Slugfest is a roundup of cool announcements about projects coming to a shelf near you. Hit the links for more information.
Antarctica by Simon Birks and Willi Roberts, the Top Cow miniseries that debuted in July, will continue as an ongoing series after issue #5.
“If readers already love the first two issues of volume one, they’re going to love this new arc as we get the chance to delve deep into the previous events surrounding the Fracture and explore the Hannahs’ stories,” Birks said. “We’re thrilled to once again be working with the team at Top Cow. Not only have they been professional, but they’ve really taken the time to get to know us, and I’m delighted they love the book as much as we do. Antarctica takes no prisoners, and I’m excited to share our adventure with the readers. Willi and I have created something exceptional; an incredible experience full of unique twists and turns to keep everyone guessing right up until the end. As if one married The Fugitive with The Cabin in the Woods.”
Top Cow said the next arc will take readers back in time before the events of the first five issues:
Though Antarctica has been a unique blend of Stargate and His Dark Materials, the second arc will throw readers back to a time before Hannah’s father, Jerome, disappeared. The creators will continue to deliver twists and turns, introduce new characters—both good and bad—and the excitement and mystery will continue to play out against the backdrop of snow and ice.
Issue #6 will arrive in stores Dec. 13 with two covers (shown above) by Roberts and Lyndon White.
Next April will bring another entry in the collaboration between Marvel and Scholastic, as Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur star in a new story, “Wreck and Roll,” by Stephanie Williams and Asia Simone:
When a rad-skating band of thieves starts going wild, it’s up to Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur to take to the streets and put a stop to their crime spree—while making sure to bust a few sweet moves along the way! But can Lunella balance fighting crime and training with her all-new, all awesome derby team—especially when it turns out that team might be up to no good? Set against the backdrop of her vibrant Lower East Side community, this hilarious graphic novel with a diverse cast of characters will be a hit with kids everywhere when it hits shelves on April 2.
Declan Shalvey and Andrea Broccardo’s run on Alien will continue this fall with a new series, simply titled Alien, that will take place in two time periods and feature Shalvey on art duties for the flashbacks.
“It’s such a joy to continue to build out our own little corner of Marvel Comics’ Alien universe with this new ‘Descendant’ story arc,” Shalvey told Marvel.com. “We’re building on what we’ve done before (with some nods to previous stories) and get to dig a bit deeper in this arc (both figuratively and literally). It’s also a real treat for me to draw a section of the story.”
Alien #1 arrives in stores Nov. 15.
Ellie Franey will write and draw Monster Crush, a new graphic novel coming from Dark Horse next spring.
“It has always been my personal and professional goal to create content that features and represents LGBTQIA+ characters.” Franey said. “Being in the [LGBTQIA+] community myself, it has been a dream come true to create and bring Monster Crush to life. It is my sincerest hope that young adults of any background can enjoy this heartfelt tale.”
Look for it in stores next year on March 12.
Tomb of Dracula writer and Blade co-creator Marv Wolfman will return to those characters in November for What If? Dark … Tomb of Dracula #1. He’ll team with David Cutler for a retelling of a Blade and Dracula encounter that results in Dracula turning Blade into an actual vampire.
Dark Horse has announced Top Secret Service, a new graphic novel by writer Zack Keller and artist Giovanna LaPietra. It has a pretty cool premise:
After achieving their lifelong goal of becoming U.S. Secret Service Agents, best friends Chris Lu and Blake Sansome are not assigned to protect the current president, but instead a retired ex-president enjoying the quiet life on his Montana ranch. The rookie agents hate their boring assignment far from the high-profile action they crave–until an elite hit squad assaults the house. They soon learn that the kindly old ex-president was actually involved in a world-altering government conspiracy covering up alien contact. Now, people have come for the secrets only he knows… and the dangerous technology the aliens left behind.
Look for it in stores next January.
Tom King, mostly known for his DC writing these days, is branching out into the creator-owned arena with a new series, Animal Pound, at BOOM! Studios. Artists Peter Gross and Tamra Bonvillain join him on the new series about an animal uprising at a local pound.
“Animal Pound is the most ambitious story I’ve ever told, and I feel like a fool for trying to do it,” said King. “But the story came to me strong, and with Peter drawing, I know we’ll pull it off; we’ll make something as insane, stunning, and frightful as the times we live in.”
Dark Horse and Stan Sakai’s Dogu Publishing will release a color version of Space Usagi: Death and Honor. The three-issue series will feature colors by Emi Fujii, cover art by Sweeney Boo and variants by Agnes Garbowska and Jennifer L. Meyer.
Speaking of Usagi, Dark Horse has announced that the first issue of the upcoming Usagi Yojimbo: Ice and Snow will come with several more variant covers, each available at a different comic shop, by artists David Mack, Aaron Bartling, Bill Morrison, Dave Dorman, Deth Phimmasone and Stan Sakai.
