DC COMICS
The Lazarus Volcano Erupts in Batman vs. Robin #4!
Looking ahead to where this exciting, magic-based event series takes readers between now and the new year, a final battle erupts between Batman and Robin at the heart of Lazarus Island in Batman vs. Robin #4 on December 20th. In this penultimate issue, a strange tremor rocks the combatants to their senses…
This isn’t an island at all—it’s a volcano!
With the Devil Nezha pulling the strings and unbelievable transformative power about to explode out into the world, our heroes have no choice but to do the unthinkable—fall back! DC’s battle between father and son goes global as the Earth enters into the Lazarus Planet!
What’s next for Batman vs. Robin? Stay tuned for Batman vs. Robin #5, and more, in January 2023! The world will change forever!
BATMAN VS. ROBIN #4
Written by MARK WAID
Art and cover by MAHMUD ASRAR
Variant covers by SIMONE DI MEO and SWEENEY BOO
1:25 variant cover by JOHN GIANG
1:50 variant cover by TONY HARRIS
$5.99 US | 48 pages | 4 of 5 | Variant $6.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 12/20/22
DC’s Dead Boy Detectives Are Back!
Charles Rowland and Edwin Paine have been detectives for decades—and dead best friends even longer. But their investigation into a Thai American girl’s disappearance from her Los Angeles home puts them on a collision course with new and terrifying ghosts straight from Thai folklore that could give even a dead boy nightmares! Eisner Award-winning writer Pornsak Pichetshote (The Good Asian, Infidel) is joined by Eisner Award-nominated artist Jeff Stokely to take the Dead Boys to the scariest place of all: the heart of Hollywood!
The Sandman Universe: Dead Boy Detectives kicks off on December 27th with a bloodthirsty krasue—a floating, severed head whose internal organs trail beneath it—and amps up the mysteries and horrors from there!
“The genius of Sandman is how seamlessly it fits different genres, histories, and folklores together, something that definitely inspired Jeff and I for Dead Boy Detectives,” said Pichetshote. “As a Thai-American, I grew up around all this wonderful Thai folklore that’s never made it to American pop culture, so by introducing some of my favorite Neil Gaiman characters to the truly terrifying and bizarre world of Thai ghosts, we will give horror and Sandman fans something new.”
In Pichetshote and Stokely’s new six-issue comic book miniseries, Edwin and Charles are hired to find a missing Thai-American girl named Jai, only for her to turn up dead. Except not. Because Jai, along with her two friends Tanya and Melvin, are all ghosts like Edwin and Charles. Except not. Each child is Thai, with power unlike anything Edwin and Charles have ever seen before, and they all died in LA at different times over the past fifty years! And perilously close by to the boys’ adventure, Thessaly the witch finds herself held hostage by dangerous magics—both a threat to her life and an insult to her ego that simply will not go unanswered…
“This is definitely a horror book,” continued Pichetshote, “as the boys discover Thai black magic’s getting more powerful in Los Angeles (the home of the largest Thai population outside Thailand), and it might even be changing the rules governing ghosts. All this, while Charles and Edwin, two ghost detectives, are secretly craving changes themselves—in a coming-of-age story starring two boys who can’t grow up.”
THE SANDMAN UNIVERSE: DEAD BOY DETECTIVES #1
Written by PORNSAK PICHETSHOTE
Art by JEFF STOKELY
Cover by NIMIT MALAVIA
Variant cover by ALEX ECKMAN-LAWN
Variant cover by TYLER CROOK
1:25 variant cover by FILIPE ANDRADE
1:50 variant cover by YOSHITAKA AMANO
$3.99 US | 32 pages | 1 of 6 |
Variant $4.99 US (card stock)
ON SALE 12/27/22
The Sandman Universe grows as two of its most beloved characters return to the spotlight! Charles Rowland and Edwin Paine have been detectives for decades—and dead best friends even longer. But their investigation into a Thai American girl’s disappearance from her Los Angeles home puts them on a collision course with new and terrifying ghosts that could give even a dead boy nightmares—including a bloodthirsty krasue. Even scarier than the ghosts? Though neither wants to admit it, the boys might be growing apart. And perilously close by to the boys’ adventure, Thessaly the witch finds herself held hostage by dangerous magics—both a threat to her life and an insult to her ego that simply will not go unanswered…
Eisner Award-winning writer Pornsak Pichetshote (The Good Asian, Infidel) is joined by celebrated artist Jeff Stokely to take the Dead Boys to the scariest place of all: the heart of Hollywood!
IMAGE COMICS
Afrofuturist Sci-Fi—New Masters —
Hits Shelves In Trade Paperback This October
Nigerian brothers and co-creators Shobo Coker (Buckhead) and Shof Coker (“Moremi” feature in Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire) portray a striking vision of West Africa under the thumb of alien colonizers in the forthcoming New Masters. The trade paperback edition will collect issues #1-6 of the immersive Afrofuturist series and land in stores from Image Comics this October.
