Previews #331 (vol. XXVI #4) previews publications

A fantastical saga of sorcery, love, and adventure in a young magician's quest to become a man. Drazen, kidnapped as a child, trained by a band of magicians, destined to seek out and defeat his own father. Torn between his duty to the caste that raised him and the love of his parents, a young magician will be left with the most difficult of choices. (STL006110) (C: 0-0-1) NOTE: Not Available in the UK or India.

MATURE THEMES

SC, 8x10, 268pgs, FC $24.95
THOUSAND FACES HC

(W) Philippe Thirault (A/CA) Marc Males, Mario Janni

"Take nothing with you, but two mules, a rifle, and ten bullets." Those words echo in ex-surgeon Frank Quinn's head as he flees across mid-19th century America to escape the demon known as Thousand Faces, an evil entity that uses blood to enslave others and will stop at nothing to conquer the world. (STL006111) (C: 0-0-1) NOTE: Not Available in the UK or India.

MATURE THEMES

HC, 8x11, 272pgs, FC $29.95
ALEXANDRO JODOROWSKY'S SCREAMING PLANET GN

(W) Alejandro Jodorowsky (A) Marc Riou & Various

A collection of sci-fi short stories all written by Alexandro Jodorowsky ("The Incal," "The Metabarons") and illustrated by talent from various countries and different graphic traditions. The thematic thread of these tales: an asteroid spawned from the destruction of a planet produces sounds (a "howling shriek") which, when crossing an inhabited world, creates a change or imbalance within it. (STL006115) (C: 0-0-1) NOTE: Not Available in the UK or India.

MATURE THEMES

SC, 7x10, 124pgs, FC $19.95
STARS OF THE MONTH
BALKANS ARENA HC

(W) Philippe Thirault (A/CA) Jorge Miguel

Ex-soldier Frank Sokol must face the ghosts of the past when he returns to his native Croatia with his Canadian-born 11-year-old son, Ben. But when Ben is kidnapped, Frank will be forced to mend deep-seated familial wounds, and resort to his military training to get him back. Nothing will prepare him for what his search for his boy will uncover. This original, fast-paced, and visceral tale catapults us deep into the seedy underworld of a country whose violent past still echoes into a fractured present. (STK684379) (AUG151566) (C: 0-0-1) NOTE: Not Available in the UK or India.

MATURE THEMES

HC, 9x12, 112pgs, FC $24.95
OLYMPUS HC

(W) Geoff Johns, Kris Grimminger (A/CA) Butch Guice

Olympian gods. Legendary monsters. Nowhere to run. In this high-octane adventure, chaos is unleashed when a group of brash archaeology graduate students and a team of ruthless mercenaries are shipwrecked together on the legendary Mount Olympus, a mountainous island populated by the deadliest monsters known to Greek mythology. Written by Geoff Johns (Green Lantern, Justice League) and Kris Grimminger (Witchblade, The Possessed), with vivid line art by Butch Guice (Captain America, Winterworld), Olympus tells an action-packed tale as epic as the legends that spawned it. (STK678685) (JUN151385) (C: 0-0-1) NOTE: Not Available in the UK or India.

MATURE THEMES

HC, 8x11, 116pgs, FC $19.95
REDHAND: TWILIGHT OF THE GODS GN

(W) Kurt Busiek, Sam Timel (A) Mario Alberti, Bazal (CA) Bazal

The perfect warrior is unleashed in an age of barbarism and magic, but all he wants is the peaceful life he's destined never to have. Touched by a prophecy, imbued with incredible fighting skills and immune to magic, he is fated to one day destroy the gods. Yet Redhand has no interest in this prediction, and no use for his destiny. Yet how can a man escape his own fate? From award-winning writer Kurt Busiek and artists Mario Alberti & Bazal comes a violent and intelligent story that challenges and enthralls. (STK687355) (SEP151446) (C: 0-0-1) NOTE: Not Available in the UK or India.

MATURE THEMES

SC, 8x11, 148pgs, FC $19.95
THROUGH THE WALLS HC

(W) Jean-Luc Cornette (A/CA) Stephane Oiry

A series of droll vignettes of everyday French life — except for the fact that each short story features one or more characters that have the very special ability of walking through walls, and through any other objects for that matter, which tends to "enliven" things quite a bit! (STK471743) (JUL121115) (C: 0-1-1) NOTE: Not Available in the UK or India.

