Can you still call it Previews if it's a day late? Well, some people get new releases on Friday, right? Anyway, HeroesCon was a blast, but it's delayed this week's Previews because I was there and not here to work on this. Also, this is a big week for the Previews. Lots of new, interesting books to look at. Read on to see what they are.
Baltimore: Volume 1: The Plague Ships (HC)
- Written by Mike Mignola & Christopher Golden
- Art by Ben Stenbeck
- Colors by Dave Stewart
- Cover by Mike Mignola
After a devastating plague ends World War I, Europe is suddenly flooded with vampires. Lord Henry Baltimore, a soldier determined to wipe out the monsters, fights his way through bloody battlefields, ruined plague ships, exploding zeppelins, and submarine graveyards, on the hunt for the creature who’s become his obsession.
The Free Comic Book Day issue enticed me enough that I'm adding this to my “get when I get the chance” list — a long list, indeed.
Status: Future Purchase.
Birds of Prey #13
- Written by Gail Simone
- Art & Cover by Jesus Saiz
Things get ugly as The Birds of Prey are trapped in a cunning puzzle box of a skyscraper, pursued by a nightmarish killer who holds all the cards, leaving only the Huntress, the reluctant aide of Renee Montoya, and The Question to free them! And what effect does the death of Oracle have on the team as they race to escape from hell?
I never did get to take a look at the first part of this story (the previous issue). I'm still interested, though. I love The Question, and it's that much better with the Huntress team-up.
Status: In Consideration.
Booster Gold #45
- Written by Dan Jurgens
- Art & Cover by Dan Jurgens & Norm Rapmund
Booster knows that the Flashpoint world isn't his own. But how does he get back? How does he make things right?
Again, I didn't get to see the first part of this — I think the shop was out when I went last week. I'm still on the fence with all the Flashpoint stuff. It seems interesting, but can I fit the extra purchases into my monthly budget? Add to my current sourness with DC this past week, and I'm even less certain. But, I still love Booster Gold, and now isn't the time to show displeasure if the stories are good. If anything, that proves the point for DC. (We need to change things because people aren't reading these books.) So, I'll judge these on their own merits.
Status: In Consideration.
Fear Itself: Deadpool #1
- Written by Christopher Hastings
- Pencils by Bong Dazo
- Cover by Ryan Stegman
FEAR ITSELF TIE-IN
As the Marvel Universe is wracked with FEAR ITSELF, only Deadpool sees it for what it truly is…a way to make money. Has Deadpool really been chosen as one of the worthy, granted one of The Serpent’s Hammers? Or did he just take any old hammer and go to town with some rhinestones? Either way, when Deadpool hits the street with his shiny new mallet it’s—STOP! Hammer time. Don’t miss Deadpool playing whack-a-mole with the comic event of the season!
This could be a fun three-and-done mini. Deadpool's probably best in small doses like this; especially since everyone seems to write only goofball Deadpool lately.
Status: In Consideration.
Flashpoint: Deathstroke and the Curse of the Ravager #1
- Written by Jimmy Palmiotti
- Art & Cover by Joe Bennett & John Dell
FLASH FACT! He will stop at nothing to find his lost treasure!
I still hate those FLASH FACT!
things, but regardless, this looks like it could be fun. Deathstroke as a pirate just seems so perfect.
Status: In Consideration.
Ghost Rider #0.1
- Written by Rob Williams
- Art by Matthew Clark
- Cover by Arturo Lozzi
Special POINT ONE Issue.
HELL’S OWN ANGEL RETURNS IN ALL NEW POINT ISSUE THAT LEASDS STRAIGHT TO THE NEW GHOST RIDER ONGOING SERIES!
With the events of FEAR ITSELF tearing the Earth apart a mysterious and powerful figure offers Blaze a faustian pact and a chance for peace. Can Blaze actually allow himself to 'Give Up The Ghost'? And, if so, who will the Ghost Rider pass onto next? The souls of Johnny Blaze and everyone within the Marvel Universe depend on this decision. Vengeance rides in a new direction with Rob Williams (Throwbacks, Daken) and Matthew Clark (Superman, Doom Patrol). Grab your leather, metal and hellfire because it’s the end of an era for Ghost Rider and the beginning of a new life for Johnny Blaze. It’s gonna get loud! FIRE!
