Miracleman – The Pull List 5th October

The Geeky Brummie Pull List with Miracleman

It’s a short but quality packed Pull List this week. Our Comic Of The Week is a special zero issue of Miracleman from Marvel. Also on the Pull List we have the latest issues of Image!, X-Men Red and New Fantastic Four. In our On The Radar selection, we have 3 new comics, Ant-Man from Marvel Comics, Night of the Ghoul from Dark Horse Comics and Dark Ride from Image/Skybound. And MEANWHILE… returns with news of the return of Bonjo and Sir Ian Livingstone’s classic board game Judge Dredd: The Game of Crime Fighting in Mega-City One.

If you want to send any comics or comic related events we should feature, feel free to reach out to me at keith@geekybrummie.com.

Now on with the comics…

Miracleman
Issue 0
Marvel Comics

Writers – Jason Aaron, Mike Carey, Neil Gaiman, Ty Templeton and Peach Momoko
Artists – Ty Templeton, Peach Momoko, Leinil Francis Yu, Paul Davidson and Mark Buckingham
Colourist – Antonio Fabela
Letterer – Joe Caramagna

Buy from Comixology – Miracleman #0 (Link)

WHISPER IN THE DARK
Forty years ago, Miracleman’s modern era began and changed the world of comics as we know it. Now, on the cusp of a new era of Miracleman, we celebrate all things Kimota with a who’s who of the best talent in the industry! Plus, Neil Gaiman and Mark Buckingham set up this issue and their return to MIRACLEMAN: THE SILVER AGE!

Image!
Issue 6
Image Comics

Writers – Matt Fraction, Geoff Johns, Jimmy Palmiotti, Maria Llovet, Joe Casey, Tim Seeley, Patrick Kindlon, Sina Grace, Dean Haspiel, Brenden Fletcher and Skottie Young
Artists – Skottie Young, Sina Grace, Dean Haspiel, Maria Llovet, Stefano Caselli, Nathan Fox, Andrea Mutti, Gabriel Ba, Fabio Moon, Maurizio Rosenzweig and Erica Henderson

Buy on Comixology – Image! #6 (Link)

As we hit the halfway point in our year-long celebration of Image’s 30th anniversary, MATT FRACTION, GABRIEL BA & FABIO MOON reunite for a new CASANOVA story, JIMMY PALMIOTTI & AMANDA CONNER bring back THE PRO, and SINA GRACE presents an all-new ROCKSTAR AND SOFT BOY short story. This issue also features the latest installments of “The Blizzard” by GEOFF JOHNS & ANDREA MUTTI, “Red Stitches” by BRENDEN FLETCHER & ERICA HENDERSON, “Gehenna” by PATRICK KINDLON & MAURIZIO ROSENZWEIG, “Hack/Slash vs. Image” by TIM SEELEY & STEFANO CASELLI, and “Dutch” in a new serial by JOE CASEY & NATHAN FOX. Plus: The final chapter of MARIA LLOVET’s “All the Things We Didn’t Do Last Night,” and the continuation of “Billy Dogma” by DEAN HASPIEL and “Stupid Fresh Mess” by SKOTTIE YOUNG!

X-Men: Red
Issue 7
Marvel Comics

Writer – Al Ewing
Artist – Madibek Musabekov
Colourist – Federico Blee
Letterer – Ariana Maher

Buy on Comixology – X-Men: Red #7 (Link)

FINAL JUDGMENT FOR THE RED PLANET! As the dust settles and the costs are counted, change is coming to Arakko—starting at the top. After the catastrophic war with the Eternals, the Great Ring declares that ISCA THE UNBEATEN is no longer fit for the Seat of Victory. But Isca’s power is never to lose. If she won’t step down…is there anyone on Arakko who can make her?
A.X.E.: JUDGMENT DAY TIE-IN

New Fantastic Four
Issue 5
Marvel Comics

Writer – Peter David
Artist – Alan Robinson
Colorist – Mike Spicer
Letterer – Joe Caramagna

Buy on Comixology – New Fantastic Four #5 (Link)

HELL IN A HANDBASKET, CONCLUSION
It’s all been leading up to this—the New FF and the original FF team up for a final battle with a mega-sized monstrosity in this action-packed finale! Will anything be left of Vegas—or the world?!—once the dust settles? Plus one last surprise cameo for the road!

