Vertigo's Solicitations for January

By Martijn Form




Hi Vertigolovers,

Did you check out Vertigo's new website layout?

To be honest, I don't like it because I can't find the necessary information. The comic book and graphic novel section especially isn't well-organized and not very conveniently arranged, for us readers, I believe. But what do you think?

Vertigo provided me with their solicitations for books coming out in January 2009. There are loads of great things in store for us. Just follow my lead, and let me guide through this massive list.

The Sandman: The Dream Hunters #3
Story by Neil Gaiman
Adaptation and art by P. Craig Russell
Cover by Yuko Shimizu/ Variant cover by Paul Pope
The monk journeys across a bridge of fireflies and a talking garden to the Palace of Dreams, all to plead for the life of the fox who sacrificed her life for his. But whose side will the King of Dreams take?
Continuing the adaptation of best-selling author Neil Gaiman’s prose story The Sandman: The Dream Hunters into sequential format by master storyteller P. Craig Russell (The Sandman: Endless Nights), this issue also features a variant cover by artist Paul Pope (Batman: Year One Hundred)!
Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers. For every 25 copies of the Standard Edition (with a cover by Yuko Shimizu), retailers may order one copy of the Variant Edition (with a cover by Paul Pope). Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.
On sale January 7 • 3 of 4 • 32 pg, FC $2.99 US


Army@Love: The Art of War #6
Written by Rick Veitch
Art and cover by Rick Veitch & Gary Erskine
The mystery of the video from the future is finally solved, and, in the process, the central existential question of the age is answered. But what does that mean for Loman, Switzer, Flabbergast and the newest addition to the Army@Love cast: a walking, talking Big Finger?
On sale January 7 • 6 of 6 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US


Greatest Hits #5
Written by David Tischman
Art by Glenn Fabry & Gary Erskine Cover by Glenn Fabry
Holy time travel! The present-day Vizier takes Nick and Ethel 35 years into the past, and what Nick sees as the Mates battle invaders aboard an alien spaceship rocks his world. The past isn't what it used to be, and the surprises keep coming as an angry Nick argues with Ethel over the final cut of the Mates documentary they’ve been making. Quiet on the set!
On sale January 21 • 5 of 6 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US


100 Bullets #99
Written by Brian Azzarello
Art by Eduardo Risso
Cover by Dave Johnson
The penultimate issue of the award-winning series sees old scores settled and new bloodshed! As questions are answered, truths come to light in this startling issue. With one issue to go in this epic series, you won’t believe what happens next. Also, this is not a jumping-on point in case you were wondering.
On sale January 14 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US


Air #6
Written by G. Willow Wilson
Art and cover by M.K. Perker
Blythe's mysterious rescuer reveals the truth behind one of the most shocking disappearances in aviation history – a secret tied to the origin of hyperprax flight. As the race to find the device begins, Blythe must master her skills as a hyperpract. But her fear of heights may get the better of her.
On sale January 21 • 32 pg, FC $2.99 US


DMZ #38
Written by Brian Wood
Art by Riccardo Burchielli
Cover by John Paul Leon
"War Powers" part 2 of 4. Matty's first task under the Delgado regime involves tracking down the source of one of the DMZ's greatest urban legends.
On sale January 14 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US


Fables #80
Written by Bill Willingham
Cover by James Jean
Art by Mark Buckingham, Andrew Pepoy and Peter Gross
Here's the thing, folks. We can't tell you what happens in this issue because it would give away the big frightening thing that happened in the previous issue (which we also didn't tell you about). So, what can we say? Only the most general stuff. Like that the grim fallout from winning the war so easily continues. And the metaphorical chickens come home to roost. Good, right?
On sale January 14 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US


Jack of Fables #30
Written by Matthew Sturges & Bill Willingham
Art by Tony Akins & Jose Marzan Jr.
Cover by Brian Bolland
What's the "First Draft," and what is its awe-inspiring secret? Where did that extra pig come from? What's everybody reading? "The Siege of The Golden Boughs" enters its third installment and the tide begins to turn – but in whose favor? Expect answers, explosions, mayhem and extra tacos.
On sale January 28 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US


House of Mystery #9
Written by Matthew Sturges & Bill Willingham
Art by Luca Rossi and Bernie Wrightson
Cover by Glenn Fabry
In the Temple of the Spider God deep within the house, strange creatures attack! Meanwhile, there's an unexpected appearance by someone from our heroine's past, and extreme promiscuity flows freely as a wild party upstairs in the bar rages on. This issue also features a little ditty titled "Gothic Romance" illustrated by none other than House of Mystery alumnus Bernie Wrightson!
On sale January 7 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US


