Written by Andy Diggle Art by Shawn Martinbrough Edited by Will Dennis, Jean Wacquet By Christophe Bec Purchase
What if you knew the world was about to end? What would you be willing to do, to save the people you love?
Darla Clemenceau has been plagued by apocalyptic visions, ever since she was abducted by a UFO as a child. Now, she’s ready to put it all behind her and move on with her life. But what if it’s all true? A dangerous cult militia is prepping for the end of the world, and they see Darla as the key to their survival…
Meanwhile, something alien is awakening on the dark side of the Moon, and the crew of the space shuttle Atlantis have a rendezvous with destiny…
Prométhée 13:13 by Andy Diggle and Shawn Martinbrough is a 96-page standalone sci-fi thriller, and a prequel to Prométhée — Christophe Bec’s best-selling, mind-bending graphic novel series.
Headed by veteran editor Will Dennis, with covers by fan-favorite artist Jock, Prométhée 13:13 is part of the comiXology Originals line of exclusive digital content only available on comiXology and Kindle. Read for free as part of your subscription to comiXology Unlimited, Kindle Unlimited or Amazon Prime. Also available for purchase via comiXology and Kindle.
ComiXology has eight new digital comics available for purchase right now. There’s a mix of what you can get including new digital comics from Marvel, Harlequin, and graphic novel from SelfMadeHero. Check out all of the releases here or the individual releases below.
Captain America And The Falcon: The Swine
Written by Jack Kirby Art by Jack Kirby Cover by Jack Kirby Purchase
Collects Captain America #206-214 and Annual #3-4.
The King keeps Cap’s quests coming with menaces from deep in space and deeper in the human soul! Even the evil of the Red Skull might pale before the fearsome Bio-Fanatic! Plus: Magneto and a rarely seen batch of evil mutants! Featuring the Falcon and Nick Fury of S.H.I.E.L.D.!
Fury: Peacemaker
Written by Garth Ennis Art by Darick Robertson Cover by Gary Frank Purchase
Collects Fury: Peacemaker #1-6.
Before he presided over S.H.I.E.L.D., before he ran with the Howling Commandos, Sgt. Nick Fury fought on the blood-stained sands of the Tunisian desert. It was there that he came face-to-face with the incomparable might of the 21st Panzer Division and its skilled warrior commander, General Stephen Barkhorn, and barely lived to tell about it. And it was there that he got a second chance at life – and revenge. In this gripping tale, Garth Ennis (GHOST RIDER, PUNISHER) and Darick Robertson (PUNISHER: BORN) offer a never-before-seen glimpse into the soul of a warrior you only think you know.
The Guardian’s Dilemma: The Steepwood Scandal
Written by Gail Whitiker Art by Chieko Hara Purchase
Schoolteacher Helen starts sweating the moment she sees Oliver, the guardian of a new student. She wonders if he remembers saving her all those years ago from her aristocratic employer’s wandering hands. Oliver remembers, all right, and can hardly believe an aristocrat’s prostitute could become a teacher! Does he dare leave his young stepsister in the care of this lewd woman?
The Maid Of Lorne
Written by Terri Brisbin Art by Kaishi Sakuya Purchase
During a revolt by the Scottish army against the king, Lara and her siblings are captured along with their father, the leader of their clan. By order of the king, Lara is forced to marry Sebastien, the king’s loyal subordinate. If she refuses, she and her family will be killed. On the verge of despair, she makes up her mind to fulfill her duty as the daughter of a clan leader. On their wedding night, Lara is terrified, but Sebastien treats her gently. She is surprised at first but ultimately follows his lead. But there is a secret behind his gentle demeanor…
Marvel Westerns
Written by Steve Englehart, Justin Gray, Karl Kesel, Joe R. Lansdale, Jim McCann, Jimmy Palmiotti, Jeff Parker, Dan Slott, Fred Van Lente Art by Homs, Eduardo Barreto, Tomm Coker, Carmine Di Giandomenico, Rafa Garres, Federica Manfredi, Jimmy Palmiotti, Marshall Rogers, David Williams Cover by Eric Powell, Marshall Rogers Purchase
Collects Marvel Westerns: The Two-Gun Kid, Marvel Westerns: Western Legends, Marvel Westerns: Kid Colt And The Arizona Girl, Marvel Westerns: Strange Westerns Starring The Black Rider, And The Marvel Westerns: Outlaw Files Handbook.
