A Descent into Dullness

Rat Queens Special: Orc Dave #1: Author Kurtis J. Wiebe, Illustrator Max Dunbar, Letterer Micah Myers & Colorist Tamra Bonvillain.  Non-secret origin of Orc Dave with Fiona Staples cover.
Southern Bastards #18: Writer & Color Jason Latour, Artist & flashback colors Chris Brunner & Letters Jared K. Fletcher.  Roberta Tubbs engages in some enhanced interogation.
Saga #47: Art by Fiona Staples, Written by Brian K. Vaughn, Letters & design by Fonografiks.  Glimpses into the life of Billy aka the Will as we meet Ianthe his captor.

Zodiac Starforce #2: Written by Kevin Panetta, Art by Paulina Ganucheau, Colors by Sarah Stern & Lettering by Christy Sawyer.  Foolish, power-hungry teens summon sort-of an evil space prince

Knights of the Dinner Table #247:  KoDT development team Jolly R. Blackburn (EiC), Steve Johansson, David S. Kenzer, Brian Jelke & Barbara Blackburn.  A break from the ongoing story arcs for a couple stand-alone stories of the Knights playing Hacknoia and Grunge Warriors.

Saucer State #4: Writer Paul Cornell, Artist Ryan Kelly, Colorist Adam Guzowski & Lettering Simon Bowland.  As the President and her staff continue to gather up all the information and secret departments and off-the-books projects dealing with "aliens" the Russian announce a more aggresive stance when it comes to the coming First Contact.

Lobster Johnson: Mangekyo: Story by Mike Mignola & John Arcudi, Art by Ben Stenbeck, Colors by Dave Stewart & Letters by Tonci Zonjic.  The return of possessed demon monkeys!

Heroines #3: Creator/Script/Art Ted Naifeh & Letters Taylor Esposito.  Jones' back-story and Marcy learns more about her team's benefactor.

Giant Days #29: Written by John Allison, Pencils by Max Sarin, Inks by Liz Fleming, Colors by Whitney Cogar & Letters by Jim Campbell.  Esther vs. Emila for lit-nerd dominance.

Knights of the Dinner Table #245: E-i-C Jolly R. Blackburn & Devlopment Team Steve Johansson, David S. Kenzer, Brian Jelke & Barbara Blackburn.  Brian's plan for the Warhouse Spree almost comes to a damp, crashing failure but is ironically saved by diplomacy and surprise hirelings.

Grrl Scouts: Magic Socks #1: Created, Written & Drawn by Jim Mahfood, Colored & Lettered by Justin Stewart & Designed by Carmen Acosta.  So I guess there was a volume 2 back in 2004 that I missed or forgot about?
The Wicked & the Divine: 455 AD: Writer Kieron Gillen, Artist Andre Aruajo, Colourist Matthew Wilson, Letterer Clayton Cowles & Flatter Dee Cunniffe.  One-shot of the final days of the 5th Century Pantheon.
Invincible #136: Writer Robert Kirkman, Penciler & Inker Ryan Ottley, Colorist Nathan Fairbairn & Letterer Rus Wooton.  I've got a feeling Thragg's poor parenting choices are going to be part of his downfall.

the Unbeatable Squirrel Girl #20: Writer Ryan North, Artist Erica Henderson, Color artist Rico Renzi & Letterer Travis Lanham.  Its a bear dressed as Dr. Doom!  Bear Von Doom!

Knights of the Dinner Table #243: EiC Jolly R. Blackburn, Development team Steve Johansson, David S. Kenzer, Brian Jelke & Barbara Blackburn.  Gary Jackson running a HackMaster session for Gordo, Crush, Patty, B.A. & Brian.

Astro City #44: Writer Kurt Busiek, Penciller Rick Leonardi, Inker Andre Parks, Lettering & design John Roshell & Jimmy Betancourt of Comicraft & Color art Peter Pantazis.  Kittyhawk the Cat with guest Rocket Dog the Dog.

