Tradewaiting – November 21st, 2018 Releases: Comics To Be Thankful For
by Noah Sharma
So, without further ado, here’s what’s coming to the bookshelves of your LCS this fine week of November 21st, 2018.
HIGHLIGHTS
I don’t know if its a good or a bad thing that the New 52 era seems so long ago, but, looking back at it, it’s clear that DC was fighting to make every title unique and successful. Some books won that fight – Batman came back swinging, Dial H and Animal Man got moody and beloved updates, and even wild ideas like Demon Knights blossomed – others crashed and burned – I’m looking at Blue Beetle and Captain Atom – but Detective Comics didn’t really do either. Throughout the entire New 52 period, Tec bounced from idea to idea, searching for an identity. None of the attempts were unanimous winners, but several were very interesting takes on the Batman brand, looking for the right reader.One of these was Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato’s run on the title. Backed by the duo’s famously breathtaking art, Manapul and Buccellato’s Detective was something of a return to the title’s Bronze Age heyday. Here we saw a Batman who was a detective first and a superhero second, constrained by his mortality and often mistaken but still undeniably skilled. The villains were of a more grounded pedigree, seeing returns from the Mad Hatter; Anarky; and even The Squid(!), but the action was decidedly not.
Just like the classics that blurred the line between the brooding human gargoyle of the 90s and shark-repelling Batusi-er of the 60s, these stories were chock full of wild setpieces designed to put the art and excitement of the medium at the forefront. Wanna see Batman punch a motorcycle out of the air? We got that. Sumo wrestle in a shipping crate? Why not! Fight a giant squid? Of course!
The Englehartian tone of the book is completed by a focus on supporting characters, the GCPD and organized crime particularly, with this run seeing one of the best versions of Harvey Bullock in years.
And, of course, it’s gorgeous. The color alone is breathtaking, but Manapul’s clever layouts and iconic renderings make this a visual feast.
The full run of thirteen issues, plus some promotional comics, is collected here for the first time in a deluxe hardcover format that retails for $39.99. Considering the number of issues and the hardcover presentation, that’s actually a pretty good deal, though its not quite an impulse buy. This one is not an undeniable classic. As I said, Tec never found its voice during the New 52. The writing wavers and the plots are not going to excite everyone the same way. But between the beautiful art and the overwhelming tone of the issues, this is a gift to those for whom the Bronze age sensibility and brilliant aesthetics resonate.
Unnatural vol. 1: Awakening
Written and drawn by DC Comics: Bombshells‘ Mirka Andolfo, Unnatural is a series that you may have heard about. Originally published in Italy, it follows Leslie, a big city pig-girl whose normal life has been interrupted by two unusual developments. First, she’s started having some intense, sexy dreams about a white wolf and, second, it’s almost time for her to marry, as decreed by the totalitarian government that strictly enforces breeding and absolutely will not tolerate “unnatural” interspecies romance!
It’s an interesting premise and one that focuses less on giving you the answers about this world and more on the day to day of living in it, the being normal in it and letting you crave more. It’s honestly all the more timely for its quiet, ‘this is normal’ perspective on living under a totalitarian regime, intent on dictating your sex life rather than resistance. It starts out as almost a slice of life in this very strange world. But by the time you put this four-issue collection down, I assure you that things will have gone to a very different place than you expected…
Speaking of expectations, Unnatural has earned a modicum of notoriety for its sexuality. What’s interesting about that is that, at least so far, it’s not really erotic sci-fi and it’s definitely not pornographic. Somewhat regularly we get a panel or a page of steaminess, but it’s usually brief and always presented as a surprising, intrusive fantasy. You’ll spend a lot more time dealing with first date outfits and anxiety-induced pajama parties than skimpy lingerie. I mean, when Andolfo wants things to be sexy she manages just fine, but I feel like it’s been given undue focus.
Unnatural is less about the sex than the stigma, the feeling ashamed or changing your life to be able not to and that leaves it a fascinating sci-fi world to explore. You’ll get some sex-positive female-centered cheesecake but it comes with a story that’s likely to surprise you. The first four issues will get you all caught up and are selling for that sweet Image vol. 1 price of $9.99. Whether you hadn’t heard or were just embarrassed to ask your LCS for singles, there’s nothing unnatural about snatching this one up now that its in trade.
Justice League vol. 1: The Totality
The Justice League is DC Comics’ biggest heroes together in one place. And they haven’t felt much bigger in recent years than under Scott Snyder‘s pen. Channelling the same ethos as Grant Morrison’s seminal JLA, Snyder and a host of comics’ most talented, put the League back on the map in a big way with this seven part reintroduction to the founding seven, the Legion of Doom, and the rules of reality as we know them.
