American Gods: Shadows #1
Story and Words by Neil Gaiman
Script and Layout by P. Craig Russell
Art by Scott Hampton
Colors by Scott Hampton
Letters by Rick Parker
Covers by Glenn Fabry with Adam Brown, Scott Hampton, Dave McKean, David Mack, Becky Cloonan, Fabio Moon
Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: March 15, 2017
Cover Price: $3.99

Neil Gaiman‘s award-winning, best-selling all-around amazing novel American Gods is soon to be a television series on Starz, but first, Dark Horse Comics has launched an ongoing comic book adaptation with American Gods: Shadows #1.

In this first issue, we’re introduced to Shadow Moon, who’s nearing the end of his 3-year prison sentence. He wants nothing more than to just go home and finally be reunited with his wife, Laura — well, that and to take a bubble bath. But one thing is clear, he’s going to stay out of trouble from now on and work on rebuilding his life. Unfortunately, days before his scheduled release, he learns the devastating news that Laura has died, leaving him lost with no sense of what the future holds for him.

Charmed: A Thousand Deaths #1
Written by Erica Schultz
Art by Maria Sanapo
Colors by Haertwork Studios
Letters by Tom Napolitano
Cover by Joe Corroney
Dynamite Entertainment
Release Date: March 8, 2017
Cover Price: $3.99

Okay, so confession time. I am not a fan of the Charmed franchise, best known for the television series which ran from 1998 to 2006 on The WB (before it eventually became The CW). I tried to like it but it wasn’t really my cup of tea, so to speak. My wife on the other hand, loved the TV series and every single novel that I could find that featured these witches. But as it holds such a special place in her heart, I decided to show it some love here. Without further ado, I would like to introduce you to Charmed: A Thousand Deaths #1 from Dynamite Entertainment.

Darkness Visible #1
Written by Mike Carey and Arvind Ethan David
Art by Brendan Cahill
Colors by Joana Lafuente
Letters by Shawn Lee
IDW Publishing
Release Date: February 22, 2017
Cover Price: $3.99

Wouldn’t it be great if you could literally see the evil in the world? What if the evil that was in mankind was there by their choice? Maybe they made a bargain of sorts? Well, Darkness Visible #1, from writers Mike Carey (Unwritten, Lucifer, Girl with All the Gifts) and Arvind Ethan David (Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency), explores something quite similar to that concept. For you see, the evil does walk among us! In many cases, they are us.

30 Days of Night 15th Anniversary Edition
Written by Steve Niles
Art by Ben Templesmith
Letters by Robbie Robbins
Cover Art by Ben Templesmith
Trade Paperback
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Release Date: March 8, 2017

Fifteen years ago, a new comic book miniseries from IDW Publishing hit the shelves taking us to Barrow, Alaska, North America’s northernmost community, where the temperatures range from “cold as shit to fucking freezing,” and each year, the Sun does not rise for 30 straight days. The series begins on the last day of sunshine before the month of darkness begins, but this time around, vampires have arrived for unhampered access to sustenance of the human variety.

That 3-issue miniseries was 30 Days of Night and it put horror writer Steve Niles and artist Ben Templesmith on the map.

Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys: The Big Lie #1
Written by Anthony Del Col
Art by Werther Dell’Edera
Colors by Stefano Simeon
Letters by Simon Bowland
Covers by Fay Dalton, Emma Vieceli, Robert Hack
Dynamite Entertainment
Release Date: March 8, 2017
Paperback | Digital

Is it just me or is everything taking a turn for the darker side lately? Well, I can tell you that Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys: The Big Lie #1 is certainly following that trend. This is nothing at all like the books I grew up reading in the seventies. As a matter of fact, it feels like it would make a rather successful television show on the CW.