With zombie superheroes, ’70s musical hitmen, and vampiric crime sprees causing mayhem, we were certainly offered a wide range of new release titles to choose from. It’s always hard to narrow the choices down to a small selection, but here’s just few stand-out releases you should have read in the month of June…
1 – Killer Groove #2
AfterShock Comics – Released: June 26th
Writer: Ollie Masters
Artist: Eoin Marron
Set in Los Angeles during the 1970s, Killer Grove follows Jonny, a struggling musician working a crappy job at a bar who frequently finds himself getting drunk on whiskey, as most musicians of his type do, until he gets involved with a local mob hitman leading to a new career, which of course sparks new found musical inspiration, bringing new meaning to ‘Killer Grove’. Issue 2 delves further into the world of mob killers, PIs, musicians, whiskey, mullets, and ‘70s moustaches, making us wonder if that’s really a guitar Jonny’s carrying around, given his new line of work…
AfterShock Comics has been putting out some interesting titles recently, with the likes of World Reader and Babyteeth jumping on the science-fiction and horror train. Joining Ollie Masters writing is Eoin Marron’s art style which provides Killer Grove with a ‘70s TV detective style that’s gritty, utilising pulpy colours associated with the decade.
2 – DCeased #2
DC Comics – Released: June 5th
Writer: Tom Taylor
Artists: Trevor Hairsine
How do you make a superhero crossover event better? Add zombies, of course! Like Marvel Zombies before it, Tom Taylor’s (Injustice: Gods Amoung Us Year One – Three) excellently punned DCeased seeks to enact one of our favourite comic book fantasies: what if the DC Universe crossed over with the Walking Dead or George A. Romero, with our favourite Justice Leaguer’s on the menu?
Facing a bio-techno hybrid virus, it’s time to set down your phones and tear your eyes away from your TV’s and laptops, or otherwise you’ll end up looking like an extra in Day of the Dead. At least, that’s how the virus works in DCeased, which spreads through modern technology to the human victims. Sounds like an advert to get you to read the comic… Regardless, it’s a hell of a lot of fun, and if this first issue doesn’t pique your appetite for Batbrains and Roast Robin, maybe Trevor Hairsine’s (Legends of the Dark Knight) art will?
3 – Daredevil #7
Marvel Comics – Released: June 19th
Writer: Chip Zdarsky
Artist: Lalit Kumar Sharma
Chip Zdarsky continues to up the pace after his explosive first Daredevil arc, which saw Matt Murdock give up the horns and face the accusations and guilt of murder. But with Daredevil out of the picture, what does this mean for Hell’s Kitchen? Zdarsky and Sharma’s new arc, “No Gods, Only Devils,” is worth catching up on if only for the gritty art, and will likely be enjoyed even by those who were introduced to the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen through a certain streaming service.
4 – Invisible Kingdom #4
Dark Horse Comics – Released: June 19th
Writer: G. Willow Wilson
Artist: Christian Ward
G. Willow Wilson and Christian Ward continue to drive their psychedelic space opera, Invisible Kingdom, in issue 4 which see’s Vess join the Sundog’s crew, finally bringing the two heroines together. Invisible Kingdom is a great showcase of Christian Ward’s art, with beautiful colouring choices that evoke a more psychotropic, hallucinatory science-fiction vision. Wilson’s writing style also manages to keep the pacing right from issue to issue, venturing into a conspiracy-ridden backdrop that reflects dodgy business conspiracies familiar to the modern world, just with space travel, intergalactic aliens, and extra-terrestrial postal services.
5 – Excellence #2
Image Comics, Skybound imprint – Released: June 19th
Writer: Brandon Thomas
Artist: Khary Randolph
In Excellence, Spencer Dales’ father belonged to a secret society of black magicians called the ‘Aegis’, who were tasked to better the lives of others with great potential, though not for themselves. However to Spencer it is clear that to the Aegis, not everyone is equal, thus they are broken and in need of a change. Surely challenging a system laid out and honoured by previous generations will go smoothly? Well, as an on-going series, probably not, meaning Spencer will have to find allies to help in his fight. Writer Brandon Thomas, co-creator of Horizon, and super stylised artist Khary Randolph (We Are Robin) manage to present a very realistic family, despite, you know, ‘magic’, which along with Randolph’s art makes for a more compelling read. You could say this is a title that you can expect ‘excellence’ from.
6 – Last Stop on the Red Line #2
Dark Horse Comics – Released: June 19th
Writer: Paul Marybury
Artist: Sam Lofti
The Boston subway seems to be getting a pretty rough portrayal in Paul Maybury’s latest vampiric horror-crime series. With another victim on the Boston Orange Line (which is looking redder every issue), Detective Torres and her new partner investigate some new incriminating evidence that has surfaced against Yusef, who is experiencing bizarre visions while on the run.
With art by Sam lofti, Last Stop on the Red Line has already set itself up to be an interesting new addition to the Dark Horse lineup, no thanks to it’s gritty aesthetic. Just try to avoid reading it on the subway. You never know, maybe the events were inspired by Maybury’s real world vampire encounters in Boston…?
7 – Thumbs #1
Image Comics – Released: June 5th
Writer: Hayden Sherman
Artist: Sean Lewis
From the creators behind The Few comes Thumbs, where tech-obssessed teenagers are recruited into an army through a video game to take down the government. Is this why Fortnite is so popular now? Joining this army is Charley “Thumbs” Fellows, a kid from a poverty-stricken family, raised by MOM – essentially a robo-Nanny. With Sean Lewis’ stylish art work complimenting Hayden Sherman’s politically oriented writing, Thumbs is a short 5-issue run that is worth catching up on if you happen to see it around your local comic book store.
