Slugfest is a roundup of cool announcements about projects coming to a shelf near you. With the 2024 San Diego Comic Con now in the books, this edition covers news and tidbits from the weekend I haven’t already covered. Hit the links for more information.
I’m not sure when or where this was announced this past weekend, but Paul Azaceta has shared on social media and through his newsletter that he’s working with writer Rick Remender and colorist Matheus Lopes on The Seasons, which will be released through Remender’s Giant Generator imprint at Image Comics.
“We really have something we’re both proud and excited to be putting together for you,” Azaceta said in his newsletter. “Something new from us. And something a bit different than the usual offerings on the stands. We worked hard on building this little world, creating these four sisters and what this book will be. But this is only the beginning!”
Azateca didn’t share much about what the new series is about, beyond that it’s “an imaginative adventure that follows four sisters through an evil circus filled with dark magic and deadly consequences.” He said it’s scheduled to begin in January.
In other “I saw it on Twitter” news, Joseph Illidge revealed he’s writing a new Shadow Cabinet series for DC/Milestone Media, which will feature artwork by Darryl Banks and Atagün İlhan. “The Avengers: Endgame of the Milestone Universe begins 11/5/24,” he said. He also posted that he’s writing something for Todd McFarlane’s Spawn universe, as well as a “secret project” for Mad Cave Studios.
Shadow Cabinet resurrects the title originally created by Dwayne McDuffie, Robert L. Washington III and John Paul Leon back in the 1990s. The team featured Iorn Butterfly, Donner, Blitzen and Iota, among others, working with the mysterious leader Dharma to “save humanity from itself, no matter what that requires.”
Abrams ComicArts, who are known primarily for publishing original graphic novels and their partnership with Marvel, are getting into the single-issue business. The Beat reports that Abrams Comics will begin distributing comic books in November through the direct market, and their initial line-up includes:
- Human Nature is written by Darren Aronofsky, Ari Handel, and Jeff Welch, with art by Martín Morazzo, colors by Chris O’Halloran and letters by Aditya Bidikar. It begins in November and will be released monthly.
- Pandora, which was originally published by Frank Miller Presents, will move to Abrams Comics starting with issue #7 in December. The series is co-written by Miller, Chris Silvestri and Anthony Maranville, with art by Emma Kubert and letters by Pete Carlsson. It’ll come out bi-monthly.
- Invasive Species, which kicks off in January, is also written by Miller, wth art by Ryan Benjamin and John Livesay, colors by Alex Sinclair and letters by Carlsson.
Reactor reports that Fred Fordham, who has adapted classics like To Kill a Mockingbird and Brave New World into graphic novels, will next turn his talents to Ursula K. Le Guin’s A Wizard of Earthsea.
First published in 1968, the influential, award-winning book tells the story of Ged, a young sorcerer whose hunger for power unleashes a terrible shadow upon the world.
“For all its influence, A Wizard of Earthsea still feels unique to me,” Fordham said. “It’s the most poignantly written and mysterious portrayal of magic and personal development that I’ve encountered in a fantasy story. It’s been great working with Theo Downes-Le Guin to try to faithfully adapt such beautiful words into a new medium. Daunting, but great.”
In addition to their upcoming series featuring DuckTales and Thundarr the Barbarian, Dynamite also announced this weekend:
- Shepherds, a new graphic novel written by Guardians of the Galaxy actor Sean Gunn. It’s about a near-future where humans are MIA, and dogs and wolves band together to survive. No creative team or release date was announced.
- Fiberglass, a new title by actor Kyle Allen (A Haunting in Venice), Anders Ravenstad, Dennis Culver and Geoffo.
- With the announcement of Thundarr, Dynamite also announced several other titles that are “in the pipeline” from their licensing agreement with Warner Bros, including Ben 10, Captain Planet and the Planeteers, The Herculoids and Dynomutt & Blue Falcon. Writer Tom Sniegoski is working on The Herculoids.
“I know this is gonna sound stupid, but ever since I was a little Sniegoski-ling, I’ve been in love with these characters forever,” Sniegoski said. “I can’t tell you how excited I am for this project and can’t wait to show the fans what I’ve got planned.”
Former Wildstorm and IDW editor Scott Dunbier attended the show this weekend to announce plans for his new comics publisher, Act 4. Dunbier is a multiple Eisner winner — and in fact won another one this weekend for his work on Comics for Ukraine — and the genius behind the Artist’s Edition format. Dunbier will continue to publish Artist’s Editions at his new company, starting with collections of artwork by Jim Aparo, Wally Wood and Jason Pearson. He also plans to collect Darwyn Cooke’s run on The Spirit, originally published by DC Comics, and Walt Simonson’s Ragnarok, which was published by IDW. There’s also a new volume of Ragnarok stories coming, as well as reprints of two out-of-print art books by Dave Stevens. No word yet on when and how they’ll be available — it doesn’t look like Dunbier has a website yet for his new venture, but it’s exciting to see what he’s doing post-IDW.