Noteworthy recent Graphic Novel, Trade Paperback, Hardcover and OGN releases up to and including 31st March 2021, plus a preview of two titles for April!
ARRIVING APRIL
DARK NIGHTS: DEATH METAL (DELUXE EDITION HC)
Written by Scott Snyder. Art by Greg Capullo
RELEASED: 7TH APRIL 2021 / DC COMICS
Never has the term ‘Bat-Shit Crazy’ been so applicable! Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo continue their odyssey through the weirdest corner of the millenial-age DCU with this beutiful deluxe HC that collects the main series from The tune the creators are dancing to isn’t heavy metal - What Snyder and Capullo have done is wrought grand, Wagnerian opera from molten steel, creating a unique, bleak universe where heroes are long forgotten and the few who remain are fodder for the beast! This has been the most unique creation to come out of DC in years and arguably the most fun and with a few more deluxe hardcovers to follow, the sound of Metal will be ringing in our ears for while yet! Collects Dark Nights: Death Metal #1-#7. Contact Gosh Comics to reserve a copy or you can pre-order from Bookshop.org.
RELEASED: 28TH APRIL 2021 / DC COMICS (BLACK LABEL)
Constantine remains the DC character we hate to love. In the last few years, before Si Spurrier’s run, his edge had been somewhat smoothed. Following Spurrier’s lead, fan-favourite writer Tom Taylor and The Boys co-creator Darick Robertson sharpen the edge once more for this Black Label collection. Taylor brings his smart, snappy dialogue and weighty action and Robertson gives Costantine back his smirk for this near-cosmic murder mystery that uses the horrific overtones we’ve seen in the Hellblazer heyday. Collects Hellblazer: Rise And Fall #1-#3. Contact Gosh Comics to reserve a copy of pre-order from Bookshop.org.
OUT NOW
CINEMA PURGATORIO (complete collection hc)
Written by Alan Moore. Art by Kevin O’Neill
RELEASED: 31ST MARCH 2021 / AVATAR
The Extraordinary Gentleman return for what may be their final hurrah in comics form. They turn their penetrating gaze towards cinema and the dark influence of silver screen. Eighteen ‘short films’, all wildly different, all etched in the distinctive spiky style of O’Neill, with Moore’s devastating writing providing a (probably) final comics masterwork. To say more would give away too much but given that Avatar HC’s are often limited print runs, it’s best to grab this sight unseen! Buy the book from Gosh Comics or from Bookshop.org.
THE BATMAN’S GRAVE (COMPLETEC COLLECTION HC)
Written by Warren Ellis. Art by Bryan Hitch
RELEASED: 31ST MARCH 2021 / DC COMICS
Bryan Hitch’s incredible, cinematic artwork is given an awesome canvas to work on in this new - and very different - Batman story from Warren Ellis. Concentrating on the militarisation of Batman as well as the moral arguments for and against his very existence, Batman’s Grave tackles some thorny subjects without sliding into the meta-storytelling form that would undercut the action-adventure elements. Collects The Batman’s Grave #1-#12 Buy the book from Gosh Comics or from Bookshop.org.
I NEVER PROMISED YOU A ROSE GARDEN (HC)
Writer / Artist: Mannie Murphy
RELEASED: 23RD MARCH 2021 / FANTAGRAPHICS
Like most great graphic novels, this feels like a story about one thing disguised as another. Starting with creator Manny Murphy’s fixation on River Phoenix in My Own Private Idaho and becoming an account of Portland, Oregon’s long (and horrible) history with White Nationalism, Rose Garden is told in single panel, watery blue ink-wash and tells an emotionally complex story of both it’s maker and the world they found themselves in in the ‘90s. The markers bleed through the paper as does the honesty and heart of the story. Buy the book from your favourite comic shop!
