Image Previews Picks: January 2020
Above-the-Board Recommendation:
Lazarus vol. 6: Risen I
Greg Rucka and Michael Lark’s dystopian sci-fi action/drama made its long-awaited return to the realm of serialized comics earlier this year in a new quarterly format. The idea was that this new schedule would allow the creators to deliver the series on a more consistent basis compared with how they were failing to manage a monthly schedule. We’ll get to see the results of that here, but I’m expecting things to turn out pretty well given the overall quality of the series so far.
What I’m a little nervous about is seeing how they’ll follow up on the cataclysmic events of the end of vol. 5. Forever and her allies weren’t just handily defeated by the Russian Lazarus, the Zmey, but stabbed in the back by one of their own. Now with the Family Carlyle Alliance’s backs against the wall, Forever finds herself in the position of having to pull off a bigger win than the one she managed in vol. 4. If she fails, though, no biggie. Her 14-year-old replacement is waiting in the wings and about to undergo her first trial-by-fire.
Protector #1: This is a new ongoing series co-written by “Prophet” artist Simon Roy. Well, it’s more fair to add creator of “Habitat” as well since that sci-fi epic about savages and cannibalism was a good read. This one is about tribes living in the wasteland future of North America and one in particular called the Hudsoni. They’re one of the most feared tribes out there, but when they get word that an old world demon is living in the conquered city of Shikka-Go (Get it?), their leader, First Knife, takes up arms to take it out. It sounds fine enough. I’d be more interested if Roy was writing and illustrating this series himself. Instead we’ve got co-writer Daniel Bensen and artist Artyom Trakhanov — neither of whom are familiar to me — along for the ride.
Sex Criminals #26: Starting the final arc of the series too late for me to care. You see, I finally sold my copies of the first five volumes of this series. So if I’m going to find out how the series ends then it’ll only be after I see it on sale for $5 (or less) via ComiXology.
The Clock #1 (of 4): “Think Tank” writer Matt Hawkins dips back into techno-thriller territory with this miniseries about the outbreak of a deadly virus. Millions of people worldwide have contracted deadly forms of cancer in a way that has stumped the top scientists. It looks to be propelling the world to extinction, or just WWIII if they’re lucky. Our hope rests in the hands of a cancer researcher who has already lost his wife, but isn’t about to lose his little girl. Written like that, all this sounds cheesy as hell. I’m hoping that Hawkins has continued his habit of copiously researching the subjects for his stories here. Because a little plausible science would go a long way towards making this sound less like a brainless summer blockbuster and more like an enjoyable riff on the works of Crichton.
Monstress #25: And here we are at the return of ongoing series I actually like reading. Vol. 4 is in my “to review” pile but I’ll tell you right now that it’s another solid entry in the series even if it never quite lets me shake the feeling that I should go back and re-read the previous volumes in the series before picking up the new one. Anyway, the solicitation text for this issue lets us know that the war between the Federation and the Arcanics is all but assured while Maika faces a choice between striking out on her own and helping her friends. Her decision here will likely be a good indication of how much longer this series is set to run, since the clear endgame here will surely have Maika learning to trust and allowing herself to have friends. If she does that in this arc, then the end is near. If she doesn’t, then expect “Monstress” to run for a good long while yet.
Reaver vol. 1: Hell’s Half-Dozen: Or, what you get when you put half of “The Dirty Dozen” into a fantasy setting. I remember thinking that this sounded like an interesting premise, even if it is coming from Justin Jordan. I’ve yet to read a story from the writer of “Luther Strode” that didn’t prize style over substance to its detriment. But it’s been a while so I guess it’s time to see if he’s learned any new tricks. Regardless of how the writing turns out, Rebekah Isaacs is providing the art so it’ll look good at least.
Criminal #12: Billed as the end of the “Cruel Summer” arc. Where Teeg Lawless meets his destiny. Hey, you know what would be funny? If it’s revealed in this issue that Teeg didn’t die. He managed to escape whatever awful situation he found himself in and just left his sons to fend for themselves. It’d be funny, but also the kind of funny that “Criminal” just doesn’t do. Now that I’ve got that out of my system, it’s time to get back to waiting for any issues of this series beyond the “Bad Weekend” two-parter to be collected.