Ghost Rider was the first comic I ever collected, so I have a warm place in my heart for him. I'm not sure if I actually care enough to read a Ghost Rider series, but I'll have to take a look for nostalgia, if nothing else.
Status: Of Interest.
Mega Man #2
- Written by Ian Flynn
- Art by Patrick Spaziante, John Workman & Matt Herms
- Cover by Patrick Spaziante
"Let the Games Begin!" Part Two: Rock was just a simple helper-robot. Now he's the world-saving Mega Man! Armed with only his Mega Buster, can Mega Man face down the Robot Masters? More importantly, can he face his own reservations about fighting his own kind?
Ian Flynn actually had copies of this issue at HeroesCon this past weekend. I didn't find out until well after they were gone (they apparently went quite fast — in fact, he barely had anything left of a full table of comics & trades by Sunday). For a big Mega Man fan (from just about the beginning), this looks amazing — the art is fantastic, and the story seems like a good expansion of the basic in-game story. Which still puts me on the fence: Do I pick it up even though it's a comic (aimed at kids) that I, truthfully, could do without? Or do I let it slide, even though I'd probably enjoy it quite a bit and support a local creator to boot?
Status: In Consideration.
Mystery Men #1
- Written by David Liss
- Pencils & Covers by Patrick Zircher
To “declassify” this a bit, this is a Marvel book about the first heroes — before Captain America or The Twelve, even. It's set in the regular Marvel universe, so some of those early heroes may pop in somewhere along the (five-issue) line, but this centers around the five Mystery Men: The Aviatrix, The Operative, Achilles, The Revenant and The Surgeon. It's a noir tale set in the 1930s, and it sounds like it could be a good book, if done well. Worth a look, anyway.
Status: In Consideration.
Red Robin #24
- Written by Fabian Nicieza
- Art & Cover by Marcus To & Ray McCarthy
To survive the Assassination Tournament, Red Robin must survive an attack from Scarab's Covenant of Ka, make it to Russia in time to rescue a critically injured oligarch, track the mercenary Promise and come to an unexpected confrontation with the mysterious sister of Ra's al Ghul!
It seems like Red Robin and his new lame costume will only appear in the new Teen Titans book this September. So, I'm going to enjoy the heck out of these last few issues.
Status: Buying It.
Samurai's Blood #1
- Written by Owen Wiseman
- Art by Nam Kim, Matthew Dalton & Jessica Kholinne
- Cover by Jo Chen
In an era when lineage defined you, three teenagers must make their way through the world hiding their identities in order to find their destinies. As their village burns behind them, they are headed for a city they'd heard about only in stories. The three young samurai must now struggle to stay alive and take vengeance on the evil usurper who has destroyed the rest of their clan and the only world they'd ever known. Will they rise on the tides of vengeance, or they will they fall on the swords of fate?
I like old Japan as a setting, and who doesn't like a good samurai story? I have no idea if this will be good, but it seems like it'll be pretty true to the period while still being full of action. And it's only six issues long, so it's not a big commitment. So, I'll take a look and maybe even give it a try for a buck.
Status: In Consideration.
The Unwritten #26
- Written by Mike Carey
- Art by Peter Gross
- Cover by Yuko Shimizu
The hammer goes down, the auction starts, and lot number 100 is Tom Taylor. Who's going to be bidding, and what do they want him for? Tom hopes he never finds out - but he's out of options, in the hands of his enemies, and locked in a sensory deprivation tank that's terrifyingly familiar...
I haven't done much reading this past week — HeroesCon took up half my time and life took up most of the rest — and that includes not reading the previous issue of The Unwritten. So, I'm sure I'll be looking forward to this more after reading #25, but it looks like the story is still going in more interesting places than I could dream of.
Status: Buying It.
Well, I finally got that done! I'll be more prompt next week, I promise. :)
