The 25 Most Anticipated Comic Books of Fall 2013

So far, 2013 has been pretty good to the comic book industry. In addition to the usual companywide crossovers from Marvel and DC, including Infinity and Trinity War, we have seen the big superhero publishers begin to focus more on character-oriented books like Daredevil, Hawkeye, Wonder Woman, and Batman. Though mainstream characters will always be the big moneymakers, small indie publishers have also begun a massive push to get their rightful piece of the pie.

Books like Mind MGMT from Dark Horse Comics, Saga from Image Comics, and March from Top Shelf Productions have shown us that you don’t need to have a movie in theaters or a cartoon on TV to be an excellent read. These companies teach us on a weekly basis that there's a world of talent out there if you just take the time to open your eyes and look around. And that’s exactly what we’re going to do for you here at Complex.

Comic books are hard to jump into. It takes a lot of research to figure out which books to buy, and some potential fans never really find a great place to start. We feel your pain, and we’re going to lend you a hand. If you’re a newbie trying to figure out which book suits you best, or a longtime comic book reader who just wants to try something different, we’re here with a rundown of The 25 Most Anticipated Comic Books of Fall 2013.

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Writer: Jason Aaron
Artist: Ed McGuinness
Release date: November

Yes, it’s another X-Men book, and yes, it features Wolverine just like the rest of them, but Amazing X-Men is also notable because it marks the return of Nightcrawler from the dead, because, ya know, comics. And while it may seem a little redundant to have Jason Aaron write yet another X-Men book, he has been turning out some of the best work at Marvel currently, so the more titles he’s on, the better.

What makes this title stand out for us, though, is Ed McGuinness’ art. His cartoonish, bombastic style is exactly what superhero comics need in an age when everyone wants to be realistic and gritty. This looks like a title that isn’t afraid to give us some old fashioned swashbuckling fun; just as long as it stays away from the crossovers and the overly-serious death and destruction that the X-Men universe has featured in recent years.

Writer: Fred Van Lente
Artist: Ariel Olivetti
Release date: October 16

Dark Horse has reinvigorated the Conan franchise in recent years with Brian Wood’s Conan the Barbarian relaunch, and this October, the publisher is bringing yet another high-profile creative team to Cimmeria in Conan and the People of the Black Circle. Based on one of Robert E. Howard’s most influential Conan stories, this four-issue miniseries will be brought to us by the former Incredible Hulk team of writer Fred Van Lente and artist Ariel Olivetti.

We know Van Lente can write ferocious leading men without trouble, but what we’re really pumped for is the art by Olivetti. He nails the classic Conan look, complete with pounds of twitching muscle and veins the size of garden hoses. If this comic sticks close to Howard’s original story, expect a lot of dark magic and mayhem for Conan to endure. If you like your heroes pumping with testosterone and your action over-the-top, it’d be wise to pick this up.

Writer: Jonathan Hickman
Artist: Di Amorim
Release date: September 4

God is Dead. Just the title alone has our attention, but once you factor in that the mad scientist of modern comics, Jonathan Hickman, is the man responsible for this book, God is Dead goes from an interesting name to a must-read title. What we know of the plot deals with the gods of all mythologies—including Zeus, Horus, and Odin—returning to Earth and witnessing in horror at what has gone on in their absence. Sex, war, and atheism are running rampant, and it’s up to these gods of the ancient world to set things right.

Hickman has been pumping out some of the best superhero material over the past few years, but, his indie books, The Manhattan Projects and East of West, have really been his highpoint as a writer. He’ll be joined by Di Amorim on art, who will help bring the epic scope that a story about a gang of pissed off gods needs.

Writer: Caitlin Kittredge
Artist: Inaki Miranda
Release date: October 9

Earlier this year, Vertigo announced a host of new books coming out this fall, with each highlighting a new creative team and championing a different genre. In Coffin Hill, the publisher seems to be going back to its horror roots as the book focuses on a woman named Eve Coffin, a former Boston police officer who returns to her old town and realizes that the curse she accidentally released one day as a child has transformed Coffin Hill into a breeding ground for evil.

With a curse that has its beginnings in the time of the Salem Witch Trials, Coffin Hill looks to combine the fantasy/horror that Vertigo built its reputation on with the real world evil that took place in 1600’s New England. It’s always hard to get some love with an original idea in a medium that is sometimes afraid of change, but books like Coffin Hill are what keep the comic industry moving forward.

