Can’t Wait for Comics | A new era of ‘Venom’ kicks off this week

New comics and graphic novels arrive this week from Jeffrey Brown, Rachel Smythe, Al Ewing, Ram V, Walter Mosley, Bryan Hitch, Kikuo Johnson and more.

Welcome to Can’t Wait for Comics, your guide to what comics are arriving in comic book stores, bookstores and on digital.

You can visit Diamond’s PreviewsWorld website (which is still up; see below) for this week’s almost complete list of new comics arriving in stores. The Lunar Distribution home page has DC’s releases and the comiXology new releases page for what’s available digitally.

I should also add that the list of what is actually arriving at your local shop can vary from what’s on anyone’s official website for a myriad of reasons — so always check with your comics retailer for the final word on availability. And this week, in particular, will likely bring delays for some titles, as Diamond Comics Distributor’s website was taken down earlier this week by a ransomware attack. They’ve set up a temporary website where they’re giving updates, and according to one from yesterday, “some customer shipments of product with an on-sale date of November 10 will be delayed.”

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Smash Pages Q&A: Harmony Becker on ‘Himawari House’

The artist of George Takei’s award-winning graphic memoir ‘They Called Us Enemy’ discusses her new graphic novel from First Second.

Harmony Becker is a recognizable name to many comics readers as the artist behind George Takei’s award-winning graphic memoir They Called Us Enemy. Becker’s new book is Himawari House, which she wrote and drew.

The story began as a webcomic on Tapas called Himawari Share and tells the story of a group of language students in Japan. The book explores what led the characters there and details their adjustment to the country. The book is also striking for how Becker depicts language and language learning in a striking way that echoes trying to learn a new language and being surrounded by conversation one struggles to understand.

It’s a beautiful and thoughtful book that manages to be as funny as it is profound, and Becker was kind enough to answer a few questions about the book.

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Comics Lowdown | ‘Gender Queer’ creator responds

Plus: More book challenges, creator interviews, and recommended reading.

In a thoughtful op-ed in the Washington Post, Maia Kobabe responds to critics who have challenged her book Gender Queer in school libraries. She writes that when she was growing up, she turned to books to help her understand something she couldn’t put into words, and that she wrote Gender Queer primarily for her own family, who were supportive but also puzzled. And she ends with this:

Three weeks after I first heard about the “Gender Queer” ban at Fairfax County Public Schools, I received this message:

“You probably won’t ever see this but I am a queer FCPS student! My mom and I read your book. I loved it! I related to almost everything you said. I felt so understood and not alone. I think my mom understands me better and I’m more confident in confiding in her since she read your book. Thank you so much for creating your memoir!”

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Lemire + Sorrentino’s ‘Bone Orchard Mythos’ will span multiple projects

The ‘Gideon Falls’ creators will launch the first graphic novel, ‘The Passageway,’ next June.

Image Comics has released more details on Bone Orchard Mythos, the project Jeff Lemire and Andrea Sorrentino teased last week.

According to the press release, the project will include multiple original graphic novels and miniseries under the Bone Orchard Mythos banner, starting with an OGN called The Passageway that’s due out next summer. It’s about a geologist sent to a remote lighthouse to investigate “a strange phenomenon.” That will be followed in the fall by a miniseries titled Ten Thousand Black Feathers and then another original graphic novel hardcover in 2023 titled Tenement. 

“These will be just the first few projects in The Bone Orchard Mythos,” said Lemire. “But that’s just the start. We are planning a vast mythology of horror stories that will last for years to come.”

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Mail Call | Sina Grace returns to write and draw ‘Rockstar and Softboy’

Today’s round-up includes news and announcements from Skottie Young, Ben Templesmith, Molly Knox Ostertag and more.

Mail Call is a roundup of cool things we’ve received in our mailboxes recently from comics publishers, creators and more. Hit the links for more information.

Sina Grace (Ghosted) is writing and drawing a new one-shot, Rockstar and Softboy, that Image Comics will publish next February.

Set in “Hollyweird, CA,” the story involves two roommates, a house party and the “dreaded party animal” who shows up to make a mess of things.

“As a fan of buddy movies like Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion and Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar, it only just occurred to me that I can create a story of my very own where two gay besties throw a party that includes werewolves, vampires, zombies, witches and the reviled Party Animal,” said Grace. “Rockstar and Softboy is pure, frenzied, loving, ratchet friendship in a comic book.”

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LSH’s Polar Boy returns in a festive frozen feature

For the first time since the Bendis reboot, classic Legionnaire reappears in DC’s holiday anthology ‘Tis the Season to be Freezin’.

Polar Boy is getting his own solo adventure and an updated look in DC’s 2021 holiday special ‘Tis the Season to be Freezin’ in a story called “Snow Date.”

Writer Richard Bernatovech and penciller Travis Mercer took to social media this weekend to give readers a sneak peak into the new Polar Boy. Mercer said in a tweet that his redesign is based on the esthetics already laid out by Brian Michael Bendis and Ryan Sook, but also adding some Korean Pop fashion influences.

