Every Monday, your local comic book shop finalizes orders for comics that are about five weeks from publication. This is your last chance to guarantee a pre-ordered copy for these comics. Here are my preemptive picks for this week’s FOC items having not read any of them. You can see the complete list of final order comics from our friends at Death Ray Comics.
This week continues orders due for the DC Comics’ “Convergence” tie-ins as well as many #1 issues of Marvel Comics’ “Secret Wars” tie-ins. Don’t worry, we will provide complete check lists for those as their on-the-rack dates get closer.
BLACK CANARY AND ZATANNA BLOODSPELL TP
DC COMICS
(W) Paul Dini (A/CA) Joe Quinones
On The Rack: 6/17/2015
Price: $14.99
Publisher Synopsis:
A year ago, Black Canary infiltrated a gang of female criminals set to pull a dangerous heist at a Las Vegas casino. Its leader was skilled in hand-to-hand combat and had more than a passing interest in black magic. Rather than be captured by Canary or the law, she went to her death, vowing to get revenge on Canary! Now, one year later, death stalks those gang members, and Canary must turn to her friend Zatanna to help investigate.
This title also includes a special sketchbook section.
Preemptive Pick:
This book as popped up and in the Diamond’s FOCs over and over, but for some reason never seems to be printed. When this makes it to the shelves it’s going to sell fast. Written by Paul Dini (the man who wrote your favorite episodes “Batman: The Animated Series”) and drawn by Joe Quinones (the man currently drawing “Howard the Duck” and has done many fill-ins across “Batman ’66,” “Amazing Spider-Man,” “Mad Man,” and more), this is going to be one of those books that you will re-read on a regular basis.
Order this trade paperback if you like “Batman: The Animated Series,” “Mad Love,” and/or “Birds of Prey.”
MAD MAX FURY ROAD NUX & IMMORTAL JOE #1 (MR)
DC COMICS
(W) George Miller & Various (A) Riccardo Burchielli, Leandro Fernandez (CA) Tommy Lee Edwards
On The Rack: 5/20/2015
Price: $4.99
Publisher Synopsis:
In a fallen world ravaged by oil and water wars, humanity exists without law or mercy. All those who wander the Wasteland are ruled by a single imperative…survive! Among them is Max Rockatansky, a Road Warrior haunted by his turbulent past… In this first issue, witness the rise of Colonel Joe Moore, a war hero turned tyrannical warlord…The Immortan Joe! And don’t miss the story of Nux, one of the Immortan’s “War Boys,” who knows only the chaos into which he was born. From the mind of George Miller, the creator of the Mad Max trilogy, comes a brand new epic tale that serves as a prelude to the upcoming film, Mad Max: Fury Road!
Preemptive Pick:
I vividly remember the first time I watched “Mad Max” as a child. Likewise, I remember calling my older brother on the phone right after I watched the first trailer for “Mad Max: Fury Road” – which dropped just over a year ago – and the two of us grown men squealing with delight and anticipation. I’m a sucker for any type of continuity for movie tie-ins, and this appears to be a comprehensive back story to the film (well, mostly its villains) that will be dropping this summer.Put this comic on hold if you like
“Mad Max,” “Y: The Last Man,” and/or “Tank Girl.”
VALHALLA MAD #1 CVR A MAYBURY
IMAGE COMICS
(W) Joe Casey (A/CA) Paul Maybury
On The Rack: 5/20/2015
Price: $3.50
Publisher Synopsis:
Their names are legend: the Glorious Knox! Greghorn the Battlebjörn! Jhago the Irritator! Three warrior gods vacationing on Earth, just looking to get their drink on and have a good time! Join the drunken festivities with toastmasters JOE CASEY (“SEX”) and PAUL MAYBURY (“SOVEREIGN”). The new mythology begins now!
Preemptive Pick:
If you’re not familiar with Joe Casey’s work… GET WITH THE PROGRAM! He is one of the writers that make up the collaborative genius that is Man of Action Studios – the guys who have brought you everything from “Big Hero 6” to “Ben 10” and Disney XD’s “Ultimate Spider-Man.” Additionally, Casey has a massive credit list as a comic book writer on his own (“The Bounce,” “Adventures of Superman,” “Uncanny X-Men,” etc.) Coupling Casey’s knack for telling heart-wrenching, gut-busting funny stories, will be the art of Paul Maybury (“Atomic Robo,” Sovereign”). This creative combination with drunken Norse deities seems like a winning cocktail.
Put this comic on hold if you like “The Bounce,” ” Gødland,” and/or ” Hellboy: Weird Tales.”
DAREDEVIL #15.1
MARVEL COMICS
(W) Marc Guggenheim & Various (A) Peter Krause, Chris Samnee (CA) Chris Samnee
On The Rack: 5/20/2015
Price: $4.99
Publisher Synopsis:
The life and times of Daredevil. 50 years in the making!
Preemptive Pick:
This issue seems to be reminiscent of last April’s “Daredevil” #1.5, a one shot story of an aging Daredevil in the future. Additionally, it had special insights into the world of Daredevil from creators past and present. If #15.1 is half as good as was #1.5, it will be well-worth picking up.
Order this comic if you enjoy “Daredevil,” and/or the NetFlix series “Daredevil.”
Trent Hunsaker is a podcaster and popculturalist. Podcasting for Kevin Smith’s SModcast Internet Radio and the A Part of Him Podcast Network, he also operates Death Ray Comics, sweats, and reads comics – but mostly just sweats.