Image and Top Cow Solicitations: December Highlights

As always, there are a number of new, eye-catching titles coming from Image and Top Cow during December - none more so than The Last Battle, from Tito Faraci and Dan Brereton, an 80-page one-shot telling the story of retired Roman General Caius Rodius and his return to war in service of Julius Caesar.

Elsewhere, there's a Witch Doctor one-shot - The Resuscitation - from Brandon Seifert and Lukas Ketner, what looks like being a beautiful hardcover volume The Art of Carbon Grey, the first trade paperback of Shinku from Ron Marz and, "for the first time in print" The Li'l Depressed Boy volume zero featuring never before seen artwork and an exclusive all-new story drawn by Sina Grace.

Full details from Image Comics, Top Cow Productions and Comic Book Resources.

THE LAST BATTLE (ONE-SHOT)
story TITO FARACI
art, cover DAN BRERETON
December 21, 80 pages, FC, T+, $7.99
In 52 BCE, General Caius Rodius, retired hero of Caesar’s Legions, is called back to war. In nearby Gaul, Rome’s combined armies lay siege to the Gallic stronghold of Alesia in a conflict fated to shape history. A third barbarian horde prepares to attack the Romans from without, led by the rebel Cammius, who once fought for Rome. Rising star Julius Caesar dispatches Rodius to track through the wilderness and bring back the rebel’s head. Who better to hunt Cammius than the man who taught him the very skills he now uses to defy Rome? Rodius must choose between duty to Rome and Caesar or the barbarian he raised as his own son.
Story by international comics legend TITO FARACI (Diabolik, Spider-Man: The Secret of Glass, Daredevil and Captain America), art by award winning, multiple Eisner nominee DAN BRERETON (NOCTURNALS, Punisher, Marvel Ultimate Team,-Up, God-Sized Thor, Red Sonja).

THE ART OF CARBON GREY HC
art, wraparound cover HOANG NGUYEN, KHARI EVANS & KINSUN LOH
December 7, 128 pages, 9" x 12", FC, T+, $29.99
The art secrets of Image Comic’s masterpiece are revealed in THE ART OF CARBON GREY. Learn how three talented artists united to create a uniquely beautiful and kinetic visual style. Follow their working processes and trace the evolution of the characters and worlds that made CARBON GREY the most explosive comic of the year.

MADMAN 20th ANNIVERSARY MONSTER! HC
story, ART, COVER MICHAEL ALLRED & VARIOUS
December 14, 264 pages, FC, T, Oversized, $100
FRAZETTA! KIRBY! TOTH! MOEBIUS! KUBERT! MILLER! STEVENS! The BIG one! Literally: This gigantic 11 x 17 hardcover is the coffee table book of the Millennium! Nearly every great artist to ever work in comics is in this book which includes new stories from PETER BAGGE, KYLE BAKER, PHILIP BOND & PETER MILLIGAN, DARWYN COOKE, DAVE COOPER, DEAN HASPIEL, LOS BROS HERNANDEZ, ERIK LARSEN, DAVID MACK, PAT McKEOWN, BERNIE MIREAULT, MICHAEL AVON OEMING, PAUL POPE, ERIC POWELL, FRANK QUITELY, STEVEN T. SEAGLE & TEDDY KRISTIANSEN, JEFF SMITH, JAY STEPHENS, CRAIG THOMPSON, MATT WAGNER, JOE QUINONES & MARIS WICKS. Also MICHAEL ALLRED’s latest – and most epic ever – MADMAN story! PLUS almost every Madman illustration collected over the past 20 years from all the greats. Surprises galore!

THE ACTIVITY #1
story NATHAN EDMONDSON
art, cover MITCH GERADS
December 21, 32 pages, FC, T+, $3.50
The evolution of global warfare necessitates the evolution of special forces to rise and meet the call. The U.S Army has therefore looked to its last secret special operations tribe, the INTELLIGENCE SUPPORT ACTIVITY, or Gray Fox. Within Gray Fox is a team of elite men and women whose mission is flexible, whose technology is bleeding edge, and whose execution is precise and lethal. They are Team Omaha, and they serve THE ACTIVITY.

