Preview: Indie October Solicitations

Comics Continuum has the Image, Dark Horse and Devil's Due October Solicitations up, and here's what I'm particularly looking forward to reading and/or snarking:

SEASON OF THE WITCH #1

Written by Jai Nitz, art and cover by Kevin Sharpe.
"Spring." Jessica Suddreth was a normal high school freshman until she was magically transported to the fairytale world of Asamondo. Once there she trains to be a Spell Sword, a mystical warrior, to lead the peasants against the tyrannical King Elian. The good news is she's the best Spell Sword ever. The bad news is she still has all the emotions and insecurities of a 14-year-old girl and her training includes chopping wood and washing clothes for the peasants. Now, high school doesn't seem so bad. Will she stay in Asamando and work through the hard knocks, or will the comforts of her old life call her home?
32 pages, $3.50, in stores on Oct. 5.

Not so much because it sounds interesting - 'cause it doesn't, really - but I enjoyed Nitz' Heaven's Devils mini-series so I'm curious.

RUULE: GANGLORDS OF CHINATOWN TP

Written by Jeff Amano and Ivan Brandon, art by Mike Hawthorne and Rick Remender, colors by Giulia Bruscom cover by David Mack.
Featuring a brand new David Mack cover, Beckett's controversial first series is finally collected into one massive volume. Chinatown has been overwhelmed by vicious biker gangs. One man is chosen to lead his people to freedom, but the price of victory is more costly than blood and darker than war. Includes a cover gallery as well as behind-the-scenes info with the creators.
224 pages, $19.99, in stores on Oct. 12.

Beckett's now paired up with Image and I want to continue to support their stuff. Plus, other than Remender, I've liked previous work by all of the creators involved.

ANT #3

Written by Mario Gully and Marc Hammond, art and cover by Gully.
Ant is in desperate pursuit of the man that may hold the key to her misplaced memory. All is not as it seems, though, as Hannah, fresh out of one fight, runs headlong into one of the greatest forces she has ever known: Spawn! He has the power to unlock the secrets of her mind, and she will stop at nothing to get it.
32 pages, $2.99, in stores on Oct. 12.

I'm going to pick up the first issue out of curiosity, but I doubt I'll still be intersted by the time this one comes out. Gully comes off as a bit too arrogant on the Image boards - subtly dissing Arcana, where Ant got its start, whenever he can - especially considering how badly written the first series was.

THE ATHEIST #4

Written by Phil Hester, art and cover by John McCrea.
"Incarnate," Part Four: "Sacrifice." Sharpe and Nguyen face the horrifying reality that our world is being invaded by the restless spirits of the dead. The only thing capable of stopping this ghostly army is a doomsday device so terrible even the defense department has tried to destroy it. Sharpe doesn't share their compunctions, but will he be able to use it if it means the death of those closest to him?
32 pages, black and white, $3.50, in stores on Oct. 26.

I loved the first two issues of this comic. Only wish it was a monthly! And not $3.50...

NYC MECH: BETA LOVE #5

Written by Miles Gunter and Ivan Brandon, art by Andy MacDonald, cover by Eric Canete.
Quentin's in love, but he's headed for a world of pain to match. In perfect Meach fashion, euphoria turns to tragedy and all of it to crime as we build towards a violent climax to Beta Love.
October 5 €32 pg € FC € $2.99

I loved the second issue of this comic. Like swooning kind of love! Hope they can keep it up.

SEA OF RED #8

Written by Rick Remender and Kieron Dwyer, art and cover by Paul Harmon.
Janine must face the real, human consequences of her need to consume human blood. Still reeling from the recent deaths around her, she must chose between suicide and eternally perpetuating her own life at the expense of others.
32 pages, $2.99, in stores on Oct. 26.

Wow! Didn't think there was eight issues worth of story in this thing. Much as I like Paul Harmon's Mora, it's still not enough to get me back after that horrid second issue.

