Oni Press previews this week’s releases, including The Mighty Zodiac #2, The Sixth Gun #49, and Guerillas Vol. 3.
Official previews:
GUERILLAS VOLUME 3
(W/A/CA) Brahm Revel
Age Range: 15 and up
Genre: Action, War
Price: $17.99Learn the secret origins of Adolf, Goliath and the rest of the apes as Dr. Heisler struggles to regain control of an increasingly dangerous situation in the jungles of Vietnam. When the country itself turns against the troops, death and destruction will follow in the wake.
Why It’s Neat:
- Discover the origins of the chimpanzee platoon in the third volume of GUERILLAS by acclaimed cartoonist Brahm Revel!
- Perfect for fans of Apocalypse Now, Planet of the Apes, and Full Metal Jacket.
What people are saying:
“You don’t need the likes of me to tell you to buy a comic book about apes with machines guns. They’re APES, for God’s sake. With MACHINE GUNS!” Jackson Publick, creator of [adult swim]’s The Venture Bros.10 OUT OF 10 REVIEW: “Guerillas is a treatise on masterful cartooning and expressive storytelling.” Newsarama, “Best Shots Reviews”8.5 OUT OF 10 REVIEW: “It’s a fascinating series with some beautiful art. An entertaining comic that makes you think and to me that’s a buy.” Graphic Policy“Revel’s story provides a mix of both action movie combat and meditations on the horrors of war […] The story succeeds because of the emotion he’s able to evoke from the chimpanzees through facial expressions, hand gestures, and grunts alone.” Publishers Weekly“The chimp corps takes this war comic to a wilder and more interesting place. […] Brahm’s gritty blacks and grays suit this enjoyable and socially relevant read, and the narrative addresses plenty of real war horrors and the doomed futility of the entire Vietnam misadventure. This will mesmerize fans of war comics and action stories.” Library Journal“Every once in a while you come across a book that makes you think “holy cow, that’s a fantastic idea.” Then you read the book and it is a story that is so well beyond what your expectations of the book were that you are absolutely blown away it. GUERILLAS is such a book.” Ain’t It Cool News
THE MIGHTY ZODIAC #2
(W) J. Torres
(A/CA) Corin Howell
(C) Maarta Laiho
Age Range: 8 and up
Genre: Fantasy, Adventure
Price: $3.99The Unlucky Four finally arrive at Twilight’s Bastion, where they find that Master Long is in even worse condition than they feared. And they are still starless! Meanwhile, the other members of the Mighty Zodiac face multiple obstacles in their journey to Twilight’s Bastion. Will any of them make it in time to see Master Long alive?
Why It’s Neat:
- Learn how snakes evolve into dragons!
- Buta reveals how he found a fallen star…
- Find out how the Unlucky Four—Tan, Ko, Kane, and Mal—started their training as the Mighty Zodiac and climbed their way to the top!
- Perfect for readers young and old, and fans of Kung Fu Panda, Bone, and Usagi Yojimbo.
