May 2015 New Graphic Novel Recommends!

Title

Creators

ISBN

Bind

RRP

Publisher

ABC Warriors: Return to Mars 

Pat Mills, Clint Langley

9781781083437

HB

14.99

2000 AD

The Shrap is back!

Mars, the far future. Tasked with increasing the peace on the war-ravaged Red Planet, the A.B.C. Warriors are reunited with one of their oldest number – the mechanic known as Tubal Caine AKA Happy Shrapnel. As Happy explains how he died and was subsequently resurrected by Medusa (the planetary consciousness).

Happy’s story exposes the identity of the villain responsible for most of the trouble on Mars – ‘the father of all A.B.C. Warriors’ needs to be executed, and the Warriors are going to need the help of another old ally to carry out the mission…

Caliban

Garth Ennis, Facundo  Pericio

9781592912506

PB

£14.99

Avatar Press

The crew of the mining ship Caliban is on a routine mission deep in the universe and confident that nothing outside the normal humdrum monotony of space travel will occur. But when they encounter an alien vessel their dreams of a simple mission turn into a nightmare unfolding along the lonely corridors of the cold steel ship. Something is stalking them and systematically eliminating the few remaining personnel one by one.

How can you fight something you can’t even understand? Claustrophobic terror grips the crew now as they attempt to escape the thing that has waited patiently for them to eventually arrive in the vast lonely darkness. No one is safe in deep space.

Revolutionary comics writer Garth Ennis (Preacher, Crossed) takes you down a desolate corridor with the type of high tension paranoid storytelling that will leave a lasting mark on you. Beautifully illustrated by Facundo Pericio (Fashion Beast), Caliban is a must read for horror and sci-fi fans alike. This volume collects the Caliban #1 – 7 comic book series.

Uber Vol.3

Kieron Gillen, Daniel Gete

9781592912513

PB

£14.99

Avatar Press

The horrors of enhanced soldier war have taken a dire turn for the Allies. Their attempts to develop a counter to the German Battleship Ubers have led to a crossroads in development. But the discovery that the Nazis have not only discovered the same weapons, but have improved upon them, leaves a terrible gouge in their mounting defenses.

With both sides suffering herculean losses and the devastation of world war decimating every nation, the escalation of super human combat is making the Allies desperate for foothold. The horrors of super human warfare are immeasurable!

Kieron Gillen (Journey into Mystery) has created a unique and terrifying mix of the fantastic and the horrible that will leave you speechless in the blood-soaked pages of Uber. This volume collects issues #12 – 17 of the ongoing Uber comic book series.

12 Reasons To Die Volume 1

See below…

9781628750126

PB

£10.99

Black Mask Studios

Created by Ghostface Killah & Adrian Younge * Story by Adrian Younge, CE Garcia, Matthew Rosenberg * Writers: Matthew Rosenberg, Patrick Kindlon * Artists: Breno Tamura, Gus Storms * Colors: Jean Paul-Csuka * Transition Splash: David Murdoch * Letters: Frank Barbiere, Jim Campbell * Production Artist: Vincent Kukua, Ed Brisson * Produced by Bob Perry & Matt Pizzolo * Executive Produced by RZA * Guest Artists: Kyle Strahm * Joseph Infurnari * Dave Murdoch * Brian Level * Tim Seeley * Nate Powell * Tyler Crook * Toby Cypress

“This comic looks awesome!” – Jimmy Fallon

“Ass-kicking, gore splattering… damn intriguing.” – Ain’t It Cool News

This horror-crime hybrid from the legendary Wu-Tang Clan’s Ghostface Killah and New York Times Bestselling author RZA is the brutal story of a vengeful soul hunting the 12 most powerful crimelords in the world. A reclusive, retired mob boss has hired a young record collector named Dan Migdal to track down 12 rare records… and ask no questions. As Migdal locates the albums, he discovers each one has its own unique and tragic story – when it was first played, one of the old mob bosses of the 12 DeLucas was mysteriously murdered in a ghastly fashion.

First Migdal only hears whispers about The Ghostface Killah, but soon he pieces together the story of a young, black mafioso named Anthony Starks who rose to power as an unstoppable killing machine serving in the 12 DeLucas’ criminal army… but something went wrong, Starks disappeared, and a murderous ghost began hunting down the bosses of the old crime family. Now, Migdal realizes he’s working for the last surviving DeLuca and has inadvertently placed himself between The Ghostface Killah and ultimate vengeance.