Marvel’s masked men ride again in all-new tales by a posse of today’s most talented creators! It’s the raucous return of Two-Gun Kid, Hurricane, Red Wolf, the Man From Fort Rango, Kid Colt, Arizona Annie, the Black Rider, Gunhawk and more! And introducing the Philadelphia Filly and Spender! Plus: re-presenting the origin of Rawhide Kid by Jack “King” Kirby and other classic Marvel Western tales.
Punisher: Very Special Holidays
Written by Andy Diggle, Justin Gray, Jimmy Palmiotti Art by Paul Gulacy, Kyle Hotz, Mark Texeira Cover by Mark Texeira Purchase
Collects Punisher: Red X-Mas, Punisher: Bloody Valentine And Punisher: Silent Night.
Spend the holidays with the Punisher! In RED X-MAS, ’tis the season – for revenge. Following an eight-casket funeral, a group of vengeful mob widows go holiday shopping for the perfect assassin to take down the man responsible – and enlist the services of the lovely and lethal Sicilian assassin known as Suspiria! In BLOODY VALENTINE, something sparks the little black pit in Frank Castle’s chest – the one that used to be a heart! Suspiria’s back, and she wants to kiss and make up. It seems the murderous pair have a mutual enemy, an arch-villain whose pursuit will take them to Suspiria’s home turf of Rome. Can Frank withstand his partner’s charms? Does he want to? And finally, are you ready for a little holiday cheer? No? Neither is Frank Castle. In SILENT NIGHT, he’s more interested in tracking down a mob rat in the witness protection program and punishing him. But to do that, he’ll have to face his greatest foe. Hint: He’s fat, dresses in red and sports a white beard!
Shanna, The She-Devil
Written by Frank Cho Art by Frank Cho Cover by Frank Cho Purchase
Collects Shanna The She-Devil #1-7.
She’s bold, she’s beautiful, and she’s your best hope of escaping the raptors nipping at your heels. She’s Shanna, the She-Devil! Award-winning creator Frank Cho brings you Marvel’s bodacious jungle girl as you’ve never seen her before: Reborn from Nazi science gone mad to battle her genetic destiny on an island full of prehistoric horrors. Trust us, Shanna has never looked this good…or acted this bad.
Emil Zátopek is arguably the greatest Olympic champion of all time. The Czech runner’s three gold medals at the 1952 Helsinki Summer Olympics, for the 5,000 meter, 10,000 meter, and marathon is an achievement that has never been matched. His success as a runner made him a national hero, but as a public figure, outspoken and unafraid to take a stand, he was equally impressive. Even before the Helsinki Games, Zátopek had scored a remarkable victory, successfully pressuring the Communist regime to allow his colleague Stanislav Jungwirth, who until then had been excluded on political grounds, to compete. In Zátopek, Jan Novák and Jaromír 99 trace the extraordinary life and times of the great Olympian, from his first meeting with Dana, the love of his life, to the victories that would ensure his lasting legacy.
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Dynamite has announced a new original James Bond graphic novel for release in February, incorporating contributions from a cavalcade of writers and artists to celebrate the timelessness of the character and the countless talented creators who have brought him to comics.
James Bond in “Reflections of Death” is a 128 page hardcover of nonstop thrills and intrigue. Several Dynamite Bond veterans return for this tapestry, including Benjamin Percy, Andy Diggle, and Greg Pak and the writers of the December-launching new ongoing series, Vita Ayala and Danny Lore. Stars of both Dynamite and comics at large Gail Simone and Mark Russell join the team as well. Artists enlisted for the mission include Luca Casalanguida, Robert Carey, Jordi Perez, Dean Kotz, Eoin Marron, and Kewber Baal. All wrapped up in another beautiful noir and pulp flavored cover by Fay Dalton.
