Tuesday, April 17, 2001

DC COMICS FOR JULY

DC Comics has released its solicitation information for July.

For a complete rundown, CLICK HERE.

IMAGE ANNOUNCES PLANS

Image Comics announced plans for its major releases in the second half of the year, including new books from J. Michael Straczynski, Warren Ellis, Kevin Smith and Paul Jenkins and a new G.I. Joe series.

"I'm very proud this line-up of books," Image Comics' Jim Valentino said. "We've really got something for everyone this year."

Here's a rundown of Image's plans:

JULY

Commemorating the studio's 500th publication, the comics of Top Cow 500 mark milestones for Image founder Marc Silvestri's studio. Witchblade #50 will be a major turning point in the story with origin revelations, returning characters, and a new direction. Jackie Estacado learns some hard lessons in Darkness #40, which marks Dale Keown's return to Image. Both comics are written by Paul Jenkins who also joins forces this month with Kyle Hotz for the first issue of The Agency.

Warlands: Age of Ice, by Pat Lee and Adrian Tsang, is set 200 years after the end of the first Warlands series and delves into the mythology of the fantasy world.

Dawn Brown continues the saga of her bounty hunter heroine, Chane, in the full-color three-issue series, Little Red Hot: Bound.

Greg Capullo's post-future Frankenstein returns with a vengeance in Todd McFarlane Productions' The Creech: Out For Blood.

Image's "Kevin Smith Summer" continues as July concludes, with the first Image printing of Clerks. This black-and-white trade paperback features the art of Jim Mahfood, Phil Hester and Ande Parks. The book has an all-new Jay and Silent Bob photo cover.

AUGUST

Bluntman and Chronic features the stone-free super-heroes who are known by Smith's fans as the alter-egos of his signature creations, Jay and Silent Bob. Written by Smith and drawn and colored by the Powers team of Michael Avon Oeming and Pat Garrahy, this graphic novel is timed to tie in with the nationwide release of Smith's new film, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back.

Universe, a new Top Cow book written by Paul Jenkins and illustrated by Clayton Crain, is released. Universe is a major event that will solidify Top Cow's world and launch no fewer than four new titles.

Warlands: Volume One, collects the first six issues of the fantasy series, Studio X-D's first solo book Last Shot premieres.

The first softcover edition of Kabuki: Metamorphosis, David Mack's most ambitious graphic novel, is released. Mack uses a wide variety of mixed media fine art techniques to create this poetic meditation on identity, psychology, gender and culture.

Powers #1/2 will have a wide release.

Mr. Right, by Tom DeFalco and Ron Frenz, premieres.

SEPTEMBER

A new title from J. Michael Straczynski will debut, although Image isn't revealing details yet.

Image begins a new G.I. Joe series, picking up where the 1980s series leaves off. Written by Josh Blaylock and drawn by Steven Kurth, the first issue of G.I. Joe ships with a cover by J. Scott Campbell.

Riftwave debuts from Hyperwerks, featuring such characters as Deity and Catseye.

Titans writer Jay Faerber's first creator-owned series, Noble Causes, launches with a #0 teaser issue. Faerber describes his characters as "the Kennedys with super-powers." This issue sets the stage for the story coming in December's Noble Causes ongoing series.

Image releases the Powers Script Book by Brian Michael Bendis, a fully illustrated collection of scripts from the comic.

OCTOBER

Tellos: Kindred Spirits, by Todd DeZago and Mike Wieringo presents issues #6-10 of the series, plus the five-page feature from Section Zero #1 and other features.

Dan Mishkin and Tom Mandrake's creator-owned project, Creeps, debuts.

Minotaur Press' Down, by Warren Ellis and Tony Harris, begins a six-issue run.

NOVEMBER

Inferno, the latest series from Top Cow, will be drawn by founding Image partner Marc Silvestri.

Black Tide, written by Bishop and drawn by Mike S. Miller, launches from TidalWave Studios.

DreamWave explores new territory in the world of Warlands with Banished Knights.

DECEMBER

The Manhunter Project, a new graphic novel with art by Jay Anacleto, starts the month.

Noble Causes returns in December as an on-going series. This adventure of a super-hero family, drawn by newcomer Billy Dallas Patton, concentrates on the family dynamic.

Witchblade co-creator David Wohl and artist Keu Cha begin the new Top Cow series Nottingham.

Darkminds: Macropolis picks up where Darkminds: Paradox ended, reuniting the creators and moving deeper into the world they've built.

BRIEFLY