INDEPENDENT PUBLISHERS
(Company names beginning with R)
RANDOM HOUSE WORLDS
LORE OLYMPUS: VOLUME NINE
Rachel Smythe (W), (A)
Scandalous gossip, wild parties, and forbidden love—the Greek tale of Hades and Persephone gets a romantic modern update in the gorgeously illustrated, Eisner Award-winning Lore Olympus, including a brand new bonus short story!“The Underworld has a queen!”Persephone and Hades are finally reunited when the banished goddess of spring returns to the Underworld to claim her rightful place as queen. Now that Hades and Persephone have defeated and imprisoned the power-hungry Kronos once more, nothing can keep them apart, and years of being separated have only made their desire for each other grow. But the other Olympians can’t help but meddle, pushing the pair to make things official with a coronation—and a wedding.Ignoring the others who try to define their relationship, Hades and Persephone choose to take things at their own pace and focus on rebuilding the Underworld. They begin by investigating how Kronos was first able to escape, and they learn the horrifying truth that he has captured a powerful young god whose abilities help Kronos project his thoughts outside of Tartarus—thoughts he uses to plague Hera’s every waking moment. Though Kronos’s physical form is locked away, Olympus will never be free until they can rescue the child from the furious Titan’s grasp.To save the realms, Persephone must figure out her fertility goddess powers and embrace her role as Queen of the Underworld—even as it takes her further from her mother’s expectations and her former place in the Mortal Realm.This edition of Smythe’s original Eisner Award–winning webcomic Lore Olympus features a brand-new, exclusive short story from creator Rachel Smythe and brings the Greek pantheon into the modern age in a sharply perceptive and romantic graphic novel.This volume collects episodes 207–233 of the #1 WEBTOON comic Lore Olympus.
WORLD OF WARCRAFT: ILLIDAN
William King (W), (A)
Behind the legend stands a being hungry for justice and vengeance as the adventure, intrigue, and heroism of World of Warcraft, the global phenomenon, rise to a new level.You are not prepared. Illidan Stormrage is one of the most powerful beings ever to walk the lands of Azeroth. He is also one of the least understood. Behind his legend, beneath his enigmatic mission, lies a brilliant mind whose machinations are comprehended by few—and trusted by even fewer. Illidan’s righteous reign of justice and vengeance has begun. Long ago, the night elf sorcerer Illidan infiltrated the demonic Burning Legion to ward off its invasion of Azeroth. Instead of hailing him as a hero, his own kind branded him the Betrayer, questioning his intentions after he appeared to aid the demon lords. For ten thousand years, he languished in prison—vilified, isolated, but never forgetting his purpose. Now the Legion has returned, and there is only one champion who can truly stand against it. Released from his bonds, Illidan prepares for the final confrontation in the alien realm of Outland, gathering an army of grotesque fel orcs, serpentine naga, cunning blood elves, and twisted demon hunters to his side. He alone knows what deeply hidden motives guide his hand; he alone understands the price that must be paid to defeat the enemies of creation. Yet as before, he is assailed by those who see his schemes as a cynical quest for power, including the night elf Maiev Shadowsong, his former jailor. Warden Shadowsong and her Watchers have pursued the Betrayer to Outland to exact retribution for his crimes, and she will not rest until Illidan is in her custody . . . or in his grave.Praise for Illidan “William King kicks off a great story with Illidan.”—BlizzPro “For many people, new and old players alike, this book will be an eye-opening journey.”—All Things Azeroth “I enjoyed World of Warcraft: Illidan a great deal.”—BlizzPlanet “Damn fun . . . There’s virtually never a dull moment in Illidan.”—Cinelinx
THE BROKEN RING, VOLUME 1
CHACHA KIM (W), Cheong-gwa (A)
Only those who have died know how long a lifetime is. Inés Valeztena's first life ended at the age of twenty-six. The manhwa adaptation of CHACHA KIM'S webnovel is now available in English print for the first time.Inés Valeztena, daughter of a powerful noble family, and Cárcel Escalante, cousin to the crown prince, have been engaged since they were six years old. Their long-delayed marriage has been the talk of high society for years, and although her fiancé is the empire’s most notorious playboy, Inés seems inexplicably content to keep the arrangement. In fact, she encourages him to do whatever he pleases even after their wedding, as long as they maintain order among the nobles.What the gossips—and Cárcel—don’t know is that Inés has plans for her marriage of obligation, and they have nothing to do with love. But when Cárcel suddenly declares he is ready to reform his rakish ways, marry immediately, and prove to Inés that he is worthy of her true affection, she must keep her wits about her or risk losing everything she’s spent lifetimes of heartache and desperation to obtain.Volume 1 collects episodes 1–14 of the webcomic The Broken Ring: This Marriage Will Fail Anyway.
