By Joe Palmer
May comics solicitations aren’t as jam packed with homo goodness as April books were. Well, new books anyway since there’re a lot of collections in trade and hard cover. Some of Howard Cruse’s work is published in a new collection from Boom. Maybe one day there’ll be a “Best Of Gay Comics” collection. Those issues are hard to find! The first half dozen of Gail Simone’s second go at Birds of Prey get a trade. Fantagraphics will have a third volume of Wandering Son. True Blood’s three mini series were popular enough to merit an ongoing starting in May. Martin Eden’s Spandex gets hard…covers, courtesy of Titan. viz enters the yaoi market with two titles under its Sublime imprint. More goodies but you at least have to scan the list! Do you wonder of Big Bang Theory’s Stuart Bloom carries queer comics in his store? And just where are gay geeks on the show? Yes, yes, there’s the “ersatz gay relationship” between Howard and Raj but not as much post Bernadette, who I like anyway. I really want Raj to be gay…and see it unfold on the show. I digress.
Thanks to Andy Mangels who compiled 1,001 lists back in the day for the Gayleague email list. Names listed in bold are either family or LGBT friendly.
ABSTRACT STUDIOS
RACHEL RISING #8 $3.99 Page 230
Terry Moore
When graves begin exploding in Manson, Rachel suspects the cause is the mysterious blonde woman who leaves a trial of death behind her. Is she Death incarnate, or just one very ticked-off witch? Find out in the newest chapter of spellbinding horror from the mind of Terry Moore.
ARCHIE
KEVIN KELLER #3 Page 241 $2.99
Dan Parent
“Stranded in Paradise!” As summer sets in, Kevin gets ready to enjoy his first summer as a lifeguard on Riverdale Beach. The gang shows Kevin a great time in the Riverdale summer tradition, that is until he comes across a bump in the road — a bump named Cheryl Blossom! A battle of the beaches breaks out between Riverdale Beach and Pembrooke Beach, and Jason Blossom steps in to “punk” Kevin and the gang!
BOOM
HELLRAISER #14 $3.99 Page 256
Clive Barker, Rob Humphreys, Mark L. Miller, Stephen Thompson, Janusz Ordon
Kirsty Cotton had big plans for Hell after becoming the new Pinhead, but not every disciple of Leviathan is pleased with Hell’s new priestess! Meanwhile, Elliott Spencer has proven his loyalty to Tiffany countless times since his rebirth — but can a Cenobite really change? Choices have been made, and the consequences continue to cause shockwaves across time and space — no one is safe in the world of Hellraiser!
HELLRAISER TPB Vol 3 Page 256 $14.99
Clive Barker and various, Stephen Thompson, Janusz Ordon
Hellraiser Volume Two featured the most shocking turn of events in the history of the series — here’s what happens next! Kirsty Cotton is now the priestess of Hell. She and the Harrowers have been reborn as the most gruesome Cenobites of all — will they remain heroes, or be corrupted by the pleasures of the underworld? Meanwhile, the former Pinhead now walks as a man again. Captain Elliott Spencer will search the globe for the keys to Heaven, but who does he have by his side?
HELLRAISER TP Vol 1 & Vol 2Page 356 $9.99/ $14.99
Clive Barker, Christopher Monfette, Leonardo Manco
One of the greatest horror franchises of all time returns, now under the control of its original creator! Clive Barker has touched Hellraiser only twice: once to write The Hellbound Heart, and once more to write and direct the original Hellraiser film. Now witness Barker’s long-awaited return to tell a new chapter in the series’ official continuity — a trajectory that will forever change the Cenobites and Pinhead! Volume 1 collects issues #1-4, Volume 2 collects issues #5-8.
THE OTHER SIDE OF HOWARD CRUSE Page 262 $24.99
Howard Cruse
Howard Cruse has been producing amazing, groundbreaking comics for decades. For the first time in 25 years, we’ve collected Cruse’s work — from the drugs, sex, and rock ‘n’ roll days of the Underground through to present times in The Other Sides of Howard Cruse. Within this book you’ll find his light-hearted Barefootz strips, his take on Nancy and Little Lulu, and the iconoclastic sheep Shearwell going on a “trip” or two. This volume brings you the work of one of the most powerful communicators in the history of comics.
