Wednesday is here again, which means a new week for new comics like Drawing Blood & Radically Rearranged Ronin Ragdolls. If you are like me, you may still have a stack of comics that haven’t been read from last week, but how can anyone fault us for reading. Here is a list of books I will be picking up at my local comic shop.
Like many readers I try to budget my purchases, which can become difficult when there are so many quality books being published each week. So here are 5 titles to consider picking up this week.
Note – Keven here taking over from our resident comics expert Scott for the week!
DRAWING BLOOD SPILLED INK #1 – $3.99
Kevin Eastman Studios – Kevin Eastman, Ben Bishop, David Avallone
Synopsis: Kevin Eastman (TMNT) returns to independent comics with a new creation: an inside look at the turbulent life and times of a once-successful cartoonist on the skids, Shane ‘Books’ Bookman. Once upon a time, Books co-created The Radically Rearranged Ronin Ragdolls: a gritty, funny indie comic that became a billion dollar global franchise. Now, years later, the partnership dissolved, the corporate buy-out all spent, Books is struggling to recover from the hit-and-run driver called early success… and looking for the will and the joy to create something new again. Co-created by Kevin Eastman and David Avallone (Elvira, Bettie Page).
My thoughts: Kevin Eastman is a legend and I love seeing his cover art for the ongoing IDW TMNT series but I always jump at the chance to see him doing his own thing too and this series looks quite intriguing.
RADICALLY REARRANGED RONIN RAGDOLLS ONE SHOT #1 – $3.99
Kevin Eastman Studios – Kevin Eastman, Troy Little
Synopsis: From the pages of DRAWING BLOOD and the mind of Kevin Eastman comes the story-inside-the-story: the indie comic about three crime-fighting mutant cats which launched the Ragdolls franchise in 1992, and kicked off Ragdolls-mania! See where it all began, in this thrilling one-shot from co-creators Kevin Eastman (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) and David Avallone (Elvira, Bettie Page). Written by David Avallone, art by Kevin Eastman and Troy Little (Rick and Morty, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.)
My thoughts: An actual comic of the fictional comic featured within the pages of another Kevin Eastman series launching the same day? I don’t know what is happening but I love what Eastman is doing here with these new indie releases. They look spectacular.
VENOM #14 – $3.99
Marvel Comics – Cullen Bunn, Iban Coello, Ryan Stegman
Synopsis: WAR OF THE REALMS TIE-IN! Chaos reigns as Malekith’s campaign to take over the Nine Realms sweeps through Manhattan. With desperate battles raging all around them to quell Malekith’s horde, Venom has teamed up with an unlikely group to try to stop Malekith……or die trying.
My Thoughts: I enjoyed issue 13 which kicked off the Venom + War of The Realms tie-in and Cullen Bunn is a damn fine replacement for Donny Cates who has taken a short break from writing this series. I’m not usually a fan of crossovers and big events, but seeing Venom going after a dark elf god is metal as f*** so I’m having a good time.
FRIENDO VOLUME 1 – $17.99
Vault Comics – Alex Paknadel, Martin Simmonds
Synopsis: Leo wasn’t allowed toys as a kid, but now that he’s all grown up he’s going to take yours. He used to play by the rules, but then governments and corporations set fire to the rules and still expected him to behave. He probably would have if it hadn’t been for his new friend Jerry. See, Jerry isn’t human; he’s a personalised marketing VR… and he’s malfunctioning. Unhinged ultraviolence from Alex Paknadel (Incursion, Kino, Arcadia) and Martin Simmonds (Punks Not Dead). Collects issues #1-5.
My Thoughts: Friendo is hands down one of my favorite mini-series of the past decade. It’s loaded with black comedy and enough disturbing social commentary to satisfy anyone thirsty for some thought-provoking madness. However Paknadel’s story is most importantly jampacked with memorable characters that you’ll fall in love with, even if some are sadistic hitmen wearing cute bunny ears…
Star Wars Age of Rebellion Jabba The Hutt #1 – $3.99
Marvel Comics – Greg Pak, Marc Laming, Rachel Dodson, Terry Dodson
Synopsis: IT’S GREAT TO BE JABBA! Across the galaxy, Imperials, rebels and scoundrels alike speak in hushed tones of JABBA THE HUTT, the greatest gangster in the OUTER RIM.
Discover what makes the name of Jabba so feared, in a crime story that stretches from the casinos of CANTO BIGHT to the deserts of TATOOINE!
My Thoughts: I read a few of the other Star Wars Age of Rebellion issues and thought they were wonderful so I’m more than on board for a freaking Jabba comic. I just hope we get some sweet moments with Salacious Crumb.