WITCH DOCTOR: THE RESUSCITATION (ONE-SHOT)
story BRANDON SEIFERT
art, cover LUKAS KETNER
December 14, 32 pages/ FC, T+, $2.99
You wake up in a bathtub of ice with a surgical incision on your side… but the hospital says you’ve still got two kidneys! Where do you go for a second opinion? Where else but Dr. Vincent Morrow, the Witch Doctor! Summer’s medical horror smash hit returns with a tale of black magic and organ-swapping. And it’s a great jumping-on point for new readers, so don’t miss out — ask your retailer to preorder a copy for you!
“If you’re not checking out WITCH DOCTOR, you need to do so, STAT!” - Ain’t It Cool News

THE INFINITE, VOL. 1 TP
story ROBERT KIRKMAN
art, cover ROB LIEFELD
December 7, 120 pages, FC, T, $9.99
Freedom fighter, Bowen has lost everything in the war against The Infinite. His only hope, travel back in time to prevent their world domination before it starts! Bowen can’t do this alone, he must turn to the only ally he knows he can trust: HIMSELF. Now a man in his 40s, damaged by the horrors of war, must team-up with his younger, reckless and optimistic 20 year-old self in order to SAVE THE WORLD!
Collects THE INFINITE #1-4

THE LI'L DEPRESSED BOY, VOL. 0 TP
story S. STEVEN STRUBLE
art VARIOUS
cover LINDSAY JANE
December 7, 96 pages, FC, T, $9.99
“LONELY HEART BLUES”
For the first time in print: Before disastrous road trips. Before style-points. Before Jazmin. Join LDB as he takes his first steps on his search for love. Told in shades of blue with artwork by SAM KIETH, JIM MAHFOOD, JIM VALENTINO and many more. Including never before seen artwork and an exclusive all-new story drawn by SINA GRACE.

SHINKU, VOL. 1 TP
story RON MARZ
art, cover LEE MODER, MATTHEW WAITE & MICHAEL ATIYEH
December 7, 160 pages, FC, M, $14.99
Bloody horror meets martial-arts mayhem in the first collection from the sold-out series by RON MARZ (WITCHBLADE, ARTIFACTS) and LEE MODER (WONDER WOMAN). The last surviving member of a samurai family wages a one-woman war against a clan of vampires in modern-day Tokyo in the first story arc from the acclaimed new series. If you like your vampires to sparkle, look elsewhere! Also contains a cover gallery, sketchbook, pin-ups and the rare black, white and red ashcan edition.
Collects SHINKU #1-5

TALES FROM BEYOND SCIENCE HC
story MARK MILLAR, ALAN MCKENZIE & JOHN SMITH
art, cover RIAN HUGHES
December 21, 88 pages, FC, T, 8.5” X 11”, $16.99
Follow your host Hilary Tremayne on eight surreal journeys into the unknown. Discover the truth behind the mysteries of spontaneous human combustion, the Bermuda Triangle, the lost 13th month, and the real reason men have nipples.
Drawn by RIAN HUGHES and written by a Rogue’s Gallery of Britain’s finest comic writers that includes MARK MILLAR (KICK ASS, WANTED), ALAN MCKENZIE (THE HARRISON FORD STORY) and JOHN SMITH (DEVIN WAUGH), this hardcover volume collects the complete series.

WITCH DOCTOR, VOL. 1: UNDER THE KNIFE TP
story BRANDON SEIFERT
art, cover LUKAS KETNER
December 14, 112 pages/ FC/ T+, $12.99
“A glimpse into the future of horror comics” — Bloody Disgusting.
Meet Dr. Vincent Morrow, the Witch Doctor, in the smash hit debut title from Robert Kirkman’s Skybound Originals line! Dr. Morrow’s looking for a vaccine — for the apocalypse — and in his quest to understand the biology of the supernatural, he faces vampires, demonic possession, faeries and more.
“Arguably the most accomplished debut by a pair of new creators in recent memory.” — Broken Frontier
COLLECTS WITCH DOCTOR #1-4

THE DARKNESS #98
story PHIL HESTER
art ROMANO MOLENAAR
cover JEREMY HAUN
December 21, 32 pages, FC, M, $2.99
CELEBRATE THE FIFTEENTH ANNIVERSARY!
Fighting his way further into the Darkness dimension itself, Jackie Estacado will need be forced to decide what he is willing to sacrifice in order to confront and destroy the Darkness itself. Long time writer PHIL HESTER (Wonder Woman, Green Hornet) and ROMANO MOLENAAR (THE DARKNESS II: CONFESSION) barrel towards the landmark issue #100!