Island #15:  Final issue featuring Grim Wilkins, Farel Dalrymple, Dilraj Mann & Brandon Graham.  Edited by Brandon Graham & Emma Rios.
Invincible #134: Writer Robert Kirkman, Penciler & inker Ryan Ottley, Colorist Nathan Fairbairn & Letterer Rus Wooton.  Alan confesses to Mark and Mark works to recruit his father and the other Viltrumites into the final battle against Thragg.

Dark Horse Presents #43: Contributers Michael Walsh & Dee Cunniffe; Paul Levitz, TIm Hamilton & Adam O. Pruett; Francesco Francavilla & Nate Piekos; Shannon Wheeler; Jim Alexander, Will Pickering, Fin Cramb & J.W. Campbell; Patrick Alexander; CHad Lambert, Apri Kusbiantoro & Jaymes Reed.  Chief editor Mike Richardson.

Knights of the Dinner Table #241: On the road to the Golden Ticket Shopping Spree and UT+1 vs. Hard8 grudge match.  Chief editor Jolly Blackburn with development taeam Steve Johansson, David S. Kenzer, Brian Jelke & Barbara Blackburn.

The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl #18: Writer Ryan North, Artist Erica Henderson, Color artist Rico Renzi & Letterer Travis Lanham.  Chipmunk Hunk and Koi Boy sign on for the Get Jetpacks with Team Melissa.  But then Nancy confronts Melissa about some potential shenanigans.

the Unbeatable Squirrel Girl #16: Writer Ryan North with Will Murray, Artist Erica Henderson with Steve Ditko, Color artist Rico Renzi & Letterer Travis Lanham.  25th Anniversary special.  Tales of the Youthful Squirrel Girl.

Savage Dragon #219: Writer/Creator Erik Larsen, Letters Chris Eliopoulos, Colors Nikos Kovtsis & Flats Mike Toris.  The Trial of Mr. Glum!
Southern Bastards #16: Writer Jason Aaron, Art & Color Jason Latour & Letters Jared K. Fletcher.  A man stands tall.  A cowardly piece of shit breaks into a boy's home to threaten his family and try to injure him to win a high school football game.

Lobster Johnson: Garden of Bones: Story Mike Mignola & John Arcudi, Art by Stephen Green with Inks by Geoff Shaw, Colors by Dave Stewart & Letters by Clem Robins
Groo: Fray of the Gods #4: by Sergio Aragones, wordsmith Mark Evanier, colorist Tom Luth & letterer Stan Sakai.  Groo attempts to fight an echo and brings down a religious movement.

Knights of the Dinner Table #239: Editior-in-chief Jolly R. Blackburn, Development Team Steve Johansson, David S. Kenzer, Brian Jelke & Barbara Blackburn.  Cody continues subbing with the Black Hands.  And Patty runs the Knights on a practice session of Dawg for the upcoming match against Hard8.

Thanks to a Diamond shipping shortage a light week.  Only three titles, starting with Doom Patrol #3: Writer Gerard Way, Artist Nick Derington, Colorist Tamra Bonvillain & Letterer Todd Klein.  Expanding bakc stories for the Negative Man and Casey the EMT, plus the villainous Vectra group.
Lumberjanes/Gotham Academy #6: Written by Chynna Clugston Flores, Pencils Kelly & Nichole Matthews, Inks Jenna Ayoub, Colors Whitney Cogar & Letters by Warren Montgomery.  I know I keep saying this, but this should really have been at most 4-issues.  Maybe even just three.  Still, all returns to the status quo, likely never to influence either title again.

Knights of the Dinner Table #237: E-I-C Jolly Blackburn with assistance from Barbara Blackburn, Steve Johansson, David S. Kenzer & Brian Jelke.  The Knights engage in some B&E while trying to reach out to Brian.  And the Black Hands latest party make-up struggles as always with the players self-centerdness.  Though Newt is once again working hard to be Just The Worst to play with.  And finally a chance encounter lets Sarah try to bring Brian back to the "family".

