Welcome to the first installment of the newly revised Comic Shop Corner. Tomorrow is the first Wednesday in May so let's look at what I'm grabbing this month, major storylines, new series and alike.
New series in May that are Donny approved:
Action Lab's Dryspell
Comixtribe's Epic
DC's Justice League United
DC's The New 52 - The Future's End
Image Comics' C.O.W.L.
Image Comics' Nailbiter
Biggest storylines:
Dark Horse Comics: Dark Horse Presents no more?
In May we see the end of Dark Horse Presents with issue #36 but they just can't cancel their two-time Harvey and Eisner winning series can they? Well if they are they are going out with a bang! Living legends Mike Mignola, Stan Sakai, and Jaime Hernandez all contribute to this final issue of Dark Horse Presents. Mignola and Ben Stenbeck deliver a new Witchfinder story, while Hernandez introduces Merlon the magician! This issue also features new stories— Sunstroke from Luciano Saracino and Juan Manuel Tumburús, a new Clark Collins tale from Kel McDonald, two hilarious new strips from Patrick Alexander, and a surprise-ending sci-fi story from Martin Conaghan and Jimmy Broxton! Plus, the exciting conclusions of Cruel Biology, S.H.O.O.T. First, Usagi Yojimbo, and Davey Jones!
Now that I've worried you, fear not. DHP is back in July at a reduced page count and reduced price!
DC Comics: The Future's End
Okay so this was a difficult choice. So much is happening in May it was hard to pick one but I went with The Future's End over Doomed, the Superman crossover featuring Doomsday, Forever Evil conclusion, mostly due to the fact that it has been delayed so much we won't see the real aftermath until June now, and the Green Lantern crossover which features details about the new Green Lantern Corps member that gets the deceased Power Ring's green ring (See Forever Evil #5).
So why The Future's End? Not only does it bring Terry McGinnis's Batman Beyond into modern DCU continuity but it also features the return of the Wildstorm imprint characters (Grifter is heavily publicized) and a Justice League member is said to die in issue #1 at the hands of Firestorm... Let the guesses begin!
IDW Publishing: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 30th Anniversary
What started off as a parody of Daredevil, New Mutants, and others has turned into a cultural phenomenon... And now that phenomenon is 30 years old! What better way to celebrate the birth of the heroes in a half shell on the page then with a monumental special featuring many different Turtle scribes over the years including a collaboration cover between original creators Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird.
“Working on the TMNT comics with the wonderful and amazing IDW team over the last three years reminded me how much I missed and loved the four green guys. Getting to work with my co-creator Peter Laird again is the icing on the cake — and then some! It really took me back 30 years, to the earliest days, with the fondest memories, and why we got into this business in the first place.” - Kevin Eastman
Image Comics: Rise Of The Magi
Image has a bunch of new #1's this month including the aforementioned C.O.W.L. and Nailbiter, you can add Mark Millar's MPH, The Chew/Revival crossover and a new Burn The Orphanage. But it's Image Comics founder Marc Silvestri's Rise Of The Magi that we are going to look at given it's Free Comic Book Day push with an issue #0.
A small black sphere contains all the magic that exists—past, present, and future. Without it, two worlds would not survive. But someone has done the unimaginable: stolen a piece of the sphere and fled from the world of magic into the world of man. Now only the very common Asa Stonethrow can find him. Asa thought saving two worlds was great enough a burden… until he meets a girl. The Magi are awake and they are legion, and only seven magicians, sorcerers, thieves, and killers can stop them. But as Asa will soon find out that there truly is no honor among thieves.
“The unfamiliar, the uncomfortable, and the things that scare us are what make us grow as people. It’s safe then to say that in Rise of the Magi, Asa and a cast of characters both strange and familiar, will be doing a lot of growing.” - Marc Silvestri
Marvel Comics: Original Sin
This was an easy choice as Marvel kicks off their next big event with Original Sin by writer Jason Aaron, which sees (heh) the apparent murder of The Watcher (now you get the heh). Not only do we get the first 2 issues of Original Sin this month but we also have The Avengers, Deadpool, and Mighty Avengers tying in. Although I'm not completely sold on this yet, the general public is excited and I prefer Aaron behind my X-books if it gets off to a good start I'll be happy to jump on the bandwagon.