ELEPHANTMEN #38
story RICHARD STARKINGS
art AXEL MEDELLIN
cover BOO COOK
December 7, 40 pages, FC, M, $3.99
“THE KILLING SEASON,” Part Three
RAZORBACK versus BLACKTHORNE.... one lives, one dies!

HACK/SLASH #11
story TIM SEELEY
art DANIEL LEISTER
cover A TIM SEELEY & CARLOS BADILLA
cover B EMILIO LAISO
December 14, 32 pages, FC, T+, $3.50
“INTERDIMENSIONAL WOMEN'S PRISON BREAKOUT,” Part Three
Vlad is dying! Samhain is in the clutches of the highly evil, Bomb Queen, missing a limb or two! And a lone Cassie has to take out one really psychotic mime! Things are getting ugly up in here, in the conclusion to INTERDIMENSIONAL WOMEN'S PRISON BREAKOUT.

MORIARTY #7
story DANIEL COREY
art MIKE VOSBURG & ANTHONY DIECIDUE
cover ANTHONY DIECIDUE
December 7, 32 pages, FC, T, $2.99
“THE LAZARUS TREE,” Part Three
Veteran artist MIKE VOSBURG joins the creative team for this link in the Lazarus Tree mystery, which finds Moriarty reflecting on a case in 1880's Kingston, Jamaica. Answers are revealed to present-day questions, including the identity of the sniper that has been murdering residents of Kyauktada and stoking the fires of rebellion.

WITCHBLADE #153
story TIM SEELEY
art DIEGO BERNARD & FRED BENES
cover A JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER
cover B DIEGO BERNARD & FRED BENES
December 21, 32 pages, FC, T+, $2.99
The new creative team of TIM SEELEY (HACK/SLASH) and DIEGO BERNARD (The Man With No Name) smash occult and biker culture together as Sara is dragged deeper into the supernatural underbelly of Chicago by a coven of biker witches!

Image and Top Cow Solicitations: August 2011 Highlights

August sees Image and Top Cow launching a number of what look like being interesting and enjoyable new series and one-shots.

Robert Kirkman and Rob Liefeld deliver The Infinite - a story featuring world domination and time travel. As well as a 'regular' edition there will be a 'deluxe' edition of the first issue that will include sketches and illustrations, notes and pages from the script.

Severed from Scott Snyder, Scott Tuft and Attila Futaki looks like an interesting new horror story while I also like the sound of The Vault from the pen of Sam Sarkar which promises treasure hunters, the latest tech and 'nature's fury'.

Notable one-shots include Deadlands: Death was Silent from Ron Marz and Bart Sears and '68: Hardship from Mark Kidwell, Jeff Zornow and Jay Fotos while August also sees the final issues (for now at least) of The Last Mortal, Moriarty and Netherworld.

Here are my highlights in full from the months new releases:

THE INFINITE #1 DELUXE EDITION
story ROBERT KIRKMAN
art / cover ROB LIEFELD
AUGUST 3, 48 PAGES, FC, T, $5.99
Freedom fighter Bowen has lost everything in the war against The Infinite. His only hope is to travel back in time to prevent their world domination before it starts! Bowen can’t do this alone, he must turn to the only ally he knows he can trust: HIMSELF. Now a man in his 40s, damaged by the horrors of war, must team up with his younger, reckless and optimistic 20-year-old self in order to SAVE THE WORLD!
This Deluxe Edition of THE INFINITE #1 is the complete first issue plus mountains of behind-the-scenes sketches and illustrations by ROB LIEFELD and piles of notes and script pages by ROBERT KIRKMAN. Much like your favorite extras-filled DVDs, this version will give you a glimpse behind the curtain to see all the usually unseen work that goes into the creation of a comic book.

THE VAULT #1 (of 3)
story SAM SARKAR
art GARRIE GASTONNY
color SAKTI YUWONO
cover BAGUS HUTOMO
JULY 27, 32 PAGES, FC, T, $3.50
A small team of treasure hunters struggles to excavate a dangerous and legendary treasure pit before a massive storm hits Sable Island, the “Graveyard of the North Atlantic”. Equipped with all the latest technology, the scientists believe they are prepared against all of nature's fury, but nothing can prepare them for what they are about to unleash from The Vault.
From the team that brought you CALIBER and the artist of SUPERGOD.

