The hype train for the Ghost Machine powerhouse line of comics keeps chugging with yet another pair of instant sell-outs and reprint orders for the wildly popular Rook: Exodus #1 by Geoff Johns and Jason Fabok and Redcoat #1by Johns and Bryan Hitch. The debut issues for each of these much-talked-about new series will be fast-tracked by Image Comics for reprint this week in order to keep up with increasing demand.
In Rook: Exodus, hundreds of years from now, the man known as Rook was once a simple farmer who fled the crumbling Earth for a new life on the planet Exodus; a terraformed planet where all of nature, including its imported animal population, was completely controlled by humans called Wardens. But when Exodus’s world engine failed, the Wardens’ power fell into the wrong hands, creating chaos and mass evacuation…for those who could afford it. The rest, like Rook, must scavenge for an escape vessel as the war for control of what’s left of Exodus begins.
In Redcoat, British redcoat and all-around rogue, Simon mysteriously became immortal in 1776 after a run-in with the clandestine cabal known as the Founding Fathers, which included George Washington, John Hancock, and many other prominent American Revolutionary War leaders. Since that fateful day, Simon has led a life of adventure and avarice, rubbing elbows (and sometimes fists) with many of history’s most renowned figures, including his nemesis Benedict Arnold, Albert Einstein, Annie Oakley, and many more. One thing they all agree on: they never want to see him again! But what are the true origins and extent of Simon’s power and the mysterious organization behind them? And how has it secretly shaped America and the world? Simon’s on a quest to find out!
Rook: Exodus #1, third printing (Lunar Code 0524IM812) and Redcoat #1, third printing (Lunar Code 0524IM811) will both be available at comic book shops on Wednesday, July 3.
Writer Rick Remender and comedian and writer Brian Posehn alongside artistic powerhouse Brett Parson and colorist extraordinaire Moreno Dinisio have a kickflip hit on their hands with last week’s buzzy debut of Grommets #1. This seven issue miniseries from Image Comics has instantly charmed readers with its slice-of-life, coming-of-age story and is being rushed back to print this week in order to keep up with escalating demand.
Like some of the best John Hughes movies, Grommets takes readers on an ’80s-infused journey of a young Rick starts a new school and tries desperately to find his place amongst the cliques of foul-mouthed high schoolers of the Sacramento suburbs. Skateboarding provides him with an opportunity to make some ‘cool’ new friends—but he soon finds out that they may not be as ‘cool’ as he (or they!) first thought.
Grommets is at once an authentic look at punk rock and skater culture and a snapshot of the generation that turned skating into a worldwide phenomenon. It’s a heartfelt story that follows two friends from troubled homes as they navigate their damage in an era when no one cared.
Grommets #1, second printing (Lunar Code 0524IM810) will be available at comic book shops on Wednesday, July 3.
Grommets #2 Cover A by Parson (Lunar Code 0424IM280) and Grommets #2 by Alex Riegel, 1:10 copy incentive (Lunar Code 0424IM281) will both be available at comic book shops on Wednesday, June 26.
From the creators of The Last Siege comes the slasher/psychotropic horror comic series The Butcher’s Boy, now collected in one paperback volume.Combining elements of Midsommar and The Evil Dead, this spine-tingling horror lurches from the minds of New York Times bestselling author Landry Q. Walker and artist Justin Greenwood. This volume collects issues #1-4 of The Butcher’s Boy, written by Walker and Pannel Vaughn, with art and cover art by Greenwood, interior and cover art colors by Brad Simpson, and letters by Pat Brosseau.
Deep within the backroads of the Pacific Northwest, an entire town fell victim to the brutal cleaver of the Butcher of La Perdita.
But that was more than a hundred years ago, and in that time the generational nightmare of murder and meat has been reduced to morbid clickbait folklore for bored travelers to share online.
And yet some say the Butcher still haunts the streets at night, seeking fresh meat for his larder. A true Lovecraftian horror? Or just the feverish dreams of a mentally unstable serial killer. Six friends on a road trip are about to find out…
The Butcher’s Boy(136 pages, 6.625×10.1875”, paperback) will be available January 7, 2025 in bookstores and January 8, 2024 in comic shops. It is available for pre-order now on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, TFAW and at your local comic shop and bookstore and will retail for $19.99.
Bestselling epic fantasy miniseries Bear Pirate Viking Queen, by award-winning storyteller Sean Lewis and talented newcomer artist Jonathan Marks Barravecchia, will be fully collected in a new trade paperback, hitting shelves in August from Image Comics.
