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A lot’s been said about DC’s Rebirth being an attempt to get the pre-New 52 fans (realistically, the fans who quit prior to New 52) back into the fold.  Seeing as how I’ve been on the Silver Age Trivia panel at C2E2/Chicago Comicon for a very long time, I’m probably qualified to speak to Rebirth […]

Tomorrow Awesome Con in Washington DC kicks off, and The Beat will be there. In case you missed it, last year Awesome Con partnered up with Leftfield Media, the convention organization run by Greg Topalian, who founded New York Comic Con. Greg and I had a blast working on the very first NYCC together and […]

Hey mom, that movie I was in may be getting much wider distribution! She Makes Comics, Marisa Stotter's documentary about the history of women making comics is being picked up Lifeframe a new documentary division of indie distributor XLrator Media.

The other day we mentioned that the hugely popular team behind Harley Quinn of Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti had imposed a sensible signing limit for shows, which makes sense because they are two of the busiest people we know. For instance, Palmiotti is currently running Kickstarter — his ninth—for a standalone graphic novel in […]

Here’s a comprehensive interview with Dover’s Drew Ford about the future of their comics line, with many more reprints coming (including a personal favorite, Through the Habitrails). But a little gem is dropped that the book I wrote with Phil Yeh about Alfredo Alcala, Secret Teachings of a Comic Book Master has found an audience: […]

Tomorrow night from 6-8 I’ll be doing my first book signing in 20 years! And it’s for the same book! Dover has rereleased The Art of Alfredo Alcala – Secret Teachings of a Comic Book Master in a handsome and affordable new edition. And I’ll be singing it tomorrow, 10/21 at JHU Comics. JHU Comic […]

Z2 Comics just made news last week with a new line of periodicals, and here’s their fall graphic novel line, courtesy of Publishers Weekly. The slate includes a collection of Koren Shadmi’s awesome webcomic THE ABADDON, as well as a new edition of Cleveland by Harvey Pekar and Joseph Remnent, and print editions of two Kickstarted projects: ASHES: A FIREFIGHTER’S TALE by Mario Candelaria and Karl Slominski; and PAWN SHOP by Joey Esposito and Sean Von Gorman.

“With the addition of three new books to Z2 Comics, the return of Harvey Pekar’s CLEVELAND to print and the recently announced launch of the Z2 Comics periodical line, this year promises to be our most ambitious yet. And it’s just the beginning,’ said publisher Josh Frankel.

The Eisner-nominated Cleveland was previously distributed by Top Shelf, but has sold out of its 10,000 copy initial print run, Frankel told PW.

We’ve admired The Abaddon (above) here at the Beat many times before; it’s gorgeous and getting it in a nice print edition is a real treat.

Here’s the full Z2 line-up:

 

ASHES: A FIREFIGHTER’S TALE written by Mario Candelaria with art by Karl Slominski.
(September 22, 2015; $19.99; 120 pages; black and white)

Matt always had an easygoing life. Girls liked him, his friends were more like family, and being a firefighter came naturally. Then the accident happened. Now, after the loss of his leg, Matt struggles to cope with his new handicap as he attempts to rebuild his shattered family and once budding career. A riveting tale about perseverance, hard work, and overcoming the odds, ASHES is a gripping tale told in stunning black and white.

PAWN SHOP written by Joey Esposito with art by Sean Von Gorman
(September 22, 2015; $19.99; 120 pages; full color)

A widower. A nurse. A punk. A Long Island Railroad employee. New York City is an ecosystem where everybody is connected, if only by the streets they walk on. This original graphic novel is the story of four people, in a city of eight million, whose lives unknowingly intersect through a Manhattan pawn shop.
Written by Joey Esposito (Footprints) and illustrated with a gorgeous mixture of watercolor and digital elements by Sean Von Gorman (Toe Tag Riot), PAWN SHOP explores the big things that separate us and the little moments that inexplicably unite us.

THE ABADDON written and illustrated by Koren Shadmi
(November 10, 2015; $24.99; 240 pages; full color)

Loosely based on Jean-Paul Sartre’s play No Exit, THE ABADDON is the story of a young man who finds himself trapped in a bizarre apartment with a group of ill-matched roommates. He discovers that his new home doesn’t adhere to any rational laws of nature and comes to realize that everyone living in the apartment is missing crucial parts of their memories and identities.

CLEVELAND by Harvey Pekar and Joseph Remnant
(November DATE TK; Price TK; 128; black and white)

A lifelong resident of Cleveland, Ohio, Harvey Pekar (1939-2010) pioneered autobiographical comics, mining the mundane for magic since 1976 in his critically acclaimed series American Splendor. Legendary comic book writer Harvey Pekar’s collaboration with artist Joseph Remnant, titled CLEVELAND, was originally published by Top Shelf Shelf Comics and Zip Comics in 2012 and includes an introduction by Alan Moore. The book presents key moments and characters from the city’s history, intertwined with Harvey’s own ups and downs, as relayed to us by Our Man and meticulously researched and rendered by artist Joseph Remnant. At once a history of Cleveland and a portrait of Harvey, it’s a tribute to the ordinary greatness of both.

Disclosure: Just to be upfront, Z2 and The Beat have partnered on several events in the past, and they are an occasional client of my consulting company.

By: Alexander Jones

Imperium is coming. After getting briefed from Joshua Dysart on mission orders, check out these brand new pages from the fantastical Doug Braithwaite in a press release sent straight from the Valiant Entertainment headquarters in New York City. Imperium is Valiant’s spiritual successor to Harbinger, a title that carried the company into greatness, and also introduced Toyo Harada, one of the most interesting villains in the Valiant world. Toyo is a decrepid old man, with intense psiot powers, enabling him to hide his appearance and true nature. Until, the events of Harbinger changed his path forever. Now, everyone knows the deranged actions of Harada. To combat his loss of power, the dictator is now seeking an army to help him operate in the shadows, enter Imperium, Harada’s band of merry misfits. These aliens, robots, and psiots may not bring holiday cheer.

Imperium #1 ships February 4th, and features covers from Doug Braithwaite, Raul Allen, and Trevor Hairsine with Tom Muller.

In our very own interview with Joshua Dysart, the author had this to say of what’s left of Toyo Harada’s empire before Imperium:

The current situation with the Harbinger foundation that was sort of the secret organization buried within Harada Conglomerates, is that Harada’s conglomerate has dissolved. However, Harada still has thousands of secret accounts located all over the world. These things are actively being tracked down all over the planet. It’s difficult for him to track all of them down, but they exist. The Harbinger Foundation itself is now whatever technologies he has found and pilfered. It’s now predominantly found within the U.S.S. Bush – Harada has stolen one of the largest nuclear aircraft carriers in the United States, and they are also taking the Somalia itself. But that’s all that’s left of Harada’s empire. It’s like if he were a musician, at one time he was in the biggest stadium band in history, but now he’s back to playing garages.