THE LAST MORTAL #4 (of 4)
story JOHN MAHONEY & FILIP SABLIK
art / cover THOMAS NACHLIK
AUGUST 24, 32 PAGES, BW, M, $3.99
“REGICIDE,” Part Four
The finale of the hard-hitting supernatural noir series from Minotaur Press is here. Alec King, the suicidal immortal, has been beat down, stabbed, and shot so many times he’s beginning to lose count. But finally, the man responsible for his best friend’s death is in his sights. The question remains-- will Alec be able to make the hard decision for the first time in his miserable life?


SEVERED #1
story SCOTT SNYDER & SCOTT TUFT
art / cover ATTILA FUTAKI
AUGUST 3, 32 PAGES, FC, M, $2.99
“NOTHING WASTED,” Part One
1916. A man haunts the roads; a man with sharp teeth and a hunger for flesh. When 12-year-old Jack Garron runs away from home, he’ll see how quickly the American Dream becomes a nightmare. Be there at the beginning of the series that everyone will be talking about!
From Eisner-nominated writer SCOTT SNYDER (American Vampire, Detective Comics), SCOTT TUFT and ATTILA FUTAKI (NYT Best-Selling-Artist: Percy Jackson) comes the most terrifying horror series of 2011--SEVERED.

EPOCH #1 (of 5)
story KEVIN McCARTHY
art PAOLO PANTALENA & JORGE FARES
cover PAOLO PANTALENA & PAOLO BARBIERI
AUGUST 3, 32 PAGES, FC, M, $3.99
THE GREATEST TOURNAMENT THE WORLD HAS NEVER SEEN BEGINS ANEW!
Top Cow Productions and Heroes and Villains Entertainment proudly present a dark and intensely kinetic tale from writer KEVIN McCARTHY (Red Sonja, The Amazing Adventures of the Escapist) and newcomer PAOLO PANTALENA (What If?: House of M, War of Kings: Darkhawk). Jonah Bishop is an NYPD detective assigned to a mysterious murder case that threatens to rip the reality he knows and plunge him into the shadow world of his heritage--the Supernatural. Jonah’s quest will drop him deep in the middle of a conspiracy that threatens to tear apart the very fabric of society.

'68: HARDSHIP (ONE-SHOT)
story MARK KIDWELL
art JEFF ZORNOW & JAY FOTOS
cover A JEFF ZORNOW & JAY FOTOS
cover B NAT JONES & JAY FOTOS
AUGUST 24, 32 PAGES, FC, T+, $3.99
In February of 1968, Teddy Calhoun came home from Vietnam and brought a piece of the war back with him. Through a prism of battle fatigue and schizophrenia, his vision of Nebraska has changed into a threatening landscape of violence and enemy occupation. Now, Teddy will do whatever he must to protect his family from the murderous approach of “Charlie” and an army of the risen, hungry dead.
’68 Hardship is a journey into a psychological realm of hallucination, violence and undead horror. Written by MARK KIDWELL, with monstrous artwork by JEFF ZORNOW and JAY FOTOS, this one-shot is a direct tie-in with the regular ongoing ’68 series, extending the world of Vietnam/Zombie horror to America’s heartland and your own backyard.

DEADLANDS: DEATH WAS SILENT (ONE-SHOT)
story RON MARZ
art & cover BART SEARS
AUGUST 17, 32 PAGES, FC, T, $2.99
Visionary Comics and Pinnacle Entertainment present the third one-shot of the weird Western world of DEADLANDS! A silent bounty hunter rides into a remote town, but the town holds dark secrets that may turn the hunter into the hunted. Superstars RON MARZ and BART SEARS team for a weird Western tale unlike any other!

MORNING GLORIES YEARBOOK 2011
story NICK SPENCER
art RODIN ESQUEJO & JOE EISMA
cover RODIN ESQUEJO
AUGUST 31, 32 PAGES, FC, M, $2.99
A look back at our first year at the academy, with a sequential recap by MORNING GLORIES cover artist RODIN ESQUEJO! And loaded up with extras like character bios, sketches, designs, script excerpts, and more!