The epic fantasy is a tale of the sea, of Pirates, Vikings, Queens, and bears, warring with each other and trying to assert dominance over the past and future of the world. Beautiful, poignant, and daring—readers embark on the adventure of a lifetime with a story by masterful writer Lewis and with mind-blowing hand-painted watercolor art by Barravecchia, resulting in a book unlike anything you’ve read. The first issue, a breakout hit, immediately sold-out at the distributor level and was rushed back for a second printing. Fans will now have the ability to read the whole series from start to finish in a brand new volume.
The Bear Pirate Viking Queen trade paperback (ISBN: 978-1-5343-8261-9, Lunar Code 0624IM264) will be available at local comic book shops on Wednesday, August 21 and independent bookstores, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, Indigo, and Waterstones on Tuesday, September 3.
Gerry Duggan and Garry Brown have a bonafide hit on their hands with the launch of, Falling in Love on the Path to Hell. This epic adventure has instantly swept readers off their feet and sold out completely at the distributor level. The reprint cover will be an eye-catching red—with a black, stamped look to the artwork—and will feature a white version of the title logo.
The sun set on samurai and gunslingers at roughly the same time in the 1870s—but Falling in Love on the Path to Hell’s two leads didn’t die off quietly. In Japan, Asami, an Onna-musha warrior and female samurai, would rather die with her weapons than surrender them to a sword hunt. In California, the gunslinger MacRaith follows his revenge to the bitter end and pays the ultimate price.
The unlikely pair are mortally wounded a world apart, but awake together in a purgatory ruled by a ruthless, nightmarish society of damned warriors.
Falling in Love on the Path to Hell #1, 2nd printing (Lunar Code 0424IM910) will be available at comic book shops on Wednesday, July 3.
Find out what’s coming to comic shops courtesy of Previews. As always, check with your local shop as to the availability of items.
Highlights for the week include:
Bear Pirate Viking Queen #2, Falling in Love on the Path to Hell #1, Precious Metal #1, Scarlett #1, The Walking Dead Deluxe #90, Profane #1, DC Pride: A Celebration of Rachel Pollack, My Adventures of Superman #1, The Boy Wonder #2, Get Fury #2, Ultimates #1, Wolverine: Blood Hunt #1, X-Men #35, Space Ghost #2, Beyond the Pale #1, Canto: A Place Like Home #1, Charred Remains #6, Cult of the Lamb #1, Kaiju No. 8 Vol. 10, Mammoth #1, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Alpha #1, and so much more.
After four years, the ninth and final chapter of Friday, by Ed Brubaker, Marcos Martin, and Muntsa Vicente, is now available on Panel Syndicate.
Will Friday make it back from the past? What is the White Lady’s secret plan for Kings Hill back in the present time? And what future awaits our heroes… if any? All will finally be revealed in this monster sized 54 page final chapter!
You can find the conclusion to the series at Panel Syndicate for whatever price you want to pay, including zero.
See what’s coming to comic shops this week courtesy of Previews. As always, check with your local shop as to the availability of items.
Highlights for the week include: Grommets #1, The Six Fingers #4, Universal Monsters: The Creature from the Black Lagoon Lives! #2, Pine and Merrimac #5, Batman: Dark Age #3, The Penguin #10, Black Panther: Blood Hunt #1, Hellverine #1, Midnight Sons: Blood Hunt #1, Rise of the Powers of X #5, Wolverine #50, X-Men: The Wedding Special #1, Beyond Real #4, Blitmap #4, Blood and Fire #1, Dawnrunner #3, Deathstalker #2, Ghostbusters: Back in Town #3, Jurassic Jeff Vol. 2 To Warp Speed, Roboforce #2, William of Newbury #1, and so much more.
This is it… this is the moment our horror one-shots have led to… THE CURSED LIBRARY! When we last left off in MADAM SATAN: HELL ON EARTH, Jinx has the former Queen of the Underworld trapped in the mysterious library, as her father-bestowed demon powers have intensified. To stop Jinx from becoming like her father, her best friend Danni Malloy must rescue and convince Madam Satan to guide her through Hell itself to find the one thing that can possibly save her friend’s soul––Jinx’s mom. Along the way, they’ll also discover a number of faces they’ve seen before, though only in the pages of the terrifying tomes within the cursed library. This three-issue limited series horror event tells a story about the bonds that tie us together and how the only thing that can save the world from evil is radical love. It’s Riverdale’s Return of the Jedi meets Dante’s Inferno. A three-part event that will close the door on the Cursed Library and usher in a whole new chapter of horror stories.
