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.

PREMIERE PUBLISHERS

FIREFLY #1
(BOOM! STUDIOS)

(Cover by Lee Garbett)

THE PUBLISHER SAYS // BOOM! Studios, along with visionary writer and director Joss Whedon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The Avengers), presents an all-new era of the pop culture phenomenon Firefly, as one of the most demanded stories in the franchise’s history is revealed for the first time! Captain Malcolm “Mal” Reynolds, a defeated soldier who opposed the unification of the planets by the totalitarian governed Alliance, will undertake any job-legal or not-to stay afloat and keep his crew fed. Find out now how his story began as BOOM! Studios delves into Mal’s past, how he met his first mate Zoe and the real truth about the War of Unification. The intergalactic civil war that divided friend and family alike. Focusing on family, loyalty, identity, and the price of redemption, writer Greg Pak (Mech Cadet Yu, Totally Awesome Hulk) and artist Dan McDaid (Judge Dredd: Mega City Zero) take you back to the battleground where Mal’s journey began.

THE BEAT SAYS // This show holds a special place in fandom, and with it’s swift cancellation, there’s a lot of lingering questions and spaces to explore. Boom! has been an incredible shepard (pun not intended, but hey) for all kinds of media properties, and this should be no different. Fans of old should know that these stories, much like the Dark Horse ones that preceded them, are canonwith Whedon serving in a “show runner” capacity.

WILLIAM GIBSON ALIEN 3 #1
(DARK HORSE COMICS)

(Cover by Johnnie Christmas)

THE PUBLISHER SAYS // This is the official adaptation of the original screenplay for Alien 3, written by William Gibson, the award-winning science fiction author of the cyberpunk cult classic Neuromancer. You’ll see familiar characters and places-but not all is the same in this horrifying Cold War thriller!

After the deadly events of the film Aliens, the spaceship Sulaco carrying the sleeping bodies of Ripley, Hicks, Newt, and Bishop are intercepted by the Union of Progressive Peoples. What the U.P.P forces don’t expect is another deadly passenger that is about to unleash chaos between two governmental titans intent on developing the ultimate cold war weapon of mass destruction.

THE BEAT SAYS // Right before Marvel nabbed the license for Star Wars, they produced a comic based around the first draft of the original movie. This time around, they’re exploring the alternate history that a William Gibson penned Alien 3 would have offered the world. An experience that will be unique to the comic book medium, as adapted by Johnnie Christmas.

WONDER WOMAN #58
(DC COMICS)

(Cover by Terry & Rachel Dodson)

THE PUBLISHER SAYS // “THE JUST WAR” part one! A new era of Wonder Woman begins as best-selling writer G. Willow Wilson (Ms. Marvel) makes her return to DC with art star Cary Nord (Conan, THE UNEXPECTED) joining the series! Far below Themyscira, Ares, the God of War, has been imprisoned for generations, repenting his past sins. But his new cellmate Grail may have an unexpected effect on him…and the plan they’ve come up with will change Themyscira-and the world- forever! When Wonder Woman rushes to Eastern Europe to rescue Steve Trevor from a mission gone wrong, she’ll find herself face-to-face with a very new, very different God of War!

THE BEAT SAYS // This highly anticipated run joins the ranks of other high profile creator nabs at DC – and I honestly can’t think of a creator more suited to Wonder Woman than G. Willow Wilson. Having Cary Nord on art is just the icing on this cake. Let’s hope for a long, sustained run.

BITTER ROOT #1
(IMAGE COMICS)

(Cover by Sanford Green)

THE PUBLISHER SAYS // In the 1920s, the Harlem Renaissance is in full swing, and only the Sangerye Family can save New York-and the world-from the supernatural forces threatening to destroy humanity. But the once-great family of monster hunters has been torn apart by tragedies and conflicting moral codes. The Sangerye Family must heal the wounds of the past and move beyond their differences… or sit back and watch a force of unimaginable evil ravage the human race.