WORLD OF WARCRAFT: BEFORE THE STORM
Christie Golden (W), (A)
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • An all-new, official prequel novel to The Battle for Azeroth, Blizzard Entertainment’s next expansion to the critically acclaimed World of Warcraft videogame.Azeroth is dying.The Horde and the Alliance defeated the demonic Burning Legion, but a dire catastrophe is unfolding deep below the surface of the world. There is a mortal wound in the heart of Azeroth, struck by the sword of the fallen titan Sargeras in a final act of cruelty.For Anduin Wrynn, king of Stormwind, and Sylvanas Windrunner, warchief of the Horde and queen of the Forsaken, there is little time to rebuild what remains and even less to mourn what was lost. Azeroth’s devastating wound has revealed a mysterious material known as Azerite. In the right hands, this strange golden substance is capable of incredible feats of creation; in the wrong ones, it could bring forth unthinkable destruction.As Alliance and Horde forces race to uncover the secrets of Azerite and heal the wounded world, Anduin enacts a desperate plan aimed at forging a lasting peace between the factions. Azerite jeopardizes the balance of power, and so Anduin must gain the trust of Sylvanas. But, as ever, the Dark Lady has her own machinations.For peace to be possible, generations of bloodshed and hatred must be brought to an end. But there are truths that neither side is willing to accept and ambitions they are loath to relinquish. As Alliance and Horde alike grasp for the Azerite’s power, their simmering conflict threatens to reignite all-out war—a war that would spell doom for Azeroth.Praise for Before the Storm“This is easily the best book in the World of Warcraft series, and I don’t say that lightly. . . . It’s so much more than a tie-in novel. . . . It’s a beautiful book.”—Blizzard Watch
FATHER, I DON'T WANT THIS MARRIAGE, VOLUME 5
Hong Heesu (W), Roal (A)
Juvelian’s fake boyfriend wants to date for real . . . but will she accept him after discovering his true identity? This manhwa adaptation of Hong Heesu's webnovel is now available in English print for the first time.Stunned by her contract boyfriend’s confession of real love and her aloof father’s unexpected display of loyalty, Lady Juvelian begins to wonder if her second life might have a happy ending after all. But her bubble is quickly burst at Princess Beatrice’s coming-of-age ceremony, where Juvelian’s unhinged ex, Mikhail, stirs up trouble yet again. When an unexpected hero saves the day, Juvelian learns that the person she fears most—the tyrannical crown prince—may be much closer to her than she realized.Meanwhile, Juvelian’s father is running out of options as he struggles to break free from the wicked emperor’s grasp. As Duke Floyen’s inner turmoil grows, he becomes all the more determined to protect his daughter, even if it means relying on the last person in the world he wants to trust.Volume 5 collects episodes 65–80 of the webcomic Father, I Don’t Want This Marriage.
STRANGER THINGS: THE COMPLETE SCRIPTS, SEASON 3
The Duffer Brothers (W), (A)
Go deeper into the groundbreaking Emmy-winning series with the complete, authorized scripts of Stranger Things: Season Three, including an exclusive introduction from the Duffer Brothers.MAX: I don’t understand. The Demodogs died when El closed the Gate. If the brain dies, the body dies —WILL: I know. Maybe I'm wrong. I hope I’m wrong —MIKE: But we can’t take any chances. We have to assume the worst. The Mind Flayer is back.WILL: And if he is, he would want to attach himself to someone again. A new “me” —LUCAS: A new “Host.”It’s 1985 and love is in the air in Hawkins. Mike and Eleven are smooch-crazy, much to Hopper’s disgust. Dustin is back from summer camp with a girlfriend he keeps in touch with by radio transmissions. The towns’ moms are in love with shirtless lifeguard Billy; Nancy and Jonathan are a couple; and there’s romantic tension brewing between Hopper and Joyce. Meanwhile, Steve is working with a cool new friend, Robin, at an ice cream parlor in the town’s shiny new mall. Rats are mysteriously exploding around town. The Mind Flayer is possessing people, and the Russians are trying to open a new gate to the Upside Down.Collected here for the first time, the complete scripts of Stranger Things: Season Three include the scenes, dialogue, and character directions for all eight episodes as well as an exclusive introduction from the creators and showrunners, Matt and Ross Duffer. Season Three’s scripts reveal a unique insight into how the Duffers continued to build the core good-vs-evil story that captivated viewers and popular culture while adding more depth with fun new characters and intensifying relationships.
