Image Comics for April 2010

Image Comics sent Major Spoilers the cover images and solicitation information for titles arriving in April 2010.

TURF #1 – GEM OF THE MONTH
story JONATHAN ROSS
art & cover TOMMY LEE EDWARDS
1:20 variant cover by DUNCAN FEGREDO
1: 50 variant cover by JIM STERANKO
1:100 variant sketch cover by TOMMY LEE EDWARDS
APRIL 7
32 PAGES / FC
$2.99
A four- issue hard boiled noir crime thriller with girls, guns, fangs and aliens.
New York, 1929. The height of prohibition. The cops turn a blind eye while the mobs run the city, dealing in guns, girls and illegal liquor. But the arrival of the mysterious Dragonmir Family from Eastern Europe with more of a taste for blood then booze co-incides with a series of brutal attacks on the gangsters themselves.  As the gangs fall before the fangs, only handful of mobsters survive. But an unlikely alliance formed between tough guy Eddie Falco and a character from a LONG way from New York City – a long way from Earth in fact – offers the humans a glimmer of hope. As the strong willed young reporter Susie Dale from the Gotham Herald tries to survive in the middle of the maelstrom, and an ancient prophecy unfolds, no one can guess who’s going to win the battle for this particular slice of Turf.
RETAILER WARNING: MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR ALL AGES

The Creators
JONATHAN ROSS is one of the highest profile broadcasters in the UK. His weekly talk show, Friday Night with Jonathan Ross is entering its 11th year on BBC1, and is the UK’s most successful comedy talk show. It is now broadcast via the BBC in the USA, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and in assorted other weirdly arbitrary territories. He also hosts an award winning weekly radio show, the BBC’s flagship Film review program and the Bafta Film Awards, which is shown in numerous countries around the world.
In a career that spans over twenty years Ross has often been associated with cult entertainment. His award winning series The Incredibly Strange Film Show and it’s sequel, The Son of the Incredibly Strange Film Show won a fan following that remembers them fondly to this day. He was responsible for the first western television interview with Jacki Chan, Tsui Hark and many other leading Hong Kong stars. He has authored programs on subjects as diverse as Korean Cinema, Drive-Through Funeral parlors in Louisiana and Steve Ditko. He has a collection of comics and original art so large it frightens even him.

TOMMY LEE EDWARDS After studying film and illustration at the Art Center College of Design, Edwards took the comics industry by storm with his illustrations on such titles as X-Men, Daredevil, Marvel 1985, Batman,and The Question.  Proving to be one of the most respected and versatile artists working today, he has also designed video games like Command and Conquer, James Bond and Prey. Edwards created the licensing style-guides for films such as Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Men in Black II, Superman Returns, Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and Batman Begins.  For LucasFilm, he’s created countless pieces for books, merchandise, magazines, and posters. Edwards perhaps feels most at home putting his imagination and storytelling flare to the test while working as a conceptual and storyboard artist for film.  Recently he collaborated with the Hughes Brothers on their upcoming Denzel Washington epic The Book of Eli. Currently on Edwards’ desk is a series of concept illustrations for the live-action film re-envisioning of Masters of the Universe, along with a Prince of Persia graphic novel for Disney Press.

IMAGE FIRSTS
Just in time for FREE COMIC BOOK DAY 2010, Image Comics is re-presenting 10 first issues as an introduction to of the publisher’s most acclaimed titles, with each acting as the perfect primer to their ongoing series and collected editions!

IMAGE FIRSTS: YOUNGBLOOD #1
story ROB LIEFELD & JOE CASEY
art & cover ROB LIEFELD
MARCH 31
32 PAGES / FC
$1.00
The original celebrity superheroes make their debut in this remastered tale by Rob Liefeld and Joe Casey.

IMAGE FIRSTS: THE WALKING DEAD #1
story ROBERT KIRKMAN
art & cover TONY MOORE
MARCH 31
32 PAGES / BW
$1.00
A continuing tale of survival horror in a post-apocalyptic world.

IMAGE FIRSTS: SPAWN #1
story TODD McFARLANE
art & cover TODD McFARLANE
APRIL 7
32 PAGES / FC
$1.00
Todd McFarlane’s arcane superhero discovers the truth behind his unholy resurrection.