Other top titles:
Red 5 Comics' Atomic Robo: Knights Of The Golden Circle
Description: There was an explosion, some crystals, a lot of lava, and several nuclear warheads. Plus, a crazy time-traveling dinosaur. Now it’s 1884 and Atomic Robo is up against the notorious “Butcher Boys.” The fate of the West is at stake, but can Atomic Robo save the day before his nuclear fuel runs dry?
Dark Horse Comics' Axe Cop: The American Chopper
Description: President of the World Axe Cop reunites with Super Axe, an old friend from college, and the two of them decide to start a superteam of axe-wielding heroes to defend America, called the American Choppers. They are joined by Captain Axe, Axe Girl, Axe Woman, Axe Dog, and other axe-wielding heroes. The only problem is that there are no bad guys left, but that all changes when mysterious giant creatures attack the city!
Image Comics' Chew/Revival
Description: TWO GREAT TASTES THAT TASTE REALLY WEIRD TOGETHER! Tony Chu heads to Wisconsin in two all-new original tales by the creative teams of both critically acclaimed titles! A great jumping-on point for readers who have heard how damn good these titles are on their own, and a twisted delight for those already in the know!
Image Comics' C.O.W.L.
Description: World’s first Super-Hero Labor Union! While C.O.W.L. once stood as a beacon of hope against an epidemic of organized crime and an unbeatable “brotherhood” of Super-Villains, the union now faces its fiercest foe yet-a disillusioned public. In targeting the last of the great villains, C.O.W.L. attempts to prove its value to the world and to each other, while staving off villainy from both outside and inside its offices.
Marvel Comics' Cyclops
Description: Cyclops just discovered that the father he thought died long ago is alive and well and A SPACE PIRATE. Spinning directly out of ALL-NEW X-MEN, comes the first ongoing solo series for one of the time-traveling Original X-Men. After the events of “Trial of Jean Grey”, Scott Summers stays in space to learn some valuable lessons from his dad: 1) How to shave, 2) How to talk to girls, 3) How to steal a Badoon space-ship.
Action Lab's Dry Spell
Description: Tom Ferris lives in a world of super-heroes streaking across the sky, and hurling themselves over rooftops at night. They are commonplace. But Tom doesn’t notice that world anymore, because his world is now made up of spreadsheets, phone bills, software, coffee, and button-down shirts. Each night, he lies awake though, wishing to be the man he was. Today, Tom gets his wish. And the world will never forget him again!
IDW Publishing's Mars Attacks: First Born
Description: It’s Mars Attacks like you’ve never seen it, from the co-creator of The Maxx and the team behind The Hollows! When Mars attacked Earth, the battle left no side unscarred, least of all a lonely old man and his blind niece…along with the first Martian child born on Earth! Will the child’s warlike ways take over, or is there more going on here than it seems?
Marvel Comics' Miles Morales: Ultimate Spider-Man
Description: PART ONE OF THE BIGGEST SPIDER-MAN STORY OF THE YEAR “REVIVAL”! MILES is back in action with a new status quo and a new outlook on life! A BIG BIG BIG villain from PETER PARKER’s past is alive and well and about to turn New York upside down! The last page will have ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN fans SCREAMING! This issue can’t be missed!
Image Comics' Nailbiter
Description: Buckaroo, Oregon has given birth to sixteen of the vilest serial killers in the world. An obsessed FBI profiler investigating the town has suddenly gone missing, and now an NSA Agent must work with the notorious serial killer Edward “Nailbiter” Warren to find his friend and solve the mystery of “Where do serial killers come from?”
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