The Coker brothers are a debut creative team and were the recipients of the 2019 Creators for Creators grant.
New Masters follows a motley crew of outcasts who find themselves caught up in a power struggle for control of an ancient artifact with immense power. This is the perfect sci-fi story for fans of N.K. Jemisin’s Broken Earth trilogy and Ta-Nehisi Coates’ Black Panther.
New Masters (ISBN: 978-1534323384, Diamond Code AUG220145) will be available on Wednesday, October 19 and in bookstores on Tuesday, October 25.
Upcoming Series – All Against All –
A Primal Vision of Humanity Gone Terribly Wrong
Image Comics is thrilled to introduce the upcoming, All Against All by writer Alex Paknadel (Giga), artist/colorist Caspar Wijngaard (Home Sick Pilots), and letterer Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou (Rogues’ Gallery) and the latest from the Syzygy imprint. This five issue miniseries will offer a uniquely harrowing and vividly illustrated tale and launch in December.
All Against All is focused on a race of otherworldly conquerors in pursuit of an especially lethal predator… man. The series is set in the distant future. Earth is long gone, but a race of alien conquerors known as “the Operators” have preserved its most savage animals in an artificial jungle environment they barely understand.
With no bodies of their own, the Operators move from world to world, harvesting bodies for the organic exosuits they use to wage their endless wars. Ignored and underestimated by his captors is the habitat’s sole human specimen, Helpless.
However, when their efforts to find and harvest an apex predator intensify, he gives them far more than they bargained for.
“All Against All continues our efforts at Syzygy to produce compelling books with fantastic high-concepts as envisioned by some of the most talented and inventive creators working today,” said editor/Syzygy co-head Chris Ryall in an exclusive on the announcement at AIPT. “Alex and Caspar weave together elements of high adventure, horror, and science-fiction into a wildly thrilling series, and the added visual flair and skill that Hassan brings to each page only completes the story in such an exciting way.”
Paknadel added: “Heady survival horror is very much my jam, so I couldn’t be more thrilled to be making one with the great Caspar Wijngaard, whose work I’ve admired for as long as I’ve worked in comics, and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou, one of the most diligent and formally inventive letterers working today. Add the stewardship of the visionary Chris Ryall into the mix and I’m sure readers will agree that All Against All is a very special book indeed.”
“When Alex first floated the idea of a series that’s ‘Alien, but the human is the xenomorph,’ I was instantly onboard,” said Wijngaard. “It’s been such an awesome challenge to bring these aliens to life, relying on their fear as a rogue human stalks the dark station. Alex is a fiercely intelligent writer with a brilliant knack for dark, nuanced humour, All Against All promises to deliver fast, smart and brutal story. Don’t miss out!”
Adding to the series’ creative luster, each issue will feature covers not only by Wijngaard, but also by an amazing array of artistic talents showcased with a line of exciting variant covers.
All Against All #1 will be released on Wednesday, December 7 at local comic shops and available across many digital platforms, including Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, and Google Play:
- Cover A by Wijngaard – Diamond Code OCT220047
- Cover B by Sean Phillips – Diamond Code OCT220048
- Cover C (1:25 copy incentive) by Martin Simmonds – Diamond Code OCT220049
- Cover D (1:50 copy incentive) by Christian Ward – Diamond Code OCT220050
Forthcoming Comic Book Anthology – Soldier Stories
– Shares Four Veteran Tales This November
Top Cow gives veterans a voice through sequential storytelling in the upcoming, Soldier Stories. This anthology is set to release the week of Veterans Day, in honor of veterans, and will include the contributions of creators, Brian Anthony (USA), Jalysa Conway (UAF), Megan Ferrell Burke (USMC), and Rev. William J. Bellamy (ARNG).
“When Ken Pisani first approached us with this idea of putting out an anthology of stories written by returning veterans, we jumped at the opportunity to do it,” said Matt Hawkins (Tithe, Postal), President at Top Cow Productions.
Ken Pisani (AMP’D), who is a Los Angeles Times bestselling author integral in organizing and making this anthology possible, added: “As a longtime member of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) West, it’s always been important to me to help newer and under-represented voices tell their stories. Working with military veterans provided me with yet another opportunity to do so, and I was lucky to find these talented veterans with stories to tell—turning their experiences into entertaining genre tales that both entertain and enlighten. We’re all grateful to have found an immediate, willing partner in Top Cow.”
These stories will allow readers to step briefly into the boots of men and women who bravely served, to witness heightened versions of the sacrifices that they made during their time in the military.
“We salute their bravery and thank them for their service. Support veterans and pick up this book and share their stories,” added Hawkins.