Haunted Tank #2
Written by Frank Marraffino
Art by Henry Flint
Cover by Paul Pope
Sandblasted in the desert wasteland and cut off from the rest of the battalion, the crew of the Haunted Tank is not alone! Not only does tank commander Jamal Stuart face devastating enemy attacks from every direction, he's also got to deal with the know-it-all Civil War ghost of his ancestor giving him the jibber-jabber. Don’t miss out on the miniseries bursting with politics, pyrotechnics, radical Islam, human drama and people getting shot in the face!
On sale January 7 • 2 of 5 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US


Hellblazer #251
Written by Peter Milligan
Art by Giuseppe Camuncoli & Stefano Landini
Cover by Lee Bermejo
Vertigo welcomes back one of its most popular and prolific scribes to pilot our longest-running title! Joining series artist Leonardo Manco, writer Peter Milligan (Batman, Human Target, X-Statix) begins raising hell as John Constantine digs his fingers deep into his bumpy past. He discovers that old wounds and new loves are both best left untouched in part 1 of the the storyarc "Scab."
Don’t miss out on the start of an intense, mind-bending new era for John Constantine!
On sale January 21 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US


Northlanders #14
Written by Brian Wood
Art by Ryan Kelly
Cover by Massimo Carnevale
The news of the Vikings' last days in Ireland at the Battle of Clontarf reaches Ragnar's ears, intensifying his desire to put an end to the reign of terror at the hands of a serial killer known as Magnus. Ragnar puts his own men out as live bait, and learns an important clue to his adversary's true identity in "The Cross + The Hammer" part 4.
On sale January 28 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US


Scalped #25
Written by Jason Aaron
Art by R.M. Guera
Cover by Jock
In this first part of an all-new arc that sets up major events on the Prairie Rose reservation, we see the landscape through the eyes of a newcomer – a card shark and con man – whose presence could spell doom for one of our main characters. The countdown to chaos begins here with part 1 of "High Lonesome."
On sale January 21 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US


Unknown Soldier #4
Written by Joshua Dysart
Art by Alberto Ponticelli
Cover by Igor Kordey
Hunted by rebels and protecting abducted children, Moses finds himself caught on the front line of a brutal battle between the Lord's Resistance Army and the Ugandan Military. And caught between a rock and a hard place, Moses makes a drastic decision.
On sale January 28 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US


Young Liars #11
Written by David Lapham
Art and cover by David Lapham
Things come to a head as the Spiders make their move! Sadie sets in motion a plot to assassinate her father. But Danny feels Sadie’s scheme could get her killed. Can he save her in time? Will Big C, Annie and Donnie come to the rescue? In this crazy world, Danny knows the only thing a Young Liar can count on is that his friends won’t be there for him when he really needs them. Or will they?
On sale January 14 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

With every new Vertigo solicitations, the inevitable happens. I'm talking about 100 Bullets here. Issue #99 has just been solicited, and my cry for delaying this series has not been heard. Yes, you are hearing me correct; I demand a comic book be delayed! *SIGH* It's because I don't want 100 Bullets to end! I want to hold on to my favorite series. I am not ready for its conclusion yet. But just as sure as the sun is coming up every day (I still cannot defy gravity), I have to face this. I hope I can find the strength somehow in the coming months.

Well, enough sobbing. You know what I find fascinating about these new solicitations is the fact that some books that haven't yet seen the day of light are already solicited for issue #3, or so, like: The Sandman: The Dream Hunters #3, Haunted Tank #2 and Unknown Soldier #4. I'm having a hard time practicing my patience waiting for any of these books. I just want to read the first issue so badly, it makes me restless.

Fables #75 was a great issue, a milestone. Fables #76 though was a bit of a letdown, for me, but Bill Willingham is the man, because issue #77 was great again. Willingham just knows every inch and corner of his Fables saga. After reading issue #77, I have no doubt great things are ahead for this marvelous series, and I can't wait to read issue #80.

