During the New York Comic Con this past weekend, Dynamite revealed more details on their upcoming Herculoids series, which was first mentioned in San Diego this summer. Tom Sniegoski and Craig Rousseau will bring Zandor, Tara, Igoo and the rest of the crew from the 1960s Hanna-Barbera cartoon series to comics.
“I can honestly say that getting the chance to write The Herculoids series for Dynamite is one of the highlights of my comics career,” Sniegoski said. “Having the opportunity to get into the minds of these characters has been a real challenge, but also incredibly fun. Who wouldn’t want to write a giant rock ape?! And equally exciting is seeing what artist Craig Rousseau is doing with my scripts. I think there are going to be some very pleased Herculoids fans out there when they see his art.”
If you’re not familiar with the cartoon, the Herculoids ran for 18 episodes in the late 1960s, with new episodes being produced in the early 1980s after its reruns gained a fan following. Set on the planet Amzot, the series blended science fiction and fantasy elements as Zandor, his wife Tara and their son Dorno led a team of alien creatures against an endless supply of villains, mad scientists, mutants, giant ants and more. Luckily Zandor and company had the help of the space dragon Zok, the rhinoceros-like Tundro, the rock ape Igoo and two shape-shifting balls of goo named Gloop and Gleep.
Like the cartoon, the stories will involve the Herculoids protecting their home planet:
The legendary planet of Amzot sits in the far reaches of deepest, darkest space. It’s a planet of extreme riches, but those who seek it out are routinely struck by untold disaster and terrible fates. Anyone who manages to survive to tell the tale speaks of horrific, imposing guardian monsters that protect it. Yet raiders and explorers continue coming, only to meet the Herculoids again and again!
“The Herculoids is one of those dream gigs that comes along so rarely, I couldn’t jump fast enough to say ‘YES!’ to drawing Zandor, Tara, Dorno, Igoo, Tundro, Zok, Gleep and Gloop,” Rousseau said. “I grew up with the cartoon and can’t wait to tell their continuing stores with one of my favorite creative partners, Tom Sniegoski.”
The first issue will feature covers by Francesco Mattina, Dan Panosian, Bjorn Barends, Joseph Michael Linsner (shown above) and Mike Mignola:
And here’s a look at some of Rousseau’s developmental artwork for the series:
The first issue of Herculoids will arrive in February.