IMAGE FIRSTS: CHEW #1
story JOHN LAYMAN
art & cover ROB GUILLORY
APRIL 7
32 PAGES / FC
$1.00
Bizarre culinary crimes investigated by the FDA’s premier psychic detective.

IMAGE FIRSTS: SAVAGE DRAGON #1
story ERIK LARSEN
art & cover ERIK LARSEN
APRIL 14
32 PAGES / FC
$1.00
A lone supercop fights against a city of organized supercrime.

IMAGE FIRSTS: AGE OF BRONZE #1
story ERIC SHANOWER
art & cover ERIC SHANOWER
APRIL 14
32 PAGES / BW
$1.00
Eric Shanower’s epic retelling of the Trojan War.

IMAGE FIRSTS: WITCHBLADE #1
story DAVID WOHL & CHRISTINA Z
art & cover MICHAEL TURNER
APRIL 21
32 PAGES / FC
$1.00
The only weapon powerful enough to keep the forces of Darkness and Light at bay is in the hands of a New York cop.

IMAGE FIRSTS: GIRLS #1
story JOSHUA LUNA
art & cover JONATHAN LUNA
APRIL 21
32 PAGES / FC
$1.00
A small town trapped in an invisible dome becomes the epicenter of an alien invasion unlike any other.

IMAGE FIRSTS: INVINCIBLE #1
story ROBERT KIRKMAN
art & cover CORY WALKER
APRIL 28
32 PAGES / FC
$1.00
When a teenager inherits his father’s superpowers, he learns there’s much more to being a superhero than he ever anticipated.

IMAGE FIRSTS: PROOF #1
story ALEX GRECIAN
art & cover RILEY ROSSMO
APRIL 28
32 PAGES / FC
$1.00
Crypto-zoological horror as investigated by Agent Ginger Brown and her partner, Bigfoot.

THE LIGHT #1 (of 5)
story NATHAN EDMONDSON
art & cover BRETT WELDELE
APRIL 14
24 PAGES / FC
$2.99
“OUTBREAK”
The new series from the writer of OLYMPUS and the artist of THE SURROGATES.  In Oregon, a mysterious virus infects anyone that looks into an electric light.  An abusive father blindfolds his daughter and together they escape town as  people are burning alive from the inside out.  A fierce, action-packed and gritty tale of survival, THE LIGHT is 28 DAYS LATER meets 30 DAYS OF NIGHT.

HAUNT #7
story ROBERT KIRKMAN
art GREG CAPULLO & TODD McFARLANE
covers TODD McFARLANE, GREG CAPULLO
APRIL 7
32 PAGES / FC
$2.99
NEW STORY ARC!  NEW ART TEAM!
GREG CAPULLO is welcomed as full-time penciler on the series as the second explosive story arc begins!  Daniel Kilgore is now firmly entrenched in his brother’s life of espionage and intrigue… but is he ready for it?  Just as Daniel begins to get his life in order, it appears it might suddenly end.

IMAGE UNITED #4 (of 6)
story ROBERT KIRKMAN
art ERIK LARSEN, ROB LIEFELD, TODD MCFARLANE, WHILCE PORTACIO, MARC SILVESTRI & JIM VALENTINO
covers ERIK LARSEN, ROB LIEFELD, TODD MCFARLANE, WHILCE PORTACIO, MARC SILVESTRI & JIM VALENTINO
APRIL 28
32 PAGES / FC
$3.99
THE CROSSOVER EVENT OF THE CENTURY CONTINUES!
Omega Spawn has reached a level of unlimited power and influence.  Fortress has failed to unite the heroes in time, but he’s not giving up – there may still be time to save the world.  With our heroes broken and defeated, scattered across the globe, now may be their last chance.

SPAWN #202
story WILL CARLTON
art SZYMON KUDRANSKI & TODD MCFARLANE
cover TODD MCFARLANE
APRIL 28 
32 PAGES / FC
$2.99
A MAJOR NEW VILLIAN gets introduced into the pages of Spawn!
 Al Simmons’ biggest enemy re-enters the life of the new Spawn, Jim Downing, while vampire clan leader, Bludd, joins the game uninvited. As Jim’s alter ego’s attraction to becoming the new global “Messiah” builds, Bludd and Clown team up to destroy him.  Join our new creative team as we move into the dark and gritty world of vampires, and the behind the scenes politics of news media.

