May 25th Oni Previews: Another Castle #3, Rick and Morty #14, and More

Oni Press has released previews of Rick and Morty #14, Letter 44 #25, Heartthrob #2, Another Castle #3, and Brobots and the Kaiju Kerfuffle.

Official previews:

BROBOTS AND THE KAIJU KERFUFFLE!
(W) J. Torres
(A/C/CA) Sean Dove
Age Range: 6 and up
Genre: Adventure, Fantasy
Price: $12.99

A trio of robot bros reel in a big challenge and must band together to battle a giant monster in this playful take on classic kaiju-mech and fairytale stories.

Why It’s Neat: Written by Shuster Award winner, Eisner Award- and Harvey Award-nominated writer J. Torres (The Mighty Zodiac, Teen Titans Go!, Alison Dare, Sidekicks, Days Like This, Lola: A Ghost Story, Bigfoot Boy, Power Lunch)! A great book for siblings that teaches that teamwork can be fun. Combines easily recognized story aspects for early readers with fast-moving, Power Rangers-style fights. Parents who love old-school kaiju movies will enjoy reading this with their children. What the creators have to say: Writer J. Torres says, “The three lead characters have a lot of “bro” moments. From trash talking, like bros on the b-ball court, to dancing together like EDM bros at a rave. They also act like real brothers, shaking their fists at each other with one minute, then working together so beautifully they have to fist bump the next minute. A lot of this comes from by two sons, the original BroBots.” Artist Sean Dove says, “BroBots also combines stuff that J and I have a mutual appreciation for, like 80s cartoons and fairy tales.”

What people are saying: “This is a really great book. So fun. What did you think?” Skottie Young (I Hate Fairyland, Rocket Raccoon) “I loved it, bro!” Baxter Young, six-year-old son of that Skottie guy “A playful take on kaiju-mech stories? I’ll take it. This comic follows a band of robots who travel together and protect innocents from monsters. […] the art looks to be whimsical and fun, and it has a sense of humor I can already tell I’ll love. This is pretty high on my to-read list.” Panels “The art is deceptively simple and the dialogue is short enough not to intimidate early readers (plus, it’s funny). It follows super-hero conventions of cartoons that kids will recognize: the good guys team up to defeat a bad guy. Plus, kids will get a kick out of a familiar fairy tale tie-in.” CBC Parents, “6 Great Canadian Comics For Kids”

 

HEARTTHROB #2
(W) Christopher Sebela
(A/CA) Robert Wilson IV
(C) Nick Filardi
Age Range: 15 and up
Genre: Crime
Price: $3.99

Callie and Mercer, sitting in a tree, planning their first robbery. First comes training, then comes a crew, then comes a victim worth sticking it to.

Crazy in love and free as birds, Callie and Mercer hit the road for the summer. While Mercer teaches her the ins and outs of being a thief, they plan out their revenge against Archway Insurance, and Callie has to deal with all the complications that come with having a dead boyfriend.

Why It’s Neat: Watch Callie transform into a master criminal under Mercer’s tutelage! You can’t expect things to NOT get weird when your boyfriend is a dead man. It’s time for Callie to rob her first bank…