DAVID F. WALKER and SANFORD GREENE, the creative team of Power Man and Iron Fist, along with indie veteran CHUCK BROWN (Trench Coats, Cigarettes and Shotguns) bring you 24 action-packed pages of monsters, mayhem, and family dysfunction in a brand-new ongoing series.

THE BEAT SAYS // “There are no new stories” is common refrain – and while that might be true, many of those stories have gone untold and unheard. Books like Bitter Root are digging into the rich vein of unheard stories, and presenting something new and brilliant to experience.

UNCANNY X-MEN #1
(MARVEL COMICS)

(Cover by Leinil Francis Yu)

THE PUBLISHER SAYS // THE CHILDREN OF THE ATOM ARE BACK!

New ongoing series kicking off with a 10-part weekly epic, the flagship X-Men series that started it all is back and better than ever! Starting with a mysterious and tragic disappearance, the X-Men are drawn into what might be…their final adventure?! X-Fan favorite writers Ed Brisson (EXTERMINATION), Matthew Rosenberg (PHOENIX RESURRECTION) and Kelly Thompson (MR. & MRS. X) and all-star artists Mahmud Asrar (X-MEN RED), R.B. Silva (X-MEN BLUE), Yildiray Cinar (WEAPON X) and Pere Pérez (ROGUE AND GAMBIT) join forces to bring you…X-MEN DISASSEMBLED?!

THE BEAT SAYS // There’s a lot riding on this series – not to mention the fact that Marvel’s opening salvo is a weekly 10 part story. Will this run bring the team the kind of big story and touchpoint that they need to move forward? The creative team instills us with a sense of hope, but we’re reserving judgement until we see what the hook is.

MORE FROM PREMIERE PUBLISHERS

BOOM! STUDIOS

ADVENTURE TIME SEASON 11 #2
BY NIGHT #5 (OF 12)
GO GO POWER RANGERS #14
RUGRATS C IS FOR CHANUKAH SPECIAL #1
RUINWORLD #5 (OF 5)

ADVENTURE TIME COMICS TP VOL 06
FIREFLY LEGACY EDITION TP VOL 01 // Alongside the first issue of the new Firefly series, you’ll be able to find a collection of the stories that were told over at Dark Horse over the years – including the one that detailed Shepherd Book’s history.
FORM OF A QUESTION HC // From the publisher: “Andrew Rostan is excellent at remembering facts and recalling the memories he associates with those facts. Memories of deaths in the family and extraordinary people. At the age of twenty-two and suddenly a contestant on the very game show he associates with the happiest moments in his life, Rostan’s about to realize that existence is like JEOPARDY! and that all the answers are staring you in the face if only you ask the right questions. Form of a Question is a moving memoir from writer Andrew Rostan (An Elegy for Amelia Johnson), along with artists Kate Kasenow (All Saint’s Day) and Jenna Ayoub (Adventure Time Comics) , that revisits one of the most formative moments in his life and reveals how a chance opportunity to appear on a game show taught him much more about living than he knew he needed.”
MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS DLX HC YEAR TWO
PLANET OF THE APES URSUS TP

DARK HORSE COMICS

DR HORRIBLE BEST FRIENDS FOREVER #0
DRAGON AGE DECEPTION #2
GOD OF WAR #1 (OF 4)
JOE GOLEM #3 (OF 5) THE DROWNING CITY
NEIL GAIMAN AMERICAN GODS MY AINSEL #8 (MR)
QUANTUM AGE FROM THE WORLD OF BLACK HAMMER #4

BATTLEFIELD V JOURNAL
BLADE OF IMMORTAL OMNIBUS TP VOL 07
COLOSSAL KING CONAN HC
COMPLETE ELFQUEST TP VOL 05
CONAN OMNIBUS TP VOL 07 WITCHCRAFT AND WARFARE
DOCTOR STAR & KINGDOM OF LOST TOMORROWS TP
HARROW COUNTY LIBRARY EDITION HC VOL 01