Writers: Keith Giffen and JM DeMatteis
Artist: Howard Porter
Release date: December

Had your fill of the Justice League yet? We didn’t think so. Later this fall, DC is taking a look 1,000 years into the future in its newest team-up title, Justice League 3000. The names and faces may look familiar, but these aren’t the Leaguers that you know. Starring futuristic versions of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash, and Green Lantern, this space-age team is putting a high-tech spin on DC’s old school favorites.

Writers Keith Giffen and JM DeMatteis are reuniting for this title, along with artist Howard Porter, all of whom have worked on the League in the past. We’re still not sure what connections this new League has to the modern day one, but it’s hard to argue with that creative team and the sleek new designs.

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Artist: Mark Bagley
Release date: November

When the Ultimate Universe was created by Marvel in 2000, it was designed to retell all of the origins of their characters, but updated for the modern day and free of the decades of backstory of their original creations. This universe lived outside of the classic one, and for more than a decade there was no interaction between the two—fans simply chose which universe they liked better and that was that. Now it looks like the Ultimate Universe has outlived its usefulness as Marvel is planning on introducing it to the mainstream continuity in Cataclysm: The Ultimates’ Last Stand.

After the events of Age of Ultron ripped a hole in the Ultimate Universe, Galactus stepped through into it looking to feed on this alternate Earth. Now the heroes of the Ultimate Universe have to fight off this villain from the classic Marvel Universe. However, we do know that one character, the ultimate version of Spider-Man, will likely make his way into the original Marvel world. This might sound a bit confusing for new fans, but for comic readers who have followed the Ultimate books from the beginning, seeing it come to an end is bitter sweet.

Writers: Jimmy Palmiotti and Amanda Conner
Artists: Various
Release date: November

Superhero comics aren’t just a boys club anymore, and DC is looking to prove that with the long-awaited debut of a Harley Quinn solo book. The Joker’s former main squeeze may be popular, but she’s historically only been able to steal the show from supporting roles. Now writers Jimmy Palmiotti and Amanda Conner are going to test if the Clown Princess of Mayhem can stand on her own.

Though her solo title doesn’t properly launch until December, we will get a special Harley Quinn #0 comic in November, where Harley will break the fourth wall and pick who will be the artist of her own title. This issue will feature art from a roster of veterans, all of whom have a history with either Batman or Harley herself, including Darwyn Cooke, Sam Kieth, Tony S. Daniel, Paul Pope, Walter Simonson, Art Baltazar, and Bruce Timm, the character’s co-creator.

Writers: Various
Artists: Various
Release date: December

This is a little bit of a cheat because we’re not focusing on one book, more like a new status quo, but later this year after Infinity wraps up, Marvel will be jumping straight into Inhumanity. This universe-wide crossover will put the spotlight on The Inhumans, the classic Jack Kirby and Stan Lee super team that debuted back in the ‘60s. Here, the Terrigen Mists that gave The Inhumans their powers make their way to Earth, infecting countless ordinary citizens.

The problem with announcing a new crossover while another one is still ongoing is that Marvel can’t release too much information about Inhumanity for fear of spoilers. We do know that a new title called Inhuman will launch in early 2014 by writer Matt Fraction and artist Joe Madureira. Before that, the beginnings of this epic storyline will begin to unfold later this fall.

The last time The Inhumans were relevant was during Paul Jenkins brilliant run during the early 2000’s, so Marvel has a lot to live up to with this one. Plus, with the comic world reflecting the company’s movie plans so often now, will it be long before The Inhumans make their way to the big screen?

Writer and artist: David Mellon
Release date: October

For the first time in print, David Mellon’s wickedly funny Stuff About Sex is making the jump from the digital world to paper, and we couldn’t be happier. This book gives us a slice-of-life look at what young people can expect when they embark upon the joy, pain, and humiliation of sex. Like the underground comics of Crumb or Pekar, Stuff About Sex is a look at real life without the romantic blinders on.

Mellon brings a deeply personal edge to the narrative without ever making it melodramatic or uncomfortable. We can relate to everything in here, and though it may be embarrassing at times, seeing it on the page makes it all right. If you want to use it as an instruction manual on how to not approach a girl, go right ahead; however, we suggest you just take it as a witty indie comic about the awkwardness of sex. We just can’t endorse reading a comic book to figure out how to pick up chicks.