THE IMPENDING BLINDNESS OF BILLIE SCOTT (LARGE FORMAT EDITION / SoftCover)
Writer / Artist Zoe Thorogood
RELEASED: 22ND MARCH 2021 / AVERY HILL PUBLISHING
The hit tour de force by newcomer writer / artist Zoe Thorogood is now available in a Large Format OGN, showcasing Thorogood’s expressive, inky style in the best way possible. Billie Scott is an energetic, tragic, hopeful, heart-breaking work from a bold new talent. With colours used brilliantly and a sharp, funny script, this might just be one of the best OGN’s you’ll read this year. Buy the book from your favourite comic shop!
B.P.R.D.: tHE DEVIL YOU KNOW (OMNIBUS / HC)
Written by Mike Mignola and Scott Allie. Art by Laurence Campbell, Sebastian Fiumara, Christopher Mitten.
RELEASED: 17TH MARCH 2021 / DARK HORSE COMICS
How do you end one of comics greatest universes? Tough job, but Mignola and Campbell might have the answer in the gorgeous HC omnibus for the final chapters in the Hellboy / BPRD saga. Bringing together past and future, characters dead and living, the team etch a dark world in which Abe, Hellboy and the remaining BPRD members must fight every step of the way. Mignola’s writing is, as always, top notch. Campbell’s art is the best it’s ever been. Join them for a final BPRD story which sees Ragnarok made real, Russian demon-children run amok the return of the world’s greatest paranormal investigator. A masterpiece. Collects the complete B.P.R.D.: The Devil You Know series (volumes 1, 2 & 3). Buy the book from your favourite comic shop, or buy the single issues in our webshop whilst stocks last.
TALES FROM THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY: YOU LOOK LIKE DEATH VOLUME 1 (TPB)
Written by Gerard Way and Shaun Simon. Art by I.N.J. Culbard
RELEASED: 17TH MARCH 2021 / DARK HORSE COMICS
The weirdness of Umbrella Academy is given further reign in this spin-off mini-series, written by series mastermind Way, with Killjoys co-creator Simon and artist I.N.J. Culbard. This has all the deadpan wit, strange humour and dark, silver-age happenings that the first two volumes of UA had, but this time focused on Klaus, who finds himself kicked out of the Academy and follows a dream by heading to Hollywood where his particular brand of odd will be better appreciated and more importantly, better paid! This features a forward by Robert Sheehan, who played Klaus to great effect in the hit Netflix version of Umbrella Academy. Collects Tales From The Umbrella Academy: You Look Like Death #1 - #6 (2020). Buy the book from your favourite comic shop!
COUNT (softcover OGN)
Writer / Artist Ibrahim Moustafa
RELEASED: 16TH MARCH 2021 / HUMANOIDS
Writer and artist Ibrahim Moustafa choses an epic, ambitious tale for his latest OGN: The Count of Monte Christo. Here, he reimagines the tale of revenge as a massively-scaled science fiction fantasy. Sticking to the major themes and plot of the novel, yet making the story his own, with a beautifully crafted world rich in character and incident. This is the cool, cinematic stuff that flourishes in the European market but will hopefully find favour with a wide audience and will doubtless be popular with fans of Humanoids’ amazing back-catalogue. You can buy the book from Gosh Comics or from Bookshop.org.
POST YORK (SOFTCOVER OGN)
Writer / Artist James Romberger
RELEASED: 10TH MARCH 2021 / DARK HORSE COMICS
Post York offers us a future that riffs on Waterworld, but takes a serious, logical look at what the world will look like when the polar ice-caps finally revert to their original states and submerge New York. Romberger fuses a distinctly personal muse with the one thing no one wants to face - the end - and looks beyond, giving us a glimpse into not only how we survive, but why. This story has the fragility of small-scale, self-published work and wraps it in an epic framework. If you want a break from capes, this has your name all over it. You can Buy the book from your favourite comic shop!