DC COMICS

CATWOMAN #5
DETECTIVE COMICS #992
ELECTRIC WARRIORS #1 (OF 6) // Steve Orlando explores the unexplored in the DCU, alongside Travel Foreman. From the publisher: “A new tale of the future DC Universe, set in a previously unexplored timeline-the Cosmic Dark Age! Years after the Great Disaster, the Earth has started to rebuild and rejoin the universal coalition. In order to prevent a galactic war, different worlds throughout the known cosmos have created a new system of competitive combat to give each participating planet their own voice in the intergalactic struggle. Each world has one diplomatic gladiator, chosen to possess the Electric Seed and fight for their homeland as the Electric Warrior! Each fighter forsakes their personal life in the name of peace. So what happens when Earth can’t choose a single combatant and sends two instead? The bruiser War Cry represents the humans of Earth, while Deep Dweller, a shape-shifter from the Octopus Tribe, represents the animal kingdom. Can they maintain one common goal, or will they tear Earth’s tenuous coexistence to shreds and destroy the rest of the universe with it? Oh, and War Cry also has a powerful relic from Earth’s past: Superman’s cape!”
FLASH #58
HAWKMAN #6
HOUSE OF WHISPERS #3 (MR)
MISTER MIRACLE #12 (OF 12) (MR) // The long awaited conclusion! Can Tom King and Mitch Gerads stick the landing? And just how much heartbreak are we going to have to deal with here?
PLASTIC MAN #6 (OF 6)
RED HOOD OUTLAW #28
SCOOBY APOCALYPSE #31
SUICIDE SQUAD #48
SUPERGIRL #24
SUPERMAN #5
TITANS #29

AQUAMAN UNDERWORLD DELUXE EDITION HC
NIGHTWING TP VOL 08 LETHAL FORCE
SANDMAN TP VOL 02 THE DOLLS HOUSE 30TH ANNIV ED (MR)
TEEN TITANS GO TP VOL 05 FALLING STARS
V FOR VENDETTA 30TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION HC (MR)

DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT

JAMES BOND ORIGIN #3
LONE RANGER VOL 3 #2
RAINBOW BRITE #2
ROBOTS VS PRINCESSES #3

GREEN HORNET GENERATIONS TP

IDW PUBLISHING

EUTHANAUTS #4
GHOSTBUSTERS CROSSING OVER #8
GI JOE A REAL AMERICAN HERO #257
RISE OF THE TMNT #2
STAR TREK VS TRANSFORMERS #2 (OF 4)
TRANSFORMERS UNICRON #6 (OF 6)

DISNEYS TSUM TSUM KINGDOM
ENOLA HOLMES HC VOL 01 CASE OF THE MISSING MARQUESS
KINGDOM OF THE DWARFS HC

IMAGE COMICS

BEAUTY #25 (MR)
BIRTHRIGHT #33
CEMETERY BEACH #3 (OF 7) (MR)
COYOTES #8 (MR)
CYBER FORCE #7 (MR)
ELISABETH DUMN AGAINST THE DEVILS IN SUITS (ONE-SHOT) // From the publisher: “Elisabeth Dumn is a strong, rebellious girl who’s determined to make her own way. Good thing too, because her father long ago promised her to the Devil and he’s come to claim what’s his. This is a story that will haunt you long after you’ve turned the final page. Part horror adventure, part surreal dreamscape, this original graphic novella features the amazing artwork of new Brazilian sensation ARABSON, with translation by Eisner Award-winner JAMES ROBINSON.”
GIDEON FALLS #8 (MR)
HEY KIDS COMICS #4 (MR)
HIT-GIRL #10 (MR)
INFINITE DARK #2 $3.99
JOOK JOINT #2 (OF 5) (MR)
MAGE HERO DENIED #13 (OF 15)
MCMLXXV #3
MURDER FALCON #1 2ND PTG
MURDER FALCON #2
OBLIVION SONG BY KIRKMAN & DE FELICI #9 (MR)
PROXIMA CENTAURI #6 (OF 6)
ROSE #14
SKYWARD #8
SLEEPLESS #9
THIEF OF THIEVES #42 (MR)
WEATHERMAN #6 (MR)

