Slugfest | Gustavo Duarte’s ‘Speechless’ arrives in print in April

Slugfest is a roundup of cool announcements about projects coming to a shelf near you from comics creators, publishers and more. Hit the links for more information.

DC Comics will release a print collection of the digital series Speechless by cartoonist Gustavo Duarte in April.

The series has been appearing on the DC Universe Infinite app, with three issues featuring Harley Quinn, Cyborg and Superman appearing thus far. Like much of the Brazilian creator’s comics, each chapter is wordless.

Here’s the solicitation text:

DC SPEECHLESS! #1
Written by GUSTAVO DUARTE
Art and cover by GUSTAVO DUARTE
Variant cover by FABIO MOON and GABRIEL BA
1:25 variant cover by RAFAEL ALBUQUERQUE AND GUSTAVO DUARTE
$5.99 US | 56 pages | One-shot | Variant $6.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 4/18/23
Gustavo Duarte brings his style of humor to the DC Universe in six short stories featuring funny moments in your favorite superheroes’ lives! Where does Harley buy her mallets? What happens to Superman’s radioactive clothes? What’s a day off like for Cyborg? Be sure to check out this entirely silent comic!

Meet Archie’s Super Mecha Teens

Archie Comics released their solicitations for April, and they’ve got a couple new titles that look like fun. First up is a new one-shot, Archie & Friends: All Action, which features a story by Daniel Kibblesmith and Ryan Jampole about that time Archie and his pals had to fight giant monsters in a mech suit. It arrives in stores April 5.

That Wilkins Boy starts a cult

Also from Archie in April is The Cult of That Wilkins Boy by Cullen Bunn and Dan Schoening. The Archie Horror title recasts Bingo Wilkin as a rock star who sold his soul and leads a cult.

“The story we’re seeing in this book is closely related to the original stories; it starts in pretty much the same place for Bingo and his friends,” Bunn said in the press release. “But I wanted to explore what might happen if the story took a dark, infernal turn, so I wove in some classic demonic folklore. What would happen if Bingo got everything he wanted, but he paid a terrible price to get there? The Bingo of this story is quite a departure–an evolution or de-evolution–of the wholesome character of yesteryear, corrupted by fame and power and guilt and jealousy. He’s achieved what he thought was impossible, but his karmic payments are coming due.”

Above you can see Schoening’s main cover for the one-shot, as well as Robert Hack’s variant cover. It arrives in stores April 19.

Jimmie Robinson returns with Junk Rabbit

Jumping now to Image’s April plans, Jimmie Robinson, creator of Bomb Girl, returns with a new title — Junk Rabbit. Per the solicitation, A new hero rises from mountains of consumer waste, mass homelessness, and devastating climate change. Some call the hero a myth, an urban legend, but others know that it’s the JUNK RABBIT come to life! JIMMIE ROBINSON brings a new take to the dystopian tale of how climate disaster alters not only our world, but also the heroes that literally rise from it. Swamp Thing meets RoboCop.

You can find the first issue in stores on April 5.

Sins of Sinister will wrap up with Dominion

The Mister Sinister-verse that’s kicking off this week will come to a close in April with Sins of Sinister: Dominion #1. Written by Kieron Gillen with artwork by Lucas Werneck and Paco Medina, the issue will bring a “thousand years of hell and damnation” to an end. Marvel also revealed Leinil Francis Yu’s covers for the final issues of the three miniseries that will carry the event, which you can view above.

Dark Horse will publish The Lost Fountains

Dark Horse Books will publish a graphic novel adaptation of The Lost Fountains, Spanish writer José Antonio Cotrina’s dark fantasy novel. It’s being adapted by writer Alfredo Álamo with translations by Jesús Pece and Gabriella Campbell, and art by Juan Bobillo.

Love, Roman Style

Writer Fred Kennedy and artist Nick Marinkovich will team on the historical fiction adventure Dead Romans, which is set to launch in March from Image Comics.

“I was nervous about this book, because at its core it really is a love story. With the wrong artist that aspect could get lost amid the mud and violence,” said Kennedy. “But Nick really understood the tone, and he brought that emotion to life. It’s a brutal story, told with some of the most beautiful panels I’ve ever seen. I am VERY proud (and lucky) to have been part of this team.”

Here are a few preview pages:

Artgerm covers Storm #1

Marvel has revealed Stanley “Artgerm” Lau’s variant cover for the upcoming Storm miniseries by Ann Nocenti and Sid Kotian. She looks a little less punk rock here than she will in the series.

Marvel reveals more Disney 100 variants

As part of Disney’s 100 Years of Wonder, which celebrates the 100th anniversary of the Walt Disney Company, Marvel announced a series of variant covers featuring Mickey Mouse and company mashed up with Marvel characters. They plan to release one a month throughout 2023, and have revealed the covers for April, May and June — all of which will appear on issues of Amazing Spider-Man. All of the covers are being created by members of Arancia Studios.

Image reveals a new cover for Night Fever

Image Comics has revealed a different cover and some preview pages for the upcoming graphic novel Night Fever by Ed Brubaker, Sean Phillips and Jacob Phillips.

“Just when I thought I couldn’t get more excited about this new book, Sean decided to do a completely different cover and surprised me with it in my inbox this morning,” said Brubaker. “This book already has the best art he and Jake have done so far together, and now he’s designed and painted this enigmatic cover that perfectly fits the tone of the book: Beautiful darkness. I can’t wait for it to hit the shelves.”

The graphic novel arrives in stores on June 14.

Star Wars celebrates Black History Month

Marvel has announced a series of variant covers that will appear on their February Star Wars titles by artist Mateus Manhanini. The covers will feature Lando Calrissian, Mace Windu, Greef Karga and more Black Star Wars characters to celebrate Black History Month.

Star Wars celebrates Women’s History Month

And with Women’s History Month coming up in March, Marvel also revealed several variant covers by Peach Momoko spotlighting Star Wars women. “It’s an honor to be working on so many covers for the Star Wars world,” Momoko told Marvel.com. “I love all the characters I got to draw. They each have their own uniqueness and strength that I admire.”

Cold War heats up in April

Captain America: Cold War is one of many crossover events Marvel has planned for this year, and after months of setting the stage, it will begin in earnest in April with an Alpha issue:

It’s by Jackson Lanzing, Collin Kelly, Tochi Onyebuchi and Carlos Magno, with a cover by Patrick Gleason. Here’s the description:

Bucky Barnes is the Outer Circle’s New Revolution, and he has enacted his deadliest move yet—an alliance with Sam Wilson’s nemesis, the White Wolf. When Steve Rogers’ adopted son, Ian, AKA Nomad, is abducted by someone Steve thought was a friend, he suspects Bucky’s hand at work and calls upon the people who know Ian best—Sam Wilson, Sharon Carter, and Misty Knight—to help him get to the bottom of the attack. Has Bucky finally gone too far? Why has Nomad been taken, and what does it have to do with a portal to Dimension Z opening over a secret battleground in Alaska? 

Look for it in stores on April 12. It’ll continue in the pages of Captain America: Symbol of Truth and Captain America: Sentinel of Liberty.