Welcome to The Beat’s Wednesday Pulse!
This series will check in with what’s coming out in comic stores each and every week, offering insight to some of the most anticipated releases on the stands. In the end, we’re hoping to shine a spotlight on things you might not know you’d enjoy… and hope to offer a space for you to share what you are excited for this week.
Please note: our opinions are ours, and yours are yours – and while we encourage you to share your likes, this is not a forum to discourage others for enjoying what they enjoy. Comics are for everyone.
FEATURED TITLES FROM PREMIERE PUBLISHERS
LUMBERJANES ORIGINAL GN VOL 01 INFERNAL COMPASS
(BOOM! STUDIOS)
(Cover by Alexa Sharpe)
The Publisher Says: Eisner Award-nominated writer Lilah Sturges (Fables, Thor: Season One) teams with artist polterink (Enough Space for Everyone Else) for the first Lumberjanes graphic novel in a story about finding your way and navigating life, love, and a literal forest.
When the ’Janes start to become separated during an orienteering outing thanks to a mysterious compass, Molly becomes more and more insecure about the effect of her relationship with Mal on the other girls. Meanwhile, a lonely woman explorer is trying to steal the compass, with the help of some weirdly polite automaton butlers.
The Beat Says: This series has not only stood the test of time, but has offered safe passage for folks figuring out who they are through the pages of a cryptid fighting, femme centric group that welcomes all looking for adventure. This original graphic novel marks an expansion for the popular series that’s nearing five years of unbroken monthly publication, adding even more to the graphic novel market that has welcomed it with open arms.
LUCIFER #1 (MR)
(DC COMICS/VERTIGO)
(Cover by Goni Montes)
The Publisher Says: Lucifer is missing. Having embarked on a dangerous journey to find the mother of his abandoned son, the Prince of Lies finds himself imprisoned and crippled by mysterious forces who seek to torment him for their own terrible ends. Meanwhile: a car is crashed, two witches blind themselves, a tumor speaks its first words, and a perfectly good bowl of oatmeal is left to go cold.
The Beat Says: The rich world of Neil Gaiman’s Sandman continues to be explored as Dan Watters and Max and Sebastian Fiumara depict forces larger than themselves. The Sandman Universe line of comics not only announced the arrival of a revamped, refocused Vertigo line, it committed to the original spirt of Sandman, which allowed new and vital voices speak loudly in the medium we all love. This continues proudly here.
EXORSISTERS #1
(IMAGE COMICS)
(Cover by Gisèle Legacé)
The Publisher Says: Did you sign a deal with the Devil? Has your fiancé been dragged to Hell? Then Kate and Cate Harrow should be the first ones you call for timely soul retrieval at a reasonable rate! But why are these identical twins so different? Is there a darker secret? An all-new ongoing series by Eisner Award-winning writer IAN BOOTHBY (The Simpsons, MAD Magazine), with art by GISÈLE LAGACÉ (Ménage a 3, Archie).
The Beat Says: A decidedly dark comedic take on the supernatural – or rather, a Supernatural style story with a touch of Heroes for Hire with female leads.
SHURI #1
(MARVEL COMICS)
(Cover by Sam Pratt)
The Publishers Says: FOLLOWING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE BLACK PANTHER! The world fell in love with her in the movie. Now, the Black Panther’s techno-genius sister launches her own adventures – written by best-selling Afrofuturist author Nnedi Okorafor and drawn by Eisner-nominated artist Leonardo Romero!
The Black Panther has disappeared, lost on a mission in space. And in his absence, everyone’s looking at the next in line for the throne. But Shuri is happiest in a lab, surrounded by gadgets of her own creation. She’d rather be testing gauntlets than throwing them. But a nation without a leader is a vulnerable one – and Shuri may have to choose between Wakanda’s welfare and her own.