Peter Milligan is back at Vertigo! What a wonderful surprise! I thought Simon Oliver was taking over Hellblazer from Andy Diggle, but Peter Milligan is obviously doing a story arc before that. I liked what Milligan did for Vertigo in the past. The Extremist, Enigma and The Human Target are all great reads, but his tour de force, his master plan was, of course, Shade The Changing Man. Seventy issues of mind-blowing extravaganza, which to this day, aren't collected in trade paper backs. I just find that unbelievable. A great oversight by Vertigo, if you ask me. One of these days I hope to do a tribute column about Shade The Changing Man, a great series that shouldn't be forgotten.

By the way, look again at the House of Mystery #9 credits. I'll wait…

Did you see it? Comicbook artist and living legend Bernie Wrightson is providing some of the art for this issue. How cool is that? Wrightson did the artwork for a lot of the old House of Mystery comics back in the '70s. It seems the circle is complete. This is a must have issue that should be framed.

So what does Vertigo have in store trade wise, you ask me? Well here we go.

The Complete Death Deluxe Edition HC
Written by Neil Gaiman
Art by Mark Buckingham, Chris Bachalo, Jeffrey Jones, Dave McKean and Mark Pennington
Cover by Dave McKean
"The landmark comic-book series that actually made Death seem . . . cool.", Entertainment Weekly on The Sandman
From the pages of Neil Gaiman's The Sandman comes the young, pale, perky and genuinely likable Death. One day in every century, Death walks the Earth to better understand those to whom she will be the final visitor. Today is that day!
Collecting Death: The High Cost of Living #1-3, Death: The Time of Your Life #1-3, the Death Talks About Life AIDS pamphlet and stories from Vertigo: Winter's Edge #2 and The Sandman: Endless Nights for the first time in one place. This oversized hardcover is the perfect companion for The Absolute Sandman and ideal for fans of Gaiman's sprawling, intimate comics work!
Advance solicited; on sale March 25 • 7.0625” x 10.875” • 304 pg, FC $34.99 US


V For Vendetta New Edition TP
Written by Alan Moore
Art and cover by David Lloyd
"Perhaps Moore's most powerful work.", Portland Mercury
A new trade paperback edition of the graphic novel that inspired the hit movie! A powerful story about loss of freedom and individuality, V For Vendetta takes place in a totalitarian England following a devastating war that changed the face of the planet. In a world without political freedom, personal freedom and precious little faith in anything comes a mysterious man in a white porcelain mask who fights political oppressors through terrorism and seemingly absurd acts. It's a gripping tale of the blurred lines between ideological good and evil.
This new trade paperback edition of the classic series from writer Alan Moore (Watchmen, League of Extraordinary Gentlemen) and artist David Lloyd (Hellblazer) collects the epic miniseries and features the improved production values and coloring from the 2005 hardcover.
On sale December 24 • 296 pg, FC $19.99 US


Sandman Mystery Theatre Vol. 7: The Mist and Phantom of the Fair TP
Written by Matt Wagner & Steve T. Seagle
Art by Guy Davis
Cover by Gavin Wilson & Richard Bruning
The crime-filled, noir world of the '30s continues! Collecting issues #37-44 of the acclaimed series as the Golden Age Sandman discovers the origin of one of his oldest adversaries and unravels the mystery of a series of brutal murders amid the 1939 New York World’s Fair.
Advance-solicited; on sale February 25 • 200 pg, FC, $19.99 US


DMZ Vol. 6: Blood in the Game VOL. 6: TP
Written by Brian Wood
Art by Richardo Burchielli
Cover by Brian Wood
The critically acclaimed series exploring a war-torn New York City continues! Collecting issues #29-34, this volume involves the rise of a possible new leader in the DMZ and what it could mean for Matty Roth, a journalist calling the zone home.
Advance-solicited; on sale February 11 • 144 pg, FC, $12.99 US

Two surprising titles here. The Death hardcover and the V for Vendetta trade. I know the girl Death is a fan-favorite character, but let's be honest, the individual comics presented in this hard-cover aren't that great. But a name like Neil Gaiman should attract a lot of attention, but not from me. Ah, maybe I will take a look at it because I love hardcovers.

Wasn't there already a good trade for V for Vendetta? Oh well.

If you aren't reading DMZ in the monthlies format, then DMZ Vol. 6: Blood in the Game TP is the thing for you. Brian Wood throws so much political mayhem in your face that it really can be an eye-opener, especially during these U.S. elections times.

That's it for this week. Tune in next week for more Vertigo goodness in the one and only column all about those great Vertigo books: The Vertigo Spotlight.

Cheers!