Coming Continuing Comics 2: a look at March 2019's most intriguing solicits

This one is a bit late, mostly because I didn't see a ton of stuff that really intrigued me in this month's catalog of stuff. But I do have the ends of two trilogies to talk about, plus another new comic that takes an existing universes in new and different directions.

Batman / Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III

James Tynion IV and Freddie Williams II have finally reached the volume of their crossover events that averages their own Roman numerals. But just as the announcement came that DC animation was working with Nickelodeon to produce the first volume of their series as an animated feature, they announced this concluding chapter to a series that in no way was planned to be a trilogy. The creative team has put together two great series. With the addition of Kevin Eastman on variant covers and apparently some interiors, this one could be the best yet.

Got to love that raw Eastman art with bonus Batman! 

X-Men Grand Design: X-Tinction

I know Ed Piskor's work isn't made for everyone. But I've absolutely loved the previous four issues of this series that covered the first twenty-five or so years of X-Men continuity. He streamlined the history to make things fit together without contradicting the established history. It's been really cool and the style he developed on Hip Hop Family Tree works wonders here.

The new run takes the team through the Australian years and into the Silvestri / Lee era of grand art. I expect the X-Tinction Agenda storyline to play a large role here, but the cover below makes it look like we will see plenty from the Reavers as well. Whatever the case, I'm ready to see two more superb over-sized issues of this series!

A simple design evokes the classic cover to Uncanny X-Men 251.

Five Years

Terry Moore has written for Marvel and DC among others before, but the Strangers in Paradise creator has often been known for his more nuanced down to Earth approach to comics, both in that seminal series and his later books like Echo and Rachel Rising. Following a year's return to his original title in Strangers in Paradise XXV (for the 25th anniversary of the property), he's now doing something other publishers have been doing for years: a crossover.

The story spins right out of the previous series but Moore promises it's a jumping on point for everyone. It does star every major character he's introduced so far from all those series above and his short-lived Motor Girl as well. All have played at least brief roles in the last year's storylines, so it will be interesting to see exactly how everything comes together for this one.

The one thing I can say for certain: with Moore on art it will be gorgeous.

That wraps up this month's comic picks. What upcoming books are you most anticipating? Let me know in the comments.

 As always, all cover images are copyright their respective owners. 

Looking back at 2018: my top ten comic series of the year

It's been a strange year as I mostly stopped buying comics by the first of it and have started buying a few more later in the year. But I've found several books that have proven themselves month in and month out as great material. Some of these are limited series, though most are ongoing, but none have planned runs under twelve issues. I overlooked a few limited series (Justice League: No Justice, Batman: Creature of the Night, Bloodstrike: Brutalists) for this reason.

