Tradewaiting – February 7th, 2018 Releases: The King Of Atlantis, A Queen Of Thieves, & More
by Noah Sharma
A lot of comics come out every week. It’s easy to get lost in the sea of #1s and dramatic new status quos as they crash. That’s why I’m here. Whether you said you’d revisit checking that series out when it was collected in trade, or you simply never noticed the announcement of that awesome OGN, whether you’re just waiting for that hardcover to be published as a trade, or have been longing for a collection of your favorite stories since childhood, Tradewaiting is here for you, with the complete Diamond list of graphic novels and collections as well as some recommendations to scoop up.
So, without further ado, here’s what’s coming to the bookshelves of your LCS this fine week of February 7th, 2018.
HIGHLIGHTS
Scales & Scoundrels Book One: Into The Dragon’s Maw
There’s a certain unironic energy to be found in children’s fantasy or an adult’s tabletop RPG. That energy is the lifeblood of Scales & Scoundrels, a new fantasy series from Image that’s really caught my eye since its debut last September.
Following Luvander, a hard-drinking treasure hunter with the fire of a dragon behind her eyes and a world of adventure at her feet, Scales is an exuberant fantasy love letter to adventure comics, full of stunning visuals and memorable moments. The pacing of the book and the sharpness of its construction point to writer Sebastian Girner‘s experience as a comics editor while the weight and momentum of Galaad’s art sells every moment and makes them, for lack of more tempered word, badass. All of this told through stunningly colored illustrations.
As if that weren’t enough, Scales & Scoundrels is an all-ages title. If a kid can read it, they’re probably ready for this series, but it’s also a thoroughly engaging adventure for an adult, and not even in that ‘it takes you back’ way; this is just a fine comic for any age. It’s honestly Star Wars-esque in its ability to speak to any audience.
I don’t have a sense of how well known Scales & Scoundrels is, but, knowing comics, it’s probably not enough. Well, you can get every issue of the series in one trade for that sweet, sweet Image Vol. 1 price of $9.99 starting today. Whether you’re picking it up for a nerdling in your life or just ready to find another fantasy world to love yourself, I can wholeheartedly recommend Scales & Scoundrels.
Aquaman by Peter David Book One
I have a silly habit when I walk into a comic shop. I’ve had it for a while. Whenever I start looking at the trade wall, for some reason I always check their Aquaman selection. Almost universally, it’s less than two books. Usually there’s the first trade of Geoff Johns’ run and either another Johns trade or an outdated looking original printing of Aquaman: Time and Tide. It’s a silly habit because, for years, there were barely any new Aquaman trades. Well, things are changing.
The latest in a string of overdue and much appreciated Aquaman collections, this book contains the aforementioned Time and Tide miniseries as well as the first nine issues of the King of Atlantis’ longest running and best regarded series from the mid 90s, all from the pen of Peter David.
Time and Tide is admittedly a little disjointed, but it remains one of the best Aquaman stories ever and my personal true north for the character. If you like Aquaman or are interested in him but haven’t read it, you owe it yourself to correct that. Getting a new printing of the miniseries is almost worth it in itself, but then the book jumps forward a few years to the story’s continuation in the Aquaman ongoing. These early issues are filled with classic, if highly 90s, moments for the character, from the loss of his hand, the introduction of Dolphin to the franchise, the reveal of Arthur’s forgotten son, and the first appearance of Aquaman’s most enduring alternate costume: the bearded, manica-wearing gladiator Aquaman.
David was perhaps the most successful writer to date to treat Aquaman seriously and with respect, largely because he embraced his grandeur; not merely writing a superhero who was also a world leader, but a generational fantasy epic that happened to star a superhero. Now David’s work with the character is finally collected in a sturdy 300+ page softcover that frames both series in their proper context for $29.99.
*****
Omnibuses are a big item this week, with multiple massive collections from both of the Big Two. There’s also a bunch of new trades and hardcovers and an above average number of classic comics collected this week. If my suggestions don’t quite scratch your itch, here’s Diamond’s complete listing of collections and graphic novels for this week.