This gets a HYPE ALERT rating since I’m in it, but Marisa Stotter’s documentary She Makes Comics will finally be available on December 9th—either as a DVD from Sequart or via digital download. The film was directed by Stotter and produced by Patrick Meaney and Jordan Rennert of Respect! Films, with exec producers Julian Darius and Mike Phillips (both of Sequart) and Columbia University comics librarian Karen Green. The film was screened a few weeks back and everyone who saw it greatly enjoyed it. I enjoyed being interviewed for it, and it’s a story well worth telling, if I do say so myself. Previous documentaries of comics interviews often included a few women, but this puts the spotlight on key figures in the history of comics including Karen Berger, Wendy Pini and Kelly Sue DeConnick.

The film was funded on Kickstarter. Previous Sequart films include Grant Morrison: Talking with Gods, Warren Ellis: Captured Ghosts, and The Image Revolution (I’m in a couple of those too MORE HYPE.)

She Makes Comics tells the little-known story of women in comics, highlighting the contributions they have made to the medium since the turn of the 20th century. It features interviews with such prominent figures as historian Trina Robbins,Captain Marvel writer Kelly Sue DeConnick, underground comics artist Joyce Farmer, former DC Comics publisher Jenette Kahn, Wendi Pini, Colleen Doran, Karen Berger, and dozens of others.

She Makes Comics is now available to order on DVD and as a digital download at SheMakesComics.com. The digital version ships on 9 December. DVD orders shipping domestically and placed by 16 December will arrive in time for the holidays.

Dynamite and Arcane Wonders have come to a licensing agreement for the Mage Wars tabletop fantasy game.

Interestingly, Dynamite will be launching with a prose novel.  This isn’t as odd as it might sound.  Dynamite’s had some success with Chuck Dixon and Doug Murray writing SEAL Team Six novels for them.  Particularly with the eBook market.  Will McDermott’s Nature of the Beast will drop in January 2015 to start off the series.  McDermott has written novels based on Magic: The Gathering and Warhammer 30K properties, so he’s no stranger to the adaption field.  And if you’ve been to a bookstore, you know there’s usually a section for game adaption novels.  It’s a thing.

After the novel comes out, Dynamite intends to ” expand the line into comic books, graphic novels, additional prose novels, prints, lithographs, and an art book.”

Official PR follows:

DYNAMITE AND ARCANE WONDERS ANNOUNCE MAGE WARS LICENSING DEAL

FOR COMICS, PROSE, AND ADDITIONAL CATEGORIES BASED ON BESTSELLING FANTASY GAME,

In January, Dynamite will be launching The Twilight Zone: Shadow and Substance, a new ongoing series based on Rod Serling’s classic TV anthology.  

Mark Rahner, who’s done some Twilight Zone short stories for Dynamite, as well as some Dejah Thoris and Vampirella material, will handle the writing.  Edu Menna, who’s drawn Army of Darkness, will handle the art.

Official PR follows:

DYNAMITE RETURNS TO THE TWILIGHT ZONE WITH NEW ONGOING SERIES,
WRITTEN BY MARK RAHNER AND ILLUSTRATED BY EDU MENNA

October 10, 2014, Mt. Laurel, NJ:  Dynamite Entertainment is proud to announce the January 2015 launch of The Twilight Zone: Shadow and Substance, an all-new ongoing series based on the groundbreaking science fiction television program. Written by Mark Rahner (Vampirella) and illustrated by Edu Menna (Army of Darkness), the new series will feature a cover by Eisner Award-winning artist Francesco Francavilla.

The Twilight Zone: Shadow and Substance stands as writer Mark Rahner’s third contribution to the Twilight Zone franchise, following his work on The Twilight Zone 2014 Annual and a one-shot special entitled The Twilight Zone: Lost Tales. “After writing six stories for two big Twilight Zone specials, I’m so thrilled to write more,” says Rahner. “I’m a lifelong denizen of The Twilight Zone – just ask my teachers, employers, bartenders – and an acolyte in the cult. If I belong any place, it’s there. Perhaps on the steps of a library, with a pair of shattered specs.”

The first story arc of Shadow and Substance begins with the story of a successful but deeply troubled writer as he returns to his hometown for a book signing, only to find that he’s stepped back in time to encounter his abused and maladjusted younger self.

The latest installment of The Twilight Zone affectionately takes its subtitle, Shadow and Substance, from the opening monologue to the classic CBS program’s fourth and fifth season, a spoken verse instantly recognizable to longtime fans and pop culture enthusiasts: “You unlock this door with the key of imagination. Beyond it is another dimension – a dimension of sound, a dimension of sight, a dimension of mind. You’re moving into a land of both shadow and substance, of things and ideas. You’ve just crossed over into the Twilight Zone.”

“We’re proud to continue the fine tradition of The Twilight Zone at Dynamite Entertainment, delivering space-bending, mind-blowing, spine-tingling science fiction, horror, and mystery on a monthly basis,” says Nick Barrucci, the CEO and Publisher of Dynamite Entertainment. “There’s a freedom inherent in Twilight Zone, a promise that its storytellers can open up any floating door in space and step through to realities never before explored. I welcome Mark Rahner and Edu Menna to take full advantage of that freedom, and to the fans — get ready for all-new thrills!”

The Twilight Zone took millions of television viewers on a weekly journey to another dimension, starting in 1959.  The enduring success ofThe Twilight Zone spawned three revival series, a feature film, novels, comics, and other related merchandise. Dynamite Entertainment achived great success with The Twilight Zone in 2014 under the helm of J. Michael Straczynski, creator of television’s Babylon 5 and prolific comic book writer (including The Amazing Spider-Man and Superman: Earth One).

The Twilight Zone: Shadow and Substance #1 will be solicited in Diamond Comic Distributors’ November Previews catalog, the premiere source of merchandise for the comic book specialty market, and slated for release in January 2015.  Comic book fans are encouraged to reserve copies of The Twilight Zone with their local comic book retailers.The Twilight Zone: Shadow and Substance #1 will also be available for individual customer purchase through digital platforms courtesy of Comixology, Dynamite Digital, iVerse, and Dark Horse Digital.

Dynamite’s been pretty happy with the Legenderry: A Steampunk Adventure mini-series that Bill Willingham has been writing for them.  Happy enough to be spinning it off into three new titles.