1. Avengers: Marvel's new team by Jason Aaron, Ed McGuinness and Paco Medina gathers the company's heavy hitters with some unique new blood (Robbie Reyes!) to spark my interest. Aaron, much like another writer on another tentpole series on this list, is really going heavy into universal mythology with this series and gives us an epic opening gambit. It will be interesting to see if he can maintain that level of quality over any length of time. 
2. Tony Stark: Iron Man: Dan Slott probably should have been off Spider-Man and on Iron Man a few years back. His style seems a natural fit for Tony and his expanded cast of Stark employees has created for an interesting series, even if it doesn't feel as monumental as the other Marvel titles on this list. 
3. The Silencer: Dan Abnett's post-Metal addition to the DC Universe seems to be the one with the most staying power. Connections to the Morrison-created Leviathan organization and Talia as a cast member probably doesn't hurt its chances. But it's great storytelling with a unique character in an unusual situation that makes the book stand out from the rest.
4. Scooby-Doo Team-Up: I won't lie and say every issue is a gem, but the DC crossovers in this book may offer the most fun DC Comics in a decade. Sholly Fisch is ready and willing to dig through the DC catalog to make some fascinating tales with obscure characters, perhaps most exemplified by appearances from Swamp Thing and ever DC ape character this year.
5. Justice League: Scott Snyder's run kicked off well with No Justice, but his ongoing series has cemented a DC Universe far more interesting than it has been since the days of 52. With a top tier art team and an editorial team ready to let him shape the path of the DCU, if DC stays the course they could have an amazing title for years to come. 
6. Immortal Hulk: The big surprise for me was this one. Joe Bennett isn't an artist I care for often, but he's putting in great work on this new series with writer Al Ewing. The new book takes Hulk on a supernatural bent even as Bruce Banner has to deal with the fact that his changes now come with his repeated death. It's definitely a new take on the character and one that I cannot wait to see where it leads.
7. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tom Waltz's tale of the four ninja brothers has remained one of the most consistently entertaining comics for several years. While the year seemed a bit mired in the ongoing struggle with Rat King, the series continues to do new and interesting things with the characters and creating a new legacy for them I hope to see continue for years to come. 
8. Deathstroke: Few books have made it from Rebirth to now without a new writer hopping aboard. Of the few that have, none have remained as consistent as Priest's work on Deathstroke. But perhaps most amazingly, he does it by re-inventing the assassin's life every six months or so. It makes for one of the most unexpected series I thought I would see from DC and proves just how good Priest is as comics writer.
9. Doomsday Clock: I won't lie. I expected to hate Geoff Johns and Gary Frank's crossover sequel to Watchmen. Instead I've been intrigued for page after page. The book's new additions to the Watchmen Earth drive the series forward, even as it also exposes the dark secrets of the origins of DC's own heroes and villains. It's a compelling read, but I remain curious exactly how it will change the DCU going forward.
10. Venom: I liked the movie quite a bit. But I loved the new comic. Ryan Stegman is an amazing artist but I never read a Donny Cates book before this series. Now he's a name I check out, because he shows a willingness to think so far outside the box without disrupting the continuity already established. The dark secrets of the symbiotes come out as this series begins, and it only gets more wild from there. Eddie Brock versus a cosmic level threat turns out to be the most brilliant storytelling ploy I never expected. Amazing work by all involved. 

That's my list. If you told me it would be so Marvel-centric I'd probably have laughed at you. But so it goes as both Marvel and DC proved they could still do great comics in 2018.

I'd love to hear your own in the comments! What were the best and brightest series for you in the last year?

Progress. Progress. Progress. (How I Nano My Wrimo 6)

Image copyright some combination of Nickelodeon, Archie Comics and various characters' creators. 

I'm nearing the 35,000 mark as The First: Hero's Dawn continues along. The novel is finally forming into a strong narrative as I've started to define the villains for the heroes I've introduced in the last three updates. Overall, this has proven to be a strong National Novel Writing Month for yours truly. My hope is to work towards a regular writing level comparable to NaNoWriMo every month as I continue to work towards a bigger badder Quadrant Universe.

My plans are to wrap up The First in December, although I will also be putting work in on the final touches for the stories debuting on Patreon starting next month. With more Quadrant and Lightweight ahead, I've still got a lot on my plate. But for the first time in several months, it feels like I'm actually moving along with a relative smoothness. 

Today's image is the triptych cover for Archie Comics' three part Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Mutant Universe Sourcebook. It and similar handbooks from Marvel and DC had a profound impact on my universe building.

This will be the last update for NaNoWriMo progress here on the site. Thanksgiving brings its own messiness and with it comes a need to divert myself from the internet more than I might normally do. With that in mind, the next WIP update won't show up until the first week of December.

Don't worry though, as I have articles prepped for the entire rest of this week and next, so stay tuned for a free book, great cosplay and an entire week of stupendous art!

Looking back at 2017: the five monthly comic series I'm still reading

2017 came with a lot of changes for myself and my family. I have seriously pushed back on my expenditures this year after years of being a hundred dollar plus a month comic reader. I am picking up a lot less material these days in a monthly format and pretty much everything I do grab is through the online juggernaut Comixology.