With a framing story Ayala and Lore, over 20 total creators will collaborate to contribute stories that both stand on their own and tie into an overarching narrative. The central figure through the anthology of case files is Moneypenny. She’s been kidnapped. and the mystery of her captors and their demands will only be revealed when, or if, 007 is able to complete his missions. While Moneypenny herself may have some surprises up her sleeve.
Story by ANDY DIGGLE and ALEX PAKNADEL Script by ALEX PAKNADEL Art by DOUG BRAITHWAITE Colors by DIEGO RODRIGUEZ Letters by MARSHALL DILLON Cover by DOUG BRAITHWAITE $14.99 | 114 pgs. | T+ | On sale JULY 10th
The debut of Valiant’s biggest villain: the alien conqueror Imperatrix Virago!
The only thing standing in her way is the Eternal Warrior and Geomancer.
Can the duo of heroes protect the planet from a seemingly unstoppable extraterrestrial foe and her army of the undead?
Collecting the complete limited series, INCURSION #1-4.
In Incursion #4, it’s time for the boss battle: Eternal Warrior vs. Imperatrix Virago! Young Tama’s life hangs in the balance during this otherworldly battle. Will she survive, or will the Earth need to choose a new Geomancer? It’s the epic conclusion of Valiant‘s miniseries.
My first question when starting this comic was whether it would be as good as the previous issues. A series that has, for my money* has been one of the best things Valiant have published in awhile.
Incursion is about an alien ivader Imperatrix Virago. She’s a being who extends her life span by devouring the life energy of planets and uses reanimated corpses as her armies. She has fatally poisoned Tama, the Geomancer – the voice of the Earth; and the Eternal Warrior’s quest to save the Tama, and consequently the world.
But there’s a lot more to it than that; Incursion isn’t just a battle to save Tama’s life; it’s also a story about saving two souls. It’s a story about an immortal guardian and his mortal charge. But it’s also story about family.
The finale of this series gives us three or four stunning set pieces. Each had me at the edge of my seat for most of the twenty odd pages of the comic. It’s capped off with an epilogue that serves to tie up the story. It also sets the stage for Gilad Anni-Padda and the Earth going forward. In other words, Incursion #4 is one of the best concluding chapters to a miniseries that I have read from any publisher in some time; delivering on and frequently exceeding expectations in both the writing and art.
Andy Diggle and Alex Paknadel have crafted a wonderful story that will likely end up among my top five Valiant stories once I’ve given it some time to soak my brain after the third of fourth reading. The relationships between the protagonists, the oddly tender moments from Gilad and the line that had me grinning early in the comic that opened with “I’m Gilad…” were like the sprinkles on a chocolate strawberry. But that’s not to say that there isn’t any action here; as one would expect from the finale of any story featuring such brutal combat as Incursion, there are several great fight sequences within the comic.
The art, and the fight choreography, once again is phenomenal. Doug Braithwaite must be one of the most consistently brilliant artists in comics; his near photo-realistic facial expressions add a level of emotional understanding that you instinctively grasp; Braithwaite’s work means that Diggle and Paknadel don’t need to spoon feed you the story, which means that the words they use have a greater impact because of the lack of over saturation.
Incursion #4 rounds out a fantastic four issue series, one that keeps the stakes high in regarding the consequences of Gilad’s failure, but never once feels as though he has any choice but to act (almost) alone. I thoroughly enjoyed this story, and hope that we get to experience the next step on the Eternal Warrior and the Geomancer’s journey very soon.
Story: Andy Diggle and Alex Paknadel Art: Doug Braithwaite Colours: Diego Rodriguez and Leonardo Paciarotti Letters: Marshal Dillon Story: 9.5 Art: 9.5 Overall: 9.5 Recommendation: Buy
Valiant provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
*because despite getting access to the review pdfs I will still buy then floppies.
Story by ANDY DIGGLE and ALEX PAKNADEL Script by ALEX PAKNADEL Art by DOUG BRAITHWAITE Colors by DIEGO RODRIGUEZ Letters by MARSHALL DILLON Cover A by DOUG BRAITHWAITE Cover B by RENATO GUEDES B/W Cover by DOUG BRAITHWAITE On sale May 22nd, 2019 $3.99 | 32 pgs. | T+ | Full Color
It’s time for the boss battle: Eternal Warrior vs. Imperatrix Virago!