BINGO LOVE HC VOL 01 JACKPOT EDITION
FADE OUT TP (MR)
RAT QUEENS DLX HC VOL 02 (MR)

MARVEL COMICS

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #9
AVENGERS #10 // This issue is being celebrated as the big 700th issue of The Avengers, so you can expect some big things! From the publisher: “After 700 issues of saving the world, you’d think the Avengers would be due some celebration. But instead the whole world seems to be gunning for them, especially Namor’s fearsome new Defenders of the Deep and the reimagined Russian Super-Soldiers of the Winter Guard. And that’s not to mention the shocking surprise the U.S. government has in store for our heroes. Plus: The all-new Agents of Wakanda! The mystery of the Avengers of 1,000,000 BC deepens! A key revelation concerning the resurrection of Wolverine! And the next startling new Avenger is revealed!”
BLACK ORDER #1 (OF 5)// A story about Thanos’ Black Order… from before they knew Thanos.
CAPTAIN AMERICA #5
COSMIC GHOST RIDER #5 (OF 5)
DAREDEVIL #611
DOMINO #8
EXILES #10
FANTASTIC FOUR #3
INFINITY WARS INFINITY WARPS #1 (OF 2)
MARVELS CAPTAIN MARVEL PRELUDE #1
MS MARVEL #36
PETER PARKER SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #312 SG
SPIDER-MAN DEADPOOL #41
STAR WARS DARTH VADER #23
STAR WARS DOCTOR APHRA #26
THOR #7
UNBEATABLE SQUIRREL GIRL #38
UNSTOPPABLE WASP #2
VAULT OF SPIDERS #2 (OF 2) SG
VENOM #8
VENOM ANNUAL #1 2ND PTG STOKOE VAR

BLACK PANTHER HC VOL 02 AVENGERS OF NEW WORLD
DOCTOR STRANGE HC VOL 02
LUKE CAGE MPGN TP EVERY MAN
MARVEL KNIGHTS CAPTAIN AMERICA RIEBER CASSADAY TP NEW DEAL
MARVELS TP REMASTERED ED
MMW MIGHTY THOR HC VOL 17
PUNISHER WAR MACHINE TP VOL 02
SPIDER-MAN SPIDER-VERSE GN TP FEARSOME FOES
SPIDER-MAN SPIDER-VERSE GN TP MILES MORALES
SPIDER-MAN SPIDER-VERSE GN TP SPIDER-GWEN
SPIDER-MAN SPIDER-VERSE GN TP SPIDER-MEN
THANOS HC INFINITY CONFLICT OGN
UNBEATABLE SQUIRREL GIRL TP VOL 09 SQUIRRELS FALL LIKE DOMINOS
X-MEN EPIC COLLECTION TP SENTINELS LIVE


FEATURED TITLES FROM OTHER PUBLISHERS

BROTHER NASH TP (MR)
(TITAN COMICS)

(Cover by Bridgit Connell)

THE PUBLISHER SAYS // Haunted trucker Brother Nash faces the monsters of the midnight road in Bridgit Connell’s mysterious adventure comic! Nash is a trucker. He also sees ghosts, and when the moon is on the rise and violence threatens his friends, he roams as a wolf… As the highway beast! When Nash takes on a mysterious hitchhiker heading for Tucson, he and his friends are dragged headfirst into his biggest and most dangerous adventure yet!

THE BEAT SAYS // This book features a lot of elements of indigenous lore to present a fantastic new trucker horror fantasy tale that we quite enjoyed in single issues.

