September 2019 saw a few landmark titles released, with world records being set and the introduction of a brand-new seasonal release line from Vault Comics. And as if that isn’t enough, Marvel fans had a lot to look forward to, with Chris Claremont’s return to the X-Men and the release of Jason Aaron’s Thor part mini series, concluding a story that has been building since he first took up writing duties for our favourite Asgardian!
It’s also a good time to introduce new horror titles, what with Hallows Eve on the horizon…
1 – Spawn #300
September 4th 2019
Image Comics
300 issues is a landmark number for any series, but for a creator owned superhero title? Spawn has been consistently published since 1992, and as of #300, Todd McFarlane has achieved the Guinness World Record for the longest-running creator-owned superhero comic book series!
With Todd McFarlane and Greg Capullo, as well as Jason Shawn Alexander, Scott Snyder, J. Scott Campbell, and Jerome Opeña, Spawn #300 comprises of five standalone chapters, each “spawned” from the minds of some of the best creative team ups Al Simmons could ask to be written by. Good job it’s an extra sized issue, too, as each chapter reflects the differentiating style and talents of each creative team. The opening chapter – featuring dream team McFarlane and Capullo – however ties more directly with recent Spawn events, recapping his most recent adventures and establishes the new status quo of the series. Capullo’s return to the series is certainly exciting as well, though admittedly with McFarlane taking up inking duties, his art doesn’t quite reach the heights it enjoyed under the inking prowess of Jonathan Glapion at DC.
Suffice to say, if you’re an avid fan of McFarlane’s gritty superhero franchise, this is a must read, though if you joined the series later, it can still be regarded as an approachable issue.
2 – Something is Killing the Children #1
September 4th 2019
Boom! Studios
When James Tynion IV titled his new series Something is Killing the Children, did it come as a surprise that it would involve children… disappearing? Said disappearances occur in Archer’s Peak, where most of the children who vanish never return. The few who do, however, relay terrible stories of horrifying creatures that make their dwellings in the shadows. Good thing the serenely named Erica Slaughter is a slayer of monsters, then!
James Tynion IV has always delivered consistently engrossing stories, with the likes of his Detective Comics work, so it will come as no surprise that Something is Killing the Children introduces a compelling series from Boom! Studios. However it is Werther Dell’edera’s art and Miquel Muerto’s colouring that really bring his storytelling to life!
3 – DCeased a Good Day to Die #1
September 4th 2019
DC Comics
Spinning out of the pages of DCeased, in which the big hitters of the Justice League try to combat an infectious apocalyptic zombie virus in Tom Taylor’s equally infectious series, A Good Day to Die places focus on some of the other heroes during the apocalypse, with the likes of Mr. Terrific, Mister Miracle, Big Barda, Constantine, Blue Beetle and Booster Gold. And just in time for the Halloween season!
4 – Legion of Superheroes: Millennium #1 (of 2)
September 4th 2019
DC Comics
Rose and Thorn return in Brian Michael Bendis’s opening chapter to his take on the Heroes of Tomorrow in Legion of Superheroes: Millennium #1 of 2. The issue is split into multiple chapters, covering 1000 years of DC future timelines, with appearances from the likes of Terry McGinnis to Kid Kamandi, building towards the heroes from the 31st century. What’s more, each chapter features a different artist, with Jim Lee (X-Men, Batman: Hush), Dustin Ngyuen (Batgirl, Descender, Lil’ Gotham), Andrea Sorrentino (Gideon Falls) to name but a few!
For fans of the Legion of Superheroes, this two issue mini series is a must read title to spark the new upcoming series, while the narrative structure places the Legion’s timeline placement in context with the rest of the DC Universe.
5 – Coffin Bound #2
September 11th 2019
Image Comics
Continuing from where the first issue left off, Izzy continues her journey to wipe out any indication that she ever existed and fight back against an unstoppable killer, with a few heart aching moments with old friends, as memories of past relationships are obliterated. At least the guy with the bird cage head is still ok.
With chainsaws, pulpy colours, and mature content, this series has been a great change of pace from the usual magic-based series’ with a unique story and alluring – if eccentric – characters, to say nothing of their designs. To reiterate: one of them is a guy wearing a trench coat with a bird cage for a head containing a dead vulture.
6 – King Thor #1 (of 4)
September 11th 2019
Marvel Comics
Jason Aaron takes up writing duties for Thor once again to finally conclude his thunderous epic! Aaron and Ribic reunite, having created one of the best Thor runs in Marvel history, this time exploring an older, wiser Thor from a distant future, introduced by the creative team seven years ago.
In this far flung future, Thor is the All-Father of a decaying realm and a dying universe. When last we saw him, he fought against the Butcher of Gods, who wielded All-Black the Necrosword (a little D&D fanfare perhaps?): doesn’t sound too friendly, though perhaps more threatening now it’s in the hands of Loki! This issue is the start of a Thor part conclusion that sees Thor Odinson and Loki showdown one final time, featuring some of Esad Ribic’s best renditions of the Thor mythos yet!
7 – Plot #1
September 25th 2019
Vault Comics
Chase Blaine’s estranged brother and sister-in-law are murdered from the outset, making him the guardian of his niece and nephew. In order to provide them a more stable lifestyle, they move to his ancestral home in Cape August, which, as it so happens, has a few dark family secrets of it’s own! Kinda typical, really: just look at the building! Besides Mike Moreci and Tim Daniel’s excellent writing, it is worth picking up for Joshua Hixson’s gritty art which carries a sense of looming dread and dark isolation about it, feeding the anxiety that there is something hidden in the darkness at all times…! This does lead to the month of horror, after all.
The Plot is also an important issue for Vault Comics as it is the inaugural title of Vault’s new “Nightfall” line: an annual event that will focus on horror-themed titles. Alongside their usual ongoing releases, from September to December, Vault will introduce select, promising new horror series to bear the Nightfall icon. A curious idea, though other indie publishers – Image in particular – list new horror titles each month that consistently reach successful heights without a limited seasonal release schedule.
8 – New Mutants War Children #1
September 25th 2019
Marvel Comics
As if to celebrate 80 years of Marvel comics, X-Men writer extraordinaire and fan favourite, Chris Claremont, is joined by Bill Sienkiewicz to bring Magik, Wolfsbane, Cannonball, Cypher, Mirage, Karma, and Sunspot into a never before seen story from the New Mutant‘s past!
It’s a story that features potential catastrophe after potential catastrophe – though if you’re a fan of X-Men, you’re probably picking this up already. Especially with the success of Hickman’s latest run! Fans of Claremont or New Mutants mythos should also pick this up as it will seem reminiscent of past runs, if the cover art alone isn’t enough to pull you in! It’s fair to say Sienkiewicz needs to release this as a large print.
