Tradewaiting – July 4th, 2018 Releases: Fantasies And Nightmares

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 July 4th, 2018.

HIGHLIGHTS

Scales and Scoundrels – Volume 2: Treasurehearts

Fantasy comics are a moderately common sight, but it’s not a genre that gets its due, especially not played straight. These days fantasy seems more likely to lean into political intrigue with a side of cosmic horror than some good old fashioned adventurin’, and much of what was great about the simpler fantasy comics of old has been claimed by ‘soft’ sci-fi. Well if you just want something with some magic and some dwarves and some awesome, Scales & Scoundrels is there for you.
The first volume followed adventurer, layabout, and draconic treasure hunter Luvander, as she found herself an unlikely member of a questing prince’s retinue as he searched for a fabled treasure trove. Now, deep beneath the world that is, Luvander and her companions find themselves separated, hunted, and discovering what it means to be careful what you wish for.
If you’re ready to pick this one up you already know, but there isn’t a book out there that better taps the pure exuberance of fantasy or the high you get watching anime. What’s more, Scales & Scoundrels is one of the few true all-ages books out there, as delightfully enjoyable for a child as it is for an adult. Sebastian Girner imbues every character with energy and clarity, but, particularly in this volume, it becomes clear that that does nothing to diminish their depth or emotion, in fact it might make them all the sweeter. And GALAAD‘s art is both wonderfully distinct and incredibly communicative, clothing a razor-sharp sense for composition in a simple, colorful style.
Scales is a series you might not be aware of but you shouldn’t miss if you’re a fan of all-ages comics, classic fantasy that still holds up, or the madcap energy of a D&D session. This second volume will run you a fairly standard $16.99, collecting five delightful issues. The charming writing and pitch-perfect art make it easy to recommend, and the wide age range of the readership makes it even easier to gift.

Sleepless vol. 1

It’s another Image fantasy comic, and another distinctive and beautiful one at that!

Almost on the other side of the genre, Sleepless takes an opposite approach from Scales, looking at the courtly and the romantic. Where Scales shrugs off its butt-kicking female cast, Sleepless dives into the reality and unreality of being a princess, finding a world where every action has consequence and dashing swordsmanship is not half as effective as a spot of poison or a well-timed marriage.
The book is beautiful, Leila del Duca and Alissa Sallah craft a sumptuous world full of color and textile majesty. The world of Harbeny looks fantastic in just the right ways, even as Sarah Vaughn reminds us that it is wonderful and terrible in equal measure.
Our leading lovers are Pyppenia and Cyrenic, the illegitimate princess of Harbeny and the knight who has given up his ability to sleep to protect her. As Poppy’s father is laid to rest and a new queen comes to power, a web of intrigue swirls around the princess, drawing in her protector. The two of them have no one but each other and plenty of enemies.
Sleepless thrives on its world, mixing culture, religion, magic, and custom into a beautiful whole. Mentions of fated stars clash against promises of borrowed time as differing traditions mix in the capital and the gorgeous gowns feel increasingly like tangles of threads pulling our lead in different directions and towards different loyalties and responsibilities.
Oddly, Sleepless was not given the traditional discounted price for a first Image collection, coming to stores priced at $16.99. Nevertheless, it’s more than worth that price, especially if you have an itch for gorgeous costumes, well-written romance, or thoughtful fantasy worlds.
Transformers: The Wreckers Saga

Despite a slew of fan favorites, Last Stand of the Wreckers is a fierce competitor for the title of best Transformers comic ever. At the very least it’s one of the most literary and self-contained. It marked a critical point in the evolution of IDW’s take on the brand and directly paved the way for the critically acclaimed “Phase 2” that followed.

During a Decepticon push, the Autobot prison, Garrus-9, fell into enemy hands. Now a handful of fresh recruits have been drafted into the Wreckers, the legendary Autobot strike force, to take back the prison and the secrets that lie within. At times funny, horrifying, and beautiful, Last Stand of the Wreckers set the standard for Transformers stories to come. Together Nick Roche, who doubles as the series’ artist, and James Roberts built some of the most lovable and loathsome characters in Transformers essentially from scratch and told a beautiful story about war, death, and guilt, essentially by smashing imported robots together. If you haven’t read it, you’ll have to trust me that it’s not nearly as implausible as it sounds.
Of course, Roberts would go on to write the insanely successful Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye, but Roche, and colorist Josh Burcham, would return for two sequels: Sins of the Wreckers and Requiem of the Wreckers. Each takes different parts of Last Stand and runs with them while staying true to the high stakes and grim odds, but both are incredibly successful follow-ups and introduce a slew of wild and wonderful ideas. You can even see me spend 2,000 words explaining why Requiem is brilliant right here on this very site!
These three stories are some of Transformers best and now, for the first time, they are collected together in Transformers: The Wreckers Saga. The 300+ page behemoth includes all eleven issues as well as the hard to find Wreckers prose stories and supplemental comics from the Last Stand hardcover. Completionists should know that the sketches and commentary from the collections of Last Stand and Sins are omitted, but all of the story is here.
Whether you’re brand new to Transformers, are a fan who missed the first print of Requiem, or are just looking for these seminal comics in one convenient place, The Wreckers Saga is one of the essential Transformers books. At $29.99 it’s a sizable but highly reasonable investment for three fantastic series. Convert to jet, not tank, mode to pick this one up at your LCS!
*****
Each of these is a fantastic read, but they’re not even a fraction of the wonderful books coming to your LCS this week. Some of my favorite series are getting collections this week, while some fascinating OGNs give you even more reason to consider the trade section on your next visit. I had neither the time, space, or the complete knowledge to give a perfect account of everything wonderful coming in trade and hardcover this week, but, fear not; I still have your back. Read on to find Diamond’s complete listing of collections and graphic novels for this Independence Day!

