This will be the first of our weekly news wrap ups for Image Comics. Moving forward we hope to do one of these every week, highlighting the news out of Image Comics. All information and pictures/cover art courtesy of Image Comics.
First up in this recap is SHIRTLESS BEAR-FIGHTER, written by Jody LeHeup and Sebastian Girner with art by Nil Vendrell. The colorist on the book is Mike Spicer and letterer is Dave Lanphear.
PORTLAND, OR, 05/19/2017 — From writers Jody LeHeup (former editor of Uncanny X-Force, Deadpool, Quantum and Woody) and Sebastian Girner (editor of SOUTHERN BASTARDS, DEADLY CLASS, BLACK SCIENCE), newcomer artist Nil Vendrell, colorist Mike Spicer (HEAD LOPPER, MYTHIC), and letterer Dave Lanphear comes a modern tall tale for the ages.
After being betrayed by the bears that raised him, the legendary SHIRTLESS BEAR-FIGHTER wanders the forest he’s sworn to protect, fist-fighting bears, eating flapjacks, and being the angriest man the world has ever known! When wild-eyed, super-strong bears attack the citizens of Major City, Shirtless ventures into the human world to do what he does best…PUNCH THOSE BEARS IN THE FACE! But all is not as it seems. Someone is manipulating Shirtless…and only by confronting the demons of his past can Shirtless hope to save his future!
IGN calls the series, “As wonderfully wild as it is completely literal,” while Pixelated Geek describes it as “over-the-top, intentionally offensive, raunchy, cheesy, campy, and totally ridiculous. It’s also, not surprisingly, really fun.” Monkeys Fighting Robots declares, “This is one of the funniest comics I have read in a long time.”
SHIRTLESS BEAR-FIGHTER is a an over-the-top action/comedy chock full of humor, colorful characters, larger-than-life battles, and high adventure. It’s the story of a wrathful man at war with himself, what happens when we allow anger to rule our lives, and what we can do to set things right.
The #WarOnBearror begins with SHIRTLESS BEAR-FIGHTER #1 (Diamond Code APR170718) on Wednesday, June 21st.
Next up is WINNEBAGO GRAVEYARD. The creative team behind this book is Steve Niles and Alison Samspon, and will be released in June with 2 different covers which you can see below.
PORTLAND, OR, 05/22/2017 — WINNEBAGO GRAVEYARD—created by Steve Niles and Alison Sampson and first announced at Image Expo—promises to take readers on spine-tingling road trip this June. Image Comics is pleased to reveal a selection of preview pages from WINNEBAGO GRAVEYARD #1, set to hit stores this June.
In WINNEBAGO GRAVEYARD #1, an American family traveling on vacation finds themselves stranded in a small town with a sinister secret. This horror-adventure story about a family stuck on a road trip gone terribly awry is filled with creepy fairgrounds, nefarious characters, seedy conspiracies, towns full of satanists, and a teenager. What else could possibly go wrong?
WINNEBAGO GRAVEYARD draws heavily on 1970s horror films, pulling inspiration from America’s dark heart wherever possible.
WINNEBAGO GRAVEYARD #1 Cover A by Sampson (Diamond Code APR170723) and Cover B by Mingjue Helen Chen (Diamond Code APR170724) hit stores on Wednesday, June 14th.
Next up is ELSEWHERE which will be released in August. The team on this book is Jay Faerber and Sumeyye Kesgin, the premise of the book will be what really happened to Amelia Earhart, which we think is a very interesting premise. It will be released with 2 covers, both of which you can see below.
PORTLAND, OR, 05/22/2017 — Comics/TV writer Jay Faerber (COPPERHEAD, Zoo) teams up with rising star artist Sumeyye Kesgin for an all-new fantastical series, ELSEWHERE, coming this August from Image Comics.
What really happened to famed airwoman Amelia Earhart? As it turns out: a lot.
Somehow transported to a strange new world filled with flying beasts and baffling alien civilizations, Amelia desperately struggles to return home. Along the way, she forges alliances and makes enemies as she goes from aviatrix to freedom fighter in a rebellion against a merciless warlord!
“ELSEWHERE is the kind of series I’ve wanted to tackle for a long time, with exotic characters, fantastic creatures, and huge scope,” said Faerber. “But I needed a relatable character to hang everything on. I found that character in Amelia Earhart—she’s inspiring, courageous, and most of all, real. And I’ve found the perfect partner to help me navigate this thrilling adventure: artist Sumeyye Kesgin. She’s incredible, and absolutely vital to bringing this world to life.”