Script: Eliot Rahal, Magdalene Visaggio Art: Craig Cermak Colors: Matt Herms Letters: Jack Morelli Main Cover: Craig Cermak Variant Covers: Robert Hack, Soo Lee, Reiko Murakami On Sale Date: 8/21 32-page, full color comic $4.99 U.S.
KARDAK THE MYSTIC (ONE-SHOT)
All John Cardy ever wanted was to be recognized for his talents at magic tricks and sleight of hand. He’s talented, but not enough to get noticed for it until he comes across a (unbeknownst to him) cursed ruby. This ruby grants John the power of invisibility. As Kardak the Mystic, he performs feats no one else can with this magic. Unfortunately for him, going invisible isn’t just a trick of the eyes, but rather entering another realm parallel to our own. And something inside that realm wants to use Kardak to enter our world for dark purposes.
Script: Joe Corallo Art: Butch Mapa Colors: Ellie Wright Letters: Jack Morelli Main Cover: Butch Mapa Variant Cover: Skylar Patridge On Sale Date: 8/14 32-page, full color comic $3.99 U.S.
ARCHIE HORROR PRESENTS… TERRIFYING TALES (TPB)
Archie Comics continues to terrify with this collection of seven tales featuring final girls, grotesque gourmands, frightening fandom, summer camp slashers and more! TERRIFYING TALES is a feast for any horror-hungry fans, with everything from psychological thrillers to dimension-bending sci-fi. Madam Satan and Jinx are joined by Danni Malloy, Bingo Wilkin, and others in a true terror tour through the depths of Hell and back. Beware as you read horror stories from every corner of the Archie Universe! Featuring a retro, distressed cover by horror comic master Robert Hack. This collection includes the following one-shots: BETTY: THE FINAL GIRL, POP’S CHOCK’LIT SHOPPE OF HORRORS, THE CULT OF THAT WILKIN BOY, JINX: A CURSED LIFE, CAMP PICKENS, STRANGE SCIENCE, AND MADAM SATAN: HELL ON EARTH.
Script: Various Art: Various Cover: Robert Hack 979-8-88967-990-5 $17.99 US / $21.99 CAN 6 5/8 x 10 3/16” 160 pp, Full Color Direct Market On-Sale Date: 8/14
ARCHIE: THE DECISION (ONE-SHOT)
Archie. Finally. Decides. At long last, the answer to the question generations of fans have asked will be answered. Who will Archie choose? Betty or Veronica? Written by Eisner Award-winning comics scribe TOM KING and illustrated by Archie legend and fan-favorite artist DAN PARENT, this is the tale only they can tell. Everyone in Riverdale is waiting for his choice, and all of your favorites, from Josie & The Pussycats to Sabrina the Teenage Witch (and even Hot Dog!), are joining in the fun. No matter who you want him to choose, you DEFINITELY don’t want to miss this ALL-NEW, FULL-LENGTH story!
Script: Tom King Pencils: Dan Parent Inks: Bob Smith Colors: Rosario “Tito” Peña Letters: Jack Morelli Main Cover: Dan Parent w/ Rosario “Tito” Peña Variant Cover: Stephen Byrne On Sale Date: 8/28 32-page, full color comic $3.99 U.S.
BETTY AND ME #16 FACSIMILE EDITION
It’s the cover that snuck past the Comics Code Authority and would go on to spawn a million memes! Archie Comics is proud to present this highly sought after issue of BETTY AND ME #16 faithfully reprinted in a full-facsimile edition!
Script: Various Art: Various Cover: Dan DeCarlo On Sale Date: 8/7 32-page, full color comic $3.99 U.S.
ARCHIE’S SCARY STORIES (TPB)
More Halloween hijinks than you can shake a glow stick at in this spine-tingling collection of haunting tales. Come along with spirits TRICK and TREAT, as they guide you door to door, looking for fun! This collection is a must-have for the spooky holidays.
Script: Various Art: Various Cover: Dan Parent, Rosario “Tito” Peña 979-8-88967-992-9 $12.99 US / $16.99 CAN 6 x 9” 120 pp, Full Color Direct Market On-Sale Date: 8/21
ARCHIE JUMBO COMICS DIGEST #353
BRAND NEW STORY! In the fast-paced, ever-changing world of modern slang, how do you keep up with everyone’s spectacular vernacular? Join us for a lesson in today’s grooviest terms. (Kids still say groovy, right?)
Script: Timmy Heague Pencils: Bill Galvan Inks: Jim Amash Colors: Glenn Whitmore Letters: Jack Morelli Cover: Dan Parent, Rosario “Tito” Peña On Sale Date: 8/21 192-page, full color digest $9.99 U.S.