DARK HORSE
ALABASTER: WOLVES #2 $3.50 Page 59
Caitlin Kiernan and Steve Lieber
With her would-be assassin dead, Dancy retreats to lick her wounds–only to discover that her would-be refuge has been corrupted by the town’s twisted secret.
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER SEASON 9 #8 $2.99 Page 57
Andrew Chambliss, Scott Allie and Cliff Richards
Andrew doesn’t always make the best choices (see Season 6). And now Buffy finds herself and the very course of her life profoundly affected by one of Andrew’s over-the-top, idiotic… hair-brained… schemes. Together with Andrew and Spike, the worried Slayer will have to confront herself and her comrades, as well as a long-standing annoyance, the number-one Buffy hater of all Buffy haters: Simone, the gun-toting Slayer.
DARK HORSE PRESENTS #12 $7.99 Page 42
John Layman, John Arcudi, Carla Speed McNeil, Steve Niles, Evan Dorkin, Tim Seeley, Francesco Francavilla, Dean Motter, Jim Valentino, Mike Baron, Harlan Ellison, Christopher Mitten, Victor Drujiniu, Steve Rude, and Jonathan Case
Unstoppable juggernaut of comics greatness? Unbeatable, unbelievable value? You be the judge as another incredible issue of Dark Horse Presents hits shelves! This issue is packing a brand-new Aliens story by Chew’s John Layman and legendary artist Sam Kieth, the return of Jim Valentino’s Normalman and Dean Motter’s Mister X, and last but not least, the reemergence of Mike Baron and Steve Rude’s intergalactic fighting force, Nexus! * 80 pages of ad-free, full color comics.
DC
BATGIRL #9 $2.99 Page 98
Gail Simone and Ardian Syaf
“Night of the Owls” continues here! Batgirl faces off against the Court of Owls to protect the life of her father, Commissioner Gordon!
BATGIRL: THE DARKEST REFLECTION Vol 1 HC $22.99 Page 125
Gail Simone and Ardian Syaf
THE New 52 series that brought Barbara Gordon back as Batgirl is collected for the first time! Collects the new BATGIRL #1-6!
BATWING #9 $2.99 Page 96
Judd Winick, Marcos To and Ryan Winn
“Night of the Owls” continues here! Batwing arrives in Gotham City just in time to fight the chaos the Court of Owls has unleashed! Outgunned and on unfamiliar turf, can Batwing survive?
BATWOMAN #9 $2.99 Page 98
J H Williams III, W Haden Blackman, Amy Reeder and Rob Hunter
The next chapter in “To Drown the World” An unconventional spy thriller of six interweaving lives with only one thing in common: Batwoman!
BIRDS OF PREY: END RUN Vol 1 TP $14.99 Page 129
Gail Simone, Ed Benes, Alvin Lee and Adriana Melo
The Birds of Prey are forced to save one of Gotham City’s worst criminals to save his life from an unspeakable horror! * Collects BIRDS OF PREY #1-6.
CATWOMAN # $2.99 Page 101
Judd Winick and Guillem March
“Night of the Owls” continues here! Catwoman and SpRK are forced to defend the Penguin against the Court of Owls!
Hey, kids! Look! These books don’t tie in with “Night of the Owls”!
INFINITY INC: THE GENERATIONS SAGA Vol 2 HC $39.99 Page 129
Roy and Dann Thomas, Jerry Ordway, Todd MacFarlane
The mysterious Stream of Ruthlessness forces Infinity Inc. to battle the JSA – while the Ultra-Humanite waits to destroy the winning team! Collecting INFINITY INC. #5-18 and INFINITY INC. annual #1. [Stories from when we suspected or hoped Obsidian might be gay.]
LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #9 $2.99 Page 119
Paul Levitz and Yildiray Cinar
Kicking off an all-new storyline! Brainiac 5 and Dream Girl have been abducted by the Dominators…so why is the Legion refusing to rescue them? One of the greatest Legionnaires quits! [Legion Academy grads Power Boy and Gravity Kid are a couple working for the Science Police on Takron Galtos. Levitz is interviewed on CBR here but doesn't mention the characters. Plus, Vi and Ayla are a couple again.]
LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES: HOSTILE WORLD Vol 1 TP $14.99 Page 128
Paul Levitz and Yildiray Cinar
After the worst disaster in Legion history, the Legion Academy must help the team rebuild – while a threat of almost unstoppable power is rising at the edge of Dominator space! Collects the new LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #1-7!
