Catch It at the Comic Shop April 7th, 2021

Welcome to Catch it at the Comic Shop, where the Panel Patter team looks at what's coming out at your favorite store or digital device this week. Each one of us that participates picks up to five items due out this week, with a little bit about why we like them. (NOTE: We use solicitation material for this, so if we miss creators, please talk to your publisher!) Sometimes we might only have a few items to share, other weeks, keeping it to five will make for hard choices. Here's what the team wanted to highlight this week...

James' Picks:

Geiger #1 by Geoff Johns, Gary Frank, and Brad Anderson, published by Image Comics

With an independent comic written by Geoff John’s and drawn by Gary Frank, I would’ve picked this up no matter what. This team has totally earned my trust, going all the way back to their run on Action Comics prior to the new 52, and continuing in Shazam, Superman: Secret Origin, and in Doomsday Clock most recently. I loved Doomsday Clock. All of John’s’ and Frank’s work has been at DC, and I’m so curious to see what they do in a whole new world. Having read the first issue, I’m super intrigued to see where it’s going. Frank is as spectacular on art as ever. His level of detail is just remarkable, with excellent, weird, post-apocalyptic colors from Brad Anderson. The story is really interesting and dark. It’s post apocalyptic and sci-fi, and it feels like it’s going big places. This is a no-brainer for me. 

Seven Secrets vol. 1 by Tom Taylor, Daniele Di Nicuolo, and Walter Biamonte, published by Boom Studios!

Seven Secrets returns with a new issue this week, and also this book which collects the first volume. It’s a perfect time to catch up on this fun, action-packed series. I love Tom Taylor’s work generally, he has a great way of sketching out interesting worlds/stories but not losing sight of the humanity and relationships of the characters. This is a story about a secret society that protects the 7 most important secrets in the world. There’s action, humor, family drama, and betrayal. Daniele Di Nucuolo was previously unknown to me, but I’m so glad I started reading this book. The art is so delightful! It’s got a dynamic animation style, and wonderful detail. This is a great read.

Project: Patron #1 by Steve Orlando and Patrick Piazzalunga, published by AfterShock Comics

 This should be a fun series. Steve Orlando is a great writer, and I love the premise here. Basically, it's like "what if, after Superman and Doomsday fought, Superman was actually killed and had been replaced with a decoy that was piloted by a team".  I don't know the artist but I'm looking forward to checking this out.

The Silver Coin #1 by Chip Zdarsky and Michael Walsh, published by Image Comics

This should be great. Michael Walsh is a terrifically talented artist, and this is an anthology of stories where he is the artist for all of them but each issue wil have a different writer. The first issue is written by Chip Zdarsky, and involves a 70's rock band and some sort of supernatural horror. I love both creators involved, and think this should be a terrific read.

Rob's Picks:

Beasts of Burden: Occupied Territory #1 by Evan Dorkin, Sarah Dyer, Benjamin Dewey, and Nate Piekos, published by Dark Horse Comics

Everyone's second favorite occult-related dogs (let's face it, no one tops Scooby Doo) are back, this time with a story set in the past and overseas to boot, giving Dorkin, Dyer, and their now-established art partner Benjamin Dewey a chance to tap the rich mine of Japanese horror legends for a new mini-series. Between Milk and Cheese and the Burden pack, Dorkin's been responsible for some of the most iconic and long-lasting characters from Dark Horse not named Hellboy. I'm so glad to Evan and Sarah paired with one of the best in the business at drawing talking animals, Panel Pal Ben Dewey, to keep things going. They've come a long way from being shorts in an anthology project, and this new way to enlarge the mythos should be a fun way to ring in the spring of 2021.

The Silver Coin #1 by Chip Zdarsky and Michael Walsh, published by Image Comics

A new shared world horror series where the first issue is by Chip Zdarsky and Michael Walsh? Twist my arm, why don't you? As a lover of horror comics and the creators involved. plus the idea of shared world lore, this series immediately caught my eye, and it doesn't disappoint one bit. Written in the same style as a Twilight Zone but bloodier, Walsh and Zdarsky push all the right buttons here. You know where things are going, but you don't care because the journey, especially with Walsh's panel structures, is well worth it. There's so much atmosphere and little touches that make thing a comic to linger over and let the horror grow. I can't wait to see what the next issue brings.

Mike's Picks

Batman: Kings of Fear by Scott Peterson and Kelley Jones, published by DC Comics

I won't blame you if you don't remember this self-contained Batman series since it originally hit the stands close to three years ago. However, I will remind you to pick up this TPB because if you missed either the original serialization or collection, you missed one of the best Batman stories in the past few years. Overshadowed by Tom King's main Batman book and the first sprawling Metal event, Kings of Fear might have had the odds stacked against it. But the nice thing about a self-contained series like this is that you can pick it up three years later and jump in without any hesitations. And you should. Scott Peterson runs through a Scarecrow tale that is familiar but still well-executed. But then there's Kelley Jones, who is just otherworldly. His trademark exaggerated style works perfectly for this tale, and Jones seems to revel in it. 

Swamp Thing 2 by Ram V, Mike Perkins, and Aditya Bidikar, published by DC Comics

I don't want to sound hyperbolic, but I think this Swamp Thing team is going to be talked about for years. Ram is working hard to build a world that both advances the narrative of Swamp Thing while connecting it to the mythology that Moore summoned for his legendary run. And Perkins is the perfect complement; he channels Wrightson and Veitch without looking imitative, creating harsh landscape for the newest protector of the green. Issue one thrust Levi Kamei directly into the action, and Ram crafts the beginning of a strong supernatural detective story. Issue two sees Levi continue to struggle with his new status as Avatar of the Green, testing his resolve in the desert with severe psychological torment. This is exactly what I've wanted with a Swamp Thing series for a long time.

Kirk's Picks

The Silver Coin by Chip Zdarsky, Michael Walsh, published by Image Comics
The horror anthology in comics is tradition and I sense for some writers, a rite of passage. Everything from classic EC comics to the current Ice Cream Man series carry longevity in the range of themes they cover to staying relevant for years to come. With Image’s new The Silver Coin series, each issue will be a different team of comic’s creative all-stars bringing you each installment. I can’t speak to what that’s going to do for longevity for this series, but I can say the first issue The Ticket, penned by Chip Zdarsky and art by Michael Walsh is excellent for more than just the horror elements it’s got going for it. From it’s rock band POV that is notoriously difficult to cohesively translate in comics to Walsh’s color palette choices that evoke the same feelings of childhood scary tale books, this sets the bar pretty high for what the other creative teams have to follow up on.

Shadow Service Volume 1 by Cavan Scott, Corwin Howell and Trionna Farrel, published by Vault Comics.
With Shades of X-Files, Constantine, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Shadow Service for all it’s shades of noir and shape shifting creatures masquerading as street lurking killers was actually a joy to read with every installment. The creative team maintains the tight rope walk of taking its self seriously without going too cartoony. It’s filled with characters that will feel familiar to fans of the franchises that I mentioned, but with enough originality infused into each player to help not make this series be a copycat and stand on its own. The first arc collected here will be a breeze to read in one quick sitting but not for being an easy read, but a fun one. And the talking rat. I definitely read this title for the talking rat.