The Autumnlands #12: Writer Kurt Busiek, Artist Benjamin Dewey, Color art Jordie Bellaire & Lettering & design John Roshell & Jimmy Betancourt of comicraft.  The leader of the Galatean androids gives a history lesson.
Savage Dragon #215: Creator Erik Larsen, Letters Chris Eliopoulos, Colors Nikos Kovtsis & Flats Mike Toris.  Malcolm Dragon goes after Dart and his kidnapped triplets.

Future Quest #3: Writer Jeff Parker, Art Steve Rude, Colorist Steve Buccellato & Letterer Dave Lanphear.  A story pause for some flashback filler on Birdman and the Herculoids.  I'd never actually seen the origin story for the Herculoids before.

Jem & the Holograms #17: Written by Kelly Thompson, Art by Jen Bartel, Colors by M. Victoria Robado & Letters by Shawn Lee.  New artist Jen Bartel steps right up with group pages for the Misfits, Holograms and various beaus.  Plus costume changes and musical numbers.
ROM #1: Written by Christos Gage & Chris Ryall, Pencils & colors by David Messina, Inks by Michele Pasta & Letters by Shawn Lee.  So ROM re-launch.  Gets right into the Dire Wraith secret invader stuff and their whole terror at the arrival of the last Space-Knight.  Plus it looks to be part of a whole IDW Liscensed-verse, along with their Transformers, G.I. Joe and upcoming M.A.S.K. and Micronauts titles.

Howard the Duck #9: Writer Chip Zdarsky, Penciler Joe Quinones, Inkers Joe & Paolo Rivera, Marc Deering & Joe Quinones, Colorists Joe Quinones with Jordan Gibson & Letterer Travis Lanham.  Guest starring actress Lea Thompson.  Who is apparantly the aunt of Eugene "Flash/Agent: Venom" Thompson?  Anyway Lea has been having blackouts and dreams about talking ducks so she consults with the world's best known talking duck.  And then of course the whole thing leads to Mojo of the Mojoverse.  Because of course it does.
The Unbeatable Squirrel-Girl #10: Writer Ryan North, Penciler Erica Henderson, Inker Tom Fowler, Color artist Rico Renzi, Flashback artist Kyle Stacks & Letterer Travis Lanham.  Oh man, I didn't even notice the cover joke with Mole Man sporting the fedora/trilby and saying "M'lday".

Knights of the Dinner Table #234: Head Lion Jolly R. Blackburn, Other Lion Bits Barbara Blackburn, Steve Johanson, David S. Kenzer & Biran Jelke.  Dang.  It only takes nearly everybody laying into him, but Brian may actually be experiancing a moment of clarity and character growth.

Knights of the Dinner Table #232: Led by Jolly R. Blackburn with Steve Johansson, David S. Kenzer, Brian Jelke & Barbara Blackburn.  GaryCon!  Deals are made, games are played and B.A. of all people calls Brian on his scheming and forces him to give a refund.

Howard the Duck #8: Writer Chip Zdarsky, Penciler Joe Quinones, Inkers Joe Rivera with Joe Quinones, Color Artists Joe Quinones with Jordan Gibson & Letterer Travis Lanham.  Like it says right on the cover, the Return of Bev.

Lumberjanes/Gotham Academy #1: Written by Chynna Clugston Flores, Pencils by Rosemary Valero-O'Connell, Inks by Maddi Gonzalez, Colors by Whitney Cogar & Letters by Warren Montgomery.  A kidnapping at Gotham Academy sends the Mystery Club up into the deep, dark woods.  Where the Lumberjanes are searching for the vanished Head Counselor Rosie,  Thus, team-up!

Shutter #22:  Writer JOe Keatinge, Artist Leila Del Duca, Colorist Owen Gieni & Letterer John Workman.  Well that went all horrible right quickly.
The Wicked & the Divine #20: Writer Kieron Gillen, Artist Jamie McKelvie, Colourist Matthew Wilson, Letterer Clayton Cowles & Flatter Dee Cunniffe.  How Persephone survived Ananke, how Inanna didn't and telling the Norns/Cassandra about what has been going down.
Island #8: Contributors Xulia Vicente, Michael DeForge, Ben Sears & Simon Roy.  The majority of this issue is given over to Roy finishing up his "Habitat" story about a collapsing civilization on a world ship.

