Author: JK Parkin

House of Slay returns with a new story by Cherish Chen + Ashley Liu next week

Check out an exclusive preview of the story “The Remarkable Helen Huynh” before it lands on Webtoon and Tapas on March 7.

House of Slay, the webcomic created by and starring fashion icons Prabal Gurung, Phillip Lim, Laura Kim, Tina Leung and Ezra Williams, returns next week with a new episode written by Cherish Chen (Radiant Red) and drawn by Ashley Liu. Today we’re pleased to present a sneak preview of their short story, which will debut on both Tapas and Webtoon on March 7.

House of Slay debuted back in 2021, with the first season chronicling the fictional story of how the five fashion icons became superheroes. Season two, which debuted at the end of last year, will include in total five different short stories by different creative teams, with key art and character designs by Kevin Wada.

“While Season 1 of House of Slay was a story about five friends who come together to overpower hate, Season 2 is much wider in scope, taking us all over the world to meet fascinating new additions to the team. What’s so special about this concept is how it serves to remind us what we can do when we organize and empower ourselves,” Lim said.

Gurung sets up Chen and Liu’s story:

“In Cherish Chen’s and Ashley Liu’s story we get to meet Helen Huynh, one of the most memorable new cast members of the House of Slay universe. She’s so relatable!” Gurung said. “We are all in a constant crush of responsibilities and duties and if we don’t take time out to breathe and notice the world we’re in we can’t have a positive impact on it. Even though she’s a professional photographer, Helen’s learning how to see for the first time, and the first thing she observes is the kind of just-barely hidden injustice that’s so challenging to overcome in our society. But it’s never impossible, and that’s what House of Slay is all about.”

Continue reading “House of Slay returns with a new story by Cherish Chen + Ashley Liu next week”

Agatha Harkness takes the stage in ‘Contest of Chaos’ this summer

Heroes fueled by chaos magic will battle in Marvel’s annuals this summer.

Last week’s teaser showing several Marvel characters involved in a battle royal might have made you wonder who or what could cause your favorites to throw down like that. Well … it turns out it was Agatha all along.

Marvel has revealed more details on Contest of Chaos, a new storyline involving the now younger, rejuvenated Agatha Harkness that’ll run through the publisher’s annuals this summer. Stephanie Phillips is spearheading the event, which will kick off with a prelude issue in Scarlet Witch Annual #1 by Steve Orlando and Carlos Nieto.

“Contest of Chaos is the kind of story I would absolutely sprint to the comic store to buy as a reader,” Phillips said. “There’s action, mystery, magic and my favorite characters from all over the Marvel Universe. To be spearheading the storyline is just incredibly cool for me as a creator. It’s going to be big with ramifications for the larger universe …”

Continue reading “Agatha Harkness takes the stage in ‘Contest of Chaos’ this summer”

Celebrity chef Kim-Joy teams with artist Alti Firmansyah for the OGN ‘Turtle Bread’

The graphic novel arrives on digital from Comixology Originals in May and in print from Dark Horse this fall.

The Great British Bake Off finalist and bestselling cookbook author Kim-Joy is collaborating with Alti Firmansyah on her first graphic novel, Turtle Bread: A Graphic Novel About Baking, Fitting In, and the Power of Friendship. The project will arrive on digital via Comixology Originals in May, to be followed in print from Dark Horse Comics in October.

They’ll be joined by letterer Joamette Gil, designer Cindy Leong, and editors Felix Horne and Allison O’Toole for a project that explores not only friendship and baked goods, but also mental health issues.

“Turtle Bread is a book about self-awareness,” said Kim-Joy. “It’s about that feeling of loneliness, of not fitting in or feeling good enough, of self-criticism, and the path towards self-acceptance. This is explored through baking, and in particular, the symbolism of the turtle–coming out of its shell and moving forward; however slowly that may be. Hence: Turtle Bread! (And yes, there’s actual turtle themed bread! Plus loads of other recipes). It’s NOT a magical story about how baking and friendship fix everything, but a story about the small steps forward (and sometimes sideways and backwards) gradually adding up.”

Continue reading “Celebrity chef Kim-Joy teams with artist Alti Firmansyah for the OGN ‘Turtle Bread’”

Ghost Fox returns in ‘Archie Jumbo Comics Digest’ #338

Check out an exclusive preview of two new stories coming in next week’s digest from Archie Comics.

Ghost Fox, the teenage son of The Fox and She-Fox, returns in a brand new story appearing in Archie Jumbo Comics Digest #338, which arrives in stores March 8.

