Spooky time is here! October arrived faster than expected, so here are some quick reviews for books due out this month! If you're looking for something new to read, there are some really good books coming out soon. Read on and find out more!

Image Previews Catalogues

As a friendly reminder for those of you who order early - Image is no longer in the printed Previews catalogue. Instead, you can find links to their catalogue below! We'll include the current month plus any upcoming months we have access to at the time this blog post is published.

• August Previews (for October)
• September Previews (for November)
• October Previews (for December)

Reviews and Recommendations

This month's reviews are a little on the short side (one of them intentionally so). That said - there's still plenty of good books to keep your eyes out for, courtesy of Nick and Sloane! And as always, a friendly reminder to reach out to us via the subscription update form if you see any titles contained in here that you want to add to your pull (or just want to order in general).

G.O.D.S.#1

Marvel Comics

By Jonathan Hickman (writer) and Valerio Schiti (artist)

Alrighty folks! This is it. The new big Hickman thing! We’ve been getting little bits and pieces of these characters dotted about the Marvel universe for a good month now. It’s time. We’re going to find out. The cosmic side of the Marvel universe is about to get upended. Needless to say, I’m expecting big things from these two. Last time they paired up we got House of X and Powers of X and some of the best X-stories in over a decade. With all the mystery afoot this time, I’m really excited to see what’s gonna happen once the curtains rise on this new ongoing.

- Nick

Justice League vs Godzilla vs Kong #1

DC Comics

By Brian Buccaleto

I have no words beyond, "Yep. That’s happening." I mean, just read that title a few times out loud and realize that this is where we are in the year 2023. This book promises nothing beyond what's on the cover, and will absolutely deliver.

-Nick

PS - Just wait til Sloane's review of the Batman vs Santa Claus book next month.

PPS - There are two variant covers with sound chips that are coming out a month after the main book. They come in two flavors - Kong and Godzilla Rrraaaarrrggghh!

Nights #1

Image Comics

By Wyatt Kennedy (writer) and Luigi Formisano (artist)

About a year ago, Image published a miniseries called Bolero. It was the debut work from new writer Wyatt Kennedy, and it was sprawling in scope but also extremely personal. Deeply relatable and achingly sad, it was my favorite comic that I’d read in years – possibly my favorite comic ever. So when I say that the writer is back for a sophomore series and I’m ecstatic, I hope that conveys just how excited I am.

For what it’s worth, Kennedy doesn’t seem interested in writing something like Bolero again – frankly I wouldn’t want him to, it’d be hard to capture that magic again. Instead he’s gone in a completely different direction and is writing a book that he describes as “the greatest Toonami show that never existed.” Nights takes place in a strange, alternate version of the year 2003, where mythical creatures wander the streets of American cities that are at once familiar and alien. After the death of his parents, Vince Okonma finds himself thrust into the midst of a colorful cast of characters that includes his mercenary cousin, a skeleton game designer, and “the greatest vampire who’s ever lived.” Kennedy says that the book intends to straddle the lines between action and horror, comedy and romance, with strange vignettes that culminate in world-shaking apocalyptic events. 

Even if I wasn’t as enamored as I was with his previous work, Nights would be worth checking out simply for the nerdy, stylish, weird vibes. Image claims that there’s nothing else out right now like this book, and based on what I heard, I’m inclined to agree.

 – Sloane

DC’s New Golden Age

DC Comics

By Various

This isn’t one specific review, but rather a line-wide heads up about three new series coming out from DC. Wesley Dodd, the Golden Age Sandman. Jay Garrick, the Golden Age Flash. And Alan Scott, the Golden Age Green Lantern. Each of these heroes is getting a new ongoing solo series that kicks off this October. I’m assuming they’ll be linked up in some way/shape/form, and the creative team lineup looks really solid. As a fan of some of the early 00's Justice Society books, I'm stoked to see where these go!

- Nick

One Shots & Graphic Novels

It’s Jeff: The Jeff-Verse #1

Marvel Comics

By Kelly Thompson (writer) and Gurihiru (artist)

Jeff is back for more shark-shaped shenanigans! From the beloved duo who brought you the first It’s Jeff one-shot, and before that West Coast Avengers (which changed our world for the better by introducing Jeff into it). Enjoy cute sharks, with legs, begging for treats. Getting into laundry machines. Teaming up with other pet Avengers. Solving the mystery of what the best landshark street food actually is. 

You know you want it. It’s Jeff!

- Nick

Lonely Boys OGN

Pow Pow Press

By Sophie Bédard

As fun as the big, gonzo action scenes were, my favorite part of Scott Pilgrim (a book that I loved growing up) were the scenes at parties, or in people’s houses, where the characters would go to silly lengths to avoid running into an ex or get into shouting matches over drama from highschool. The characters in that book were young, awkward, and messy, in a way that was both relatable and wildly entertaining. Lonely Boys reminds me of the best of those books.

Quebec-based French language comics publisher Éditions Pow Pow has been around since 2010, and has translated a handful of its books into English since then. However, until recently, they’ve only been available in Canada. In addition to Lonely Boys, several other graphic novels from Pow Pow are now for sale in the United States. Gary: the King of Pickup Artists (about a guy who is decidedly too shy to talk to women – relatable) and Pineapples of Wrath (imagine an Agatha Christie novel set in a tiki bar) will both be out in October, and I expect more English translations from the publisher will be available soon. Pow Pow’s books all have a very distinctive, craftsman-like but still very light style that’s a joy to read, so they’ll be worth keeping an eye on going forward.

- Sloane

Saga Volume 11

Image Comics

By Brian K Vaugn and Fiona Staples

This is just your friendly neighborhood comic book store reminding you that Saga volume 11 is coming! ETA is about halfway into November, but it’s never too early to let us know you want a copy. Seriously - we order this book in large quantities and it always sells faster than we expect it to. So don’t get stuck waiting on a restock, send us a quick preorder email today.

- Nick