Legenderry is a steampunk re-imagining of the Dynamite universe with alternate versions of Dynamite’s licensed characters in a shared universe.  Red Sonja, Flash Gordon, Six Million Dollar Man, Captain Victory and so forth.

Dynamite will have three new titles in that universe:

• Legenderry: Vampirella written by David Avallone
• Legenderry: Green Hornet written by Daryl Gregory (side note:  if you liked the original series of Plant of the Apes films, I can’t recommend his Planet of the Apes comics highly enough.  A hidden gem.)
• Legenderry: Red Sonja – Dynamite is keeping this one close to the vest

Official PR follows:

DYNAMITE EXPANDS BILL WILLINGHAM’S POPULAR LEGENDERRY SERIES

WITH VAMPIRELLA, GREEN HORNET, AND RED SONJA SPIN-OFF TITLES

October 10, 2014, Mt. Laurel, NJ: Dynamite Entertainment is proud to announce the 2015 expansion of their steampunk-themed Legenderry alternate universe to include three new spin-off series: Red Sonja, Vampirella, and Green Hornet. Building upon the characters reimagined by Bill Willingham, the creator of Fables, in the 2014 miniseriesLegenderry: A Steampunk Adventure, the new Legenderry stories will feature the writing talents of confirmed writers David Avallone and Daryl Gregory, and continue themes and plotlines devised by Willingham.

Legenderry: A Steampunk Adventure debuted on December 31st, 2013, introducing comic book fans to a parallel universe where familiar Dynamite-published characters were reinvented with Victorian aesthetics and steam-powered technology. Legenderry featured a diverse cast including Steve Austin of The Six Million Dollar Man, the classic pulp duo of Green Hornet and Kato, legendary masked adventurer Zorro, horror hostess Vampirella, the beloved superheroes Silver Star and Captain Victory (created by Jack Kirby), Flash Gordon and The Phantom from King Features Syndicate, and the swords-and-sorcery icon Red Sonja.

For fans of Willingham, Dynamite and the original series creator give assurances in a joint statement that “the world of Legenderry is created by Bill Willingham, who promises to continue to visit it from time to time.” Regarding the new spin-off titles, the participation by Willingham extends to the selection of the writers, as both newcomer David Avallone and Daryl Gregory (Planet of the Apes, Dracula: The Company of Monsters) have been hand-picked by Willingham.

In Legenderry: Vampirella, written by Avallone, the raven-haired Madam Pendragon – as the popular heroine is known publicly in the alternate universe – will see a departure from her role as owner and operator of The Scarlet Club, and instead must fight her way through The Big City, falling in love, dying, and being reborn in the process.

Legenderry: Green Hornet, written by Gregory, will entertain readers with a concept that’s equal parts Gangs of New York and The Warriors. In the aftermath of Willingham’s original story, The Big City has a power vacuum… giving a new selection of colorful, gimmick-laden lawbreakers a chance to claim the city as their own. Enter the Green Hornet and Kato, whose fabricated reputations as criminals give them ground-level access to the chaos.

Details on the upcoming Legenderry: Red Sonja are currently considered confidential.  However, since the She-Devil with a Sword was the core of the previous storyline (both in her amnesiac identity as the sophisticated Magna Spadarossa, and as her swashbuckling true Red Sonja self), her series will be an integral part of the greater Legenderryuniverse.

Dynamite Entertainment’s Legenderry spin-off titles will be solicited in an upcoming issue of Diamond Comic Distributors’ Previews catalog, the premiere source of merchandise for the comic book specialty market. After solicitation, comic book fans are encouraged to reserve copies with their local comic book retailers. Legenderry, both the existing series and the upcoming Red Sonja, Vampirella, and Green Hornet expansions, will also be available for individual customer purchase through digital platforms courtesy of Comixology, Dynamite Digital, iVerse, and Dark Horse Digital.

 

Grant Morrison’s got some structure in mind for his upcoming  Multiversity series and now we have a map to prove.  As you might expect, the map has a serious New Age feel to it.  Heaven and Hell show up in the ring around the multiverse along with Heaven and Hell in the “Sphere of the Gods.”  The “Monitor Sphere” surrounds the Sphere of the Gods.  Is that as in The Monitor and the Anti-Monitor (who’s recently turned up again)?  An excellent question.  The Rock of Eternity sits below the “House of Heroes”  in the center.

Entertainment Weekly has the announcement.

Dynamite is celebrating it’s 10th anniverasy with a special issue of Army of Darkness, Army of Darkness #1992.1 (after the year the film was released).  This is appropriate, given that the Army of Darkness license was what started Dynamite down the path of becoming a publisher.

Solicited for November, this is a bit of a “let’s get the band back together” double-sized event.  Past creators returning to the franchise include  Steve Niles, Elliott Serrano, Cullen Bunn, James Kuhoric, and Mike Raicht.

“It’s great to be able to spend some time with Ash again after seeing him running around with Steve Niles for the past year. I missed the big dope,” says Elliott Serrano. “And by big dope I mean Ash.”

Official PR:

DYNAMITE HAILS TO THE KING WITH ARMY OF DARKNESS #1992.1,
THE DOUBLE-SIZED CELEBRATION OF THE ULTIMATE EXPERIENCE IN MEDIEVAL TERROR

July 21, 2014, Mt. Laurel, NJ:  Dynamite Entertainment is inviting fans everywhere to join the celebration with a very special Army of Darkness tale, dedicated by its issue number to honor the year of the original cult film’s release. Army of Darkness #1992.1 will be a commemorative square-bound edition, featuring short stories of demon-hunting hero Ash Williams written by the series’ greatest terror talents of issues past, including Steve Niles, Elliott Serrano, Cullen Bunn, James Kuhoric, and Mike Raicht.

Army of Darkness #1992.1 celebrates the history of Dynamite’s publishing by inviting many of its most notable writers to contribute short vignettes.  Steve Niles (30 Days of Night) is the most recent contributor to the saga, with tales of medieval terror in Ash and the Army of Darkness and Army of Darkness: Ash Gets Hitched.  Elliott Seranno contributed such story arcs as “Hail to the Queen, Baby” and “The King is Dead.”  James Kuhoric (Six Million Dollar Man: Season 6) wrote some of the earliest Dynamite adventures, including “Shop ‘Til You Drop Dead” and “Army of Darkness Vs. Reanimator.” Mike Raicht (Dark Shadows) contributed the storylines “Hellbillies and Deadnecks” and “Home Sweet Hell.”

Meanwhile, Cullen Bunn is a celebrated comic book author (Deadpool, Magneto, Sixth Gun) tackling Army of Darkness for the first time, and setting up its hero for the next adventure.  As Senior Editor Joseph Rybandt says, “Army of Darkness will always have a special place in our collective hearts, as ten years ago, it was our very first title.  We’ve thrown everything at Ash in the interim, but we’re throwing him into space next. And it all starts here.”