Next week’s digest includes two new stories, and courtesy of Archie we’re happy to share previews of them with you today. The first, “The Beast of Bolling Bay,” features Little Archie teaming up with Captain Valor to investigate a monster sighting in Bolling Bay. It’s by Tom DeFalco, Bill Galvan, Ben Galvan, Glenn Whitmore and Jack Morelli.

The second story features Ghost Fox embarking on a rescue mission to save his dad from Mr. Smile and Evil Heart, the Superteen persona of Reggie Mantle. The creative team on this one includes Ian Flynn, Steven Butler, Jim Amash, Glenn Whitmore and Jack Morelli.

Below you’ll find previews of both stories, plus a complete classic Little Archie tale featuring some strange alien visitors.

Continue reading “Ghost Fox returns in ‘Archie Jumbo Comics Digest’ #338”

Tillie Walden named Vermont’s next Cartoonist Laureate

The creator of “Spinning” and “On A Sunbeam” will begin her tenure in April.

The Vermont Arts Council and the Center for Cartoon Studies have announced that Tillie Walden will serve as the next Cartoonist Laureate for the state. Her tenure will begin on April 13 when she will be recognized on the Vermont Statehouse floor.

“I’m so pleased Tillie Walden will serve as Vermont’s next cartoonist laureate,” said U.S. Representative Becca Balint (D-Vermont) in a press release. “She creates richly imagined worlds that transport readers on emotional and fantastical journeys and reminds us all of the importance of having a deep sense of self. Congratulations for this special accomplishment, and thank you for being part of a unique tradition that sets Vermont apart.”

Walden is the award-winning creator of several graphic novels, including the Eisner-winning Are You Listening? and Spinning, the L.A. Times Book Prize-winning On A Sunbeam and The Walking Dead tie-in graphic novel Clementine. She has two new graphic novels due out this year — a second Clementine book and Junior High, a collaboration with musicians Tegan and Sara.

Walden will be the fifth Cartoonist Laureate for Vermont, which I believe is still the only state that has one. Her term will last three years. She joins a list that includes James Kolchalka, Ed Koren, Alison Bechdel and Rick Veitch in holding the title.

Image releases more details on Lemire + Sorrentino’s ‘Tenement’

The Bone Orchard Mythos project will kick off in June.

Jeff Lemire and Andrea Sorrentino’s The Bone Orchard Mythos horror universe will continue in June with Tenement, which Lemire referred to as “the centerpiece of our new horror universe up to this point.”

Previously teased as a six-issue miniseries, Tenement will now run 10 issues beginning in June with an oversized first issue.

“Tenement is the first book I started developing in the early days of planning The Bone Orchard Mythos with Andrea Sorrentino,”Lemire told Popverse. “In many ways it will be the centerpiece of our new horror universe up to this point. It will be our longest story so far and, like Gideon Falls, this new series will follow an ensemble of characters and the readers will really be able to spend time with them and invest in their stories. This will also be a book that starts to connect all the threads of our previous Bone Orchard books and begins to reveal the larger mythology we have been building. Andrea’s work on this one is even more mind-blowing than usual (if that’s possible).”

Continue reading “Image releases more details on Lemire + Sorrentino’s ‘Tenement’”

Joe Madureira’s ‘Battle Chasers’ returns with a new artist

Ludo Lullabi joins the creator on a comic two decades in the making.

It’s been more than two decades since the last issue of Battle Chasers came out, as creator Joe Madureira left comics for video games and issue #9 ended on a cliffhanger that’s been hanging out there since 2001.

But now Battle Chasers and Madureira are back, with issue #10 scheduled to arrive in June. The comic will feature artwork by Ludo Lullabi.

“I’ve been really moved over the years by the level of excitement Battle Chasers still generates decades after its original release,” Madureira told Gizmodo. “With the success of the Battle Chasers game ‘Nightwar’ and a TV show in the works, it felt like the perfect time to drop some new books. Working with these characters again has healed some part of my soul, and Ludo’s artwork is so incredible, I can’t wait for readers to get their hands on it.” 

Continue reading “Joe Madureira’s ‘Battle Chasers’ returns with a new artist”

Marvel + Abrams will release ‘Marvel Super Stories’ anthology in October

Jerry Craft, Mike Curato, George O’Connor, Nathan Hale, John Gallagher and more will contribute stories to the new anthology, which is edited by John Jennings.