The Beat Says: Here’s a secret about large comic book companies owned by big corporations with shareholders: they’re not going to put something out that they don’t believe will make them money. In this case, the fervour and noise surrounding Black Panther and fan response to Shuri in general sees the emergence of this series, from a dynamite creative team that will bring a unique perspective to not just the character, but the medium in general. This is extremely exciting.
UNSTOPPABLE WASP #1
(MARVEL COMICS)
(Cover by Gihurihu)
The Publisher Says: BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND! Nadia Van Dyne, A.K.A. the UNSTOPPABLE WASP, and her team of girl scientists are back! With the backing of the original Wasp, Janet Van Dyne, there’s no problem the Agents of G.I.R.L. can’t solve! But they’re not the only acronym-toting science organization out there, and when A.I.M. strikes, Nadia and the ladies of Genius In action Research Labs answer the call. But who is A.I.M.’s new super-powered lieutenant, and how do they know Nadia? And what does A.I.M.’s plan have to do with Nadia’s father, Hank Pym?
The Beat Says: Original series writer Jeremy Whitley returns with art collective Gihurihu in tow to continue Nadia Van Dyne’s adventures! This is particularly exciting, and indicative of Marvel realizing the long tail of sales that some titles can have with a little bit of support. The book store market and book fairs have embraced this series and so we’re seeing the return, as an ongoing series once more – not only a vote of confidence, but proof positive that Marvel saw monetary gains from having two volumes out – and would like to have many more.
MORE FROM PREMIERE PUBLISHERS
BOOM STUDIOS
BLACK BADGE #3
GARFIELD TV OR NOT TV #1
LOW ROAD WEST #2 (OF 5)
LUMBERJANES #55
STEVEN UNIVERSE ONGOING #21
WELCOME TO WANDERLAND #2 (OF 4)
ADVENTURE TIME BEGINNING OF END TP
MECH CADET YU TP VOL 02
DARK HORSE COMICS
BEDTIME GAMES #4 (OF 4)
BLACK HAMMER AGE OF DOOM #6 // Rich Tomasso takes the guest artist spot on this series that has been cleverly paying homage to the rich history of comics.
CALL OF DUTY ZOMBIES 2 #2
DISNEY FROZEN BREAKING BOUNDARIES #3 CVR A
DRAGON AGE DECEPTION #1
EMPOWERED & SISTAH SPOOKYS HIGH SCHOOL HELL #6 (OF 6)
NEIL GAIMAN AMERICAN GODS MY AINSEL #7 (MR)
COLOSSAL CONAN THE CIMMERIAN HC
DC COMICS
AQUAMAN #41 (ROAD TO DROWNED EARTH) // As we near November, Aquaman and the Justice League are getting ever close to Drowned Earth – an event that will set the stage for December’s new status quo for Arthur Curry and his realm.
BATMAN #57
COVER #2 (OF 6) (MR)
DAMAGE #10
GREEN LANTERNS #57
HARLEY QUINN #52 FOIL
INJUSTICE 2 #36
JUSTICE LEAGUE #10 FOIL (ROAD TO DROWNED EARTH)
JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #4 FOIL (WITCHING HOUR)
NEW CHALLENGERS #6 (OF 6)
NIGHTWING #51 FOIL // Scott Lobdell takes over writing duties on Nightwing here, as Dick Grayson deals with the fallout of the events contained within Batman #55.
PEARL #3 (OF 6) (MR)