“I’m proud to be a part of this incredible celebration, but truth be told, they couldn’t have done it without me.” States Asley J. Williams, star of the movie and comics.  “When they suggested the #1992.1, I said, that sounds great!  I told them that this was the highest numbered comic of all time.  They stated that another company had done a #1 Million, and shotgun in hand I explained to them how that was a stunt and this is the real deal, so all I can say is, buy it, you’ll love it.”

“What better way to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Dynamite than with an incredible over-sized Army of Darkness story,” said Nick Barrucci, CEO and Publisher of Dynamite Entertainment. “This special is in time for our 10th anniversary and serves as a holiday present to our fans!  Comics and movie fans alike will not want to miss this issue.”

Army of Darkness is a 1992 fantasy/comedy film with strong horror elements starring Bruce Campbell (Burn Notice) and Embeth Davidtz, the third installment in a trilogy featuring reluctant hero Ash Williams.  Directed by Sam Raimi (Spider-Man), the film saw its tough-as-nails, wise-cracking protagonist transported from the modern era to the Dark Ages in his continuing war against demonic evil.  Army of Darkness generated a dedicated fan following for its premise and lead actor.

Cullen Bunn is really spreading himself around these days.  The Sixth Gun at Oni.  Magneto and Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe at Marvel.  Sinestro at DC.  You can add Masks II at Dynamite.

Masks, which came out in 2012, was essentially a team-up mini-series for Dynamite’s pulp heroes line.  The Shadow, The Spider, Green Hornet,  Green Lama, Black Bat, Black Terror, Miss Fury and Zorro (after a fashion) up against an fascist takeover of New York, based loosely on the old “Empire State” trilogy from the original Spider pulps.  Masks sold well (the first issue had interior art from Alex Ross – something we don’t seem much of these days).  Seeing as how Dynamite has since acquired the rights to Doc Savage and The Spirit, it would not surprise me at all if those characters appeared in the sequel.

Official PR:

ACCLAIMED WRITER CULLEN BUNN WRITES MASKS II
AN EPIC COMIC BOOK EVENT UNITING ICONIC PULP HEROES

July 21, 2014, Mt. Laurel, NJ:  Dynamite Entertainment is proud to announce that comic book writer Cullen Bunn (Deadpool, Magneto) will tackle their wide cast of company-owned and licensed pulp heroes in Masks II.  Following upon the success of the bestselling 2012 Masks miniseries, Masks II will unite iconic crime-fighters of singular purpose (if not diverse ideologies and techniques) in an epic miniseries event designed to appeal to both longtime fans and fresh newcomers. Dynamite plans to launch Masks II in late 2014.

“I couldn’t be more excited to be working on Masks II,” says Bunn.  “I’ve always loved these great classic characters that I will have the privilege of working with, and I’m striving to keep the tone of the pulps that have always been a big inspiration for me. I’ll admit, this project is a little intimidating, because I’ve put together a very ambitious team-up story that readers will have to see to believe!”

The original Masks series launched in 2012 with industry fanfare, with its #1 issue ranking among the bestselling independent comic books of the year and selling over 70,000 copies.  Drawn to the premise by the work of superstar painter Alex Ross, writer Chris Roberson, and artist Dennis Calero, readers thrilled to an adventure that united classic characters like The Shadow, The Spider, The Green Hornet, and Kato against a cadre of corrupt politicians and their fascist police state.  Masks II promises to follow the themes established within that first series, but in a way that’s perfect for new readers.

Bunn recently released his debut work with Dynamite Entertainment, a standalone tale presented in The Shadow #0 that teamed the supernatural vigilante with legendary escape artist Harry Houdini.  Masks II marks his first foray into the long-form comic story for Dynamite.

Cullen Bunn is a freelance writer perhaps best known for Marvel Comics’ popular Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe and Magneto series, as well as the Oni Press series The Damned and The Sixth Gun. He is also a short story writer and novelist; his major publications outside of the comic book sphere include Crooked Hills and Creeping Stones & Other Stories. He has been nominated for the Bram Stoker Award (2012), the Eisner Award (2012), and the Ghastly Awards (2011), and is the winner of Broken Frontier’s “Best Writer Independent” Award (2011).

“Since Day One we’ve strived to deliver high-octane action on Masks,” said Nick Barrucci, CEO and Publisher of Dynamite Entertainment. “The fresh style that Cullen brings to comics is exactly what makes him the perfect choice to fit the bill.  He’s our absolute top choice for a project of this caliber!”

Dynamite will be starting a new Lone Ranger series in November.  Justin Gray will be writing it, which is interesting for a couple reasons.  First off, it’s unusual to see Gray’s name without his usual co-writer/co-conspirator, Jimmy Palmiotti.  Secondly, Gray (along with Palmiotti) is the longest tenured writer of the western genre in recent memory.  His association with Jonah Hex goes back to 2006, so that’s 8 years.  Although if you wanted to make the argument that All-Star Western wasn’t a western, so much as a comic with a western lead, I probably wouldn’t quibble.  Either way, Jonah Hex and All-Star Western were two of DCs most consistently well-reviewed series of the last decade.

Joining Gray on art will be Rey Villegas, who’s been doing Lady Zorro for Dynamite.

JUSTIN GRAY, WRITER OF JONAH HEX,
RIDES INTO DYNAMITE WITH THRILLING NEW CHAPTER
IN THE LONE RANGER‘S HISTORY

July 22, 2014, Mt. Laurel, NJ:  Dynamite Entertainment is proud to announce the signing of Justin Gray, who will be continuing Dynamite’s long standing success with America’s quintessential Western hero, as he takes the reins on a brand new series of The Lone Ranger.  Launching with a new #1 in November 2014, The Lone Ranger will feature the exciting interior artwork of Rey Villegas (Lady Zorro), as well as covers by John Cassaday (Uncanny Avengers, Astonishing X-Men) and Marc Laming (All-New Invaders, Kings Watch).

“I’m proud to be working with one of the longest standing and best known Western characters in all of literature, because to me The Lone Rangerrepresents a moral code, unquestionable justice and a sense of adventure that embodies the classic American western,” says Justin Gray.

No stranger to Western thrills, Justin Gray is a frequent contributor to Jonah Hex and All-Star Western, tales of an Old West gunslinger set within the larger DC Comics continuity. Gray has contributed to dozens of name-recognizable titles from Marvel Comics and DC Comics, including Batwing, Ame-Comi Girls, Punisher, Power Girl, Countdown, and many more.

