June 2016 PREVIEWS Pre-Order Picks: DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT, DEVIL"S DUE, 451

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.

DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT  Page 321+  http://www.dynamite.com/htmlfiles/

JAMES BOND #9:  Warren Ellis writer, Jason Masters artist.  We read the first story arc and were impressed with the job Ellis has done capturing the essence of James Bond, as well as the cinematic style employed to tell the story.  If you are a fan of this character, you need to investigate this series.  You can probably still order a copy of Issue #7 and 8, which began the new story, from your local comic store.

From the catalog:  “Eidolon, Part Three”. Bond is sent to breach a secret base in the depths of England, alone, without back-up and fully deniable: a place from Cold War history, with only one way in and one way out, while the forces of security services all over the world are seemingly ranged against MI6, and all Bond has is his gun and a few pieces of a bloody, dark puzzle . . .”  (Editor’s Note: That has to be the longest one sentence description in some time!)

RED TEAM: DOUBLE TAP, CENTER MASS #2 of 9:  Garth Ennis, writer.  Craig Cermak, artist.  The first Red Team series from Ennis was grim and realistic, dealing with a team of homicide investigators dealing out their own justice.  A very good crime story. We look forward to reading more here. Sorry to suggest this when it’s already one issue into the story, but you should be able to order Issue #1 (to be released in July)  from your local comic store.

From the catalog: “Once Eric Nightingale starts talking, Eddie and Trudy realize just how big a case this could be — and how far it could take them.  But these are dangerous waters, and soon our heroes will be risking a lot more than just their careers."

SEDUCTION OF THE INNOCENT Trade Paperback (collects Issues #1-4)  Andre Parks, writer.  Estelle Polls, art. Francesco Francavilla, cover.  A great crime noir story, harking back to the glory days of EC and crime comics.

From the catalog: “FBI Agent Thomas Jennings has just arrived in San Francisco, fresh-faced and ready to tackle crime in the big city . . . but he’s not nearly prepared for what he’s about to encounter.  The city’s crime lords are being systematically murdered, and those responsible are the stuff of his nightmar
es.  In a desperate race to end the spree killing and rescue two targeted and helpless children, Jennings will be forced to question every belief he holds dear  . . and struggle to hold onto his humanity."

DEVIL’S DUE / 1FIRST COMICS  page 340+  http://www.devilsdue.net

SQUARRIOR VOLUME 2: SUMMER #2 Ash Maczko writer. Ashley Witter, artist.  If you have not yet seen the amazing art of Ashley Witter, you are in for a real treat.  Even though this story is one issue in, you can pick it up and follow the story and get familiar with the characters with a little more effort  You definitely need to sample this.  You’ll probably want to order the first volume after you see the dynamic illustrations.

From the catalog: “The Maw and Amoni begin their march to the Tin Kin compound, Tree Jump and Crash retrace Pasha’s Southern journey, and the Tin Kin must decide whether to shelter or refuse a group of unusual refugees."

451 MEDIA GROUP  page 355+   http://www.4five1.com

NVRLND #1  Writer Stephanie Saiyers & Dylan Mulick. Illustrator Leila Leiz.:  This title definitely caught our eye. While we haven’t sampled any full series from the relatively new 451 yet, this could be the title that gets the ball rolling.  An interesting spin on the story of Peter Pan.

From the catalog:  “NVRLND (Neverland) is a dark and magical re-telling of PETER PAN set in the present-day landscape of Hollywood.  Wallflower turned wild child Wendy Darling befriends the fiery Tiger Lily and falls into the music rave scene of the underground club NVRLND.  Intoxicated by the music Wendy falls for the enigmatic Peter, lead singer of the band The Lost Boys.  Peter is everything a girl could desire: handsome, daring and reckless.  Wendy discovers that Peter is mixed up with the mysterious tattoo artist James Hook, who preys upon the young who flock to Peter, “hooking” them on the new designer drug, Pixie Dust.  

You think you may know the truth about NVRLND but the truth is you know nothing.  NVRLND is a story for anyone who never wants to grow up . . . but may not live long enough to have a choice