Onyx #1
Written by Chris Ryall
Art by Gabriel Rodriguez
Colors by Jay Fotos
Letters by Shawn Lee
Cover art by Gabriel Rodriguez, Ashley Wood, Charles Paul Wilson III, Alan Robinson, and Sal Buscema
IDW Publishing
Release Date: July 1, 2015
Cover Price: $3.99

At the end of Onyx #1 you’re going to hear a bit of a thud. That’s the mic dropping.

Writer Chris Ryall finally brings this labor of love to shelves of comic stores around the world, and boy, can you tell that Ryall loves this book. There’s some comics that I read where I can tell that the creators are just showing up to collect a paycheck, then they’re outta there and on to the their next project. Not so with Ryall and Onyx.

It’s the year 2083 and Earth has more than a few problems. Overpopulation. Lack of food. Lack of space. Oh, there’s also the small issue of an alien invasion, too. Thankfully, along comes the galactic warrior Onyx to help save the planet. Unfortunately for Onyx, the International Global Defense Corps isn’t that keen on Onyx and decide to try and put a stop to it.

This July, IDW Publishing has decided to take a break from their usual “universe-spanning crossover event” by doing something different — putting out a high quality comic book mini-series that’s unique from anything else on the stands.

Eisner Award-nominated writer Chris Ryall teams up with Eisner Award-nominated artist of Locke & Key, Gabriel Rodriguez, to bring their new creation, Onyx to comic fans everywhere. Debuting this month in select IDW titles is the issue #0 for the series, but if you haven’t seen it yet, we’ve got a treat for you, because you can read it RIGHT HERE!

Douglas Adams’ Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency #1
Written by Chris Ryall
Pencils by Tony Akins
Inks by John Livesay
Colors by Leonard O’Grady
Letters by Robbie Robbins and Shawn Lee
Covers by Tony Akins and Paul Mounts (Regular), Rob Guillory (Subscription), Robert Hack and Stephen Downer (Retailer Incentive)
IDW Publishing
Release Date: May 20, 2015
Cover Price: $3.99

Everything is connected. That’s the long and short of how the title character in Douglas Adams’ Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency #1 sees the world in general and how he works through his mysteries in particular. If you haven’t read any Douglas Adams then immediately following this review, go do so. The man was not only amazing but he should have been sainted for the wonderful work he did in science fiction literature. I applaud anyone who revives or adapts his work for the newer generations. But we are here to talk about this individual issue, folks, so let’s do just that!

As it turns out, the concept of fundamental interconnectedness means that time, space, and reality can all be thrown to the wolves. If the entire makeup of everything is connected to everything else then it’s as if the universe is playing a game akin to the Six Degrees Of Kevin Bacon! In this comic, we see the eponymous Dirk Gently seeking those very same connections! Relying on his wits and wisdom, and a good deal of luck and fate, he somehow manages to find the thread that links it all together.

Zombies vs. Robots Omnibus
Written by Chris Ryall
Illustrated by Ashley Wood, Menton3, Paul McCaffrey
Lettered by Robbie Robbins
Cover by Ashley Wood
IDW Publishing
Release Date: February 11, 2015
Cover Price: $29.99

What’s the best weapon to thwart a zombie and the horde it’s roaming with? A knife? A bat? A sword? A gun? No! What about a cheeky, intelligent, battle robot? Yes! Oh, and sexy, Amazonian warriors wouldn’t hurt in the fight either. The zombie apocalypse has begun in Chris Ryall and Ashley Wood’s Zombies vs. Robots Omnibus, and it’s a fast-paced world of destruction and mayhem.

Monster & Madman #1
The Secret History of Jack the Ripper and Frankenstein’s Monster
Written by Steve Niles
Illustrated by Damien Worm
Colored by Damien Worm
Edited by Chris Ryall
Covers by Damien Worm
IDW Publishing
Release Date: March 12, 2014
Cover Price: $3.99

Have you ever wondered what became of Victor Frankenstein’s Monster at the end of Mary Shelley’s classic story? Did he perish while drifting off to sea on an ice patch, or did he survive both the bitterness of the wild and his own self-loathing? Well, the mystery is over.

Steve Niles new comic book contains the truth behind the Monster’s fate, and his secret history seems to involve an infamous villain from the past: Jack the Ripper. In IDW’s latest mini-series event, Monster & Madman, Niles, along with illustrator Damien Worm, weave an intricate tale encompassing such themes as inner-turmoil, murder, and insanity.