New Suicide Squad Volume 1 TP (The New 52)

Sean Ryan, Jeremy Roberts, Blond

9781401252380

PB

£12.99

DC Comics

Once a secret to even the highest government officials, the Suicide Squad has emerged from Forever Evil as one of its most popular programs. Its mission: to send incarcerated super villains to carry out impossible missions on foreign soil in exchange for a commuted prison sentence. If they are caught or killed, no government could link these operatives back to the U.S. government. At least, that’s the theory.

This new series begins with a mission in Russia that features two red-hot Batman villains: Harley Quinn and Joker’s Daughter, plus Deadshot, Deathstroke the Terminator, Black Manta, and more.

Collects New Suicide Squad #1-7.

Deadshot: Bulletproof TP

Christos Gage, Steve Cummings

9781401255190

PB

£10.99

DC Comics

What happens when a man with a death wish finds something to live for? Deadshot, an expert marksman and cold, efficient killer, believes he has no reason to live — until he learns he has a daughter!

When he discovers she’s living in a neighborhood plagued by violence, he decides to clean up the area — by any means necessary!  Part film noir and part classic Western, Deadshot tells the story of a violent man who must take on local mobs, corrupt cops, and even a former Suicide Squad member to give his daughter a life of peace and security!

Earth 2 Volume 4: The Dark Age TP (The New 52)

Tom Taylor, Nicola Scott

9781401254179

PB

£10.99

DC Comics

Once thought dead, Superman now returns to Earth to do the destructive bidding of Darkseid! The Wonders of Earth 2 have struggled to keep the forces of Brutal and Darkseid at bay. But now with the return of Superman, they can no longer stand up to the wake of destruction he brings.

But with the emergence of a new and mysterious Batman, comes the hope that he may know how to defeat the rogue Man of Steel before Earth 2 is destroyed completely.

Collects Earth 2 #17-20, Earth 2 Annual #2.

Gotham City Sirens Book Two TP

Peter Calloway, Andres Guinaldo

9781401254124

PB

£18.99

DC Comics

Catwoman deals with the aftermath of battling her sister, setting her against Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy in a brutal display of their villainous roots. And don’t miss guest appearances by Zatanna and Talia al Ghul.

Then, The Joker is back in Arkham Asylum and Harley Quinn breaks back in with him – but is she there to stand by him or destroy him? Either way, Poison Ivy and Catwoman must put aside their tumultuous past to help their wayward friend. Guest-starring Clayface and Batman!

Collects Gotham City Sirens #14-26.

Batman Volume 5: Zero Year – Dark City TP (The New 52)

Scott Snyder, Greg Capullo

9781401253356

PB

£12.99

DC Comics

Before the Batcave and Robin, the Joker and the Batmobile … there was Zero Year. The Riddler has plunged Gotham City into darkness. How will a young Dark Knight bring his beloved hometown from the brink of chaos and madness and back into the light?

From the critically acclaimed, New York Times #1 best-selling creative team of Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo comes the concluding volume to Batman’s origin story, as you’ve never seen it before.

Collects Batman #25-27 and #29-33.

Dial H Deluxe Edition HC (The New 52)

China Mieville, Mateus Santolouco, Alberto Ponticelli

9781401255206

HB

£25.99

DC Comics

Award-winning China Mieville’s entry in the highly publicized DC Comics – The New 52, Dial H, is now collected in this deluxe edition! There exists dials in the world that hold unbelievable power – the ability to turn you into a super hero!

Once Nelson accidentally discovers one such dial, his life will never be the same as he travels the world in search of a relic that could explain their Dial H powers. But new and deceptively dangerous villains have surfaced who are awaiting their return home!

Collects Dial H #0-15.

Batman/Superman Volume 2: Game Over TP (The New 52)

Greg Pak, Brett Booth, Jae Lee

9781401254230

PB

£12.99

DC Comics

The Dark Knight and the Man of Steel uncover a plot by the Toymaster to use a secret, potentially deadly element in his new video game – the characters created by players manifest in real life! Now a world-wide network of players must team up to create the most powerful, skilled Super Heroes imaginable with one goal: To kill Batman!

When Batman and Superman are cornered by the Toymaster and Mongul, they are pitted against one another in a battle to the death, with their only hope being the The Worlds’ Finest.

Collects Batman/Superman #5-9, Batman/Superman Annual #1, and Worlds’ Finest #20-21.

Batman: Earth One Volume 2 HC

Geoff Johns, Gary Frank

9781401241858

HB

£18.99

DC Comics

Following the events of the #1 New York Times bestselling original graphic novel by Geoff Johns, comes the highly anticipated sequel Batman: Earth One Volume 2!