“It’s an incredible experience working with Jay Faerber!” said Kesgin. “He’s one of the best writers I’ve ever known, and I was really fascinated when he first showed me the outline of the story. I am having fun while creating the entire ELSEWHERE universe because of my love for fantasy and aerial concepts, and I feel really honored, as a female artist, to draw Amelia Earhart.”
ELSEWHERE #1 Cover A by Sumeyye Kesgin (Diamond code: JUN170635) and Cover B by Andrew Robinson (Diamond code: JUN170636) arrives in comic book stores Wednesday, August 2nd.
Image also announced the last 5 variant covers they are doing for Pride Month in June, with 100% of the proceeds made from these June Pride variant covers being donated to Human Rights Campaign. You can see all 5 covers below courtesy of their press release.
PORTLAND, OR, 05/23/2017 — Image Comics is pleased to reveal the final five of the 11 variants planned for June’s 25th anniversary theme—“Pride Month.” The variants will serve to celebrate the LGBTQ community and the progress made by the Gay Liberation Movement in promoting inclusivity and support for all. 100% of the proceeds made from these June Pride variant covers will be donated to Human Rights Campaign.
Each month of Image’s 25th year will boast a theme for special anniversary variants.
Available in stores on Wednesday, June 7th (Final order cutoff deadline Monday, May 15th):
- THE WALKING DEAD #168 by Robert Kirkman & Charlie Adlard, cover by Adlard (Diamond Code MAR178612)
- THE DIVIDED STATES OF HYSTERIA #1 by Howard Chaykin, cover by Chaykin (Diamond Code MAR178603)
- BITCH PLANET: TRIPLE FEATURE #1 by Kelly Sue DeConnick and Valentine De Landro, cover by De Landro (Diamond Code MAR178611)
- ROSE #3 by Meredith Finch and Ig Guara, cover by Guara (Diamond Code MAR178609)
- CROSSWIND #1 by Gail Simone and Cat Staggs, cover by Staggs (Diamond Code MAR178608)
- GRRL SCOUTS: MAGIC SOCKS #4 by Jim Mahfood, cover by Mahfood (Diamond Code MAR178610)
- THE OLD GUARD #5 by Greg Rucka and Leandro Fernandez, cover by Michael Lark (Diamond Code MAR178604)
- BLACK MAGICK #6 by Greg Rucka and Nicola Scott, cover by Scott (Diamond Code MAR178605)
- DEADLY CLASS #29 by Rick Remender and Wes Craig, cover by Ed Luce (Diamond Code MAR178607)
- SHUTTER #29 by Joe Keatinge and Leila del Duca, cover by del Duca (Diamond Code MAR178606)
- REDNECK #3 by Donny Cates and Lisandro Estherren (Diamond Code MAR178737)
Rich Tommaso is back with the latest series for his SPY SEAL books when SPY SEAL #1 hits the stands in Mid-August.
PORTLAND, OR, 05/23/2017 — Critically-acclaimed cartoonist Rich Tommaso (SHE WOLF) will launch an all-new series centered on his beloved character of the same name—SPY SEAL—this August from Image Comics.
Originally created by Tommaso in his teens, SPY SEAL made a big splash when it became instantly viral last fall, generating fan enthusiasm, cosplay, and Hollywood interest before being snapped up for an ongoing series. The series’ first chapter, The Corten-Steel Phoenix, finds Spy Seal, Britain’s newest covert agent, up to his neck in saboteurs, snipers, assassins, and double agents.
“It’s wonderful and surreal to be working with material that I created as a 13-year-old kid,” said Tommaso. “I’m enjoying doing a spy story too—it’s a genre I’ve never explored in my adult career as a cartoonist.
“The approach I’ve decided to take is to illustrate, write, and design everything in the style of those mid-20th-century Franco-Belgian comics—mainly Hergé’s Tintin, which I’ve really admired for years,” added Tommaso. “I’m going for the cozy feel I get from reading those old adventure comics, sending Spy Seal around the world to see as many corners of it as he can, while flying high in amphibious planes, driving retro-modern cars, exploring secret, underground hideouts, and meeting foreign contacts in mysterious locations. Basically, run him through the gamut of obstacles Alfred Hitchcock would run his heroes and heroines through.”
SPY SEAL #1 (Diamond code: JUN170705) arrives in comic book stores Wednesday, August 16th.
Doug Wagner, Nic Rummel, and Charlie Kirchoff are teaming up for a new series titled THE HARD PLACE, which will debut in August with 3 different covers.
In THE HARD PLACE, readers meet ex-con AJ Gurney, a legendary wheelman in Detroit, who has decided it’s time to go straight. He returns home to work in his father’s garage and disappear into anonymity.