Soldier Stories features four compelling tales of military conflict, all written by veterans who served from the Vietnam era to Afghanistan. These first-person accounts of real-life warfare have been reimagined across a variety of genres from sci-fi to horror to personal memoir. What’s it like to wait out a chemical attack? How does it feel to abandon your allies? In a world of push-button warfare, has killing gotten too easy? How do you go on when the war is over but the struggle is not? These are personal stories, compelling stories, stories that will haunt and surprise you. Because every soldier has a story.
- “Terps” by Brian Anthony & John Bivens
- “Game Over” by Jalysa Conway, Annapaola Martello, & K. Michael Russell
- “All Clear” by Megan Ferrell Burke, Arturo Lauria, & Kelly Fitzpatrick
- “The Great Man” by Rev. William J. Bellamy, Cecilia Lo Valvo, & Ryan Cody
Soldier Stories (one-shot) will be available at comic book shops on Wednesday, November 9.
Mark Millar & Juanan Ramírez Sire New
Vampire Series Night Club This December
Bestselling writer Mark Millar (The Magic Order, Kingsman: The Secret Service) and fan-favorite artist Juanan Ramírez offer up a new series for readers to sink their teeth into with the launch of Night Club. This upcoming series will take flight in December from Image Comics and will join Millar’s growing line of popular comics owned by Netflix.
Each issue of the series will boast an incredibly low price point of only $1.99.
“It’s funny. I haven’t launched a new superhero comic out there in about ten years, despite superhero comics being what I’m best known for with things like Civil War, Red Son, Old Man Logan, etc,” said Millar. “But I wanted to wait until I had a genuinely fresh take because I love these things and it had to be something really different and I wanted an artist who’s work just jumped off the page. We’re also trying an experiment to see if a full size 24 page comic-book can work at $1.99 every month. We think readers are going to LOVE this package.”
In Night Club, a group of unsuspecting 17-year-olds is bitten by a vampire and suddenly imbued with superheroic powers. The story unfolds as it asks: Now what? Do you live in the shadows and drink human blood? Or do you use your newfound abilities to become the costumed vigilante you’ve always dreamed of instead? You’re bulletproof, you can crawl up walls, and you can turn to mist, bats, or even a wolf. Why not have a little fun?
Night Club #1 will be released on Wednesday, December 14th.
The Bestselling Ice Cream Man Creators
Introduce Art Brut This December
The first major work from W. Maxwell Prince and Martín Morazzo of Ice Cream Man fame will come to Image Comics this December—fully re-lettered, remastered, and re-titled as originally intended—Art Brut.
This NPR-lauded series was first published under the title, The Electric Sublime, and will be brought to a whole new audience of readers through this carefully-crafted revision.
“How lucky we all are, to have Arthur Brut keeping watch over the world of art and keeping us all safe. A lot of people don’t know he exists, but we’re happy to remedy that this December,” said Prince in an exclusive on the announcement at Popverse.
The world of fine art is falling apart, and only Art Brut knows how to fix it. Alongside the Bureau of Artistic Integrity, Art Brut follows the titular Arthur Brut the Mad Dreampainter (and his trusty sidekick, Manny the Mannequin) as they dive back into the very paintings that made him insane…in order to save reality itself from crumbling.
Morazzo added: “Art Brut mixes two things I love the most: comics and fine arts, so it’s not a surprise it’s one of my most dearest works! I’m smiling from ear to ear knowing everybody will be able to read it soon!”
A colorful, gonzo romp through art and art history, Art Brut is equal parts police procedural, hyper-fantasy, and psychological thriller—a veritable Pollock-splatter of comics genres tossed onto one giant pulpy canvas!
Each issue features new covers, new design, and a new Silver Age-style backup story featuring the art hero that no one’s ever heard of—until now!
Art Brut #1 will be available at comic book shops on Wednesday, December 7th.
SYZYGY/IMAGE COMICS
New Syzygy/Image series, All Against All,
Coming in December from Paknadel and Wijngaard
Syzygy Publishing, an imprint of Image Comics, is thrilled to announce its latest series, All Against All, a 5-issue series focused on a race of otherworldy conquerors in pursuit of an especially lethal predator… man.
In All Against All, writer Alex Paknadel (Giga), artist/colorist Caspar Wijngaard (HOME SICK PILOTS), and letterer Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou (ROGUE’S GALLERY) join forces for a uniquely harrowing and vividly illustrated series.
It is the distant future. Earth is long gone, but a race of alien conquerors knows as “the Operators” have preserved its most savage animals in an artificial jungle environment they barely understand.
With no bodies of their own, the Operators move from world to world, harvesting bodies for the organic exosuits they use to wage their endless wars. Ignored and underestimated by his captors is the habitat’s sole human specimen, Helpless.