IMAGE COMICS

FEAR AGENT FINAL ED TP VOL 02 $19.99

SCALES & SCOUNDRELS TP VOL 02 TREASUREHEARTS $16.99

SLEEPLESS TP VOL 01 $16.99

WITCHBLADE TP VOL 01 $16.99

YOUNGBLOOD TP VOL 02 REBRANDED $14.99

 

DARK HORSE COMICS

CONAN OMNIBUS TP VOL 05 PIRACY & PASSION $24.99

LONE WOLF & CUB GALLERY ED HC $99.99

 

IDW PUBLISHING

LITTLE BOOK OF KNOWLEDGE HC NEW HOLLYWOOD $14.99

TMNT ONGOING (IDW) COLL HC VOL 07 $49.99

TRANSFORMERS WRECKERS SAGA TP $29.99

 

DC COMICS

AQUAMAN TP VOL 05 THE CROWN COMES DOWN REBIRTH $14.99

BATMAN BY GRANT MORRISON OMNIBUS HC VOL 01 $75.00

BATMAN THRILLKILLER TP NEW EDITION $16.99

BATMAN TMNT DELUXE EDITION HC $39.99

HARLEY QUINN REBIRTH DLX COLL HC BOOK 02 $34.99

HELLBLAZER TP VOL 19 RED RIGHT HAND $24.99

JETSONS TP $16.99

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA TP VOL 04 SURGICAL STRIKE $14.99

SUPERGIRL BY PETER DAVID TP BOOK 04 $29.99

WONDER WOMAN BY JOHN BYRNE HC VOL 02 $39.99

 

MARVEL COMICS

AVENGERS BY JONATHAN HICKMAN OMNIBUS HC VOL 02 $125.00

DOCTOR STRANGE DAMNATION TP $34.99

DOCTOR STRANGE SORCERER SUPREME OMNIBUS HC VOL 02 $125.00

GENERATIONS TP $34.99

MARVELS ANT-MAN AND WASP ART OF MOVIE HC $50.00

PUNISHER TP SHADOWMASTERS $39.99

ROGUE & GAMBIT TP RING OF FIRE $15.99

SPIDER-MAN MILES MORALES TP VOL 04 $17.99

STAR WARS HC VOL 03 $34.99

 

D. E.

JAMES BOND TP VOL 02 EIDOLON $19.99

SKIN AND EARTH HC $34.99

SKIN AND EARTH TP $24.99

 

BOOM! STUDIOS

ADVENTURE TIME COMICS TP VOL 05 $14.99

 

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

100 DEMON DIALOGUES $14.99

ADVENTURE ZONE GN VOL 01 HERE THERE BE GERBLINS $19.99

ANIMOSITY TP VOL 03 THE SWARM $14.99

ANONYMOUS NOISE GN VOL 09 $9.99

ATTACK ON TITAN GN VOL 25 $10.99

ATTACK ON TITAN SEASON ONE BOX SET PART 02 $43.96

BETTY & VERONICA VIXENS TP VOL 01 $14.99

BLEACH GN VOL 73 $9.99

CHIRO GN VOL 10 STAR PROJECT $11.99

CORMORANCE GN $31.95

DAM KEEPER HC GN VOL 02 WORLD WITHOUT DARKNESS $21.99

DEMON PRINCE OF MOMOCHI HOUSE GN VOL 12 $9.99

DEMON SLAYER KIMETSU NO YAIBA GN VOL 01 $9.99

DISNEY MASTERS HC VOL 03 MURRY MICKEY MOUSE VANISHING BANDIT $29.99

DOCTOR WHO 12TH TIME TRIALS HC VOL 03 CONFUSION OF ANGELS $22.99

DRAGON BALL SUPER GN VOL 03 $9.99

DREAM OF THE BUTTERFLY GN VOL 02 REVOLUTION $12.99

DREAMWORKS MADAGASCAR ESCAPE PLANS GN $9.99

ENTROPY GN $19.95

GHOUL SCOUTS I WAS A TWEENAGE WEREWOLF TP $14.99

HAIKYU GN VOL 25 $9.99

HILDA & STONE FOREST SC GN $10.99

IN THE FUTURE WE ARE DEAD $15.00

KAGUYA SAMA LOVE IS WAR GN VOL 03 $9.99

KENKA BANCHO OTOME LOVES BATTLE ROYALE GN VOL 02 $9.99

LITTLE DEVILS GN VOL 01 $12.99

MALEFIC TP VOL 01 DOCTOR WILL SEE YOU NOW $27.99

MOTEKI GN VOL 02 $20.95

MY HERO ACADEMIA VIGILANTES GN VOL 01 $9.99

NARUTO 3IN1 TP VOL 23 $14.99

ONE PUNCH MAN GN VOL 14 $9.99

QUANTUM & WOODY (2017) TP VOL 01 KISS KISS KLANG KLANG $9.99

RUROUNI KENSHIN 3IN1 TP VOL 07 $14.99

SCARLET ROSE GN VOL 03 I THINK I LOVE YOU $9.99

SCARLET ROSE HC VOL 03 I THINK I LOVE YOU $14.99

SEVEN DEADLY SINS GN VOL 27 $10.99

SINK TP WELCOME TO GLASGOW VOL 01 $19.99

SIOUX FALLS TP VOL 01 (OF 3) $7.99

SONG OF AGLAIA HC $19.99

SPILL ZONE SC VOL 01 $14.99

SPIRIT CIRCLE GN VOL 04 $12.99

STARFISH OGN $14.95

SWEET BLOOD GN VOL 10 $11.99

TRESPASSER OGN $9.95

WATER DRAGON BRIDE GN VOL 06 $9.99

YO-KAI WATCH GN VOL 09 $9.99