Young Tama’s life hangs in the balance during this otherworldly battle. Will she survive, or will the Earth need to choose a new Geomancer?
Doctor Mirage bravely stands against Imperatrix Virago in the final chapter of Alex Paknadel, Andy Diggle, and Doug Braithwaite‘s epic event! How will this Earth-shattering alien invasion wrap up, and what will it mean for the Eternal Warrior and Geomancer? Find out in the final chapter of Incursion,on sale May 22!
Story by ANDY DIGGLE AND ALEX PAKNADEL Script by ALEX PAKNADEL Pencils by DOUG BRAITHWAITE Colors by DIEGO RODRIGUEZ Letters by MARSHALL DILLON Cover A by DOUG BRAITHWAITE Cover B by RENATO GUEDES B/W Cover by DOUG BRAITHWAITE $3.99 | 32 pgs. | T+ | On sale May 22nd
It’s time for the boss battle: Eternal Warrior vs. Imperatrix Virago!
Young Tama’s life hangs in the balance during this otherworldly battle. Will she survive, or will the Earth need to choose a new Geomancer?
The cosmic and supernatural sides of the Valiant Universe collide on Earth! Oh my!
Having crossed over into the Deadside, the Eternal Warrior comes face to face with Syntilla, the young girl who poisoned Tama on behalf of her master. Will the Eternal Warrior save his young charge or will the world suffer another catastrophic loss? Meanwhile, Doctor Mirage and Hwen do their best to keep Tama alive. Will the doctors find the right medicine or will the young Geomancer perish before help arrives? There is only one world left to conquer…
In the interest of full disclosure, I actually went into this comic expecting it to be a touch lower in quality than the first two because the first half of this series was remarkable. I was wrong – so far three out of four issues of Incursion are rating at a Must Buy for me.
The broader story centers around Imperatrix Virago, a necromancer who devours the life energy of planets and uses reanimated corpses as her armies; and the Eternal Warrior’s quest to save the Geomancer – a young girl who has been poisoned by the Imperatrix from succumbing to the sickness that rages through her.
To do this, Gilad Anni-Padda cut through the Deadside and Virago’s legions to find the one person that could save the Geomancer. Incursion #3 diverges a little from the action packed second issue to bring us a little more exposition and fewer scenes where Gilad is hacking apart soldiers. The balance between the plot progression and the action is struck perfectly, with each serving to crank the tension of the series as a whole up higher and higher.
Andy Diggle and Alex Paknadel have crafted a story that is on pace to be one of the very best Valiant have to offer. Which brings me to an aspect of the comic that is unlikely to be missed; the dialogue between Gilad and Doctor Mirage. It’s incredibly well written, with each character clearly owning their own voice, culminating in an almost terrifying question for the Valiant universe (though the answer, one can argue, can be gleaned from The Valiant).
The art once again is phenomenal. Doug Braithwaite and Diego Rodriguez are a wonderfully complimentary pair, with each bringing their A game to a comic that has an ethereal beauty. There are fine details from Braithwaite that Rodriguez highlights that seem almost too subtle to be intentional. The look in Gilad’s eyes after his final confrontation (this issue) is oddly haunting. Once again, this comic is packed with subtle visual details that enhance the story.
With Incursion #3, Diggle and Paknadel et al have delivered upon the promise of the first half of the miniseries, and use the penultimate issue to set up an explosively powerful conclusion that could very well leave readers with something to think about long after the final page has been turned (speculation, obviously, but this series feel much more personal than it should given the stakes involved).
Incursion #3 is, once again a great comic. With one issue to go, there’s a better than average chance that this will be hailed as one of Valiant’s top offerings from the last couple of years.