MARVEL: WHAT IF...KITTY PRYDE STOLE THE PHOENIX FORCE? (AN X-MEN AND AMERICA CHAVEZ STORY)
Rebecca Podos (W), (A)
Kitty Pryde, Betsy Braddock, and America Chavez race against time itself to save Jean Grey and the X-Men in this epic Multiversal adventure reimagining Marvel origin stories.So many worlds, so little time. Infinite possibilities, creating infinite realities. Long have I watched generations of mutants live in a world shaped by Jean Grey’s legacy. But what if . . . that legacy was cut tragically short, dooming the world to a future without the X-Men? What if . . . a watcher must do more than watch? The year is 1990: The X-Men all perished more than a decade ago, and Kitty Pryde is no hero. Emma Frost rescued Kitty from an obscure existence as a mere rebellious teen kicked out of boarding school, terrified of ever being discovered as a mutant. After growing up under the tutelage of the White Queen, Kitty is an apex predator of a superior species, yet she lives alone in a tiny, rundown apartment, preferring isolation to a knife in the back. What is her alternative? The world is what it is.But sometimes Kitty isn’t so sure of that. Sometimes it feels like she phases right out of her own life. Breathe in: She’s suddenly surrounded by friends she’s never known, living out events that never happened. Breathe out: It’s all back to normal. Kitty always shoves these flashes down, until someone from that other life finds her. This familiar stranger, Betsy Braddock, is a rambling confirmation that something is wrong with their world.Betsy has a wild theory and if it’s right, Kitty’s only shot at changing the present is to free-fall into the past. The girls follow a tenuous psychic trail back to Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters in its glory days and embed themselves with the X-Men. There they discover that the inflection point that will unravel their future revolves around a certain omega-level mutant, destined to become the Phoenix. But little do Kitty and Betsy know, they’re not alone in their search.The year is 1975: Jean Grey has weeks left to live. The Whisperer is coming. He has recruited an ally and accounted for every foreseeable variable. He will leave nothing to chance. He will lead this reality to its Doom.
STAR WARS: REVENGE OF THE SITH: EPISODE III (DELUXE EDITION)
Matthew Stover (W), (A)
This stunning deluxe edition of Revenge of the Sith, the bestselling novelization of the final film in George Lucas’s epic Star Wars prequel trilogy, featuring:• Over 170 annotations and a new introduction by author Matthew Stover• A removable transparent acetate jacket with a foil-stamped silhouette of Darth Vader• A full-wrap illustrated book case beneath the acetate jacket• Red foil edges with black text of an iconic quote• Illustrated endpapers depicting two pivotal scenes• A red-satin ribbon marker• A belly band with the barcode and title details, fully removable to keep your book pristine“The best Star Wars novel.”—IGNBased on the story and screenplay by George Lucas, bestselling author Matthew Stover’s Revenge of the Sith novelization captures the iconic characters of Star Wars in all their complexity and brings a space opera masterpiece full circle. The pivotal final steps of Anakin Skywalker’s fall to the dark side, the end of the Republic, and the rise of the Empire are rendered in stunning style.In celebration of the twentieth anniversary of Revenge of the Sith, this deluxe fully annotated edition features never-before-shared insights into the creation of a masterpiece, with over 170 annotations and a special new introduction by New York Times bestselling author Matthew Stover.“Widely regarded as one of, if not the, best novelizations in the series and possibly the medium.”—Gizmodo
REBELLION / 2000AD
JUDGE DREDD MEGAZINE #485 (MR) (NOTE PRICE)
(W) Rob Williams & Various (A) Colin MacNeil & Various (CA) Laurence Campbell
