The Image Comics May 2022 solicitations have arrived, bringing with them the usual wave of new series, concluding series, and new collections. One thing that stood out to us this month was that the publisher was putting out a pair of hardcovers — one a new collection and the other an interesting process book — both of which beg for room on our shelves. Check out those, as well as eight other staff pick highlights, on the list below.

As always, you can find the full solicitations via Image Comics website…enjoy!

Image Comics May 2022 Solicitations Highlights

Adventure Man, Vol. 2: Fairy Tale of New York, HC - On Sale June 29
WRITER: Matt Fraction
ARTIST / COVER A: Terry Dodson., Clayton Cowles, Rachel Dodson
JUNE 29 / 168 pages / FC/ E / $24.99
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE END OF THE WORLD? For Claire Connell, it means inheriting the legacy of legendary pulp hero the Adventureman. Now, Claire's learning that fighting Adventureman’s fights means she's the one who must face Adventureman’s foes, past AND present…
Collects ADVENTUREMAN #5-9
TRIM SIZE: 9.25" x 12.25"
Why It’s Cool: Adventureman has in some ways felt inessential to me throughout it’s run. It’s not telling Big or Important stories, and it can be fairly easy to forget and ignore. Even still, it’s a very fun series — this arc has been particularly so — and the first hardcover is one of the prettiest books on shelves. Excited for another one. (Keigen Rea)

Bone Orchard: The Passageway OGN HC - On Sale June 15
WRITER: Jeff Lemire
ARTIST / COVER A: Andrea Sorrentino
JUNE 15 / 96 pages / FC/ M / $17.99
From the acclaimed creative team behind GIDEON FALLS and PRIMORDIAL comes the first book in a bold and ambitious new shared horror universe! When a geologist is sent to a remote lighthouse to investigate strange phenomena, he finds a seemingly endless pit in the rocks. What lurks within—and how will he escape its pull?
THE PASSAGEWAY is the first book in the new BONE ORCHARD MYTHOS from LEMIRE & SORRENTINO! This universe will feature self-contained graphic novels and limited series about the horrors lurking within the Bone Orchard, just waiting to be discovered.
TRIM SIZE: 6.625" x 10.1875"
Why It’s Cool: Beginning in May with two installments — Bone Orchard Mythos FCBD #1 and an original graphic novel, The Passageway — is the new collaboration between creators writer Jeff Lemire and artist Andrea Sorrentino. This will mean a network of original graphic novels, one-shots, and mini-series, but it all starts in May with The Passageway, which focuses on isolationist horror themes and hellish backdrops. From the creators who brought us Gideon Falls, this just has to be good. (Larry Jorash)

Department of Truth #18 - On Sale May 25
WRITER: James Tynion IV
ARTIST / COVER A / COVER D: Martin Simmonds
COVER C: Chris Shehan
MAY 25 / 32 pages / FC/ M / $3.99
Co-creator MARTIN SIMMONDS returns for the explosive new arc of the Eisner-nominated hit! For decades, THE DEPARTMENT OF TRUTH battled a secret war against its Soviet counterpart, THE MINISTRY OF LIES. Now Cole Turner will have to face the consequences of his predecessors as the dark actions of the past unfurl before him…
Series included as one of Entertainment Weekly’s 10 Best Comics of 2021!
Why It’s Cool: I’ve been a huge fan of this series from the start, and after the revelations at the end of the second arc, being left on a cliffhanger as we got 4 new guest issues has made me eager to read this new issue. Plus, it’s very of-the-moment to engage in a little Cold War nostalgia now, is it not? (Harry Kassen)
Read our recent feature, The Department of (Post) Truth and the Horrors of Discourse

FRONTIERSMAN: LOCKUP SPECIAL (ONE-SHOT) - On Sale May 4
WRITER: Patrick Kindlon
ARTIST / COVER A: Nicolò Assirelli
MAY 04 / 48 pages / FC/ M / $5.99
Following the big action of the regular FRONTIERSMAN series, our hero now faces the consequences! When Frontiersman is thrown in the county jail to await trial, he’s visited by an antihero who wants to free him—whether Frontiersman likes it or not! Featuring all-star guest artist NICOLÒ ASSIRELLI! This is a standalone DOUBLE-LENGTH superhero extravaganza for established fans and new readers alike!
Why It’s Cool: I thought the Frontiersman regular series was a fantastic riff on Green Arrow, or, rather, a character who was a whole lot like Green Arrow. And I’m thrilled to see it getting a continuation with this one-shot that’s being billed as stand-alone, which will maybe entice some new readers with the shiny #1 on the cover and have them heading back to grab the series trade, a victory for good. (Zack Quaintance)
Read our review of the Frontiersman finale!