Writer and artist: Brahm Revel
Release date: November

When Marvel launched the Marvel Knights imprint in the late ‘90s, it was designed to give a darker indie flavor to some of its long-standing titles like Daredevil, Punisher, and The Black Panther. Not only was it a commercial and critical success, but it helped drag the company out of financial peril. Now Marvel is going back to this winning formula by launching three new Marvel Knights miniseries, and, of course, the X-Men are going to be involved in some way.

In Marvel Knights: X-Men, writer and artist Brahm Revel (Guerillas) is taking the iconic mutant team away from their bombastic mainstream adventures and is instead focusing on a more intimate tale that sees Wolverine, Kitty Pryde, and Rogue attempting to recruit two new mutants from a small town. Revel has never worked for the company before, nor has he really dabbled in the superhero genre. With the X-Men starring in countless books and movies over the years, it will be refreshing to see what an outsider can do with the property.

Writer: Ales Kot
Artists: Michael Walsh, Mateus Santolouco, Morgan Jeske, Tradd Moore, Will Tempest and Tonci Zonjic
Release date: September 18

Over the past couple of years, Ales Kot has established himself as one of the hottest writers in comics with work on Suicide Squad at DC and Change and Wild Children over at Image Comics. Now Kot is back with a new spy series for Image titled Zero. Instead of relying on the serialized nature of comics, each issue of this series will stand on its own with a new artist for each installment that will bring a unique style to the book. The stories shift based on the artist’s unique sensibilities, keeping Zero fluid and unpredictable.

Despite the artist shifts, the book will always focus on a government spy working in the near future named Edward Zero. Kot’s work always features multiple layers hiding beneath the surface, so we don’t expect this to just be a simple action book. This is a writer who can’t help but bring strong views and personalities to his work, which is one of the reasons why he works so much better in the indies.

Writer: Toby Litt
Artists: Mark Buckingham and Gary Erksine
Release date: November 6

Spinning out of Neil Gaiman’s Sandman, Dead Boy Detectives focuses on a group of adolescent ghosts, Edwin Paine and Charles Rowland, as they set out to solve any and all mysteries that come their way, including their own grisly deaths. Dead Boy Detectives is looking to bring a morbid spin to a normally wholesome genre that is occupied by the likes of The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew.

Dead Boy Detectives is exactly what Vertigo needs as the imprint claws its way back from relative obscurity. It’s a blending of genres and ideas that ignores the typical comic book troupes and settles somewhere between all-ages fantasy and violent horror.

Writer and artist: Andy Kubert
Release date: October

Damian Wayne, aka Robin, may have died a few months back in Batman Incorporated #8, but DC is already bringing him back (sort of) in a new miniseries titled Damian: Son of Batman, by writer and artist Andy Kubert. This miniseries is a “What if?” tale that is about an alternate timeline where Damian is never killed and eventually takes over the mantle of Batman.

All the way back in Batman #666, we got a glimpse at what would happen if Damian ever became the Bat, and the results were devastating. Gotham City had gone to hell and Damian’s version of Batman was a stone cold killer who sold his soul to the devil. This miniseries shows us how he would have gotten to that point, and the mayhem that followed.

Writer: Charles Soule
Artist: Tony Daniel
Release date: October 9

What fun is a power couple if they don’t go around fighting with the gods? In Superman/Wonder Woman, we get a look at how Clark and Diana maintain their relationship as they balance their personal life with their duty to protect the Earth from evil. Under the guidance of burgeoning superstar writer Charles Soule and artist Tony Daniel, this book looks to kick subtlety to the curb and focus on the blockbuster action and widescreen destruction that we would expect from these two characters, especially since the first story arc includes Superman’s most muscle-bound foe, Doomsday.

If the battles these characters take part in span cities, countries, and planets, it’s only natural that their romance should be just as epic. While we’re sure Soule and Daniel will provide us with plenty of eye-popping action scenes, we wonder if we’re going to be a fly on the wall of their relationship once the lights go out.

Writer: Geoff Johns
Artist: David Finch
Release date: September 4

In the wake of Trinity War comes Forever Evil, a seven-issue miniseries from DC Entertainment that sees the company’s greatest villains forced to stop the inter-dimensional Crime Syndicate from taking over the planet while the Justice League is presumed dead. Face it, you always secretly root for Lex Luthor and The Joker to win out, and in Forever Evil we’ll get just that.