But during a visit to the bank, AJ is recognized by two violent bank robbers, and they demand AJ be their getaway driver. To ensure his compliance, they take a young female hostage; unfortunately, she happens to be the daughter of a Russian crime lord. AJ now finds himself pursued by a bitter police department and hunted by every asset of the Russian mob. Without a doubt, he’s in a very hard place.
“This book is crazy,” said Wagner. “If you’re into high-octane car chases, badass Russian mobsters, and nonstop chaos, THE HARD PLACE delivers all that in spades.”
THE HARD PLACE is a car wreck disguised as a comic book. Readers won’t want to miss a single second of it.
THE HARD PLACE #1 Cover A by Stelfreeze (Diamond Code JUN170668), Cover B by Rummel (Diamond Code JUN170669), and Cover C by Stelfreeze (Diamond Code JUN170670) will launch on Wednesday, August 23rd.
PORTLAND, OR, 05/24/2017 — Legendary creator and indy-comics pioneer Matt Wagner returns to bring fans the highly anticipated third and final story arc to MAGE from Image Comics this summer. MAGE: THE HERO DENIED will kickoff with the intro-sized issue #0 in July and carry on as a regular, 15-issue series beginning with THE HERO DENIED #1 this August
This long-awaited conclusion to the epic fantasy trilogy MAGE follows the adventures of the reluctant everyman hero Kevin Matchstick who—after encountering a shaggy and beguiling wizard—discovers he is the reincarnation of the legendary Pendragon and able to wield the power of the mystical weapon, Excalibur.
“The Hero’s journey can be long and arduous… but returning to the world of Mage always feels incredibly empowering,” said Wagner. “I’m really excited to finally be presenting this dramatic conclusion to the epic tales of Kevin Matchstick… and his third Mage.”
MAGE #0 (Diamond Code MAY170639) will hit stores on Wednesday, July 12th at the introductory price of $1.99.
For fans new to MAGE, a reprint of the MAGE, VOL. 1 trade paperback (Diamond Code MAY170640) will also be available on Wednesday, July 12th.
MAGE #1 (Diamond Code JUN170617) will hit stores on Wednesday, July 24th.
Donny Cates’ REDNECK is so popular, that the #1 issue is being given a 3rd printing! (and #2 is getting a 2nd printing). The 3rd issue is set to come out on June 28th with 2 covers (one being the Pride Month cover).
PORTLAND, OR, 05/25/2017 — The bestselling Image/Skybound series REDNECK by Donny Cates (GOD COUNTRY) and Lisandro Estherran is being rushed back to print in order to keep up with overwhelming customer demand.
In REDNECK, readers are introduced to The Bowmans—a family of vampires who have quietly run the local barbecue joint in their small town for years, living off cow’s blood. Their peaceful coexistence ends as generations of hate, fear, and bad blood bubble to the surface—making it impossible to separate man from monster.
REDNECK #1 and #2 will remain available for purchase across all digital platforms, including the Image Comics website (imagecomics.com), the official Image Comics iOS app, Comixology’s website (comixology.com), iOS, Android, and Google Play.
REDNECK #1, 3rd printing (Diamond Code APR178671), REDNECK #2, 2nd printing (Diamond Code APR178672) will be available on Wednesday, June 21st.
REDNECK #3 Cover A (Diamond Code APR170856) and Cover B Pride Month (Diamond Code MAR178737) will be available on Wednesday, June 28th.
REDNECK is not the only Image book to get a reprint, they also announced that PLASTIC #2 is getting a 2nd printing. In addition to that #3 is being released on June 21st with two different covers.
PORTLAND, OR, 05/25/2017 — The new hit series PLASTIC by Doug Wagner and Daniel Hillyard continues to fly off the shelves and will be sent back to press. Readers can’t get enough of this twisted, suspense story that Robert Kirkman calls, “the weirdest sh*t I’ve ever read. I love it!” PLASTIC #2 is being rushed back to print in order to keep up with overwhelming customer demand.
Retired serial killer Edwyn Stoffgruppen is in love with Virginia, a girl he “met online.” Her affection quiets his vile urges. Together, they tour the back roads of America in their LTD, eating doughnuts and enjoying their healthy appetites for each other. Life is good…until a Louisiana billionaire kidnaps Virginia, forcing Edwyn to kill again in exchange for her freedom. Oh, and did we mention that Virginia is a sex doll?
PLASTIC #2 will remain available for purchase across all digital platforms, including the Image Comics website (imagecomics.com), the official Image Comics iOS app, Comixology’s website (comixology.com), iOS, Android, and Google Play.
PLASTIC #2, 2nd printing (Diamond Code APR178673), PLASTIC #3 Cover A by Robinson (Diamond Code APR170847) and Cover B by Hillyard (Diamond Code APR170848) will be available on Wednesday, June 21st.