SHADOWHAWK #6

Written by Scott Wherle, plotted by Jim Valentino, art and cover by Carlos Rodriguez and Marc Deering.
"Suffer Not A Corpse to Live." Part Two of the two-part Shadowhawk/Blacklight team-up as the two new heroes come face-to-face with the living zombie, Corpse, and learn a few new things about their own powers! New writer Scott Wherle takes the reins in a team-up that actually matters, as it helps define both characters' personalities and powers!
32 pages, $2.99, in stores on Oct. 19.

Picked up the first three issues of ShadowHawk after enjoying Blacklight #1, and was pleasantly surprised. Solid, unpretentious superhero fun. This issue has two great homage covers, too. Also glad to see Wherle taking over the writing.

CONAN AND THE DEMONS OF KHITAI #1

Written by Akira Yoshida, art by Paul Lee, cover by Pat Lee.
King Conan travels to the exotic land of Khitai, only to run afoul of an evil sorcerer and his demonic retainers in this tale of silent shadow warriors and ghastly monsters in the Far East. When Conan receives an invitation from the Eastern Kingdom of Khitai to open trade in precious jewels and spices, he decides that he will travel into this long-mysterious land. Yet, to do so is perilous, as those who have requested his company may have far more devious intentions, and beasts unseen by Western eyes lurk amidst the shadows. Set many years in the future from the award-winning on-going series, Conan and the Demons of Khitai marks Conan's first appearance as King in Dark Horse's best-selling comics revival of the legendary fantasy hero.
32 pages, $2.99, in stores on Oct. 5.

Didn't like P. Craig Russell's take on Conan at all, but Busiek & Nord have me hooked on the character so I'm going to try this one out. How is that any different from the Marvel Zombies that buy anything with Wolverine in it, you ask? It's not, really. I'm a hypocrite!

GOON 25 CENT COMIC

Written and art by Eric Powell.
Now is the perfect time to get acquainted with the cult-hit as Eisner award-winner Eric Powell and Dark Horse Comics present the original The Goon #1 in a new 25 cent edition that includes a brand-new short story and painted cover by none other than the illustrious Mr. Powell himself. Over the last few years, The Goon has earned both critical and popular acclaim with its tales of a lone thug and his fight against a never-ending onslaught of zombies, giant lizards, and killer robots.
32 pages, 25 cents, in stores on Oct. 12.

Read a lot of good things about The Goon, and Powell's Dark Horse Book of the Dead story was pretty good, so I do believe I'll grab this and give it a try.

G.I. JOE: AMERICA¹S ELITE #4

Written by Joe Casey, art by Stefano Caselli, cover by Rich Black.
With the Joes on the brink of discovering his identity, Vance Wingfield reaches out to a man with no loyalties: Destro! But will the arms-dealer provide him with the key to achieve his ultimate goal, or will he destroy Wingfield and G.I. Joe alike?
32 pages, $2.95.

The first two issues of this relaunch have been surprisingly good, so I'm looking forward to this one. Particularly liked the casting of Destro as a mercenary arms dealer available to the highest bidder. Fun stuff, nicely illustrated.

FORGOTTEN REALMS: EXILE #1

Written by R.A. Salvatore, adapted by Andrew Dabb, art by Tim Seeley, covers by Seeley, Casey Burns and Tyler Walpole.
Adapting the second volume of R.A. Salvatore's classic Legend of Drizzt Trilogy: Exile! Drizzt Do'urden, a lone hero among the treacherous race of the Drow, has left everything he knows to seek honor and justice in the wilderness of the Underdark. Alone save for the mystical panther Guenhwyvar, he will encounter new allies -- and the new enemies that could destroy them!
48 pages, $4.95 (cardstock cover, $8.95).

Homeland #1 was great, and I'm pretty sure I'm never going to get around to reading the actual novels, so I'm really looking forward to this. Sales were startingly low on the first issue, but I'm assuming their real target is Barnes & Noble with the trade paperback that's scheduled for release in October, too.