Adventure Time #46: Written by Christopher Hastings, illustrated by Zachary Sterling, colors by Maarta Laiho & letters by Steve Wands.  I think I liked Mady Martin's "Water Strike" back-up a little bit more than the main story about a left-over case of Finn & Jake's pops.  Even with their dad now mentioning Jermaine in his video messages.

Zodiac Starforce #3: Script by Kevin Panetta, art, colors & lettering by Paulina Ganucheau & color flats by Kristen Acampora.  Look, just because your Magical Girl team got wiped out fighting evil is no excuse for becoming a high school Mean Girl.  Or raising the undead.

The Wicked & the Divine #16: Written by Kieron Gillen, artist Leila Del Duca, colourist Mat Lopes & letterer Clayton Cowles.  Back story for Morrigan/Badb & Baphomet.  It may ihave nvolved skills in Obfuscating and knowing what hand signals are used for that.
8House #5: Yorris Part 2: By Fil Barlow & Helen Maier.  Helping strangers can lead to improvements in you being dragged off to psychic prison.
Southern Bastards #12: Writer Jason Latour, artist Chris Brunner, color by Latour & Brunner, letters by Jared K. Fletcher.  Wait, when did the creative team shift around in this?
The Autumnlands #7: Writer Kurt Busiek, artist Benjamin Dewey, color art Jordie Bellaire & lettering & design John Roshell & Jimmy Betancourt of comicraft.  Dusty & the Great Champion survive their trip down-river, while the other refugees are rescued.  Seven-scars also manages to survive and skulk away to plot.  Something revenge related no doubt.

Knights of the Dinner Table #225: Creator/EiC Jolly Blackburn, development team Steve Johansson, David S. Kenzer, Brian Jelke & Barbara Blackburn.  Brian's latest brainstorm leaves Bob lost somewhere in a crate the U.S. postal system.  I mean hopefully he's still in the U.S.

Knights of the Dinner Table #223: Jolly Blackburn & various supporting.  And with Gary gone, the Marvin Campaign of Doom finally comes to a close.  With just some loot division and bragging rights fall-out left to deal with.

Gotham Academy #10:  Writers Becky Cloonan & Brenden Fletcher, art Karl Kerschl with Msassyk, colors Serge Lapointe & Msassyk and letters Marilyn Patrizio. I wonder how well this title matches with current DC continuity.  What with most of the staff being obscure Bat-title villains.  Hugo Strange, Bookworm, Simon Trent.  Plus half of Arkham's inmates hanging oiut nearby.

Giant Days #6: Writer John Allison, illustrator Lissa Treiman, colorist Whitney Cogar and letterer Jim Campbell.  This issue got delayed for me by a couple weeks thanks to a damaged shipment.  But I'm glad to finally get this, even if its Treiman's final issue.  Haven't heard yet who will be taking over the primary art duties for the second half of the run.

The Wicked & the Divine #14: Writer Kieron Gillen, artist Jamie McKelvie, colourist Matthew Wilson and letterer Clayton Cowles.  So Odin's at least a self-aware, evil dickhead.  I don't really get the bit with the other helmeted person/deity/robot at the end though.
Bitch Planet #5: Writer Kelly Sue DeConnick, art by Valentine De Landro, colors by Cris Peter and letters by Clayton Cowles.  Hey look the prison team can't count on the game rules being applied evenly.  Thats a shock.  Sadly a fatal one it seems.
Phonogram #2: the Immaterial Girl:  Writer Kieron GIllen, artist Jamie McKelvie, colourist Matthew Wilson and letterer Clayton Cowles.  I wonder if Wilson and Cowles worked on the previous Phonogram volumes.  I also wonder who the King Behind the Screen is meant to represent.  Or if they're maybe just supposed to be an incarnate for music videos in general.