MATURE THEMES

HC, 8x11, 96pgs, FC $29.95
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JET CITY COMICS
FRONTLINES: REQUIEM #2

(W) Ivan Brandon (A/CA) Gary Erskine

From acclaimed writer Ivan Brandon (Drifter, Viking), this series features a new stand-alone story set within the action-packed military sci-fi world of Marko Kloos's bestselling Frontlines novels. Dealt a crippling blow, the Phalanx floats lifelessly in space. Commander Soraya Yamin and her crew watch helplessly as their friends and soldiers-in-arms are destroyed by the Lankies, an unstoppable alien force. As unanswerable distress calls blare, Soraya turns her thoughts to her family on Earth, the next planet in the Lankies' crosshairs. (STL005952) (C: 0-1-0)

28pgs, FC (2 of 4) $2.99

(W/A/CA) Disney / Pixar Animators

Hotshot rookie race car Lightning McQueen is living life in the fast lane, until he hits a detour on his way to the most important race of his life. Stranded in Radiator Springs, a forgotten town on U.S. Route 66, he meets Sally, Mater, Doc Hudson, and a variety of quirky characters who help him discover that there's more to life than trophies and fame. DisneyoPixar fans will love this collector's edition graphic-novel-style retelling of the movie, available in hardcover and softcover from Joe Books. (STL006238)

SOFTCOVER—SC, 7x10, 380pgs, FC $29.99

HARDCOVER—SC, 7x10, 380pgs, FC $49.99
DISNEY'S DARKWING DUCK #3

(W) Aaron Sparrow (A/CA) James Silvani

Negaduck's pernicious prison plot is revealed as he prepares to wreak havoc on St. Canard! With Gosalyn caught by the baddies and Launchpad still locked outside, Darkwing Duck must conquer the great granite guesthouse filled with his most feared foes. The triumphant return of The Terror that Flaps in the Night continues in the third installment of the all-new monthly comic series from Joe Books. (STL006240)

32pgs, FC $2.99

(W/A) Disney

Join Mal, Evie, Carlos, Jay, Ben and all-new characters as their stories unfold in Disney's Descendants: Wicked World Wish Granted animated shorts. There's no shortage of magic, mystery, and mischief at Auradon Prep. Princess Audrey, daughter of Princess Aurora, opts for a new hairdo — or don't? Mal conjures some unforeseen trouble while cheering at Spirit Day. Jordan, The Genie's daughter, gets some unexpected company at her magic lamp, and more! Fans of the hit Disney Channel original movie Disney Descendants will love the graphic novel adaptation of the Wicked World Wish Granted shorts from Joe Books. (STL003159)

SC, 7x10, 240pgs, FC $9.99

(W) Scott Peterson (A/CA) Elisabetta Melaranci, Cristina Toniolo

Join Dory, Nemo, Marlin, Hank and all your favorite characters from Disney/Pixars' Finding Dory on all-new undersea adventures in this original comic series from Joe Books. Featuring never-before-seen art and brand-new tales, the Finding Dory comic is full of adventure, friendship, and fun! (STL006244)

32pgs, FC $2.99

(W/A) Disney / Pixar Animators (CA) Heidi Roux

Disney/Pixar's Finding Dory reunites everyone's forgetful blue tang, Dory, with her friends Nemo and Marlin on a search for answers about her past. What can she remember? Who are her parents? And where did she learn to speak whale? Fans of the heartwarming, undersea adventure Finding Nemo will love this cinestory retelling of the new film, featuring screenshots from the movie in graphic novel format. (STL003165)

SC, 7x10, 384pgs, FC $14.99

(W/A/CA) Disney

Dipper and Mabel are back for the second installment of the Disney's Gravity Falls Cinestory from Joe Books. For their summer vacation, Californian 12-year-old twins Dipper and Mabel Pines are dropped off in the town of Gravity Falls, Oregon, to stay with their great uncle, Grunkle Stan. Things are not what they seem in this small town, and with the help of a mysterious journal that Dipper finds in the forest, they realize that their everyday life has changed. Three episodes of this adventure in comic-style screen captures will keep you hooked! (STL003160)

SC, 7x10, 240pgs, FC $9.99

(W) Georgia Ball, Geoffrey Golden (A/CA) Amy Mebberson

The hit series continues! Disney's beloved heroines have returned in this hilarious collection of Disney Princess comic strips! Featuring laugh-out-loud stories from the worlds of Ariel, Belle, Rapunzel, Tiana, Cinderella, Aurora, and more, this charming ongoing series will make all your royal dreams come true. (STL006241)

