Shockwave | Transformers | Energon Universe | Skybound

Welcome to the Energon Universe—Wave 2 trailer from Skybound!

The people have spoken—Skybound’s Energon Universe featuring the Transformers, G.I Joe, and brand-new characters like the Void Rivals (they don’t call themselves that but it’s such a cool name) is a huge success! Now, with all the players established, Skybound has released this teaser video for Wave 2 of the Energon Universe… and you might say that it teases the return of someone guaranteed to send “Shockwaves” through every single title! In fact, you might even say that Shockwave, the popular Transformers character, appears prominently in the video!

Ghost Machine 1 (Gary Frank Foil Variant) | Image Comics | AshAveComics.com

There’s Always Next Week: January 19, 2024

by Paul

After a week spent communicating entirely in Nanalan’ clips, I worry that the language center of my brain has become too shrivelled to write a coherent column for you. Will I be able to write about Grand Admiral Thrawn without using the phrase “What a glorious gentleman!”? It might be a bumpy ride this week, gang, but don’t worry… There’s Always Next Week!

Ghost Machine 1 | Image Comics | AshAveComics.com

GHOST MACHINE #1

Art: Gary Frank, Bryan Hitch, Jason Fabok, Francis Manapul | Story: Geoff Johns, Peter J. Tomasi, Brad Meltzer, Lamont Magee, Maytal Zchut (Image Comics, $4.99)

One thing Gary Frank does that really made an impression on me early on is capture everyday body language. There’s a panel in one of his Incredible Hulk issues—during the Asgard story, I think, I tried to find the panel for you but no such luck—where Betty Banner and Marlo are talking to one of Marvel’s goofs and he draws them making that kind of “round-the-bend” gesture you make to indicate someone is nuts. You know, where you hold your index finger in the air and twirl it around. It’s such a quotidian gesture that you never think about it when you see it in day-to-day life but is really hard to describe, let alone capture in a static comic book panel. Frank does gesture with the best of them. It’s amazing to think how long it took him to catch on as a superstar. Even though he’s obviously improved since those Hulk days, he was so terrific to start that it’s a wonder he wasn’t snapped up by Image to draw some short-lived project that would have paid him enough royalties to retire. He is, to me, the star attraction of Ghost Machine #1, which at 64 pages for $4.99 is a hell of a good value in addition to being choc-a-bloc with superstar talent (Bryan Hitch, Jason Fabok, and Francis Manapul are also present). This looks to have the rat-a-tat 2000 A.D. anthology rhythm that I always find satisfying. This one is top-of-the-stack for me next week.

PRE-ORDER IT: Gary Frank Main Cover | Gary Frank Foil Variant | Gary Frank Variant | Bryan Hitch Variant | Francis Manapul Variant | Jason Fabok Variant | Peter Snejbjerg Variant | Ivan Reis Variant

Resurrection of Magneto 1 | Marvel Comics | AshAveComics.com

RESURRECTION OF MAGNETO #1

Art: Luciano Vecchio | Story: Al Ewing (Marvel Comics, $5.99)

X-readers will recall that Magneto’s very specific request upon his death was, “I would like to stay dead. Look, I deleted myself from the back-to-life machine. No resurrection of me, please.” So here comes Storm to resurrect Magneto in this new series titled Resurrection of Magneto.

This has got to be very frustrating for Magneto. Personally, as someone wired to be distracted and dazed by the least little thing, I find this whole premise triggering. It’s like Magneto locked the door to his office so he can finally concentrate and get some work done, and then Storm comes around and taps on the window to ask him to use his magnet powers to open a stubborn jar of tomato sauce. She’s like Dennis the Menace going over to Mr. Wilson’s house all the time. X-Men Red is consistently neck-and-neck with Immortal X-Men for the best-selling X-title at the shop, so I’m sure Al Ewing has something much more exciting and thought-provoking in store than Storm running around Magneto’s ghost house going, “What’s this do?” But Storm, you’ve been around for almost fifty years now. Learn how to open your own jars.