ARMAGEDDON NOW: ANTI-CHRIST OGN
story PHIL HOTSENPILLER & ROB LIEFELD
art & cover ROB LIEFELD & MIKE CAPPROTTI
APRIL 28 
64 PAGES / FC
$6.99
The aftermath of World War 3 continues as the Anti Christ arrives in the United States and solidifies his base of power. Corbin pursues Jada assassin in Rome.

SPLATTERMAN OGN
story JIMMY PALMIOTTI & JUSTIN GRAY
art GIANCARLO CARACUZZO & PAUL MOUNTS
cover TIM BRADSTREET
APRIL 28 
72 PAGES / FC
$6.99
SPLATTERMAN is the blood soaked story of two comic creators and their ultimate horror character creation gone very bad. A “done-in-one” graphic novella that truely lives up to its title, it’s all brought to you by the twisted minds of JIMMY PALMIOTTI and JUSTIN GRAY (JONAH HEX, POWERGIRL, BACK TO BROOKLYN) and illustrated by GIANCARLO CARACUZZO (THE LAST RESORT) and PAUL MOUNTS (POWERGIRL, WANTED) and lettered by BILL TORTOLINI.
RETAILER WARNING: MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR ALL AGES

CHEW, VOL. 2: INTERNATIONAL FLAVOR TP
story JOHN LAYMAN
art & cover ROB GUILLORY
APRIL 14
128 PAGES / FC
$12.99
Tony Chu, the cibopathic federal agent with the ability to get psychic impressions from the things he eats, is on a bizarre new case. A newly discovered fruit takes Agent Chu to a remote island full of secrets, strangeness—and a shadowy killer with a particularly sinister appetite.
Presenting the second storyline of IGN.com’s pick for Best Indie Series of 2009 and MTV Splash Page.com’s pick for Best New Series of 2009. Find out what the fuss is about in this latest a twisted and darkly funny comic about cops, crooks, cooks, cannibals and clairvoyants.
Collects CHEW #6-10
Retailer warning: may not be suitable for all ages

COWBOY NINJA VIKING TP
story AJ LIEBERMAN
art & cover RILEY ROSSMO
APRIL 14
160 PAGES / FC
$17.99
Tasked with creating a counter-intelligence unit, Dr. Sebastian Ghislain turned to those long thought useless to society: patients with Multiple Personality Disorder.  Now all but one of these “Triplets” has gone rogue, and it’s up to Cowboy Ninja Viking to find and stop this band of ridiculously disturbed—but highly effective—assassins!
“COWBOY NINJA VIKING is one of those rare occasions where something that should be nothing but a guilty pleasure ends up being way deeper and better written…this book is just the gift that keeps on giving.” –Ain’t It Cool News
Collects the first 5 issues of the smash hit series, plus the never-before-seen original pitch, alternate scripts, unused art, and pin-ups. Want more?  Fine.  We’ll throw in an index!
RETAILER WARNING: MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR ALL AGES

ELEPHANTMEN, VOL. 3: DANGEROUS LIAISONS HC
story RICHARD STARKINGS
art MORITAT, CHRIS BURNHAM, MARIAN CHURCHLAND, BOO COOK, ROB STEEN and ANDRE SZYMANOWICZ
cover BOO COOK
APRIL 7
280 PAGES / FC
$34.99
The Elephantmen were soldiers – weapons of mass destruction – but now they must live out their lives amongst us. Even so, as three of their number, Hip Flask, Ebony Hide and Obadiah Horn go about their business in Los Angeles, 2259, a MAPPO sleeper cell has plans of their own for them.