And speaking of variant covers, Image Comics will celebrate 20 years of The Walking Dead with a series of tribute variant covers on more than 30 of their October titles. You can check out some of them above, and here’s a full list of the participating titles:
- A HAUNTED GIRL #1 CVR E by Jeffrey Edwards – on sale Wednesday, October 11 – Lunar Code: 0823IM302
- ANTARCTICA #4 CVR C by Giuseppe Cafaro – on sale Wednesday, October 18 – Lunar Code: 0823IM353
- CREEPSHOW #2 CVR D by Rafael Albuquerque – on sale Wednesday, October 11 – Lunar Code: 0823IM363
- DESTINY GATE #1 CVR C by Giuseppe Cafaro – on sale Wednesday, October 11 – Lunar Code: 0823IM297
- EDENWOOD #2 CVR F by Tony S. Daniel – on sale Wednesday, October 25 – Lunar Code: 0823IM374
- ENFIELD GANG MASSACRE #3 CVR B by Jacob Phillips – on sale Wednesday, November 22 – Lunar Code: 0823IM376
- FIREPOWER #28 CVR C by Andre Bressan & Adriano Lucas – on sale Wednesday, October 25 – Lunar Code: 0823IM379
- HACK/SLASH: BACK TO SCHOOL #1 CVR D by Tim Seeley – on sale Wednesday, October 18 – Lunar Code: 0823IM285
- HAUNT YOU TO THE END #5 CVR C by Giuseppe Cafaro – on sale Wednesday, October 11 – Lunar Code: 0823IM385
- I HATE FAIRYLAND #10 CVR D by Skottie Young – on sale Wednesday, October 18 – Lunar Code: 0823IM390
- ICE CREAM MAN #37 CVR C by Martín Morazzo & Chris O’Halloran – on sale Wednesday, October 25 – Lunar Code: 0823IM393
- KAYA #12 CVR C by Wes Craig – on sale Wednesday, November 22 – Lunar Code: 0823IM401
- KILL YOUR DARLINGS #2 CVR E by Bob Quinn – on sale Wednesday, October 18 – Lunar Code: 0823IM406
- KLIK KLIK BOOM #5 CVR B by Doug Dabbs – on sale Wednesday, October 18 – Lunar Code: 0823IM410
- LOCAL MAN #6 CVR D by Tim Seeley & Tony Fleecs – on sale Wednesday, October 18 – Lunar Code: 0823IM414
- NO/ONE #7 CVR D by Stefano Simeone – on sale Wednesday, October 18 – Lunar Code: 0723IM816
- PURR EVIL #4 CVR C by Roberto Meli – on sale Wednesday, October 25 – Lunar Code: 0823IM419
- RADIANT BLACK #28 CVR C by Stefano Simeone – on sale Wednesday, October 25 – Lunar Code: 0823IM423
- RADIANT BLACK #28 CVR D by Stefano Simeone – on sale Wednesday, October 25 – Lunar Code: 0823IM424
- ROGUE SUN #17 CVR C by Stefano Simeone – on sale Wednesday, October 18 – Lunar Code: 0823IM427
- SACRIFICERS #3 CVR D by James Harren – on sale Wednesday, October 25 – Lunar Code: 0823IM431
- SAVAGE DRAGON #269 CVR C by Erik Larsen – on sale Wednesday, October 18 – Lunar Code: 0823IM435
- SAVAGE STRENGTH OF STAR STORM #6 CVR C by Drew Craig – on sale Wednesday, October 18 – Lunar Code 0823IM438
- SCRAPPER #4 CVR B by Natacha Bustos & Jordie Bellaire – on sale Wednesday, October 18 – Lunar Code: 0823IM450
- SOMETHING EPIC #6 CVR E by Szymon Kudranski – on sale Wednesday, October 11 – Lunar Code: 0823IM455
- SWAN SONGS #4 CVR D by Martín Morazzo & Chris O’Halloran – on sale Wednesday, October 25 – Lunar Code: 0823IM462
- TALES OF SYZPENSE #3 CVR E by Ashley Wood – on sale Wednesday, October 18 – Lunar Code: 0823IM467
- TENEMENT #5 CVR C by Andrea Sorrentino – on sale Wednesday, October 18 – Lunar Code: 0823IM359
- THE DEAD LUCKY #10 CVR B by Stefano Simeone – on sale Wednesday, October 25 – Lunar Code: 0823IM368
- THE SCHLUB #3 CVR G by Tyrell Cannon – on sale Wednesday, October 25 – Lunar Code: 0823IM445
- THE SCORCHED #23 CVR C by Stephen Segovia – on sale Wednesday, October 18 – Lunar Code: 0823IM448
- TIME BEFORE TIME #28 CVR C by Declan Shalvey – on sale Wednesday, October 18 – Lunar Code: 0823IM471
- UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY #27 CVR C by Giuseppe Camuncoli – on sale Wednesday, October 25 – Lunar Code: 0823IM474
- VOID RIVALS #5 CVR F – on sale Wednesday, October 18 – Lunar Code: 0823IM481
- WHAT’S THE FURTHEST PLACE FROM HERE? #15 CVR C by Tyler Boss – on sale Wednesday, October 25 – Lunar Code: 0823IM488