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The Devil’s Cut is DSTLRY’s debut but is it enough to excite?

Posted on August 30, 2023 by Brett

The Devil’s Cut is your introduction to DSTLRY, a new publisher redefining creator-owned comics. In the aging process, the whiskey that evaporates is called the Angel’s Share. But the most potent spirits are captured in the wood-the Devil’s Cut. This is The Devil’s Cut-unfiltered stories from the most fearless creators, offering a distinct taste of the quality to come. 72 oversized pages printed on premium paper. This kick-off issue will never be reprinted in this format again.

Estimated release: August 30, 2023

Writer: James Tynion IV, Marc Bernardin, Elsa Charretier, PK Colinet, Stephanie Phillips, Mirka Andolfo, Jock, Brian Azzarello, Scott Snyder, Jamie McKelvie, Ram V, Becky Cloonan, Tula Lotay
Art: Christian Ward, Ariela Kristantina, Elsa Charretier, Joelle Jones, Mirka Andolfo, Jock, Eduardo Risso, Francesco Francavilla, Jamie McKelvie, Lee Garbett, Becky Cloonan, Tula Lotay
Color: Lee Loughridge, Nick Filardi
Letterer: Aditya Bidikar, Bernardo Brice, Clayton Cowles, Lucas Gattoni, Fabio Amelia, Jared K. Fletcher, Andworld Design, Richard Starkings
Localization: Steve Orlando
Story Assistant: Tyler Jennes

Get your copy now! To find a comic shop near you, visit http://www.comicshoplocator.com or call 1-888-comicbook or digitally and online with the links below.

TFAW
Zeus Comics

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Preview: The Devil’s Cut

Posted on August 28, 2023 by Graphic Policy Team

The Devil’s Cut

(W) Mirka Andolfo, Brian Azzarello, Marc Bernardin, Elsa Charretier, Becky Cloonan, Tula Lotay, Jamie McKelvie, Stephanie Phillips, Scott Snyder, James TynionIV, V. Ram (A) Elsa Charretier, Becky Cloonan, Francesco Francavilla, Lee Garbett, Jo?lle Jones, Ariela Kristantina, Tula Lotay, Jamie McKelvie, Junko Mizuno, Eduardo Risso, Christian Ward (A/CA) Jock
In Shops: Aug 30, 2023
SRP: $9.99

The Devil’s Cut is your introduction to DSTLRY, a new publisher redefining creator-owned comics. In the aging process, the whiskey that evaporates is called the Angel’s Share. But the most potent spirits are captured in the wood-the Devil’s Cut.

This is The Devil’s Cut-unfiltered stories from the most fearless creators, offering a distinct taste of the quality to come. 88 oversized pages printed on premium paper, featuring a flight of high-proof work from our Founding Creators including Scott Snyder, James Tynion IV, Tula Lotay, Mirka Andolfo, Jock, Becky Cloonan, Brian Azzarello, Marc Bernardin, Elsa Charretier, Lee Garbett, Joelle Jones, Stephanie Phillips, Ram V, Jamie McKelvie, Junko Mizuno and friends including Francesco Francavilla, Ariela Kristantina, Eduardo Risso, Christian Ward, and more. Edited by the legendary Will Dennis.

This kick-off issue will never be reprinted in this format again.

All covers full wraparounds.

By Crom! Conan the Barbarian #1 delivers an action packed debut

Posted on August 2, 2023 by Brett

Years after the battle of Venarium, a weary Conan returns to his homeland to seek rest and solitude. However, a mysterious scout rides in to warn the Cimmerians of an imminent threat on the march from the Pictish wilderness. Will Conan and his new ally be able to hold off this new horde of invaders? Conan the Barbarian #1 is a fantastic debut feeling like a continuation of the great stories that have come before.

Written by Jim Zub, Conan the Barbarian #1 is the latest start in comics for the classic character. While the story might be knew, its look and feel are classic Conan. For those who have been fans of previous comic volumes, you should find plenty to like with this debut.

Zub is a master at swords and sorcery and it should be no surprise to those who know his work that he nails the debut. We’re introduced to a much younger Conan, in his mid-20s, fresh off of adventure and not happy with the leadership he’s dealt with. Zub plants a flag that this a Conan who is and is not a leader. One that you would follow to the ends of the earth but at the same time wouldn’t want to be in that position. He fights for what he sees is right and standing up for what’s right and others, though never wanting that recognition. Conan, Zub shows, is a complicated character in many ways. He should be leading and would be great at it, but doesn’t want to. He sees himself as doing what must, and should, be done.