What people are saying: 5 OUT OF 5 REVIEW: “Heartthrob #1 thoroughly sets up its world, which is equal parts the beginning of Wanted, mixed with the damaged and careless character of Jessica Jones. […] Wilson IV’s art shows as much character as the writing does. He brings the same amount of intensity he had on Bitch Planet #3.” Comic Bastards 5 OUT OF 5 REVIEW: “HEARTTHROB #1 is my new favorite comic, it’s got action, drama, romance, weird stuff, it’s a must read.” What’cha Reading? 9.5 OUT OF 10 REVIEW: “The story by Christopher Sebela is truly a gift, that the reader will be unwrapping over and over again, to see what they have missed the first few times they read it. […] Very entertaining altogether, an absorbing story which feels like the beautiful bastard of Heart Condition and Fight Club.” Graphic Policy 9 OUT OF 10 REVIEW: “Heartthrob #1 is a great introduction to a series that looks to be exciting and heart-wrenching, both figuratively and literally. […] If crime and romance mixed together are right up your alley, Heartthrob #1 might just be the sweetheart of a comic you’re looking for.” PopOptiq 9 OUT OF 10 REVIEW: “The clear cut story and gorgeous, clean art make this an easy read that transplants itself into your head, telling you to read it just once more.” Comicosity 8.5 OUT OF 10 REVIEW: “If you didn’t know who Callie Boudreau was before picking up this book, you’ll know her intimately after you set it down—provided you ever do. The book’s style and substance keeps fine company; its story and artwork is evocative of other tremendous creator-owned crime sagas […] though Heartthrob pulls out ahead with a method to its own confident madness.” Doom Rocket 8.2 OUT OF 10 REVIEW: “At this point Sebela has already proven his worth in the crime genre, and in many ways Heartthrob looks to continue on that trend, but in issue #1 it’s his intense attention to character that makes all the difference. Callie Bordeau’s circumstances are far from ordinary, but by imbuing her with relatable, lived-in traits, Sebela makes her plight one worth immediately investing.” IGN 4 OUT OF 5 REVIEW: “Sebela writes a believably frustrated, confused protagonist who only knows what she doesn’t want, and Wilson’s bold artwork captures all the characters’ highs and lows. […] Heartthrob #1 pulls the reader right in. The cliffhanger actually feels engaging and earned, and Callie is a fascinating protagonist. I’m so, so curious for what issue #2 will bring.” Comic Book Resources 8 OUT OF 10 REVIEW: “I’m truly fascinated to see where it goes. A strong debut from two underrated creators.” Multiversity Comics “In Heartthrob, a woman who has been incredibly ill all of her life receives a miracle cure, and suddenly she starts making the kinds of bad choices that make for damn good comics. Illustrated by the never-boring Robert Wilson IV, Heartthrob looks absolutely pulse-quickening.” ComicsAlliance, “Best Comic Books Ever (This Week)” “This is a love story angle that’s akin to something like Fight Club with Callie as the dry and acerbic protagonist, liberated from caring about everything in her life and thumbing her nose at everyone around her.” mental_floss, “The 4 Most Interesting Comics of the Week”

ANOTHER CASTLE #3
(W) Andrew Wheeler
(A/C/CA) Paulina Ganucheau
Retailer incentive alternate cover illustrated by Mildred Louis
Age Range: 8 and up
Genre: Fantasy
Price: $3.99

After Misty’s (semi) successful bank heist, the kingdom of Grimoire is on high alert. Shadeling spies are everywhere, and Misty and her friends must rely on their wits to keep their rebellion under wraps. Even so, they’re closer than ever to overthrowing Badlug! Now if only they could find a good king to replace him…

Why It’s Neat: Princess Misty is badass and always ready for a fight; she’s Lara Croft as a princess. Prince Pete composes his own epic poetry to document his “heroic” adventure to Grimoire (made much easier by Misty buying off all the monsters in his way). Misty, Gorga, and Fogmoth try to find a rightful ruler to replace Badlug… and the best candidate is Fogmoth’s ex-boyfriend. Badlug catches wind that something is afoot, and Misty is very close to being discovered!

What people are saying: 8.75 OUT OF 10 REVIEW: “The writing in those last few pages is particularly nailbiting, and if you’re anything like me, you’re going to be cursing writer Andrew Wheeler as you get to the last panel, wondering when the next issue is coming out.” Graphic Policy 8 OUT OF 10 REVIEW: “Together, Wheeler and Ganucheau are beginning to build a compelling cast and intriguing world that will be interesting to see continue to grow in future issues: now that we’ve had a taste of what Misty is capable of, and on the flip side what her would-be savior Pete is not, it’s hard not to want to keep reading future installments to see how her efforts are received by her father or by Badlug, when one or both of them inevitably find her out.” Newsarama, “Best Shots Reviews” 4 OUT OF 5 REVIEW: “I absolutely love that there are comics like this out there on the shelves. Perfect for little girls who like princesses, little boys who like princesses, and grown adults who like goddamn princesses, this is a progressive, positive and gloriously fun series that deserves to be seen by as many eyes as possible.” Big Comic Page 8 OUT OF 10 REVIEW: “[Ganucheau’s] art makes me long for an animated movie of this tale. This is a great read for people looking for strong female characters and a fun, all ages story.” Pop Culture Uncovered

Retailer incentive alternate cover illustrated by
Mildred Louis (Rick and Morty: Lil’ Poopy Superstar, Agents of the Realm)!

