Fairlady is a new full-color fantasy comic series from Image. Here’s what they say in Previews: “Every fantasy epic ends with a war. But what happens when the war is over? After posing as a man to join the army, Jenner Faulds returns home to The Feld for a new start as a ‘Fairman’— a specially licensed private investigator. But sexism didn’t end on the battlefield, and as the only ‘Fairlady,’ Jenner gets stuck with the cases nobody else wants. Hitting the streets to solve The Feld’s overlooked mysteries, Jenner finds that the smallest cases hide the biggest secrets.” So that’s the talented leading lady — but check out her skillful assistant! Fairlady is written by Brian Schirmer and illustrated by Claudia Balboni (Star Trek) and Marissa Louise. It’s on the shelves now.
Image Comics
Bunnies Who Are Bent
We came across this new 6-issue comic mini-series at a bookstore! “Auntie Agatha’s Home for Wayward Rabbits is in danger. Run by the titular Agatha and her niece, Julie, this peculiar shelter cares for damaged and dysfunctional rabbits — and now it’s being threatened by a wealthy businessman who will stop at nothing to tear it down.” Auntie Agatha’s Home for Wayward Rabbits is also the latest comic series from famed writer Keith Giffen, helped out by artist Benjamin Roman. It’s available now from Image Comics.
That’s A Lotta Bull, Lass
A classic folk tale comes to us in the form of a new full-color graphic novel series courtesy of Image Comics. “The sibling writer/artist duo of Cat Seaton and Kit Seaton (AFAR) team up for Norroway, Book 1: The Black Bull of Norroway, the first in an original graphic novel series based on the Scottish tale of the same name. Sibylla had always craved adventure, but she never guessed it would show up at her door in the form of a giant, magical bull. Who knew a prophecy could be so literal?” The first book is available in trade paperback.
Guys, Leave These Ladies ALONE!
Previews made us aware of a new comic series from Image called Maneaters, written by Chelsea Cain. In an interview, here’s how she describes it: “Maneaters is a monster story about women who turn into ferocious killer wildcats when they get their periods. They are very scary and dangerous and extremely grumpy. Naturally their unprovoked attacks cause a great deal of societal consternation, and measures are taken to help the women control themselves.” Got that? With art by Kate Niemczyk and Rachelle Rosenberg, the first issue pounces on the shelves in September.
Learning to Live with Change
Some of you may recall the Eisner-nominated anthology comic Island, which looked at LGBTQ issues from a variety of perspectives through a variety of artists and writers. Well now Image Comics have taken one selection from Island, called The Pervert, and expanded upon it to full graphic novel length. “A surprisingly honest and touching account of a trans girl surviving through sex work in Seattle, The Pervert is an unflinching debut graphic novel that is preoccupied with work — what we put into our work and what it takes from us.” Needless to say, this is Adults Only material — and by that, we mean grown-ups. Written by Michelle Perez and illustrated by Remy Boydell (Emergency!, Recovery Blogger), it’s available in trade paperback now. Image has a detailed preview (with reviews) at their web site.
It’s Dangerous for a Pig to Dream
Here’s another one that Previews alerted us to: Unnatural is a hit full-color comic series in Italy, and now Image Comics is about to unleash it on North America. “Leslie is a simple pig girl. She loves sushi, she’s stuck with a job she hates, and she lives under a brutal totalitarian government – one that punishes transgressors for anything deemed ‘unnatural’. Leslie dreams of something different for herself. But those dreams are becoming dangerous…” Interestingly, writer and artist Mirka Andolfo says that none other than Omaha the Cat Dancer (by the great Reed Waller and the late Kate Worley) served as an inspiration for this series. Look for it soon in stores.
Fly, My Pretties
There’s a new full-color science fiction series out now from Image Comics called Angelic. Here’s what they say: “Winged Monkeys! Techno-Dolphins! Quantum Alleycats! Humanity’s long gone. Its memory lingers only as misunderstood rituals among mankind’s leftovers: The genetically modified animals they used and abused for eons. But for one young flying monkey, QORA, the routines are unbearable. All she wants is to explore. Instead she’s expected to settle down, to become a mother…to lose her wings… Eisner nominee Simon Spurrier (The Spire, CRY HAVOC, X-Men Legacy) and rising-star Caspar Wijngaard (LIMBO, Dark Souls, Assassin’s Creed) present your new bittersweet adventure obsession: Teenage rebellion and animal antics amidst the ruins of civilization! Think WALL-E by way of Watership Down.” Whew! The official Image page features a video introduction by the creators, and there’s an extensive review over at Monkeys Fighting Robots. Funny that…