VESCELL #1
story ENRIQUE CARRION
art / cover JOHN UPCHURCH
AUGUST 31, 32 PAGES, FC, M, $2.99
The International Company known as Vescell specializes in what is commonly known as “Vtrans”, the transferring of a person’s mind and spirit from one body into another. Former Icarus City Detective, Mauricio “Moo” Barrino is now Vescell’s best agent, handling the most high profile and dangerous cases. In the seedy world of a high end corporate espionage, where mysticism and guns clash, and money is tainted with sin, Agent Mauricio Barrino fights against the demons of fate while trying to reach the heaven of his destiny. Be prepared for the bar-raising, sci-fi noir epic that is VESCELL.

THE DARKNESS: ACCURSED, VOL. 5 TP
story PHIL HESTER & JOSHUA HALE FIALKOV
art SHELDON MITCHELL, ROMANO MOLENAAR & MATT TIMSON
cover MICHAEL BROUSSARD & STEVE FIRCHOW
AUGUST 31, 144 PAGES, FC, T, STANDARD SIZE, $16.99
Jackie Estacado, the current bearer of The Darkness, was blackmailed and lied to by a devil calling himself The Sovereign. Now free from The Sovereign's grip, Jackie has assembled a motley crew of criminals with one goal - destroy every last one of The Sovereign's reliquaries! His quest will pit him against a former Russian mob boss turned art collector, a mute mystic, countless of The Sovereign's statues, and even traitors within his midst! Concluding the second year of writer PHIL HESTER’S (Firebreather, Wonder Woman) epic run and featuring art by SHELDON MITCHELL (Pilot Season: Stealth) and ROMANO MOLENAAR (The Darkness II: Confession), and a special stand-alone "Tale of The Darkness" issue set in the Wild West by JOSHUA HALE FIALKOV (Tumor, Echoes) and MATT TIMSON (Impaler, Popgun).
Collects THE DARKNESS #85-89.

HACK/SLASH, VOL. 9: TORTURE PRONE TP
story TIM SEELEY
art DANIEL LEISTER & JETHRO MORALES
cover TIM SEELEY
AUGUST 10, 160 PAGES, FC, T+, $16.99
The hit new ongoing series from Image is collected! In a dark future ruled by the Murder Messiah, street witch Liberty Lochs is on a mission to change the past. Meanwhile, horror heroes Cassie Hack & Vlad must contend with an obsessive serial killer, and a duo of slashers they thought they'd already put down. This epic collection sets the staus quo for Cass & Vlad's new adventures.
Collects HACK/SLASH ANNUAL #2 and HACK/SLASH #1-4

MORNING GLORIES, VOL. 2 TP
story NICK SPENCER
art JOE EISMA
cover RODIN ESQUEJO
AUGUST 10, 168 PAGES, FC, M, $12.99
Collecting the second story arc of the smash series in one volume. Learn (some) of the secrets in the Glories’ lives as we delve into their pasts and see how it affects their present. Each chapter focuses on a different Glory while maintaining the narrative and moving the mystery forward.

ARTIFACTS #12 (of 13)
story RON MARZ
art JEREMY HAUN & SUNNY GHO
cover A GREG HORN
cover B JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER
AUGUST 31, 32 PAGES, $3.99
THE PENULTIMATE ISSUE!
This is it! We arrived at the climax of the most universe-shattering event series in Top Cow history! We can’t tell you anything more! The final showdown you’ve been waiting for is here!
PLUS: Each issue will also feature an Artifacts: Origin story written by RON MARZ and drawn by a guest superstar artist.

AVENGELYNE #2
story ROB LIEFELD & MARK POULTON
art OWEN GIENI
cover A ROB LIEFELD
cover B OWEN GIENI
AUGUST 17, 32 PAGES, FC, T+, $2.99
“DEVIL IN THE FLESH,” Part Two
In his search for a new apprentice, the Red Dragon has taken control of Avengelyne’s body forcing her essence into Heaven Starr. Meanwhile, Torment targets the New Church of the People. Plus, the return of Passover!

THE DARKNESS #95
story PHIL HESTER
art SHELDON MITCHELL
cover BANE
AUGUST 31, 32 PAGES, FC, M, $2.99
“OUTER DARKNESS,” Part Six
The Darkness declares all out war against its most rebellious bearer, Jackie Estacado! With a small group of loyal allies, Jackie must face down an army of doppelgangers, a scorned woman from his past, and the very source of his own power.

