Event Horizon: Inferno #4
(W) Christian Ward (A) Robert Carey
Demons stalk the halls of the starship Event Horizon! Powered by the collective trauma of the space marines aboard, the ship has made itself a microcosm of Hell. Witness head-bursting aliens, Old Testament demons, and…who is this figure that arrives in the form of a spider?
This issue: Learn the story of the Event Horizon…as told by the ship itself!
Sonic the Hedgehog #88
(W) Evan Stanley, Iasmin Omar Ata (A) Adam Bryce Thomas
With a storm raging against Angel Island, Sonic and his friends are in a fight for their lives! Trapped underground and separated from his friends, Sonic finds himself face-to-face with — wait — that’s not Amy?
As something terrifying happens beneath the ground, on the surface, Knuckles and Tails brave the violent storm ripping through Angel Island — although they have their own foe to deal with.
Can our heroes persevere through the chaos and keep everyone safe? Or will these mysterious figures claim another emerald… or even a life?
TMNT: Journeys #12
(W) Peter Laird (A) Jim Lawson
With Master Splinter gone, Leonardo, Michelangelo, and Donatello will go their separate ways to pursue new missions and new beginnings in their lives. Raphael will stay behind…and a new vampiric danger will come find him! Meanwhile, as April recovers, she dives deep into her past and makes shocking discoveries!
The fittingly named The Horror of Godzilla is an eco-horror take on the original 1954 Godzilla film from Ethan S. Parker, Griffin Sheridan, Tristan Jones, and Josh Burcham that also acts as an origin story for the kai-sei energy that has defined this era of Godzilla comics. I’ve definitely fallen behind on the current Godzilla comics, but thankfully this is set decades in the past and is easy to jump in with even the most cursory knowledge of the King of Monsters. Similar to the excellent Shin Godzilla film, The Horror of Godzilla #1 jumps from biblical destruction to board room arguments plus there’s a missing scientist. It explores the time-honored theme of the folly of humanity and science in the face of natural forces as a plan for renewable energy backfires big time.
The art team of Jones and Burcham are in full multi-genre mode in their visual storytelling going from massive full page shots of Godzilla and the damage he’s caused to Tokyo to grey tone, almost handheld camera style of panel angles for folks trying to flee the city at all costs. Josh Burcham’s color palette has an apocalyptic drabness to it, but there are interjections of green representing the kai-sei that Godzilla secretes and has terrible consequences for anyone who comes into contact with it. It’s a leit motif that appears on almost every page of the comic culminating in a full-on body horror/mutation moment. There’s something truly sinister about this incarnation of Godzilla, and Parker and Sheridan back this up in the scientist Dr. Morrison’s dialogue when she talks about how Godzilla isn’t a hungry animal, but destruction personified. The Horror of Godzilla #1 isn’t an action book ; there’s not fighting back, just running and scrambling to figure out the situation.
But, despite being surrounded by disasters, Morrison is still optimistic about kai-sei energy’s ability to save the world from Godzilla and high energy bills. She’s a Baby Boomer optimist trapped into the most pessimistic story. I don’t think there’s a single positive panel in The Horror of Godzilla #1. Morrison might say that she has a plan, but then Ethan S. Parker, Griffin Sheridan, and Tristan Jones cross cut to an old man covered in green goo. The government committee during her hearing is quite confrontational, but from an in-story perspective, she screwed up on an extinction event level so, of course, they’re not going to be the most sympathetic audience. Jones effectively uses close-ups to show how drained and traumatized she is from her actions, and how basically the entire world is up a creek without a paddle. Plus it’s easier to find a scapegoat than a solution.
The Horror of Godzilla #1 is a reactive, harrowing peek into the origin of the more than a little post-apocalyptic universe. Parker, Sheridan, Jones, and Burcham transform Godzilla into something genuinely scary that effects humanity beyond just knocking down buildings and causing mass panic in the streets. To be honest, the victims are creepier than the monster, and at this stage in the game, no one has any answers, which makes the comics that more compelling. As an enthusiast of both kaiju and slasher stories, The Horror of Godzilla really hit the sweet spot for me.
Story: Ethan S. Parker, Griffin Sheridan Art: Tristan Jones
Colors: Josh Burcham Letters: Tom Napolitano
Story: 7.8 Art: 8.6 Overall: 8.2 Recommendation: Buy
IDW Publishing provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
Purchase: Zeus Comics – Kindle
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Saturday Morning Adventures #39
(W) Erik Burnham (A) Sarah Myer
It’s chaos as Scumbug returns to get revenge on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles with a brand-new secret weapon—the energy vampire, Wyrm! Wyrm’s power is potent, and the Turtles know they can’t face off against it alone. The solution? A secret weapon of their own! But what could stand up to Wyrm and his terrible abilities? Would you believe…Muckman? Well, you’d better! It’s one stinky superhero to the rescue in the latest issue of Saturday Morning Adventures!
The Horror of Godzilla #1
(W) Ethan S. Parker, Griffin Sheridan (A) Tristan Jones
A terrifying look at Godzilla’s first attack!