DARK HORSE COMICS
BTVS SEASON 11 TP VOL 02 ONE GIRL IN ALL WORLD $19.99
GROO PLAY OF THE GODS TP $17.99
INCOGNEGRO A GRAPHIC MYSTERY HC $19.99
MOEBIUS LIBRARY INSIDE MOEBIUS HC VOL 01 $39.99
NIOURK HC $29.99
DC COMICS
ABSOLUTE WONDER WOMAN BY AZZARELLO & CHIANG HC VOL 02 $125.00
AQUAMAN BY PETER DAVID TP BOOK 01 $29.99
CAVE CARSON HAS A CYBERNETIC EYE TP VOL 02 (MR) $16.99
CHALLENGERS OF THE UNKNOWN BY JEPH LOEB & TIM SALE HC $29.99
ELSEWORLDS SUPERMAN TP VOL 01 $34.99
GREEN LANTERN CORPS HC VOL 01 BEWARE THEIR POWER $39.99
HOUSE OF SECRETS THE BRONZE AGE OMNIBUS HC $125.00
SCOOBY APOCALYPSE TP VOL 03 $16.99
TEEN TITANS BY GEOFF JOHNS TP BOOK 02 $29.99
IDW PUBLISHING
CLUE TP $19.99
POPEYE CLASSICS HC VOL 11 GIANT & MORE $29.99
TMNT ONGOING TP VOL 18 TRIAL OF KRANG $19.99
TRANSFORMERS GI JOE FIRST STRIKE CHAMPIONS TP $19.99
TRANSFORMERS GI JOE FIRST STRIKE TP $24.99
WEIRD LOVE HC SO THIS IS LOVE $29.99
WYNONNA EARP SEASON ZERO TP $17.99
IMAGE COMICS
GET NAKED OGN (MR) $24.99
SCALES & SCOUNDRELS TP VOL 01 INTO THE DRAGONS MAW $9.99
MARVEL COMICS
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN WORLDWIDE HC VOL 03 $34.99
AVENGERS & CHAMPIONS TP WORLDS COLLIDE $17.99
BLACK PANTHER BY HUDLIN TP VOL 03 COMPLETE COLLECTION $39.99
DAREDEVIL SHADOWLAND OMNIBUS HC $125.00
DAREDEVIL SHADOWLAND OMNIBUS HC TAN DM VAR $125.00
DEADPOOL BY DANIEL WAY OMNIBUS HC VOL 01 $100.00
INHUMANS ONCE AND FUTURE KING TP $15.99
INVINCIBLE IRON MAN BY BENDIS HC $39.99
MARVEL UNIVERSE GUARDIANS OF GALAXY DIGEST TP VOL 06 $9.99
STAR WARS DOCTOR APHRA TP VOL 02 DOCTOR APHRA ENORMOUS PROFI $17.99
COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS
ACTION PRESIDENTS HC BOOK 01 GEORGE WASHINGTON $9.99
ACTION PRESIDENTS HC BOOK 02 ABRAHAM LINCOLN $9.99
ASSASSINATION CLASSROOM GN VOL 20 $9.99
BACKSTAGERS TP VOL 02 $14.99
BEHIND THE SCENES GN VOL 05 $9.99
BLACK COMIX RETURNS HC $29.99
BLEACH 3IN1 TP VOL 22 $14.99
CARTHAGO GN (MR) $24.95
CRYPT OF HORROR #35 $29.95
DANGER DOLL SQUAD TP VOL 01 (MR) $14.99
DEATH TO THE TSAR (STATIX) HC $24.99
DOCTOR WHO 10TH FACING FATE TP VOL 01 BREAKFAST AT TYRANNYS $16.99
DOCTOR WHO 12TH TP VOL 02 FRACTURES $14.99
DOCTOR WHO LOST DIMENSION HC VOL 01 $24.99
DOLLFACE TP VOL 03 $14.99
EXPANSE ORIGINAL GN $14.99
FINDER DELUXE ED GN VOL 05 NAKED TRUTH (MR) (NOTE PRICE) $14.99
FORCE TP VOL 01 WRIGHT TIME $9.99
IN REAL LIFE GN SQUARE FISH ED $12.99
IT DONT COME EASY GN $22.95
KILLING & DYING GN TOMINE (MR) $19.95
KISS ME AT STROKE OF MIDNIGHT GN VOL 03 $12.99
NINJAK COMPLETE CLASSIC OMNIBUS HC $99.99
PLEASE DESTROY THE INTERNET GN $10.00
PRE CODE CLASSICS GHOSTLY WEIRD STORIES HC VOL 01 $44.99
PRINCE & DRESSMAKER GN $16.99
PRINCE & DRESSMAKER HC GN $24.99
PRINCELESS RAVEN PIRATE PRINCESS TP VOL 04 TWO SHIPS IN NIGH $14.99
PROMISED NEVERLAND GN VOL 02 $9.99
RED WINTER GN (MR) $21.95
ROBOTECH TP VOL 01 $16.99
SECRET WEAPONS HC DLX ED $24.99
SILVER AGE CLASSICS OUT OF THIS WORLD HC VOL 03 $49.99
SILVER AGE CLASSICS OUT THIS WORLD SLIPCASE ED VOL 01 $54.99
SILVER AGE CLASSICS OUT THIS WORLD SLIPCASE ED VOL 02 $54.99
SILVER AGE CLASSICS OUT THIS WORLD SLIPCASE ED VOL 03 $54.99
THEORY OF MAGIC TP $19.99
UNBOY GN $14.99
WILLOWS #2 (MR) $4.99
YAMADA KUN & SEVEN WITCHES GN VOL 15 (RES) $10.99
YONA OF THE DAWN GN VOL 10 $9.99