Image Comics – Solicitations for August 2016
Genre:
A diverse collection spanning multiple genres including
science fiction, horror, fantasy, crime noir, action, and slice-of-life drama.
This month's lineup from Image Comics showcases the publisher's hallmark
variety—offering gritty thrillers, introspective journeys, dystopian epics, and
supernatural sagas.
Main Characters (Select Titles):
- Saga
#37 – Alana, Marko, Hazel
- Black
Science #23 – Grant McKay
- Paper
Girls #8 – Erin, Mac, Tiffany, KJ
- The
Walking Dead #157 – Rick Grimes, Negan
- Kill
or Be Killed #1 – Dylan
- Descender
#14 – TIM-21
Writer, Artist, Editor Details:
- Saga
#37
- Writer:
Brian K. Vaughan
- Artist:
Fiona Staples
- Editor:
Eric Stephenson
- Kill
or Be Killed #1
- Writer:
Ed Brubaker
- Artist:
Sean Phillips
- Colorist:
Elizabeth Breitweiser
- Paper
Girls #8
- Writer:
Brian K. Vaughan
- Artist:
Cliff Chiang
- Colorist:
Matt Wilson
- Descender
#14
- Writer:
Jeff Lemire
- Artist:
Dustin Nguyen
- The
Walking Dead #157
- Writer:
Robert Kirkman
- Artist:
Charlie Adlard
- Inker:
Stefano Gaudiano
- Gray
Tones: Cliff Rathburn
Publisher and Brand:
Published by Image Comics, an independent publisher
known for giving creators full control over their properties. No specific
imprint or brand applied to these titles; Image Comics titles typically fall
under their main publishing label, celebrating creator-owned storytelling.
Release Year:
All titles in this solicitation were scheduled for August
2016.
Brief Plot Summary:
- Kill
or Be Killed #1 introduces Dylan, a troubled man who survives a
suicide attempt only to be visited by a demon who demands he kill one
person a month or face death himself. The psychological complexity and
moral dilemmas drive the story into dark, philosophical territory.
- Saga
#37 continues the epic space opera with Hazel's family navigating
political tensions, cosmic threats, and personal growth. This issue builds
upon the emotional stakes with tight character moments and layered
world-building.
- Paper
Girls #8 dives deeper into time-travel chaos as the quartet of girls
unearths unsettling truths about their journey and each other.
Relationships are tested amid interdimensional dangers.
- Black
Science #23 sees Grant McKay continuing his madcap, high-stakes
journey across dimensions, facing new threats and personal revelations
that could either redeem or doom him.
- The
Walking Dead #157 kicks off the "Whispers Into Screams" arc,
highlighting Negan’s manipulative charm and Rick's attempts to prevent
all-out war—again.
- Descender
#14 develops the mythology of the Machine War while TIM-21 uncovers
ancient secrets that link the past and future of the robot race.
Notable Arcs or Storylines (Select Highlights):
- The
Walking Dead #157 – Begins the “The Whisperer War” arc, one of
the most pivotal post-Negan storylines that shifts the power dynamics of
the post-apocalyptic world.
- Kill
or Be Killed – Launch of a new noir-thriller series that explores the
psychology of vigilantism with a supernatural twist.
- Paper
Girls – Continues the time-travel arc that further blends ‘80s
nostalgia with sophisticated sci-fi mystery.
Fan Theories or Interpretations:
- Saga
fans speculated that Hazel’s narration hints at a tragic ending for one or
both of her parents, given the tone and foreshadowing.
- Kill
or Be Killed drew early fan theories questioning whether the demon
compelling Dylan to murder is real or a manifestation of his psychosis—a
theme Brubaker toys with throughout.
- Descender
theories at this point revolved around TIM-21’s hidden link to the
Harvester robots, possibly suggesting he holds a key to both salvation and
destruction.
Review Summary:
The August 2016 lineup from Image Comics was a testament to the publisher's consistency in delivering top-tier creator-owned content. Kill or Be Killed debuted with gripping storytelling and gritty art that anchored readers in a morally ambiguous world. Saga remained one of the most emotionally rich and visually imaginative series in comics. Paper Girls deepened its mythos while maintaining its unique retro-sci-fi vibe. Across the board, the art was stellar—from the watercolor brilliance of Descender to the moody noir of Kill or Be Killed. Each title reflected Image Comics’ commitment to mature, layered storytelling with visually distinct styles.
Comic Resource / Read Online (External Source)
