We'll all be sick of shoveling snow and shivering in the cold (well, those of us on the East Coast), but these are the books that will be there to heat things up in March.
From the end of Grant Morrison's latest grand tale, to the return of an '80s favorite, and from a horror story by one of comics' modern masters to the Marvelous return of the world's most famous space Princess and beyond, the third month of 2015 is loaded with projects to help us end Winter right.
Batman Earth One Vol. 2 HC
Writer: Geoff Johns
Artists: Gary Frank and Jon Sibal
Cover: Gary Frank
The first volume of Geoff Johns and Gary Frank's "Batman Earth One" was one of the freshest takes on the Batman mythos readers had encountered in a long time, and now, the writer and artist team that gave us a decidedly different version of the Dark Knight are back. In this volume, we will be treated to Johns and Frank's take on the Riddler, Killer Croc and Harvey Dent as the creative duo expand the world they introduced a few years ago. We can't wait to see what Johns and Frank have planned next for their very diferent take on the Caped Crusader and Alfred -- who is not dissimilar from the Alfred on Fox's "Gotham" -- in the upcoming volume 2.
Convergence #0
Writers: Dan Jurgens and Jeff King
Art and Cover: Ethan Van Sciver
This is the big one, for both fans of the New 52 and for fans of old school DC Comics. Old and new converge into one huge storyline that will have huge ramifications the DC Multiverse. With comics veteran Dan Jurgens and Syfy's "Continuum" writer Jeff King guiding the ship, this claim could be more than just hype as DC fans look forward to the return of classic characters we haven't seen in a very long time. This zero issue promises to showcase characters from "Kingdom Come," "Superman: Red Son" and even "Captain Carrot," plus other worlds fans thought lost forever. There are tons of "Convergence" books coming in April and May, but the event that could change the course of DC's future begins here.
The Multiversity: Ultra Comics #1
Writer: Grant Morrison
Artists: Doug Mahnke and Christian Alamy
Cover: Doug Mahnke
The Multiversity #2
Writer: Grant Morrison
Art and cover: Ivan Reis and Joe Prado
As "Convergence" begins, another reality-spanning tale comes to a close. First, we have the experimental "Ultra Comics," where Grant Morrison gets really meta by promising that it's the one thing that will either save or doom the Multiverse. Seriously!
Then, in "Multiversity"#2, everything is wrapped up in the long-awaited conclusion of Morrison's symphony of realities. It's been one hell of a mind trip as Morrison and an A-list team of artists have taken readers on a tour of the many realities of DC, and it all ends here.
Justice League #40
Writer: Geoff Johns
Art and Cover: Jason Fabok
"Justice League" #1 introduced readers to the New 52, as the team gathered for the first time to defend Earth from Darkseid. Since then, Orion has played a major role in "Wonder Woman," the New Gods are currently terrorizing Corps of all colors, while the denizens of Apokolips have been pivotal players in the saga of "Earth 2." But other than Batman paying visit to Darkseid's domain in order to save Damian Wayne, there has been little direct interaction between the heroes of the New 52's primary Earth and the Fourth World's biggest bad guy since Johns and Jim Lee's inaugural Justice League arc. With this issue, the lead-in to the coming "Darkseid War," that will all change, as Johns and artist Jason Fabok deliver the next salvo in the conflict between DC's greatest villain and its core heroes.
Princess Leia #1-2
Writer: Mark Waid
Artist and Cover: Terry Dodson
Completing our buzzworthy "Star Wars" triumvirate of the past few months is "Princess Leia," the third book in Marvel's push to make the galaxy far, far away the hottest locale in comics. It was an unexpected move to give Princess Leia Organa her own series to kick off the franchise's return to Marvel, but a creative team like writer Mark Waid and artist Terry Dodson makes for a universe of intriguing possibilities. "Star Wars'" ultimate leading lady has never starred in her own solo comic, but we're sure Waid has a great character arc planned for her. As fans wait for Leia's on-screen return in "The Force Awakens," they can get reacquainted with "Her Worshipfulness" in a series by some of comics' finest creators.
All-New Hawkeye #1
Writer: Jeff Lemire
Artist and Cover: Ramón Perez
Matt Fraction and David Aja's award winning run on "Hawkeye" is coming to an end, but there is another day for everyone's favorite Avenging Archer. It would be a hard road to walk for any writer following Fraction on "Hawkeye," but Jeff Lemire isn't just any writer -- he's a voice that continues to thrill and delight fans whether writing superheroes or genre-defying fiction. From the solicitation copy, it looks like Lemire and Perez will be picking up where Fraction and Aja left off, as their all-new approach to Hawkeye will feature both Clint Barton and Kate Bishop. Rest easy, 'Hawkguy' fans, your two favorite bowsmiths are in good hands.