Here's the five comics I still get in single issue format as the year dawns!

1. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Universe
   
   

   

   Image credit: IDW/Comixology/Sophie Campbell.

   IDW is a strange publisher that for reasons completely foreign to me charges more for their trade paperback collections than single issues. While I have not found this secondary Turtles universe series nearly as strong as the main title over the years, it's still a very solid read. Having a place to focus on supporting cast members and other mutants is always a good thing for a universe as wide and interesting as the Turtles seem to foster.
   
   
2. Uber: Invasion
   
   Kieron Gillen remains a favorite writer of mine. While The Wicked + The Divine has moved into trade-waiting for yours truly, his epic Avatar series is still a must buy. While Avatar's weird publishing strategy often means I buy it in chunks rather than as single issues, the continuance of the alternate universe vision of a World War II extended by super powered beings is easily one of the most interesting things on the market today. Expertly researched and impeccably crafted by Gillen and artist Daniel Gete, this is one I have to read to its conclusion.
   
   
3. Rockstars
   
   

   

   Image credit: Image Comics/Comixology/
   Megan Hutchinson.

   Joe Harris is a writer I've enjoyed since the late 90s days of Slingers, but his new Image title may be his best work yet. It brings out a world of rock and magic where aging musicians may very well have sold their souls to the devil. Built on the framework of every weird urban legend from music history, Harris has crafted a fascinating new mythology in just a few issues. I am not sure how long this one is planned to last, but it looks like a fun ride ahead.
   
   
4. Gold Digger
   
   Fred Perry may be one of the most creative and talented men in any field, but barely anyone knows his name. Gold Digger is a one man masterpiece stretching over 200 issues and multiple universes. While this book is often completely insane, it's a marvel to behold month in and month out.
   
   
5. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
   
   

   

   Image credit: IDW/Comixology/Cory T. Smith. 

   Still written by Tom Waltz and co-plotter Kevin Eastman, the Ninja Turtles' ongoing at IDW has consistently made it into my top comics list for years. With a rotating cast of artists lead by Mateus Santolouco, the book is a nonstop tour in pure awesomeness. While a few of the digressions this year weren't as strong as last year's run, I cannot think of another book as consistently strong month after month as this one. Even as a lifelong Turtle-maniac, Waltz has honed the multiple mythologies of the character into a new ultimate universe for the ages. Check this one out if you haven't already.
   

Looking back at 2016: Top Ten Comic Series

I read a lot of comics every month. And while 2016 had me reading far less than I had in previous years, I still spent a lot of time with floppy issues open in front of me. Here's the ten best series I read all or part of in 2016.

1. Dept. H: Matt Kindt is one of the best writers of modern comics. While his Valiant work (Ninjak, Divinity) is also amazing, his very best work of the year was this underwater murder mystery. Easily one of the most compelling books of the year with a heck of a lot more story to tell in 2017. 
2. Sex: Joe Casey and Piotr Kowalski's series takes a solid look at superhero comics by telling the story of a Batman style superhero that retired to end a gang war. Definitely a book for adults, Sex offers maybe one of the most intriguing ongoing narratives I've read in years. While monthly issues have ended as of this month, it looks to continue as a series of OGNs over the upcoming years. 
3. The Shadow: Death of Margo Lane: Matt Wagner and The Shadow are a match made in heaven. Nuff said. 
4. Gold Digger: I never know what I am in for with each issue of Fred Perry's ongoing series. After over 200 issues, he's created a massive universe but never makes a reader feel like he's completely lost as he pokes at the many corners of his own personal cosmos. 
5. Insexts: Victorian England, super-bug powers and two women's love are the key components to this fascinating series from Marguerite Bennett and Ariela Kristantina, the best offering of several great books from Aftershock Comics. 
6. Deathstroke: DC recruited Christopher Priest to write one of my favorite characters. He took the ball and ran with it and has made Slade Wilson's life more intriguing than ever before. Probably the best mainstream book on stands today. 
7. Black Hammer: Jeff Lemire's tale of exiled heroes is a fascinating deconstruction of superhero archetypes in a real world setting. I have no clue where he's going with it all, but I cannot wait to keep following the tale of the trapped heroes. 
8. Doctor Fate: I dearly miss Paul Levitz and Sonny Liew's amazing series. They created a great new era of a classic character and did so while not hiding from the truths of reality. Any fan of Ms. Marvel should definitely check it out, as should any fan of great comics. Now canceled, a world without it is a sadder place. 
9. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: While 2016 wasn't the absolute best run of the IDW Turtles books so far (that came in 2015), it remains one of the most compelling monthly titles on the market today. Kudos to Tom Waltz and company on consistently producing one of the best titles month after month. 
10. Limbo: This weird limited series by newcomers Dan Watters and Caspar Wijngaard introduced a strange world with even stranger happenings. I cannot quite explain the slightly psychedelic aspects of this book, but it reads like classic Vertigo in all the right ways. Watters and Wijngaard have the potential to be huge creators in the next few years.