Middle-grade creators, assemble! Marvel and Abrams have announced a new anthology for later this year featuring stories by some of the hottest names in middle-grade graphic novels. They’ll be writing and drawing six-page stories featuring Spider-Man, Ms. Marvel, Hawkeye, Shang-Chi, Hulk and many more.

The project is being edited by John Jennings, who heads up Abrams’ award-winning Megascope imprint. He’s also doing a Daredevil story for the anthology.

“I’m so thrilled to have helped bring this amazing collection of Marvel stories to a new generation,” Jennings said. “Working with these super-talented storytellers has been a dream. Marvel Comics is an institution that has inspired so many imaginations across the world, including my own. With Marvel Super Stories we get to continue that legacy, presenting the best and brightest creators coupled with the most marvelous heroes.”

Continue reading “Marvel + Abrams will release ‘Marvel Super Stories’ anthology in October”

Nominees announced for the 2022 Bram Stoker Awards

Comics by Skottie Young, Jorge Corona, Sarah Gailey, Pius Bak and more were nominated this year.

Following the reveal of the preliminary ballot earlier this year, the Horror Writers Association has announced the final nominees for the 2022 Bram Stoker Awards.

The annual awards recognize “superior achievement” in horror and dark fiction, with a category dedicated to graphic novels. This year BOOM! Studios received two nominees, while Image Comics, Moonstone and Independent Legion Publishing each garnered one nomination.

The nominees for the “Superior Achievement in a Graphic Novel” category are:

Continue reading “Nominees announced for the 2022 Bram Stoker Awards”

Naso + Muhr look to crowdfund a ‘By the Horns’ deluxe hardcover

The Scout Comics series comes to Kickstarter for a hardcover collection + a range of extras.

Markisan Naso and Jason Muhr followed up the excellent Voracious with the even better By The Horns, creating a rich fantasy world with modern sensibilities — and a woman who hated unicorns. They’re looking to collect the first miniseries, By The Horns: The Wind Rises into a deluxe hardcover, and they’ve turned to Kickstarter to fund it.

The series and its follow-up, as well as trade paperback collections, were released by Scout Comics, but to do something special like a hardcover, the team said they had to turn to crowdfunding. Scout Comics is not involved with the crowdfunding campaign.

“Sure, By The Horns has a publisher and loyal fans, but the series still takes a lot to put it together and it’s a small, indie comic,” they said on their Kickstarter page. “All the costs to create the book come out of our pockets up front. So, when it comes to doing something really big thing like a hardcover edition, we just need a little help to make it happen.” 

Continue reading “Naso + Muhr look to crowdfund a ‘By the Horns’ deluxe hardcover”

Uncivilized Books launches a new ‘Comic Book Club’ on Patreon

See what comic books will arrive from the publisher later this year.

Uncivilized Books is probably best known for their graphic novel releases these days, but according to publisher Tom Kaczynski, “The stapled floppy comic book is a perfect format.” So they’re doubling down on comic releases in 2023 and have even launched an Uncivilized Comic Book Club on Patreon.

“I love graphic novels, but the comic book is my first love,” Kaczynski said in their most recent newsletter. “Uncivilized started as a mini comics publisher; eventually, we transitioned to graphic novels, with only rare comic book thrown into the mix. Since we began to serialize Ginseng Roots a few years ago, the comic books bug has taken hold!”

Craig Thompson’s 12-issue Ginseng Roots series may be wrapping up soon, but you’ll be able to find plenty of comics from Uncivilized. Here’s a look at what they have planned for 2023:

Continue reading “Uncivilized Books launches a new ‘Comic Book Club’ on Patreon”

Can’t Wait for Comics | Lemire + Walta hit the ‘Phantom Road’ this week

Check out what new comics and graphic novels will arrive in stores this week by Jeff Lemire, Gabriel Walta, Stephanie Phillips, Juann Cabal, Tom King, Greg Smallwood, Casey Gilley, Joe Jaro, PrestonPlayz, the cast of the new Shazam! movie and more.

Welcome to Can’t Wait for Comics, your guide to what comics are arriving in comic book stores, bookstores and on digital.

I’ve pulled out some of the highlights below, but for the complete list of everything you might find at your local comic shop and on digital this week, you’ll want to check out one or more of the following:

As a reminder, things can change and what you find on the above lists may differ from what’s actually arriving in your local shop. So always check with your comics retailer for the final word on availability.

Continue reading “Can’t Wait for Comics | Lemire + Walta hit the ‘Phantom Road’ this week”