Ninjak #1
Written by Matt Kindt
Art by Clay Mann
Inks by Seth Mann
Colors by Ulises Arreola
Letters by Dave Sharpe
Cover art by Lewis Larosa, Clay Mann, Brian Reber, Dave Johnson, Marguerite Sauvage, Trevor Hairsine & Tom Muller
Valiant Entertainment
Release Date: March 11, 2015
Cover Price: $3.99

I don’t know what I was expecting from Ninjak #1, but I was not expecting what I read in this first issue. It just goes to show that when a publisher puts some quality talent on a title with a great concept, the result is amazing comics!

Valiant Comics decided to put writer Matt Kindt on this book, and the result is nothing short of fantastic. When you have a concept that’s a mash-up of a James Bond-type spy and a super ninja, and you put a writer who’s got the chops of Matt Kindt, again, fantastic things happen.

The Witcher #1
Script by Paul Tobin
Art by Joe Querio
Colors by Carlos Badilla
Letters by Nate Piekos of Blambot
Cover by Dave Johnson and Dan Panosian
Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: March 19, 2014
Cover Price: $3.99

Welcome, my friends, to the dark and deadly world of Geralt. Known as a Witcher, he hunts and kills monsters as a profession. Based on the highly successful stories by Andrzej Sapkowski, The Witcher #1 is the first in a five-part mini-series from Dark Horse Comics. There are even a series of video games, a movie, and a television series in this franchise, but we are here to talk about the new comic series so let me get back on track.

Our story opens with a lone huntsman, Jakob, fishing for his dinner when Geralt rides into his camp. Making a bit of small talk and sharing food and drink, the hunter is startled when the Witcher jumps into the river and slays a monster with ease. Settling in for the night, Jakob tells Geralt the story of how he “sort of” became a widower. It seems Jakob and his wife Marta were traveling when they were attacked by a marauding band of evil creatures. And while his wife was taken from him, she never quite left him. Sometimes sensing her near, he has no fear. Though he is definitely haunted by the loss of his wife for whom he cares so much.

You want to give me the chance to interview Jimmy Palmiotti? Um, how about “Hell, yeah!” That’s pretty much what went through my head when GoD’s Dave3 sent me the email about it last week.

I knew going in that the point was to talk about the comics creator’s current Kickstarter campaign for his graphic novel Denver, but I found it difficult to resist asking a few non-comic questions, too. Have you ever wondered if Palmiotti is secretly a Backstreet Boys fan? Or maybe if he ever dreamed of being an X-Wing pilot? I wonder these things, too! But unfortunately, I didn’t inquire about that. So what did I ask? Well, you’ll just have to keep on reading to find out. But I bet he did want to fly an X-Wing, just saying…

Dark Horse Comics has released a 7-page preview of The Witcher #1, the start of the publisher’s new 5-issue comic book miniseries based on the novels by Polish writer Andrzej Sapkowski. The miniseries is written by Paul Tobin with art by Joe Querio and Carlos Badilla, and covers by Dan Panosian and Dave Johnson.

Here below you can check out the 7-page preview and official solicitation for the 32-page full-color issue, which is currently available for pre-order, with a release date of March 19, 2014.

Wednesday is upon us, and your journey is about to begin. Like the fabled Holy Grail, a shiny new batch of comic books await your discovery…but unfortunately, you cannot purchase them all.

Will you choose wisely – as Indiana Jones did in the Last Crusade – escaping with the coveted treasure, or will you choose poorly, causing the flesh to explode from your bones, leaving nothing but your ash-covered, skeletal remains?

Fear not, noble adventurer – I’m here to help. Here are some of the best comics of the week, and why you should read, bag and board them.