Jim Mahfood’s GRRL SCOUTS in MAGIC SOCKS #1 was so popular that it also is getting a second printing (which you can see below). In addition to that the #2 issue of his beloved book will be released in June with 2 covers.
PORTLAND, OR, 05/26/2017 — Jim Mahfood (Tank Girl, Clerks) hits big with his glorious return to the beloved GRRL SCOUTS in MAGIC SOCKS. In order to keep up with the increased demand, Image Comics is pleased to announce that GRRL SCOUTS: MAGIC SOCKS #1 will be fast-tracked to a second printing.
In GRRL SCOUTS: MAGIC SOCKS, readers meet up with Gwen, Daphne, and Rita as they reunite for a pulse-pounding psychedelic adventure through the streets of Freak City. This first issue is stuffed to the gills with an action-packed story, bonus art, soundtrack, sketchbook, and behind-the-scenes bonus content.
GRRL SCOUTS: MAGIC SOCKS will remain available for purchase across all digital platforms, including the Image Comics website (imagecomics.com), the official Image Comics iOS app, Comixology’s website (comixology.com), iOS, Android, and Google Play.
GRRL SCOUTS: MAGIC SOCKS #1, 2nd printing (Diamond Code APR178670), GRRL SCOUTS: MAGIC SOCKS #2 Cover A by Mahfood (Diamond Code APR170812), Cover B by Sienkiewicz (Diamond Code APR170813), and Cover C Pride Month (Diamond Code MAR178610) will be available on Wednesday, June 21st.
Declan Shalvey, Phillip Barrett, and Jordie Bellaire are teaming up for SAVAGE TOWN, a new graphic novel due to be released in September.
PORTLAND, OR, 05/25/2017 — Declan Shalvey (INJECTION, All Star Batman) takes the helm as a writer, with artist Philip Barrett (Matter, Where’s Larry?) and Eisner Award-winning colorist Jordie Bellaire (INJECTION, PRETTY DEADLY), for SAVAGE TOWN, an original graphic novel coming this September from Image Comics.
Loosely based on real events at the turn of the millennium, SAVAGE TOWN follows Jimmy “Hardy” Savage, the head of a small gang in Limerick City, Ireland. His presence has been tolerated, up until now, by the two large gangs that hold Limerick in their grasp. With these rival gangs, the local cops, his best mate, and his mammy all out to stick a knife in him, will he live long enough to get to the top? More importantly, will he pay me back for that fiver I gave him last week?
“SAVAGE TOWN is a gritty crime story with Irish charm,” said Shalvey. “Inspired by the troubled past of Limerick City, this story tells the tale of Jimmy Savage, a small-time crook who manages to fail his way up the criminal ladder. I’m excited for the world to discover Philip Barrett on this book, an artist who is without a doubt one of the best storytellers in Ireland right now. Pick SAVAGE TOWN up in September; it’s the best hangover cure Image can offer.”
“SAVAGE TOWN manages at once to be dark, funny, and an original and honest take on the mangy underbelly of shiny, happy, Celtic Tiger Ireland—and watch out, these fleas are hungry!” said Barrett. “I’m really thrilled and proud to be part of the team.”
SAVAGE TOWN (Diamond code: JUN170700, ISBN: 978-1-5343-0246-4) will arrive in comic book stores Wednesday, September 6th and bookstores Tuesday, September 12th. The final order cutoff deadline for comics retailers is Monday, August 14th.
SAVAGE TOWN is available for preorder via Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Indiebound, and Indigo.
Advance praise for SAVAGE TOWN:
“SAVAGE TOWN features the kind of writing and art that’ll have you devouring the whole thing at one sitting. If you like seeing comics realizing their potential, or if you just like a damn good story, this one’s so far up your street it’s parked outside your house.” —Garth Ennis (Preacher, ADVENTURES IN THE RIFLE BRIGADE)
“SAVAGE TOWN is as authentic as it is passionately constructed. Page one, panel one, you find yourself fully immersed in this very fascinating time and place. A really wonderful book.” —Rick Remender (DEADLY CLASS, SEVEN TO ETERNITY)
“One hell of a page-turner. Ireland’s answer to STRAY BULLETS, but with a voice all its own. Declan, Phillip, Jordie and Clayton are coming out of the gate with a real winner here.” —Chris Samnee (Black Widow, Daredevil)
“With SAVAGE TOWN, Shalvey and Barrett serve up a brilliant beer-soaked, working-class crime tale overflowing with quick-witted humour and an underlying desperation that will have you cheering for the shiftiest of characters.”
—Ed Brisson (Iron Fist, THE VIOLENT)
