by: Stephanie Shamblin Gray

With a special shout-out to Free Comic Book Day, May is loaded with great comics. Here are a few you'll definitely want to pick up:

"Hotwire: Deep Cut"

Nominated for several awards in the 2010 Horror Comic Awards including best artist and colorist for Steve Pugh, "Hotwire: Deep Cut" is a dazzlingly beautiful book not to be missed.  While this is the second installment in the series, new readers should have no problem jumping in. Here is the synopsis:

"Recovering from injuries sustained while protecting her city from an outbreak of violent “blue-lights,” the occasionally vicious electrical echoes of the dead, Alice Hotwire has taken a sabbatical from the Metro Police force. However, in Alice's absence, the blue-lights have begun to evolve, presenting a new and unpredictable danger to the city and its inhabitants. In the face of a growing threat, Alice must overcome her troubled past, come out of hiding, and once again save the city from an enemy only she can fight."

This trade paperback collects the three-issue mini-series  and also offers a Director's Cut with all new pages of story, a gallery of never-before-seen concept and character art, as well as creator interviews.

Story, art, and cover by Steve Pugh.
96 pages, $9.95.

"30 Days of Night: Night, Again"

"30 Days of Night: Night, Again" is definitely the comic to watch this month for vampire fans. Written by award-winning horror master Joe Lansdale, it will be interesting to see what unique twists he will bring to the "30 Days" franchise. And check out the 'unexpected guest' teaser in the synopsis below. Let the speculation begin!

"Fleeing the site of a secondary vampire infestation in the cold, wilds of Alaska, a band of survivors arrive at a climate change facility during the final days of a long period of extended daylight. The inhabitants of the research compound are trying to determine the nature of a strange object found in the ice when the survivors arrive, leading to a frightening and bloody confrontation between humans and vampires and an odd and unexpected guest!"

Written by Joe Lansdale, art and cover by Sam Kieth.
32 pages, $3.99

"The Darkness II: Confession"

If you love "The Darkness", can't wait for the new game, and like free comics, you are in for a treat! This year for Free Comic Book Day (Saturday, May 7th), Top Cow will be releasing "The Darkness II: Confession", a prequel to the upcoming video game "The Darkness II" by 2K Games. After last year's "Artifacts #0", fans should allow themselves to have pretty high hopes for Top Cow free comics.

Written by Filip Sablik and featuring art by Michael Broussard and Sunny Gho.
FREE!

For more great comics in May, check out Sandman's entry in the forum: Horror Comics for May 2011