This year at NYCC was huge, not just in exclusives and reveals, but literally, the largest turnout for any NYCC to date! While DC and Warner Brothers stayed relatively quiet in terms of reveals, Marvel completely owned the convention. Fair I’d say, seeing as New York is quite possibly the most super-human riddled city in all of comic lore. There were tons of new comic book reveals, and while it’s hard to say now which ones will be the heavy hitters, there are more than a few that stuck out to me. That’s what I plan on sharing with you guys today!
So let’s start with the Marvelous plethora of reveals, seeing as a bulk of my picks come from here. Marvel has been making a habit of robbing me of my lunch money for years, but after recent success and their new ownership having more money than God’s rich uncle, they seem to be growing rapidly. More titles and more importantly, more talented artists and writers. So here we go!
Silk, a recently introduced character from the pages of Amazing Spider-Man and Original Sin, is getting her own ongoing. The series will debut in January written by Robbie Thompson (Supernatural on CW) and Stacey Lee (Steed and Peel: We’re Needed). The first arc will focus on Cindy’s (Silk) search for her parents after being stolen from them and locked away for ten years after being bitten by the same spider that birthed our favorite web head. I’m really interested in this one, not only is it just one of a myriad of female lead books to come from Marvel this next year, but her character is so rich and complex. After only seeing her for a couple months, I already love this character. We’ll see how this goes!
Yet another female lead book was released in the shadow of the highest grossing film this year. Gamora will be receiving the solo treatment. We don’t know a whole lot about this comic besides the cover artist Francesco Mattina and the writer, which is what has me interested as it is being written by Nicole Perlman. For those of you who don’t know Perlman co-wrote the script for a little film called Guardians of the Galaxy. I am supremely excited to see that Gamora fleshed out to her fullest, seeing as we didn’t get to know her all that well in the film. Gamora comes out Spring 2015.
On to a release I have been waiting since around the time Age of Ultron ended, specifically with the fantastic Epilogue issue written by Mark Waid about what happens to Ant-Man. Yes, finally, Ant-Man is getting his own solo. This won’t be the Henry Pym/Ant-man that we saw depressed and looking for a personal change in that AoU final installment, but will instead be Scott Lang. Seeing as Lang will be the star of the upcoming film, this isn’t too much of a shock. Written by Nick Spencer (Superior Foes of Spider-Man) and illustrated by Ramon Rasanas (Spider-Man 1602), Ant-Man will explore the comedy and tragedy of his own personal demons this January.
Now this next one is not so much a fresh new series as it is a relaunch, but man does the talent on this one have my heart all aflutter. Hawkeye, written by Jeff Lemire (Animal Man) and illustrated by Ramon Perez (The Amazing Spider-Man) will be shooting into stores this March. While following one of the best comics in the past five years can be a daunting task, Lemire says that this story will come as a follow up to Fraction and Aja’s story. Of course, it will be done with it’s own flair and brilliance. I am a huge Lemire fan and I couldn’t think of anyone better to fill Fraction’s shoes behind the typewriter. Thrilled by this announcement!
Along with it’s ongoing, Marvel released a couple limited series for the upcoming year. The first being Operation S.I.N. By writer Katheryn Immonen (Journey Into Mystery) and artist Rich Ellis (Superior Foes of Spider-Man). The series follows the break-out character of Original Sin, Woodrow McCord, the original Man on the Wall, along with Peggy Carter and Howard Stark as they search for an alien that takes them through the Soviet motherland. Gotta love noir, gotta love this cast. Check it out January!
So on to my final Marvel release, the sequel to Night of The Living Deadpool from earlier this year, another limited series. Return of the Living Deadpool, written by Cullen Bunn (Magneto) and illustrated by Nik Virella, , this story takes place an undisclosed amount of time after the first series. It follows Deadpool as he fights zombies and mutated deadpool zombie clones. Seriously, if that isn’t ridiculous enough to get you to read it, then I don’t know what to say to you. Check it out Early 2015.
Now onto some of the other comic book releases!
Gail Simone (Secret Six) and Jonathan Davis-Hunt (2000AD) bring us a Vertigo title that takes the head of a church, who claims to have the ability to solve anyone’s deepest disorders, and a photographer on the verge of suicide and has them meet on horrifying terms in Clean Room. The Clean Room is a hermetically sealed, perfectly sanitized room far below a churh where no one can escape as the person they entered it as. A promising horror title from two great artists, no release date yet.
Effigy is one of those comics I’m on the fence about, It’s a story that could go one of two ways. It’s about a former child star who returns home after a sex-tape scandal, where she discovers a fresh corpse on an Indian burial ground. A crime that resembles an episode from the show she starred in as a child. Investigation leads to a cult that worships celebrities as eternal effigies. Sounds kooky and dark, my favorite combo. Effigy is written by Tim Seeley (Batman Eternal) and illustrated by Marley Zarcone (Madame Xanadu), it comes out this January.
The final title is actually based on one of my favorite new weird ass shows, Rick and Morty. It will be published by Oni Press and will be written by Zac Gorman (Bravest Warriors). What started as a short parodying the relationship between Marty McFly and Doc Brown, this show has gained a cult following. It follows Rick and Morty (gasp) as they travel through time and space screwing shit up. Seriously thats about it. Rick is Morty’s grandfather. There is a family in there too, but really the show is about this:
YUP! Excited about this one!
SUPER CHEATING SURPRISE RELEASE THINGY
So I know this is totally cheating because it wasn’t released at NYCC but instead at SDCC, I know acronyms scare me too, but I need to share this with the world. Two of my absolute favorite creators are doing a book together and it looks so amazing that I’m afraid to read it, as it might render everything I’ve ever read or will read absolutely worthless. Okay that’s a bit dramatic but I’m passionate about this. Rick Remender (Black Science) is teaming up with Sean Murphy (Punk Rock Jesus) to bring us Tokyo Ghost. I can’t do the synopsis justice on my own, so I’ll let Image do it, since they are publishing it and all.
“TOKYO GHOST welcomes readers to the isles of New Los Angeles, 2189. Humanity has become nothing more than a sea of consumers, ravenous and starving wolves, sick from toxic contamination, who have to borrow, beg, and steal for the funds to buy, buy, buy their next digital fix. Getting a thrill, a distraction from reality, is the only thing left to live for. Entertainment is the biggest industry, the drug everyone needs, and gangsters run it all. And who do these gangsters turn to when they need the ‘law’ enforced? Led Dent and Debbie Decay, constables of the law, which is a nice way to say ‘brutal killing machines.’ The duo are about to be presented with an assignment that will force them out of the decay of LA and into the mysterious lost nation of Tokyo.”
Did you guys hear my jaw hit the floor? I am so excited about this, it isn’t even fair. It comes out Summer of 2015 and I will be waiting, eyes glued to the computer screen waiting for any info that comes out. I mean look at this:
Tell me that doesn’t just get your eyeballs all giddy. Definitely check this one out. For me, please.