ARCHIE MILESTONES JUMBO COMICS DIGEST #25: JUGHEAD’S FUN FOR FALL
Riverdale’s foremost burger connoisseur trades his triple-decker dreams for spooktacular treats in tales guaranteed to give you goosebumps.
Script: Various Art: Various Cover: Dan Parent, Rosario “Tito” Peña On Sale Date: 8/7 192-page, full color digest $9.99 U.S.
BETTY AND VERONICA JUMBO COMICS DIGEST #327
BRAND NEW STORY! You’ve marveled at Betty as Superteen, and been thrilled by Veronica as Powerteen, but nothing could have prepared you for the dazzling first appearance of WONDER TEEN X. Who is she? You’ll have to read it to believe it!
Script: Tom DeFalco Pencils: Steven Butler Inks: Jim Amash Colors: Glenn Whitmore Letters: Jack Morelli Cover: Dan Parent, Rosario “Tito” Peña On Sale Date: 8/28 192-page, full color digest $9.99 U.S.
WORLD OF BETTY & VERONICA JUMBO COMICS DIGEST #34
BRAND NEW STORY! Let’s be honest, more Moose is always a good thing. Especially if we’re talking about Mini-Moose, the first appearance of the brand-new canine companion to Riverdale’s favorite jock. What could go wrong?
Script: Chris Cummins Art & Letters: Rex Lindsey Colors: Glenn Whitmore Cover: Dan Parent, Rosario “Tito” Peña On Sale Date: 8/14 192-page, full color digest $9.99 U.S.
Mutantkind no longer has Krakoa, but they still have the X-Men!
Over the last few months, new series announcements have revealed what awaits in the X-Men’s From the Ashes era. Set around—and beyond—the globe, the upcoming titles see new teams assemble to take on emerging threats to mutankind, beloved characters fulfill their long-awaited destiny as solo heroes, and other groups of mutants come together to survive a world that fears them now more than ever. They may share the same dream, but they have different missions. Harkening back to classic X-Men storytelling while embracing the franchise’s modern evolution, From the Ashes is an exciting fresh start for longtime fans and newcomers alike!
Get a peek ahead at what’s to come in these first set of launches in August.
NYX #2
Written by COLLIN KELLY & JACKSON LANZING Art by FRANCESCO MORTARINO On sale: August 28, 2024
FROM THE SHADOWS COMES WOLVERINE!
Every day, mutants are being stolen off the streets of Manhattan – unprotected and forgotten by the human world. Now a war-worn Wolverine will descend into NYC’s criminal underworld to bring them back into the light. Who is the mysterious mutant fixer known only as Local? Can Laura stand alone against the dangerous forces working to control the future of New York’s mutants? What reality-bending threat waits in the night, already ten steps ahead? The shadows of NYX are calling. What secrets will you find lurking in that neon darkness?
PHOENIX #2
Written STEPHANIE PHILLIPS Art by ALESSANDRO MIRACOLO On sale: August 21, 2024
FAMILY REUNION IN THE FAR REACHES OF SPACE!
Jean Grey is dedicated to protecting innocents in deep space! Yes, space is vaster than imagination, greater and darker than the mind can comprehend – and yet, not big enough to stop family from dropping by without warning… But that’s how it goes when your father-in-law is Corsair of the Starjammers! Leaving the pirate life behind, he’s got the inside line on huge news, and Phoenix is the only one who can act to save untold lives – that is, if she can believe he’s telling the truth…
X-FORCE #2
Written by GEOFFREY THORNE Art by MARCUS TO On sale: August 28, 2024
WARFARE IN WAKANDA!
Forge leads X-Force in their new, custom Blackbird to the next world fracture in Wakanda. But as the ground literally changes under their feet, the team will have to stop…the Black Panther?! That can’t be right, can it?! And what secret is bubbling under the surface that just might tear the X-Force team asunder?
X-MEN #2
Written by JED MACKAY Art by RYAN STEGMAN On sale: August 14, 2024
INVASION!
The X-Men fly to the rescue of a mutant in crisis in San Francisco. The problem? Alien invaders seem to have a similar idea. Six X-Men vs. an invading alien fleet? Sounds about right.
X-MEN #3
Written by JED MACKAY Art by RYAN STEGMAN On sale: August 28, 2024
SCOTT SUMMERS VS. THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!
How did the X-Men come to possess their HQ, the Factory, and how difficult a position does that put them in? As Cyclops meets the implacable Agent Lundqvist, the X-Men come to find that their new home may not be as secure as they had thought…