JUSTICE LEAGUE CRY FOR JUSTICE TP $19.99
James Robinson and mauro Cascioli
No solicitation copy given for this re-offering. Are you really a glutton for punishment?
STORMWATCH #9 $2.99 Page 113
Peter Milligan and Miguel Sepulveda
Apollo and Midnighter battle Red Lantern Skallox! V-Man’s connection to Stormwatch is revealed – and it’s a doozy!
TEEN TITANS #9 $2.99 Page 117
Scott Lobdell and Ig Guara
“The Culling” finale! The Teen Titans and Legion Lost duke it out with N.O.W.H.E.R.E. and the madman known as Harvest to stop the slaughter of innocent children. This issue leads directly into this month’s RAVAGERS #1! Continued from TEEN TITANS ANNUAL #1 SUPERBOY #9 and LEGION LOST #9! [What? You didn't hear about teammate Bunker being gay?]
TEEN TITANS ANNUAL #1 $4.99 Page 117
Scott Lobdell and Brett Booth
The Culling begins here! It’s the TEEN TITANS vs. THE LEGION LOST one mile beneath the Antarctic in the chamber of horrors known as the Crucible! Continued in this month’s SUPERBOY #9, LEGION LOST #9 and TEEN TITANS #9!
VOODOO #0 $2.99 Page 113
Josh Williamson and Sam Basri
A new direction for Voodoo starts now! Pris is forced to confront exactly what she has become after being experimented on by theaemonites. Compelled to search for other victims like her, she’s offered a deal by the Black Razors…but wherever way she turns, it’s guaranteed more blood will be on her hands. [So where's the bisexuality Dan Didio mentioned in a piece with The Advocate? Is that in the new direction?]
VERTIGO
FAIREST #3 $2.99 Page 138
Bill Willingham and Phil Jimenez
We want this third issue to be really big, so let’s have Briar Rose and Ali Baba captured by the Snow Queen! And let’s throw in seven good fairy godmothers and one really, really bad one. Let’s have dire curses and desperate fights and comic asides. Let’s show the consequences of attempting a second uninvited kiss. Basically let’s have everything in this but the kitchen sink. No, wait – let’s throw the kitchen sink in too!
IZOMBIE #25 $2.99 Page 139
Chris Roberson and Michael Allred
Ever since Gwen came back from the dead as a zombie, she’s been having cryptic hints about something bad on the way. Well, now it’s here and Gwen and her friends are right in the middle of it. After this, nothing will be the same – especially between Gwen and her ex-moster-hunting boyfriend, Horatio. [Scott/ Spot, the were-terrier, has come out and has been dating. See the interview with writer Chris Roberson and sample pages here. ]
D.E.
BIONIC WOMAN #3 $3.99 Page 273
Paul Tobin and Leno Carvalho
The Bionic Woman is smashing down mansion doors and kicking holes in yachts, dodging bullets in the tropics and turning super-spy in the Mediterranean, all in a frenzied quest to uncover the real secrets behind the Mission, and shut them down once and for all. But she’s not the only one on a hunt, and she’s about to find out that you should never kick a hole in a yacht you’re on and that not all bullets can be dodged.
THE BOYS #66 $3.99 Page 274
Garth Ennis and Russ Braun
Barnabas the hunted! What does he have to do with the mysterious deaths of multiple children in a nearby town? Could it be true that Barnabas is to blame? He doesn’t know for sure but he has vowed to get to the bottom of it. With Barnabas’ recent memory problems and need to fulfill his blood lust he fears the worst.
DIGITAL MANGA DISTRIBUTION
BAD TEACHER EQUATION VOL 4 $19.95 Page 287
Kazuma Kodaka
Now what? Sensei is going on a blind date…with a girl!? Is this just to throw someone off? Or does he have a change of heart? Atsushi can only hope that this is some kind of joke. Normally, he would know how to deal with a male nemesis that would approach Sensei but this time – it’s a girl..!? He has no clue how to combat this! Confused and depressed, Ma-chan tries to cheer Atsushi, but it’s not really working. Can he overcome this frustrating feeling?