FRANK FRAZETTA’S DARK KINGDOM HC
story MARK KIDWELL
art & cover FRANK FRAZETTA, TIM VIGIL & JAY FOTOS
APRIL 28
176 PAGES / FC
$29.99
Enter the shadows of one of FRANK FRAZETTA’S most striking fantasy masterpieces as Frazetta Comics invites you to the DARK KINGDOM. Brave the perils of fierce creatures, cruel seas and dark sorcery beside RED MORDEN, the legendary CRIMSON REAVER, as he risks all in a quest to breathe life into his fallen wife. A quest that will lead the savage sea-raider to a climactic battle with the darkest force in heroic fantasy legend, FRAZETTA’S Death Dealer! Scripted by fantasy/horror writer MARK KIDWELL and lavishly illustrated by dark fantasy masters TIM VIGIL and JAY FOTOS in an oversized, 8.5”x12.5” format along with a treasure trove of never-before seen, previously un-published material!
Collects FRANK FRAZETTA’S DARK KINGDOM PARTS 1-4

JERSEY GODS, VOL. 3: THUNDER ROAD TP
story GLEN BRUNSWICK
art DAN McDAID
cover JOHN ROMITA, JR.
APRIL 28
112 PAGES / FC
$12.99
Zoe is super-charged – and about to take Barock down.  Never let your girlfriend borrow your super-powers. Sinister forces are lining up against our favorite Jersey couple that threaten to destroy their union…and their very lives. Hang on to your seats, the JERSEY GODS train is about to derail in the stunning conclusion you never expected.  No lie: It will ROCK you!
Collects JERSEY GODS 10-12, plusthe complete MARK WAID back up story, the six-page JERSEY GODS promo from INVINCIBLE and the JERSEY GODS pages from POPGUN.

MADMAN ATOMIC COMICS, VOL. 3:  ELECTRIC ALLEGORIES! TP
story MICHAEL ALLRED
art & cover MICHAEL ALLRED
APRIL 21
200 PAGES / FC
$19.99
“ELECTRIC ALLEGORIES”
The MADMAN ATOMIC COMICS Grand Finale! This volume wraps up MICHAEL ALLRED ‘s latest inventive and groundbreaking Madman series. This volume includes the entire “Tweenage Wasteland” story arc where Frank “Madman” Einstein and the Atomics meet Red Rocket 7.  Also included are special episodes guest-starring creators Darwyn Cooke, J. Bone, Joelle Jones and Jamie S. Rich.  And while Allred is notorious for including massive bonus sections in his collections, this is the biggest yet with rare and unseen goodies as well as an amazing pin-up section including James Jean, Dave Cooper, Craig Thompson, Dave Johnson, Joe Quinones, Jim Rugg and other greats!

THE STRANGE ADVENTURES OF H.P. LOVECRAFT, VOL. 1 TP
story MAC CARTER
art TONY SALMONS
cover ADAM BYRNE
APRIL 14
184 PAGES / FC
$16.99
Chilling!  Uncanny!  Macabre!  The wall that separates reality and nightmare comes fast undone in this, the complete, horrific chronicle of young H.P. Lovecraft!  Is he a harmless writer of supernatural fiction – or a secret god of destruction and despair?  This is one strange tale, indeed.
Collects THE STRANGE ADVENTURES OF H.P. LOVECRAFT #1-4

UNDERGROUND TP
story JEFF PARKER
art & cover STEVE LIEBER
APRIL 21
128 PAGES / FC
$14.99
A conflict over Stillwater Cave forces two rangers flee deep under the mountains first to escape pursuers and then the deadliest threat- the cave itself.  This volume collects the critically acclaimed miniseries by Jeff Parker and Steve Lieber and includes extra material including a Wesley Fischer solo story.

THE WALKING DEAD, BOOK 3 HC (NEW PRINTING)
story ROBERT KIRKMAN
art & cover CHARLIE ADLARD & CLIFF RATHBURN
APRIL 7
304 PAGES / BW
$29.99
story ROBERT KIRKMAN
art & cover CHARLIE ADLARD & CLIFF RATHBURN
This hardcover features another 12 issues of the hit series along with the covers for the issues all in one oversized hardcover volume.  Perfect for long time fans, new readers, and anyone interested in reading a zombie movie on paper that never ends.
Collects THE WALKING DEAD #25-36

BANANA TAIL’S COLORFUL ADVENTURE HC
story MARK MCKENNA
art & cover STEVE AKEHURST & THE FOURTH ARMADA
APRIL 14
32 pgs/FC
$12.99
What would you do if you accidentally broke your best friend’s prized possession?  Would you tell them, or hide it? Join Banana Tail the monkey, along with his friends Tic Tac, a plaid zebra, and Slubb the hippo, as they try to solve the mystery of why their best friend Reena, the color-changing rhino, is distraught and changing into a unique array of colors right in front of their eyes!
Come join Banana Tail and Friends in a 3-D CGI adventure for the younger reader!

