BOOM! Pubwatch: June 2019

This month BOOM! was busy announcing a number of new comics and there’s a little something for everyone. A little time travel, some murder mystery, and even something for Jim Henson fans. And though it may seem difficult to wait for all these new titles there are some great recommendations in the Featured Comics section to keep you busy until then!

News

Find Self Acceptance with Eat, and Love Yourself

BOOM! Box has announced they will be publishing a new original graphic novel, Eat, and Love Yourself in April 2020, based on the successful 2017 Kickstarter campaign. The comic, by the creative team of Sweeney Boo and Lylian, tells the story of Mindy, a twenty-five-year-old woman, living with an eating disorder. She lives in shame of her body and hates everything about her life except her friend Shane and her cat. But then one day, she accidentally finds a magical item that gives her a chance to revisit her past and try and put her life back on track. Will she be able to find her way back home and a way to accept and love herself no matter her size?

Won’t Somebody Think of the Children!

James Tynion IV, the creator of The Woods, is returning to BOOM! Studios with a new five-issue limited series called Something is Killing the Children. Teaming up with artist Werther Dell’Edera (Briggs Land), they’ll be taking readers into a sleepy town where children have started to die in terrible ways. These murders have shaken up the community and stumped the police. There are reports of mysterious creatures lurking in the shadows, snatching the children, but the police refuse to believe it—it’s just too impossible and the only witnesses are other children. Things are getting desperate when Erica Slaughter rides into town claiming she can solve their “monster” problem. Can they trust her to save their children? And will she actually be able to do what she says she can?

This definitely sounds like a darker series but I am very intrigued. It feels like it has a bit of a Stranger Things and/or Revival vibe to it and I just have to know what the creatures in the shadows are! Thankfully, we don’t have to wait too long. The first issue hits shelves September 4, 2019.

Dark Crystal Comic to Accompany New Netflix Series

Later this year, Netflix is releasing a new prequel series to Jim Henson’s 1982 film, The Dark Crystal. I am definitely excited for this, as the show (The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance) will continue using puppets (rather than CGI) and has an amazing cast, including Taron Egerton, Natalie Dormer, Mark Hamill, Keegan-Michael Key, Helena Bonham Carter, Andy Samberg, and Eddie Izzard (to name a few).

The new show is about three of Thra’s young Gelflings—Rian, Deet, and Brea—who inspire a rebellion and fight back against the destructive rule of the Skeksis. You can watch the teaser here:

And if a new show isn’t exciting enough, BOOM! Studios have announced that they will be publishing a new twelve-issue comic book series introducing the untold histories of key characters and featuring important events tying into the Netflix series as well. This new comic event will start not long after the show on September 25, 2019.

If you’re not that familiar with The Dark Crystal, I recommend checking out the original movie from the ’80s and then following it up with the current sequel comic series from BOOM!, Beneath the Dark Crystal. Then you’ll be all set to dive into the new show and comic later this summer.

Featured Comics

Lumberjanes: Somewhere That’s Green #1

Alexa Bosy (artist), Ariana Maher (letterer), Seanan McGuire (writer)
BOOM! Box
May 29, 2019

I’m behind on the main Lumberjanes series but Somewhere That’s Green is an oversized one-shot from author Seanan McGuire (Every Heart a Doorway) so I was still able to get my fix this month. In this issue, the Lumberjanes are trapped inside during a particularly bad storm, but when Bubbles escapes out the window they chase after him and come across several very muddy, spiky cactus kittens in the woods. Knowing the kittens’ mother is out there missing them and being the good Lumberjanes that they are, they set out on a mission to bring them home. But then they stumble on a magical garden menagerie tended to by Dryads, and they stay to help root out the deeper problem at the heart of the garden (sorry for the pun—I couldn’t resist).

This was a delightful romp through the Lumberjanes world, especially for me, someone who has been away for it for a few months now. The whole group is here for this mission and I liked that no one character was the star. Everyone has their own moments to shine and their success was truly a team effort. This is true of many Lumberjanes comics, and part of what makes this universe so great. I’m definitely going to spend some time over the next month trying to get caught up with the main series.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer #5

Raúl Angulo (colorist), Jordie Bellaire (writer), Ed Dukeshire (letterer), David López (artist)
BOOM! Studios
June 5, 2019

The previous issue of this series ended with Xander falling victim to Drusilla and seemingly being transformed into a vampire. In this issue, Buffy and Willow are called to Giles’s house where he breaks the news. They find Xander in bed with Jenny Calendar doing her best to keep the demonic presence from taking him over. Though the news is hard on both of them, Willow is absolutely devastated and this issue really highlights the strong bond of their friendship and how much they mean to one another.

This issue has a darker tone, but David Lopez’s artwork helped keep the energy up. There are some great action scenes with smooth movements and high intensity. His characters also have great facial expressions, and though many of these emotions are sad or angry, Buffy’s trademark wit and attitude also come through. Overall, this is an intriguing start to the second arc and if you were thinking about checking out the Buffy the Vampire Slayer comics, this issue is a good jumping-on point.

Hotel Dare

Claudia Aguirre (artist), Terry Blas (writer)
KaBOOM!
June 5, 2019

Olive and her adopted siblings, Charlotte and Darwin, have been sent to Mexico for the summer. Which in theory sounds great, except instead of sun and beaches they’re helping their grandmother clean her creepy hotel. It’s totally boring and they’re starting to get on each other’s nerves when they each stumble across a portal to strange and mysterious other worlds. Olive finds herself in a world of bearded wizards, Darwin in a cotton-candied kingdom, and Charlotte sailing with space pirates. But once the doors are open the worlds start collapsing and the only way to save them is by learning the truth about their grandmother’s past.

If I’m being completely honest, there are a few rough spots in this comic. As far as I know, this is a stand-alone graphic novel, but when I started reading I felt as though I was missing some sort of introduction or exposition. The family history is a little unclear, so when later events, like Olive fighting with her grandmother, happen, it’s unclear what exactly transpired. But despite some rocky moments, this is an enjoyable read about families—both found and biological. It doesn’t present one as better than the other, just stresses the importance of taking care of the people you love because we are stronger together. This is a bright, lively story with a positive message for kids of all ages—plus, who doesn’t love space pirates?