New Comics: May 29, 2013

BY DAVID BERCK

This is an awesome week! There are plenty of different flavors of comics being released, covering horror, sci-fi, super heroes, alternative genres, and even a good ol' heist-related story. Lots to read and so little time to do it, so let's get to it!

AMIGO COMICS
Westwood Witches #1 (Of 4)
So there’s this guy who writes paranormal romance novels about witches. It’s a lucrative market right now, after all. Problems begin to happen when Jack Kurtzberg develops writer’s block and decides to move back to his hometown. That doesn’t sound so bad, right? The real problem is that his new neighbors are witches of the not-so-nice demon worshipping variety. Hilarity Chaos ensues. The cover is occulty and bloody. This bears checking out.

ASPEN COMICS
Dead Man's Run #5
So, Greg Pak (Planet Hulk, X-Men Phoenix-Endgame) is writing this series about Hell. It’s a prison. It’s in the middle of nowhere in California. There’s this guy, Sam Tinker, who is hellbent (see what I did there?) on getting his sister out of Hell, because she’s an innocent put in the worst prison in existence. Artist, Tony Parker (Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep) chips in with his artistic flair on this Gale Anne Hurd (The Walking Dead)-assisted project with Aspen. It’s been a lot of fun so far.

AVATAR PRESS
Crossed Badlands #29
Christos Gage (X-Men Legacy, Absolution) comes into the Crossed series to lend his unique hand in a new storyline about a “unique Crossed menace” who can “actually control their desires and twist them toward methodical horrors.” This brutal series, begun by Garth Ennis, continues on in more horrific and disturbingly clever form. Definitely not something for the faint of heart.

BOOM! STUDIOS
Clive Barker's Next Testament #1 (Of 12)
This is what happens when Mark Miller (Hellraiser) lets Clive Barker paint him. Literally. Formerly known as New Genesis, Barker and Miller set out to write a new series showing what would happen if a god came back to earth and didn’t like what he sees. What would be the consequences of what humans have done to the earth, and what if this god was one of the original trinity and the other two were chasing him down? If anyone out there really loves me, I’ll gladly accept a copy of the incentive cover painted by Clive.

DC COMICS
Adventures Of Superman #1
It’s difficult to resist this collection of digital-first stories. Not only are Jeff Parker (Hulk) and Aaron Johnston contributing stories, but you really don’t want to miss Orson Scott Card’s contribution, journeying into Superman’s past. The cover by Chris Samnee has a wonderful retro feel to it. It’s not often I get excited by Superman stuff, but this looks cool!

Catwoman Annual #1
Unlike most annuals, this one will actually lead directly into something in the regular series. Apparently, the Penguin, shortly after his recovery from the antics of Emperor Penguin (now, Emperor Blackgate), is going to try and force Selina to work for him. What effect will this have on Gotham? How long will it take before Batman appears?

Red Hood And The Outlaws Annual #1
Arsenal vs. Green Arrow! Sort of. There’s a past here and some of it will be revealed, but there’s also an annoying villain there to throw a monkey wrench in things. Who’s coming in from their shared past? Your guess is as good as mine.

Wake #1 (Of 10)
This Vertigo title (read: Mature Readers, please) brings in the fabulous Scott Snyder (have you not seen his current run with Batman?!?) and Sean Murphy (Punk Rock Jesus) for a sci-fi/horror romp in the deep sea. Who knows what lurks beneath the waves and in the deepest trenches? I can’t wait for this submersible ride to begin!

IDW PUBLISHING
Transformers Prime Beast Hunters #1
Are you a fan of the show, Transformers Prime and/or the comic spinoff, Transformers Prime: Rage of the Dinobots? Well, then you're in luck! Grimlock and his buddies are back for more action than you can shake a crescent wrench at! If you're at all interested in the Dinobots and how they survived the fall of Cybertron, you don't want to miss this series.

IMAGE COMICS
Elephantmen Volume 1 HC (Revised And Expanded Edition)
I don't harp on collected editions a whole lot, but Elephantmen is, seriously, one of the best written and coolest sci-fi comics out there. If you haven't read any of this series, now is your chance to pick up the newest edition of Volume 1 with the addition of a sketchbook and the sold out zero issue. Jump on board and see what the fuss is about!

Morning Glories #27
If you haven't been following the adventures of Casey, Zoe, Hunter, et al. as they try to survive their murderous time at the Morning Glory Academy, this is your time to jump on as season 2 begins! This is a series that came out of nowhere and many a comic geek has been following the tale of six troubled and brilliant teens as horrible acts have been visited upon them, their schoolmates and families. Morning Glories has been described by its writer, Nick Spencer, as a combination of Runaways and Lost.

Thief Of Thieves #14
One of Robert Kirkman's "other" series, Thief of Thieves has been an absolute blast so far. As Conrad, the world's best thief, has been trying to retire from his life of crime, family and circumstance (mostly family) has been pulling him back in. Andy Diggle (Batman, Daredevil) has taken up the writing reigns to continue the story where the last arc left off. Image is promising this arc is the most explosive yet, and I believe them. Jump on board now, if you hadn't heard, AMC bought the rights to this series even before issue #1 was released.

MARVEL COMICS
All-New X-Men Volume 2 Here To Stay HC (Premiere Edition)
Nevermind what I said up above about hardly ever pimping collected editions. This one is totally worth it. All-New X-Men was originally billed as a limited series where Beast goes into the past to bring forward the original five X-Men in time to see what the current time Cyclops has done to the world. However, the series has sold so well, it's now an ongoing title and it's well worth your time. Up until now, both Beast and Wolverine have been given a pass on their actions, but the original students of Xavier's Academy for the Gifted see things others have overlooked up until now. Cyclops deals with accusations for things he hasn't done yet. Marvel Girl grapples with rapidly increasing powers and her history that hasn't happened yet as Phoenix. Beast gets to see what blue fur he has to look forward to. Iceman gets schooled by Kitty Pryde. And Angel has to puzzle out what the hell he's been put through in the future. If you haven't read the first arc, run, don't walk, to grab that and this volume. The complexities of this series is just beginning.

New Avengers #6
The Marvel Illuminati continue to try and save our reality from an incursion. What can this secret society of super heroes do to prevent Earth's annihilation? Other incursions have been red, this one is ... blue?!? Tune in and find out what's going on in one of my biggest pleasant surprises of the Marvel NOW titles so far.

X-Men #1
Yet another X-title being released, albeit a touch behind schedule. This one, like Uncanny X-Force is featuring an all female X-team that includes the return of Jubilee who is joined by an orphaned baby which starts off the first story arc. For those who are skeptical of yet another X-Men related title (there are 10 out there, not including Uncanny Avengers or the Wolverine titles), maybe you can be swayed by the fact that Brian Wood (X-Men, Star Wars, Massive) is writing it with Olivier Coipel (AvX, Avengers) taking up the pencil.

ZENESCOPE ENTERTAINMENT
Grimm Fairy Tales Presents Wonderland Down The Rabbit Hole #1 (Of 5)
Zenescope has done a pretty wonderful job of twisting and warping the whole Wonderland setting. They did such a good job, Wonderland received its own series in addition to the numerous mini-series spinoffs. Well, now comes the "prequel" trilogy. Why is "prequel" in quotes? I guess you'll have to read Down the Rabbit Hole and find out. This mini-series is being billed as a psychological horror thriller wherein Alice must prevent the evil of Wonderland from spilling into our world and causing havoc. There is also hint of a "mysterious entity" whose machinations have been manipulating everything that's happened since the beginning of Alice's adventures. It all started here.