First Look: John Constantine: Hellblazer #1

“There’s nothing more wretched than a bastard with a conscience…” –Simon Spurrier

Written by Simon Spurrier (Coda, The Dreaming)

Art by Aaron Campbell (Infidel)

Colors by Jordie Bellaire

Lettering by Aditya Bidikar

Cover by John Paul Leon

Variant Cover by Charlie Adlard

Cover Price: $3.99

Release Date: Nov 27, 2019

The original Constantine is back in a new series from Simon Spurrier (The Dreaming) and Aaron Campbell (Infidel), with nothing to his name but decades of bad memories and an unearned second chance. How, exactly, will he squander it? There's only one way to find out...

John Constantine is back in London, back to his old tricks-and just in time, as things have become very dark indeed in his old stomping grounds. A small-time gang lord has found himself dealing with a big-time outbreak of supernatural weirdness...and without any allies to call on and nothing left to call his own, John doesn't have much choice about taking a paycheck from one of London's worst, or accepting the help of one of the gang lord's would-be foot soldiers. But what should be an open-and-shut exorcism turns out to be nothing but...and the author of this madness may just be getting started on their terrible masterpiece!

John Constantine: Hellblazer will carry an Ages 17+ content descriptor (for mature readers) and will ship monthly.

Harleen #2 Review

Heavy Emphasis on the Romance

Writer: Stjepan Sejic Artist: Stjepan Sejic Publisher: DC Comics Release Date: October 30, 2019 Cover Price: $7.99
Review By: Carlos S.

This story picks up after the first, following Harleen Quinzel as she struggles with helping Arkham Asylum’s “residents”.  She is facing an existential dilemma: is any of this worth it? In her search for the answer, she centers on the Joker. Romantic feeling ensues despite her best attempts to resist.  How does it all go? I think you know. Let’s review it anyway. 

Dragonfly and Dragonflyman #1 Preview

 Main Writer: Tom PeyerMain Art: Peter Krause, Andy Troy, Rob Steen, and Jamal IgleAdditional Writers: Matt Brady, Tyrone Finch, and Kek-WAdditional Art: Joe Orsak and Shawn Crystal
Publisher: AHOY COMICS
Release Date: November 6th, 2019
Price: $3.99

 Launching from AHOY’s widely circulated FREE COMIC BOOK DAY edition, this prequel to THE WRONG EARTH follows gritty vigilante THE DRAGONFLY and his innocent, campy counterpart DRAGONFLYMAN--before they became trapped on each other’s earths! Can two versions of the satanic Devil-Man corrupt both of their souls? PLUS: Prose fiction and fact, beautifully illustrated

Deadshot #4 (1988) Review

HOMECOMING (or "Astride a Grave")

Writers:  Kim Yale and John Ostrander

Artist: Luke McDonnell

Colorist: Julianna Ferriter

Letterer: Tim Harkins

Editor: Robert Greenberger

Release Date: December 7th, 1988

Cover Price: $1.00

Review written by Joey Casco of TheWineStalker.net

To catch up on what's going on in this four issue mini-series, check out the Deadshot 1988 miniseries label.

Floyd Lawton (AKA Deadshot) has been going around killing everybody and trying to save his kidnapped son, who also died at the end of the last issue. Now he's going after the person who started it all... his own mother. Meanwhile Marnie Herr, his therapist from Belle Reve Penitentiary, has been going around Floyd's hometown to learn more about his story and what actually happened to his brother.

And the final issue in this mini-series starts with Marnie sneaking into the home Genevieve Pitt Lawton, Floyd's mother.

DCeased #6 Review

Writer: Tom Taylor
Art Team: Trevor Hairsine, Neil Edwards, Stefano Guadiano
Release Date: October 29, 2019
Cover Price: $4.99

Free Constantine!

DCeased takes its final victory lap this month wrapping up just in time for Halloween to scare the pants off readers. The previous issue setup what the heroes plan was working out to be, creating Transport 'Arcs' for any survivors, and then the story wrapped up with a pretty big surprise.  So let's discuss how this all concludes and if the extra-sized issue packs that punch I've found a lot of the series thus far has been lacking.

