Hello and welcome to another installment of our look-ahead series! This month we're running a bit behind schedule, so in lieu of our regular look aheads we have comic and graphic novel highlights for June and some important comic book industry (and store) updates!
Industry Updates
Hey folks! I know things have been weird this year. Diamond’s bankruptcy process, and the resultant change we’ve undergone to our point of sale system has most definitely caused more than a few hiccups. I’d like to take a moment to address some of them.
Here at Phoenix, I’m happy to say that we’re well on our way here to having all of the bugs ironed out. The biggest issue on our end is that a lot of the inventory in our graphic novels sections are currently lacking barcodes, so we’re having to look up a lot of things manually. We’ve got a plan for how to fix that, but it’s taking time to implement. Manage Comics, the new subscription management software, is online and our team is getting more proficient with it by the day. Once we get things a bit better set up, we’ll honestly be in a lot better and more efficient place to do things like place orders and follow-up on special order requests, subscription modifications, etc.
Regarding the Diamond bankruptcy - it’s just going to be messy for a while. I wish I had a more optimistic outlook on things right now, but everything I’m reading and hearing about online says that the Diamond purchase by Ad Populum has a long way to go before things on their end are on solid ground again. The good news on that front is that we’re largely inoculated to most of the disruptions coming from that part of the industry. We moved over to Penguin and Lunar for almost all of our books, so these days Diamond only provides a small fraction of the products we used to rely on them for. That said there are still a bunch of smaller press titles that aren’t carried by the other two distributors, and frankly Previews magazine is one of the ones that I know a lot of you ask us about. Delays are going to be common for a while, so please be patient with us while we wait for Diamond to come through with our books. Previews is, according to what I’ve heard, still on for publication through July. After that, we’ll see what happens.
In the meantime, we’ll be making digital copies of all of the industry catalogs we can get our hands on available here through these look-aheads, and we’ll continue to carry print copies of everything we can get our hands on. You can find a link to each of these catalogs below, and of course, Manage Comics itself is searchable and embedded in our website as well. So if you’re a subscriber with us and haven’t checked that out, you can do so here.
Upcoming Comics Catalogs
Alrighty folks, here's the big list O links to upcoming catalogs. I'm going to organize these by the month most of the books inside release. Depending on the catalog, you may see some confusing nomenclature (ex: June for August Release).
July Release Comics
Next Phase (Lunar's combined catalog)
August Release Comics
Reviews and Recommendations
And now on to the reviews and recommendations! This month we've got so much to talk about - from a history of the DCU, Angelic biblical horror, a harrowing tale of surviving a nuclear apocalypse, and of course, Ryan North telling a story about a dog. All this and more below, so read on and see what tickles your comic book sensibilities.
New History of the DCU
DC Comics
By Mark Waid (writer), Jerry Ordway (artist), and Todd Nauck (artist)
A few years ago, Mark Waid did a six issue annotated history of the Marvel Universe. In addition to the comprehensive and honestly pretty amazing number of sources cited, the book also featured a number of previously off-panel confirmations of things (including a kiss between Mystique and Destiny that, let’s face it, was 30 plus years overdue to be on panel in a comic book). And this month he’s back to do the same thing with DC’s arguably much more convoluted history.
Written from the perspective of a retired Barry Allen, Waid lays out the foundation of the DC universe, from it’s quasi-Christian based “giant space hand” founding through to the current era. I’ve had a chance to read through issue one and wow does it cover a ton of material. We get from the aforementioned space-hand all the way through the destruction of Krypton in the space of about thirty pages. If you’re a continuity lover, definitely grab a copy of this when it comes out towards the end of the month.
- Nick
Be Not Afraid
Boom Studios
By Jude Ellison S. Doyle (writer) and Lisandro Estherren (artist)
I feel like it’s been a minute since a horror comic has really grabbed me? But the preview pages for this are unsettling enough that I think this one really has something going on. In the small, isolated town of Enoch, a farm girl named Cora has an encounter with an angel, and gives birth to a nephilim, an uncanny creature that’s half angel and also maybe pure evil? As it becomes harder and harder to ignore the child’s monstrous nature, Cora receives a vision from heaven – it’s up to her to destroy the abomination born of her own flesh and blood.
The book is part feminist rage and part folk horror, and like all good works of horror fiction is about more than it seems like on the surface. Writer Jude Ellision S. Doyle is interested in shame, religious guilt, and “How it’s possible to be so bad that God and/or your own mother cannot love you.” All that’s just icing on the cake though, what really draws me to this book is the art. It’s all rough shading, uncanny expressions, and weird camera angles. Art is important for any comic, but more than any other genre good art can make or break a horror comic, and Lisandro Estherren is really delivering here. I’m not quite sure where this story’s going, but I do know that I want to find out.
