Back in the day, Top Cow Productions built its name on dark supernatural comics like The Darkness and Witchblade, before becoming a publisher known as much for their science fiction titles as their sexy books. Hell, they’ve even had two Sex & Science themed Humble Comics Bundle sales.
The imprint of Image Comics has continued to evolve, with a greater diversity of books and genres joining the company’s roster. Now you have romcom mythology courtesy of Punderworld, Old West meets Incan supernatural adventure in St Mercy, socially-conscious real-world biography in the form of La Voz De M.A.Y.O. TATA Rambo, and swashbuckling feminist pirate adventures, inspired by historical figures, in A Man Among Ye (my favourite new series of 2020).
Two more, very different, comics are out from Top Cow over the coming month: sex-positive romance Swing this week, September 22, and high fantasy Helm Greycastle, on October 13. Here’s a short look at each.
Swing Volume 4
The end is in sight for the saucy saga of Cathy and Dan, from writer Matt Hawkins and artist Yishan Li (plus Linda Sejic). Volume 4 is the penultimate entry in the five-book graphic novel series – a spin-off from hit BDSM-themed romance Sunstone – about a married couple who take up swinging to re-ignite the spark in their relationship.
Some wobbly moments aside, Cathy and Dan’s explorations of “Lifestyle” do help the couple, both individually and as a marital unit. Often in surprising ways. Based on extensive research into open relationships, and powered by an open mind, Swing has become an increasingly compelling series (Read our full review of Volume 3 here).
Much like the second volume of Sunstone: Mercy, released earlier this year, Swing Vol. 4 shifts into a lower gear and proceeds to cruise along. It doesn’t ramp up the emotional drama like previous entries in the series, but it resolves Volume 3’s big cliffhanger, and it provides a welcome chance for readers to catch their breath.
Dan and Cathy are enjoying a period of contentment and prosperity in Volume 4. That doesn’t mean they’re short on raunchy adventures, however. They take part in their first playroom, and visit a BDSM Club during a work trip to New York City. That brings them face to face with Sunstone’s Ally in a mini, gently amusing crossover of the two shared universe books. On a more serious note, Vol. 4 delves into Cathy’s complicated relationship with her parents, and explains exactly why her mother is constantly dour and judgemental.
So much domestic tranquility feels like the quiet before the final monster storm of Swing Vol. 5… but I guess we’ll see.
As usual, the always frank Hawkins includes a Sex Ed section at the end of the book. This additional content includes insights into the comic’s writing, Hawkins’s discoveries about the swinging lifestyle, news on related projects in progress, online role-playing acronyms, and even some good old-fashioned relationship advice.
Read Swing Vol. 4 from today. You can also find the full first volume in downloadable PDF format here.
Helm Greycastle Volume 1
What began life as a comic Kickstarter in late 2020 is now about to release its first collected edition next month.
At first glance, Helm Greycastle sounds like any other Dungeons & Dragons-inspired high fantasy tale. A band of adventurers venture into an unfamiliar land to rescue a dragon prince and avenge one of their own. In the process, they must decide whether they’ll stick to their mission or aid a rebellion against the kingdom’s despotic ruler.
Sound familiar? Thing is, our group of half-orcs, humans, elves and dwarves has arrived in an alternate version of Aztec Mexica, where Montezuma used sorcery and supernatural alliances to defeat Spanish conquistador Cortez.
Co-created by author Henry Barajas and colorist Bryan Valenza, Helm Greycastle is full of surprises. First and foremost, there’s the unusual setting that delves with sensitivity into Mesoamerican civilisations and cultures, depicted in fine pencilled detail by artist Rahmat M. Handoko. Helm Greycastle is a gorgeous book, sumptuously coloured, and a very suitable read for Latinx/Hispanic Heritage Month.
The comic breaks from expectation in multiple other ways as well. It consistently shatters traditional fantasy tropes. For example, its “savage barbarian” characters are actually a loving couple, fiercely devoted to each other, their daughter, friends, and other family members. There’s an unusual amount of winning warmth and heart in the adventuring party; not to mention large quantities of matter-of-fact LGBT+ inclusion in the arc overall.
Meanwhile, reflecting Helm Greycastle’s tabletop influence, Volume 1 includes three playable adventures (from Tristan J. Tarwater, Jen Vaughn and Geoffrey Golden) set in the comic’s unique universe. All three modules are compatible with the fifth edition Dungeons and Dragons Player’s Handbook. Even if you’re not into role-playing, these pages flesh out the comic world, and offer insights into Aztec and Mayan life that could save you a Wikipedia visit.
Because, with over a dozen all-new characters, and a lore-heavy, largely unfamiliar setting (to Western-centric audiences anyway), Helm Greycastle asks a lot of readers. There’s so much going on, encouraging multiple read-throughs to process things better. I do wish the first volume was 1-2 issues longer, to give the likeable cast and story more fleshing-out space, but squeezing more into less is often the case with crowd-funded comics. Here’s hoping a second arc will provide that opportunity because there’s a great deal of potential here.
The collected first arc of Helm Greycastle releases on October 13, with various pre-order options here. If you can’t wait that long, you can get hold of all four individual issues now.
Plus, you can read the full first issue on the Image site here.