Are you looking for something new to read this January? Then look no further than these 15 new comics, which are all great jumping on points. This month we have a handful of new series from Marvel, including, what will be the biggest release of the year, Star Wars #1. From the indie publishers there is a great mix of creator owned series from big name creators as well as a few series based on licensed properties that you might know and love.
Whatever your tastes there should be a new comic series for you. Don’t forget to let me know which series grab your attention and you will be checking out in the comments section below.
Star Wars
Written by Jason Aaron. Art by John Cassaday. Published by Marvel Comics.
Let’s get the biggest release out of way. With a confirmed 1 million plus print run Star Wars #1 is going to be massive, and why wouldn’t it? In a way this is Marvel’s prodigal son as the Star Wars licence returns to the publisher for the first time since the mid-80s. Throw in a top tier creative team and mix it with the current Star Wars mania that has been created by The Force Within and you have a recipe for success.
What will this new series be about? While plot details are pretty scarce at the moment, all we know for sure is that it will be set between A New Hope and Empire Strikes Back.
Star Wars #1 will be available on January 14th.
Stray Bullets: Sunshine & Roses
Written and art by David Lapham. Published by Image Comics.
Stray Bullets returns with a new miniseries, which acts as a great jumping on point for new readers. For those unfamiliar with Stray Bullets it’s a crime series set in Baltimore underworld, with each arc jumping around a different time period in the 70s or 80s. Each arc is self-contained but contributes to a larger landscape of the series. Although, don’t let this turn you off as Stray Bullets is bloody fantastic.
This particular miniseries follows a young couple, who have run off with the Baltimore crime bosses’ money and drugs. It’s a story about love, revenge and definitly a few bad decisions along the way.
Stray Bullets: Sunshine & Roses #1 is available on January 21st.
The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl
Written by Ryan North. Art by Erica Henderson. Published by Marvel Comics.
You don’t know who Squirrel Girl is?! She is unbeatable. She has stopped Galactus, Dr Doom and even Wolverine! Although, her greatest challenge now comes with her starting college. Expect plenty of nutty adventures (I went there) with plenty of fun.
To make sure that this series is plenty of fun, we have a great creative team of Ryan North and Erica Henderson. Ryan North has been killing it on the Adventure Time comic for the past three years. If you have read any of the Adventure Time Comics you will know what I mean. Additionally, Erica Henderson’s art is great and is full of energy and lots of fun to look at.
The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl #1 is available on January 7th.
Effigy
Written by Tim Seeley. Art by Marley Zarcone. Published by Vertigo Comics.
Effigy is about a Z-List actress who returns to her hometown after a sex tape scandal. Although, she runs into more trouble when she uncovers a recently deceased body. What makes it even more troubling is that it resembles a scene from a children’s show that she used to star in as a child. She begins to investigate this murder and uncovers a secret cult that worships celebrities as eternal effigies.
On art is relative newcomer, Marley Zarcone, who has an style which is clean and expressive. Her character designs are also great, making characters that look interesting and attention grabbing.
Effigy #1 is available on January 28th.
Quantum and Woody Must Die
Written by James Asmus. Art by Steve Lieber. Published by Valiant Entertainment.
Quantum and Woody, a hero duo that have been dubbed “the world’s worst heroes”, have irritated a lot of people. So it’s no surprise that a group of mysterious vigilantes have singled them out. Although, instead of taking them head on they have decided to attack their minds. The results are an array of odd situations to test them.
If you like comics like Deadpool you will definitly dig Quantum and Woody Must Die. Even better this 4-part series is a great jumping on point for new readers.
Quantum and Woody Must Die #1 is available on January 28th.
Lady Killer
Written by Joelle Jones and Jamie S. Rich. Art by Joelle Jones. Published by Dark Horse Comics.
Josie Schuller is the perfect homemaker, the kind you would see in 1960s magazines. But she has a secret life – she is also killer for hire. That’s the premise of the new Dark Horse series which combines gritty action with black comedy.
This is an interesting premise which spins the idea of the 1960s homemaker on its head. It will be intriguing to see where Joelle Jones and Jamie S. Rich take this concept.
Lady Killer #1 is available from January 7th.
Ant-Man
Written by Nick Spencer. Art by Ramon Rosanas. Published by Marvel Comics.
Scott Lang is a troubled hero with a past full of bad decisions and has never been known as a hero in the eyes of others. Although, this could all change with an opportunity which as arisen from Tony Stark.
This series will mix science fiction with comedy, two genres that writer Nick Spencer has proven to excel at with his previous work. If you are looking forward to the Ant-Man movie in July then this is a series you should be reading.
Ant-Man #1 is available from January 7th.
Zombies vs Robots
Written by Chris Ryall and Steve Niles. Art by Anthony Diecidue, Ashley Wood and Val Mayerik. Published by IDW Publishing.