What people are saying:
10 OUT OF 10 REVIEW: “This is a journey with a whole new set of characters, and I find myself wanting more of this journey now. […] I’m looking forward to the next five issues for sure, and hopefully more stories beyond that. The time seems right for a property like this to find an audience waiting for it. Torres, Howell, and Laiho deliver and then promise even more to come.” Comicosity
5 OUT OF 5 REVIEW: “Every so often, a comic comes a long and catches you completely off-guard in the best of ways. The latest to have that effect on me is J. Torres’ and Corin Howell’s The Mighty Zodiac […] this is an anthropomorphic adventure that is unlike anything else on the market right now. Take notice, people.” Big Comic Page
4 OUT OF 5 REVIEW: “For kids and kids at heart, The Mighty Zodiac #1from Oni Press combines magic, folklore, and ninja rabbits to tell a tale of a power struggle amongst factions of the Chinese zodiac. […] Often, when catering to children, creators write in jokes and goofy situations to peak interest and sales, but The Mighty Zodiac doesn’t need to do that to create a good story.” Comic Crusaders
“This seems to take several ideas that comics don’t try out enough and squishes them all together into twenty-odd pages. […] I don’t know about you, but that’s the kind of story I can really get behind. A simple, empathetic idea, bolstered by a great writer and one of the most versatile, light artists in the industry today.” ComicsAlliance, “Best Comic Books Ever (This Week)”
“It is no small feat to create for an audience that includes both children and adult comic book fans, and for the most part J. Torres’ The Mighty Zodiac #1 manages to appeal to both demographics, largely thanks to an interesting blend of cultural aesthetics and narrative choices. Aided by some noticeably strong and appropriate artwork by Corin Howell and vibrant coloring from Maarta Laiho, the comic is a standout in the sense that there really isn’t much else like it.” Newsarama, “Best Shots Advance Reviews”
“The Mighty Zodiac #1 sets the table for an action packed quest tale in the vein of Bone or Usagi Yojimbo. […] The Mighty Zodiac #1 proves that a comic doesn’t have to be good or just good for kids—it can be both.”The Outhouse
“It’s a very enjoyable tale with a sword wielding dog, a cat with a bow and arrow… and it’s just good. […] Torres is a pretty damn good writer, keeping the story moving and the action fresh. It gave me a similar feeling to when I first read Jeff Smith’s Bone. The art is nice and moves great with the story. It’s something I would feel comfortable giving to my daughter. […] So pick up this book… it’s quite charming, quite fun, and engaging. Best part? You can read it with your kids. You both will enjoy it. ” Forces of Geek
“Buy it! The zodiac is used amazingly in both the story and the art with this world of animal tribes and warriors. Using the rabbit as an antagonistic force instead of the cat is an interesting turn of events and the art is charming. Plus, its straight forward approach to the story will make it easy for little ones to enjoy as well!” Rogues Portal
“[…] an imaginative and clever take on Eastern folk tales for anyone who considers themselves a fan of KUNG FU PANDA… but without the cheesy puns and annoying, whip-smart Jack Black colloquialisms. […] it looks incredible, the writing is beautifully paced […] I’m very much taken with this book.” An Englishman in San Diego
“At first, I was upset that The Mighty Zodiac cast rabbits as the villains of the piece. However, I appreciate that it differentiates between evil, dark-ninja rabbits and soft, ear-scratching rabbits that enjoy grass-chewing.”Michael Winston, owner of Bridge City Comics, rabbit lover
THE SIXTH GUN #49
(W) Cullen Bunn
(A/CA) Brian Hurtt
(C) Bill Crabtree
Age Range: 13 and up
Genre: Western, Fantasy
Price: $3.99A war is brewing between the forces of darkness and light, with the fate of the world hanging in the balance! Drake and Becky face old enemies… and reconnect with friends thought long lost… as they make their way to Boot Hill… the mystic place where the very concept of death was born!
Why It’s Neat:
- It’s the penultimate issue leading up to the epic finale!
- The final confrontation awaits atop the ultimate battleground—Boot Hill.
What people are saying:
9 OUT OF 10 REVIEW: “I almost have a hard time quantifying all the qualities of this world that I find wildly entertaining. It is filled with magic, mysticism, horror, and a great sense of adventure that has been built masterfully over several years. […] This comic is as unique as ever and anyone who has read the series at all needs to catch up and be ready for Bunn, Hurtt and Crabtree to bring this one home.” Comicosity
4.5 OUT OF 5 REVIEW: “We’re 48 issues in—more if you count the mini-series tie-ins— and the creative team can still surprise and excite with each page. This is going to be one wild ride.” HorrorTalk
8.5 OUT OF 10 REVIEW: “It’s instantly engaging even for newcomers, but it’s inevitably even more so for longtime readers.” Pop-Break
