Variant Covers: Dig Up The Soul Of Steampunk God!
Variant Covers. Sometimes it’s a love affair. Sometimes it’s an apathetic union. And sometimes its a ruthless hate fuck. Today is the latter. Pressed up against a deadline, I am inspired to do nothing. Refresh the same websites. Pound caffeine. Ignore my schoolwork. But I’m here, you’re here, and there are comics coming out tomorrow. Here’s the shit that may grease your underwear with excitement.
Per usual, hit the comments box with your pull list for tomorrow.
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Lady Mechanika #1
This new comic from Joe Benitez caught my eye when wandering through the various release lists for tomorrow’s loot. G’damn! Sometimes something sneaks up on you, and you want to kiss the gaping asshole of whatever force pushed you in its direction. I’m hoping this a dope find. A gorgeously illustrated steampunk release starring a vixen? Had me at vixen. But here, check out the plot description, “the tabloids dubbed her “LADY MECHANIKA”, the sole survivor of a psychotic serial killer’s three-year rampage through London. Found locked in an abandoned laboratory amidst countless corpses and body parts, with her own limbs amputated and replaced with mechanical components, her life began anew.”
C’mon! Tell me that isn’t worth at least a glance at the introduction. Sold.
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A Collection of Collections.
There’s a collection of collections coming out this week that caught my eye. ‘Tis the season and shit! Gift a comic book nerd you know with one of these bad boys. First up is the second collection of Jeff Lemire’s Sweet Tooth. As someone who is following this in trades, I’m excited to dive back into this series. Think The Road meets fantasy meets familiar tropes of responsibility for society’s future, et cetera. It’s one of my favorite releases of the past year or so.
Speaking of Jeff Lemire, his Superboy #2 is coming out, and if you read the first issue you understand: this title has promise. I don’t give a shit about Superboy, or Smallville for that matter. Or rather, I didn’t. Then Lemire stepped up. God, the dude has writing chops. Jealousy +500.
As well, tomorrow carries the first collection of James Stokoe’s Orc Stain. I can’t find this motherfucker at any comic book shop near me. Trust me, I’ve looked. As my local comic shop continues its depressing slide into bankruptcy, my comic book shop love has become polyamorous. So I’ve slutted around in my search. Now’s a chance to snag it all up and collected from my buddy, Mr. Amazon. I have a good feeling Stokoe is going to be someone we’re all going to be hearing a shitload from in the next couple of years. He’s talented, eccentric, off-kilter, and bizarre. Something of a kindred spirit for my demented brain.
Also last week hee did the world an enormous solid and released an entire unreleased comic book over on his website. Murderbullets. It’s fantastic, and I’m actually saddened I couldn’t spend money to support the effort.
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Wildstorm Presents: Planetary – Lost Worlds
Down with the Planetary, but missed out on the crossover specials starring the team? Snag this release tomorrow. According to Warren Ellis this pig contains two of the three 48-page specials that he wrote. The crossovers find the team running into the trinity of DC sluggers: Clarky Kent, Brucey Wayne, and Diana. Not to be outdone, the other one features them running into their Ellis generated analogs in The Authority.It isn’t on the cheap, and this stack of awesome will run you $8, but you’re getting damn near 100-pages of Ellis’ work.
Fuck, I miss these paranormal archaeologists. I’m not even sure if I have these crossovers, so long has it been since I hit up my library to see what sits in there, so I’m snagging it.
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Thor: The Mighty Avenger #7
The second to last issue of TMA drops tomorrow. So help me if you’re not reading this comic book. I’ve begged. I pleaded. I’ve stopped just short of buying the fucking thing for you. A magical rendition of Thor and his journey throughout our confounding Midgardian universe has been a journey I’d pimp to anyone. My brother has too. We’ve tried. It’s ending soon. Jump on board if you haven’t yet, and give this title a proper send-off.
Quick aside: The artist of TMA, Chris Samnee is glorious. One of my faves of the moment. Have you seen him tackle Superman: The Movie in six panels? It’s fantastic.
Also dropping in the Marvel Universe is the Fraction/Ferry-powered Thor #618. I’m only not wanking fervently like the Fraction/Ferry fanboy I am because this comic is sticking around for a long time. As it should be. It’s a stud. You can also snag Shadowland: After The Fall #1 by Antony Johnson. Normally I don’t recommend these one-shot “after Event X” titles. But! A huge but! I really enjoy Johnson, and the artwork is by Marco Checchetto and Roberto De La Torre. It can’t hurt.
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Northlanders #35
I love Northlanders so fucking much. How does Brian Wood embed so much humanity and social commentary into a comic book about fucking vikings? I don’t know man. I don’t know. Don’t get me wrong. As a dork fan of fantasy and heavy metal, I love vikings. But combine it with some substance, and you’ve got a recepie for rock. Wood teams up with his partner on DEMO, Becky Cloonan for this two-part story, “The Girl In The Ice”.
It’s going to be fantastic. And look at the cover by Massimo Carnevale. Shit is stacked with talent.
Also coming out is Fables #100. Guys, I have a confession. I don’t read Fables. Why? Simple: I’m a fucking starving graduate student. I fell behind, and I just can’t afford to catch-up. Maybe I should start snagging trades used online or something. But I am intelligent enough to know that this is a big deal, and I’m a douche for not participating in it. Mea culpa, mea culpa.
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That does it for me. What are you guys checking out this week?