June 2016 PREVIEWS pre-order picks: IDW PUBLISHING

EDITOR’S NOTE:  Continuing a new feature, as we peruse the monthly PREVIEWS catalog and highlight some books we feel are worthy of your attention.

Your local comic shop depends on your pre-orders to make sure they have the books you want when you want them. Since business reality makes it impossible for a local comic shop to order some of everything, they depend on the comics readers to tell them what they want to see.  It’s a dice roll for them every month.  Won’t you help with the odds by at least telling them what you want to buy from them in two months?  Please give it a try.  We’ll do our best here to help you with those selections, from a BC Refugees point of view.  Not objective, but absolutely subjective.

IDW PUBLISHING page 151 http://www.idwpublishing.com

THE KILLER INSIDE ME #1 of 5: Somehow we missed the publication of the true life novel by Jim Thompson.  Just reading the description creeped us out enough to add this to the pre-order list.  A fascinating character study into a deeply disturbed person.

From the catalog;  “Jim Thompson’s sinewy, brutal, and beloved novel comes to life as a five-part graphic noir.  Adapted by writer Devin Faraci (Birth, Movies, Death) and illustrated with gut-punching vivid art by Vic Malhotra (Murder Book).

In THE KILLER INSIDE ME, Thompson went where few have dared, giving us a pitch-black glimpse into the mind of the American serial killer years before Charles Manson, John Wayne Gacy, and Brett Easton Ellis’s AMERICAN PSYCHO, in the novel that will forever be known as the master performance of one of the greatest crime novelists of all time.

Lou Ford is the deputy sheriff of a small town in Texas.  The worst thing most people can say against him is that he’s a little slow and a little boring.  But then, most people don’t know about the sickness — the sickness that almost got Lou put away when he was younger.  The sickness that is about to surface again."

MARCH BOOK 3:  Writer Congressman John Lewis & Andrew Aydin. Artist/cover Nate Powell:  A key moment in U.S. history chronicled by one who was there.  The first two volumes were excellent.  We expect no difference here.

From the catalog:  “Top Shelf is honored to present the stunning conclusion to the award-winning and best-selling MARCH trilogy.

By Fall 1963, the Civil Rights Movement is an undeniable keystone of the national conversation, and as chair of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, John Lewis is right in the thick of it.  With the stakes continuing to rise, white suprematists intensify their opposition through government obstruction and civilian terrorist attacks, a supportive president is assassinated, and African-Americans across the South are still blatantly prohibited from voting.

To carry out their nonviolent revolution, Lewis and an army of young activists launch a series of innovative projects, including the Freedom Vote, Mississippi Freedom Summer, and a pitched battle for the should of the Democratic Party waged live on national television.  But strategic disputes are deepening within the movement, even as 25-year old John Lewis heads to Alabama to risk everything in a historic showdown that will shock the world."

MICRONAUTS #5:  We loved the original Marvel series based on the Hasbro toys.  Bunn is doing a stellar job with the update and adding some exciting elements of his own to the legend.

From the catalog:  “Search for the Time Travelers! Oz says he knows where they are . . . but does anybody know what finding the secrets of the Time Travelers will mean for Microspace . . . and for Earth."  Writer: Cullen Bunn.  Artist: Max Dunbar.

ROM #2  Writer Chris Ryall & Christos Gage. Artist David Messina:  IDW really knows how to assemble the right creative teams to produce respectful updates of all these licensed properties.  Pick your favorites of old, be it TMNT, GI JOE or something else and give these books a try.

From the catalog:  “EARTHFALL Part 2.  ROM is under attack by an entire town full of Dire Wraiths . . . but these Wraiths are far more powerful than any he’s ever faced before. How?  Why?  The answers await in tis issue . . if you dare.

TALES FROM THE DARKSIDE #3:  Writer Joe Hill developed several scripts for a revival of the classic Tales From The Parkside television show that never materialized.  Here they are adapted by Hill for comics, teaming him up once again with his artist partner from the LOCKE & KEY series, Gabriel Rodriguez.  

From the catalog:  “BLACK BOX, PART 2.  With his experimental brain surgery complete, Brian Newman hopes to finally take control of his life and the reality-bending powers that ruined it.  But his dark alter ego and the Briterside Organization have other plans, and they’re all headed on a one-way trip to the Darkside."