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What Are You Reading? | ‘Human Target’ #1 presents ‘a good union of character and creative team’

See what the Smash Pages crew has been reading lately.

Welcome to What Are You Reading?, our look at what the Smash Pages crew has been checking off their “to read” list lately. Today’s edition includes thoughts on Dark Knights of Steel, Newburn, Human Target and more.

Let us know what you’ve been reading lately in the comments or on social media.

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New comic finally answers the question, ‘Does Bigfoot know karate?’

Yes. Yes, he does.

If you’re looking for a comic that combines karate, cryptids, Cthulhu and all-out action, then Bigfoot Knows Karate may be the book for you.

David Price, the book’s co-writer and artist, is currently crowdfunding the first chapter on Kickstarter. Although he’s already surpassed his modest $1,000 goal, you can still get in on the fun from now until Nov. 12.

The Kickstarter page describes the project as “a two-fisted slugfest akin to Godzilla Vs. Kong mixed with a healthy dose of martial arts and outright carnage in the vein of Kill Bill, as Bigfoot squares off with KUNG FU ‘THULHU (that’s right. There’s a freaking Cthulhu!).  Add a solid, meaty twist at the end and get ready to follow a gentle, cryptid warrior as he finds his way in a world where anyone can be a hunter and everyone can be the prey. If you enjoy cryptids, kaiju, psychological thrillers, over the top action and a little mystery, get ready for Bigfoot Knows Karate!” 

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‘Devil’s Reign’ gets all sorts of crazy crossover titles in January + February

Moon Knight, Spider-Man, Emma Frost and more get caught up in the Kingpin’s war on superheroes.

Chip Zdarsky and Marco Checchetto’s epic run on Daredevil will give way to a crossover event called Devil’s Reign in December, one of several “tentpole” events Marvel announced in August. And in the Mighty Marvel fashion, the main Devil’s Reign title will be accompanied by all sorts of tie-in titles in January, February and beyond.

In case you missed the news, Chip Zdarsky and Marco Checchetto, the creative team for the ongoing Daredevil title, are also the creative team behind the crossover event’s main miniseries. It will run for six issues and will see the Kingpin “bring his full criminal and political power to bear on the super heroes who call NYC home.” Yep, NYC’s mayor is declaring war on the superhero community, and he’s got his new team of Thunderbolts on his side.

Let’s take a look at what’s coming in January and February …

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Smash Pages Q&A | Stephanie Williams on ‘Nubia and the Amazons’

The co-writer of the DC Comics miniseries talks about her approach to writing Nubia, the Well of Souls, her journey to becoming a comics writer and more.

Stephanie Williams has been writing about comics and making her own comics for several years, with her work appearing on NPR, the AV Club, Den of Geek and more. She’s also written Living Heroes, a fan comic/mash-up of the sitcom Living Single with Marvel characters, as well as the webcomics But What If Though and Parenthood Activate.

Earlier this year, Williams began working for DC, with her first story for them appearing in Wonder Woman: Black and Gold #2. This was soon followed by the announcement that she would co-write Nubia and the Amazons with Vita Ayala, who recommended her to the Wonder Woman editorial office. Featuring art by Alitha Martinez, the story focuses on the current queen of the Amazons and also introduces Bia, a Black trans woman who emerges from the Well of Souls.

I spoke with Williams about her work on the title, her approach to writing Nubia, the introduction of Bia and much more. Big thanks to Williams for taking the time to answer my questions.

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Fund Me Thursday | ‘Stray Volume 3: Requiem’

Help bring the third volume of Vito Delsante and Sean Izaakse’s indie superhero to life by contributing by Nov. 24.

Stray, the teen sidekick-turned superhero introduced by Vito Delsante and Sean Izaakse in 2013, is back with a new Kickstarter campaign.

You can help fund Stray Volume 3: Requiem #1 by contributing to the crowdfunding campaign by Nov. 24. This time around artist Marcelo Mueller joins Delsante on the title, while Izaakse provides covers. They also plan to include back-up stories by Daniel R. Faust and Mat Major each issue, focusing on “different Strays in the multiverse.”

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‘Criminal Macabre’ returns as a graphic novel next year from Dark Horse

Steve Niles and Syzmon Kudranski team up for a new graphic novel featuring supernatural detective Cal McDonald.

Dark Horse has announced that Steve Niles and Szymon Kudranski will bring Niles’ supernatural detective, Cal McDonald, back for more macabre action in a self-contained hardcover graphic novel.

Criminal Macabre: Spirit of the Demon will bring McDonald out of retirement for more monster killing. It’s expected to arrive in stores next summer.

“For this graphic novel I’ve taken a slightly more serious approach to Cal McDonald,” Niles said. “It’s a much moodier piece, and the art by Szymon is dark. It’s about falling into Hell so it fits well.”

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