KIZUNA DELUXE VI $12.95 Page 285
Kazuma Kodaka
How do you tell your father you’re dating another man? Both Kei and Ranmaru had enough – They don’t want to go on like this. Telling everyone, “We are just roommates” and “we are just friends”. They want to tell his father that they are in a committed relationship …but how? And when? They know they could only keep this up for so long. They will be moving into his father’s house soon. And things are about to stir up even more – it’s time to pick who will run Sagano Group.
SAME DIFFERENCE $12.95 Page 286
Nozomu Hiiragi
From their offices high in a corporate skyscaper, alpha males Ozaki and Tsuburaya make all the girls swoon. Ozaki is known for his irresistible pheromones, while Tsuburaya is a noble, worldly genius. But when these two rivals end up in a bed together, who will prove to be top dog? It’s seme vs. seme – and much more than pride’s on the line!
DR WHO/ TORCHWOOD
TORCHWOOD FALLOUT AUDIO CD $24.95 Page 354
Ian Edginton
The Torchwood team investigates alien happenings on Earth in this brand-new audio-exclusive story.
FANTAGRAPHICS
LOVE AND ROCKETS NEW STORIES TP Vol 1 $14.99 Page 295
by Los Bros Hernandez
This new series reboots the beloved ongoing comic into a fat, all-new annual graphic novel length package. 100 pages of Jaime, Gilbert and Mario Hernandez at the peak of their powers: this is a major graphic novel event! [This is a new printing.]
LOVE AND ROCKETS NEW STORIES TP Vol 3 $14.99 Page 295
Los Bros Hernandez
Jaime returns to his “Locas” world and Ray finally gets his date with Maggie! Plus a flashback to Maggie as a little kid. And Gilbert brings us a furry Fritz-alike and budding film star “Killer” (introduced last issue). [This is a new printing.]
WANDERING SON Vol 3 page 295 $19.99
Shimura Takako
As shown in the first two volumes of this acclaimed series, Shuichi and his friend Yoshino have a secret: Shuichi is a boy who wants to be a girl, and Yoshino is a girl who wants to be a boy.
But one day, abruptly, their secret is exposed, and the two find themselves the target of sixth-grade cruelty. Their friendship is strained, as Yoshino makes a half-hearted effort at being a “normal girl”… and their mentor, Yuki, reveals the harder reality of being transgendered. Meanwhile, Shuichi’s sister, Maho, realizes her dream of becoming a model, and drags Shuichi along for the ride. Shuichi meets another boy who wants to be a girl, and finds himself on an arranged date with a boy who doesn’t know that the girl he has a crush on is actually a boy.
After an unhurried, almost leisurely buildup that gave us an opportunity to get to know and understand our protagonists, artist Shimura picks up the pace in this latest volume, with tears and laughs aplenty.
WANDERING SON VOl 1 page 295 $19.99
Shimura Takako
In the second volume of this superb and wildly acclaimed coming-of-age story, our transgendered protagonists, now in the sixth grade, face new challenges and find new strength, and gain an unexpected new ally and mentor.
WANDERING SON VOl 2 page 295 $19.99
Shimura Takako
A sensitive masterpiece from Japan’s most prominent creator of LGBT manga. Shuichi is a boy who wants to be a girl, and Yoshino is a girl who wants to be a boy. Shimura portrays their journey with affection, sensitivity and humor.
HOUGHTON MIFFLIN
MANGAMAN HC Vol 1 $19.99 Page 299
Barry Lyga and Colleen Doran
Ryoko, a manga character from a manga world, falls through the Rip into the “real” world — the western world — and tries to survive as the ultimate outsider at a typical American high school. Barry Lyga writes a metafictive masterpiece as manga meets traditional Western comic book style, while Colleen Doran combines manga techniques and conventions with Western comic book storytelling to create a unique, seamless — though not Ripless — comic hybrid that is by turns hilarious and heartbreaking.
IDW
TRUE BLOOD #1 $3.99 Page 156
Ann Nocenti, Michael McMillian and Michael Gaydos
Alan Ball’s hit HBO series, the sensually sizzling story of the lives and loves of vampires, mind readers, and all manner of creatures, returns as an ongoing series! With creative collaboration from TRUE BLOOD creator/writer/producer Alan Ball, this series features writers Ann Nocenti (Daredevil, Green Arrow) and Michael McMillian, with art by Michael Gaydos.