Tokyo, 1954. As the country begins to look toward its postwar future, two scientists start an experiment in the Pacific Ocean. It is meant to change everything…and it will. Come now, reader, and bear witness to the incredible horror of the King of the Monsters. There are no heroes. There are no survivors. There is only the wrath of Godzilla.
This standalone four-issue miniseries serves as a prequel to the Kai-Sei Era while also being perfect for fans of Godzilla: Minus One, Shin Godzilla, and Godzilla (1954). Written by rising star authors Griffin Sheridan and Ethan S. Parker (Marvel Zombies, Kill Your Darlings) and illustrated by one of the best horror artists of all time, Tristan Jones (Event Horizon, Aliens), this comic experience puts you on the ground during the kaiju’s first attack. And as readers will soon discover, they’ve never seen a Godzilla attack quite like this one before…
Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees is delivering a trilogy when the third volume of the hit horror series kicks off in February 2027. Patrick Horvath returns to the award winning series with Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees: The Summer and Fall which will be released by IDW Publishing‘s horror imprint, IDW Dark.
The series has followed Samantha Strong, who lives in a small town running the local hardware store. She’s also a serial killer. The first volume focused on her crimes almost being revealed while the second leaped ahead a few years to the dawn of the internet and bulletin boards where Sam connected with the sister of one of her victims.
Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees: The Summer and Fall jumps ahead to 2004 where small-town America has died, there’s a forever war in the Middle East and Strong, who was once the most wanted person in the country, has now faded into obscurity. Now in her 60s, she’s attempting to live a quiet life off the grid and kills when there’s an opportunity. Will she be recognized and her peace broken?
Before that series kicks off, an Artist’s Edition of Horvath’s original painted work is on sale July 28 and an anthology Halloween Special featuring different creators releases in October.
Heaven is real… and it’s worse than Hell. Eisner Award-winning writer Christian Ward – the architect behind the bestselling Event Horizon prequel and sequel comics at IDW Publishing’s hit horror imprint IDW Dark – presents the jaw-dropping final chapter in his acclaimed trilogy.
Joined by master of horror artist Hernán González, Event Horizon: Pandemonium brings chaos and terror to comic shops this December. The haunting world of Paramount Pictures’ Event Horizon expands into other dimensions as familiar faces from the nightmarish saga reunite for a finale full of shocking twists and turns.
The Chaos Realm has taken over the comic book industry and it’s easier than ever to catch up on the celebrated stories. The complete prequel tale, Event Horizon: Dark Descent, goes on sale July 28 everywhere books are sold. The sequel series, Event Horizon: Inferno, is currently releasing, with the first three issues on sale now in comic shops and issue #4 releasing August 5.
Pre-orders for Event Horizon: Pandemonium are due October 19.
A new wave of Turtle fandom is coming to comic shops in 2027. When the best-selling Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT) flagship series reaches issue #25 in 2027, current writer Gene Luen Yang will pass the bo staff to award-winning writer Matthew Rosenberg and amazing artist Juann Cabal. While the acclaimed writer is no stranger to playing in Marvel and DC’s sandbox, it’s the indie space where he has truly thrived and made an unforgettable impact on the comic industry. Rosenberg, a lifelong resident of the Turtles’ very own New York City, is bringing this same energy to the Heroes in a Half-Shell. Prepare for a thrilling story as the greatest roster of villains, both new and old, have assembled to hunt down the Turtles over the course of a single night.
The best-selling saga The Last Ronin returns to comic shops next summer for its epic finale and will leave fans feeling shellshocked. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin III – Return for New York reunites the legendary original creative team – Kevin Eastman, Tom Waltz, Isaac & Esau Escorza, Ben Bishop, Luis Antonio Delgado, and Shawn Lee – for the can’t-miss conclusion of their grand plans for the Roninverse and its new heroes Casey Marie Jones, Odyn, Moja, Uno, and Yi.
More big reveals will leap out of the shadows later this year about IDW’s exciting plans for Turtles comics in 2027. In the meantime, the massive milestone issue Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #300 – which kicks off the first part of the blockbuster story ‘The City That Never Dies’ – and the action-packed oversized one-shot TMNT: The Last Ronin – Training Day are available now at comic shops.
Godzilla vs. America: San Diego #1
(W) Stan Sakai, Greg Petre (A) Stan Sakai, Fake Petre
Godzilla returns to the Golden State to smash through the country’s biggest comic book convention in this oversize one-shot! What’s the biggest thing coming to Comic-Con this year? Comic book and movie announcements? Nope. Comic creators, cosplayers, and celebrities? No! Rising from the depths of San Diego Bay is the king of the monsters, ready for its destructive photo op. Move over, Hall H—this year, all eyes are on Hall G.
Join Godzilla as it takes on a roster of San Diego Comic-Con all-stars. Sorry, folks, but Godzilla doesn’t wait in line. Featuring stories by Stan Sakai (Usagi Yojimbo), Greg & Fake (Santos Sisters), and more!