PRE-ORDER IT: Stefano Caselli Main Cover | David Baldeon Foil Variant | Insignia Variant | John Christopher Tyler Negative Space Variant | Nic Klein Stormbreakers Variant

Star Wars: Thrawn—Alliances 1 | Marvel Comics | AshAveComics.com

STAR WARS: THRAWN—ALLIANCES #1

Art: Andrea Di Vito | Story: Jody Houser, Timothy Zahn (Marvel Comics, $5.99)

Here comes Grand Admiral Thrawn again in this, Marvel’s adaptation of Timothy Zahn’s novel sequel to their adaptation of Timothy Zahn’s first Thrawn novel, if I’ve got my facts straight. Thrawn, if I recall correctly from the Heir to the Empire books I read when I was a young’n, is one of those 4-D chess-player dudes who has a plan for every contingency and thinks of everything. He even came with a stooge who would always think, “Boy, Thrawn sure is smart,” whenever Thrawn did something smart. Thrawn is, in short, the best at everything, a real charmer, and can’t be beat, and Star Wars fans everywhere celebrate him for it. But then when it’s Daisy Ridley doing it…

PRE-ORDER IT: Rod Reis Main Cover | Promo Variant | Taurin Clarke Variant

Justice Ducks 1 | Dynamite Entertainment | AshAveComics.com

JUSTICE DUCKS #1

Art: Carlo Lauro | Story: Roger Langridge (Dynamite Entertainment, $3.99)

Welcome back to Talking Animal Corner, where every week I spotlight a comic featuring talking animals. You’ll recall that last week we looked at Sonic the Hedgehog: Fang the Hunter #1, and this week, Justice Ducks #1 really fits the bill. While I haven’t been privy to a preview due to Dynamite’s strict no-Peking policy, Roger Langridge has a solid track record in the talking-animal genre, so he can be counted on not to lay an egg here. Prepare to quack up as these various Disney ducks form a strong pond with each other as they battle villains who’ve run a-fowl of the law. This was a mistake. I promise I’ll never do this again. R.I.P. Talking Animal Corner, January 12, 2024-January 19, 2024.

PRE-ORDER IT: Mirka Andolfo Main Cover | Francesco Tomaselli Variant | Roger Langridge Variant | Trish Forstner Negative Space Variant | Blank Authentix Variant

ON FOC THIS WEEK

The Moebius Library: The Major | Dark Horse Comics | AshAveComics.com

Have You Seen Me?: PREVIEWS Picks You Might Have Missed

We know how busy you are, so we got our highlighters out and found some choice new books hitting shelves soon you’re sure to love, like Sean Phillips’ and Ed Brubaker’s latest, Where the Body Was!

HARDCOVERS

Where the Body Was | Image Comics | AshAveComics.com

WHERE THE BODY WAS

Art: Sean Phillips | Story: Ed Brubaker (Image Comics, $24.99, 12/6/2023)

ED BRUBAKER and SEAN PHILLIPS, bestselling creators of PULP, RECKLESS, and CRIMINAL, are back with a new original graphic novel that readers will be obsessed with… A boarding house full of druggies. A neglected housewife. A young girl who thinks she’s a superhero. A cop who wants to be left alone. And a private detective looking for a runaway girl. These stories collide one fateful summer in WHERE THE BODY WAS, a tale of love and murder in the suburbs, told from a dozen different points of view. All the neighbors on the block have an opinion about the murder and how it happened, but which of them is telling the truth? WHERE THE BODY WAS is a tour-de-force from grandmasters ED BRUBAKER and SEAN PHILLIPS. Starting with a map of the crime scene, this murder mystery follows the ripples of this killing as they echo through decades of love and loss and passion and violence. Like a true crime podcast crossed with a long-lost diary, WHERE THE BODY WAS is unlike anything BRUBAKER & PHILLIPS have ever done and a must-have for all their avid fans!
Den, Vol. 3: Children of Fire | Dark Horse Comics | AshAveComics.com | Den Richard Corbin

DEN, VOL. 3: CHILDREN OF FIRE

Art and story: Richard Corben (Dark Horse Comics, $34.99, 2/21/2024)

The third volume presenting the long-out-print masterpiece Den, by fantasy legend Richard Corben! This special edition collects the third volume of the long out-of-print Den, and also features bonus material, art pages restored by long-time Corben collaborator José Villarrubia, re-lettered by Nate Piekos of Blambot, and an introduction by Matt Kindt, all presented in a gorgeous hardcover with a dust jacket. Aliens flee their planet after a monster attack and crash-land near a sorcerer’s castle in Neverwhere. They must fight for survival and protect their egg and future kin at all costs from the many beasts, pirates, and other threats to their safety. Den: Children of Fire is the next book in a series of deluxe graphic novels from renowned creator Richard Corben’s library to be published by Dark Horse Comics. FOR MATURE READERS “The artist I most want to aspire to is Richard Corben. His style is visual and it tells the story just as you see it… …my favorite is Corben. I love everything he does, I love his stuff …he’s an amazing artist.” —Guillermo del Toro “Richard Corben stands among us like an extraterrestrial peak. He has sat in his throne a long time, above the moving and multi-colored field of world comics, like an effigy of the leader, a strange monolith, a sublime visitor, a solitary enigma.” —Moebius “Mr. Richard Corben… a genuine giant of his chosen medium.” —Alan Moore Well known for his legendary fantasy underground masterpieces published by Fantagor Press as well as Heavy Metal, Richard Corben’s work has been recognized internationally having been awarded one of the most prestigious recognitions in comics literature the Grand Prix at Angoulême as well having been inducted into the Will Eisner Award Hall of Fame.
The Moebius Library: The Major | Dark Horse Comics | AshAveComics.com