Before him lays a challenge of a horde of individuals, possessed by unknown dark magic that turns them into zombie like beings. While it’d be easy to just make it zombies, that doesn’t quite seem to be the case, delivering a take that’s more than just Conan vs. undead hordes. With a new companion, he’s faced with a dilemma as to what to do and where to turn for the manpower to turn the tide and end the wave of destruction.

The art by Rob De La Torre is fantastic. With color by Jose Villarrubia and lettering by Richard Starkings, the comic looks like it’d fit right into the Conan comics that have come before. But, there’s something slightly different to this, the page layouts give it all a slightly more modern feel and flow. There’s beautiful double-page spreads and amazing use of space in the page layout. It all comes together for a comic that’s a perfect match of story and style.

I had high expectations going into Conan the Barbarian #1. Somehow it met all of them and then some. This is a hell of a debut and new chapter for the classic character that will hopefully launch adventures of this quality for many years to come.

Story: Jim Zub Art: Rob De La Torre
Color: Jose Villarrubia Letterer: Richard Starkings
Story: 8.75 Art: 9.0 Overall: 8.9 Recommendation: Buy

Titan Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: TFAW – Zeus Comics – Kindle

Superman: The Last Days of Lex Luthor #1 is guilt the comic book

Posted on July 26, 2023 by Brett

Lex Luthor is dying, and he wants the Man of Steel to help him find the cure for whatever is causing his rapid decline. While the world would rather see Lex die, Superman: The Last Days of Lex Luthor #1 highlight’s Superman’s greatest strength, his compassion.

Written by Mark Waid, Superman: The Last Days of Lex Luthor #1 is an interesting debut with a nice setup and taking us through the first steps to trying to find someone who’s sick a treatment. There’s something methodical about it all. But, that aspect is driven by humanity and compassion as Waid also flashes back to the childhood of Clark and Lex and their experiences together. What we find is a guilt from Clark that has stayed with him all of these years.

It’s an interesting comic that is a tour of Clark/Superman and Lex’s relationship through the years. It hints at what drives some of how Superman treats the villain, a feeling of guilt. Juxtaposed to the world’s reaction of Lex’s condition, it’s an overall interesting concept and start to things and is far more than it’s tour for a cure that it feels like at times. Add in a reoccurring messianic concept, the comic delivers a lot to chew on.

The art by Bryan Hitch is good. Overall Hitch’s art for me is hit and miss but here there’s some really nice spreads and panels and there’s a subtle emotional aspect to it all that captures what Waid is going for. Hitch is joined by Kevin Nowlan on ink and David Baron on color. Richard Starkings and Tyler Smith handle the lettering. The visuals are interesting overall, with a muted, almost dialed back aspect to it that matches the borderline dirge of a story. Grand visuals would belie the basic concept of the comic.

Superman: The Last Days of Lex Luthor #1 is an intriguing start to a comic. It’s more about Clark and Lex’s relationship over the years than finding a cure. It’s a comic about how our past can impact us decades later and shapes who we are and what we do. Mixed with a nice look overall, it’s an interesting take on a relationship we’ve seen explored many times before.

Story: Mark Waid Art: Bryan Hitch
Ink: Kevin Nowlan Color: David Baron Letterer: Richard Starkings, Tyler Smith
Story: 8.25 Art: 8.15 Overall: 8.25 Recommendation: Buy

DC Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: TFAW – Zeus Comics – Kindle

The Devil’s Cut is DSTLRY’s debut but is it enough to excite?

Posted on July 25, 2023 by Brett

Estimated release: August 30, 2023

Get your copy now! To find a comic shop near you, visit http://www.comicshoplocator.com or call 1-888-comicbook or digitally and online with the links below.

TFAW

Eric Powell, Mike Mignola, Becky Cloonan, and James Harren team for Terrifying Tales for Christmas

Posted on July 7, 2023 by Graphic Policy Team

This December, Dark Horse Books presents Four Gathered on Christmas Eve, four stories from four renowned comics creators: Eric Powell, Mike Mignola, Becky Cloonan, and James Harren. Powell will be illustrating his story and James Harren’s with the rest of the writers also illustrating their own stories. Eric Powell and Dave Stewart will be coloring the anthology with letters by Richard Starkings.

Four beloved comics storytellers come together to continue the Victorian tradition of sharing ghost stories on Christmas Eve. They will spin tales of the bizarre and terrifying to keep readers company on a cold Yule night. This is a unique approach to the ghost story format where the creators themselves become part of the story, presented in a deluxe hardcover designed by the award-winning Phil Balsman.

