Due April

Not going to lie, I don't know a whole lot about this one but I have been keeping an eye on its pending arrival for about a year now. Looking a little like Steve Pugh and Al Davidson going fully experimental, Yellow Negroes and Other Imaginary Creatures comes to us, like all NYRC releases, with advance praise from all over the place. Focussing on immigrants to Paris, this title may pair very well with last year's sorely neglected Run For It by Marcello d'Salete (which concerned itself with Brazilian natives fleeing their colonialist masters). Alagbe, never before translated into English, brings us the loves and conflicts of immigrants and their struggles to assimilate in their new home. A mixed race couple and a power-tripping cop feature prominently, brought to life by Alagbe's lively brush. With it's racial theme up front and squarely in the reader's face, the book has been described as "provocative," but it's also quite likely exactly the comic 2018 needs. Created between 1994-2011, Yellow Negroes and Other Imaginary Creatures should be considered strongly for your pre-orders - NYRC never steers us wrong.

That's it!

See you soon. Love your comics.