THE MOEBIUS LIBRARY: THE MAJOR

Art and story: Jean “Moebius” Giraud (Dark Horse Comics, $39.95, 2/7/2024)

A psychedelic, sequential romp created by legendary comics master Mœbius between 1997 and 2009, following a production principle that embraced graphic spontaneity and improvisation. The lead character of this pseudo-story, Major Grubert, evolves in a humorous yet philosophical manner, echoing how Mœbius’s creations are treated in the Inside Mœbius series. Join the Major on his last trip to the nebula of The Airtight Garage, where Mœbius rules as the playful Trickster of legend. What begins as a comical jaunt into unusually profound philosophical questions regarding the nature of existence, eventually winds up as a penetrating examination of the relationship between the author and his creation, the latter of whom must necessarily suffer at the heartless whim of his creator, despite the Major’s passionate desire for real life—and even freedom—beyond these comics! Translated by Diana Schutz, with lettering by Adam Pruett, Mœbius’s playfully-drawn, main black and white story is augmented with nine color pages.
Frazetta: The World's Best Comics Cover Artist | Vanguard Productions | AshAveComics.com | Where the Body Was

FRAZETTA: WORLD’S BEST COMICS COVER ARTIST

by J. David Spurlock (Vanguard Productions, $49.95, 1/3/2024)

Werewolves, Jungle Lords, Vampires, Spacemen, Neanderthals, Barbarians, Queen Kong, Demons, Ghoul Queen—More horror than any other Frazetta book! Vanguard continues their trademark Definitive Reference series with Frazetta World’s Best Comics Cover Artist. While the prior book by J. David Spurlock catalogued and commented on all of Frazetta’s book cover art, this volume focuses on the artist’s revolutionary comics magazine and graphic novel cover art, which originally appeared on such publications as Creepy magazine, Ghost Rider, Tales From the Crypt, High Times, Mad magazine, Heavy Metal, Vampirella, National Lampoon, Jaguar God, Famous Funnies, Epic Illustrated, Space Cowboy, Death Dealer and EC Comics’ Weird Science-Fantasy.

TRADE PAPERBACKS

Shook!: A Black Horror Anthology | Dark Horse Comics | AshAveComics.com | Where the Body Was

SHOOK! A BLACK HORROR ANTHOLOGY

by David Walker, John Jennings, Rodney Barnes and others (Dark Horse Comics, $24.99, January 31, 2024)

12 Funkdafied Tales of Terror! In partnership with Second Sight Publishing, Dark Horse Comics is proud to present Shook! A Black Horror Anthology. With over 190 pages of terrorizing material, the anthology is filled with stories from a range of award-winning Black writers and artists. Stemming from a love of Southern gothic horror, this anthology boasts a cadre of award winning or nominated writers representing awards such as the Will Eisner Awards, the Ringo Awards, the Hugo Awards, and is the largest collection of Glyph Comics Awards winners and nominees in a single publication. Including work by David Walker (Bitter Root, Black Panther Party), John Jennings (Kindred, The Blacker the Ink), Rodney Barnes (Killadelphia), and more! So, sit back and follow us on this journey of terror, suspense, nightmares, and the darkest depths of FEAR!!!!
Nemesis the Warlock: Definitive Collection, Vol. 1 | Rebellion/2000 A.D. | AshAveComics.com

NEMESIS THE WARLOCK: DEFINITIVE COLLECTION, VOL. 1

Art: Kevin O’Neill, Jesus Redondo | Story: Pat Mills (Rebellion/2000 A.D., $25.95, 12/6/2023

Long regarded as one of the crown-jewel epics from the pages of 2000 AD, at long last Nemesis the Warlock is back in print and better than ever. Written by Pat Mills (Marshal Law) and drawn by Kevin O’Neill (League of Extraordinary Gentlemen), this definitive series is a comprehensive collection of the complete storyline in order, and features development sketches showing the evolution of Nemesis and the Blitzspear. Termight is the ruling planet of a cruel galactic empire, an empire led by the diabolically evil Torquemada, a twisted human despot intent on purging all alien life from the galaxy and punishing the deviants. His motto: Be pure! Be vigilant! Behave! But there is rebellion and resistance to his rule in the form of a devilish-looking alien warlock called Nemesis, who represents everything that Torquemada hates and fears. Together Nemesis and Torquemada are locked in a duel which will affect the fate of humanity and each of them on a personal level as their conflict spans time and space!
Nexus Newspaper Strips Oversized Edition: The Coming of Gourmando | Rude Dude Productions | AshAveComics.com