32pgs, FC $2.99

(W/A) Disney

Winnie the Pooh is hungry. Again. The lovable bear's search for honey brings him to Christopher Robin's doorstep, but he's not home. There is, instead, a note. Winne the Pooh, Eeyore, Owl, Rabbit, Piglet, Kanga, Roo, and Tigger believe Christopher Robin has been taken by the fearsome Backson. To rescue their friend, the group sets out to entrap the creature. But, as happens in the Hundred Acre Wood, things never quite go as planned. And Pooh remains hungry. The beloved 2011 Disney film is brought to exciting life in this heartwarming graphic novel. (STL003164)

SOFTCOVER—SC, 7x10, 380pgs, FC $29.99

HARDCOVER—HC, 7x10, 380pgs, FC $49.99
DISNEY'S ZOOTOPIA GN

(W/A) Disney

The modern mammal metropolis of Zootopia is a city like no other-a place where no matter what you are-the biggest elephant or the smallest shrew-you can be anything. Fans of Disney animation will love this graphic-novel-style retelling of the movie, and an all-new Zootopia prequel featuring optimistic Officer Judy Hopps and the fast-talking scam-artist fox, Nick Wilde. (STL006237)

SC, 6x8, 240pgs, FC $9.99

(W) Rik Hoskin (A/CA) Rafael Sam

"Royal Pain." King Julien returns to Madagascar expecting a hero's welcome. Instead, he discovers an usurper has stolen his throne-and he'll have to fight dirty to get it back! Luckily King Julien always fights dirty, because who has time to wash when you're the king? (STL006242)

32pgs, FC $2.99

(W) Patrick Storck (A/CA) Glauco Silva

"Do You Know the Muffin Man?" It was a dark and stormy night. Or was it an old abandoned road at the edge of the woods? Shrek and company sit around the campfire telling spooky stories and folktales about the sweets man that will make your hair rise like so much baked dough in this sprinkle-tingling anthology issue! (STL006243)

32pgs, FC $2.99

(W) David McDonald

Frozen in a state of suspended animation since the end of the Second World War, Captain America is a man out of time. But now freed from his frozen slumber, he's back in the nick of time-and ready to face threats that couldn't even have been imagined when the world had last seen him. In his newest adventure, Cap must track down one of Maria Hill's former protégés, a brilliant cryptographer and programmer who has developed a way to lay bare any government's secrets — including her own. (STL005734)

SC, 5x8, 240pgs, B&W $9.99

(W) David MacDonald

The Guardians of the Galaxy are back in a new adventure, Castaways. Marooned on a mysterious planet that is trapped centuries behind the rest of the galaxy, Peter Quill, Gamora, Drax the Destroyer, Rocket Raccoon, and Groot go their separate ways. But when an alien technology threatens their new home, Castaways becomes a race to see if the Guardians can reunite in time to save it. (STL005306)

SC, 5x8, 240pgs, B&W $9.99

(W/A/CA) Jolly Blackburn

This multiple award-winning comic magazine features the hilarious misadventures of a group of gamers (the Knights) and their friends, along with useful role-playing and other articles for gamers, from a gamer's perspective. It's a slice of (fantasy) life in strips, articles, reviews and features, and a wonderful celebration of the gaming culture! (STL006057)

64pgs, B&W $5.99

(W/A/CA) Jolly Blackburn

This new perfect-bound trade paperback contains all the classic strips from the award-winning Knights of the Dinner Table magazine #187 to #190! These hysterically funny strips are the perfect addition to any gamer's bookshelf! (STL006058)

SC, 128pgs, B&W $14.99

(W/A/CA) Oh Great

Everybody knows that Itsuki is the most fearsome skater around. With his high-tech Air Gear skates, his moves are so smooth they're almost like flying. But when you're the best, someone always wants to take you down. Action, adventure, and high-stakes competition — and that's just the beginning! (STL005655) (C: 1-0-0) NOTE: Not available in the UK, Australia, Singapore or the Philippines.

SC, 5x7, 208pgs, B&W $10.99

(W/A/CA) Yui Sakuma

One of the few realistic manga told from the perspective of a young, geeky Japanese woman, Complex Age's dramatic storyline looks beneath the surface of cosplaying to show what it really takes to live the life of someone devoted to fandom. Twenty-six-year-old Nagisa looks like a normal office worker, but unbeknownst to her coworkers, she leads an extraordinary life as a cosplayer. In her secret life, Nagisa puts countless time and effort into conceptualizing and designing costumes to attend shows and transform into her favorite anime characters. But despite her talent and notoriety in the cosplayer world, she must keep this all a secret from everyone except close family and friends. To enjoy her passion and still function as a normal member of society, Nagisa has to struggle with the pressures of two very distinct lifestyles, while doing her best to keep her two worlds from colliding. (STL005656) (C: 1-0-0) NOTE: Not available in the UK, Australia, Singapore or the Philippines.