- Sloane
Krypto Last Dog of Krypton
DC Comics
By Ryan North (writer) and Mike Norton (artist)
Ryan North is writing a comic about Superman’s doggo and I am entirely about all of this. It’s cute, silly, simple and everything you expect in a Ryan North book. We see Krypto’s origin story as a cosmic exploration experiment gone wrong drops him onto earth just to run into his new best friend…all from the perspective of the dog. The dialogue, the perspective, it’s all centered around Krypto in a way that showcases him as the definitive point of view character for the story. And that’s freakin awesome and well done.
If you like Superman, and if you like doggos, maybe give this one a try! It was a fast read for me, but I cannot convey how much I enjoyed it. Also ignore the cover art. I have no idea why they got Jae Lee to do the covers on a book like this, but the interior art is so much better (not to dis Jae here, but it just tonally doesn’t fit that’s all).
- Nick
Marvel Knights the World to Come
Marvel
By Joe Quesada & Christopher Priest (writers and artists)
Quick comic book history lesson for you - back in 1998, Marvel was in a bad spot. They’d just filed for bankruptcy, and needed a serious change of course in order to salvage what was left of the company. In addition to a bunch of other cost saving measures and optioning IP rights for several of their more popular brands like Spider-Man and the X-Men out for movies, they brought on Joe Quesada, Jimmy Palmiotti, Christopher Priest, and a few other notable writers and artists to pull together a new line of books under the Marvel Knights imprint (similar to DC’s Vertigo line). It was a huge success, so much so that Joe Quesada himself went on to become Editor-in-Chief at Marvel for a number of years afterwards.
Now, fast forward a good 27 years, and Joe is back alongside Priest to bring us another look at this darker, slightly grittier version of the Marvel Universe. The first issue focuses on Wakanda, with a story that encompasses the death of T’challa and kicks off a series of events that “will reverberate across the globe, changing the Marvel mythos as you know it and boldly reinventing its most legendary heroes.” That’s a big promise from someone who has delivered before, so I really hope this book lives up to its name and the legacy they’re pulling from.
- Nick
News From the Fallout
Image
By Chris Condon (writer) and Jeffery Alan Love (artist)
Nevada, 1962: after a nuclear test goes horribly wrong U.S. army private Otis Fallows is the last man left standing. The fallout released rots those it comes into contact with. As the only known survivor he searches for a safe place outside of the secret military base but finding one may be impossible. As he joins a group of survivors stranded in a diner in town they are surrounded by the horrors of the contamination and must flee across the desert to Las Vegas.
Often I will praise a book for its color. Color is a huge draw to me so when I tell you I LOVED the black and white art from the preview pages, understand that I mean it. In place of color this book has texture, motion, and energy. It feels like a gritty flashback from an animated movie that’s been animated at a lower frame rate than the rest of the movie, static and evocative. The story also reminded me of a popular internet audio clip of someone saying, "The next time that somebody tells you, 'The government wouldn't do that,' oh yes they would," framing the military higher-ups facilitating the tests as power hungry warmongers willing to risk lives for their experiments. I’m not sure where this story will go but the preview pages made a big impression on me and I’m excited to see more of this sci-fi/horror series.
- Elise
Trinity Daughter of Wonder Woman
DC Comics
By Tom King (writer) and Belén Ortega (artist)
So..I know that Tom King’s run on Wonder Woman isn’t a super beloved one. But he did give us a new character in the form of Diana’s daughter, Elizabeth Marston Prince aka Trinity. And Tom is getting to flesh out her backstory with a new six issue limited series.
Folks I gotta say, I was maybe a little nervous to read this. I’m not a big fan of the King era Wonder Woman (give me Gail Simone or Greg Rucka writing this character any day of the week). And I adored this book. The first issue story is called Crisis on Infinite Corgis for goodness sake. It’s got Trinity as a literal Trinity (three versions of herself from various points along her own timeline). And it’s got super-corgis. Tons of them. They’re adorable. Tom why are you pandering to my weakness for cute doggos? Leave that to Ryan North, or commit to giving me five more issues of this book that keep this kind of tone. Because I read that first issue preview and I’ll definitely be back for the second.