However, when their efforts to find and harvest an apex predator intensify, he gives them far more than they bargained for.
“All Against All continues our efforts at Syzygy to produce compelling books with fantastic high-concepts as envisioned by some of the most talented and inventive creators working today,” said editor/Syzygy co-head Chris Ryall. “Alex and Caspar weave together elements of high adventure, horror, and science-fiction into a wildly thrilling series, and the added visual flair and skill that Hassan brings to each page only completes the story in such an exciting way.”
Writer/co-creator Alex Paknadel added, “Heady survival horror is very much my jam, so I couldn’t be more thrilled to be making one with the great Caspar Wijngaard, whose work I’ve admired for as long as I’ve worked in comics, and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou, one of the most diligent and formally inventive letterers working today. Add the stewardship of the visionary Chris Ryall into the mix and I’m sure readers will agree that All Against All is a very special book indeed.”
“When Alex first floated the idea of a series that’s ‘Alien, but the human is the xenomorph,’ I was instantly onboard,” said artist/co-creator Caspar Wijngaard. “It’s been such an awesome challenge to bring these aliens to life, relying their fear as a rogue human stalks the dark station. Alex is a fiercely intelligent writer with a brilliant knack for dark, nuanced humour, All Against All promises to deliver fast, smart and brutal story. Don’t miss out!”
Adding to the series’ creative luster, each issue will feature covers by not only co-creator Wijngaard, but also an amazing array of artistic talents producing variants, too. Issue 1’s cover line-up incudes:
A cover: Caspar Wijngaard
B cover: Sean Phillips
C cover: Martin Simmonds
D cover: Christian Ward
All Against All #1, a 36-page, $3.99 comic, will be released on December 7, 2022
DARK HORSE COMICS
Stan Sakai Bringing New Imprint To Dark Horse
Dark Horse Comics is pleased to announce a new partnership with Stan Sakai’s Dogu Publishing. The Usagi Yojimbo comics universe and more will return to Dark Horse under the umbrella of a new imprint, Dogu. The announcement of this new partnership comes just ahead of the September 1 release of Season 2 of the hit Netflix animated series, Samurai Rabbit: The Usagi Chronicles, based on the world of Usagi Yojimbo created by Sakai.
Dark Horse Comics has been a longtime home of the works of Stan Sakai, most recently publishing the continuing new editions of The Usagi Yojimbo Saga. Dogu Publishing is led by Creative Chairman Stan Sakai, CEO Jeremiah Blank, COO Julie Sakai, and Daniel Fujii, President/Publisher for Dogu Publishing.
“I’m very excited, honored and thankful to have my own publishing imprint with Dark Horse,” says Sakai. “As the sole creator and owner of Usagi Yojimbo, this is a significant milestone. I’ve known Mike Richardson for more than 30 years and he is one of the pioneers and champions of creator-owned IP. As the industry continues to change, I feel he brings a unique progressive perspective.
Julie (co-creator of Chibi Usagi, Owner/Creator of Chibi Time; COO of Usagi Studios Inc.) has been a god-send and wonderful partner in all regards. Chibi Usagi and the Attack of the Heebie Chibis was my favorite collaboration. One of my proudest moments was to see her at the podium as we accepted our Eisner Award for this book. She will be bringing more Chibi stories to Dogu Publishing which will be colored by Emi Fujii, Julie’s multi-talented daughter!
Daniel (Executive Producer, Samurai Rabbit; VP of Usagi Studios Inc.) has been with me for seven years now and he has brought a new energy to the Usagi brand. His drive, vision, and most importantly, genuine love of Usagi, has been most welcomed. He saw the Netflix deal through and has many intriguing projects planned for the Usagi Universe.
Jeremiah (VP of Business Development, Stan Lee; VP of Business Development, Boxes; co-founder of Fanmio)brings the knowledge of the industry, along with his forward-thinking vision and business savvy. He is also a co-founder of the successful entertainment/tech platform, Fanmio, which hosts celebrity interactions and sells merchandise direct-to-consumer. He has exciting plans for the imprint.
Having Julie, Daniel, Jeremiah, and Emi step into the business and creative support roles has been a welcomed addition to my brand. Being the sole creator of Usagi Yojimbo takes a tremendous amount of time and responsibility. I still write, hand-draw, and hand-letter each story. Because of this new synergy, I am able to continue to do what I love most: Create more Usagi Yojimbo stories. We feel that through this imprint with Dark Horse, an expanded Usagi Universe is becoming a reality.”
“It is with great excitement that we welcome back Stan Sakai and Usagi Yojimbo to the Dark Horse family,” said founder Mike Richardson. “Stan is one of comics’ legendary creators and we are extremely proud to announce the launch of Dogu Publishing. Stan and his team are preparing new adventures with Usagi Yojimbo, as well as bringing new and important voices to the comics community. Stan and I have been friends for a very long time and I am extremely pleased to renew our partnership at Dark Horse.”
