That Texas Blood #14, Christopher Condon, Jacob Phillips, Image
This book is a Texas crime noir centered around Sheriff Joe Bob who encounters murder mysteries in his small town. This new story arc has a slasher film vibe, which is a cool change of tone after the first two arcs. What a fantastic return for one of my favorite comics. I was terrified during the opening scene, and then really horrified by the last few pages. I don’t want to spoil anything, but whether you’re a first time reader or not, this book comes highly recommended. Condon and Phillips are excellent at storytelling and I’m fully here for the ride.
Aquaman Andromeda #1, Ram V, Christian Ward, DC Black Label
I’m not a regular reader of Aquaman so I don’t have much to compare this book to, but it involves a ship full of scientists on a mission to discover a disturbance deep in the sea. Aquaman becomes involved in battling this unknown entity. It’s got a dark tone to it, which I really enjoyed. I bought into this comic awhile ago when I heard that Ram V was writing it. The second thing that helped me buy into this comic was Christian Ward’s striking cover. It almost told you the story just from this image. There’s of course a lot more going on in the pages of the book, but I’m definitely onboard (sorry) with it.
Nightmare Country #3, James Tynion IV, Lisandro Estherren, Francesco Francavilla, DC Black Label
At this point, Tynion really can’t miss with the run he’s been on. Having come late to the Sandman universe, this series has been full of surprises for me. The characters are great and I love how the artwork is split between the two artists for The Dreaming sequences. Along with The Nice House on The Lake, this has got to be the best thing that DC is putting out now. The story, the art, and the vibe of this comic are definitely things of nightmares.
Seven Sons #1, Robert Windom & Kelvin Mao, Jae Lee, Image
This book is about a person who is supposed to be the Second Coming of Christ, in a world where religion and faith have taken over the country. I hesitated to pick this one up, because I didn’t love the premise. However, upon reading the first issue, I was fully immersed in this world and can’t wait to pick up the next few issues. Jae Lee’s art is pretty stunning, as well, and might be worth picking up just for that.
Do A Powerbomb #1, Daniel Warren Johnson, Image
This book involves a pro wrestler who experiences a tragedy early in her life and vows to carry on in her mother’s legacy in the ring. I’m a Daniel Warren Johnson fan, but I am not personally into pro wrestling. The work I’ve enjoyed the most by him was the Wonder Woman Dead Earth series. This first issue again grabbed me within the first few pages and I was sucked into this world. I loved the characters and felt invested in them right away. As always, Johnson’s artwork is incredible. I highly recommend this if you haven’t already read it.
A Righteous Thirst For Vengeance #8, Rick Remender, Andre Lima Araujo, Image
This has got to be my most enjoyable read, month-to-month. It mostly definitely feels like I’m watching a movie while I’m reading it. This issue has some sweet revenge that’s been a long time coming. It’s also got some extreme violence and torture which shouldn’t be fun, but still is. I highly recommend starting with the first trade if you haven’t read this yet. It’s the best thing I’ve read from Remender since Deadly Class, and Araujo’s artwork is amazing.
Little Monsters #4, Jeff Lemire, Dustin Nguyen, Image
I really love this series about a group of kids that are vampires living in a post-apocalyptic world, (mostly) devoid of humans. The first few issues were establishing the characters in the group, but issue #3 shows some of them getting their first taste of human blood. This issue goes a step beyond that, where they start actually seeking out humans to feast on. There are a few in the group who are actually sympathetic to humans. There’s a twist at the end that will send a shock through the little monsters. The writing from Lemire is fascinating, as usual, and Nguyen’s art really draws me into the story. Looking forward to reading more.
The Closet #1, James Tynion IV, Gavin Fullerton, Image
This is the first series from James Tynion that was first presented on his Substack, and is now being published by Image, in print. I know that he and many others in the industry are interested in how well it will sell. This book is based on nightmares that Tynion had as a kid. I had read this on his Tiny Onion Substack, but reading it in print was a different and more tangible experience. I’ve struggled with reading comics online vs. holding the actual book. I enjoyed the first book, in a series of three. This has a father struggling, an unhappy marriage, and a monster in the closet that torments a young boy. I’m really looking forward to the next two issues.
A Calculated Man #1, Paul Tobin, Alberto Alburquerque, Mark Englert, Taylor Esposito, Aftershock
I picked this one up on a whim and it was definitely interesting. I read that it has already been optioned for a series on Hulu, which is strange to hear before the comic has even been released. The premise is that an former accountant for the mob, goes into witness protection and plots to kill his former crime family. While it had some cool twists to the story, I found it underwhelming overall and I’ll probably stop reading after this issue.
Grim #2, Stephanie Phillips, Flaviano, Boom! Studios
I really enjoyed the first issue, and the second issue was fun, but I didn’t really understand the reveal at the end. I think I’ll keep reading for a while, even though I wasn’t totally blown away by this issue. The art is great though and that might be enough for me to stick around this book for a little while longer.
The Bone Orchard Mythos: The Passageway, Jeff Lemire, Andrea Sorrentino, Image
This hardcover from Lemire and Sorrentino introduces us to the world of The Bone Orchard Mythos, a new universe they’ve created that will feature a series of graphic novels, over the next few years. This story centers around a man who travels to a small rock island to study a giant hole in the ground that has appeared out of nowhere. He meets a few characters who have different intentions than he anticipated. It leads to a frightening world that is very reminiscent of some of the works that Lemire and Sorrentino have created before, but with a few new twists.
Thanks so much for reading and I hope you’ll check out some of these books.
- Mike C