F**K THIS PLACE #1 - On Sale May 18
WRITER: Kyle Starks
ARTIST / COVER A: Artyom Topilin, Lee Loughridge
MAY 18 / 32 pages / FC/ M / $3.99
FOR FANS OF GIDEON FALLS AND HOME SICK PILOTS!
After inheriting a farm house, Trudy and Gabby are ready to start the next chapter of their lives together…except it’s already home to a mysterious force that’s attracted ghosts, aliens, and all kinds of supernatural beings for decades.
Now, Gabby and Trudy must play by the “house rules” in order to survive living among the most frightening creatures on Earth in this new series from KYLE STARKS (ASSASSIN NATION, THE SIX SIDEKICKS OF TRIGGER KEATON) and ARTYOM TOPILIN (ICE CREAM MAN PRESENTS: QUARANTINE COMIX SPECIAL).
Why It’s Cool: I’m a big fan of Kyle Starks, particularly his humor comics. But you know what? I’m also a big fan of creators pushing themselves to try new things, which is exactly what Starks seems to be doing here by venturing into the horror genre. Also, a smart move? Teaming on that venture with Artyom Topilin and Lee Loughridge. All good (and probably scary) things from this one. (Zack Quaintance)

GHOST CAGE #3 (of 3) - On Sale May 25
WRITER: Caleb Goellner, Nick Dragotta
ARTIST: Nick Dragotta
COVER A: Frank Martin Jr., Nick Dragotta
MAY 25 / 48 pages / BW/ T+ / $5.99
FINAL ISSUE! 48 MIND-MELTING PAGES! Sam, Doyle, and Blair confront Karloff for the fate of energy! DO NOT MISS the life-affirming conclusion to the most potently phantasmagoric sci-fi comic OF THE MODERN ERA!
Why It’s Cool: Nick Dragotta. 48 pages. Black and white. Final issue. It’s like a summoning spell for me as a reader. (Keigen Rea)

MONKEY MEAT #5 (of 5) - On Sale May 4
WRITER / ARTIST / COVER A: Juni Ba
MAY 04 / 40 pages / FC/ T+ / $3.99
The Monkey Meat Company has fallen! The culprit? Golo, a tiny, brainless boy whose obsessive consumption of the simian carne drove the entire island to ruin. But not all is lost for a brighter future, as Golo is chosen for a quest that could make him into the hero of a better age! If he could just think about something other than meat…
Why It’s Cool: I have really loved both issues to date of Monkey Meat (read my full review of Monkey Meat #2 here), and while this is anthology series that likely won’t build to its finale in a traditional sense, the preview text for this issue does sound climatic either way. This entire series feels to me like part 2 of Juni Ba’s breakout in North America comics (with the first part being Djeliya) already having landed him work with DC Comics and TMNT. If you’re somehow missing this series, I highly recommend going back, reading the first two installments, and joining the hype. (Zack Quaintance)

PULP: THE PROCESS EDITION HC - On Sale July 20
WRITER: Ed Brubaker
ARTIST: Jacob Phillips, Sean Phillips
COVER A: Sean Phillips
JULY 20 / 256 pages / FC/ M / $39.99
The ultimate behind-the-scenes art book for all BRUBAKER & PHILLIPS fans is finally here.
See from start to finish how a creative team at the top of their game makes an Eisner Award-winning graphic novel. Replicates materials from the entire process of creating PULP, from ED BRUBAKER’s original notebook entries, to the initial script, to SEAN PHILLIPS’ breakdowns and pencils, all the way to the final edited and polished book itself, presented in full color. See what the book started out as, what changed in the final version before print, and go deep into BRUBAKER & PHILLIPS’ process.
PULP: THE PROCESS EDITION is a beautifully designed hardcover with everything a collector could want, including the full graphic novel itself, reproduced for the first time in a stunning oversized format. A must-have for any hardcore BRUBAKER & PHILLIPS fan.
TRIM SIZE: 7.25" x 10.875"
Why It’s Cool: Pulp was an excellent graphic novel from one of the best creative duos in assembly line comics, and now it’s getting a process edition…which also includes the full story from the original book. Clocking in at 256 pages, this will be a must-have for collectors as well as aspiring creators. (Zack Quaintance)

Saga #59 - Cover Unveiling - On Sale May 25
WRITER: Brian K. Vaughan
ARTIST / COVER A: Fiona Staples
MAY 25 / 32 pages / FC/ M / $2.99
What the hell does this fish have to do with the people who want Hazel dead? Find out this May as the strangest epic in comics continues—somehow still only $2.99!
Why It’s Cool: Look, I’m trying to start a tradition here where whenever there’s a new issue of Saga, we look at the cover and take guesses about what it might mean. Starting that tradition, however, is very hard when it’s a fish. Look, a fish. But hey! Compositionally, I like this piece, and I, of course, still really like Saga. I wish I had more (anything more!) for you than that. (Zack Quaintance)
Read this week’s review of Saga #56!

TWIG #1 (OF 5) - On Sale May 4
WRITER / COVER B: Skottie Young
ARTIST / COVER A / COVER D: Kyle Strahm
COVER C: Peach Momoko
MAY 04 / 32 pages / FC/ T / $3.99
Eisner Award-winning I HATE FAIRYLAND and MIDDLEWEST writer SKOTTIE YOUNG and artist KYLE STRAHM (SPREAD, UNEARTH) come together for an all-new epic fantasy/adventure miniseries!
It’s the first day of Twig’s new job as a journeyer on a JEFF SMITH’s Bone-esque quest to save a The Dark Crystal/Labyrinth-style world. Join our hesitant hero for an inspiring and imaginative tale of hope, heartache, and determination to overcome insurmountable odds!
Why It’s Cool: This comic looks absolutely delightful. Twig, an adorable fluffy creature, is beginning a new job and new quest. Created by the iconic Skottie Young and accompanied by Kyle Strahm, this (all ages?) title seems to be great fun. The interior panels also scream fantasy glamour; specifically the glorious full page spreads. (Larry Jorash)

Read our recent reviews of new comics!

Check out our picks for DC Comics May 2022 Highlights and Marvel Comics May 2022 Highlights!