The goals of the Dogu imprint include: to create a space for up-and-coming creators and artists to be featured, andto expand the Usagi Yojimbo universe
Stan Sakai has won numerous awards for his work in comics, including most recently the Eisner Award for Best Publication for Early Readers for Chibi Usagi: Attack of the Heebie Chibis with Julie Sakai. Dark Horse and Doguplan to continue to publish Chibi Usagi, Space
Where Will You Be When The World Ends?
From Dark Horse Comics, Acclaimed creator Curt Pires (Youth, WYRD) and rising star artist Jacoby Salcedo comes It’s Only Teenage Wasteland, a new coming-of-age post-apocalyptic comic series. In addition to Pires’ and Salcedo’s work, Mark Dale will color and Micah Myers will letter. The first issue will also include a variant cover by Antonio Fuso.
When his parents go out of town for the weekend, Mexican-American high schooler Javi decides to throw a party—one that’ll launch him and his buds into popularity! Or at least get them noticed by their crushes. But when things take a turn for the worse, Javi and his friends are thrust into a situation and future they could have never have prepared for.
“I’m so excited to be back at Dark Horse telling this story with Jacoby and our amazing team. I started my career almost ten years ago with them, when they agreed to publish POP and things have only gotten better from there. This story is a spiritual sequel to YOUTH in a lot of ways, and I think fans of my work new and old will be pulled into this massive world and mystery we’re building here. This is just the first of many more exciting collaborations to come between myself and Dark Horse.”
“IT’S ONLY TEENAGE WASTELAND has been my most favorite project I’ve worked on yet! Curt and I really put our everything into this, and it is littered with all the things we love. The book though wouldn’t be what it is without our amazing colorist, Mark Dale and sick letters by Michah Myers. I think this book is really for everyone, especially readers who love great books!”
It’s Only Teenage Wasteland #1 (of 4) will be available at comic shops December 7th.
Love Comes To Patience in Resident Alien: The Book of Love
Dark Horse Comics teams up once again with Peter Hogan and Steve Parkhouse to bring you the newest chapter of the Resident Alien saga. Resident Alien: The Book of Love follows the beloved alien detective Harry on another thrilling ride as he attempts to move on from the events of the previous volume. Only this time, he attempts to navigate one of the most thrilling journeys of all–love!
The comics that inspired the hit SYFY series continue! As the government agency that was trailing Harry decides to back off, his life in Patience quiets down a little. Harry and Asta grow closer, romance blooms, and guards are let down. Life always has a way of keeping things exciting, and big things can happen in small towns.
Resident Alien: The Book of Love #1 will be in comic shops November 16, 2022.
Groo’s Trail of Mayhem Finally Receives Divine
Intervention in Groo: Gods Against Groo
Eisner Award-winning creators Sergio Aragonés and Mark Evanier team up with Dark Horse Comics to conclude the epic storyline of Groo and the gods in Groo: Gods Against Groo! In addition to co-writing this series with Mark Evanier, Sergio Aragonés works as penciller and inker, Carrie Strachan will color, and Stan Sakai will letter.
The bumbling barbarian Groo has made quite a name for himself, traveling the land and cleaving a path of destruction and cheese dip. He is either so greatly feared or favored wherever he goes, Groo’s earthly reputation causes a Groo deity to arise in the heavens! While Earthbound Groo hungers, his Divine Groo alter ego unleashes chaos! Plus, Sergio’s legendary back cover Rufferto strips return!
Groo: Gods Against Groo #1 (of 4) will be available at comic stores December 21.
Dark Horse Comics Presents:
The Witcher: The Ballad of Two Wolves
Dark Horse Comics and CD Projekt Red present an all-new story following Geralt of Rivia in The Witcher: The Ballad of Two Wolves #1. This new series is written by Bartosz Sztybor (The Witcher: Fading Memories and The Witcher: Witch’s Lament). Sztybor is joined by artist and colorist Miki Montlló, as well as letterer Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.
Hailed as the greatest monster slayer, the Witcher Geralt is beckoned to the town of Grimmwald. When a strange occurrence stirs murmurs of a werewolf on the prowl, rumors spread about the peculiar arrival of three Piglet sisters. With a grand mystery and a monster to kill, Dandelion may just find the inspiration he needs to write the perfect ballad.
The Witcher: The Ballad of Two Wolves #1 (out of 4) will be in comic book stores December 21, 2022
IDW PUBLISHING
IDW Salutes Larry Hama and the End of a Comic Book Era with
G.I. JOE: A Real American Hero #300
As 2022 draws to a close, IDW will bid farewell to its long-running series of G.I. JOE comic books with the publication of G.I. JOE: A Real American Hero #300, written by indispensable visionary Larry Hama with art by legacy fan-favorite contributor SL Gallant, inks by Maria Keane, colors by J. Brown, and letters by Neil Uyetake. The final, overlength issue of the IDW comic will be published in November, and one of its sensational cover variants—illustrated by Jamie Sullivan—sets a new world record for the most characters featured on a comic book cover!
