What Looks Good? More like “what doesn’t look good” for this week. With probably the biggest array of titles we plan on spending our hard-earned cash on, is it any coincidence that a number of them are spooky books being released the day before Halloween? Nope. Not at all.
Harleen #2 (DC Comics | Black Label)
(w/a) Stjepan Sejic
“Despite the strongest objections from every possible authority—including district attorney Harvey Dent—Dr. Harleen Quinzel’s found herself with free access to every inmate in Arkham Asylum, where she desperately pursues a revolutionary and highly controversial cure to the insanity of Gotham. But her work with the city’s super-criminals quickly muddies the waters of good and evil, and in the deepest, darkest padded rooms of Arkham, even the words of a mad clown start making sense!”
Basketful of Heads (DC Comics | Hill House)
(w) Joe Hill (a) Leomacs
“The rain lashes the grassy dunes of Brody Island, and seagulls scream above the bay. A slender figure in a raincoat carries a large wicker basket, which looks like it might be full of melons… covered by a bloodstained scrap of the American flag.
This is the story of June Branch, a young woman trapped with four cunning criminals who have snatched her boyfriend for deranged reasons of their own. Now she must fight for her life with the help of an impossible 8th-century Viking axe that can pass through a man’s neck in a single swipe-and leave the severed head still conscious and capable of supernatural speech.
Each disembodied head has a malevolent story of its own to tell, and it isn’t long before June finds herself in a desperate struggle to hack through their lies and manipulations… racing to save the man she loves before time runs out.
Plus, in the premiere chapter of the backup story “Sea Dogs,” which sails across all the Hill House Comics titles!”
The Last God #1 (DC Comics | Black Label)
(w) Phillip Kennedy Johnson (a) Riccardo Federici, Kai Carpenter, Dean White, Jared Blando
“THE LAST GOD tells the story of two fellowships of heroes struggling with the same threat…30 years apart. One group will doom their world, the other must save it.
Thirty years ago, a band of heroes traveled beyond the borders of creation and killed the last living god, saving the realm of Cain Anuun from an apocalyptic army of the undead. The legendary companions became the rulers of their world and ushered in a new era of peace and prosperity. But it did not last.
Now the foul legions of the Last God march once more, laying waste to all of Cain Anuun and revealing that the aging fellowship may not be the great heroes they claim to be. With the world burning down around them, a new group of unlikely champions must band together and accomplish what no other has done: kill the Last God, once and for all.
THE LAST GOD: BOOK ONE OF THE FELLSPYRE CHRONICLES is a high-octane, no-holds-barred dark fantasy epic from writer Phillip Kennedy Johnson (Last Sons of America, Warlords of Appalachia, AQUAMAN) and artist Riccardo Federici (DARK NIGHTS: METAL, AQUAMAN), featuring additional work from Kai Carpenter (BOOKS OF MAGIC), Dean White (ALL-STAR BATMAN, Uncanny X-Force) and Jared Blando (Dungeons & Dragons).”
The Sandman Universe Presents: Hellblazer #1 (DC Comics | Black Label)
(w) Simon Spurrier (a) Marcio Takara (c) Cris Peter
“The second year of the Sandman Universe begins with the long-awaited arrival of one of DC’s most iconic characters…John Constantine, Hellblazer!
He’s cheated death and damnation more times than he can count, but never like this. Long ago, in the crucible of a magical war waged across countless futures, Constantine was murdered by an all-powerful adversary: a twisted version of Timothy Hunter, bloated with evil.
But over the past year strange forces have conspired to restart Tim Hunter’s tale, and somehow-amid sorcery, insanity and secret agendas-this older, wiser, wilier shade of Constantine has been dragged back with it. Unlike young Tim, John remembers every second of a life that went very, very wrong. Now he must ask himself why he, the last person in the world to deserve a second chance, has been given one. Is John Constantine here to put Tim Hunter on the right track and avert a terrible outcome? Or is it because he’s the only person in existence with the guts to do what REALLY must be done? After all, he’s a nasty piece of work, chief…ask anybody.
This oversize one-shot sets the stage, and is the perfect jumping-on point, for a new era of Sandman Universe tales beginning in November…and is the official start of the strangest chapter yet in John Constantine’s long life!”
Fantastic Four: Grand Design #1 (Marvel)
(w/a) Tom Scioli
“Because you demanded it! The bestselling GRAND DESIGN franchise continues with Marvel’s First Family! Brought to you by critically-acclaimed cartoonist TOM SCIOLI (GODLAND, TRANSFORMERS VS. GI JOE) in the sole-authorship tradition made famous by ED PISKOR’S X-MEN: GRAND DESIGN trilogy! Join the Watcher and witness how it all began… Plus appearances by your faves: Doctor Doom! Black Panther! Namor! Galactus! Mole Man! The Inhumans!”
Excalibur #1 (Marvel)
(w) Tini Howard (a) Marcus To (c) Erick Arciniega
“Mutantkind has always been special…as has their relationship with the world—or WORLDS—around them. As this new era dawns, a new connection forms between mutants and the magic of the world… and that of Otherworld! Can the new Captain Britain forge a new way through the chaos with her companions Rogue, Gambit, Jubilee, Rictor…and Apocalypse?!?”
Hellboy and the BPRD: Long Night at the Goloski Station #1 (Dark Horse)
(w) Mike Mignola (a) Matt Smith
“A quiet night at a rundown Russian train station turns into an all-out demon battle for Hellboy when three sinister interlopers pass through.”
The Plot #2 (Vault Comics)
(w) Michael Moreci, Tim Daniel (a) Joshua Hixson (c) Jordan Boyd (l) Jim Campbell
“Secrets fester in the Blaine family-and in their home. Chase uncovers a piece of history best left hidden, while Mackenzie explores the fraught past between her uncle and Reese.”
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #99 (IDW Publishing)
(w) Tom Waltz, Kevin Eastman, Bobby Curnow (a) Dave Wachter (c) Ronda Pattison
“City at War, Part 7. New York City descends into chaos after the unthinkable events of the last issue! Bishop is relentless in his pursuit, and a final showdown between Donatello and Metalhead will prove explosive!”
Roku #1 (Valiant)
(w) Cullen Bunn (a) Ramon F Bachs
“How many lives must the lethal assassin Roku take in her first series?
Killing her way around the globe, the deadly weapon called Roku will face a challenge she can’t simply execute.
Being bad has never been so fun.”
Wild Strawberries at The World’s End (Source Point Press)
(w) Bruce Kim (a) Katia Vecchio
“A supernatural murder mystery set in the 90’s rural South Korea. A powerful and emotion-fueled story by Bruce Kim, with haunting art and colors by Katia Vecchio.”