10 Comics to Start off 2018

By: Kathryn CLook out 2018, comic studios are busier than ever! Comics are a way to pump ourselves up with some new lore, or inspire our creativity when we see a clean, fresh art style. The comics coming out this year, are just that; fresh, clean, energetic and vibrant! Get ready for our top ten comics to watch out for in 2018!

The Witch’s Throne by WhatAHero, will update continuously update through 2018

For those of you who like mages, witches, and RPG-style battles, this series from Tapas webcomics is right for you. This webcomic is about a world where there are legends about a girl who was transformed into a witch, gaining dark magical powers as well as a compulsion to eradicate all life. One day, the world found that these legends were true, the witch does exist. Her throne looms over their world, paralyzing most with fear. Agni gathers a group of underdogs to rally against the witch in yearly tournaments designed to get them strong enough to face and hopefully defeat the witch. The action and simplistic style is very dynamic and well executed, perfect for the new year.

Walt Disney Uncle Scrooge and Donald Duck: The Don Rosa Library Vols. 7 & 8 Gift Box Set by Don Rosa, Publication Date: January 3rd, 2018

We live in an age where media from the past is frequently made relevant to new generations, the infamous reboot. But this comic has an awesome reboot; the animated cartoon TV Series, DuckTales, released by Disney XD and premiered in August 2017. Both old fans of Uncle Scrooge and newer fans should check this out as to better understand this franchise, and why its charm has lasted since 1952. It has a modernized art style that we can see more and more in western cartoons today. The legendary Carl Barks would be proud!

Dragon Age: Knight Errant TPB by Writer: Nunzio DeFilippis, Publication Date: January 3rd, 2018

The cover art to this new comic can be described one word; breathtaking! It’s based in the Dragon Age Universe, started by a long series of video games. It centers around an elven squire who often travels with her knight she trains under. As the title implies, this world has warriors who fight dragons often, and this series is sure to deliver the draconic drama we love.

Koshchei The Deathless #1 Hellboy's immortal foe! Creators Writer: Mike Mignola Publication Date: January 3rd, 2018

Hellboy, the demon vigilante, is back again with another comic as well as an immortal archenemy! Hellboy is an amusing nostalgic character, that usually plays off super well with every character he interacts with, especially his best friend Abe (a physic amphibian humanoid). But it’s intriguing to learn more about this vigilante in 2018, in a comic with a newer cast. There’s no better way to kick off the year than to check out this comic’s cool creature art (check below, seriously, it’s awesome), and an arch nemesis we haven’t seen Hellboy face.

X-Men: Grand Design #1 By Ed Piskor, Cover Date: February 2018

This is an X-men fan’s dream found in a collection of older story arcs, without giving up half your bookshelf. This comic will be released in February 2018, and is a collection of the most important moments in “mutant history”. It’s refreshing to see the classic characters brought together in their original narratives. Cyclops, Beast, and Iceman as well as characters like Marvel Girl, whom we don’t often get an origin story from.

Marvel Black Panther: The Ultimate Guide #1 by Marvel, Publication Date: January 3rd, 2018

The Black Panther is coming to theaters soon! The film will be coming out in February 2018, and we cannot wait to see what the Marvel film crew will do with this unique hero! Thankfully, this comic compilation, concept art included, has come out January 3rd, 2018, just in time to show us what Black Panther has been over the years, and not just what Hollywood will do with it in 2018. It is impressive to find that he is a monarch, as well as a scientist and superhero. We’re excited to see that packed into 90 minutes, but for more context be sure to check out this comic.

Planet of the Apes: Ursus #1 Written by David F. Walker, Publication Date: January 3rd, 2018

How does one become general in the chaos of taking over planet Earth for your kind? This comic centers around the rise of an ape general in the Planet of the Apes. It’s an intriguing look as we may find the motivation as to an individual conquering human society, rather than that of a collective, as the franchise hasn’t often had time for. Villain stories are always fun to see play out, and we’ll finally be able to see General Ursus in spotlight.

Giant Days #34 Written by John Allison, Publication Date: January 3rd, 2018

This volume of the series Giant Days came out January 3rd, 2018, and volumes 35 and 36 are coming soon after. The series follows protagonists Esther, Daisy, and Susan, and volume 34-36 will detail their third year in college, their first year living apart. The style is clean and nice to look at, and the characters are bright, and happy, without losing their humanity or genuine character. This series is still fresh and updating in 2018. It’s very similar to Smile by Reina Telgemeier in its clever, optimistic humor.

Adventure Time #74 Written by Conor McCreer, Publication Date: March 7th, 2018

This comic shows the zany art style that Adventure Time is extremely well known for. It is a fun looking comic in particular because of its concept of Magic Man taking the color from the Land of Ooo. And it’s up to Jake and Finn to save it. This is a great concept for Magic Man, being the troll of this universe. If there’s another thing that is Adventure Time’s MO, it is changing its universe again and again, from video games to spirit dimensions that Ice King can only see with his wizard eyes. It’ll be entertaining to see some more shenanigans from Magic Man once again and how Finn and Jake will put an end to his dastardly plot.

Godshaper SC by writer Simon Spurrier, Publication Date: January 31st, 2018

This comic breaks the mold of a typical hero’s journey. This comic is promising as it shows a lot of technical skill from the artist, especially for a graphic novel in a realistic style, and its story has a thoughtful concept. Ennay, the main character has the power to shape gods of others. Wowzers. And yet, this ability does not grant our main character wealth, or fame, because he is homeless, hungry, and only earns money from paying rock-n-roll gigs. Godshaper’s writer is Simon Spurrier, who also wrote The Spire, and X-Men Legacy, and was nominated for the Eisner Award! This year, checking out what a prestigious member of the X-Men crew can make in their world, yet separate from the X-Men universe, sounds amazing. For those of you looking for something new, this is a great comic for you!