G.I. JOE: A Real American Hero #300 marks the culmination of a culture-shifting 40-year franchise helmed throughout by industry legend Hama. Nearly every issue of the original 155-issue run was written by Hama until Marvel Comics ended publication in 1994, and when IDW acquired the license 15 years later, Hama was welcomed with open arms to continue the storyline right where he left off!
Hama, who was recently recognized for his lifetime of achievements as an inductee of the Will Eisner Award Hall of Fame, was emotional as he looked back on the 40-year legacy of the series, which has been guided and shaped from its inception by Hama’s own indelible contributions:
“I handed in the plot to G.I. JOE: A Real American Hero #300, which is the final issue of the series for IDW, with a mix of sadness and amazement. Sad, that a storyline I began in 1982 is coming to an end, and amazement that it has lasted this long. “Back in 1982, it was common knowledge that a toy licensed comic lasted one to two years at the most, and toy companies were reluctant to let a series based on a toy line run longer than three years, lest they get stuck with warehouses full of unsaleable Cabbage Patch Dolls or Beanie Babies. Every year that G.I. JOE and Transformers made it to the next season seemed miraculous.
“I remember finishing the very first G.I. JOE story, and thinking to myself that that was it, those were all the ideas I had. I had no clue what to do for the next issue.
“So I did what I’ve been doing now for forty years: I jumped into the deep end of the pool and wrote page one without any idea about what would happen on page two. Then I slogged ahead, page by page, until I got to the end.
“I’ve never been concerned about ‘plot’ or ‘continuity.’ Most of G.I. JOE is a long, continuous ret-con. My main concern has always been the characters, getting them to stand up and walk around inside their own universe. My second concern is visual storytelling—making sure the story is carried along in an impactful way by the succession of images. The words always come dead last, and that’s why I don’t identify as a ‘writer,’ but as more of a ‘penciler with a word processor.’
“I did 155 issues at Marvel, and they pretty much gave me free reign to do what I pleased. When IDW got the license, they wisely chose to turn me loose with my own methods, and I happily produced a run that is only five issues short of my Marvel run. The editors and staff at IDW have been incredibly understanding and supportive.In particular, they’ve been highly respectful and considerate of all my odd working methods and peccadillos. I’m thankful to all of them. Now, however, I have come to the end and it truly feels like leaving home, leaving characters that have been my friends for four decades—many of which are, in fact, based on my actual friends and acquaintances—and I can feel a real emptiness looming.
“Somehow, though, I suspect the story doesn’t completely end here, that the story will go on and the PIT will not be in mothballs for long. See you in the next incarnation!”
In the bombastic conclusion to IDW’s G.I. JOE: A Real American Hero, Cobra is on the verge of creating its deadliest army ever by resurrecting both dangerous villains and heroes. Will the warriors of G.I. JOE foil their archenemy’s evil machinations before it’s too late? Or will the devious Revanche robots have the last word over both the Joes and Cobra?
“Issue #300 marks a milestone for a property that has been an enduring cornerstone of nostalgia for many, many fans,” says Gallant. “From the start, my goal was to create new books that felt like lost treasures from the original run, continuing the adventure for devoted, long-time fans while also working to expand the universe so those fans would enjoy sharing these stories with their own kids. The fight for freedom hasn’t ended—G.I. JOE is still here. Yo, Joe!”
“I recently finished a 100-issue run writing IDW’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and whenever folks ask me how it felt to write all those issues, I just smile and humbly remind them that I edit for Larry Hama on G.I. JOE. 100 issues is a neat feat, but 300 issues? That’s Hall of Fame-worthy, my friends,” says IDW Group Editor Tom Waltz. “It’s been an absolute honor and privilege to be even a small part of Larry’s phenomenal run, and I couldn’t have done it without Diana Davis, our ever-faithful Research Specialist who helped keep the series firmly positioned within the proper continuity lanes that comprise the expansive canon which Larry has built over the years.”
In honor of the final issue, A Real American Hero #300 will feature a record-shattering cover image by artist Jamie Sullivan that pays tribute to the scope and impact of the 40-year-old franchise. Sullivan’s cover sets a new world record, featuring a total of 313 unique, named G.I. JOE characters together in a single image.
G.I. JOE: A Real American Hero #300, the final issue of IDW’s G.I. Joe series, will be available with six cover variants, including Covers A and B by Jamie Sullivan; Cover C by Netho Diaz; Cover D by Kieran McKeown; two retailer incentive covers by John Royle and Ron Joseph, respectively; and a special retailer incentive wraparound of Sullivan’s world record-setting cover without trade dress, so every single detail and character can be seen in its full glory.