LETTER 44 #25
(W) Charles Soule
(A/CA) Alberto Jiménez Alburquerque
(C) Dan Jackson
Age Range: 15 and up
Genre: Sci-fi
Price: $3.99

Mission commander Charlotte Hayden has departed the relative safety of the Clarke on a desperate mission to recover her kidnapped child. Her confrontation with the alien Builders will drastically alter the trajectory of the series. Meanwhile, President Blades does everything he can to make Earth a slightly better place for the world’s billions during their last months alive.

Why It’s Neat: President Blades begins to issue laws at a rapid-fire pace, laws that would normally result in an impeachment. But the world doesn’t know that the end is near… The Builders have forgiven the crew of the Clarke, but make them help make their space weapon even more powerful… A sprawling sci-fi epic written by the unstoppable Charles Soule (Star Wars: Poe Dameron, Daredevil, Star Wars: Obi-Wan & Anakin, Uncanny Inhumans) and illustrated by Alberto Jiménez Alburquerque (Mystery Girl). Letter 44 was an official selection of the 2016 Festival International de la Bande Dessinée, recognizing it as one of the finest graphic titles published in the French language!

What people are saying: “This comic has it all: terrorism, politically motivated sex, sex in space, alien-human hybrids, orbital weapon platforms, Biblical allusions and underground bunkers—plus plenty of riffs on real history.” Paste Magazine, “Why Aren’t You Reading Letter 44?” “Charles Soule, on the other hand, doesn’t seem to be running out of any ideas or creative juices any time soon, he just keeps piling them on with this stunning sci-fi extravaganza.” An Englishman in San Diego “This is without a doubt one of the most complex and interesting reads on stands today.” Reading with a Flight Ring

RICK AND MORTY #14
(W) Tom Fowler
(A/CA) CJ Cannon
(C) Ryan Hill
Retailer incentive alternate cover illustrated by Savanna Ganucheau
Exceed Exclusives variant cover illustrated by Mady G.
Age Range: 15 and up
Genre: Sci-fi, Humor
Price: $3.99

Having survived their adventures fending off alien invasions in “head-space,” Rick and Morty finally return home just in time for the beginning of the same freakin’ alien invasion.

Can Rick and Morty stave off this newest, samest invasion? What awful decisions will they be forced to make? How long will this new galactic empire last? (Maybe 80 years? More? Probably somewhere in there.)

Why It’s Neat: The epic conclusion of the great head-swapping adventure! Can Rick and Morty stop the alien invasion? Or at least escape it? Don’t ever underestimate toasters. No wait, don’t overestimate toasters. Or, you know what, whatever, toast is DUMB, it’s just double-cooked bread.

What people are saying: 10 OUT OF 10 REVIEW: “Oni Press’ Rick and Morty continues its hilarious and somewhat mauldin hot streak. […] If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a thousand times, Rick and Morty is the real deal […] yet another example of its raw and hilarious commitment to telling great stories.” Newsarama, “Best Shots Rapid Fire Reviews” “This is the best and only way to continue your ocular enjoyment of Rick and Morty.” AIPT! “Fowler’s script is surprisingly emotional for a comic about an animated comedy and raises the level of depth that the series can provide. […] CJ Cannon gets to hit both barrels art wise, on heart wrenching family scenes and action packed laser-filled panels. I’ve said it before but I’ll say it again, never before as an artist and a series been so perfect for each other. […] raises the bar for the series, and provides a great sample of the show for dedicated fans while also just being a great comic.” Nothing But Comics

Retailer incentive alternate cover illustrated by
Savanna Ganucheau (Invader ZIM)!

Exceed Exclusives variant cover illustrated by Mady G.!