Four Gathered on Christmas Eve (72 pages, 6.25 x 9.25”) arrives in bookstores December 12, 2023 and into comic shops December 13, 2023. It is now available to pre-order for $24.99 at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and your local comic shop and indie bookstore.

Comics

DSTLRY Announces 8 new series spinning out of The Devil’s Cut

Posted on July 2, 2023 by Graphic Policy Team

DSTLRY has announced that eight of the 11 stories contained in The Devil’s Cut will continue as series in the fall of 2023 and throughout 2024, making The Devil’s Cut an instant collector’s item and key issue.

The eight stories from The Devil’s Cut that will be expanded into full DSTLRY series include:

“Spectregraph” by James Tynion IV, Christian Ward, and Aditya Bidikar
“Shepherd” by Marc Bernardin, Ariela Kristantina, Lee Loughridge, and Bernardo Brice
“8 Rules to Make It Out in One Piece” by Elsa Charretier, PK Colinet, Nick Filardi, and Clayton Cowles
“A Blessed Day” by Mirka Andolfo, Fabio Amelia, Arancia Studio, and Steve Orlando
“The Stowaway” by Jock
“Deleted Scene, #2” by Brian Azzarello, Eduardo Risso, and Jared K. Fletcher
“White Boat” by Scott Snyder, Francesco Francavilla, Andworld Design, and Tyler Jennes
“What Blighted Flame Burns in Thee?” by Becky Cloonan, Tula Lotay, and Richard Starkings

The Devil’s Cut features a main cover by New York Times-bestselling artist Jock, an open-to-order variant cover by Francesco Francavilla, and incentive variant covers by Becky Cloonan (1:10), Tula Lotay (1:25), Joëlle Jones (1:50), and Mirka Andolfo (1:75).

The Devil’s Cut is available for pre-order now and will be on sale at local comic shops and digitally via www.dstlry.co on Wednesday, August 30. Digital copies will be available directly from DSTLRY until September 6. After September 6, digital owners can resell their copies on the DSTLRY marketplace at a price of their choosing, with a percentage of each resale going directly back to creators.

Comics

Conan the Barbarian #1 gets an extended preview

Posted on June 24, 2023 by Graphic Policy Team

CONAN THE BARBARIAN #1

Writer: JIM ZUB
Artist: ROBERTO DE LA TORRE
Colorist: JOSÉ VILLARRUBIA
Letterer: RICHARD STARKINGS OF COMICRAFT
Publishers: HEROIC SIGNATURES & TITAN COMICS
FC, 32pp, $3.99, On sale: July 26, 2023

ROBERT E. HOWARD’S LEGENDARY CONAN IS BACK IN A NEW TALE OF BRAVERY AND HEROISM! CONAN THE BARBARIAN FCBD EDITION LEADS INTO THE DEBUT ISSUE!

Years after the battle of Venarium, a weary CONAN returns to his homeland to seek rest and solitude. However, a mysterious scout rides in to warn the Cimmerians of an imminent threat on the march from the Pictish wilderness. Will CONAN and his new ally be able to hold off this new horde of invaders?

Issue #1 covers:
MAY231133 COVER A: DAN PANOSIAN
MAY231134 COVER B: ROBERTO DE LA TORRE
MAY231135 COVER C: ARTGERM
MAY231136 COVER D: PATCH ZIRCHER RETRO THEME
MAY231137 COVER E: MIKE MIGNOLA
MAY231138 COVER F: E.M. GIST
MAY231139 COVER G: WRAPAROUND HYBORIAN AGE MAP
MAY231140 COVER H: COLORED BLANK SKETCH
MAY231141 COVER I: FOIL CONAN MOVIE NOVEL REPLICA VIRGIN
MAY231142 COVER J: 1:10 INCENTIVE: ROBERTO DE LA TORRE VIRGIN B&W INKS
MAY231143 COVER K: 1:25 INCENTIVE: DAN PANOSIAN VIRGIN B&W INKS
MAY231144 COVER L: 1:50 INCENTIVE: MIKE MIGNOLA VIRGIN B&W INKS
MAY231145 COVER M: 1:100 INCENTIVE: ARTGERM VIRGIN B&W INKS
APR238820 FOC JAE LEE VIRGIN
APR238821 FOC MIKE MIGNOLA VIRGIN

DSTLRY reveals a first look at The Devil’s Cut

Posted on June 20, 2023 by Graphic Policy Team

DSTLRY has revealed a sneak peek at its debut print and digital release, The Devil’s Cut, with 11 art previews from its 11 top-shelf stories, as well as the unveiling of all covers that are currently available to order via Diamond Comic Distributors and Lunar Distribution. Arriving in stores and online on Wednesday, August 30, The Devil’s Cut is an 88-page, premium format one-shot that hails from DSTLRY’s Founding Creators and Friends.