SPIDER-MAN BY TODD MCFARLANE: COMPLETE COLLECTION (TPB)
Written by Todd McFarlane, Rob Liefeld and Fabian Nicieza. Pencilled by McFarlane and Liefeld
RELEASED: 10TH MARCH 2021 / MARVEL
McFarlane applied his unique style to Marvel’s most beloved son back in 1990. The stories reprinted here showcase not only his art but his writing, as he goes for a ‘Goth Melrose Place with Monsters’ pitch. Fusing his love of horror with the eternal soap-opera that is super-hero comics, McFarlane takes us on a roller-coaster of emotions featuring Wendigo, Wolverine, The Lizard and of course, Morbius The Living Vampire! Looking back through this now thirty-one year old comic just how out there it was at the time. McFarlane’s faces and bodies are extremes of character, often nightmarish. They stick with you even when the book’s closed. He delivers on the action, too, giving us classic Spidey dynamics and some cool black-suit appearances towards the end. A must have for the collection if you like the classics! Collects Spider-Man (1990) #1-#14, #16 and X-Force #4 (1991). Buy the book from your favourite comic shop!
BLACK PANTHER: PANTHER’S PREY (MARVEL EPIC COLLECTION VOL. 3 TPB)
Written by Don McGregor, Sandy Plunkett, Richard Bensam, Walter Simonsen, Roy Thomas, Don Hillsman II and Dave Devries. Art by Gene Colan, Dwayne Turner, Sandy Plunkett, Denys Cowan, Dave Hoover and Don Hollsman II.
RELEASED: 10TH MARCH 2021 / MARVEL
The sheer weight of talent on this should tip the scales in it’s favour when you’re looking for something substantial to dive into. Cowan, McGregor, Thomas, Simonsen, Turner, Colan… It’s a truly epic set of creators for those of us that love ‘70s - ‘80s comics. Featuring a beautiful range of styles, this collection cements the legend of Black Panther, diving deeper into the mysteries and power of The Black Panther, world building like crazy, whilst taking on the issues that mattered to not only African-Americans, but people of African descent all over the World. It’s this volume (following on from Panther’s Rage) that helps define the mythos of T’Challa and take him beyond Wakanda. A must-buy for all Black Panther fans! Collects Black Panther: Panther’s Prey #1 - #4, Material from Marvel Comics Presents #13 - #37, #148, Solo Avengers #19, Marvel Super-Heroes #1, Marvel Fanfare #60 and Fantastic Four Unlimited #1. Buy the book from your favourite comic shop!
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN: LAST REMAINS COMPANION (TPB)
Written by Nick Spencer and Matthew Rosenberg. Pencilled by Federico Vincentini and Takeshi Miyazawa
RELEASED: 10TH MARCH 2021 / MARVEL
‘Companion’ issues are often over-shadowed by the books they tie into, but this Last Remains Companion has not only ASM series-writer Spencer on board, but the excellent Rosenberg, too! Coupled with the dynamic, high-energy art-styles of Vincentini (who did excellent work on the Falcon & Winter Soldier mini, Cut Off One Head) and Miyazawa and you have all the ingredients for an action-packed trade that holds it’s own. Seen from the POV of Miles Morales, Silk and Gwen ‘Ghost-Spider’ Stacy, this expands on Kindred’s Spider-assault, bringing in MJ, Dr. Strange as well as a classic Spidey villain, this should definitely be on your Spidey-completists list! Collects Amazing Spider-Man #50.LR - #54.LR. You can buy the book from your favourite comic shop!
STRANGE ACADEMY: FIRST CLASS (TPB)
Written by Skottie Young. Art by Humberto Ramos
RELEASED: 17TH FEBRUARY 2021 / MARVEL
The surprise hit of last year is now available in a slightly-bigger-than-digest-sized TPB! Dr. Strange attempts to rebuild the ranks of Marvel’s magicians after The Last Days of Magic arc, but the kids aren’t alright. Whilst it’s easy to dismiss this as ‘Marvel’s Hogwarts’, Strange Academy throws the usual comedic delights found in misplaced outsider fiction, Young and Ramos give things a deeper, YA-influenced bent. The change of location from the oft-seen New York of world outside your window to New Orleans adds new flavours to the mix. Do believe in magic and do believe the hype - this is good! Collects Strange Academy #1 - #6 (2020). Buy the book from your favourite comic shop!