December 2012 Alternate Comics Diamond Previews Review
Let us return to the Previews for items shipping out in February. We look at the rest of the publishers in this article. Over at Dark Horse we see the return of Aliens with a deluxe graphic novella called Aliens: Inhuman Condition HC. The creative team of John Layman (W) and Sam Keith (A) brings us the stories which ran in DHP #12-#17. I personally am not a fan of the Aliens franchise, but if I was, this creative team would excite me.
The excitement over a third entry into the video game series Dragon Age and Dark Horse helps build the excitement with the most complete look of the world that Dragon Age exists in. The creative team includes the writers and artists of the games, which means we are going to see everything about the regions, religions, monsters, magic, and more. Dragon Age: The World of Thedas Volume 1 HC is a 224 page directory of all that exists in Dragon Age, and a perfect book for fans of the game, and intricate fantasy.
Fans of My Little Pony will be happy when the 4th issue of Friendship is Magic is released and is joined on the publishing schedule by My Little Pony Micro-Series “Twilight Sparkle” a six issue mini-series focusing on the ponies in solo style. The first issue of the regular series was one I instantly fell in love with, and I am hoping that the same magic will fill the pages of this mini-series.
IDW is relaunching two of their properties. First up is Ghostbusters. The original team is gone, but the supernatural isn’t. A new quartet steps up to fill the shoes of the missing ‘busters, and while dealing with the ghosts of New York, they also have to try to save their predecessors. Erik Burnham writes and provides some of the art with his co-artist Dan Schoening.
The second relaunch is G.I. Joe. Fred Van Lente of Marvel Zombies, and Hercules fame writes the adventures of a now publicly known, and blogged about Joe team. Steve Kurth, who has provided art for Green Arrow at DC and AvX Consequences at Marvel, brings his drawing talent to the Joes. The threats are public and on American soil. This is also the first of three new Joe series launching, one in February, one in March, and one in April.
Image Comics launches a four issue mini-series – Snapshot from the team who brought you DC Comics series Losers, Andy Diggle, and Jock. This book injects a comic store employee into a life or death situation where he discovers a lost phone, and on it, pictures of a murder victim, and the one who did the murdering wants the phone back.
Skullkickers returns with a new #1 and a new adjective when Jim Zub and Edwin Huang launch The Uncanny Skullkickers #1. Two mercenaries battling monsters? Sounds like a good time.
Bongo Comics is releasing a six issue mini-series that adapts a pop album. Mylo Xyloto has spawned four top ten hits and now the writing team of Coldplay and Mark Osborne working with artist Alejandro Fuentes will give us a glimpse of the world of Mylo.
Normally the creative team of Paul Jenkins and Humberto Ramos would excite me, but for the first time, I am feeling a little bit of burn out when it comes to fairy tales in the regular world genre. Fairy Quest had its very successful start on Kickstarter and is now coming out as a two issue mini-series from Boom Studios. If you are a fan of Fables you will more than likely pick up this series. Normally I would want to check this book out but I am taking a break from this genre for the time being.
Boom is releasing the first trade for the Hypernaturals, one of the best space operas out there, on the shelves today. The 8th issue of the series, by Dan Abnett (W), Andy Lanning (W), Tom Derenick (A), and Andres Guinaldo (A) brings an end to the second story arc. Which means if you haven’t got on board, get the first trade, and see why Abnett and Lanning have a reputation for handling large casts, and immense sci-fi storytelling.
Dynamite Entertainment is launching a crime comic line and who better to write the first book in the line than Garth Ennis. He teams with artist Craig Cermak to bring us the stories of the Red Team, an anti-narcotics unit that exists within the NYPD. It looks like it starts with a seduction of innocents type plot but if anyone can inject new blood (and violence) into that theme it is Ennis.
Dynamite also releases the first issue of a Shadow: Year One, an 8 issue mini-series by Matt Wagner (W) and Willfredo Torres (A). This is the story where we see the formation of the legend that would become the Shadow.
Valiant Entertainment brings us the back story of Tony Harada, CEO of Harada Global Conglomerate in Harbinger #0 by the regular writer Joshua Dysart, and artist Mico Suayan. With the upcoming inter company crossover this will lay the groundwork to show why Tony became who he has.
Valiant is continuing with reprints from the publishers back catalog with Valiant Masters: Ninjak Vol.1 – Black Water HC. This collection is a 184 page book that collects the first six issues of the 1994 Ninjak series, as well as #0, and #00. With his recent reintroduction to the newly relaunched Valiant, this is where the amazing dynamics of this character were first formed. Mark Moretti writes and provides some of the art, with Joe Quesada bringing the rest of the pictures.
Released in February is also the first Bloodshot collection from the most recent series. This 128 page trade collects the first 5 issues (I am assuming it is the first 5 with the page count) of one of the most intriguing action series on the shelves. Duane Swierczynski (W) and the artists Manuel Garcia, and Arturo Lozzi create a title where the stakes are high, and so is the body count. With the upcoming cross-over this is a good primer on what has already happened, in anticipation of what is to come.
The Valiant titles have not displayed any fluff of any kind and everything that they publish is important, or will be. This is just a hunch on my part, but everything about Valiant strikes me as planned out. Either way, pick up these trades as a reminder of why Valiant was groundbreaking with their storytelling in the past, and how they have turned it up a notch in the present.
Well that’s it for Previews for February. See you soon when we look at March.