Today’s previews show off a first taste of art from each slice of The Devil’s Cut, with offerings ranging from cutting edge sci-fi and westerns to fast-paced action thrillers, quiet meditations on humanity, and a stunningly diverse array of horror tales.

Eleven stories combine to make The Devil’s Cut including:

“Spectregraph” by James Tynion IV, Christian Ward, and Aditya Bidikar

“Shepherd” by Marc Bernardin, Ariela Kristantina, Lee Loughridge, and Bernardo Brice

“8 Rules to Make It Out in One Piece” by Elsa Charretier, PK Colinet, Nick Filardi, and Clayton Cowles

“What’s Mine is Hearse” by Stephanie Phillips, Joëlle Jones, and Lucas Gattoni

“A Blessed Day” by Mirka Andolfo, Fabio Amelia, Arancia Studio, and Steve Orlando

“The Stowaway” by Jock

“Deleted Scene, #2” by Brian Azzarello, Eduardo Risso, and Jared K. Fletcher

“White Boat” by Scott Snyder, Francesco Francavilla, Andworld Design, and Tyler Jennes

“What Happens Next…” by Jamie McKelvie and Aditya Bidikar

“Waiting to Die” by Ram V, Lee Garbett, Lee Loughridge, and Aditya Bidikar

“What Blighted Flame Burns in Thee?” by Becky Cloonan, Tula Lotay, and Richard Starkings

The Devil’s Cut is available for pre-order now and will be on sale at local comic shops and digitally via w ww.dstlry.co on Wednesday, August 30. Digital copies will be available directly from DSTLRY until September 6, while digital owners can resell their copies at any time on the DSTLRY marketplace at a price of their choosing, with a percentage of each resale paid directly to the creators. Retailers can place print orders now through Lunar Distribution (FOC: July 2; 0623DY327) and Diamond Comic Distributors (FOC: July 3; JUN231789).

Battle Chasers #10 isn’t worth the wait

Posted on June 14, 2023 by Brett

“Martial Law” tells the bloody tale of retired swordsman Garrison and the fugitive Red Monika as they face off against Maestro’s gang of supernatural killers-the Martial Paladins! Battle Chasers #10 is a the long awaited return of the series and the end result is an issue that feels like the wait isn’t quite worth it.

The return of Battle Chasers was announced in 2015 as part of a Kickstarter for a video game. In 2019, it was announced that series creator and artist Joe Madureira would no longer be drawing it with Ludo Lullabi stepping in, then general silence. So, it’s a general pleasant surprise that Battle Chasers #10 has actually been released after such a delay. Unfortunately, with too much time passed, the last issue was published in September 2001, the return feels more like a story readers may struggle to remember.

The comic attempts to catch readers up with a page dedicated to recapping where the story is at, but, while helpful, it doesn’t really replace reading the story itself. Instead, the comic is a movie that has already started and you attempt to dive into even though it’s already been playing for a 60% of it. It’s also not helped the writing is generally stilted with a sparse amount of dialogue and cuts in the scenes that jump around a bit too much at times. The result isn’t an entertaining read and rather frustrating as the underling coolness of it all is still there.

Ludo Lullabi‘s art doesn’t quite have the style of Madureira, but the look of the comic delivers a style that stands on its own. If Lullabi did this comic without the history, it’d get tons of buzz but as is, it’s compared to what was and what was initially promised. While good, it doesn’t quite match up to that. But still, there’s a flair to it that has me wanting to check out more of Lullabi’s work.

Battle Chasers #10 is frustrating. It isn’t the welcome return one would hope and instead feels like a series and project whose time has passed. Like many “classic” series revived, it doesn’t stand up so well and the nostalgia isn’t quite enough to really hook you. Overall, a bummer.

Story: Joe Madureira Art: Ludo Lullabi Letterer: Richard Starkings, Tyler Smith
Story: 7.0 Art: 8.5 Overall: 7.0 Recommendation: Pass

Image Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: TFAW – Zeus Comics – Kindle

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