love and capes, vol. 4: what to expect preview

7/29/2019 Love and Capes, Vol. 4: What To Expect Preview

1/14


2/14

LOVE AND CAPES, VOLUME 4: WHAT TO EXPECT. MARCH 2013. FIRST PRINTING. Love and Capes 2013 Thomas F. Zahler. 2013 Idea and Design Works, LLC. IDW Publishing, a division of Idea and Design Works, LLC.Editorial offices: 5080 Santa Fe Street, San Diego CA 92109. The IDW logo is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Any similarities to persons living or dead are purely coincidental. With the exception of artworkused for review purposes, none of the contents of this publication may be reprinted without the permission of Idea and Design Works, LLC. Printed in Korea. IDW Publishing does not read or accept unsolicited submissions ofideas, stories, or artwork.

Originally published as LOVE AND CAPES: WHAT TO EXPECT Issues #16.

www.IDWPUBLISHING.com

Become our fan on Facebookfacebook.com/idwpublishing

Follow us on Twitter@idwpublishing

Check us out on YouTube youtube.com/idwpublishing

Ted Adams, CEO & PublisherGreg Goldstein, President & COORobbie Robbins, EVP/Sr. Graphic ArtistChris Ryall, Chief Creative Officer/Editor-in-ChiefMatthew Ruzicka, CPA, Chief Financial OfficerAlan Payne, VP of SalesDirk Wood, VP of MarketingLorelei Bunjes, VP of Digital Services

IDW founded by Ted Adams, Alex Garner, Kris Oprisko, and Robbie Robbins

ISBN: 978-1-61377-586-8 16 15 14 13 1 2 3 4

WHAT TO EXPECTstory and art by:

Thomas F. Zahler


3/14

introduction

Ive enjoyed Thomas Zahlers Love and Capes from the moment

of my first exposure. But this volume, What to Expect, really ups

the ante. Theres more of everything I love about it: more super-

heroes dealing with real world emotional and relationship issues

(in and among the tropes often very self-aware tropes of their

genre), more humor, more drama, more soap opera and an

expanding cast given more depth. Heck, theres even a little bit

more action. The stakes are raisedhere on multiple fronts. Its not just

the impending birth of Mark and

Abbys baby (complete with its own

countdown to heighten the

tension), but also the crisis in

Leandia, tiki magic and the on-

going threats posed by declining

sales at brick-and-mortar bookstores

and by Lord Blackseed. And dont

even get me started on Darkblades

dont call em sidekicks interns.

Yes, the whole series is really

coming into its own. Never just a

one-joke wonder, the characters

are now truly evolving beyond

their obvious antecedents into fully

realized human beings. Even

Quincy turns out to be a human

being! Who knew? I often find

myself laughing out loud at Love

and Capes. But this time I found myself choking up TWICE!

(Id say where, but that would amount to spoilers.)

All of this is quite welcome. The ideas here arent lightweight

even though theyre universally handled with a light and

comic touch. And the engaging artwork perfectly

compliments the fine writing. Thom knows how to

Yes, the

whole series

is really

coming into

its own.

Never just

a one-jokewonder, the

characters

are now truly

evolving

beyond their

obvious

antecedents

into fully

realized

human beings.


4/14

by greg weisman

accompany a deadpan line with a deadpan expression.

And he also knows how to show us not just tell us when

something truly matters.

This is all the more impressive when you realize Zahler doesnt

really know what hes talking about. Sure, he may know a little

something about relationships and comic book super-heroes,

but he candidly admitted to me that once the series headedtoward childbirth as its main subject matter, he was from his

personal perspective writing science fiction. What does

this guy know about prospective parenthood?! Nothing! But

as the father of two kids of my own, I say hes written some

top-notch speculative fiction here. Its believable stuff. Its

real. And its well worth reading. I mean, doesnt any super-

hero comic book that gets away with mentioning kegels

demand your attention?

I know, I know. All this praise. It sounds like he paid me off. But

honestly, he didnt even buy me lunch. (We went Dutch.) But

I do think I should provide some balance, so before I depart

(on an urgent quest planted in my brain by a certain nefarious

writer/artist), I leave you with this warning: reading What to

Expect risks forcing one into making a Pinks chili dog run

and most likely without a super-powered best friend to make

it for you. Damn you, Zahler!

Greg Weisman, perhaps best

known as the creator and

producer of Gargoyles, is a

comic book and animation

writer, currently producingthe Young Justice: Invasion

television series and comic

book. He is also a cheap

lunch date.


5/14

For amy

youre my abby, my charlotte and my amazonia


6/14


7/14

comic-con international 2012 exclusive cover


8/14

7


9/14

8


10/14

9


11/14

10


12/14

11


13/14

12


14/14

love and capes, vol. 4: what to expect preview

Documents