The Sandman Universe: Hellblazer #1 Review

'Ello Luv

Writer: Si Spurrier
Artist: Marcio Takara
Cover Price: $4.99
Release Date: October 30, 2019 
Review by DRon

The last time I read a series with John Constantine attached to the starring role, I left it somewhat abruptly with a bad taste in my mouth. Naturally, I had my reservations when this series was announced. How did the first impression go? Let’s find out.

Nightwing Annual #2 Review

What Made Dick, Ric

Written By: Dan Jurgens

Art By: Travis Moore, Nick Filardi, Andworld Design

Cover Price: $4.99

Release Date: October 30, 2019

I don't know if you know this or not, but awhile back Nightwing was shot in the head by KGBeast, leaving our hero not knowing who he was beyond his childhood memories.  Pretty much, he just wasn't Nightwing or Dick Grayson as we know him at all and more importantly, he didn't want to be those things either.  This Annual is going to take us on Ric's road to recovery after he was shot and show us what happened before he went off to Bludhaven to start his new life......... which really, it's about time we saw something dealing with that.  Let's jump into this issue and check it out.

Basketful of Heads #1 Review

Heads Up!

Writers: Joe Hill

Artist: Leomacs

Colorist: Dave Stewart

Letterer: Deron Bennet

Editors: Mark Doyle & Amedeo Turturro

Release Date: October 30th, 2019

Cover Price: $3.99

Review written by Joey Casco of TheWineStalker.net

Hill House is finally here and thank goodness! When this project was announced I was dropping books from my pull list left and right and was just about to look into some indie horror comics to start reading. So it really was perfect timing for me. I get the change that I need but still can support the comic company that I love, even if they're giving me a rough time right now. Because of that and how excited I am about it, I signed up right away to review all five of the titles for Weird Science. 

The first to be released is Basketful of Heads set in September of 1983 on Brody Island, Maine. Writer Joe Hill is the son of Stephen King and a fantastic writer in his own right, so of course, it's set in Maine. Where else would it be?

Batman and the Outsiders Annual #1 Review

Love and Marriage...and Swords

Written by: Bryan Hill
Art by: Max Raynor, Luis Guerrero, and ALW Studio's Troy Peteri
Cover Price: $4.99
Release Date: October 30, 2019

An Annual this early in a run?!?  Usually, I would yell "nonsense", but Batman and the Outsiders needs a bit of a jump start, if you ask me, so maybe this is just what the doctor ordered.  It is a Katana story and we haven't got a whole lot of her in the regular run so I am down with that, as long as it's not too heavy on the Soultaker...

Wonder Woman Annual #3 Review

Only the Beginning

Written by: Steve Orlando
Art by: V. Ken Marion, Sandu Florea, Wi-Fim and Pat Brosseau
Cover Price: $4.99
Release Date: October 30, 2019

You never know what you're going to get on Annuals week from DC Comics, right?  I mean, we kinda know we will get some Annuals, but even those can be a grab bag of sorts.  One-Shot stories, continuations of current storylines, setup for something coming down the line, or even a tie-in to an event.  This one is a couple of those but also the return of Steve Orlando to Wonder Woman before he officially takes over the book in issue #82.  That seems like a lot of things to shoulder, but I have a feeling that Wonder Woman might just be up to the task, but is everything else?  Let's find out...

Tales From The Dark Multiverse: Death of Superman #1 Review

Dishonoring Superman's Memory

Written By: Jeff Loveness

Art By: Brad Walker, Drew Hennessy, Norm Rapmund, John Kalisz, Clayton Cowles

Cover Price: $5.99

Release Date: October 30, 2019

It's back to the Dark Multiverse for all of us as we continue our tour with Tempus Fuginaut as he possibly continues to look for help in the worst place possible for an upcoming Crisis that our heroes will have to face.  Yeah, previously things didn't work out when he went to Azrael Batman's world, but maybe now that he's going to check in on a grief struck Lois Lane right after the Death of Superman, he might just find what he's looking for.  Let's jump into this issue and check it out.

Batman Annual #4 Review and *SPOILERS*

Why Would Anyone Live Here?