The Riddler has arrived in Gotham and he’s terrorizing the city with his own twisted brand of anarchy. But why is he attacking now, and what is his endgame? The Riddler isn’t Batman’s only problem, as Killer Croc is on the streets and his violent crimes can’t be ignored. Meanwhile, the Dark Knight has trouble reconciling the increasingly conflicting ideologies of Alfred Pennyworth and James Gordon in this gripping re-imagining of the Batman mythology.

Writer Geoff Johns and artist Gary Frank bring you Batman as you’ve never seen him before in this thrilling original graphic novel that continues their unique take on the Dark Knight.

Forever Evil TP

Geoff Johns, David Finch, Richard Friend

9781401253387

PB

£14.99

DC Comics

The Justice League is DEAD! And the villains shall INHERIT the Earth!

In a flash of light, the world’s most powerful heroes vanish as the Crime Syndicate arrives from Earth-3! As this evil version of the Justice League takes over the DC Universe, no one stands in the way of them and complete domination … no one except for Lex Luthor.

By New York Times #1 best-selling creators Geoff Johns and David Finch, Forever Evil is the first universe-wide crossover of The New 52. Collects Forever Evil #1-7.

Earth 2 World’s End Volume 1 TP

Daniel H Wilson, Marguerite Bennett, Mike Johnson, Eddy Barrows et al

9781401256036

PB

£22.50

DC Comics

Collecting the new weekly series that spotlights the darker, alternate world version of the DC Universe, written by bestselling author Daniel H. Wilson. You never know who will live and who will die in these stories taking place in an alternate version of the DC Universe, where Superman is the world’s greatest villain and heroes like Batman, The Flash, and others must fight for their very lives.

Collects Earth 2 World’s End #1-11.

FBP: Federal Bureau of Physics Volume 3 – Standing on Shoulders

Simon Oliver, Robbi Rodriguez

9781401254346

PB

£10.99

Vertigo / DC Comics

Every journey starts with a single step. Cicero’s started when he crashed into a TV repair shop and eventually landed in the FBP Academy.

Collects FBP: Federal Bureau of Physics #14-19.

Redhand

Busiek, Kurt; Timel, Sam; Alberti, Mario & Bazal

9781594651137

PB

£23.99

Humanoids Inc

Set free in a foreign world and without memory of his origins, all Redhand wants is a peaceful life. But destiny wants it otherwise. Touched by a prophecy, imbued with incredible fighting skills and immune to magic, he is preordained to bring about great change to a land burdened by strict worship practices and warring factions – the very downfall of the ruling gods. Created by award-winning writer Kurt Busiek (“Astro City,” “Marvels”) and artist Mario Alberti (“Spider-Man and the X-Men”), and concluded by Sam Timel (“Milan K.”) & Bazal (“Retroworld”).

Southern Bastards Volume 2: Gridiron

Jason Aaron, Jason Latour

9781632152695

PB

£7.50

Image Comics

Sheriff “Big Bert” Tubb once cleaned up Craw County, Alabama with an iron jaw and a big ol’ stick. But that was 40 years ago. When his son, Earl Tubb, returns home to settle some family business, he finds his daddy’s grave unkempt, the stick he was buried with grown into a gnarled old tree, and Craw County in worse shape than ever.

Then that tree gets struck by lightning. And suddenly Earl has a stick of his own. And some questions he’d like answered.

The hit new crime series, Southern Bastards, returns for its second volume, as Jason Aaron (Scalped, Thor, Star Wars) and Jason Latour (Wolverine & the X-Men, Loose Ends) pull back the curtain on the dark and seedy history of Craw County and its most famous and feared resident, the high school football coach turned backwoods crime lord, Euless Boss. In a place where only bastards flourish, what does it take to be the biggest, meanest, most powerful bastard of them all? Only Coach Boss knows. But if I was you, I wouldn’t ask him.

Collects Southern Bastards #5-8.

The Walking Dead Volume 23

Robert Kirkman, Charlie Adlard, Stefano Gaudiano, Cliff Rathburn

9781632152589

PB

£10.99

Image Comics

A new threat has emerged from within the walker hordes, catching the communities off guard. The time for peace and prosperity is over as a new fight for survival begins.

Collects The Walking Dead #133-138.

MPH

Mark Millar, Duncan Fegredo

9781632152657

PB

£10.99

Image Comics

Growing up in Detroit, Roscoe and his friends know all about hard luck. But their fates take a different turn when they stumble upon a street drug called MPH — little pills that give them the power of super speed, and the opportunity of a lifetime.