On the radar this week some other comics not on the Pull List but well worth checking out:

Night of the Ghoul #1

Dark Horse Comics

Writer – Scott Snyder
Artist – Francesco Francavilla

Buy on Comixology – Night of the Ghoul #1 (Link)

Shot in 1936, Night of the Ghoul by writer/director T.F. Merritt was meant to sit beside Frankenstein and Dracula as an instant classic . . . But the legendary film never made it to the silver screen. Just before editing was finished, a mysterious studio fire destroyed the footage and killed the cast and crew celebrating at the wrap party. Forest Inman is a horror film obsessive who digitizes old films for the famed Aurora movie studio. When Forest stumbles across a seemingly forgotten canister of footage, he just might have discovered the remnants of the lost classic Night of the Ghoul. This discovery sends Forest on a dark odyssey, where he’s warned by a mysterious old man that the film’s ghoul is far more than a work of fiction: it’s a very real monster who plans to kill him.

Ant-Man #4

Marvel Comics

Writer – Al Ewing
Artist – Tom Reilly
Colourist – Jordie Bellaire
Letterer – Cory Petit

Buy on Comixology – Ant-Man #4 (Link)

Who is the mysterious Ant-Man of the future who the past Ant-Men keep bumping into? Find out here as the Ant-Man of 2549 recruits Hank Pym, Eric O’Grady and Scott Lang to take on a godlike Ultron! Don’t miss this epic anniversary finale as the Ant-Man of past, present and future come together to save the world!

Dark Ride #1

Image Comics/Skybound

Writer – Joshua Williamson
Artist – Andrei Bressan
Colourist – Adriano Lucas

Buy on Comixology – Dark Ride #1 (Link)

Devil Land has been the world’s premiere horror-themed amusement park for over 50 years, home to the scariest ride ever created – The Devil’s Due. But when lifelong fan Owen Seasons begins his first day on the job, he will discover the true horrors happening behind the scenes, the truth about the park’s reclusive creator Arthur Dante and that the job of his dreams might just be a living nightmare.

The Return of Bonjo

This news dropped a little too late for me to include in last weeks post, but I’m featuring it as it is something well worth waiting for. Here is the official press release from those fine folks over at 2000AD.

It’s the sequel no-one wanted and which authorities did everything they could to prevent – but the corpulent giant alien Bonjo From Beyond The Stars has escaped and is lurching back into the pages of 2000 AD!

Prepare for a brand new tale of bilious chaos and comical carnage written by Garth Ennis (Preacher, The Boys) and drawn by the legendary artist and original Bonjo creator Kevin O’Neill (Nemesis the Warlock, League of Extraordinary Gentlemen) – coming to the bumper Christmas issue of 2000 AD!

Bonjo From Beyond the Stars: Solids in the Bile Tube is a thirteen-page one-off story in 2000 AD Prog 2312, on sale 14 December 2022.

The strip marks O’Neill’s return to 2000 AD since drawing the concluding episode in 2000 of Nemesis the Warlock, his and Pat Mills’ groundbreaking series that began in 1980 and sealed O’Neill’s reputation as an artist of extraordinary skill and imagination.

However, Bonjo is no brave alien freedom fighter but a giant, idiotic alien with a voracious appetite who eats everything he comes into contact with! He now returns – unbidden, unwanted, and unfiltered – to 2000 AD in a gross, madcap and filthy new story that will have readers spraying invective with and at every page!

When Tharg heads to a publishers’ conference and leaves the droids in charge, few expect the chaos that ensues when something emerges from the old filing cabinet marked ‘Progatory’, where old Thrills are supposed to go to die…

Garth Ennis said: ‘Bonjo’s been stuck in my head ever since I first read his adventures back in 1978 – the character himself is adorable, his supporting cast is inspired (M.A.C.H. Sponge, M.A.C.H. Elephant and the heroic M.A.C.H. Aardvark), but the dialogue is simply irresistible: “Darn it- solids in the bile tube again! Have to mash it back down!” and the unforgettable “Uuur, what for you stick plunger up hooter?” A question well worth pondering; I find myself remembering that one almost daily.

‘The story features Bonjo reappearing at the worst possible time in the worst possible way, as a money-hungry Tharg tries to impress other publishers with crossover possibilities featuring the Galaxy’s Greatest. What’s that stirring in the bottom drawer of the old King’s Reach Tower filing cabinet? Why should you never play poker with the VCs? And will Tharg’s droids save the day, or will they make things catastrophically worse?

‘Kev and I had a hoot with Kids Rule OK in the Battle Action special, and I was delighted when he got in touch about doing another short story. Bonjo immediately came to mind- it’s not quite my first exposure to his work, which pops up all over the early progs, but it’s close enough. Bonjo provides a nice opportunity to talk about embarrassing old concepts that emerge right when you don’t want them to- which let’s face it, is something that makes everyone laugh.

‘Or if not everyone, me and Kev.’