IMAGE/ TOP COW
INVINCIBLE #92 $2.99 Page 210
Robert Kirkman, Ryan Ottley, and Cory Walker
Cory Walker returns to Invincible again! What has been going on with Monster Girl and Robot? What happened to them while they were in the Flaxan dimension? All answers will be revealed — starting now! Meanwhile, trouble is brewing in the present and the New Invincible is already in over his head! All this — and where is Mark Grayson?! [Apparently Invincible's best friend is gay now.]
LIL DEPRESSED BOY #13 $2.99 Page 210
S Steven Struble and Sina Grace
“Science of You” The Li’l Depressed Boy’s world is growing and the past is starting its long journey in the rearview. What does the future hold for LDB? Featuring a wraparound cover by the often magical Invincible and Science Dog co-creator, Cory Walker.
MIND THE GAP #1 $2.99 Page 182
Jim McCann and Rodin Esquejo
After Elle Peterssen is mysteriously attacked on a Manhattan subway platform, she is left in a coma, the only clues to her attacker trapped inside her mind. No one knows the identity of the person behind this brutal beating or where they will strike next. In this ALL-NEW ONGOING series, everyone is suspect, and no one is innocent. USAToday calls it an “anxiously anticipated modern thriller…Whodunit? McCann’s done it again.” Eisner-winning writer Jim McCann joins Rodin Esquejo and Sonia Oback unite for a psychological thriller that will leave you guessing at every turn!
WALKING DEAD #97 & 98 $2.99 Page 219
Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard
The start of a new storyline, leading up tp pur monumental issue #100. After nearly 100 issues.Rick and the other survivors have “Something to Fear”. [Late in finding out that cast members Aaron and Eric are gay. Until they're dead, that is.]
MARVEL
ALPHA FLIGHT Vol 1 TP $16.99 Page 93
Grek Pak, Fred Van Lente, Ben Oliver and Dale Eaglesham
Canada’s premier super-team returns to action! The original Alpha Flight reunites to face a threat unlike any other, as the impact of FEAR ITSELF is felt in Canada! Resurrected from the dead, Guardian, Vindicator, Shaman and Marrina rejoin Sasquatch, Snowbird, Northstar and Aurora in defense of the Great White North. But the Canada they return to looks a lot different than the one they left as a new political regime rises to power and brands Alpha Flight traitors! Betrayed from within, Canada’s champions are hunted by the government as they battle to release their fellow citizens from the grip of fear and win back the True North, strong and free! Collecting ALPHA FLIGHT (2011) #0.1 and #1-4.
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #685 & 686 $3.99 Pages 22
Dan Slott and Stefano Caselli
Part four of the epic “Ends of the Earth” Featuring the World’s Greatest Super Hero: Doctor Octopus! Guest staring Black Widow and Silver Sable. AND: In this perilously penultimate issue of “Ends of the Earth” Inferno: Earth rages! We promised the End of the Earth… and this is it, Jocko! Guest staring: a doomed planet.[Peter Parker's employer Max Modell, is gay. I've no idea how often the character appears.]
ASTONISHING X-MEN #50 $3.99 Page 57
Marjorie Liu and Mike Perkins
Karma is losing control of her mind, and taking control of the other X-Men! When Kyle is put in danger, will Northstar choose him or his team? Don’t miss the end of this issue – it’ll be the most talked about moment of the year!
AVENGERS ACADEMY #29 & 30 $2.99 Page 9
Christos Gage and Tom Grummet
Both issues tie-in to AvX. The Utopia and Gen Hope teens have come to the Academy…as prisoners? Sebastian Shaw strikes! Guest-starring Wolverine, Hawkeye, Hercules and Captain America! [Because Wolverine eventually appears in every Marvel book!] [Stryker is gay.]
AVENGERS ACADEMY: SECOND SEMESTER HC $19.99 Page 74
Christos Gage, Sean Chen, Tom Raney and Tom Grummet
It’s a new start for the Academy kids! New students! New staff! New West Coast campus! But when a classic Avenger is murdered, everyone becomes a suspect — and guest-starsCaptain America, Luke Cage and Hawkeye…brawl with the student body?! As student turns on student, and students clash with staff, which cast members are trying to shut down the Academy? It’s a surprise revelation that will have your jaw on the floor! Plus: Reptil’s darkest secret is revealed! And when X-23 joins Avengers Academy, will they survive the experience? Collecting AVENGERS ACADEMY #21-26.