Now holding the perfect Get-Out-of-Jail-Free Card, Roscoe leads Rosa, Chevy, and Baseball on a lightning-fast crime spree across the nation. But as a good guy dealt a tough hand, that’s not enough for Roscoe. Before long, he and his friends are taking the fat cats for all they’re worth, and sharing their take with the masses.

But zooming through their riches at super-speed has a downside. The pills are running out, the Feds are cracking down, and a mysterious figure named Mr. Springfield is teaming up with the authorities, claiming to know more about the speedsters than they know about themselves. When time is your only asset, what happens when the clock runs out?

A high-octane adventure, MPH brings you super speed like you’ve never seen before, by the  writer of Kick-Ass and the artist of Hellboy.

If

Steve Bell

9780224102124

HB

£18.99

Jonathan Cape

In his daily cartoon for the Guardian and his long-running strip, IF, in the same paper, Steve Bell has proved that he is without equal in Britain as political cartoonist. Savage, funny, rude, constantly transgressing the rules of good taste, and of course beautifully drawn his cartoons are hated by those they lampoon and loved by everyone who likes to see authority subverted.

In his new collection he covers the years of the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government, 2010-2015, fertile ground for Bell’s genius. From George Osborne in his bondage gear, the ‘Quiet Man’ zombie Ian Duncan Smith, Cable the elephant, Cameron the talking condom and Clegg the butler to Kipling and the IF penguins, every awful moment of the coalition years is re-run before your eyes … but Steve Bell style: ‘outrageous, anarchic, brilliant, sometimes inexplicable and a bit mad (not really)’ to quote John Pilger.

Death of the Artist

Karrie Fransman

9780224099431

PB

£14.99

Jonathan Cape

*** Late Announcement – Scheduled for May, brought forward to March *** Click here for a preview of interior art from Death of the Artist on Carabas and you can check out our Creator Profile of Karrie via the hyperlink on her name in the biblio above!

On 13 August 2013 graphic novelist Karrie Fransman invited four old friends from university to an isolated cottage on the misty moors of the Peak District to join her for a week of hedonism and creativity. Like Shelley and Byron before them, they would use the retreat to tell stories. Except these would be comics, collected together in this very book.

The theme? The Death of the Artist.

None of the five friends realised how appropriate this theme would become.

The book weaves a single narrative across watercolour, digital art, photography, collage and illustration, exploring the themes of creation, destruction, and how we kill our inner artists as we grow up. It takes the graphic novel into entirely new realms.

Annihilator

Morrison, Grant & Irving, Frazer

9781937278441

BB

£10.99

Legendary Comics

Washed-up Hollywood screenwriter Ray Spass is caught in a downward spiral of broken relationships, wild parties and self-destruction. Out of luck and out of chances, he’s one failed script away from fading into obscurity. Little does he know he’s about to write the story of his life. As his imagination runs rampant, Ray must join forces with his own fictional character Max Nomax on a reality-bending race to stop the entire universe from imploding, without blowing his own mind in the process.

AVENGERS: TIME RUNS OUT VOLUME 3

Hickman, Jonathan; Caselli, Stefano; Deodato, Mike

9780785192220

HB

£18.99

Marvel

9781846536748

PB

£12.99

Panini UK Ltd

The clock is ticking; time is running out for the Avengers to save everything! The countdown to the an event that will dramatically shake the entire Marvel Universe begins here. Collecting Avengers Vol.5 #40-42, New Avengers Vol.2 #29-30.

THOR VOL. 1: GODDESS OF THUNDER

Aaron, Jason; Dauterman, Russell

9780785192381

HB

£18.99

Marvel

9781846536564

PB

£12.99

Panini UK Ltd

The great hammer Mjolnir lies on the moon, unable to be lifted by anyone in all the heavens! Even THOR! Something dark has befallen the God of Thunder, leaving him weakened and for the first time in forever… unworthy! But when Frost Giants invade the Earth, the hammer will be lifted and an all-new Thor will arise! A Thor unlike any we’ve ever seen before!

Who is this new Goddess Of Thunder? Not even Odin knows!

Collecting Thor Vol.6 #1-5.

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN: SPIDER-VERSE (VOLUME 3)

Slott, Dan; Gage, Christos; Hine, David & Coipel, Olivier

9780785190356

HB

£25.99

Marvel

9781846536618 (Apr)

PB

£14.99

Panini UK Ltd

Someone is working their way through the multiverse, leaving a trail of dead spiders in their wake! As the Superior Spider-Man faces this foe in the future, MC2’s Spider-Girl finds herself under attack! Spider-themed heroes everywhere, in every world, begin to falter and fall. How can our Spider-Man possibly hope to survive against this interdimensional onslaught?