SCOOBY DOO WHERE ARE YOU #95
SIDEWAYS #9 FOIL
TEEN TITANS #23 FOIL $3.99
BATMAN & THE JUSTICE LEAGUE MANGA TP VOL 01
BATMAN THE DARK KNIGHT DETECTIVE TP VOL 02
BLACK LIGHTNING COLD DEAD HANDS TP
BOMBSHELLS UNITED TP VOL 02 WAR BONDS
DEATHSTROKE TP VOL 05 THE FALL OF SLADE REBIRTH
FLASH BY MARK WAID TP BOOK 05
GREEN ARROW REBIRTH DLX COLL HC VOL 01
RAVEN DAUGHTER OF DARKNESS TP VOL 01
SIDEWAYS TP VOL 01 STEPPIN OUT
SUICIDE SQUAD TP VOL 07 DRAIN THE SWAMP REBIRTH
SUICIDE SQUAD UNWRAPPED BY JIM LEE HC
D. E.
DEJAH THORIS #9
RED SONJA #22
XENA #9
BOYS TP VOL 11 OVER THE HILL SGN ED (MR)
XENA PENANCE TP
IDW PUBLISHING
GHOSTBUSTERS CROSSING OVER #7
OPTIMUS PRIME #24
REAL SCIENCE ADVENTURES NICODEMUS JOB #4
RISE OF THE TMNT #1 // The newest cartoon series comes to comics here, and offers fans a bit more than they’ll see on their television sets. This series recently was expanded to an ongoing in light of solid sales.
STAR WARS TALES FROM VADERS CASTLE #3 (OF 5)
TMNT ONGOING #87
BATMAN SILVER AGE NEWSPAPER COMICS SLIPCASE ED
KING OF COMICS SC 100 YEARS KING FEATURES SYNDICATE
TRANSFORMERS OPTIMUS PRIME TP VOL 04
IMAGE COMICS
APHRODITE V #4 (MR)
CEMETERY BEACH #2 (OF 7) (MR)
COYOTES #7 (MR)
CURSE WORDS #17 (MR)
EAST OF WEST #39 (RES)
EVOLUTION #11 (MR)
FLAVOR #6
GIDEON FALLS #7 (MR)
HACK SLASH RESURRECTION #12 (MR)
HIT-GIRL #9 (MR)
MCMLXXV #2
NEW WORLD #4 (OF 5) (MR)
PROXIMA CENTAURI #5 (OF 6)
RUMBLE #8 (MR)
SAVAGE DRAGON #239 (MR)
SKYWARD #7
STELLAR #5
STRAY BULLETS SUNSHINE & ROSES #39 (MR)
BONEHEAD TP VOL 01
DEADLY CLASS DLX HC VOL 02 (MR)
DEATH OR GLORY TP VOL 01 (MR)
GIDEON FALLS TP VOL 01 BLACK BARN (MR)
MAGE TP VOL 05 HERO DENIED BOOK THREE
MARVEL COMICS
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #5 2ND PTG OTTLEY VAR
ASTONISHING X-MEN #16
DAREDEVIL #609
FANTASTIC FOUR #2 2ND PTG
INFINITY WARS #3 (OF 6) 2ND PTG DEODATO VAR
INFINITY WARS WEAPON HEX #1 (OF 2)
LIFE OF CAPTAIN MARVEL #4 (OF 5)
MARVEL ZOMBIE #1
MR AND MRS X #4
OLD MAN LOGAN #49
PETER PARKER SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #311 SG
RUNAWAYS #14
STAR WARS DARTH VADER #22
THOR #6
TRUE BELIEVERS WHAT IF ALIEN COSTUME POSSESSED SPIDER-MAN #1 // The True Believers line offers tales from the past, for the scant price of one American dollar. One to two titles are offered a week, allowing folks to explore the rich history of the Marvel universe for very little money.
TRUE BELIEVERS WHAT IF FF HAD NOT GAINED THEIR POWERS #1
VENOM ANNUAL #1 // An alert to those who can take or leave the “annual” format of their favourite ongoings – this one features a story from regular series writer Donny Cates, so you’re going to want to check it out, as it will almost definitely come into play in the main series later.
