The Dresden Files: War Cry #3
Written by Jim Butcher and Mark Powers
Art by Carlos Gomez
Colors by Mohan
Letters by Bill Tortolini
Cover by Stjepan Sejic
Dynamite Entertainment
Release Date: August 6, 2014
Cover Price: $3.99

How do you take what is arguably the best urban fantasy book series ever written and make it better? Well, you create a comic series to help tell some of the other stories that didn’t make it into the books, that’s how! The Dresden Files: War Cry #3 marks the center of this story which takes place directly after the novel Dead Beat. And as usual, Harry Dresden is in a pickle, only this time he’s not completely to blame.

in the first two issues we see Harry and his three proteges en route to defend a group of scholars in the Midwest. Arriving on the scene a little late, they are almost immediately set upon by Red Court vampires. Hundreds of them, as a matter of fact. Harry being Harry, he notices that the scholars, the White Council’s Venatori Umbrorum allies, are adamant in their refusal to retreat. Upon searching the building, they discover why: there is a Shoggoth in the cellar. The supernatural equivalent of nuclear armament, this creature exists to feed and destroy and is outlawed on pain of death. And that’s where this issue picks up, with Harry changing his game plan just a tad.

Death Vigil #1
Written and Illustrated by Stjepan Sejic
Cover by Stjepan Sejic
Top Cow Productions, Inc.
Release Date: July 9, 2014
Cover Price: $3.99

In a line of new ongoing series from Top Cow, Death Vigil stands out for one important reason: Stjepan Sejic. In this present-day fantasy/horror comic, Sejic is not only able to show off his impressive artistic abilities — as he has with many Top Cow titles before — but his skillful storytelling is on display as well.

Death Vigil #1 is a 40-page explosion of supernatural mayhem. With an overflow of the occult, demons, and tears in the fabric of the universe, only certain beings have the power to protect humanity from falling prey to these unleashed evils: The Vigil; those who have died but are given another chance and led in their fight by Death herself.

Rise of the Magi #2
Written by Marc Silvestri
Art by Sumeyye Kesgin and Mirka Andolfo
Colors by Betsy Gonia
Letters by Troy Peteri
Cover by Stjepan Sejic
Top Cow Productions, Inc.
Release Date: July 9, 2014
Cover Price: $2.99

In the first issue of Rise of the Magi a young Asa Stone was sent from the world of Rune to Earth with a small vial of magic. The magic was scratched off the surface of the Orb, an object made of all the concentrated magic that exists in the universe.

Once arriving on Earth, specifically Times Square in New York City, Asa has to find a way to keep the magic safe from the monsters of Rune that followed him through the portal, while also trying to find a way back home.

Summer is upon us! And if you’re like me, you’re no doubt spending time in the great outdoors, enjoying some fun in the sun: picnics, lemonade, playing beach volleyball while listening to Kenny Loggins and giving your shirtless friends elaborate high-fives…

Oh, who are we kidding? I’m inside, next to an air conditioner, waiting for my next trip to the comic book store. And later today when I arrive at my (hopefully air conditioned) destination, here are the top three comic books I plan on purchasing:

In celebration of St. Patrick’s Day, Top Cow Productions has created an extremely limited edition cover of the popular comic Aphrodite IX #9. Limited to just 500 copies and available only in from the publisher’s online shop, this variant edition is sure to keep you in the spirit. Check out the full St. Patrick’s Day cover here below.

For those who don’t know, Aphrodite IX is a female android assassin with distinctive green hair and some truly uncanny abilities. Unfortunately, her handlers erase her memory after every mission…at least that’s how it used to work. Lately, she has been retaining her knowledge and has gone rogue. It’s an exceptionally entertaining storyline brought to us by Matt Hawkins and features some spectacular art from Stjepan Sejic.