Story: Andy Diggle and Alex Paknadel Art: Doug Braithwaite Colours: Diego Rodriguez Letters: Marshal Dillon Story: 9.3 Art: 9.5 Overall: 9.4 Recommendation: Buy
Valiant provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
Story by ALEX PAKNADEL & ANDY DIGGLE Script by ALEX PAKNADEL Art by DOUG BRAITHWAITE Colors by DIEGO RODRIGUEZ Letters by MARSHALL DILLION Cover A by DOUG BRAITHWAITE Cover B by PASQUALE QUALANO B/W Cover by DOUG BRAITHWAITE Pre-Order Edition Cover by TONCI ZONJIC On sale April 17th, 2019 $3.99 | 32 pgs. | T+ | Full Color
The cosmic and supernatural sides of the Valiant Universe collide on Earth! Oh my!
Having crossed over into the Deadside, the Eternal Warrior comes face to face with Syntilla, the young girl who poisoned Tama on behalf of her master. Will the Eternal Warrior save his young charge or will the world suffer another catastrophic loss? Meanwhile, Doctor Mirage and Hwen do their best to keep Tama alive. Will the doctors find the right medicine or will the young Geomancer perish before help arrives?
Entire planets have suffered and died at the cold, close-fisted hands of the alien Imperatrix Virago – and now her gruesome sights are set on our world. As Earth’s chosen protector, the Geomancer named Tama fights for her life, while the Eternal Warrior goes on the ultimate mission through the perilous realm of the Deadside to find the secret to saving her…and the entire planet in the process.
This is an exciting time for Valiant. The long anticipated The Life and Death of Toyo Harada is due to hit shelves any day now, Livewire is beginning to pick up steam, and The Forgotten Queen is looking to be a sleeper hit. But it’s Incursion that has this reviewer most excited; chiefly because it features Gilad Anni-Padda, the Eternal Warrior (though I can’t deny LADOTH isn’t high on my list, either).
Conveniently enough, Incursion is what we’re talking about today, and, spoiler alert, it’s pretty freaking great.
Andy Diggle and Alex Paknadel wasted no time in establishing the threat and setting the tone for the story in the first issue, and they keep the plot rolling here at a steady pace. Picking up almost immediately after the conclusion of the first issue, we follow Gilad as he seeks aid for Tama’s condition. The ensuing scenes show a subtly touchy (and touching) Gilad as he fusses over the young Geomancer, with his advanced years and experience showing through in an interesting, yet almost throwaway line about the sound of dry leaves over flagstones. Which brings me to an aspect of the comic that could easily be over looked; the dialogue between Gilad and Doctor Mirage. It’s incredibly well written, with each character clearly owning their own voice, culminating in an almost terrifying question for the Valiant universe (though the answer, one can argue, can be gleaned from The Valiant).
The reason the dialogue can be over looked so easily is because Doug Braithwaite and Diego Rodriguez are working with an almost symbiotic relationship – there are fine details from Braithwaite that Rodriguez highlights that seem almost too subtle to be intentional. The furrow in Gilad’s brow when he’s leaning over Tama, the concern in Doctor Mirage’s eyes… and the gradual scrapes and tears to Gilad’s clothing. Subtle details that add more to the story than you’d expect.
Up until this point, I’ve only been talking about the first nine pages of the comic; there’s a lot of comic here to dissect, a lot of comic to absorb – you certainly get a good bang for your buck here. The rest of the comic remains at a consistently high quality level, although there are moments of pure brilliance sprinkled throughout – whether it is from the art, the dialogue or the plot as a whole, this comic offers something very special.
If you wondered, you don’t need to be a Valiant fan to enjoy this story (of course, it helps). You can read this easily as a standalone story because the creative team are able to easily impart the depth of Gilad and Tama’s relationship and the weight it bears. The stakes in the comic are world-endingly high, but because the central pillar of the story is the relationship between Geomancer and the Eternal Warrior, the one against many nature of the story doesn’t seem out of place or conceited. It feels just right.
Incursion #2 is, once again a great comic. The series is on pace to end up as one of my very favorite Valiant stories – and certainly one of Valiant’s very best.
Story: Andy Diggle and Alex Paknadel Pencils: Doug Braithwaite Colours: Diego Rodriguez Letters: Marshal Dillon Story: 9.3 Art: 9.5 Overall: 9.4 Recommendation: Buy
Valiant provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