SC, 6x9, 208pgs, B&W $10.99

(W) Hiro Mashima (A/CA) Yuusuke Shirato

A new Fairy Tail prequel that follows clothing-challenged ice wizard Gray Fullbuster in the time before he joined the guild! Gray's master Ur was his only family left in the world. When she sacrificed herself to encase the demon Deliora in ice, he was left to wander the world alone. Gray had to undergo a journey of self-discovery and redemption, with a lot of adventures along the way! Story is complete in Japan at two volumes. (STK692980) (C: 1-0-0) NOTE: Not available in the UK, Australia, Singapore or the Philippines.

RES. from Previews Vol. XXV #11 (NOV151502)

SC, 5x7, 208pgs, B&W $10.99
INUYASHIKI VOLUME 4 GN

(W/A/CA) Hiroya Oku

Ichiro Inuyashiki is down on his luck. He looks much older than his 58 years, his children despise him, and his wife thinks he's a useless coward. So when he's diagnosed with stomach cancer and given three months to live, it seems the only one who'll miss him is his dog. Then a blinding light fills the sky, and the old man is killed, only to wake up later in a body he almost recognizes as his own. Can it be that Ichiro Inuyashiki is no longer human? Can he use this new body to help the helpless and finally win the respect of his family? And, most importantly, is he the only one in possession of these strange abilities? (STL005657) (C: 1-0-0)

MATURE THEMES

SC, 6x9, 208pgs, B&W $12.99
KISS HIM, NOT ME VOLUME 5 GN

(W/A/CA) Junko

Kae is a hardcore fujoshi, the type of female manga fan who loves to read stories of handsome boys getting into initimate situations with each other and often "ships" together characters from her favorite titles. However, her fervent passion for manga and anime causes an accident that comes with surprising results. The once homely and overweight fangirl has become an overwhelmingly cute girl who now turns heads everywhere she goes. With her new looks, Kae has caught the attention of a group of handsome boys who all want to date her, but in the end, Kae is still a fujoshi at heart, and rather than receive kisses from them, she would get much more enjoyment out of seeing those boys make out with each other. (STL005658) (C: 1-1-0) NOTE: Not available in the UK, Australia, Singapore or the Philippines.

SC, 190pgs, B&W $10.99

(W/A/CA) Ayu Watanabe

Aoi's best friend Moe is in love with their high school's prince, Shusei Kugayama. But when Moe confesses her feelings, Shusei turns her down hard, and a furious Aoi takes him to task. So it's quite a shock when Aoi finds out that the boy moving into the apartment next to hers is Shusei! Things go from awkward to intolerable when Aoi accidentally starts a kitchen fire in Shusei's apartment, and is forced to let him move in while the damage gets cleaned up. Readers will love watching the funny and touching situations this unlikely couple experience as they slowly begin to warm to each other. (STL005659) (C: 1-1-0) NOTE: Not available in the UK, Australia, Singapore or the Philippines.

SC, 208pgs, B&W $10.99

(W) Tomohiro Maekawa (A/CA) Jinsei Kataoka

Ninety percent of our lives are determined by our fate, and our fates are determined by our "souls." But every now and then, something doesn't go according to the plan, and not only are the results of this often grim, the souls of those who have met an untimely fate also pollute their environs, drawing more souls into a viscious circle of ill fate. Sakurai and Amano are an odd-couple team who have been hired to deal with the problems that arise from these tainted souls and have been tasked with finiding those who are heading to an early grave to either prevent them from dying or collect their livingstones — the physical remnants of their souls — before they can cause further damage. (STL005660) (C: 1-1-0) NOTE: Not available in the UK, Australia, Singapore or the Philippines.

SC, 192pgs, B&W $10.99

(W/A/CA) Hoshino Taguchi

Yasuke, 15 years old, is about to build up the courage to confess his love to his childhood friend Akari, who's fallen for him, too. There's just one problem: Yasuke's family lives in a Japanese shrine, and when he breaks the shrine's sacred mirror, it triggers a curse, releasing the cute and well-endowed goddess of misfortune, Orihime, into the real world! Now Yasuke can't ever be out of Orihime's sight; if he gets too far away, he dies, and can only be brought back to life with a quick kiss from Orihime! (STL005661) (C: 1-1-0) NOTE: Not available in the UK, Australia, Singapore or the Philippines.