Kickstart the Week 47: The Box City Wallops

Even as I seem to give up on more comics than I start these days, I still have a few creators whose work I can never seem to quite get enough of. One of those folks got his start in the halcyon halls of Mirage Studios, working on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics just as the series became an epic international phenomenon. Outside Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird, no one was more responsible for the greatness of the original incarnation of the Turtles than Jim Lawson.

Lawson's career almost certainly hit a bump when Peter Laird sold the characters to Nickelodeon, effectively ending the Mirage run with the characters. (Laird and Lawson actually finished a few more issues of TMNT after the sale, but the book has been done for years despite Laird retaining rights to continue it if he so chose.)

Since then, Lawson has done a lot of commissions and has tried his hand at Kickstarter success. Though a series drawn by him and written by Secret of the Ooze star Eddie Reyes Jr. sadly never got off the ground, he funded two great books in Dragonfly and A Walk Through Dinosaur Land. Now he's back with his return to weird superheroes however, perhaps his biggest new title since his Turtle days.

The Box City Wallops aren't traditional superheroes, but the alien family certainly have strange powers. It also certainly has some of the weird design work that exemplifies Lawson's always weird worlds.


Unlike his previous projects, this will be a regular comic series instead of a graphic novel. The Kickstarter funds the first two issues with the hope of more possible in the future. And while the Kickstarter has already met its funding goal, it is also the kind of weird book that will need all the financial support it can get. So if you're interested in superheroes, strange comics or just good fun, go give The Box City Wallops your support before the Kickstarter expires on Wednesday morning.

Image credit: Jim Lawson via Kickstarter.

What's Up for September 30, 2016

What's Up is a simple post where I give you links to the articles, books, comics, movies, videos, games and/or music I have been enjoying as of late. Feel free to check them out if you would like to enjoy them as well or give your opinions of these works in the comments below (though do try to keep it spoiler free.)

This time around, I have a favorite maxi-series back on the reading pile, a so-so superhero sequel, the latest in a 20 plus book series and more!

Great Art: Batman and Ninja Turtles by Mike Allred

Two franchises that definitely enter my mind regularly are Batman and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. And while I found the recent crossover comic between the two someone so-so, I cannot rave enough about the covers it provided. As I contemplate my own team of four heroes today, I thought it would be great to pull out art by one of my favorite creative minds in the world: Mike Allred.

Best Character Ever 17: Raphael

Mouse Guard's David Petersen did this amazing cover for the
IDW Raphael one-shot.

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles hold a special place in my reading history. The toyline debuted right around my ninth birthday, but it was another year before I moved past the triumvirate of G.I. Joe, Transformers and M.A.S.K. to embrace the Turtles. But once I did, I was hooked. Over the next five years, TMNT rose to become the biggest toy line in the world, but I was busy digging deep into its history and in doing so fell in love with Raphael.

Nick's version of the character is a bit more visually
complicated than the previous cartoons.