VAULT COMICS
Vault Reveals Nightfall: Double Feature Variant Line
Vault Comics is thrilled to announce the full, terrifying variant lineup for NIGHTFALL: DOUBLE FEATURE #1. Featuring a murderers row of the medium’s greatest horror artists, this variant line will launch the year’s great horror comic event that cannot be missed!
The NIGHTFALL: DOUBLE FEATURE #1 variant lineup features:
- Maan House (Killadelphia, Cutter, Witchblade)
- Chris Shehan (Something is Killing the Children: House of Slaughter, The Autumnal)
- Jason Shawn Alexander (Killadelphia, Spawn, The Empty Zone)
- Skylar Patridge (Resonant, Wonder Woman)
- Joshua Hixson (The Plot, Children of the Woods, Shanghai Red)
- Tula Lotay (Bodies, Supreme: Blue Rose, All-Star Batman)
NIGHTFALL: DOUBLE FEATURE is brand new series of double-sized comics that contain two separate ongoing horror stories from the creators behind House of Slaughter, The Autumnal, The Plot, and Resonant. Grab your popcorn and clamber into your sleeping bag for two tales of terror just like a classic drive-in movie experience.
Feature one is THE CEMETERIANS, written by New York Times Best-Selling author Daniel Kraus (The Autumnal, The Shape of Water), drawn by Ringo Award nominee Maan House, colored by Kurt Michael Russell (The Plot, The Blue Flame), and lettered by Andworld Design. After human bones begin growing inside inanimate objects all across the globe, a renegade scientist and brilliant theologian delve into the cemeteries where the bones originated, discovering an otherworldly force tired of being buried in darkness.
Feature two is DENIZEN, written by Tim Daniel (The Plot, End After End) and David Andry (Resonant, End After End), drawn by Chris Shehan (House of Slaughter, The Autumnal), colored by Jason Wordie, and lettered by Jim Campbell. A family’s cross country road trip goes off the map and into the unforgiving wilds of Joshua Tree National Park, when mom and wife-to-be Helene succumbs to a malevolent force tucked inside an abandoned camping trailer.
“For nearly three years now, Vault has been publishing astonishingly high-quality horror tales through our Nightfall imprint,” said Nightfall mastermind, Tim Daniel. “Starting in October 2019, we chose Nightfall as the vehicle through which we could introduce horror into our catalog, aligning it carefully with our existing twin pillars of science fiction and fantasy. Series as diverse in voice and presentation such as The Autumnal, Black Stars Above, Human Remains, Hollow Heart, I Walk With Monsters, and The Plot resonated powerfully with our readers and demonstrated the startling width and breath of the genre. A discerning editorial eye also ensured that we could offer readers the same incredibly high level of quality they’d come to historically expect of the core Vault titles.”
“As our company celebrates five years of publishing excellence, this October felt like the natural time to remind everyone that Vault horror is not only here to stay, but yet again it will expand the boundaries of our line by introducing a uniquely rewarding new format for our readers.”
“And we assure you, Nightfall: Double Feature is more than just a reminder or celebration of bygone success, it is an ambitious nod towards the many more extraordinary things we’ve planned yet to come.”
NIGHTFALL: DOUBLE FEATURE #1 will hit store shelves this October, and it will feature three chilling covers by Jason Shawn Alexander, Chris Shehan, & Maan House. The full synopsis can be read below:
A 64-PAGE DOUBLE FEATURE!
Grab your popcorn and clamber into your sleeping bag for two tales of terror from the creative teams of House of Slaughter, The Autumnal, The Plot, and Resonant!
- FEATURE ONE: THE CEMETERIANS
After human bones begin growing inside inanimate objects all across the globe, a renegade scientist and brilliant theologian delve into the cemeteries where the bones originated, discovering an otherworldly force tired of being buried in darkness. - FEATURE TWO: DENIZEN
A family’s cross country roadtrip goes off the map and into the unforgiving wilds of Joshua Tree National Park, when mom and wife-to-be Helene succumbs to a malevolent force tucked inside an abandoned camping trailer.”
BOOM! STUDIOS
Iconic Lee Bermejo and Mattson Tomlin Announce
Original Series A Vicious Circle with BOOM! Studios
BOOM! Studios has announced A VICIOUS CIRCLE, a prestige 3-issue original series from director, creator of Project Power, and one of the screenwriters behind the upcoming Batman sequel, Mattson Tomlin, with Lee Bermejo, iconic artist behind the smash hits Batman: Damned and Joker, about two men cursed to roam across time and space in an unending cycle of violence and revenge, available in December 2022.
