25-09-24 | Halloween is just around the corner, which means loads of delightfully corny horror comics are coming our way. Few of them stand out this year, but there’s still quite a few titles worth picking up. As for the rest of the month, the big story is the rerelease of not one but two massive Marvel and DC crossovers. Interestingly, most of the must read titles for October are released within the first two weeks of the month, after which inspiration must have run low. Oh well …
GODZILLA: THE ORIGINAL MARVEL YEARS – collected
It’s a great year for Godzilla fans! His 70th anniversary was celebrated in style at IDW and now Marvel rerelease their ENTIRE run of Godzilla comics in this massive hardcover volume. Half way through the series the Fantastic Four and the Avengers even turn up. Over 400 pages of monster madness!
DC ALL-IN SPECIAL #1
Now THIS is innovation. Rather than reboot their range of heroes yet again, DC Comics decides to split their world into the Absolute Universe and the DC Core. This one-shot launches new versions of Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman PLUS a Darkseid storyarc featuring the traditional heroes.
THE CROW: DEAD TIME #1
The new Crow movie is out soon. This remake will be based on the original 1989 comic, rather than the film from 1994. Luckily for us Sumerian Comics is rereleasing that very comic. You know the story: Eric and Shelley are brutally beaten to death, after which a crow resurrects Eric to avenge his lover.
ALICE COOPER: CROSSROADS – collected
Legendary rockstar Alice Cooper can’t help but notice that, increasingly, zombies shuffle into his concerts. While on tour he uncovers a plot by Satan himself. A silly but fun little horror comic that continues the recent trend of rockstars lending themselves to the comic world. Rock on!
THE CHRISTOPHER CHAOS HALLOWEEN SPECIAL
Dark Horse Comics’ stunning Christopher Chaos series is one the great modern series out today. This young adult range features teenaged mad scientists, vampires and other classic monsters trying to survive high school. The perfect subject for a Halloween special! Three stories for the price of one!
DC VERSUS MARVEL and THE AMALGAM AGE – collected
These two massive volumes collect a mad range of crossovers. DC vs. Marvel features every single team-up since 1976 (Superman vs. Spider-Man, etc.), while The Amalgam Age features mixed up heroes like Dark Claw (Batman mashed up with Wolverine, etc. ). Over a 1000 pages for each volume!
THE TOXIC AVENGER #1
Troma’s hideously deformed hero of superhuman size and strength is back! Toxie is rebooted for a brand new audience by ace artists Matt Bors and Fred Harper. This time ‘round Toxie is not the only character transformed by toxic waste. His enemy will also morph into a vile monster, towering over him.
EXTREMITY – collected
Let’s wrap up with some essential reading. Image collects the 2017 graphic novel by Dan Johnson and Mike Spicer. It tells the story of Thea, who used to be an artist. Now she wages war on the clan that wrecked her world. A tragic story about the beauty of art and the ugliness of war. Out next month.