WEAPON H #9
WHAT IF? GHOST RIDER #1
X-MEN BLACK MYSTIQUE #1
DOCTOR STRANGE EPIC COLLECTION TP MASTER OF THE MYSTIC ARTS
DOCTOR STRANGE TP DAMNATION
MARVEL KNIGHTS BY DIXON & BARRETO TP DEFENDERS OF STREETS
MARVEL KNIGHTS DAREDEVIL BY BENDIS MALEEV TP UNDERBOSS
RUNAWAYS BY RAINBOW ROWELL TP VOL 02 BEST FRIENDS FOREVER
SPIDER-MAN IRON MAN MARVEL TEAM-UP TP
STAR WARS LEGENDS EPIC COLLECTION NEW REPUBLIC TP VOL 04
————
FEATURED TITLES FROM OTHER PUBLISHERS
CAPTAIN GINGER #1
(AHOY! COMICS)
(Cover by June Brigman & Roy Richardson)
The Publisher Says: When the human race died out, the cats inherited the Earth! Or at least one starship. Now the intrepid Captain Ginger struggles to keep his fellow felines united against a hostile universe. Thirty-five pages of comic adventure-with a bite-by writer Stuart Moore (Deadpool the Duck, Batman: Noir Alley) and artist June Brigman (Power Pack). Plus: An all-new text story by comics legend Grant Morrison, “The Electric Sky Bear That Inspired Ben Franklin,” illustrated by Phil Hester, and a cartoon by Shannon Wheeler!
The Beat Says: We’ve really enjoyed the releases that Ahoy have put forward so far. Not only is always at least 20 pages of the main story, but there’s a heap of great back matter
AQUICORN COVE HC
(ONI PRESS)
(Cover by Katie O’Neill)
The Publisher Says: From the award-winning author of Princess Princess Ever After and The Tea Dragon Society comes Aquicorn Cove, a heartfelt story about learning to be a guardian to yourself and those you love.
When Lana and her father return to their seaside hometown to help clear the debris of a big storm, Lana remembers how much she’s missed the ocean-and the strong, reassuring presence of her aunt. As Lana explores the familiar beach, she discovers something incredible: a colony of Aquicorns, small magical seahorse-like creatures that live in the coral reef. Lana rescues an injured Aquicorn and cares for it with the help of her aunt, who may know more about these strange creatures than she’s willing to admit. But when a second storm threatens to reach the town, choices made many years ago about how to coexist with the sea start to rise to the surface. Lana realizes she will need to find the strength to stand on her own, even when it means standing up to the people who she has always relied on to protect her.
The Beat Says: Katie O’Neill has delivered a couple of the top selling graphic novels of the past few years – and that streak looks like it will continue here. Always sweet and filled with beautiful emotion, her books offer a respite from a sometimes cruel world.
SUPERMAN ISNT JEWISH BUT I AM KINDA GN
(HUMANOIDS INC.)
(Cover by Emilie Boudet)
The Publisher Says: Benjamin would always proudly say, “I’m Jewish. Like Superman!” Assuming that Judaism is some kind of super power and Hebrew is akin to the Kryptonian language, Benjamin believes each of his family members is a superhero. Until, like Krypton, his world is shattered. After learning of the link between being circumcised and his religion, Ben decides to hide his heritage from everyone. Caught between the desire to avoid disappointing his Jewish father and his desire to understand his Catholic mother, Ben has to find a way to abandon his secret identity for a very public one. Humorous, timeless and universal, this personal and poignant story of acceptance and understanding shows how we all must learn to love the hero within ourselves.
The Beat Says: We’ve yet to read this one, but the premise itself seems like it should be an interesting approach to the idea of Superman and self acceptance.
MORE FROM OTHER PUBLISHERS
ANIMOSITY EVOLUTION #8 (MR)
ARCHIE 1941 #2 (OF 5)
BETTY & VERONICA FRIENDS FOREVER STORY BOOK #1
CATALYST PRIME SUPERB #14
DELLEC VOL 2 #2
DINOSAUCERS #3
ENCOUNTER #7
FAMILY GRAVES #2 (OF 4) (MR)
FATHOM VOL 7 #4
FORMIDABLES #3
GIRL WHO DANCED WITH DEATH MILL SAGA #3 (OF 3)
HELLINA RAVENING #1 (MR)
KNIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE #259
MALL #2
NANCY IN HELL #3 (OF 4) (MR)
NORAH #3 (OF 4) (MR)
ODDWELL #3
OGRE #1 (OF 3) (MR) // From the publisher: “A reclusive beast sits locked in a castle prison cell with the ghost of the corpse he is chained to. And now he must decide if he’ll join in on an escape plan that could set him on an adventure he’s not prepared to embark upon.”