COMICS COMICS QUARTERLY #1
(STARBURNS INDUSTRIES PRESS)

(Cover by Troy Nixey & Carolyn Main)

THE PUBLISHER SAYS // The comic-est anthology of 2018! Comedians love comic books, cartoonists love comedy, and our idiot editor used to mix up comics who tell jokes and comics that have pictures. Now his perpetual confusion has led to the creation of Comics Comics, a quarterly anthology teaming comedy’s best with funny books’ brightest! Headlined by Patton Oswalt (MST3K, Happy!), issue #1 features hilarious original stories from comedians Jackie Kashian (The Dork Forest), Sara Benincasa (Getting Wet with Sara Benincasa), Eliot Rahal (New Comic Book Day), and Rose Matafeo (Funny Girls), with art by Troy Nixey (Vinegar Teeth), Robert Hack (Chilling Adventure of Sabrina), Carolyn Main (Pitch, Please!), and more!

THE BEAT SAYS // It will be interesting to see what this comic does in the direct market. The book saw a successful Kickstarter provide an initial boost – and comedians have a great hustle when it comes to promoting themselves and their wares. Will that translate to visits to the local comic shop? Time will tell!

MINIONS VIVA LE BOSS #1
(TITAN COMICS)

(Cover by Renaud Collin)

THE PUBLISHER SAYS // The breakout mascot characters of Despicable Me (and their own movie, Minions!) return for another round of comic capers! The villainous yellow goofballs wander history looking for a truly wicked boss to serve – but are they doomed to forever be Minions without a master? The Minions are beloved worldwide: 34m Facebook followers, 1.3m Instagram, and 300k Twitter!

“No matter how old you are, it’s hard to resist the lovable stupidity of the Minions… Captures the spirit of the movies in a bite size format.” -Flickering Myth

THE BEAT SAYS // To this day, Minions fans are voracious, and the few comics that have come out seem to sell on sight. More of something like this is always a good thing.

BLOODSHOT RISING SPIRIT #1
(VALIANT COMICS)

(Cover by Felipe Massafera)

THE PUBLISHER SAYS // Before a weapon is deployed in battle, it must be designed, refined, field-tested. Bloodshot was no exception. In the early days of the private military contractor Project Rising Spirit, the nanite-infused super-soldier who would one day become their most violent and valuable asset was a resource to be mined – and it was up to one enterprising employee to ensure he did what he was told. But memory is a tricky thing…and the man Bloodshot used to be won’t let go of his past so easily…

Critically acclaimed writing duo Lonnie Nadler and Zac Thompson (Cable), along with Eisner Award nominee Kevin Grevioux (New Warriors) team up with distinguished artist Ken Lashley (Black Panther) to open a door once closed and reveal answers to questions that Bloodshot himself would never think to ask!

THE BEAT SAYS // Valiant has always done a great job nabbing creators who are extremely talented and just bubbling below the surface of mega stardom. We became aware of Lonnie Nadler and Zac Thompson through their series The Dregs, which was a hardboiled crime story about homelessness and cannibalism on the streets on Vancouver. They should be a great fit for this title.

WET MOON GN VOL 07 (MR)
(ONI PRESS)

(Cover by Sophie Campbell)

THE PUBLISHER SAYS // Trilby is finally out of the hospital, but she feels anything but ready to face daily life again. Even though Myrtle is in prison and Trilby is safe, everything is different and nothing feels right. Cleo, Mara, Audrey, and Martin struggle to support Trilby, but will it ever be enough? Things don’t seem like they’ll ever be the same again, and everyone must pick up the pieces and figure out where their lives are going. Don’t miss the final volume of the critically-acclaimed series!

THE BEAT SAYS // After several years away from the property, Sophie Campbell returns to bring some closure to some of the most realistic characters realized in the comic book medium.