- Nick
One-Shots & Graphic Novels
June wouldn't be June without a bunch of lovely new graphic novels with queer themes. If you see any of these you like, please give Sloane and Elise a bit of thanks for combing through the catalogs and finding them!
Gaysians
Algonquin Books
By Mike Curato (writer and artist)
I wish I could find more information on this book so desperately but I cannot even find preview pages so let me break down what I know and why I’m excited.
What I know: This book follows AJ, an Asian man who moves to Seattle (whoop whoop!) in the early 2000’s for a fresh start out of the closet, embracing his cross cultural identity. Unfortunately he is incredibly isolated looking for work and living so far out of the loop that “not even lesbians live there,” (West Seattle perhaps?). One fateful night in a club he connects with three other folks and this “Boy Luck Club” helps him find a sense of community and belonging he’s been looking for. Until, that is, a horrific attack shakes the foundations of his new life putting his found family to the test.
Why I’m excited: Curato is the author of another wonderful queer Asian story for a young adult audience named Flamer and this is his adult debut. A lot of his promotion for this book has been centered on uplifting other queer Asian stories, celebrities, and creators which I think is a wonderful use of his platform. This book looks like it is about found family, solidarily and queer resilience which is something we all really need right now
- Elise
Snotgirl Vol. 4
Image
By Bryan Lee O’Malley (writer) and Leslie Hung (artist)
Yes I know I’m talking about Snotgirl again. It's all I talk about. 20% of my brain power at all times is just dedicated to thinking about Snotgirl. But volume four (5 years in the making) is finally here!!! After a hiatus so long no one had heard of Covid-19 before it started these two came back with a bang and if you’ve been waiting to catch up until the trade came out, now is your time! Spoilers for previous volumes ahead: Everything is heightened after the events of vol. 3 and this latest installment sees Snottie and Cool Girl finally?? Dating?? Sort of. I think. It also delves deeper into Caroline and Virgil’s family secrets, Lottie’s familial relationships (especially with her mom who she is not out to) and the return of characters like Sonny, Cute Girl, and Charleen. Hung’s art is even better than before and the mystery is beginning to unravel…
- Elise
Dan in Green Gables
Penguin Random House
By Rey Terciero (writer) and Claudia Aguirre (artist)
In a modern twist on classic children’s novel Anne of Green Gables that promises to be a hit even if you’ve never read the original, author Ray Terciero (Northranger) draws on his own experiences growing up queer in the south for a coming of age story about the tension between a queer teenager and small-town sensibilities. After being abandoned by his mother, high schooler Dan Stewart-Álvarez is sent to live with his grandparents in rural Tennessee. There he has to deal with the judgement of his conservative grandfather, highschool bullies, and a crush on a boy who might like him back.
The preview pages for this look phenomenal. Like the original novel, this book revels in its setting. Despite the fact that Dan doesn’t always feel welcome in his new community, this book doesn’t forget just how beautiful small-town life can be, and revels in the lush green foothills of its east Tennessee setting. Dan is a cheerful and lovable main character, but that doesn’t stop the book from taking the realities of its subject matter seriously and handling them with care. If it’s anything like the previews I’ve been able to find, it looks like it’s going to earn a perennial spot on our shelves as a thoughtful but still ultimately sunny look at queer life in the south.
- Sloane
Love, Misha
First Second Press
By Jam Aden
I think a lot of us can relate to our parents not quite getting it when we come out. Mine are great about it now, but I remember things were much harder for them to understand when I first told them I was trans. It’s especially hard when you and your parents aren’t close. Teenage Misha doesn’t even live with their mother, who definitely still thinks of Misha as her ‘daughter.’ When the two take a rare opportunity to spend time together on a summer road trip, they immediately start to butt heads – and when they find that they’ve taken a wrong turn and ended up in the Realm of Spirits, they’ll have to learn to work together if they’re ever going to get back home.
I’ve had it pitched to me as a non-binary version of The Goofy Movie meets Spirited Away, and what really gets me about this one is the juxtaposition of the surreal spirit world where the book takes place and Misha’s all-too-real strained relationship with their mother. I’m in love with the fun weird designs of the characters from the spirit world, but also that Misha does things like write their mother a letter trying to explain their feelings, something that I know a lot of us have done before with difficult family members. Actual preview pages have been hard to find but I’m excited to find out what happened with this mother-child duo this pride month.
- Sloane
And that's it for this month's comic book highlights! If you saw something you wanted, please reach out to us and ask us about ordering it or setting it aside for you. Otherwise, check back with us here in just a week or so and we'll have July's look aheads prepped and ready for you!
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