PATIENCE CONVICTION REVENGE #2
QUANTUM & WOODY (2017) #11
RIVERS OF LONDON #1: ACTION AT A DISTANCE (MR) // Based off of the highly successful prose book series, with stories coming from from series writer Ben Aaronovitch himself, this marks the beginning of an ongoing run after six well received mini-series. The quick pitch? Cops vs wizards. If that’s your scene, definitely dig in deeper!
SIMPSONS COMICS #245 // The final issue… or at least, the final issue published by Bongo. With so many properties owned by Fox popping up at Boom! Studios these days (with Fox having a minority stake in the company), is it just a matter of time before this property makes a return?
SOURCE #1 // From the publisher: “The Source is the story of Bennett Miller, a high school teacher in East St Louis who still lives with his grandmother. One day Bennett is approached after his class by a mysterious old woman, Ms. Putnam, who tells him that magic is real… and he’s the one prophesied to return it to humanity. The only problem, it’s been outlawed for thousands of years by the ancient Few, a powerful sect who hoard it to prolong their own lives and will stop at nothing to keep it secret. Based on true history, real legends, and actual folklore and myths. Co-written by History Channel’s Knightfall writer Don Handfield and Joshua Malkin and Illustrated by Leno Carvalho.”
SPOOKHOUSE 2 #3 (OF 4)
STABBITY BUNNY #8
STRANGERS IN PARADISE XXV #7
SUBMERGED #3 (OF 4) (MR)
TANK GIRL FULL COLOR CLASSICS 1989-1990 #2
THE THREE STOOGES MONSTERS & MAYHEM #1
WAR OF INDEPENDENTS MAN OUT OF TIME #1
WARHAMMER 40000 DEATHWATCH #4 (OF 4)
YOU CAN TRY AGAIN ONE SHOT (MR) // This one comes from Silver Sprocket, and while details are slim, you can never go wrong with giving a book from their line a chance. From the publisher: “Sentimental girl-oriented sci-fi adventure about clones, math, a gigantic fish, and ambition in a future where AI do mostly everything. This is the debut longform from webcomic superstar Olivia Walch.”
3 X 4 HC GN // From the publisher: “Fun by the dozen! Annemarie and her clever classmates have to draw sets of twelve and use their imagination to come up with creative solutions. Young readers will delight in the counting game while learning the basics of multiplication. Star cartoonist Ivan Brunetti’s ingenious and fun-to-read comic turns everyone into a math whiz!”
A MILLION WAYS TO DIE HARD HC GN // Bruce Willis is back as “Die Hard” in this new book about his character from the “Die Hard” movies: Die Hard.
AJIN GN VOL 12 DEMI HUMAN
APOSIMZ GN VOL 01
ATTACK ON TITAN SEASON THREE BOX SET VOL 01 (MR)
BABY BLUES COLLECTION TP ADULT TIME
BLOODBORNE TP VOL 01 (MR)
CHARISMAGIC DEATH PRINCESS TP VOL 01
CITY INSIDE HC GN (MR)
DARK JUSTICE DOMINION HC (Judge Dredd)
DEAD DEAD DEMONS DEDEDEDE DESTRUCTION GN VOL 03
FAIRY TALE BATTLE ROYALE GN VOL 01 (MR)
FISK THE SUBSTITUTE
FOREVER FREE TP (MR)
FRANKENSTEIN HC JUNJI ITO STORY COLLECTION
HARUKANA RECEIVE GN VOL 02 (MR)
HEY KIDDO SC & HC // From the publisher: “In kindergarten, Jarrett Krosoczka’s teacher asks him to draw his family, with a mommy and a daddy. But Jarrett’s family is much more complicated than that. His mom is an addict, in and out of rehab, and in and out of Jarrett’s life. His father is a mystery – Jarrett doesn’t know where to find him, or even what his name is. Jarrett lives with his grandparents, two very loud, very loving, very opinionated people who had thought they were through with raising children until Jarrett came along. Jarrett goes through his childhood trying to make his non-normal life as normal as possible, finding a way to express himself through drawing even as so little is being said to him about what’s going on. Only as a teenager can Jarrett begin to piece together the truth of his family, reckoning with his mother and tracking down his father. Available in softcover and hardcover editions.”