MORE TITLES FROM OTHER PUBLISHERS

APAMA THE UNDISCOVERED ANIMAL #5
ARTIFACT ONE #2
BETTY & VERONICA JUMBO COMICS DIGEST #268
CAPTAIN GINGER #2
CATALYST PRIME ACCELL #15
CATALYST PRIME ASTONISHER #12
CRYPT OF HORROR #37
DARK ARK #11
DELLEC VOL 2 #3
DINOSAUCERS #4
FAMILY GRAVES #3 (OF 4) (MR)
FRIENDO #1 2ND PTG
FRIENDO #2 (MR)
GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST ONE-SHOT
LIFE IS STRANGE #1
NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS ZEROS JOURNEY #5
NINJA-K #13
ODDWELL #4
PATIENCE CONVICTION REVENGE #3
ROBOTECH #14
SCREAM & MISTY HALLOWEEN SPECIAL 2018
SHADES OF MAGIC #2 (OF 4)
SHADOW ROADS #5
TAP DANCE KILLER #3
VOLTRON LEGENDARY DEFENDER VOL 3 #5
WELCOME HOME ONE-SHOT (Amigo Comics) // From the publisher: “This family is full of people: father, mother, grandfather, three kids… and almost one pet per person! They have decided to adopt a kitten to be completely happy and the little daughter will be in charge of her. After a warm welcoming sure the kitten feels happy with her new family.”
WRONG EARTH #2 2ND PTG

MAGAZINES

2000 AD PACK OCTOBER 2018
BACK ISSUE #109 $8.95
COMIC SHOP NEWS [90CT BUNDLE] #1639
DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE #531
G FAN #121
JUDGE DREDD MEGAZINE #401
LOCUS #694
STAR TREK MAGAZINE #69 PX

BOOKS

AVENGER DOUBLE FEATURE SC
CLOCKWORK PLANET LIGHT NOVEL VOL 03
COMPLETE ART OF FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST HC
DIDNT I SAY MAKE ABILITIES AVERAGE NOVEL SC VOL 04 (MR)
DIE HARD ULTIMATE VISUAL HISTORY HC
DOCTOR WHO COMP HIST HC VOL 82 12TH DOCTOR STORIES 264-265
EMPTY BOX & ZEROTH MARIA LIGHT NOVEL SC VOL 04
FINAL FANTASY VII 7 ON WAY TO SMILE NOVEL SC VOL 01
GOBLIN SLAYER SIDE STORY YEAR ONE LIGHT NOVEL SC VOL 01
GROW ART OF KOYAMORI SC
HI FRUCTOSE COLLECTED HC BOX SET 04
I WANT TO EAT YOUR PANCREAS LIGHT NOVEL SC (MR)
IS WRONG PICK GIRLS DUNGEON SWORD ORATORIA NOVEL SC VOL 07
IS WRONG PICK UP GIRLS DUNGEON NOVEL SC VOL 12
ISOLATOR LIGHT NOVEL HC VOL 04
KRAZY BLACK & WHITE WORLD OF GEORGE HERRIMAN SC
MAKE ANIMALS FELT ARTS FROM JAPAN SC CRAFT
MEGA MAN X OFFICIAL COMPLETE WORKS HC
NEVERLASTING MIRACLES ART OF TODD SCHORR HC (MR)
OVERSTREET PRICE GUIDE TO STAR WARS COLLECTIBLES SC
RE ZERO SLIAW LIGHT NOVEL SC VOL 08
SPICE AND WOLF LIGHT NOVEL SC VOL 20 SPRING LOG III
STAR TREK ENCYCLOPEDIA STARFLEET STARSHIPS 2294 TO FUTURE
STAR WARS LEIA PRINCESS OF ALDERAAN SC
TORADORA LIGHT NOVEL VOL 03
WOLF & PARCHMENT LIGHT NOVEL SC VOL 03 NEW THEORY

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