ELEPHANTMEN #35
story RICHARD STARKINGS
art / cover BOO COOK
AUGUST 17, 40 PAGES, FC, M, $3.99
“THE DRUM AT THE GATE OF THUNDER”
The sequel to WAR TOYS concludes as Yvette tracks down Hip, Ebony and Horn to exact her revenge.

MORIARTY #4
story DANIEL COREY
art / cover ANTHONY DIECIDUE
AUGUST 3, 32 PAGES, FC, T, $2.99
“THE DARK CHAMBER,” Part Four
"The Dark Chamber" comes to a climax in this installment, which sees Professor Moriarty finally confronting Tartarus in an epic battle that will change his destiny and decide the fate of London and the world.

NETHERWORLD #5 (of 5)
story BRYAN EDWARD HILL & ROB LEVIN
art / cover TONY SHASTEEN & DAVE McCAIG
AUGUST 17, 32 PAGES, FC, M, $3.99
We ARE all lost!
It comes down to this. Either Ray gets Madeline on the train out of the city, or we will all be lost... forever. But first, he has to get through Cyrus Kane.

SAMURAI’S BLOOD #3 (of 6)
story OWEN WISEMAN
art NAM KIM, MATTHEW DALTON & JESSICA KHOLINNE
cover JO CHEN
AUGUST 17, 32 PAGES, FC, T, $2.99
There are four ascending levels of suffering in the world and Mayuko is about to learn them all. With Katashi floating unconscious down the river, Mayuko is left to fend for herself against the vile Mistresses Kimori and Yamayuna, as they attempt to break her spirit and make her one of their oiron girls. But just as quickly--as the faintest glimmer of freedom appears—so, too, does it fade away. Innocence must pay the terrible price.

SKULLKICKERS #10
story JIM ZUB
art EDWIN HUANG & MISTY COATS
cover SAEJIN OH
AUGUST 31, 32 PAGES, FC, T, $2.99
"FIVE FUNERALS AND A BUCKET OF BLOOD," Part Four
This issue has it all: A cover, printed pages, comic panels in sequential order and staples! You heard that right-- staples! Okay, now that we’re past that stuff--does anyone read this info? Do you? Let us know at www.skullkickers.com. PS: We now have more issues than BATTLE CHASERS.


For details of the full Image and Top Cow solicitations for August 2011 visit Image Comics, Top Cow and Newsarama.

Image and Top Cow Solicitations: June 2011 Highlights

While continuing to read and enjoy pretty much everything published that falls within the Top Cow Universe, over recent months I've been enjoying discovering some of the fantastic titles that Image Comics publishes. With that in mind, I'm going to expand my monthly look at the Top Cow solicitations to include highlights from both companies.

In June we can expect a number of new ongoing and mini-series, the continuation of some perennial favourites along with several very welcome collections.

There are a number of intriguing first issues that have caught my eye - Graveyard of Empires from Grounded co-creators Mark Sable and Paul Azaceta looks interesting and features 32 full pages of story; from the pen (keyboard) of Ron Marz comes a tale of samurai and vampires with the first issue of Shinku while continuing the theme, through it's title at least, Samurai's Blood sounds like a very enjoyable story and a potential bargain for just one dollar.

The Trailblazer one-shot promises an enjoyable mix of assassins, witness protection and the Old West and features a one in ten variant cover from Amanda Conner while the latest issue of Elephantmen looks like a good jumping-on point and features the art of Bulletproof Coffin's Shaky Kane.

Perennial favourites are represented by Artifacts from Ron Marz, Jeremy Haun and Sunny Gho, The Darkness from Phil Hester and Sheldon Mitchell and, again from Ron Marz with fantastic interior and cover art from Stjepan Sejic.

Finally, we can look forward to collected editions featuring the first six issues of Dreams of Darkchylde, a new printing of The Darkness Compendium including the first 40 issues (!) of The Darkness and, from Minotaur Press, a hardcover collection of Echoes from Joshua Hale Fialkov and Rahsan Ekedal that includes the first five issues of the series.

For full details of the June 2011 Image and Top Cow solicitations head over to CBR, Image Comics and Top Cow Productions.