Collects: Amazing Spider-Man 7-15, Superior Spider-Man 32-33, Free Comic Book Day 2014 (Guardians of the Galaxy) 1 (5 Page Spider-Man Story), Spider-Verse 1, Spider-Verse Team-Up 1-3 & more

PANINI: When Morlun the vampiric entity, a nigh unstoppable force of evil, and his deadly brood threaten spider-characters throughout the multiverse, it will take every Spider-Man ever to save the day! Collecting Amazing Spider-Man Vol.4 #9-14.

The Hunter

Joe Sparrow

9781907704987

SS

£6.50

Nobrow

See PREVIEW PAGES on Carabas!

In a time centuries before our own, one arrogant hunter has grown bored of sport. Only the legends of a mythical beast excite him now, but when he goes hunting for the creature he quickly discovers that he is outmatched. Because this beast is not any mythical animal but is composed of all the hunted prey killed in the past, and it is most certainly out for revenge.

Joe Sparrow was born in London and grew up in Cornwall, UK. He took an art foundation at Falmouth University and then moved to London to study Illustration at Kingston University, where he specialised in animation. He has been commissioned to work on commercial animation for various studios, exhibited as part of the 72Demons project and self-published several of his own comics which are sold at fairs and conventions.

“Joe Sparrow… one of the rare folk who will appeal to readers all over the comics spectrum.” – Martin Steenton, Blank Slate”

End of a Century: Nineties Album Reviews in Pictures

Run Wrake

9781906838959

HB

£19.99

Self Made Hero

Run Wrake’s career as an animator and graphic designer was distinguished by an engagement with music, from the videos he produced for the Gang of Four and Howie B. to visuals he created for the live shows of U2 and the Rolling Stones.

Between 1988 and 2000, he illustrated album reviews for the NME, turning his talent to documenting one of the most exciting periods in pop music history. Drawing on his influences – early hand-drawn animation, Dada, Pop Art and punk graphics – Run Wrake developed a unique, bold and contemporary style to capture a vibrant musical culture with a perceptiveness and wit that was all his own.

 The illustrations collected here are a testament to the versatility of Run Wrake’s art: End of a Century pictures musicians, good and bad, from the heady days of the nineties, from guitar-driven grunge and Britpop acts to ageing folk musicians and manufactured pop stars.

Evil Within

Ian Edginton, Alex Sanchez

9781782761655

HB

14.99

Titan Comics

In a hellish mindscape where her greatest fears become chilling reality, one girl stands alone! When college student Dana Robinson wakes, lost and abandoned, in a world of twisted nightmares, can she overcome her fears – and a ton of truly horrific foes – to make it out with body and mind intact?

EVIL takes hold in the official comic tie-in to the most hotly anticipated game of 2014 – The Evil Within!

Flash Gordon 4 – The Storm Queen of Valkir

Don Moore, Alex Raymond, Austin Briggs

9781782762867

HB

29.99

Titan Comics

Featuring four years worth of non-stop exhilarating, science fiction action-adventure as Flash battles a rogue’s gallery of villainy to protect the innocent, the wronged and a bevy of beautiful women from the likes of Kang The Cruel, Queen Valker the Violent, giant birds, lizards, sea-beasts and rock men, as well as wolfmen and gas spiders! For Flash Gordon, the king of the cliff-hanger every Sunday is a day of action!

Bloodshot Volume 6: The Glitch and Other Tales

See below

9781939346711

PB

£10.99

Valiant Entertainment

A murderer’s row of comic talents — Peter Milligan (Hellblazer), Duane Swierczynski (Birds of Prey), B. Clay Moore (JSA: The Liberty Files), Howard Chaykin (American Flagg), Lewis LaRosa (Punisher MAX), Manuel Garcia (Black Widow), and many more — come together for a collection of stories from throughout the bullet-riddled history of Valiant’s most brutal and relentless hero!

Meet the man behind Bloodshot — or is he? – when one soldier’s untapped killer instinct takes over in “The Glitch”! Then, Russian superpies don’t die easy as “Sleepers” takes Bloodshot deep into the biting cold of a former Soviet state and face to face with an enemy eerily similar to himself. Plus: the origin of Bloodshot retold, Howard Chaykin’s “Protocol”, and much more!

Collecting Bloodshot #24, the oversized Bloodshot #25 anniversary extravaganza, and an exclusive Director’s Cut of Bloodshot #1 — featuring a never-before-seen, behind-the-scenes look inside the script, art, and character designs of the blockbuster first issue that set Bloodshot in motion!

EXTRA: GUIDE TO MARVEL TODAY