Ablaze will release four manga classics by Osamu Tezuka

‘One Hundred Tales,’ ‘Tomorrow the Birds’ and more will arrive in the U.S. starting in August.

Comics publisher Ablaze will bring four of manga master Osamu Tezuka’s titles to the English-speaking world via a publishing agreement with DI Books.

The titles include One Hundred Tales, which will arrive in August, as well as Shakespeare Manga Theater, Tomorrow the Birds and Neo Faust.

Sometimes referred to as ‘The Father of Manga” or “The God of Manga,” Tezuka was the creator of numerous manga and anime over the course of his career, including Astro Boy, Kimba the White Lion, Princess Knight, Phoenix and Buddha, just to name a few. Although he passed away in 1989, his works still continued to receive awards, especially in the U.S. where they’ve been translated and reprinted over the years. He was a judge’s choice to enter the Eisner Hall of Fame in 2002.

“Osamu Tezuka is perhaps the most renowned manga creator of all time and his works have been loved by multiple generations of fans for more than 70 years,” said Rich Young, co-founder of Ablaze, in a press release. “We are honored to expand the Ablaze manga catalog with four of his esteemed works
and look forward to comics and manga fans adding to their collections with these new releases.”

Here’s a bit more on each title:

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IDW explores what happened after ‘Star Trek: The Motion Picture’ in a new miniseries

Marc Guggenheim and Oleg Chudakov pit Captain Kirk and crew against their doppelgängers.

IDW continues to explore new and established frontiers in their Star Trek comics line, and their latest announcement points to more of the latter — Star Trek: The Motion Picture–Echos will follow the original crew in the immediate aftermath of the first Star Trek film.

Star Trek: The Motion Picture hit theaters way back in 1979, and its place in history stands as being the first Star Trek film and immediately proceeding the much more loved Wrath of Khan. I honestly couldn’t even tell you what the story was about, but it sounds like writer Marc Guggenheim and artist Oleg Chudakov thankfully have a better memory than I do.

“Despite watching the occasional fragment of a Star Trek episode here and there with my father, my true introduction was going to see Star Trek: The Motion Picture with my grandparents—I was entranced. I’m thrilled that IDW and Paramount Global have allowed me to revisit that time period, which was so impactful to me and my love of Star Trek,” Guggenheim said. “Almost all Trek stories are told from the point of view of the Enterprise crew, but I was interested in telling a story from the perspective of an outsider as a means of recapturing how it felt for me when I first saw Star Trek: The Motion Picture.”

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Can’t Wait for Comics | Dawn of DC brings a new ‘Superman’ title

Check out what new comics and graphic novels will arrive in stores this week by Dan Santat, Norman Shurtliff, James Tynion IV, Michael Avon Oeming, Tim Seeley, Tony Fleecs, Joshua Williamson, Jamal Campbell and more.

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

I’ve pulled out some of the highlights below, but for the complete list of everything you might find at your local comic shop and on digital this week, you’ll want to check out one or more of the following:

As a reminder, things can change and what you find on the above lists may differ from what’s actually arriving in your local shop. So always check with your comics retailer for the final word on availability.

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Drew Craig will unleash ‘The Savage Strength of Starstorm’ in May

The new Image Comics series follows an orphaned, amnesiac high school student who holds the fate of the entire universe in his hands.

Image Comics has announced a new series written and drawn by Drew Craig, an “up and coming” creator, as the press release puts it, whose name you’ll likely hear a lot in the future.

Craig is the creator of a whole universe that’s coming to life inside the pages of The Savage Strength of Starstorm, which kicks off in May.

“It’s a love letter, and homage to all the great stories, characters and creators I loved in my adolescence, and my hope is that in doing so, I’ve created something new, and that Starstorm and his world will excite and captivate readers the way those stories captivated me growing up,” Craig said.

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What Are You Reading? | In ‘Miracleman,’ ‘the character work alone would be worth the read’

See what the Smash Pages crew has been reading lately, including Dark Web, Doctor Strange, Aquaman and more.

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 reviews include recent issues of Miracleman and Mary Jane & Black Cat, some classic Doctor Strange and Aquaman, and some new/classic Bishop stories.

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

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Comixology Originals announces ‘Trick Pony’ by Greg Lockard + Anna David

The new graphic novel will arrive on the platform on Feb. 28.

While we ponder the fate of Comixology amidst all the layoffs and what that means for all those digital comics we’ve “acquired” from them, I guess there’s some solace in the fact that there are still new releases and announcements coming from their original comics line, Comixology Originals. That has to be a good sign, he says, as he realizes contracts were likely signed months in advance and maybe they just haven’t had time to sunset that program yet. Hey, don’t ruin my Sunday, okay?

Until Amazon is willing to share more (or not; their PR email seems to be a black hole) let’s focus on what we do know — that GLAAD award-nominated writer Greg Lockard has teamed up with artist Anna David and letterer Lucas Gattoni for a brand new western graphic novel, Trick Pony, which will arrive on the site on Feb. 28. It’s about a gay rodeo star named Jimmy.