More action and adventure in the future-shocked world of Judge Dredd! The Megazine celebrates its 35th anniversary with a blistering line-up of new stories�Judge Dredd heads out into the Cursed Earth in 'Letter From America' by Rob Williams & Colin MacNeil; Psi-Judge Anderson is trapped in movie theatre that descends into chaos in 'Hell Night at the Cine-Pit' by Alec Worley & Ben Willsher; the stunning alternate Mega-City One is back in the second book of 'Megatropolis' by Ken Niemand & Dave Taylor; there's more near-future judgment in Dreadnoughts: 'Qualified Immunity' by Mike Carroll & John Higgins; and there's more Lawless, courtesy of Dan Abnett & Phil Winslade. Plus Rok of the Reds, features, interviews and lots more! (STL381142) (C: 0-1-2)
MATURE THEMES
Magazine, 96pgs, FC SRP: $12.99
JUDGE DEATH MEGA SPECIAL 2025 (MR)
(W) Lauren Beukes & Various (A) Lee Carter & Various (CA) Brian Bolland
The Mega Special is back for the first time since 1996, and just in time for Halloween it�s a Judge Death takeover, marking 45 years since the Dark Judge�s debut appearance! With stories focusing on Death and lieutenants Fire, Fear and Mortis, there�s strips from Lauren Beukes & Dale Halvorsen, Antony Johnston, Alec Worley, Kek-W, Alex De Campi, Lee Carter, Leigh Gallagher, Mark Sexton and more! (STL381149) (C: 0-1-2)
MATURE THEMES
48pgs, FC SRP: $8.99
COMPLETE FULL TILT BOOGIE GN
(W) Alex Di Campi (A/CA) Eduardo Ocana
Intergalactic Mayhem! Out in the deep reaches of the cosmos, teenager Tee�together with her grandmother and a cat (called cat!)�is a wannabe bounty hunter operating from her patched-together spaceship, the Full Tilt Boogie. After rescuing the Luxine Prince Ifan from his debtors' prison, Tee finds herself on the run from various new enemies, including sacred knights and a deadly Anubite warrior, as war and unrest spread across the universe. This thrilling love letter to space anime sagas includes the complete run of the strip which originally appeared in the pages of 2000 AD. (STL381160) (C: 0-1-2)
SC, 192pgs, FC SRP: $27.99
SCREAM THE SPECIALS 1985 2024 HC PX ED (SLIPCASE)
(W) Barrie Tomlinson & Various (A) Eric Bradbury & Various (CA) Robin Smith
A PREVIEWS Exclusive! Enter our nightmare world at your peril! Following the acclaimed 40 Years of Scream!, this companion volume features previously uncollected material from the holiday specials spinning out of the main title. From the original run in the 1980s to the latest, oversized 40th anniversary issue, this collection completes the Scream! archives with stories by veteran writers and artists Dave Gibbons, Eric Bradbury, Barrie Tomlinson and Tom Tully, as well as recent revival strips including the work of Alex Paknadel, Torunn Gr�nbekk, Henry Flint, Frazer Irving, and DaNi. Cover and Slipcase art by Robin Smith. Note: this is a limited edition and allocations may occur. (STL381157) (C: 0-1-2)
400pgs, PC SRP: $79.99
SCREAM THE SPECIALS 1985 2024 HC
(W) Barrie Tomlinson & Various (A) Eric Bradbury & Various (CA) Robin Smith
Enter our nightmare world at your peril! Following the acclaimed 40 Years of Scream!, this companion volume features previously uncollected material from the holiday specials spinning out of the main title. From the original run in the 1980s to the latest, oversized 40th anniversary issue, this collection completes the Scream! archives with stories by veteran writers and artists Dave Gibbons, Eric Bradbury, Barrie Tomlinson and Tom Tully, as well as recent revival strips including the work of Alex Paknadel, Torunn Gr�nbekk, Henry Flint and DaNi.� (STL381155) (C: 0-1-2)
400pgs, PC SRP: $62.99
RED 5 COMICS
AFTERBURN BAD BLOOD #2
(W) Scott Chitwood (A/CA) Etienne Derepentigny
Now a major motion picture starring Dave Bautista and Samuel L. Jackson! After rescuing the captive Helen from a hostile warlord, Jake and his team race through the Burn Zone jungle of Africa to get to safety. But first they must face pursuing soldiers and mutant animals out for blood! (STL380985) (C: 0-1-1)
8x11, 32pgs, FC SRP: $4.95