Since his radio debut in 1933, the masked Lone Ranger has endured as an icon of American culture. Dynamite first launched The Lone Ranger as a comic series in 2006, written by Brett Matthews and illustrated by Sergio Cariello.  Its #0 prelude issue was a part of that year’s nationwide Free Comic Book Day celebration, and the series would go on to score an Eisner Nomination for best new series in 2007. A second volume of The Lone Rangerfollowed, as did such miniseries called The Lone Ranger and Tonto and The Lone Ranger: Snake of Iron.

“We are incredibly excited to have Justin on board for this title,” said Nick Barrucci, CEO and Publisher of Dynamite Entertainment. “We’ve had a great run with The Lone Ranger as one of our most consistent critically acclaimed comics, and needed someone who we could trust to fill these ‘big boots,’ continuing one of the best Western heroes ever.  With a track record like his, we’re in for a Western comic that we won’t soon forget!”

The Lone Ranger #1 will be solicited in Diamond Comic Distributors’ September Previews catalog, the premiere source of merchandise for the comic book specialty market, and slated for release in November.  Comic book fans are encouraged to reserve copies of The Lone Ranger #1with their local comic book retailers.  The Lone Ranger will also be available for individual customer purchase through digital platforms courtesy of Comixology, iVerse, and Dark Horse Digital.

As you may recall, Dynamite and Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc. came to an understanding a little while back and we’re continuing to see the fruits of the agreement.  The John Carter franchise has been practically a sub-line for Dynamite with Warlord of Mars, Deja of Mars, Lords of Mars and Warriors of Mars.  Now they finally get to have a title called John Carter: Warlord of Mars, which will be the flagship title for that family of comics.

Ron Marz will be writing.  (Marz of Mars?  I see what you did there, Dynamite.)  Art will be by Abhishek Malsuni.

Official PR and some more art follow:

DYNAMITE SIGNS RON MARZ TO NEW ONGOING JOHN CARTER: WARLORD OF MARS ONGOING SERIES

BURROUGHS’  ICONIC HERO RETURNS TO COMICS WITH NEW #1 LAUNCH IN NOVEMBER

July 21, 2014, Mt. Laurel, NJ:  Dynamite Entertainment is proud to announce a brand new chapter in the history of Edgar Rice Burroughs creation, John Carter: Warlord of Mars, to be written by the masterful pen of comics legend Ron Marz.  Illustrated by newcomer Abhishek Malsuni, John Carter: Warlord of Mars is the newly-minted cornerstone of the publisher’s Warlord of Mars line, launched in the wake of their May 2014 announcement of the comprehensive licensing agreement between Dynamite and Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc.

John Carter: Warlord of Mars welcomes science fiction and fantasy fans to the exotic landscape of Barsoom, where displaced earthling John Carter has to save his adopted world, not to mention his beloved Dejah Thoris, from an enemy like no other he has ever faced.  John Carter must truly become a Warlord of Mars against an adversary who is every bit his equal on the savage red planet.

Marz’s enthusiasm for John Carter has been building for many years.  He says, “This is literally a job I’ve been wanting to do since I was twelve years old. I was just the right age when I discovered John Carter, Dejah Thoris, Tars Tarkas, and the wonder of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ Mars. It fired my imagination like almost nothing else. So to finally get a chance to write these characters, to visit that world, is a dream come true for me.”

Ron Marz is an industry veteran with decades of experience as a writer and editor under his belt. He is best known for his work on Green Lantern andSilver Surfer, and as one of the original creative masterminds behind CrossGen Comics. His more recent work includes Witchblade, Cyberforce, andVoodoo. He currently lives in upstate New York with four horses, three children, two dogs and one wife.

“We are incredibly excited about Ron coming on board for this project,” said Nick Barrucci, CEO and Publisher of Dynamite Entertainment. “When we originally launched the Warlord of Mars series in 2010, Ron and I ran into each other at a comic convention, and Ron grabbed me by the shoulders and said something to the effect of, ‘How can you launch a John Carter series and not call me to write it?’ It wasn’t a question.  It was a statement!  As we looked at the potential creators for this series, we instinctively remembered Ron’s passion for the mythos. He is simply the perfect fit.  Add in the fantastic art by Abhishek Malsuni and Neeraj Menon, this series will take John Carter to new heights.”

John Carter debuted in 1912 as the lead character in Edgar Rice Burroughs’ first novel, serialized as Under The Moons Of Mars in the pulp magazine,The All-Story, and later published as a complete novel retitled A Princess of Mars.  The character excited the imagination of readers and quickly imprinted onto the public psyche. As many literary and popular culture scholars attest, John Carter served as the template for a litany of adventure heroes to follow, from Flash Gordon, Buck Rogers, and Superman to the Jedi Knights of Star Wars fame and Avatar.

Dynamite’s John Carter: Warlord of Mars comes on the heels of the reacquisition of comic book rights by Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc. that had been held by Walt Disney Pictures and its Marvel Entertainment subsidiary, as well as a recent legal settlement with Dynamite that cleared the way for Dynamite to introduce key characters and plot elements from the John Carter backstory that were, until now, absent from recent comic book interpretations.

John Carter: Warlord of Mars #1 will be solicited in Diamond Comic Distributors’ September Previews catalog, the premiere source of merchandise for the comic book specialty market, and slated for release in November.  Comic book fans are encouraged to reserve copies of John Carter: Warlord of Mars #1 with their local comic book retailers. John Carter: Warlord of Mars will also be available for individual customer purchase through digital platforms courtesy of Comixology, iVerse, and Dark Horse Digital.

Dynamite is going European in October with the In Search of Lost Dragons  art book.  It sounds like an art book with a journal/scrapbook motif and a bit of background story surrounding the art.

July 14, 2014, Mt. Laurel, NJ:  Dynamite Entertainment is proud to announce the October release of In Search of Lost Dragons, a gorgeous illustrated storybook that captures glimpses of the majestic flying reptiles hiding throughout our world.  For the first time ever, the sensational French art book by celebrated storytellers Elian Black’Mor, Carine-M, and Jézéquel is adapted to English in a luscious, full-color, and oversized hardcover, presenting over 200 pages of dragon illustrations and Victorian-style sketches with a captivating accompanying narrative.

Originally published in France as Sur La Piste Des Dragons Oublies, this fantastic adventure follows an intrepid illustrator and reporter’s  journeys from Europe through the Middle East and finally to Saigon in search of the dark caverns and mountaintop perches where the elusive winged serpents dwell.  With the gift of seeing the invisible, our explorer friend records each encounter in a journal of gorgeous, fully painted artwork, capturing every majestic and fearsome visual detail of the scaly behemoths, and accompanies his findings with snippets of local lore as evidence that these hidden beasts continue to shape the world in ways we may never expect.