Written By: Tom King
Art By: Jorge Fornes, Mike Norton, Dave Stewart
Letters By: Clayton Cowles
Cover Price: $4.99
Release Date: October 30, 2019

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

We get a small break from our regular Batman series this week with an annual instead. Frankly, we needed it badly. Even I am struggling with the main series at this point but we get a small reprieve as Tom King gives us an annual. This can go one of two ways. Either, it will feel like another meaningless slog to get through that has no bearing on the DC universe or it might turn out to be super great and we will be talking about why the rest of the book can’t be like it. Either way, this should be an interesting read. Let’s just jump into this issue and see where it takes us.

Martian Manhunter #9 Review

Down, Down, Deeper and Down

Written by: Steve Orlando
Art by: Riley Rossmo
Colors by: Ivan Plascencia
Letters by: Deron Bennett
Price: $3.99

Ashley Addams is pissed. And who can blame her? She’s been abducted by an alien, experimented on, turned into a Martian-human hybrid and, after 8 issues of this comic book, its titular character still hasn’t actually found her. Poor girl. Still, there’s every chance she’ll be rescued this time around, isn’t there? Don’t be silly. Of course, there isn’t.

PREVIEW: Wonder Woman Annual #3

Writer: Steve Orlando
Artist: V Kenneth Marion, Sandu Florea
Cover Price: $4.99
Release Date: October 30, 2019


An EVENT LEVIATHAN tie-in issue! Years ago, Wonder Woman saved young Maria Paul from an explosive standoff between A.R.G.U.S. and the insurgent Sons of Liberty. By pulling that child from an inferno of hate, Wonder Woman changed her life. Diana watched Maria grow up into one of A.R.G.U.S.'s top agents. Every step of the way, Wonder Woman mentored Maria, taking her on her first mission - a daring rescue in Gorilla City. But when Leviathan decimates A.R.G.U.S., Diana's absence causes Maria to question everything, pushing her toward Leviathan itself. And when she does... the truth about her fiery rescue by Wonder Woman might just kill her.

PREVIEW: DCeased #6

Writer: Tom Taylor
Artist: Trevor Hairsine, Neil Edwards, Stefano Guadiano
Cover Price: $4.99
Release Date: October 30, 2019

Humanity is on the brink of extinction, and only a few remaining members of the Justice League stand between life and annihilation. As the remnants of humanity make their last gamble for survival, will there even be a planet left to call home when all is said and done? The senses-shattering conclusion to the year's surprise blockbuster is here!

PREVIEW: Batman and the Outsiders Annual #1

Writer: Bryan Hill
Artist: Max Raynor
Cover Price: $4.99
Release Date: October 30, 2019

The soul of Katana's husband, Maseo, is experiencing great unrest within her sword! The Outsiders must find a way to relieve him, or else the blade itself may shatter, unleashing not only Maseo but whatever unknown spirits and sorcery are trapped with him in the Pandora's box of Katana's blade!

PREVIEW: Batman Annual #4

Writer: Tom King
Artist: Jorge Fornes
Cover Price: $4.99
Release Date: October 30, 2019
Cover Price: $4.99

Now features art by Jorge Fornes and Mike Norton and a new story:  What's it like to be Batman from day to day? What are the challenges that the Dark Knight Detective faces? From thieves to marauding monsters, writer Tom King takes us across the gamut of experience to show the vast scope of what it takes to fill the Batman's boots...and then what it means when he goes back home.

PREVIEW: Basketful of Heads #1

Writer: Joe Hill
Artist: Leomacs
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: October 30, 2019

The rain lashes the grassy dunes of Brody Island, and seagulls scream above the bay. A slender figure in a raincoat carries a large wicker basket, which looks like it might be full of melons... covered by a bloodstained scrap of the American flag.

This is the story of June Branch, a young woman trapped with four cunning criminals who have snatched her boyfriend for deranged reasons of their own. Now she must fight for her life with the help of an impossible 8th-century Viking axe that can pass through a man's neck in a single swipe-and leave the severed head still conscious and capable of supernatural speech.

Each disembodied head has a malevolent story of its own to tell, and it isn't long before June finds herself in a desperate struggle to hack through their lies and manipulations... racing to save the man she loves before time runs out.  

Plus, in the premiere chapter of the backup story "Sea Dogs," which sails across all the Hill House Comics titles! 