We’re usually not the biggest fans of these large crossover events, but with the Justice League out of the picture, we’re hoping that Forever Evil eschews the morals and values of the good guys and instead brings us the blockbuster mayhem we crave. Also, word on the street is that something big happens with Nightwing in the first issue that will have fans enraged (and really, when aren’t they?) so we’re already calling it that Forever Evil #1 will be the most talked-about issue of the year.

Writer: Robert Kirkman
Artist: Charlie Adlard
Release date: October 9

The Waling Dead #115 is the first issue of the epic 12-part "All Out War" storyline that Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard have been building to since issue 100 last year. The focus of the books shifts away from the humans vs. zombies storyline and puts the spotlight on the consequences of humanity attempting to reorganize and rebuild after years living in fear. The humans are now split into four factions—Alexandria, The Hilltop, The Saviors and The Kingdom—and this new story will revolve around the alliances they form and the tactics they use to stay alive.

If you haven’t been keeping track of the book in recent years, a new enemy named Negan has been introduced and he makes The Governor look like Jimmy Carter in comparison. Tensions are beginning to boil over, and Kirkman promises to bring this conflict to an end in bloody fashion.

Writer: Joe Keatinge
Artist: Piotr Kowalski
Release date: December

In recent years, Marvel has moved away from the dark, tortured version of the Hulk, in favor of a more traditional superhero direction. While that’s all well and good, we can’t help but wish we got some stories for the Jade Giant that weren’t about smashing aliens and supervillains. Thankfully, Marvel’s relaunch of the Marvel Knights line is giving us just that with a new miniseries titled Marvel Knights: Hulk.

Writer Joe Keatinge and artist Piotr Kowalski are taking Bruce Banner to Paris, where he has no memory of his past life as the Green Goliath. As he’s hunted down by an unknown villain, Banner must put the pieces of his life back together and get to the bottom of this mystery. The Knights lines has always prided itself more on daring plots and personal stories, rather than action and publicity stunts, so we’re definitely ready for Hulk to go from the typical superhero genre and turn into an international thriller.

Writer: R.J. Ryan
Artist: David Marquez
Release date: October

3D might be nothing but a gimmick in Hollywood, but in The Joyners, it’s an artistic expression that is looking to push the boundaries of the comic book world. The book tells the story of a man named George Joyner, who is looking to change the world for the better with his inventions. But as his public life begins to pick up, his private life falls apart.

Though we’re certain R.J. Ryan is going to deliver a great story, the real draw of The Joyners is the 3D art by David Marquez. Obviously we haven’t seen much of it, but the little glimpses we have gotten are nothing short of dynamic. There is a sleek, pop art style to the work that's reminiscent of what Jack Kirby and Jim Steranko were doing back in the ‘60s during the Space Race. David Marquez has gone on record as saying the book is like a cross between The Jetsons and American Beauty, which is more than enough to earn our money.

Writer: Kieron Gillen
Artist: Jordie Bellaire
Release date: October 9

If you think that the comic book world said all that needed to be said about the Spartans in Frank Miller’s 300, you're way off. In Three, writer Kieron Gillen (Iron Man) takes a look at the seedier side of the Spartan warriors by focusing on three slaves who are being hunted down by 300 of the fiercest warriors in the land. The romanticized view of the Spartan legend depicts them as outnumbered warriors in an epic battle; however, this shines an opposing light on them as ruthless slave hunters and criminals.

Steeped in historical fact, Three looks to be a stylish action jaunt that sets the record straight about the famous legend of the 300. Gillen has been killing it in the indie scene over the years, and Jordie Bellaire’s art really needs to just be soaked in like a fine wine. This is a creative combo we've been waiting for.

Writers: Various
Artists: Various
Release date: September 4

In 1996, DC Comics released a four-issue miniseries titled Batman Black and White, an anthology comic comprised of short stories written and illustrated by some of the industry’s top talent. On September 4, the company is bringing the idea back in new volume, and if it’s anything like the previous iteration, this will be a book to keep an eye on.

Free of convoluted continuity and backstory, Black and White’s aim is to just tell great Batman stories. The original volume had tales that ranged from comic to noir, with a little postmodern madness thrown in for good measure, so we expect another genre mash-up here. And with talent like Neal Adams, Sean Murphy, and Chris Samnee all lined up for the debut, Batman Black and White #1 should definitely be on your pull list.