NEXUS NEWSPAPER STRIPS OVERSIZED EDITION: THE COMING OF GOURMANDO

Something long dormant beneath the surface of Ylum comes alive, triggering a visit from the planet-devouring Gourmando and his mysterious ally. With powers far beyond those of even Nexus himself, this unstoppable being banishes Nexus to an unknown realm–and the only way out is to face ones worst fears! Mike Baron and Steve Rude deliver a new Nexus adventure in this special oversized collection.
Somna 1 | DSTLRY | AshAveComics.com | Somna comic

ON FOC THIS WEEK: Don’t Sleep on Somna #1!

  • Somna 1 | DSTLRY | AshAveComics.com | Somna comic
  • Somna 1 (Tula Lotay Variant) | DSTLRY | AshAveComics.com | Somna comic
  • Somna 1 (1:10 Joelle Jones Variant) | DSTLRY | AshAveComics.com | Somna comic
  • Somna 1 (1:25 Junko Mizuno Variant) | DSTLRY | AshAveComics.com | Somna comic
  • Somna 1 (1:50 Dave Johnson Variant) | DSTLRY | AshAveComics.com | Somna comic

This Sunday, October 8th is the Final Order Cut-Off for DSTLRY’s Somna #1, the new 16th-century erotic horror tale from comics overlords Becky Cloonan and Tula Lotay that will be the talk of comics this winter! If you love Hellebore, Midsommar,1 or The Witch,2 you’re sure to love this three-issue series. Pre-order it now to make sure you get your copy, because after Sunday you’ll have to fight for it with all of our other brick-and-mortar and online customers, any one of whom could be some sort of hostile witch. That could go badly for you. Check out this preview and then pre-order one or all of the variants here:

Somna #1 (Of 3) Cvr A Becky Cloonan | Somna #1 (Of 3) Cvr B Tula Lotay Variant | Somna #1 (Of 3) Cvr C 1:10 Joelle Jones Variant | Somna #1 (Of 3) Cvr D 1:25 Junko Mizuno Variant | Somna #1 (Of 3) Cvr E Inc 1:50 Dave Johnson Variant | Somna #1 (Of 3) Cvr F Jae Lee | Somna #1 (Of 3) Cvr G Tula Lotay NSFW Variant

  1. A few years ago I was house-sitting for my parents for the weekend when I went to see Hereditary with my now-wife thinking it was some kind of corny evil-kid movie like The Orphan. It was not. It was one of the most traumatic experiences of my life. Then I went back to my parents’ empty house where I had to sleep in a room with a big box marked “DOLL HOUSE PARTS.” That’s why I’ve never seen Midsommar. ↩︎
  2. Drew has a good story about seeing The Witch. Ask him about it. ↩︎
Junior Baker The Righteous Faker 1 | Image Comics | Ash Avenue Comics | Ryan Quackenbush comic | Junior Baker comic

PREVIEW: Junior Baker The Righteous Faker #1

Junior Baker The Righteous Faker #1 is now available for pre-order from Image Comics! This is the big-league debut for talented local artist (and highly-esteemed Ash Avenue Comics customer) Ryan Quackenbush, so let’s make a big showing for our hometown guy! Here’s a little more about Junior Baker The Righteous Faker from one of the hard-working copywriters at Image Comics:

MINISERIES PREMIERE

THE SURPRISE SEQUEL TO 2011’s BUTCHER BAKER THE RIGHTEOUS MAKER! Meet Daniel “Dizzy” Baker, a gonzo journalist chasing superhuman stories in a world that’s left superheroes behind. Stumbling onto the ultimate story, Baker embarks on a personal vision quest where his past and his future violently collide. Created and written by JOE CASEY, with art by dynamic newcomer RYAN QUACKENBUSH. A dark journey into a surreal family legacy, each issue contains a mind-bending 30 pages of story!

Enjoy this preview:

Pre-order here:

Junior Baker The Righteous Faker #1 (Of 5) Cvr A Ryan Quackenbush | Junior Baker The Righteous Faker #1 (Of 5) Cvr B Inc 1:10 Sonia Harris & Ryan Quackenbush Var | Junior Baker The Righteous Faker #1 (Of 5) Cvr C Inc 1:20 Dustin Nguyen Var