THE ASTOUNDING WOLF-MAN #24
story ROBERT KIRKMAN
art JASON HOWARD
cover JASON HOWARD & FCO PLASCENCIA
APRIL 28
32 PAGES / FC
$2.99
“LEGACY,” Part Four
Gary Hampton has had to endure so much pain and death since he first became the Astounding Wolf-Man – more than any man should be expected to take.  Now Zechariah has his daughter and this isn’t going to be pretty.  This issue has an ending you won’t believe – all leading to the monumental 25th issue!

CHOKER #3 (of 6)
story BEN McCOOL
art & cover BEN TEMPLESMITH
APRIL 21
32 PAGES / FC
$3.99
ISSUE THREE: DOWN THESE MEAN STREETS A BASTARD MUST GO
The story behind the Man Plus serum is revealed, as well as the curious secret Johnny Jackson’s been hiding for the past three years. And as the number of bewildering murders on the streets of Shotgun City continues to rise, Johnny learns something disturbing about the perpetrators and their objectives…
RETAILER WARNING: MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR ALL AGES

DEAD @ 17: THE WITCH QUEEN #2 (of 4)
story & art JOSH HOWARD
cover by JOSH HOWARD
APRIL 14
32 PAGES / FC
$2.99
Nara’s old nemesis Violet returns and she wants revenge. But when the truth about Violet’s resurrection is revealed, Nara must confront an ugly secret within the Zodiac. Meanwhile, Asia finds herself captive of the terrible Witch Queen.

FADE TO BLACK #2
story JEFF MARIOTTE
art & cover DANIELE SERRA
APRIL 21
32 PAGES / FC
$3.50
Running from the cannibals, our five heroes are scattered across the desert—one lost in a series of dark tunnels, one hiding under a film trailer, two stuck up on top of a hill, and one captured by the cannibal cult! How will they ever reunite…and what are the Children of the Radiant Dawn really up to?
Written by award-winning novelist Jeff Mariotte (Zombie Cop, Cold Black Hearts), with art by internationally acclaimed illustrator Daniele Serra (Pray for Death).

FORGETLESS #5 (of 5)
story NICK SPENCER
art W. SCOTT FORBES & MARLEY ZARCONE
cover W. SCOTT FORBES
APRIL 7
32 PAGES / FC
$3.50
The Last Goodbye. The Final Countdown. The End of the Road. These aren’t just the names of songs they play at high school graduation ceremonies- they’re also descriptions of the big, action-packed finale of FORGETLESS! Will Sonia and Sara shoot it out over a Peanut Butter Oreo dispute? Does Derrick escape to make more YouTube porn? Will a koala die?! Find out here!
Concluding the smash hit series Broken Frontier calls an “epic and ensemble-casted party!”
RETAILER WARNING: MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR ALL AGES

GOD COMPLEX #5
story MICHAEL AVON OEMING & DANIEL BERMAN
art JOHN BROGLIA
cover MICHAEL AVON OEMING
APRIL 7
32 PAGES / FC
$2.99
“Love, Life, Lost… Found”
A night out on the town might not be what Paul expects. But before he can get a handle on what’s really going on — the evening is interrupted by VIOLENCE and BLOODSHED. Paul watches helplessly as life slips away… R.I.P.

THE GREAT UNKNOWN #3 (of 5) RES
story DUNCAN ROULEAU
art & cover DUNCAN ROULEAU
APRIL 21
32 PAGES / FC
$3.50
Zach Feld is hot on the heels of the people who have robbed him of his future.  He wants his ideas back and the only thing that stands in his way is that those he’s hunting know what he’ll do before he does!