Snyder’s striven to always go bigger than his last story, and with the most famous team in comics at his disposal he does exactly that. Now that he and Batman broke the universe in “Metal” and “No Justice” it’s up to the Justice League to make sense of this brave new era. As they do, Lex Luthor unlocks a secret that not only gives him power on a cosmic scale but opens the whole of creation up to him. It’s simply this: desire, selfishness, greed is good. The whole, champion of humanity act has always been simply that. Lex knows he’s better than everyone else and it’s time to stop pretending and let the flow of the universe towards domination and entropy carry him to the top. Even better, he’s bringing the best of the worst that mutual self-interest can tempt along with him. It’s a wild ride that is unapologetic in its love of simple, black-and-white action figure smashing but delightfully complex both narratively and ethically.
Snyder is joined by artists including Jorge Jiménez and Jim Cheung, as well as longtime writing partner James Tynion IV for the first of several check-ins with the Legion of Doom, drawn by Doug Mahnke. The Totality arc is collected here for $18.99, a standard price tag with a slightly larger page count. Though it spins out of previous events, definitely consider this one for the new or lapsed comic reader and, of course, it’s there for you if you were wary of yet another Justice League #1 too.
Fullmetal Alchemist: Fullmetal Edition vol. 3
In what is becoming a Tradewaiting tradition, here’s another Fullmetal edition. Fullmetal Alchemist remains one of my favorite manga and these new printings present a tempting manner in which to experience the series again or for the first time.
Though the best is still to come, the chapters collected in this third Fullmetal Edition hardcover are perhaps the first to be running at full steam. The world is in place and we’re finally seeing resolution rather than just establishment. In fact, this volume contains two of the biggest twists of the knife for the Elric brothers that the series had to offer.
The assault on Lab 5 is a perfect adventure story, full of incredible action, thrilling villains, and crushing upsets as Hiromu Arakawa breaks down that shonen optimism with merciless precision. But even the action of the Lab and its terrible secret is less important to the story than its fallout, a trait that puts Alphonse squarely in the spotlight and defines exactly what this series’ priorities are.
The Fullmetal Edition gives the classic manga the deluxe treatment with new lettering, an updated translation, design sketches, new insert art, and color version of selected pages. It also offers high quality paper, a larger print size, and a lovely hardcover binding with metallic lettering. As long as it follows the volume and a half structure of the Fullmetal Edition means that this volume contains all of the Lab 5 arc as well as most to all of Rush Valley. Fullmetal Edition vol. 3 retails for $19.99, a fairly standard manga price for a very much above average manga printing.
Immortal Hulk vol. 1: Or Is He Both?
The Hulk is one of those characters that it’s really easy to look down on. He’s big, he’s green, he’s angry, and he’s dumb; it’s perfect power fantasy for kids. And yet, people still call the Hulk incredible because of the rich and fantastic stories that writers have woven around him. The Hulk justified his own creation with Silver Age science, but science? That’s the other guy. The Hulk’s world is metaphor. And few people have understood and accepted that with the honesty that Al Ewing does.With The Immortal Hulk, Ewing turns the Hulk’s greatest powers, his anger and his indestructibility, back on him, turning the reluctant hero into an all-too-willing nightmare. With whispers of The Twilight Zone in his narration and a masterfully complete and highly unique take on the Gamma radiation that fuels the Hulk pushing the story forward, Ewing crafts a stellar science-horror series that dives right into everything you ever feared about the Hulk but never articulated or could bring yourself to believe.
Supported by the iconic Hulk that Joe Bennett, Ruy José, and Paul Mounts conjure, the series has quality threaded through every part of it. The first arc of the series is collected here, at the Marvel standard of $15.99, and I can’t recommend it enough.
Al Ewing is famous for his snarky protagonists, heartfelt team books, and oddball comedy. This is something different and it’s good. This is one of my favorite takes on the Hulk and, frankly, one of the best comics that Marvel is currently publishing. This is a series that asks questions, even when it doesn’t care to hear your answers. Is the Hulk a product of science or fiction? Is Bruce Banner the Hulk or is he merely a doorway? Is the Hulk undead or was he never alive as we know it? Can this creature be harnessed for good or is he just interested in suffering? Is Ewing doing something wildly new with the character or is this the core of what the Hulk is? Is he a man or a monster? Or is he both?
*****
That’s not nearly all that’s coming out this week. There are plenty of books that I just barely trimmed off the short list and countless others that I should have added if only I’d known. So be sure to look for yourself as well. Here’s Diamond’s complete listing of collections and graphic novels for this week to peruse at your leisure.