AVENGERS: EARTH’S MIGHTIEST HEROES #2 $2.99 Page 48
chris Yost and Adam DeKraker
Two breathtaking tales of THE AVENGERS: EARTH’S MIGHTIEST HEROES by Chris Yost, the head writer of the hit animated series. Lightning striking stone! Thor and Iron Man vs. Grey Gargoyle! Plus: It’s might vs. bright when Hulk, Wasp and Hawkeye take on Marvel’s most malicious Mensa member: the Wizard!
DAKEN: NO MORE HEROES HC $19.99 Page 84
Rob Williams and Alessandro Vitti
The Kingpin of L.A. is revealed at last, as Daken and FBI agent Donna Kiel reach the shocking end of their quest. But with the Heat drug ravaging Daken’s mind and body, his outlook on life has been shaken up, and his priorities have changed. With his old business concluded, and suffering through the final stages of his terminal disease, Daken sets out to complete the one goal that has always eluded him: to get revenge on the man he hates most in the world — his father, Wolverine. And if the whole Marvel Universe has to bleed for that to happen, then that’s just fine. Collecting DAKEN: DARK WOLVERINE #20-23.
DOROTHY & THE WIZARD OF OZ #6 & 7
Eric Shanower and Skottie Young
What happens when you get to the Land of Oz and you don’t fit in? Jim the Cab-horse challenges the Sawhorse to a race–with alarming results. Dorothy meets her old friends–the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, the Cowardly Lion, Tik-tok, and more. The talking Gump-head is always good for a surprise.
NEW X-MEN OMNIBUS HC $125.00 Page 69
Grant Morrison, Frank Quitely, Ethan Van Scriver, Leinil Francis Yu, Igor Kordey, John Paul Leon, Phil Jimenez, Keron Grant, Chris Bachalo, and marc Silvestri
Grant Morrison’s wildly innovative X-Men saga returns! The X-Men, re-imagined with a new look and a new mission, must face weird new threats including evil twins, organ harvesters, sentient bacteria, rebellious mutant youth, power-enhancing street drugs and living weapons! Joined by wicked telepath Emma Frost and mysterious powerhouse Xorn, the X-Men go public — expanding Xavier’s school to train a new generation of mutants including the insect-like Angel, the bird-boy Beak, the living sandstorm Dust and eerie telepathic quintuplets the Stepford Cuckoos. And as secondary mutations alter familiar mutants, the team is tested when Emma Frost sets her seductive sights on Cyclops, the all-consuming Phoenix threatens to rise again, and shocking traitors plot the destruction of everything the X-Men have accomplished! Featuring the Shi’ar Imperial Guard, the X-Corporation, Fantomex and more! Collecting NEW X-MEN (2001) #114-154 and ANNUAL 2001.[Ne printing, kids! Look for a discount!!!]
OZ: OZMA OF OZ GN TP $19.99 Page 92
Eric Shanower and Skottie Young
Dorothy is back, and she’s not in Kansas anymore. But she’s not in Oz, either! L. Frank Baum’s magical world comes to life once again as Dorothy Gale takes yet another unexpected trip to a mystical, faraway land. This time, Dorothy winds up in the land of Ev –where she meets new friends such as Tik-Tok the mechanical man and Billina, perhaps the cleverest chicken you’ll ever encounter. Dorothy will have to face the wicked Nome King, who’s imprisoned Ev’s royal family — but luckily has help from her Oz friends, including the Tin Woodman, the Scarecrow and the new Queen of Oz, the lovely Ozma! But can even their combined might win the day and see Dorothy back home? Find out in Marvel’s third amazing series adapting the L. Frank Baum classics! Collecting OZMA OF OZ #1-8.
STAND Vol 3 SOUL SURVIVORS TPB $19.99 Page 105
Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and Mike Perkins
Three bands of weary survivors regroup in an American nightmare — all sharing the desperation of survival in a world bereft of hope and the deadening desolation of the soul that comes with it. But when the hard work of living to see another day is done, there come the dreams: persistent dreams of an old, guitar-playing black woman on a front porch in Nebraska, offering the promise of hope. But Mother Abagail shares the dreamscape with nightmare visions of the Dark Man, Randall Flagg — he of the soulless crows, the feral animals and the creeping death of world’s end. As these two battle in the hearts, minds and dreams of the last standing, who will be the “soul survivor?” Marvel’s adaptation of celebrated author Stephen King’s popular apocalyptic novel continues! Collecting THE STAND: SOUL SURVIVORS #1-5.