INVINCIBLE #72
story ROBERT KIRKMAN
art & cover RYAN OTTLEY & FCO PLASCENCIA
APRIL 21
32 PAGES / FC
$2.99
THE VILTRUMITE WAR CONTINUES!
You all knew it was coming, so we might as well get it out of the way early: CONQUEST vs. INVINCIBLE – the rematch!  This time Invincible won’t have Atom Eve to help him, and Conquest won’t make the mistake of underestimating him.  Can a galaxy-spanning all-out war contain this fight?  This issue is not to be missed!

KING CITY #9
story BRANDON GRAHAM
art & cover BRANDON GRAHAM
APRIL 21
32 PAGES / BW
$2.99
Deep inside the Owl gangs lair Joe finds a map to the most evil spot in all of King city. While the menace of the demon king’s return looms over them, Joe and Pete go to get sandwiches. Plus: This issue has a playable King city board game.
RETAILER WARNING: MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR ALL AGES

THE MICE TEMPLAR: DESTINY #8
story BRYAN J.L. GLASS & MICHAEL AVON OEMING
art VICTOR SANTOS
cover MICHAEL AVON OEMING
variant cover VICTOR SANTOS & VERONICA GANDINI
APRIL 14
32 PAGES / FC
$2.99
“FEAST OF SAMHAIN,” Part One
As the druids prepare for their ceremony which King Icarus believes will elevate him to godhood, all paths converge on the capital city of Dealrach Ard-Vale. As Karic launches his audacious plan to confront his destiny, Cassius is reunited with his own squad of loyal Templar. Leito strikes an unexpected alliance. And Mornae comes face-to-face with the horrific Snake god!

ORC STAIN #4
story JAMES STOKOE
art & cover JAMES STOKOE
APRIL 7
32 PAGES / FC
$3.99
“BOWIE THE POISON THROWER”,
After collapsing from the effects of a strange poison, One-Eye finds himself in the clutches of a dreaded Swamp Ramba; a notorious nymph-witch known to perform bizarre and deadly experiments on any stray orc that crosses their path.
RETAILER WARNING: MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR ALL AGES

SAVAGE DRAGON #159
story ERIK LARSEN
art & cover ERIK LARSEN
APRIL 7
32 PAGES / FC
$3.50
“DRAGON WAR,” Part Five
Just when you thought things were as crazy and desperate and messed up they can get – they get worse. Savage Dragon has crossed the line and things will never be the same again.

SHUDDERTOWN #2
story NICK SPENCER
art & cover by ADAM GEEN
APRIL 28
32 PAGES /FC
$3.50
Beaten and broken, troubled Homicide Detective Isaac Hernandez continues his investigation into a mysterious series of killings seemingly perpetrated by the dead. His search leads him to the worn-down velvet couches of Cherry’s Gentleman’s Club, and into the arms of a beautiful dancer with some questions of her own. 
From the creator of EXISTENCE 2.0 and FORGETLESS, a story of deceit, desire and revenge– perfect for fans of THE WIRE, SE7EN, and MULHOLLAND DRIVE.

THE WALKING DEAD #72
story ROBERT KIRKMAN
art & cover CHARLIE ADLARD & CLIFF RATHBURN
APRIL 14
32 PAGES / BW
$2.99
Fitting in was never something Michonne considered important.
RETAILER WARNING: MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR ALL AGES

THE WEIRD WORLD OF JACK STAFF #4
story PAUL GRIST
art & cover PAUL GRIST
APRIL 28
32 PAGES / FC
$3.50
Jack Staff was created to wield the Sword of Devastation and save the world from destruction.  But then he turned his back and walked away from his destiny.  So who’s going to save the world now?

YOUNGBLOOD #11
story ROB LIEFELD & MARK POULTON
art ROB LIEFELD, MARAT MYCHAELS & ADELSO CORONA
cover ROB LIEFELD
APRIL 28
32 PAGES / FC
$3.99
ATTACK OF THE OVERTKILLS!
An army of Overtkills attacks the Youngblood compound! Can an army of Die-Hards be far behind? Also, Lethal appears and threatens Shaft with information about his family.

via Image Comics