Howard the Duck #1
Writer: Chip Zdarsky
Artist: Artist & Cover: Joe Quinones
You knew this was coming ever since you saw Howard sipping on an adult beverage at the end of "Guardians of the Galaxy," and in March, Marvel's strangest creation is back. Now, past Howard revivals have admittedly suffered without the direction and voice of the late, great Steve Gerber. But while Gerber is greatly missed by the world of comics, we can think of no modern day creator more perfectly suited to guide the future of the Master of Quack Fu than "Sex Criminal's" Chip Zdarsky. A master of the absurd, Zdarsky is just the right person to guide Howard into the new year. Howard the Duck is such an important part of Marvel history, it's great see a seconds-long cameo in a major film lead to a new book.
Chrononauts #1
Writer: Mark Millar
Artist and Cover: Sean Gordon Murphy & Matt Hollingsworth
For years now, Mike Millar has been at the top of his game. With "Starlight," "MPH" and "Jupiter's Children," the Scottish scribe added three more notches on his belt of fan-favorite works in 2014, joining "Kick Ass," "Wanted" and "Secret Service" as his creator-owned triumphs. "Chrononauts" sounds like Millar's take on "Dr. Who," and with Millar's propensity to turn genre tradition on its ears, that should mean one heck of a ride through the time stream. Most exciting of all, joining Millar is Sean Gordon Murphy, fresh off his acclaimed work on "Punk Rock Jesus" and "The Wake." Any new Millarverse project is worthy of buzz, and with the writer's track record, "Chrononauts" has us seriously excited.
Descender #1
Story: Jeff Lemire
Art & Cover: Dustin Nguyen
"Trillium" one of the best sci-fi series of 2014, and now, Jeff Lemire is taking his next creator-owned idea to Image, along with artist Dustin Nguyen, fresh off of "Little Gotham." These two creators now turn their attention to what Image describes as "a rip-roaring and heart-felt cosmic odyssey that pits humanity against machine, and world against world, to create a sprawling space opera." Between this book and "All New Hawkeye," Lemire might 'win' the month of March.
The Walking Dead #139
Writer: Robert Kirkman
Artist: Charlie Adlard, Stefano Gaudiano and Cliff Rathburn
Cover: Charlie Adlard & Dave Stewart
A whole new story arc begins here, which could have consequences for the millions of "Walking Dead" fans all over the world. Kirkman and Adlard are starting a new tale sure to shake things up for the book's beloved band of survivors, and you just never know when ideas from the comic will pop up on the TV series. New heroes? New villains? New deaths? New Walkers? Anything is possible as "The Walking Dead" shambles into its next major chapter.
Big Man Plans #1 (Of 4)
Writers: Eric Powell and Tim Weisch
Art & Cover: Eric Powell
Many of comics leading creators have hopped aboard the Image renaissance in the past few years delivering some of the freshest and most fun creator-owned comics the medium has ever seen. Now, "The Goon's" Eric Powell joins the fun with his brand new crime drama and mystery, "Big Man Plans." Powell is known for delivering over the top, brutal stories with a human heart, and we look forward to experiencing what this master of mayhem can pull off at Image.
Frankenstein Underground #1 (of 5)
Writer and Cover: Mike Mignola
Artist: Ben Stenbeck
Colorist: Dave Stewart
Sometimes, a creator and character just belong together. This is hopefully the case with horror master Mike Mignola and one of fiction's greatest monsters. Just imagining the legend of Frankenstein filtered through one of the darkest imaginations in contemporary horror fiction has us on the edge of our seat. "Hellboy" fans know what kind of terrors Mignola can conjure up, so we're ready tojoin him and the Frankenstein monster for his new take on a legend.
PastAways #1
Writer and Variant Cover: Matt Kindt
Artist & Cover: Scott Kolins
Colorist: Bill Crabtree
"Mind MGMT" creator Matt Kindt debuts his latest creator-owned work for dark Horse in March with the launch of of "PastAways," a time travel tale that features five adventurers protecting the Twenty-First Century from dinosaurs and giant robots. Kindt has proven in the past few years that he possesses one of the most boundless imaginations in comics, so we're ready for March to arrive already. Though if you have a time machine, we suppose you can grab this gem today.
Jem and the Holograms #1
Writer: Kelly Thompson
Artist and Cover: Ross Campbell
Not many children of the '80s would have ever dreamed that there would one day be a "Jem and the Holograms" comic, but here we go! From the same publisher that brings you "G.I. Joe" and "Transformers" every month comes another, albeit more obscure, Hasbro property. It's Jem and her Holograms versus the Misfits in a battle of the bands that IDW hopes will tickles the nostalgia bone in even the most jaded comic fans. It will be interesting to watch Kelly Thompson and Ross Campbell translate this decidedly '80s property to modern comics, and we can't wait to see the result.