X-FACTOR #235 & 236 $2.99 Page 56
Peter David and Leonard Kirk
Something is eviscerating super heroes in Seattle and X-Factor is called in to investigate. Featuring all-new villain Scattershot, who looks suspiciously like two members of X-Factor Investigations… And Shatterstar goes berserk!
X-FACTOR: THEY KEEP KILLING MADROX HC $19.99 Page 85
Peter David and Emanueala Lupacchino
Layla Miller. Jamie Madrox. Husband and wife. Lying murdered in their honeymoon suite. The moment you thought would never come is here — and not only are you a witness to it, but so is Jamie Madrox himself. We feel safe in saying this is X-Factor as you’ve never seen them before, in what has to be the trippiest arc in the history of Marvel. Guest-starring Wolverine, Iron Man, Captain America, Dr. Strange and the dread Dormammu! Plus: X-Factor is shaken by the recent death of a team member, so what better time for the return of two fan-favorite classic X-FACTOR characters: Havok and Polaris! Collecting X-FACTOR #229-232.
SUBLIME/ VIZ
HONEY DARLING $12.99 Page 317
Norikazu Akira
Chihiro drifts through life with no purpose, going from girl to girl, until one day he finds an abandoned kitten in a box. He quickly falls in love with little Shiro and couldn’t imagine his life without her. One evening, Chihiro finds Shiro has fallen ill. While searching aimlessly for an animal hospital, he runs into Kumazawa, a local vet who takes Shiro into his care. Watching Kumazawa in action, Chihiro realizes he wishes to learn the value of life and asks Kumazawa to consider hiring him at the vet clinic. Kumazawa agrees, but only if Chihiro serves as his live-in housekeeper. Has Chihiro finally found his purpose in life, or will living with the handsome vet be a little too much to handle?
THREE WOLVES MOUNTAIN $12.99 Page 317
Naono Bohra
Way up in the mountains, far from any major cities or towns, Kaya Susugi runs a small cafe by day and guards a haunted cemetery by night. Then, one night, he comes across werewolf brothers Taro and Jiro. Cheerful but klutzy younger brother Jiro quickly falls head over heels for the capable loner Kaya. What results is a dive into the hot, tail-twitching delight of werewolf mating season!
TITAN
SPANDEX HC $19.95 page 316
Martin Eden
Prowler, Liberty, Neon, Indigo, Butch, Mr Muscles, Diva — all superpowered, all British, and the first all gay super-hero team there ever was! Created by independent creator Martin Eden, Spandex charts the highs and lows of a group of Brighton-based heroes, doing battle with 50 feet lesbians, a group of skilled pink ninjas, as well as their own insatiable urges! Packed with pop culture references, nods to classic comics and chock-full of humor, Spandex is a super-hero book like no other!
VERTICAL
PRINCESS KNIGHT Vol 1 & @ $13.95 Page 333
Osamu Tezuka
From Amazon: Set in a medieval fairy-tale backdrop, Princess Knight is the tale of a young princess named Sapphire who must pretend to be a male prince so she can inherit the throne. Women have long been prevented from taking the throne, but Sapphire is not discouraged and instead she fully accepts the role, becoming a dashing hero(ine)that the populous is proud of.
The playful cartooning style of Princess Knight is comparable to that of Disney, à la Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Considered by many as one of the first major shojo works, inspiring comics for girls such as Revoluntionary Girl Utena, Cardcaptor Sakura and Sailor Moon for generations to follow. A rare shojo property from the godfather of manga, Princess Knight has been long considered one of Tezuka’s most popular works worldwide. [Ng Suat Tong wrote an excellent review of Princess Knight which may be helpful for you to decide if this story speaks to you about gender identity issues. Read it here.]
Creator Martin Eden signing at Forbidden Planet London on Thursday 24th May 6 – 7pm (18:00 - 19:00) London Megastore, 179 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, WC2H 8JR
