Summer Previews: Comic Book Releases That Shouldn’t Be Missed
Gavin Gronenthal ‘16 and Cornelia Tzana ‘17 / Emertainment Monthly Comic Books Editors
What better time to catch up on your comic book reading than summer? Emertainment Monthly compiled a list of summer releases you should definitely look out for!
‘The Spire’
Created by Simon Spurrier and Jeff Stokely, the team behind the critically acclaimed BOOM! Studios series Six-Gun Gorilla, The Spire is a new limited murder-mystery series that follows the story of Shå, The Commander of The Spire, a city of twisting tunnels, grinding elevators, ancient machinery, and home to over one million human and non-human residents, and the only citizen of her species. Shå is responsible for keeping the order while handling a triple homicide case and finding out that she has more enemies than she thought. With very promising artwork and already-rave reviews, The Spire is a series you don’t want to miss!
The Spire #1 (of 8) arrives in comic shops on July 1st with 28 pages of story and a main cover by series artist Jeff Stokely for the price of $3.99. Also available in a limited quantity are variant covers by Aaron Conley (Sabertooth Swordsman), Rob Guillory (Chew), and David LaFuente (Batman Eternal).
The Darkseid War
DC recently gave way to a whole new focus for its comics in June, choosing to let their creators tell the stories they want without an overbearing of continuity. While there are a lot of status quo changes for their heroes in solo books, Geoff Johns has looked to creating the most epic superhero space battle since Final Crisis. “The Darkseid War” will see DC’s two most powerful villains clash, pitting Darkseid against the Anti Monitor. This has been building since DC legend Geoff John’s started writing Justice League in 2011, and it’s sure to be a crisis of infinite proportion. Up and comer Jason Fabok has already done wonders with the art during the Amazon Virus story, and looks to be continuing his tremendous work here.
Make sure to pick up Justice League #41, out now, and look for the rest of the war to continue throughout the summer.
‘Giant Days: Orientation’
If you haven’t gotten a chance to read Giant Days yet, this is the time to do it! The comedic series from creator John Allison (Bad Machinery, Scary Go Round) and artist Lissa Treiman, has evolved from a six-issue miniseries to a full 12-issue series due to popular demand, and to celebrate BOOM! Studios will be re-releasing the first two sold-out issues in Giant Days: Orientation Edition, a collection of Giant Days #1-2. Following the lives of three college freshmen and all the fun and troubles that come with that, this series will seem very relatable (or make you reminisce your own college years).
Giant Days: Orientation Edition can be pre-ordered for the half price of $3.99 under Diamond order code APR158446. The collection will be released on July 1st.
‘Archie’ Relaunch
Have you heard the news that has shocked Archie fans everywhere? For the first time in 75 years, Archie will be getting a first issue again! Comic superstars Mark Waid (The Flash, Kingdom Come, Superman: Birthright,) and Fiona Staples (Saga) have been given the task of reimagining an icon that entertained many generations. Change is coming to Riverdale in this kick-off to Archie’s new ongoing series that can’t be missed. As the new school year approaches, you’d think Archie Andrews would be looking forward to classes and fun—but nothing is as it seems in the little town of Riverdale. But is this a one-off or a sign of bigger changes waiting for America’s favorite teens—and the entire town?
The first issue of the all-new Archie will be launched on July 8. You can buy most variant covers for $3.99 or pre-order them for a 15% discount. Take a look at the complete list of variant covers here and retailer exclusive covers here.
‘Divine’
Inspired by the true story of two twins, Johnny and Luther Htoo, who led hundreds of Karen refugees from east Burma, called “God’s Army”, and fought the Burmese army for dispossessing them from their lands during the late 1990’s, artists Asaf and Tomer Hanuka (who also happen to be twins) bring us a remarkable story. Mark, a veteran of the military, is now safe doing his civilian job of explosives consulting. But you never really get away from war. When his old army buddy Jason comes calling, with a lucrative military contract for a mining job in an obscure South-East Asian country called Quanlom, Mark can’t resist. They’ll have to operate under the radar—Quanlom is being torn apart by civil war, and the US military isn’t strictly supposed to be there. What awaits him in Quanlom is beyond belief: a civil war led by ten-year-old twins wielding something that looks a lot like magic, leading an army of warriors who look a lot like gods. The Hanuka brothers have taken the stories of magic and wonder surrounding the two twins and painted a brutal and unforgiving yet beautiful reflection of a world that is, in its core, very real.
Divine, published by First Second Books (Boxers and Saints, Battling Boy, American Born Chinese), will be released on July 14th.
The Return of Superhero Humor
When DC rebooted its lineup with “The New 52” back in 2011, one of the harshest criticisms was the overall darkness of the lineup. There was barely a comic that was even remotely funny, and fans noticed almost immediately. While Marvel has been championing lighthearted series for some time now (the hilarious Rocket Raccoon and the Unbeatable Squirrel Girl), DC’s new and improved June launch is bringing some of their own humor. Bizarro, which started June 3rd, sees the opposite Superman on a road trip with his new self declared “worstest friend” Jimmy Olsen, Starfire follows everyone’s favorite alien princess as she relocates to Key West, and Section Eight reunites Garth Ennis and John McCrea’s bumbling super team from his “Hitman” days. With the Big Two now embracing comics that make us laugh, you can expect this summer (and beyond) to be a lot brighter.
Look for all of DC’s humor-filled number ones in stores throughout June.
‘Mulan: Revelations #1’
This summer readers will be able to get their hands on something very interesting. Writer Marc Andreyko (Batwoman, Manhunter), artist Micah Kaneshiro (Blackout, Broken Pieces), and newcomer creator Robert Alter are bringing back the legend of Mulan, the Chinese woman warrior, but with a twist. Though the future boasts endless technological wonders, only a very few can afford access to them. As a deadly new virus rages through the rich and the poor, threatening all of humanity, a warrior is awakened to stop the evil puppeteers behind it all. Centuries after her ancestor and namesake fought for China, a new Mulan has been chosen by the ancient Chinese Immortals to fight in a final battle for the world! It will be very interesting to see where Andreyko, Kaneshiro and Alter will take the powerful character of Mulan.
Mulan: Revelations #1 will be released on June 24 with 32 pages by Dark Horse Comics.
The End of The End – Secret Wars
Marvel fans were given a slow-build surprise when Jonathan Hickman ended the entire Marvel Universe as we know it in Secret Wars. The event has already gained a lot of ground and is a few issues in, but the rest of the summer will see the climax of this high stakes Marvel Event. By the time summer ends and September rolls around, one new universe will reign supreme in Marvel, and Secret Wars is sure to make the new marvel Big Bang as enormous as possible. With deaths, gods, and monsters abound, drawn by the phenomenal Esad Ribic, Secret Wars is the best Marvel event in years, and is sure to please and True Believer.
Secret Wars #4 comes out June 17th, but you can catch up on the first three issues now.
‘We Stand on Guard’
The minute a comic book names “Brian K. Vaughan” as its writer, it skyrockets to a must-read list. We Stand On Guard is his next ongoing series from Image Comics. The series takes place one hundred years in the future and follows a group of Canadian civilians who defend their home country against a mega country invading them with giant robots. The twist? The robots just happen to be from America. Vaughan has already achieved unmitigated critical success with Saga, his current ongoing also from Image, so we can only expect We Stand On Guard to blow us away when it drops this July. Plus, he’s paired with Matrix storyboard artist Steve Skroce, and who wouldn’t want to see that amount of high-octane action in a comic?
Look for We Stand On Guard on July 1st with a full forty page first issue.