“Trick Pony is a project that has been germinating in my head and heart for over a decade,” Lockard said. “It’s a love letter to all my favorite Western stories but through a distinctly modern lens. Jimmy’s adventure is about self-fulfillment on the path to making your dreams come true… and accepting that some shadows are going to follow you for life.”

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Oni Press will publish Bunn + Susini’s ‘Lamentation’ beginning in May

The gothic horror story involves a disturbing play that begins to bleed into our reality.

Horror master Cullen Bunn will once again work with Oni Press on a new horror title — Lamentation, a “horror/gothic/giallo” story featuring artwork by Arjuna Sushini.

According to Bunn in his newsletter, “Lamentation reveals the story of the cast and crew of a theatrical production of ‘Razide’s Lament.’ This strange play seems to be bleeding into our reality… and no one can leave the theater until it has been performed for a group of mysterious critics. Madness and murder ensue.”

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Bendis + Oeming’s ‘United States of Murder, Inc.’ returns with a new title

‘Murder, Inc.: Jagger Rose’ will debut in May.

Dark Horse has announced the next project coming from Brian Michael Bendis’ imprint, Jinxworld — Murder, Inc.: Jagger Rose, a title that may sound familiar to longtime Bendis fans.

Bendis announced last year that the United States of Murder Inc., his series with Powers co-creator Michael Avon Oeming, would return, but with a shortened title. (United States of Murder, Inc. was a mouthful). Taki Soma and Carlos Mangual round out the art team.

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‘Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League’ gets a comic book prequel

John Layman and Jesús Hervás bring to life ‘Suicide Squad: Kill Arkham Asylum.’

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is the upcoming video game that, like the title suggests lets you play as the Suicide Squad as you take on a mind-controlled Justice League.

The chaos begins on May 26 and will soon be followed by Suicide Squad: Kill Arkham Asylum, a prequel comic book set in the game’s continuity. It’s by John Layman (Chew) and Jesús Hervás (Are You Afraid of Darkseid?, Cyberpunk 2077), and will feature Harley Quinn, Deadshot, Captain Boomerang, King Shark and of course Amanda Waller, who just took control of Arkham Asylum as part of her latest recruitment drive.

Dc will offer codes for a free in-game cosmetic item in print copies as well as to Annual and Ultra paying subscribers of their DC Universe Infinite service. But purchasers of digital copies get nothing, which kind of sucks given that they charge just as much for digital comics as they do for print.

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Three decades later, Bill Watterson returns with a fable for grown-ups

The creator of ‘Calvin and Hobbes’ teams with caricaturist John Kascht for a new book that’s due out in October.

If there was one thing that united the internet this week, it had to be the big reveal that Calvin and Hobbes creator Bill Watterson has a new book coming out. The Mysteries by Watterson and caricaturist John Kascht is set to be published by Andrews McMeel Publishing this fall.

It’s been almost 30 years since Watterson ended Calvin and Hobbes, one of the most creative and beloved comic strips of all time. Since then, Watterson hasn’t been seen or heard from much, except for the rare interview or a guest comic strip or to turn down a trip to France after winning the Grand Prix d’Angoulême. So this was a welcome surprise.

If you’re expecting it to be something like Calvin & Hobbes, though, think again. Here’s a preview:

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Silk returns in a new miniseries in May

Emily Kim and Ig Guara send Silk into the Spider-Verse this spring.

Silk, aka Cindy Moon, the character who was bitten by a radioactive spider on the same day as Peter Parker but whose life took a completely different turn, will return in another miniseries in May.

Writer Emily Kim and artist Ig Guara will send the character off on a new adventure within the Spider-Verse — which is appropriate, given the big role she’s played in the most recent issue of Spider-Man during the “End of Spider-Verse” storyline.

“I’m thrilled to be able to continue writing for Cindy. It felt like I spent the first run getting to know her and now that I do, I can use the second run to explore how she’d change when thrown into wildly different worlds,” Kim told Marvel.com. “But the true fun will be to see the ways in which she stays the same Cindy we’ve known and loved for many years even when in brand new environments.”

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‘Arcade Kings’ ascends to the throne at Skybound in May

Dylan Burnett writes and draws a new series about ‘video game infused fighting’ that kicks off in May.

Dylan Burnett‘s new project promises to introduce a world of “fists, family, and video game infused fighting that will leave you speechless.” Skybound will publish Arcade Kings, which is written and drawn by Burnett beginning in May.

Burnett will be joined by colorists Walter Baiamonte and Sara Antonellini on the series.

“Get ready to rumble! I cannot wait for readers to get their hands on Arcade Kings,” said Amanda LaFranco, editor at Skybound. “Along with some incredible action and unique characters, Dylan has been able to weave a compelling story about family, brotherhood, and going all-in for the people you love. But really, it’s just flat-out fun! Both Walter and Sara’s colors are elevating each page with a vibrancy and emotion that’s inspired by our favorite classic arcade games, but for any fan of epic fights and general awesomeness.”

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