Mail Call | ‘Spawn’s Universe’ #1 orders exceed 200,000

Mail Call is a roundup of the announcements we’ve received from comics publishers in our mailboxes recently that we haven’t already covered. Hit the links for more information.

Never let it be said that kids don’t still love chains. Image Comics and Todd McFarlane Productions sent out a release this week touting that the upcoming Spawn’s Universe #1 has shattered the record for “Image Comics’ top selling, first issue comic book of the 21^st century by selling well over 200K units.”

The release goes on to mention that the comic is only the beginning for this year’s Spawn-pocalypse; Spawn’s Universe #1 will arrive in June, followed by King Spawn #1 in August, Gunslinger #1 in October and The Scorched #1 in December.

McFarlane announced his intentions to expand the Spawn universe of titles back in February, working with other creators like Carlo Barberi, Brett Booth, J. Scott Campbell, Greg Capullo, Donny Cates, Jim Cheung and many more. With three more titles spawning this year, we’ll see if Spawn’s Universe‘s record holds.

Larry Hama returns to Wolverine in X-Men Legends

Larry Hama, who wrote the Wolverine ongoing series back in the 1990s, will return to the character in the pages of X-Men Legends. He’ll be joined by artist Billy Tan, and the story will feature several mainstays from Hama’s run on the title — Jubilee, the Hand and Lady Deathstrike. No mention of Albert, though.

X-Men Legends #7 arrives in September, and Hama follows Fabian Nicieza, Walt Simonson and Louise Simonson in telling new stories set in the past featuring the X-Men and related characters.

Hama, Liefeld to draw Snake Eyes cover

Speaking of Larry Hama, IDW and Rob Liefeld have enlisted him to draw a cover for the fifth and final issue of Snake Eyes: Deadgame, which Liefeld has inked. While best known as a writer, especially as the writer of Marvel’s G.I. Joe comic back in the 1980s, Hama worked as an artist back in the 1970s.

Hama isn’t the only creator Liefeld has brought in for the finale; while Liefeld worte and penciled the issue, he’s brought in a long list of creators to ink/finish his work, including Neal Adams, Jerry Ordway, Whilce Portacio, Karl Kesel, Art Thibert, Philip Tan, Dan Panosian, Jim Rugg, Kevin Eastman and more.

“I never dreamed the Snake Eyes: Deadgame finale would go out in such style, jamming alongside some of the greatest, most celebrated artists and creators in the history of comic books,” says Liefeld. “It’s been a dream come true, collaborating with my favorite artists in the business, past and present! The fans are in for something really special!”

Bad Idea announces they are shutting down (Maybe?)

Bad Idea, the comics company that only sells print comics in limited quantities to a select group of retailers they police like hawks, has announced “plans” to shut down, stating “Bad Idea as we know it must end.”

Their message on their impending doom is worded in such a way that many folks aren’t buying it. But even if it isn’t just a marketing stunt, they plan to ride out the same way they came in: with even more “bad idea” marketing stunts. They followed the announcement with one about their “final five” titles (15 issues total), which fans will have to order before they even know what they are or who is creating them:

The next and final wave of BAD IDEA books — a line-up we call the FINAL FIVE — consists of five mind-melting, long box-busting titles of pure comic book brilliance by, what is without a doubt, the greatest collection of writers and artists ever convened. An assemblage of comics so guaranteed to excite and dazzle that we’re going to offer them for a very special blind pre-order!

No details about the FINAL FIVE stories, titles or the creators will be revealed until Thursday, June 17th. However, one day prior to the unveiling we will be holding BAD IDEA’S FINAL FIVE PRE-ORDER DAY event — a chance to pre-order all five of the final BAD IDEA books and guarantee nothing BAD IDEA-y prevents you from completing your FINAL FIVE collection.

Source Point Press unleashes Suicide Jockeys in August

Writer Rylend Grant, artist Davi Leon Dias, colorist Iwan Joko Triyono and letterer HdE, who worked together on Aberrant, will re-team for Suicide Jockeys, a new series from Source Point Press.

Here’s the description: Ten years after a catastrophic mission gone wrong, Denver Wallace, leader of the Suicide Jockeys – a poor, usually drunken, almost certainly mentally ill crew of monster – fighting, tank – and – aircraft – piloting suckers – must pick himself up off of the proverbial and literal floors, slap his estranged, desperately – fractured team back together and right what once went wrong.

The first issue arrives Aug. 25.

Peach Momoko’s Demon Days continues in September

Demon Days, the series of one-shots from writer/artist Peach Momoko that presents her own unique interpretation of the Marvel Universe, will continue in September with Demon Days: Cursed Web. This volume will again feature Mariko, as well as Momoko’s interpretations of Sabretooth and Mystique.

“It’s been a lot of fun carefully thinking about how to reimagine Marvel characters into my Momoko-verse,” Momoko said. “Keeping just enough of the character so people can guess who it is but changing it enough to create something very unique. With that in mind, I love getting to come up with ideas and stories around these characters to tell my story. I hope everyone enjoys the Momoko-verse.”