There has been a few Zombies vs Robots miniseries in the past but this month marks the start of the very first ongoing series. In this new series there new robots, a new zombie threat and new human survivors.
With these being brand new stories it should be easy to jump into this series with this issue. For those who are a bit of a completionist there will be an omnibus collection that collects all previous material from this franchise. This should be available in early February.
Zombies vs Robots #1 is available on January 14th.
Operation S.I.N
Written by Katheryn Immonen. Art by Rich Ellis. Published by Marvel Comics.
Operation S.I.N is a miniseries which tells the untold origins of the Marvel Universe. The series stars Peggy Carter and Howard Stark as they try to solve the mystery of an alien energy source. Along the way they will have to deal with the newly revived Hydra, who also want the energy source for their own personal gain.
It will be interesting to see a series about the Marvel Universe set in the 1950s. This period feels like bit of an unexplored era and some really interesting stories could come out of it.
Operation S.I.N #1 is available on January 7th.
Powerpuff Girls Super Smash-Up
Written by Derek Charm and Jeremy Whitley. Art by Derek Charm and Jorge Monlongo. Published by IDW Publishing.
Powerpuff Girls Super Smash-Up is not like any other Powerfuff Girl series you have seen before. Not only does it star your favourite super powered preschoolers, but each issue features a character from Cartoon Network’s wide range of classic cartoons.
In this issue the girls receive a VIP tour of Dexter’s Laboratory to see his new invention. But in classic Dexter’s Lab style Dee-Dee finds a way to ruin things and the whole universe is at stake. Additionally, there is also a Courage the Cowardly Dog story by Jeremy Whitley.
Powerpuff Girls Super Smash-Up #1 is available on January 21st.
Mortal Kombat X
Written by Shawn Kittelsen. Art by Dexter Soy. Published by DC Comics.
MORTAL KOMBAT! This is the comic series based on the upcoming Mortal Kombat X video game. All the events are set before the video game so if you can’t wait to play this game then definitely check out the comic series.
Mortal Kombat X is available on January 14th.
Conan Red Sonja
Written by Gail Simone and Jim Zub. Art by Dan Panosian. Published by Dark Horse Comics.
Two of comics most famous barbarians team up to take on an evil sorcerer-priest who wants to create a new dark age. There should be plenty of sword fighting and big action that you would expect from these two characters.
Along for the ride is a solid creative team. Writing we have Gail Simone, the current Red Sonja writer, and Jim Zub, who has written successful many sword and sorcery comics. On art is Dan Panosian, who has an extensive body of work including Conan the Barbarian.
Conan Red Sonja #1 is available on January 14th.
Casanova: Acedia
Written by Matt Fraction and Michael Chabon. Art by Fábio Moon and Gabriel Bá. Published by Image Comics.
It’s been a little while since we have seen a Casanova series from this stellar creative team. If you are unfamiliar with the Casanova, it’s a spy series but with a science-diction bend. In this fourth series Cassanova Quinn has lost his memories, so he goes searching for answers for his mysterious past.
As the lead character has a blank slate, this works well for new readers to jump on as you are not required to have read the previous three miniseries. You’ll discover everything you need to know at the same time as Casanova does.
Casanova: Acedia #1 is available on January 7th.
Creature Cops: Special Varmint Unit
Written by Rob Anderson. Art by Fernando Melek. Published by IDW Publishing.
Creature Cops is a series set in a world where different animals have been gene-split together. Think of gator-snakes and panda-dogs and you will be on the right path. The Creature Cops police these weird and wonderful animals and regulate them. Although when mythical creatures, such as griffins, are discovered it leads them to the path of a death cult with sinister intentions.
This three part series looks like it could be a lot of fun, with plenty of imagination behind it. It will be interesting to see what kind of gene-spliced creatures are introduced and how artist Fernando Melek draws them.
Creature Cops: Special Varmint Unit #1 is available on January 14th.
X-Men #23
Written by G. Willow Wilson. Art by Roland Boschi. Published by Marvel Comics.
This isn’t a new series, but with the introduction of a new writer in Ms Marvel scribe G. Willow Wilson makes for a great jumping on point for X-Men. In this new story arc we see the all female X-Men team investigate a sinkhole that appears under mysterious circumstances in the middle of the Black Rock Desert. But it seems like these are not naturally occurring, but instead caused by old allies and enemies. Who are they? You’ll have to read to find out.
X-Men has featured a predominantly female cast since it’s debut and has been a strong title which has been able to get the right mix of character development and action. Don’t worry that it is the 23rd issue, just jump in!
X-Men #23 is available on January 7th.
Have Your Say
Which of these new series will you be reading this month? Let me know in the comments below or via our Facebook or Twitter.
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