SHINKU #1
story RON MARZ
art & cover LEE MODER, MATTHEW WAITE & MICHAEL ATIYEH
June 1, 32 pages, FC, $2.99
“THRONE OF BLOOD,” Part One
The sole surviving descendant of a once-proud samurai clan, Shinku wages a solo war against a powerful vampire clan that has lurked in the shadows for centuries. An epic of horror and martial arts set in modern Japan, but with roots in the feudal past, writer RON MARZ (WITCHBLADE, ARTIFACTS) and artist LEE MODER (Wonder Woman, Legion of Super-Heroes) will serve up sexy, bloody, ongoing action every month. If you're looking for vampires that sparkle ... this ain't it.
RETAILER WARNING: MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR ALL AGES

SAMURAI’S BLOOD #1 (of 6)
story OWEN WISEMAN
art NAM KIM, MATTHEW DALTON & JESSICA KHOLINNE
cover JO CHEN
June 8, 32 pages, FC, $1.00
In an era when lineage defined you, three teenagers must make their way through the world hiding their identities in order to find their destinies. As their village burns behind them, they are headed for a city they’d heard about only in stories. The three young samurai must now struggle to stay alive and take vengeance on the evil usurper who has destroyed the rest of their clan and the only world they’d ever known. Will they rise on the tides of vengeance, or they will they fall on the swords of fate?

TRAILBLAZER (ONE-SHOT)
story JUSTIN GRAY & JIMMY PALMIOTTI
art & JiM DALY lll, JIMMY PALMIOTTI & PAUL MOUNTS
cover DAVE JOHNSON
1:10 variant cover AMANDA CONNER
June 15, 48 pages, FC, $5.99
When the woman that raised him is murdered, an assassin turns states evidence against his employers and is given a once in a lifetime chance to enter Operation Trailblazer - the most unique witness protection program in the world. Sent back in time to the Old West, the assassin begins a new life, but it isn’t long before his past and the future catches up with him.

GRAVEYARD OF EMPIRES #1 (of 4)
story MARK SABLE
art & cover PAUL AZACETA
JUNE 15, 32 pages, FC, $3.99
Afghanistan. Marines face a never-ending onslaught of Taliban. But even hell can get worse. The dead are coming back to life in The Graveyard of Empires, and only together can both sides of the today’s conflict survive tomorrow’s undead assault. Writer MARK SABLE (Unthinkable, Two-Face Year One) reunites with his GROUNDED co-creator, PAUL AZACETA (Amazing Spider-Man) to tell this controversial tale of terror.
32 FULL PAGES OF STORY!

ARTIFACTS #10 (of 13)
story RON MARZ
art JEREMY HAUN & SUNNY GHO
cover A
cover B JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER
June 29, 40 pages, FC, $3.99
THE FINAL BATTLE COMMENCES!
The Survivor’s true nature has been revealed and his plans to remake our world move forward with machine like precision. Will Sara Pezzini, Jackie Estacado, and their allies solve the mystery of his identity in time to prevent Armageddon? What sacrifices will need to be made to save our world? The stage is set for the final confrontation!
PLUS: Each issue will also feature a Top Cow Origin backup written by RON MARZ and drawn by a superstar artist.
RETAILER INCENTIVES AVAILABLE. SEE ORDER FORM FOR DETAILS!
ALSO AVAILABLE
ARTIFACTS #5 TOP COW STORE B&W EXCLUSIVE VARIANT COVER BY WHILCE PORTACIO $10.00

THE DARKNESS #93
story PHIL HESTER
art SHELDON MITCHELL
cover BANE
June 29, 32 pages, FC, $2.99
“OUTER DARKNESS,” Part Five
The Darkness declares all out war against its most rebellious bearer, Jackie Estacado! With a small group of loyal allies, Jackie must face down an army of doppelgangers, a scorned woman from his past, and the very source of his own power.
RETAILER WARNING: MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR ALL AGES
ALSO AVAILABLE
ARTIFACTS #6 C2E2 Exclusive Variant Cover by MICHAEL BROUSSARD - $10.00

ELEPHANTMEN #33
story RICHARD STARKINGS
art & cover SHAKY KANE
June 22, 40 pages, FC, $3.99
“THE BONES”
BULLETPROOF COFFIN artist and Legend, SHAKY KANE, joins ELEPHANTMEN for the freaky tale of Doctor Sebastian Bone and his wife, Victoria, and her lust for something belonging to Elephantmen.
RETAILER WARNING: MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR ALL AGES

THE MICE TEMPLAR, VOL. 3 #6
story BRYAN J.L. GLASS & MICHAEL AVON OEMING
art VICTOR SANTOS
cover A MICHAEL AVON OEMING
cover B VICTOR SANTOS & VERONICA GANDINI
June 29, 32 pages, FC, $2.99
“SNOWBLIND”
The rebellion grows! Yet disaster follows when the idealistic youth E'Tan and Gabrielle join the resistance…and come face-to-face with Royal Consort Lorelie and a network of druid spies. And shocking news arrives concerning the fate of King Icarus! Meanwhile, Pilot the Tall and Harad battle side-by-side against rat forces, and the training of One-Arm Leito takes a dark and tragic turn when the young hero embraces vengeance!
The two-time Harvey Award-winning series continues, from the acclaimed writer of Thor: First Thunder and the co-creator of Powers and Takio!