MATURE THEMES

SC, 176pgs, B&W $10.99
NORAGAMI: STRAY GOD VOLUME 15 GN

(W/A/CA) Adachitoka

Yato is a homeless god. He doesn't even have a shrine, not to mention worshippers! So to achieve his ambitious goals, he's set up a service to help those in need (for a small fee), hoping he'll eventually raise enough money to build himself the lavish temple of his dreams. Of course, he can't afford to be picky, so Yato accepts all kinds of jobs, from finding lost kittens to helping a student overcome bullies at school. (STL005662) (C: 1-1-0) NOTE: Not available in the UK, Australia, Singapore or the Philippines.

SC, 200pgs, B&W $10.99

(W/A/CA) Kosuke Fujishima

Situated on top of a mountain and surrounded by picturesque scenes of nature, the all-girls Kitsuka Boarding School has been called a high-school girl's paradise, and with the constant excitement being created by the residents of Dorm No. 1, the school is sure to live up to the hype. With a cast of characters that includes the clumsy and chipper Hatsune Takahashi, a pint-sized house mother, and a brazen British exchange student, the lives of the girls at Kitsuka Boarding School are full of hijinks and new, exciting experiences. (STL005663) (C: 0-1-0)

SC, 208pgs, B&W $12.99

(W) Akiko Higashimura

Tsukimi Kurashita moves into the Amamizukan to take refuge with other geek girls. But real life has a way of crashing in, even when you're hiding among socially-inept manga artists, history buffs, and doll fanatics. A chance encounter with a young woman (who's actually a man — and the black sheep in a wealthy family) puts Tsukimi on a path she never thought she'd travel: that of fashion designer and entrepreneur! But with so many valuable secrets floating around, predators are bound to smell blood in the water. (STL005664) (C: 0-1-0)

SC, 400pgs, B&W $19.99

(W/A/CA) Kanae Hazuki

Since her "friends" framed her for the death of the class rabbit in elementary school, Mei Tachibana has given up on other people. But when Mei kicks Yamato, the most popular boy at her high school, in the head (she was aiming for someone else), she becomes enemy No. 1 among the student body... while Yamato himself grows more and more fascinated with her! How long can Mei keep her heart closed off? How long will she refuse to say, "I love you"? Candid and complex, Say I Love You breathes new life into common themes, thanks to Hazuki's unique insight into the awkward bluster and emotional vulnerability of teenage life. (STL005665) (C: 1-1-0) NOTE: Not available in the UK, Australia, Singapore or the Philippines.

SC, 192pgs, B&W $10.99

(W/A/CA) Naoshi Arakawa

Kosei Arima was a piano prodigy until his cruel taskmaster of a mother died suddenly, changing his life forever. Driven by his pain to abandon piano, Kosei now lives in a monotonous, colorless world. Having resigned himself to a bland life, he is surprised when he meets Kaori Miyazono, a violinist with an unorthodox style. Can she teach Kosei not just how to play, but how to start living again? (STL005666) (C: 1-1-0) NOTE: Not available in the UK, Australia, Singapore or the Philippines.

SC, 208pgs, B&W $10.99

(W/A/CA) Oh Great

Everybody knows that Itsuki is the most fearsome skater around. With his high-tech Air Gear skates, his moves are so smooth they're almost like flying. But when you're the best, someone always wants to take you down. Action, adventure, and high-stakes competition — and that's just the beginning! (STK685303) (C: 1-0-0) NOTE: Not available in the UK, Australia, Singapore or the Philippines.

MATURE THEMES

SC, 592pgs, B&W $14.99
STARS OF THE MONTH
AKIRA VOLUME 1 GN

(W/A/CA) Katsuhiro Otomo

The post-apocalyptic science-fiction saga Akira, with its thought-provoking themes and kinetic artwork, introduced the world to the power of manga. Now available again, this classic adventure is ready to be discovered by a new generation of readers! (STK401477) (AUG090981) (C: 1-0-0) NOTE: Not available in the UK, Australia, Singapore or the Philippines.

MATURE THEMES

SC, 7x10, 368pgs, B&W $24.99
ATTACK ON TITAN GN'S

(W/A/CA) Isayama Hajime

Humankind is down to just a few thousand people who live in a city surrounded by three concentric walls. The walls protect them from their enemies, the ravenous giants known as the Titans. The Titans appear to have only one purpose: to consume humanity. For one hundred years, what’s left of mankind has lived in the city on earth, protected by walls that tower over even the Titans. Humanity has become complacent, but Eren Jaeger has had enough. Jarger and his friends are determined to survive. But everything about their situation is a mystery that only becomes more complicated the more they learn. (STK462952) (C: 1-0-0) NOTE: Not available in the UK, Australia, Singapore or the Philippines.