Beautiful and Deadly

Female Protagonists Get $#*! Done in May Graphic Novels

It would be impossible for the heroines of APHRODITE IX, EAST OF WEST, VELVET, and WITCHBLADE to be anything but the protagonists of their stories. Those that cross these women do so at their own risk! Read about their stories in four trade paperbacks slated for May book market release:

APHRODITE IX: THE COMPLETE SERIES by Matt Hawkins and Stjepan Sejic; David Wohl and David Finch
ISBN 978-1-63215-368-5
In-store date: April 22 (Direct Market)/May 5 (Book Market)
Created in the 1990s, the comic book series featuring cyborg assassin Aphrodite IX has gotten a 21st century makeover by Matt Hawkins (THINK TANK, WILDFIRE) and Stjepan Sejic, the creator of SUNSTONE. This hardcover collects both the original series and the new one for readers who can’t get enough of the green-haired amnesiac reclaiming her identity.

EAST OF WEST, VOLUME 4: WHO WANTS WAR? by Jonathan Hickman and Nick Dragotta
ISBN 978-1-63215-381-4
In-store date: May 13 (Direct Market)/May 25 (Book Market)
It’s Year Two of the Apocalypse, as Death opposes his fellow Horseman — and at the center of this dispute is the ruler of the People’s Republic of America Mao Xialian, the woman who conquered Death.

Also available:
EAST OF WEST, VOLUME 1: THE PROMISE
EAST OF WEST, VOLUME 2: WE ARE ALL ONE
EAST OF WEST, VOLUME 3: THERE IS NO US

VELVET, VOLUME 2: THE SECRET LIVES OF DEAD MEN by Ed Brubaker and Steve Epting
ISBN 978-1-63215-234-3
In-store date: May 13 (Direct Market)/May 25 (Book Market)
Velvet Templeton was the best spy the agency ever had. Now, she’s pulled back into the game when one of her colleagues is killed and she’s framed for the murder.

Also available:
VELVET, VOLUME 1: BEFORE THE LIVING END

WITCHBLADE: BORNE AGAIN, VOLUME 2 by Ron Marz and John Tyler Christopher
ISBN 978-1-63215-059-2
In-store date: April 29 (Direct Market)/May 12 (Book Market)
Sara Pezzini is the bearer of an ancient artifact called the Witchblade, which gives her great power and connects her to other artifacts bearers. Now, she meets the new bearer of the Angelus — Jenny Romano, wife of the Darkness bearer Jackie Estacado!

Also available:
WITCHBLADE: BORNE AGAIN, VOLUME 1

More titles featuring kick-ass female protagonists:
FATALE by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips
LAZARUS by Greg Rucka and Michael Lark
PRETTY DEADLY by Kelly Sue DeConnick and Emma Ríos