July 2016 PREVIEWS Pre-Order Picks: DARK HORSE, DC COMICS

EDITOR’S NOTE:  Last month we started a new feature, looking through the monthly PREVIEWS catalog and highlighting some books we feel are worthy of your attention.  It became a massive task, as there were a large number of books from various publishers that needed to be singled out.  But not an exhausting task.  We feel invigorated and excited about the diversity and creativity currently prevalent in today’s comics.  We also feel that by identifying specific books - - our readers obtain additional insight into the types that appeal to us, and are better able to judge what books would interest them. 

Since we’ve already singled out our favorites last month, we are going to pare down that mountainous list this month and concentrate on brand new titles or series.  That should make the list more manageable.  We’re not going to list something just because it’s a #1 issue or it's a “ rebirth".  We expect the title to bring something new or different to the table, based on what we know about the concept and/or the creators.

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.

DARK HORSE COMICS:

THE STRAIN:MISTER QUINLAN-VAMPIRE HUNTER #1: Mini-series. David Latham writer.  Edgar Salazar pencils. Quinlan is one of the most intriguing and fascinating characters among the various players in The Strain fiction trilogy as well as the television series. With an edgy writer like David Latham at the helm, this promises to be as grisly, gritty and gory as the book and FX series. Going back to the beginnings/origin of Mr. Quinlan.  Looking forward to this. . . . .

From the PREVIEWS catalog: "A vampiric abomination seeks to destroy the monster that sired him.  Born as a mistake of a powerful vampire known as the Master and raised in the brutal gladiatorial arenas of ancient Rome, Mr. Quinlan must survive long enough to carry out his mission when his target begins hunting him."

RISE OF THE BLACK FLAME #1 of 5  Mike Mignola and Chris Roberson writers. Christopher Mitten art. Mini-series.  Mignola has built up such an incredible body of work with his Hellboy universe, especially the creation of the B.P.R.D.  Here is the origin of their greatest foe.  That’s more than enough for us!

From the PREVIEWS catalog: “Young girls are going missing from the cities of Siam, and the trail leads to the jungle hideout of a bloodthirsty cult wielding an ancient evil power - - the Cult of the Black Flame." 

DC COMICS:

DOOM PATROL #1:  Written by Gerard Way.  Art by Nick Derington. DOOM PATROL has always been one of the quirkiest books in the DC line-up. It started out as DC’s answer to the original X-Men and moved on from there.  Writer Grant Morrison took it in an entirely different direction in a later volume, a series that many have said is one of their favorites, and the book that brought them back into reading comics again. Let’s see if Gerard Way can restore the magic in this new version.  

From the PREVIEWS catalog:  “The atoms are buzzing.  The daydreams crowd sentient streets, and the creative team has been warned, ’Turn back now or suffer the mighty consequences of sheer, psycho-maniacal mayhem.’  Generation-arsonists unite — this is DOOM PATROL, and the God of the Super Heroes is bleeding on the floor.

A blenderized reimagining of the ultimate series of the strange, DOOM PATROL combines elements from classic runs, new directions, and things that could not be.  Our entry point is Casey Brinke, a young EMT on the graveyard shift to abstract enlightenment, with a past so odd that she’s not entirely sure what is real and what is not.  Along with her partner, Sam Reynolds, the pair blaze a path through the city and its denizens, finding the only quiet that exists at 3 a.m. is the chaos of the brain.  When the pair answer a hit-and-run call, they find themselves face-to-face with a familiar figure: Cliff Steele, a.k.a. Robotman.

‘It gets weirder from here,’ writer Gerard Way says about the book, with artist Nick Derington gripping tightly on the wheel of the ambulance. The pair’s only communication?  Shouting out of the open windows while at high velocity.  Who needs a new roommate?  Who names a cat ‘Lotion’?  And when do we get to see all those muscles?"  

TRINITY #1  Written by Francis Manapul. Art by Francis Manupul.   Superman. Batman. Wonder Woman. Three icons team up.  This hasn’t been done for awhile.  Looking for some more of the magic to return. Keeping our fingers crossed . . . . . .

From the PREVIEWS catalog:  “Better Together, part 1. Together again for the first time!  Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman.  The core of the World’s Greatest Heroes . . . but with a new Man of Steel, the bonds these three share will be tested and redefined by super-star writer/artist Francis Manapul.  In this premiere issue, see the trio travel from Metropolis to Gotham City and beyond to learn what forces launched their heroic careers. But how will this journey of discovery led them to a new threat?"