Kevin O’Neill said: ‘In space nobody can hear you- laugh! But Mad #215 used it: so BONJO 2: THIS TIME IT’S WARM! Kevin and Garth reboot unwanted, unloved and unburied page filler nobody asked for – took the Galactic Groats and ran.’

Matt Smith, editor of 2000 AD, said: ‘For the last forty-four years, Squaxx dek Thargo [readers of 2000 AD] had thought their progs were safe, that they’d seen the last of the interstellar menace. But he’s back, and not even Tharg can stop him. Bonjo From Beyond the Stars has returned in ‘Solids in the Bile Tube’, a thirteen-page story for the Xmas prog brought to you by Garth Ennis and Kevin O’Neill – and yes, it’s every bit as anarchic, filthy and bowel-looseningly funny as you’d expect. Few Thrills get as moist as this one, Earthlets.’

The original short humour strip, published over ten episodes between 1977 and 1978, was inspired by the humour titles of 2000 AD’s then-owners, IPC – including classic series such as Ken Reid’s ‘Faceache’.

Board of Dredd

40 years after its original release, Rebellion Unplugged is thrilled to announce a new edition of Sir Ian Livingstone’s classic board game Judge Dredd: The Game of Crime Fighting in Mega-City One.

Coming in November, the game sees players take on the role of Judges competing to prove themselves the greatest crime fighter in Mega-City One. Each turn they patrol the board and bust Perps, using their action cards to gain crucial advantages or sabotage their enemies. It’s a cut-throat world on the mean streets of Mega-City One, and if you want to reach the top you can’t be too worried about who you stand on to get there!

This new edition introduces the Specialist Judges expansion, casting players as one of six unique characters from across the history of Judge Dredd. Each has a special ability that will change how players approach the game, whether that be the brute strength of the Mechanismo droid, the innate abilities of the Psi Judge, the unrivalled authority of the Chief Judge, the added support available to the fresh-faced Cadet, the brutal methods of the Special Judicial Squad, or the … unique skills of the undercover Wally Squad!

Alongside the expansion, the game features new and updated cards, revised rules for faster play, and recoloured artwork from iconic artists Brian Bolland and Ian Gibson, giving players the ultimate Judge Dredd experience!

Designer Sir Ian Livingstone said, “I’m thrilled that Rebellion Unplugged is publishing my Judge Dredd board game. It’s 40 years since players first had the chance to drive around Mega-City One to arrest the Angel Gang, Judge Death and other perps for their various crimes. The additional rules, action cards and recoloured art combine to make the new edition a game that I hope every Dredd fan will want to play.”

Duncan Molloy, Head of Rebellion Unplugged, commented “It’s a delight to be working with Ian, and a real treat to revisit one of the true classics of British board-gaming. We’ve kept the gonzo spirit of the original while giving it a fresh look and adding new characters like the Specialist Judges, to make this edition a real celebration of the last 40 years.”

***
Mega-City One. A vast 22^nd century metropolis of 800 million citizens, each one a potential criminal. Under the watchful eye of the Judges no one escapes justice, whether their crime is littering or murder.

And now, YOU ARE THE LAW!

Head out onto the streets of Mega-City One and prove that you are worthy of the badge. Bring the Angel Gang, Judge Death, Orlok the Assassin and other notorious lawbreakers to justice. But be warned – they won’t go down without a fight, and even a lowlife sugar-addict can take you out if they get lucky.

This new edition of Ian Livingstone’s iconic game offers the ultimate Judge Dredd experience, with updated rules, refreshed graphic design and the introduction of the Specialist Judges – unique playable characters equipped with powerful abilities to help keep Mega-City One in order!

Your Local Comics Shops

Your local comic shops are now open and you can pop in for your geek fix. Listed below are some of the best shops across the county with links to check the very latest information including opening time and covid safety measures. Therefore, when visiting these shops please be patient and respectful to all the staff who are doing an incredible job.

FORBIDDEN PLANET INTERNATIONAL (VARIOUS) – includes Worlds Apart Birmingham

Please check with stores for any changes to opening times and services.

Follow the stores social media pages for updates!

FORBIDDEN PLANET (VARIOUS) – includes Birmingham Megastore

Check their website for more information –

https://forbiddenplanet.com/stores/

GOSH! COMICS (LONDON)

Check their website for more information –

https://goshlondon.com/the-gosh-blog/the-gosh-authority-130620-reopening-news/ and https://twitter.com/GoshComics

OK COMICS (LEEDS)

Follow the stores social media pages and website for updates!

http://www.okcomics.co.uk/ and https://twitter.com/OKComics