MORIARTY #2
story DANIEL COREY
art & cover ANTHONY DIECIDUE
June 8, 34 pages, FC, $2.99
“THE DARK CHAMBER,” Part Two
Professor Moriarty is on the run: He has been framed for two murders, his identity exposed. Moriarty makes an uneasy alliance with the Jade Serpent, and together they must delve further into the world of the Black Hand and the mysterious device that holds the secret of the Dark Chamber.

NETHERWORLD #3 (of 5)
story BRYANN EDWARD HILL & ROB LEVIN
art & cover TONY SHASTEEN & JD METTLER
June 15, 32 pages, FC, $3.99
WE ARE ALL LOST!
Cut off from the Men in White, Ray and Madeline race to the train station through Netherworld's evil underbelly with Seth and Cyrus Kane's henchman in hot pursuit. Operatives are everywhere and they're out for blood. Will Ray be able to defend Madeline from the onslaught and help her escape? Or will his mission end before it begins?

WITCHBLADE #148
story RON MARZ
art & cover STJEPAN SEJIC
June 22, 32 pages, FC, $2.99
”TIAMAT,” Part Three
Despite her most valiant efforts, Sara Pezzini succumbs to the mythic power of the Babylonian God-Queen Tiamat. With the Balance out of the way, will Tiamat remake New York in her serpantine image?

DREAMS OF DARKCHYLDE, VOL. 1 TP
story RANDY QUEEN
art RANDY QUEEN, BRANDON PETERSON & RON ADRIAN
cover RANDY QUEEN
June 22, 160 pages, FC, $16.99
Ariel Chylde is the girl cursed to become any of the creatures from her many Nightmares. But have the shadows circled all her life? Now we go deeper. Into her past. Into her dreams. Where fears roam, and truth is never a friend. New Collection and Cover by RANDY QUEEN.
Collects DREAMS OF DARKCHYLDE #1-6
RETAILER WARNING: MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR ALL AGES

THE DARKNESS COMPENDIUM, VOL. 1 TP (NEW PRINTING)
story GARTH ENNIS, DAVID WOHL, MALACHI CONEY, SCOTT LOBDELL & PAUL JENKINS
art MARC SILVESTRI, JOE BENITEZ, CLARENCE LANSANG, BILLY TAN, DAVID FINCH & DALE KEOWN
cover MARC SILVESTRI
June 8, 1280 pages, FC, STANDARD SIZE, $99.99
Mafia hitman Jackie Estacado was both blessed and cursed on his 21st birthday when he became the bearer of The Darkness, an elemental force that allows those who wield it access to an otherworldly dimension and control over the demons who dwell there. Go back to the beginning and discover Jackie’s first encounters with the Witchblade gauntlet, The Angelus, Sonatine, and Ian Nottingham.
Collects THE DARKNESS vol. 1 #1-40, plus TALES OF THE DARKNESS & more!

ECHOES, VOL. 1 HC
story JOSHUA HALE FIALKOV
art & cover RAHSAN EKEDAL
June 22, 144 pages, PC, DIGEST SIZE, $19.99
From acclaimed author JOSHUA HALE FIAKOV (Tumor, PILOT SEASON: ALIBI) and rising artist RAHSAN EKEDAL (Creepy) a disturbing story of murder and mystery wrapped in questions of sanity. Minotaur Press premieres with a story of madness, family and death. Brian Cohn was learning to deal with the schizophrenia inherited from his father. Supportive wife, new baby on the way, drugs to control the voices. But, when at his father's deathbed, he learns that he also inherited the trophies of his father's career as a serial killer, his illness threatens to send him further down the path to madness and?
Collects ECHOES #1-5
RETAILER WARNING: MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR ALL AGES