With its insightful journal entries, newspaper clippings, and incredible paintings and sketches, In Search of Lost Dragons is an experience that fully immerses the reader in a realm of magic and mythology, hidden in the far-off reaches of our own world.  Art enthusiasts will especially marvel at the hardcover’s numerous fold-out pages, displaying larger dragon illustrations that measure approximately 24 inches in length.

“Reading In Search of Lost Dragons is a joyously overwhelming experience,” says Keith Davidsen, Marketing Manager of Dynamite.  “Flipping through its pages, you can almost feel the same wonder and amazement as its narrator upon his discovery of a long-lost, beautiful beast.  It’s full of warmth and wit, and its paintings are breathtaking.  We are proud to bring this masterpiece across the Atlantic for English language audiences to enjoy, and feel very strongly that Lost Dragons would be a perfect holiday gift item for each of the fantasy fans in our lives.”

In Search of Lost Dragons will be solicited in Diamond Comic Distributors’ August Previews catalog, the premiere source of merchandise for the comic book specialty market, and slated for release in October.  Fantasy fans are encouraged to reserve copies of In Search of Lost Dragons with their local comic book retailers, or by placing preorders through online booksellers.

Evil Ernie, last seen in Dynamite’s Chaos! mini-series, will be returning in his own series.  Ernie was one of the mainstays of the ’90s Chaos comics line and a pretty hot property back before the independent publishers started to consolidate in the late 90s.

The team on Evil Ernie will be Tim Seeley (Chaos!, Revival, Hack/Slash, Batman Eternal) co-writing with his brother Steve Seeley (Hoax Hunters). Art will be handled by Rafael Lanhellas (Warlord of Mars).

PR and art follows:

July 15, 2014, Mt. Laurel, NJ:  Dynamite Entertainment is proud to announce the upcoming launch of Evil Ernie, a comic book series showcasing the most iconic horror fiend in the industry and the cornerstone of the popular Chaos! Comics shared universe.  Co-written by Chaos! architect Tim Seeley (Hack/Slash) alongside his brother and fellow writer Steve Seeley, Evil Ernie will feature interior artwork by talented artist Rafael Lanhellas.  The first issue will debut in October 2014, and features a wide selection of cover options by Tim Seeley, Jae Lee, Carlos Rafael, Ardian Syaf, Kyle Hotz, Ken Haeser, and Andrew Mangum.

“Steve and I first discovered Evil Ernie when the first issue (of the classic 1990s series) came out.  We were both teenagers, and our dad was a big horror movie fan, so we were plenty familiar with mayhem and massacre,” says Tim Seeley.  “But something about seeing this punk teenager trying to take out the entire world really appealed to us.  So, when a new Evil Ernie series was available, Steve and I figured it’d be a great time to debut out first brother-on-brother comic book collaboration, as we return Ernie to his anti-hero/slasher movie roots.  This is going to be tongue-in-cheek, apocalyptic slasher movie comic book goodness, loaded with everything that two guys spent their teenage years neck deep in: heavy metal, horror, and comics.”

“Tim knows horror like few other writers in comics today.  The Seeley brothers demonstrate their knowledge of and passion for Evil Ernie on each page of the scripts, and I can’t wait for fans to read this suspense and horror-filled adventure,” says Dynamite CEO/Publisher Nick Barrucci.

In Evil Ernie #1, the teenage psychopath Ernest Fairchild is dead, resigned to Hell where he belongs.  But when reality is threatened by an evil even the Devil can’t handle, he calls on the only weapon that can prevent total megadeath:  Evil Ernie himself.  Meanwhile, the genocidal Mistress Hel has found new love… or perhaps the term “loves” would be more appropriate.  A tale that follows in the wake of the Chaos! mini-series event yet welcomes new readers with an easy jumping-on point, Evil Ernie proves that the deadliest mass murderer of all time may be the world’s only hope.

Dynamite will celebrate the new Evil Ernie #1 with a variety of cover options.  Co-writer Tim Seeley performs double-duty by supplying the Main cover.  Variant cover editions feature the talent of Carlos Rafael (Warlord of Mars: Dejah Thoris), Ardian Syaf (Batgirl), Kyle Hotz (The Hood), and Ken Haeser (The Living Corpse).  To celebrate the classic Chaos! Comics art style, an “Old School” variant is supplied by Andrew Mangum.  Finally, superstar illustrator Jae Lee (Batman/Superman, The Dark Tower) provides a special incentive cover to encourage strong pre-orders from comic shop retailers.

Evil Ernie #1 will be solicited in Diamond Comic Distributors’ August Previews catalog, the premiere source of merchandise for the comic book specialty market, and slated for release in October.  Comic book fans are encouraged to reserve copies of Evil Ernie with their local comic book retailers.  As with sister titles Chastity and Purgatori, Evil Ernie will also be available for individual customer purchase through digital platforms courtesy of Comixology, iVerse, and Dark Horse Digital.

You probably already heard, but Quentin Tarantino is co-plotting a Django (Unchained)/Zorro cross-over with Matt Wagner.  If you’ve seen his movies, you’ll find plenty of comics references in him, so it should be no surprise to you Tarantino is into the medium.  He’ll be on Dynamite’s panel at the San Diego Comicon on (Sunday) July 27th at 2:15.

He’s also bringing along Reggie Hudlin, who was co-producer on Django.  Hudlin used to be best known for writing and directing the original House Party movie, before he got in touch with his inner geek.  In Beat circles, he’s now better known for producing the Boondocks cartoon and writing comics.  Black Panther and Spider-Man over at Marvel and then the Django comics adaption at Vertigo.

Full PR follows:

July 15, 2014, Mt. Laurel, NJ:  Dynamite Entertainment is proud to announce that pioneering filmmaker Quentin Tarantino and award-winning writer Matt Wagner will be joining the Dynamite 10th Anniversary Panel at San Diego Comic-Con 2014.  The two master storytellers will discuss bringing two Western icons together in Django / Zorro, the official comic book sequel to the blockbuster film Django Unchained, slated for release in November 2014 from Dynamite Entertainment and DC Entertainment.

On stage, Tarantino and Wagner will join Reginald Hudlin, the co-editor of the Django / Zorro crossover and a producer of the Django Unchained film; Nick Barrucci, CEO and Publisher of Dynamite Entertainment; and Joseph Rybandt, the Senior Editor of Dynamite.

The Dynamite 10th Anniversary Panel will take place on Sunday, July 27th, from 2:15pm to 3:15pm, in Room 6BCF.  The panel will be moderated by Alan Kistler, and is open admission to all ticketed convention attendees.

