Beyond The Big Two: This Week’s Scoop comes Lickety Split!

“Beyond The Big Two” was created to cater to the need of the not-so-average comic book reader. Whether you’re looking to escape the monotony of only reading stories from Marvel and DC, are trying to start a new series, looking for other publishers to gain interest in, or just have no interest in superheroes this section is for you. It’s a weekly blurb that draws the attention of hot up-and-coming comic book series. Without further adieu, let’s celebrate the start of this series highlighting some of this week’s launching titles and a few favorite second issues.

Pumpkinhead #1

Do you enjoy cult classic horror stories? If so, Dynamite Entertainment is pushing out Pumpkinhead #1 this week. The Pumpkinhead is a spirit of vengeance who can be brought to life by the will and spiritual sacrifice of it’s summoner. Yes for just a your soul and a little help from a witch, said summoner can bring forth the Pumpkinhead to do their bidding. So when a group of children are murdered by a reckless driver, the Pumpkinhead rises from it’s 30 year slumber to seek revenge for the lives lost. But when the driver is protected by a backwoods crime family, who look to summon their own minions, what will become of the woods? I mean let’s face it, no one is truly safe when too many beast go lurking around at night. It’s a promisingly eerie supernatural thriller that I can’t wait to get my hands on.

Punks not Dead #1

On a more slice-of-life meets supernatural story we have Punks not Dead #1. Instead of an endearing story of troubled boy finds solace in a mentor or a stray animal, we have a boy named Ferguson (nicknamed Fergie) who just can’t seem to catch a break. Being awkward and adolescent is difficult enough, but with no father, an interesting mother and bullies, a troubled youth like Fergie doesn’t have too many people that inspire and encourage him. Well not until he meets Sid, but instead of sharing many heart-to-hearts their relationship is a little more symbiotic. Sid is the spirit of a punk rocker who becomes a haunting sidekick to Fergie. IDW brings us a series about a boy’s life turning upside down as his new contact with a dead rocker bestows upon him some crazy powers.

Mata Hari #1

Dark Horse has a lot of amazing titles under its belt. In particular, Hellboy and it’s many encompassing stories are entertaining and always illustrated beautifully. Mata Hari may not be a Hellboy-related work, but It has great promise for a new five-issue miniseries. It leaves its audience wondering; who is the real Mata Hari? The woman is facing her final moments at the gallows and stands before a court of executioners. It’s an interesting narrative that paints this master of espionage from many points-of-view. We have the woman herself, who writes a memoir about her life as a princess living out a romantic lifestyle, being a flirty seductress and evidently falling from grace when she lost everything dear to her. The court on the other hand calls her a dangerous spy; a double-agent who lived a scandalous life, accumulated a plethora of secrets and only ever cared for money. What is truth and what is lie is probably left us to find out and determine on our own.

The Further Adventures of Nick Wilson #2

Image brings us a comic about a superhero who has lost his powers, and with them sunk his celebrity status and self-respect. When Nick Wilson suddenly loses his powers he becomes a shell of his former self. The paparazzi berate him, he is a laughing stock on the news, he struggles with finding work and meaningful relationships, but all that may change. The title implies it all “the further adventures,” a hero can’t just halt their life. He may no longer fly or be bulletproof, but his arch nemesis Clive Morganfield comes out of the woodwork to reach out to Nick. If there are no heroes, then a title like “super villain” has no meaning, and that’s what Clive seems to want, an ego booster. So what arrangement will these two former foes come up with and can they get along, or the will they fall back into their old roles as hero and nemesis? Tune in this week for what I hope will be a riveting second issue.

Vinegar Teeth #2

Another Dark Horse home-run comes from a very unconventional buddy cop duo. Artie Buckle is a schmuck, but one hell of a cop. He works his damned hardest to go undercover to bust the Canadian drug ring, and where do his efforts get him? He gets upstaged by an extra-dimensional monster with a heart of gold. What’s worse is that the town recognizes this tentacled being as a hero. They dub him Vinegar Teeth and reward him by making him a rookie cop, with Artie getting the so-called privilege of being his mentor. It’s like a Rush Hour movie, but instead of Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker fighting international gangs with Kung-fu and weapons, Vinegar Teeth and Artie are tasked with saving the world from threats beyond earthly comprehension. It’s unique art-style and mixing of genres between horror and humor make Vinegar Teeth one hell of a roller-coaster.

Ice Cream Man #2

What’s great about Image’s Ice Cream Man is that it’s written in episodic one-shots . Each issue revolves around this mysterious Ice Cream Man. You’re quick to discover he is no mere mortal, but what exactly is he: a god, a monster, perhaps a demon or an being from another planet. Whatever he is he doesn’t seem to bring about good. He’s like a myth, a boogie-man, a bad omen that not only serves up sundaes, but also suffering. The first issue brought us the tragedy of a young man and his parents. The second issue focuses around two different opioid abusers that are brought together by fate, or perhaps something more. There is only one basic rule when the Ice Cream man rolls into town, you better watch out because your life will spiral out of control lickety split.

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