October solicitations (Previews #263) – part two

Continuing my look at the stuff featured in the August issue of Previews.

WILDSTORM

I kind of wish I had followed the DV8: Gods & Monsters mini-series, because I read a few really good comments about it. This is the penultimate issue, so hopefully there's a trade coming soon. (October 20)

I'm going to get Welcome to Tranquility: One Foot in the Grave #4 (October 13) and Tom Strong and the Robots of Doom #5 (October 6), but I don't really have anything to say about them right now.

I'm not sure why the trade paperback for Two-Step is included here, since it only comes out November 17. I don't know much about this, but the art by Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti is alluring.

VERTIGO

John Constantine: Hellblazer – City of Demons is a new 5-issue mini-series written by Si Spencer and illustrated by Sean Murphy, whose art in Joe the Barbarian is absolutely stunning. I've never read any John Constantine comics, so this might be a good reason to start. The first two issues come out October 13 and 17.

The "Metal" story concludes in Northlanders #33 (October 13) and the brilliant Sweet Tooth continues with issue #14 (October 6).

Unknown Soldier has been cancelled and #25 is the last issue (October 27). I've read a lot of good reviews and many people are sad to see this series end, so I would like to check out the trades eventually.

MARVEL

Carnage #1 of 5. Is this going to be any good? I don't know who Zeb Wells is, but the write-up calls him a "superstar creator."

Astonishing X-Men: Xenogenesis #5. Okay, the cover for this features the X-Men versus a flying army of mutant babies. It might be the best thing I've ever seen in my life. Since I missed the boat on this mini-series (this is the last issue), I will have to wait for the trade. But I definitely want to read this now.

Halo: Fall of Reach – Boot Camp #2. I think this mini-series is a prequel to a spinoff to a video game. So it can't really be any good can it? I'm just a sucker for this kind of hardcore coming-of-age story where young boys get bullied by sadistic adults in a military organization. I don't know why this appeals to me, but it does.

Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #15. Interesting how the famous gay kiss on the cover is conveniently cropped out of the preview here.

Secret Avengers #6. A new story arc begins with this issue. Unless the conclusion of the first arc really blows my socks off, I will most likely be dropping this title after #5.

Avengers Academy #5. I wish I'd picked up this series instead of Secret Avengers. It's a dollar cheaper and it looks like a better title. I might actually hunt down the back issues and jump on board.

Chaos War. I guess this is going to be a big cosmic event. Is this going to suck?

Of all the Thor-related titles coming up, the Loki mini-series looks like the most interesting to me. I love his insane grin on the cover of the first issue. I might check this out.

The Tomb of Terror one-shot looks like it could be good. It says it's only 32 pages, but that seems kind of short for an anthology book featuring different characters and creative teams. Man-Thing is involved.

Strange Tales vol. II #1. The list of creators involved is so long and full of awesome that I don't even know how to handle this! Rafael Grampa, Kate Beaton, Jeff Lemire, etc. Can't miss this one.

Casanova #4. Goddamn, this looks amazing! I'm so pissed that I didn't buy the first issue and now it's sold out. I looked at the second issue at the store yesterday, but why bother if I can't get it from the first issue? I guess it's wait-for-trade for me on this one.

Superior #1. Mark Millar's new mini-series. I'm not really a fan of his, but this looks like it could be good. Leinil Francis Yu's art looks really good.

I'm definitely getting the Thor and the Warriors Four Digest. I saw a lot of scans from the mini-series and it was some of the cutest art I've ever seen.

I'll finish this tomorrow with part three and a look at IDW, Image, Top Cow and whatever else is left in the catalogue.