Dynamite Entertainment released a joint announcement with Zorro Production, Inc. and DC Entertainment on June 18th, announcing the Django / Zorrocomic book series scheduled for release later this year.  Tarantino (perhaps best known for his films Pulp Fiction and Kill Bill) and Wagner (of the acclaimed Grendel and Zorro comic books) share plot duties on the new series, with Wagner providing final dialogue and Esteve Polls (The Lone Ranger) illustrating the work.

Regarding the Django / Zorro crossover, Tarantino says, “I’m very, very excited about both this story and the opportunity to work with Matt.  It was reading his Zorro stories that convinced me what a good idea it was to join these two icons together.  The story idea we came up with is thrilling, and I think it will be an exciting new chapter for both characters.”

“We’re extremely grateful that San Diego Comic-Con was able to give us such a great time slot for our panel to help cap off the show, and excited that Quentin and Matt will help headline the panel.  We cannot wait to interact with our fans, talk about our upcoming projects, and answer questions,” says Dynamite CEO/Publisher Nick Barrucci.

San Diego Comic-Con International is a multigenre entertainment and comic convention held annually at San Diego Convention Center, this year between July 24th and July 27th.  It is the largest convention of any industry in the Western Hemisphere, with over 130,000 attendees and massive media attention.

Dynamite’s been doing Sherlock Holmes stories on a fairly regular basis for some time now.  And really, given the recent court decision on Holmes being firmly in the public domain, there’s every reason to.  The next entry in the Dynamite extension of the Holmes library will find the master detective crossing paths with the magician Harry Houdini.  A fairly natural pairing, since Houdini had a lengthy engagement in London in 1900.

The creative team on this will be Anthony Del Col and Conor McCreery, but known in comics circles for their work on Kill Shakespeare over at IDW.Press release and art follow:

Dynamite Entertainment is proud to announce that Anthony Del Col and Conor McCreery will bring their skill for literary reimagining to a new comic book miniseries event, Sherlock Holmes vs. Harry Houdini.  Best known for their acclaimed series Kill Shakespeare, Del Col and McCreery have joined with skillful artist Carlos Furuzono to bring two larger-than-life icons into conflict:  the famous fictional detective Sherlock Holmes and real-life stage magician and stunt performer Harry Houdini.  The battle between sleuth and showman launches with its first issue in October, featuring cover variants by John Cassaday, Aaron Campbell, and Colton Worley. 

“Sherlock Holmes and Harry Houdini are two of the most fascinating characters of the last hundred-plus years.  Placing them together in the same world produces so many moments of mystery, intrigue, illusion, and reveal,” says Del Col, who then quips, “And that’s only during our research, in which Conor and I escaped near-death experiences while donning deerstalker caps.”

In Sherlock Holmes vs. Harry Houdini #1, famed detective Sherlock Holmes and brash showman Harry Houdini must combine forces to defeat a mysterious mystic dedicated to destroying Houdini’s career and killing anyone who gets in his way.  But despite their singular purpose, the two titans have too much professional pride between them… and it’s only a matter of time until the deadliest sin has them facing off.

Del Col and McCreery took the comic book industry by storm with their creator-owned Kill Shakespeare series, launched in 2010.  In addition to their comics work, they each have found a string of success in diverse entertainment venues.  Del Col has worked in the music, film, and television industries, produced two independent feature films, and most recently assisted with the management of international pop star Nelly Furtado and her world tour.  McCreery has served in both creative and business positions for film and television companies, contributed over 1,000 stories and articles for media outlets, and also provided expert analysis for Canada’s Business News Network.

Conor McCreery says, “Working with Dynamite is a blast.  Their editorial team has proven repeatedly that they know how to make legacy characters like Sherlock Holmes come alive.  We couldn’t wait to get the chance to work with and learn from some of the best minds in comicdom.”

“I cannot say enough about both the characters and the creative on this series.  Sherlock Holmes is one of the most iconic fictional characters in the world, and an inspiration for other comic heroes.  Harry Houdini oozed charisma and was a brilliant man as well, as demonstrated by his penchant for debunking spiritualists.  The team-up of these amazing characters is perfect.  We’ve wanted to have this meeting of two great minds for years, but didn’t want to place the project on the schedule until we had the right creative team, and Anthony and Conor are that team.  They are intimidatingly smart… and you would have to be to write Holmes and Houdini.  Anthony and Conor have proven how well they can handle historical literary characters, and now will add an iconic real-world character, Harry Houdini, to their resume,” says Dynamite CEO/Publisher Nick Barrucci.

Sherlock Holmes vs. Harry Houdini #1 will be solicited in Diamond Comic Distributors’ August Previews catalog, the premiere source of merchandise for the comic book specialty market, and slated for release in October.  Comic book fans are encouraged to reserve copies of Sherlock Holmes vs. Harry Houdini with their local comic book retailers.  The entire Sherlock Holmes vs. Harry Houdini series will also be available for individual customer purchase through digital platforms courtesy of Comixology, iVerse, and Dark Horse Digital.

Dynamite hit Book Expo with a pocketful of announcements today.  Projects based on prose books with a mix of deal extensions and new deals.  Projects that also might have resonance with the bookstore demographic for Book Expo.

The first announcement, coming clear out of left field, is Dynamite’s acquisition of the rights to the Shaft literary cannon.  Yes, Shaft as in Richard Roundtree and Isaac Hayes.  Ernest Tidyman originally wrote seven Shaft novels, co-wrote the first Shaft film and wrote the second Shaft film, Shaft’s Big Score (which was actually the third Shaft novel).  Tidyman also did a little screenwriting, picking up the Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar for The French Connection and Clint Eastwood’s High Plains Drifter.

What all did they get?

These novels have long been out of print, and Dynamite intends to bring these back and make them available again.  In addition, the new prose stories and Original Graphic Novels will be the first new Shaft stories, outside of the movie, since Tidyman’s passing.  Further editorial plans for new comics and prose will be announced at a later date.

Dynamite has been doing a bit of prose with Chuck Dixon over on the eBook side of things and having some success.  This is them branching out a little further in the prose area.  The OGNs will figure prominently, no doubt, but the traditional book market aspect is a bit of a curve ball.  Definitely appropriate to the venue, though.

Next up is an expansion of their relationship with Dean Kootz, a staple of the New York Times Bestseller list specializing in dark fantasy and horror.  Dynamite’s adding licenses for Dean Koontz’s Frankenstein, Dean Koontz’s Christopher Snow and Dean Koontz’s Nevermore.  Koontz will provide new stories for those properties.