Writer: Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa
Artist: Francesco Francavilla
Release date: October 9

The undead come to Riverdale!

Over the years, Archie has been on the receiving end of some pretty strange storylines—1994’s Archie meets The Punisher is a personal favorite—but this October, Archie and the gang face their most ghoulish adventure yet in Afterlife with Archie. The zombie craze may be wearing a little thin for people, but this title looks like a phenomenal piece of over-the-top exploitation. We don’t know much about the plot of the book yet, nor do we care, honestly—it’s Archie against zombies! What's not to love?

We do know that at one point Jughead gets transformed into the undead and Hot Dog is among one of the zombie hoard’s many victims. Writer Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa has handled everything from Spider-Man comics to the upcoming Carrie remake, so we’re looking for some genuine brutality in the scripts. Plus, we’ve already seen some preview art from Francesco Francavilla, and all we can say is that it is blood-soaked and wonderful. This is an idea that might just be absurd enough to work.

Writer: Ian Edginton
Artist: Francesco Trifogli
Release date: October 2

With titles like Trillium, The Wake, and The Federal Bureau of Physics currently lighting up shelves, Vertigo is looking to reclaim the magic it had back in the ‘80s and ‘90s. And the upcoming book, Hinterkind, looks like it could be one of Vertigo's best offerings in years. Written by Ian Edginton, the book revolves around the creatures of myth and fairytales coming back from the beyond in order to reclaim the Earth from the human race. Stuck in the middle is a girl named Prosper Monday, who journeys into the unknown to find her grandfather.

The premise is pure Vertigo, and if the creative team sticks the landing, we could be looking at the successor to fan-favorite books like Fables and Sandman. It’s always refreshing to crack open a comic and not see the same stories and characters recycled over and over again, so we’re hoping Hinterkind is just a taste of what is to come from Vertigo over the next few years.

Writer: J.W. Rinzler
Artist: Mike Mayhew
Release date: September 4

There are a host of different Star Wars comics coming out from Dark Horse right now, and of varying quality (the self-titled Star Wars is the standout); but on September 4, the company is taking the galaxy far, far away and showing us what could have been in a book titled The Star Wars. This comic is based on George Lucas’ original screenplay for Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, and it features a Jedi hero named Annikin Starkiller, a military general named Luke Starkiller, and a grotesque alien named Han Solo battling against the Sith.

This is an absolutely genius idea from Dark Horse, and we can’t imagine why it took so long for someone to think of it. The Star Wars is a must-have for aficionados of the franchise who want to see Lucas’ bizarre early ideas for the series come alive visually.

Writer: Matt Kindt
Artist: Marco Rudy
Release date: October

This book might be flying under the radar for some fans, but we’re calling it now: Marvel Knights: Spider-Man will be the sleeper hit from the company in 2013. It’s being written by one of the hottest writers in the business right now in Matt Kindt (Mind MGMT), the criminally underrated Marco Rudy is handling the artwork, and it’s an out of continuity tale that puts Peter Parker back behind the mask. What more proof do you need?

Not much is known about the story, but we know that Kindt is pitting Spidey against 99 of his most dangerous foes in a host of locations that are very un-spider-like, with entire issues taking place aboard an airplane or inside a cramped submarine. From the looks of if, Kindt and Rudy have captured the cartoonish qualities we love about the character, but both creators are also more than capable of bringing emotional depth and drama to the story as well.

Writer: Neil Gaiman
Artist: J.H. Williams III
Release date: October 30

Does any book deserve the top spot more than Sandman: Overture? It’s been 25 years since Neil Gaiman changed the face of comic books forever with Sandman #1, and now the acclaimed author is revisiting his beloved property to tell the story of what happened to Morpheus before that debut issue. It’s the rare prequel that we actually want to see, and it’s finally happening with the help of the best artist in the industry, J.H. Williams III.

The plot of this six-issue series is being kept secret, and honestly we don’t want to have anything spoiled anyway, but all you need to know is that Gaiman is back in the land of The Endless. The book promises a scope that spans from the birth of the galaxy to the moment Morpheus (a.k.a. the Sandman) is captured, which is where the original series began in January of 1989.

While prequels, sequels, and remakes rarely live up to the original, most of them never have the original creator back behind the wheel either. This isn’t a time to be jaded or cynical; Sandman is back, and comic book fans everywhere should just be happy for once.