Check out a preview below:

AfterShock announces 10 Years to Death

Writer/actor Aaron Douglas, artist Cliff Richards and colorist Guy Major will team up for 10 Years To Death, another horror one-shot from AfterShock Comics.

Per the publisher, the one-shot is about “a newly-hired prison guard, a notorious mass murderer finally incarcerated for his crimes, and the death that binds them together. What happens when the murdered becomes the murderer?”

“This is a story born out of an experience I had as a young boy with one of my uncles and my dad,” Douglas said in the release. “I snuck to a spot in the house to listen to my uncle relate his tale to my dad. It confused and terrified me at the time and to this day I still have a very creepy feeling inside when I tell it to people. I think it is a fascinating story and whenever I tell it people are enthralled and I want to share it with a wider audience. I hope this can achieve that.”

Check out a preview below, along with the book’s main cover by Richards. Michael Gaydos drew the retailer incentive cover, shown above. It arrives in stores Sept. 29.

TKO Studios release 3 more shorts

TKO Studios has added three new comic to its line of “shorts” — River of Sin, Roofstompers and The Walk. These short story, done-in-one comics can be purchased for $3 each on the TKO website:

River of Sin: Children are being found dead and mutilated in the woods. Alonso fears this might be the fate of his daughter. In a desperate hunt for answers, he and the other grieving parents must take matters into their own hands. Could it be the suspected Bruja, hungry for young blood, or is there a bigger secret among the townsfolk? Discover the truth in RIVER OF SIN by Kelly Williams and Chas! Pangburn.

Roofstompers: Far away from the pressures of being a surgeon in New York City, Cassie decides to take a solo hunting trip to Wyoming. There she is attacked and luckily rescued by a middle-aged couple living in an isolated cabin with their son. After weeks, she isn’t getting any better and she begins to question the couple’s motives and the strange nightly visits that they dismiss as the “Roofstompers.”

The Walk: Alice and her team of aquatic explorers are eager to study what lies beneath the Atlantic Ocean. Stationed at the Midnight Zone, 2000 meters below the surface; their supplies start to run out. In a dangerous expedition to survive, they must push through but soon realize that the ocean is more vast, dark, and mysterious than they could have ever imagined.

Marvel previews X-Men #1

A new team of X-Men springs out of the Hellfire Gala into a new series that launches July 7. Check out some preview pages by Gerry Duggan, Pepe Larraz and Marte Gracia below:

“It’s my privilege and honor to be reteamed with Pepe Larraz as we throw beautiful and deadly threats at the X-Men beginning in July,” Duggan said. “Mutants have saved themselves, and are now going to save the world. Krakoa will grow roots in the capitol of the world, New York City, and the inaugural year will star Cyclops, Marvel Girl, Rogue, Wolverine, Synch, Sunfire and Polaris. The threats to Earth will come fast and hit hard, and every page from Pepe and Marte will blow your hair back. See you in July.”

Skybound previews Skybound X #1

Skybound X is a July-debuting miniseries that will celebrate 10 years of the company formed by The Walking Dead writer/co-creator Robert Kirkman and all the comics they’ve published. The first issue of the anthology also comes out July 7, and Skybound has shared new preview pages for three of the stories it will include: “Rick Grimes 2000,” Ultramega and Manifest Destiny (which looks particularly fun):

Another Captain America debuts in United States of Captain America #4

The United States of Captain America #4 will introduce another new Captain America, this time Ari Agbayani, a Filipino-American college student who fights for the rights of her fellow students on campus. She was created by Alyssa Wong and Jodi Nishijima.

“When editor Alanna Smith approached me about creating a new, local Captain America for this series, I immediately knew I wanted to write a Filipino-American girl,” Wong said. “There just aren’t very many of us in comics! I grew up without a Filipino-American community for the most part, so every time I see a Filipino character, I get excited. And getting to create one—a Captain America, even!—feels incredibly special.”

“I’m honored that my debut at Marvel could coincide with such an important and unique project,” Nishijima said. “To be able to lend my thoughts and experiences to a property and concept I greatly admire, as well as work alongside such talented and diverse creators, brings me an excitement that cannot be understated. Ari’s design was inspired by all the girls I’ve known in my life who in their day to day appear very sweet and empathetic, but when challenged can be terribly fierce. Her style is very much what I and my friends would feel comfortable and confident in wearing as well! I hope that her youthful design is well communicated and relatable, but no matter what I’m so glad that I could help bring her to life!”

Check out two of the covers for The United States of Captain America #4 by Gerald Parel and Peach Momoko below.

BOOM! will Eat the Rich in August

Author Sarah Gailey, artist Pius Bak, colorist Roman Titov and letterer Cardinal Rae are teaming for Eat the Rich, a new miniseries from BOOM! Studios about “the unspeakable horrors lying in wait within the perfect facade of the idyllic lives of the one percent.” The first issue arrives in August.

“Eat the Rich is about class inequality and the systems that allow the wealthy to feed on vulnerable people. It’s also a feverish love letter to the soapy primetime dramas I hold dear,” said Gailey. “This has been years in the making, and I couldn’t be more excited to share it with the world. Welcome to Crestfall Bluffs, friends. I hope you’re hungry.”

Additional covers and preview art can be seen below.