Perhaps a bigger deal, though, a bit of elaboration is required:

 Dynamite also announced it is further building its longstanding relationship with the literary icon, and is in discussion with Dean Koontz regarding publishing work based on 3 brand new original Koontz properties.

Under the deal currently being discussed, the 3 original properties are being created exclusively for Dynamite, straight from the mind of Dean himself.  Each property will have at least 3 graphic novels published, to create a full program around the new work.

That brings the total of Koontz projects to 6, which practically makes it a sub-imprint.

Next up is Brandon Sanderson.  Sanderson may be best known for finishing up Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series, but has a number of his own series out, including Mistborn, Reavers, Stormlight Archive and Alcatraz.

A brilliant, new fantasy world, White Sand is split into two halves: on one side are the Daysiders, and on the other the Darksiders. Daysiders have a unique ability to control and manipulate sand, bending it to their will to attack, or protect, as they wish. Darksiders have their own unique abilities and culture, and must wear thick dark lenses while on the Dayside. Generally speaking, Daysiders and Darksiders do not get along…and White Sand follows the adventures of one particular Daysider, a boy named Kenton.

The White Sand Graphic Novels are based on Brandon Sanderson’s manuscript, and the graphic novels are the first published work to explore these worlds. As with Brandon’s other fantasy novels, White Sand takes place in his larger universe called the Cosmere, where consistent rules and themes are followed. The White Sand Graphic Novels will be as integrated into the Cosmere as any of Brandon’s other novels with many “Easter Eggs” for Brandon’s large fan base.

White Sand will be a 3 GN series.

Next up is Patricia Briggs, who is extending her Mercy Thompson deal.

This all new story is called “Hopcross Jilly”. In Hopcross Jilly, Mercy Thompson, shapeshifting coyote and member of the Tri-Cities werewolf pack, stumbles upon the buried bones of numerous dead children, and is soon hip deep in the mystery of a legendary fae–a mystery that could be the death of her!

Hopcross Jilly is an original story written by Patricia Briggs. Writer Rik Hoskins is on board to script the comics, and Tom Garcia is delivering the stunning artwork to this new series. The first issue of the 6-issue series is shipping monthly from Dynamite beginning in October, and will be available both digitally and in print. The graphic novel collection will be published in 2015.

Finally, we have Jim Butcher extending his Dresden Files deal:

Currently in the works is “War Cry” another original story taking place four months after the events depicted in Dead Beat, the 7th novel in the Dresden Files series. The first issue of War Cry ships next month, and the graphic novel will be published later this year.

Two more original Dresden Files graphic novels will be coming in 2015 and 2016. The details around the creative teams and stories in each graphic novel will be announced at a later date.

Granted, Book Expo is geared towards the bookstore market, where monthlies comics aren’t the norm, but Dynamite just released 5 graphic novel-centric announcements with literary origins and the return of an out-of-print cult novel series.  Given the current situation between Amazon and Hachette, which everyone in comics should be paying attention to, I can’t help but notice (Shaft prose novels aside) these announcements are all deals that Amazon didn’t get.  These projects are all roughly in the wheelhouse Amazon’s Jet City Comics imprint is trying to create for itself.

Well, we are getting down to a) the bare bones of emerging facts and b) the huge, blossoming never ending until they find the black box* range of speculation over what the hell actually happened to Malaysia Airlines Flight 370. And here is Brad Meltzer, occasional comics writer and host of History Channel’s Decoded to speculate on bizarre non Tintin related theories about the disappearance of a jumbo jet off the radar’s of the world.

I am definitely holding out for inspiration from Tintin on this.

* If the flight did go on for seven hours after losing contact with Malaysian air traffic control, AND even if the black box is actually found, we might still never know what happened: the black box only records the last two hours of flight information.

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First off, Baltimore Comic-Con is THIS WEEKEND. This is one of the most beloved events on the comics circuit and guests include:

Joe Hill, Neal Adams, Josh Adams, Ed McGuinness, David Finch, Ivan Reis, Brian Bolland, Stan Sakai, Cliff Chiang, Amanda Conner, JG Jones, Ryan Ottley, Jim Starlin, Mark Buckingham, George Perez, Frank Cho, Mike Mignola, Terry Moore, Chris Samnee, David Petersen, Keith Giffen, Adam Hughes, Barry Kitson, Paul Levitz, Thom Zahler, Mark Waid, Walter Simonson, Dean Haspiel, Steve Conley and many more!!!

AND NOW MY HYPE ALERT. As you may know, I am working as a consultant for Honest Tea representing their brand new graphic novel "Mission in a Bottle: The Honest Guide to Doing Business Differently–and Succeeding" in the comics world. As part of that on Sunday morning at 11 am I’ll be interviewing Honest Tea co-founder Seth Goldman about the book and more:

Baltimore Comic-Con is welcoming Honest Tea co-founder Seth Goldman for his only comics event appearance of the year as he talks about his new book, Mission in a Bottle: The Honest Guide to Doing Business Differently-and Succeeding.

Goldman will appear Sunday morning at 11 am in Room 305 to talk about the making of the book, the uses of nonfiction comics, and secrets of entrepreneurship in a panel moderated by The Beat and Publishers Weekly’s Heidi MacDonald.

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Marvel have announced that they’ll be publishing two new titles soon, both tying-in to their Superior Spider-Man series, and both of them focusing on villains. Which means the Spider-Man franchise at Marvel will now be made up of six titles, all of which feature a villain-of-sorts in the main role. We have Scarlet Spider and Venom currently on the go, and now July will see The Superior Foes of Spider-Man and Superior Carnage both released into the world (presumably picked up by a cup/coaster combination, and subsequently thrown out a window).

The creative teams are pretty good! The Superior-Spider Foes will focus on the five-strong member of the current Sinister Six, who are made up of Speed Demon, Shocker, Beetle, Overdrive and Boomerang. This is being billed as an ongoing series, and will be written by Nick Spencer, drawn by Steve Lieber. Boomerang appears to be the central character here, although I’m not sure what the ongoing premise of the book will be. It seems like it’ll be a look at life as a for-hire supervillain, and all that entails. Double-crosses, failed heists, an inevitable upcoming appearance from Spider-Man…

Superior Carnage follows the previous two successful Carnage miniseries Marvel have put out recently. Zeb Wells won’t be writing this one, but another member of his writing room at Robot Chicken will be - Kevin Shinick. And whilst Clayton Crain will only be on covers this time round, that does make space for Steven Segovia to come in as artist for the five-issue mini. The mini will focus on another attempt to take over and control the ‘Carnage’ symbiote, but this time it’ll be a villain trying to cause trouble, in the form of The Wizard.

Both books are out in July.