While most everyone else my age just watched the TV show and bought a few toys, I was already a ravenous comic reader. So when I found out that the TMNT came from one of those weird black and white comics I would sometimes see, my search began. And my local small town bookstore was able to help out. They carried the colored First Comics collections of the first dozen TMNT books.

The first thing that became clear to young me was how cool Raphael was. He was the one that didn’t quite get along with the rest of his brothers. He had his own way of thinking about life and the world around him. While it was initially inspired by Wolverine (check out his monologue in the very first TMNT comic), he quickly developed into an independent thinker thanks to the Raphael micro-series. He also met another fellow that will be the star of a future Best Character Ever.

Sophie Campbell's art for the IDW series was a
true highlight for the characters.

The creators of the live action film clearly caught on to the strength of Raphael as a character. When the Ninja Turtles film hit the market, I was overjoyed to see Raphael take the major starring role, even taking over Leonardo’s role as the guy that took on the Foot Clan single handed. While the movie had some flaws, the story proved to cement Raphael as the best of a line I already loved.

Over the years, I’ve remained a TMNT fan. I bought through the Archie book, the color Mirage series, the black & white Mirage return title, the revived Tales of the TMNT and the 2000-era cartoon, all into Nickelodeon’s purchase of the characters. And throughout all of them, Raphael always remained the strongest character on the team. I continue to enjoy his adventures in the new CGI-animated series and the IDW series where Tom Waltz and Kevin Eastman continue to craft the most compelling Ninja Turtles ever. Meanwhile, they have become box office stars once more with a second theatrical release due to drop this summer.

It’s never too late to fall in love with the TMNT. Go check out the IDW series in trade or digital. You will not be disappointed.

Walking into the Quadrant

I call my shared universe of metahumans the Quadrant Universe for a couple reasons. Four is an important number to the universe as I have four major locations for my adventures (only two of which I have regularly featured so far: Federation and the New Salam-Valhalla metroplex), each with one of four mysterious figures connecting it to the rest of the universe. These figures are a secret right now, but one of them should be revealed fairly soon in an upcoming historical novel set during the War of 1812.

But Quadrant isn’t just named after those factors, it also shares its name with one of my super-teams. The team of Quadrant was designed to give me a place where I could expand the universe without necessarily writing a bunch of novels with a bunch of different characters. The adventures of Quadrant allow me to show off a new team of metahumans as they travel the glob—and the universe—to unlock mysteries and discover more about their own origins.

I chose Quadrant because some of the greatest super-powered teams in publishing history come in fours. Marvel’s Fantastic Four are easily the most famous, but other units like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and the comic version of KISS have much more influence over the design of my team. I embraced the strange weirdness with an occult tinge from the Dark Horse era KISS comic while the old Archie Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures helped inspire how I would write the four brothers raised in seclusion. It also served as a bit of a guidepost in showing me how to write a story of young heroes without major resources as they spanned the world on their adventures.

Currently, I am publishing Quadrant as standalone volumes each with a full adventure. The first three of five volumes are currently available and volume 4 will launch just next week. You can catch up with their adventures as they fight a ninja cult, uncover a shadowy killer and battle fishmen in the Rio Grande. Each is only 99 cents now. Check out the links below to try them out.

Kickstart the Week: A Walk Through Dinosaurland

Jim Lawson is one of the legendary artists of the original Mirage Studios run of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. As I really started to fall in love with the characters, he took over as primary artist. I still have fond memories of his work on the “City at War” arc as well as his follow-up color series. Over the years, he became the premiere artist on the Turtles, drawing more issues featuring them than anyone else.

Now he is on Kickstarter with his second project and it focuses on one of his great loves: dinosaurs. Featuring gorgeous art and tons of thunder lizards, A Walk Through Dinosaurland looks like tons of fun while even being (gasp) a bit educational. As a nice added bonus, backers at $35 can also get his other dinosaur series Paleo in its entirety.