IMAGE COMICS
24 PANELS TP $16.99
CRUDE TP VOL 01 (MR) $16.99
DEADLY CLASS TP VOL 01 MEDIA TIE-IN ED (MR) $9.99
FLAVOR TP $16.99
INJECTION DLX ED HC VOL 01 (MR) $49.99
MEN OF WRATH HC (MR) $19.99
STRAY BULLETS SUNSHINE & ROSES TP VOL 03 (MR) $19.99
UNDERWINTER QUEEN OF SPIRITS TP (MR) $16.99
UNNATURAL TP VOL 01 AWAKENING (MR) $9.99
DARK HORSE COMICS
BTVS SEASON 10 LIBRARY EDITION HC VOL 03 $29.99
DRAGON AGE LIBRARY EDITION HC VOL 2 $39.99
RESIDENT ALIEN TP VOL 05 AN ALIEN IN NEW YORK $14.99
IDW PUBLISHING
DELTA 13 TP $15.99
DUNGEONS & DRAGONS EVIL AT BALDURS GATE TP $17.99
RICK VEITCH BRATPACK HC $29.99
X-FILES CASE FILES TP VOL 01 $15.99
DC COMICS
AQUAMAN WAR FOR THE THRONE TP NEW ED $12.99
BATMAN BY MANAPUL AND BUCCELLATO DLX ED HC $39.99
BATMAN KNIGHTQUEST THE SEARCH TP $19.99
BRAVE AND THE BOLD BATMAN AND WONDER WOMAN HC $24.99
HARLEY QUINN BY KESEL & DODSON DLX ED HC VOL 02 $29.99
HARLEYS LITTLE BLACK BOOK TP $24.99
JUSTICE LEAGUE POWER RANGERS TP $16.99
JUSTICE LEAGUE TP VOL 01 THE TOTALITY TP $17.99
LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT NORM BREYFOGLE HC VOL 02 $49.99
MOTHERLANDS TP (MR) $16.99
POWERS TP BOOK 01 NEW ED (MR) $29.99
SUICIDE SQUAD REBIRTH DLX COLL HC BOOK 03 $34.99
MARVEL COMICS
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN RENEW YOUR VOWS TP VOL 04 ARE YOU OKAY ANNIE $15.99
IMMORTAL HULK TP VOL 01 OR IS HE BOTH $15.99
PETER PARKER SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN TP VOL 04 COMING HOME $19.99
SILVER SURFER BY SLOTT AND ALLRED OMNIBUS HC $75.00
SPIDEY SCHOOLS OUT MPGN TP $14.99
VENOM BY DONNY CATES TP VOL 01 REX $17.99
BOOM! STUDIOS
FRAGGLE ROCK MOKEY LOSES HER MUSE HC $9.99
GRASS KINGS HC VOL 03 $29.99
OVER GARDEN WALL ORIGINAL GN VOL 01 DISTILLATORIA $14.99
COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS
AKASHIC RECORDS OF BASTARD MAGICAL INSTRUCTOR GN VOL 05 $12.99
ALICE IN MURDERLAND HC VOL 09 $17.00
BARBIE GN BOX SET $23.99
BATTLE ANGEL ALITA HOLY NIGHT & OTHER STORIES HC GN $29.99
BEARS TOOTH GN VOL 02 HANNA $11.95
BEASTS OF ABIGAILE GN VOL 04 $12.99
BRIDES STORY HC VOL 10 $17.00
CATALYST PRIME ACCELL TP VOL 03 TURF BATTLES $14.99
CHILDREN OF WHALES GN VOL 07 $12.99
COMPLETE MATINEE JUNKIE FIVE YEARS AT THE MOVIES (MR) $20.00
DARK METRO MANGA TP ULTIMATE ED $19.99
DARK SOULS OMNIBUS TP (MR) $24.99
EVERYTHINGS ARCHIE TP VOL 01 $10.99
EXTERMINATOR 17 HC $39.99
FAITH DLX ED HC VOL 01 $49.99
FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST FULLMETAL ED HC VOL 03 $19.99
GILLBERT THE LITTLE MERMAN GN VOL 01 $9.99
GILLBERT THE LITTLE MERMAN HC VOL 01 $14.99
LIP HOOK TALE OF RUARAL UNEASE GN $22.99
MCCAY HC $49.99
MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM THUNDERBOLT GN VOL 09 $14.99
NICKELODEON BOX SET $31.99
NICKELODEON PANDEMONIUM BOX SET VOL 1-3 $24.99
OF BITTER SOULS SC $14.95
OOKU INNER CHAMBERS GN VOL 14 (MR) $12.99
PACIFIC RIM AFTERMATH HC TP $24.99
Q & RAY CASE FOUL PLAY AT ELM TREE PARK $7.99
RAN & GRAY WORLD GN VOL 01 $14.99
ROBYN HOOD THE CURSE $19.99
RWBY OFFICIAL MANGA ANTHOLOGY GN VOL 03 FROM SHADOWS $12.99
SHERLOCK SEASON ONE BOX SET $38.99
SPAIN GN VOL 02 WARRIOR WOMEN $34.99
STUPID LOVE COMEDY GN VOL 01 $25.00
ZENOBIA GN $19.95
