Lark's Killer #1 (Devil's Due/1First Comics)

Lark's Killer #1 (Devil's Due/1First Comics)

Bill Willingham (w) Mark Dos Santos (a)

A new series from the creator of Fables hit stores today in an oversized edition with multiple covers which seem to be becoming all the rage once again. For me however one is enough because it's the content that counts and this one does not disappoint.

Unusually this story begins a hundred years after Lark was around as a family of treasure hunters seek riches in a dungeon protected by "guardians". Using a magic box they find the hidden chamber and to their surprise.....

Lark is a street runaway from "our world" in modern LA who finds herself in the Kingdom of Vess being pursued by thugs intent on killing her just like "the others". hellhounds, mercenaries and magic this isn't going to be easy for poor old Lark.

But what is her destiny? 

Thirty-three pages of solid entertainment. Pick up a copy now. 

 

Picks from August Previews

The latest edition of Previews, the comic shop catalogue has hit the stores and in the first of what I hope will be a regular feature on Howie's World of Comics are my pick of new comics for the month.

Whilst DC has a major event going on with Metal, there was one crossover that was launched last month that got little fanfare but caught my attention as it brings together two of my all-time favourite characters Wonder Woman & Conan. The second issue is solicited this month so be nice to your retailer when you back order the first issue.

  

Meanwhile DC starts another crossover this time with Archie Comics as Poison Ivy enlists Harley Quinn to help kidnap Veronica. Oh boy that's just gotta be worth picking up.

Both Wonder Woman/Conan and Harley & Ivy Meet Betty & Veronica are 6 issue mini-series.

Plus for Halloween there is the one-shot 80 page special; The DC House of Horror #1



Dynamite team up Vampirella & Hack/Slash in a five issue mini-series. Whilst I collect most Vampi comics, it's been a while since I've picked up Hack/Slash who co-incidentally also have a new on-going series launched over at Image Comics this month.

  

But lets not forget the British publishers. First off Rebellion launches the new Scream & Misty Halloween Special which I highlighted a few days ago whilst Titan brings Dan Dare back in a new four issue mini-series.

  

In an unexpected turn Titan have also picked up the rights to the Fighting American a hero from the fifties that fought commies and was a little reminiscent of a certain Marvel character and was created by the same people Joe Simon & Jack Kirby. Titan offer not just a trade paperback reprinting the complete adventures from the fifties but a new monthly series which continues the adventures of the Fighting American & Speedboy in the present day after they suddenly find themselves transported to the future.... Sounds promising.



All these titles will arrive in comic shops October 2017

Creepy #1 (Warren/1964)

Following the introduction of the comics code horror and mystery comics had toned down somewhat, along came James Warren with Creepy, a magazine sized and more expensive comic aimed at adults for the "top shelf" and not for kids.

Problem solved.

Creepy began a whole genre of black & white comics including it's own sister titles Eerie and the more famous Vampirella.

 

There were no less than seven complete uncensored stories in this first quarterly edition beginning with Voodoo! which gives men a lesson on why they shouldn't neglect their wives.....

This is followed by a rather generic science-fiction tale H2O about destroyed civilisations and hidden mutations but Vampires Fly at Dusk makes the heart flutter with a twist to the tale of a vampire that I didn't see coming.

Werewolf is a standard tale of greed and getting what you deserve whilst Bewitched sends a shiver down the hairs of your neck. The moral being: Just don't mess with them witches!

A cracking tale of corruption in the comics industry comes up next when a fraud gets his horrific comeuppance in The Success Story!

The magazine ends with the twisted tale Pursuit of the Vampire.

Up until now I would make some kind of comment about the fact they don't make stuff like this anymore but they do! The Creeps magazine is now out in the Warren tradition, see the post below!

Oh and grab some Creepy's for your night time reading!

Warren revived: The Creeps #11 (Warrant) Out Now!

At long last my copy of the new Creeps magazine arrived in my local comic shop. Although this has been published for a while (hence the issue number) it has only just started being distributed by Diamond. I can only hope that at some stage they will make an arrangement with the publishers to offer the back issues which are still available.

A magazine size black & white magazine in the classic "Warren" style this was a joy to read.  Even the letters page, a welcome feature in the modern age was reminiscent of the days of old. An anthology of horror stories featuring no less than seven stories of varying interest and quality, just like Creepy itself.

Starting off with sibling rivalry in Sister Act the fate of the betrayer will leave you shocked to the core. The "amusing" If you knew Sushi comes up next taking place under the sea. The ending will literally "creep" you out.

The Ringing of the Bell, Parasite and Man's Best Friend are three entertaining little stories but The Flayed Hand didn't work for me nor did Pack Men which I felt was rushed with art that was sub-par.

Overall however this is a package you should pick up in your local comic shop and place a regular order for.

Highly Recommended.

Find out more about The Creeps on facebook.com/creepsmagazine or go to their Website at www.thecreepsmagazine.com/

Scream & Misty Halloween Special

The publishers of 2000AD have purchased the rights to a large amount of old British comics material and have already issued volumes of Misty, the horror comic for girls, Monster a strip from Scream and the Eagle with more on the way. (see post below).

Now they are releasing a Scream & Misty Halloween Special  with ALL NEW STORIES which will hit WH Smiths & all good newsagents and comic shops on 18th October! Price £3.99

Hopefully it will do well enough for more! 2000AD could do with a companion title!

The Leopard from Lime Street (Rebellion)

Photo: 2000AD Shop

Scratched by a leopard being treated for a rare disease with a radioactive serum 13 year old Billy Parmer develops amazing super-powers. Donning a homemade costume Billy takes up fighting crime in the form of Cat-Man, a burglar in a small English suburban town.

Billy also has to deal with school bullies and a revolting "Uncle" who make his life a misery. On top of that the local newspaper the Selbridge Sun tries to make him seem a threat to the good folk of the small market town.

On the face of it so much seems owed to a certain character created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko so many years earlier. The difference being the hero is around 13 and appears in Buster, a comic aged at 7 to 12 year olds.

First appearing in Buster in March 1976 Billy went on to feature in over 450 2-3 page episodes until 1985. This volume features the early stories and is a cracking read for all those who either read it first time round or love to read old British adventure strips.

Published by Rebellion (best known for 2000AD) this is part of a continuing series of reprints which will include The Dracula Files (from Scream), a second volume of horror from girls weekly Misty and Faceache a humour strip from Jet and Buster!

Current titles can be ordered here: https://shop.2000ad.com/catalogue/graphic-novels/treasury-of-british-comics

Arak: Son of Thunder #1 (DC/1981)

Arak: Son of Thunder #1 (DC)

Roy Thomas (w) Ernie Colon (a)

I hadn't read this comic since it first came out back in the early eighties so couldn't resists picking a copy of the first issue when I saw it on display in my local comic shop. This was an unusual title featuring a Red Indian" in Eighth Century Europe with lots of sword and sorcery. How so you may well ask.

This issue contains the origin of Arak (not his "real name") when a Viking longship comes across a young red-skinned boy nearly dead in a sinking canoe in the ocean after having sailed to far to the west as the result of a storm. Adopted by his rescuers young Arak as they name him grows to join their plundering crew.

However destiny has other plans for Arak as he joins the service of the witch  Angelica and uses a Christian icon to slay her serpent.

The adventure is afoot as Arak, more humane and noble than his fellows decides upon a journey to seek answers at the court of Carolus Magnus, King of the Franks.

This series lasted 50 issues and was a brave attempt by DC to create a character to compete with Conan and other barbarian adventurers of the era. I like this one.