Where is Jake Ellis? #1
Written by Nathan Edmondson
Drawn by Tonci Zonjic
Cover by Tonci Zonjic
Image Comics
Release Date: November 14, 2012
Cover Price: $3.50

Where is Jake Ellis? #1 is, first and foremost, a mystery comic. Or an action comic. Or a spy comic. You know what? Whatever it is, is for you to decide, but it’s clear that it IS one thing – very entertaining.

Nathan Edmondson is great at writing this type of comic. Now, as stated above, it’s very hard to place this comic into ONE single genre. If I had a gun to my head, I’d have to classify it as a spy/espionage thriller, along the vein of James Bond or Jason Bourne. But, this comic is a LOT more than that. There’s mysteries at every single turn of the page, and more action in this one issue than in the last four issues of Avengers that I’ve read. My only problem with the comic is that if you haven’t read the first miniseries, Who is Jake Ellis?, you’re going to be pretty lost. There are a couple of recap pages, but I’m afraid they just don’t do the first series justice or prepare you for what you’re about to read. Hopefully readers who pick up this issue will be compelled to pick up the Who is Jake Ellis trade, and I think they will. Beyond that, this comic is fantastic. Loads of action, fun, and just a good, solid comic.

It’s cover preview time again with a five spot of covers from our friends at Dark Horse comics. Here is an exclusive first look at the covers for five books that will be released in February and April. Out in February is the issue #2 of Francesco Francavilla’s The Black Beetle (can’t wait for this series to come out!) Then in April we’ve got The Creep by John Arcudi (B.P.R.D., The Mask) and Jonathan Case (Green River Killer) with a cover by Tonci Zonjic.

Also in April are three volumes from Dark Horse’s manga line; Bride of the Water God volume 13, Oh My Goddess! volume 44 (I can’t believe this series has been going on for that long), and Gantz volume 27. Be sure to pre-order these and all the other fine books from Dark Horse comics.

Click on the images below for full-sized versions. Enjoy the covers!

Dracula World Order
Written by Ian Brill
Art by Tonci Zonjic, Rahsan Ekedal, Declan Shalvey, Gabriel Hardman
Colors by Stephen Downer, Jordie Bellaire
Letters by Josh Krach
Cover by Declan Shalvey and Jordie Bellaire
Ian Brill (Independent)
Release Date: June 22, 2012
Cover Price: $3.99

As a huge vampire geek I notice the undead and bloodthirsty seem to fall into three main categories within pop culture. There is the vamp with lots of deep feelings who sweats being us hard enough to eternally attend high school, or to get a soul so they can date humans, the hyper-sexualized type who makes us feel less dirty since we are merely humans under their superior thrall and therefore cannot be held accountable for our own actions, or the last and rarest variety: the monster in the night who believes the living are a delicious snack food or a means to an end. Dracula World Order strongly subscribes to the latter school of thought and while it expresses lofty ideas about the current state of political/economic affairs, manages to be a bloody good bit of gory fun as well.

Lobster Johnson: The Burning Hand #1
Story by Mike Mignola and John Arcudi
Art by Tonci Zonjic
Colors by Dave Stewart
Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: January 11, 2012
Cover Price: $3.50

There seems to be a formula that has to be followed in order to write a great noir comic. Mike Mignola and John Arcudi have figured out that formula in the latest installment of Lobster Johnson.

Lobster Johnson: The Burning Hand #1 introduces us to a Prohibition-era New York filled with murder, mystery, and the supernatural. Do not expect to find pages filled with guns blazing and swinging fists in Lobster Johnson #1. This issue is dedicated to story building, but successfully builds anticipation for future issues.