HOLLISTON CARNIVAL OF CARNAGE TP (MR)
HOW NOT TO SUMMON DEMON LORD GN VOL 02
INFINITY 8 HC VOL 02 BACK TO THE FUHRER (MR)
IT LOOKS BACK GN (MR)
IT SECRET WORLD OF MODERN BANKING TP VOL 2
JANE AUSTEN HER HEART DID WHISPER GN (MR)
MACHIMAHO MADE WRONG PERSON MAGICAL GIRL GN VOL 01
MADE IN ABYSS GN VOL 04
MAGICAL GIRL APOCALYPSE GN VOL 16 (MR)
MEN OF MYSTERY #109
MIKAGURA SCHOOL SUITE GN VOL 03 MANGA
MIRACULOUS TALES LADYBUG CAT NOIR SEASON 2 TP BUTTERFLY
MIRACULOUS TALES OF LADYBUG AND CAT NOIR TP SANTA CLAWS
MISS KOBAYASHIS DRAGON MAID KANNA DAILY LIFE GN VOL 03
MUTTS TREASURY THOSE WILD EYES AGAIN MOOCH
NAMELESS ASTERISM GN VOL 03
OTTOS BACKWARDS DAY GN
PLUS SIZED ELF GN VOL 01 (MR)
RASL COLOR ED TP VOL 02 (OF 3) ROMANCE AT SPEED OF LIGHT (MR) // The generation that grew up on Scholastic’s Bone colour reprints is at an age where reading Jeff Smith’s Rasl would be wholly appropriate – and so he’s been re-releasing them with colour from Steve Hamaker, at the same size and format of those volumes from Scholastic.
SCIENCE COMICS THE BRAIN HC & SC GN
SNOOPY BOOGIE DOWN TP
SPIRIT CIRCLE GN VOL 05
THE COMET GN VOL 01
THERES A DEMON LORD ON FLOOR GN VOL 06 (MR)
TO LOVE RU DARKNESS GN VOL 07 (MR)
TOKYO GHOUL GN COMPLETE BOX SET
TOKYO GHOUL RE GN VOL 07
UNSINKABLE WALKER BEAN & KNIGHTS OF WAXING MOON SC
VOYNICH HOTEL GN VOL 02 (MR)
WE ARE ALL ME HC GN
WORLD OF WARCRAFT HC GN BOOK 03
WORMWORLD SAGA TP VOL 02 SHELTER OF HOPE
WRAPPED UP TP VOL 02
ZITS TREASURY TP DANCE LIKE EVERYONES WATCHING
MAGAZINES
COMIC SHOP NEWS #1635
THE CREEPS #16 (MR)
BOOKS
ARCHIES HOLIDAY COLORING BOOK
ART OF IRON MAN 10TH ANNIV HC ED
FLASH YA NOVEL TORNADO TWINS
GUIDE TO GROOT SOUND BOOK HC
HOT WHEELS FROM 0 TO 50 AT 1 64 SCALE HC
MYCROFT & SHERLOCK HC
REPRISE OF THE SPEAR HERO LIGHT NOVEL SC VOL 01
SPIDER-MAN SPIDER-MAN W CD WITH SONG
STAR WARS FLIGHT OF FALCON LANDOS LUCK HC
TIM BURTONS NBX POP UP BOOK HC
VIDEOGAMES SC
WORLD OF READING THIS IS MILES MORALES SC