Shawn Thacker is a trained assassin from the future who seeks revenge on the only other man with his affliction—each life they take forces them both to involuntarily travel between vastly different past and future eras. Spanning from 22nd century Tokyo to 1950s New Orleans to the Cretaceous Era and beyond, the two mortal rivals are locked in a battle of wills that spans millions of years, all to alter the course of history.
With each time period, legendary artist Lee Bermejo adjusts his artististic style to pay homage to luminary comics artists and historical master painters, presented in a prestige, oversized format!
Mattson Tomlin is the screenwriter of the Netflix superhero movie Project Power starring Jamie Foxx as well as the writer/producer of the film Little Fish starring Olivia Cooke. He made his directorial debut in 2021 with Mother/Android starring Chloë Grace Moretz and his debut in comics writing Batman: The Imposter with DC Comics. Currently, he is showrunning an upcoming anime series based on The Terminator for Netflix and Skydance, writing the screenplay for Keanu Reeves’ BRZRKR based on the BOOM! Studios comic, and co-writing the upcoming sequel to The Batman with director Matt Reeves.
“Lee Bermejo is an artist of the highest caliber and getting to partner with him as we push each other into the vortex of involuntary time travel has been a uniquely satisfying experience,” said Tomlin. “I’m very excited for you to join us on this journey that unpacks the good, the evil, and the vicious meaning of life.”
Lee Bermejo is an American illustrator and writer based out of Italy. He has primarily collaborated with Brian Azzarello on series such as Joker, Luthor, Before Watchmen: Rorschach, and Batman: Damned for DC Comics. As a cover artist his work can be found on titles like Detective Comics and Hellblazer for DC Comics, amongst many others. As a writer and artist he completed Batman: Noel and Suiciders, the latter also his own creation. His latest publication is Dear Detective, a sequential collection of his Detective Comics covers.
“A VICIOUS CIRCLE is a passion project and the most deliciously challenging thing I’ve done in my career thus far. This is thanks to the collaboration with Mattson, whose gift of being able to bring intimacy and subtle nuance to epic genre concepts helps make them feel personal as much as bombastic,” said Bermejo. “ It’s also an opportunity for us to embrace and play with what makes the medium of sequential art so unique and give readers a tailored, stylistic experience to every sequence.”
A VICIOUS CIRCLE #1 features main cover art by series artist Bermejo, and variant covers by highly acclaimed illustrators Alex Garner (Batman), Jae Lee (Grim), Rafael Grampá (BRZRKR), and more.
“Mattson and Lee bring an incredible level of talent and artistry to this series that defies every expectation you might have of a comic book series, from Lee experimenting with style and execution on every page to Mattson scripting a tale that touches on billions of years of life on this planet,” said Sierra Hahn, Executive Editor, BOOM! Studios. “Raw and original in every way, A VICIOUS CIRCLE is the next big hit series you can’t miss!”
A VICIOUS CIRCLE #1 will be available for sale in December 2022 exclusively at local comic book shops.
Z2 COMICS
Alison Wonderland & Z2 Comics Announce Psychedelic,
Role-Playing-Inspired Graphic Novel, LONER
Z2 Comics and singer/songwriter/producer Alison Wonderland have announced a new graphic novel, LONER. Z2 Comics co-founder Sridhar Reddy is co-writing the book alongside Wonderland; Minomiyabi, Alex Heywood, Kelsey Ramsay, BRÄO, and Taylan Kurtulus all provide interior art, with Alex Heywood on cover art.
The project expands on the themes of isolation and redemption that punctuated Wonderland’s third full-length album of the same name, released last May. After enduring cataclysmic life shifts, Wonderland felt a deep lull that coincided with the global pandemic, ultimately allowing the musician to reflect and find empowerment throughout the following months.
The LONER graphic novel witnesses the acclaimed DJ and musician channel those themes into a dimension-spanning, psychedelic personal journey of creation and loss. The project explores the waves of panic, grief, and forgiveness that come with the highs and lows of making something beautiful. Ranging from real-life conflicts of bullying and anxiety to otherworldly sci-fi dealing with metaphysical monsters, LONER also features a fully-playable fantasy RPG module complete with character sheets and map.
“At Z2 we’ve always felt the best stories, no matter how fantastical or out there they may be, have to always come from a place of genuine truth,” explains co-writer Sridhar Reddy. “Working with Alison on this project was a gift to the creative team because, like her music, she was truthful and open to the story she wanted to tell. It’s very much her emotional journey, and we count ourselves fortunate to be on this ride with her.”
Z2 Comics and Alison Wonderland present LONER in both softcover and hardcover formats. Deluxe editions include a hand-signed edition of the book, four prints, a limited edition CD of the album with exclusive art, and custom pair of Crocs shoewear. LONER will release in winter 2023.