PREVIEW: Harleen #2

Writer: Stejpan Sejic
Artist: Stejpan Sejic
Cover Price: $7.99
Release Date: October 30, 2019


Despite the strongest objections from every possible authority-including district attorney Harvey Dent-Dr. Harleen Quinzel's found herself with free access to every inmate in Arkham Asylum, where she desperately pursues a revolutionary and highly controversial cure to the insanity of Gotham. But her work with the city's super-criminals quickly muddies the waters of good and evil, and in the deepest, darkest padded rooms of Arkham, even the words of a mad clown start making sense!

PREVIEW: Joker: Killer Smile #1

Writer: Jeff Lemire
Artist: Andrea Sorrentino
Cover Price: $5.99
Release Date: October 30, 2019

Everyone knows The Joker doesn't have the most promising history with psychotherapists. In fact, no one's even been able to diagnose him. But that doesn't matter to the confident, world-beating Dr. Ben Arnell; he's going to be the one to unravel this unknowable mind. There's no way The Joker could ever get through the therapeutic walls Ben has built around himself. Right? There's no way The Joker's been entering his house at night...right? There's no way The Joker has stood over his son's bed, and put that book in his hands, the one with the, the, the...  

The Eisner-nominated creative team of Jeff Lemire and Andrea Sorrentino (GREEN ARROW, Gideon Falls) reunite for a psychological horror story where nothing is as it seems, your eyes can't be trusted and Mr. Smiles is waiting behind the basement door.

PREVIEW: The Sandman Universe: Hellblazer #1

Writer: Si Spurrier
Artist: Marcio Takara
Cover Price: $4.99
Release Date: October 30, 2019


The second year of the Sandman Universe begins with the long-awaited arrival of one of DC's most iconic characters...John Constantine, Hellblazer!

He's cheated death and damnation more times than he can count, but never like this. Long ago, in the crucible of a magical war waged across countless futures, Constantine was murdered by an all-powerful adversary: a twisted version of Timothy Hunter, bloated with evil.

But over the past year strange forces have conspired to restart Tim Hunter's tale, and somehow-amid sorcery, insanity and secret agendas-this older, wiser, wilier shade of Constantine has been dragged back with it. Unlike young Tim, John remembers every second of a life that went very, very wrong. Now he must ask himself why he, the last person in the world to deserve a second chance, has been given one. Is John Constantine here to put Tim Hunter on the right track and avert a terrible outcome? Or is it because he's the only person in existence with the guts to do what REALLY must be done? After all, he's a nasty piece of work, chief...ask anybody.

This oversize one-shot sets the stage, and is the perfect jumping-on point, for a new era of Sandman Universe tales beginning in November...and is the official start of the strangest chapter yet in John Constantine's long life!

PREVIEW: Nightwing Annual #2

Written By: Dan Jurgens

Art By: Travis Moore, Nick Filardi, Andworld Design

Cover Price: $4.99

Release Date: October 30, 2019

The bullet that shattered Nightwing's life was the shot fired by the KGBeast in the now-infamous BATMAN #55-and it changed the course of Dick "Ric" Grayson's career. Gone were the memories and alliances that once defined him, replaced by a near blank-slate persona.  Now go inside those early moments of Ric's new life, his strained reunion with a stranger named Bruce Wayne and an entire life turned upside down. But amid the chaos lies opportunity...not for Ric, but for an old foe who's been waiting a lifetime for a moment like this. Echoes of the past return in a story that tees up Nightwing's  own Year of the Villain!

PREVIEW: Tales From The Dark Multiverse: Death of Superman #1

Written By: Jeff Loveness

Art By: Brad Walker, Drew Hennessy, Norm Rapmund, John Kalisz, Clayton Cowles

Cover Price: $5.99

Release Date: October 30, 2019

The Dark Multiverse takes on the highest-selling comic book event of all time-the Death of Superman! In a broken world much like our own, Lois Lane, twisted by rage and grief, becomes the Eradicator and takes revenge on those who let Superman die, and the corrupt world he could never defeat. Now, with the power of a god, she's going to end the battle by any means necessary...and the Reign of the Supermen will be over before it begins!