The Comics Super Blog!
Amanda Waller has big plans for the DCU next year.
If you were wondering if the Dawn of DC — and its snappy graphics — would continue into 2024, you are in luck. Today DC revealed a teaser for the “trinity of evil” that will hit after the big Beast World crossover that kicks off later this month.
Without further ado, here’s the new teaser image, promising something “evil” for next year:
Continue reading “‘Dawn of DC’ continues into 2024 with ‘Suicide Squad: Dream Team,’ ‘House of Brainiac’ + more”The publisher’s spring line also includes ‘Maple Terrace’ by Noah Van Sciver and Jenna Cha and Lonnie Nadler’s ‘The Sickness.’
Uncivilized Books has announced plans to publish a new graphic novel and two collections of their single-issue series next spring.
“Uncivilized has championed innovative comics, graphic novels, and criticism for over a decade, and our spring publications embody all our obsessions,” Uncivilized Books Publisher and CEO Tom Kaczynski said, “from Ozge Samanci’s treasure hunt and political thriller to Noah Van Sciver’s nostalgic memories of the comic book collectors craze to Jenna Cha and Lonnie Nadler’s unsettling historical horror epic.”
Evil Eyes Sea by Ozge Samanci is a “feminist political mystery” set in Turkey in 1995.
“The autobiographically-inspired story I tell in Evil Eyes Sea emerged from my college years in Istanbul, my quirky friends, and my struggles with being a young woman in Turkey’s male-centric culture,” Samanci said. “In this book, I share a window into a country where narrow political views limit personal power — a place that can be beautiful, but also cruel.”
You can read more about Evil Eyes Sea, as well as the collections of Maple Terrace and The Sickness, below.
Continue reading “Uncivilized Books will publish Ozge Samanci’s ‘Evil Eyes Sea’ + more next year”The new format will begin arriving in stores next summer.
DC has announced a new line of “compact” graphic novels, as they plan to re-release several titles from their backlist in a smaller format and at a lower price point.
The format, 5.5″ x 8.5″, is closer in size to the ever-popular manga format and what you might find overseas, than the current standard 6.5″ x 10″ format.
“The DC Compact Comics price and sizing is perfect for readers of prose and manga looking to pick up a new-reader-friendly storyline in a self-contained full color graphic novel,” said Anne DePies, SVP & General Manager, DC. “This 5.5″ x 8.5″ paper cut is the most widely circulated softcover book size in the U.S. and is popular among graphic novel aficionados in international markets. At $9.99, it’s a great price point for retailers to stock these classic titles. For readers, DC Compact Comics deliver a new graphic novel reading experience that fits in the palm of their hands, with no loss of readability.”
Continue reading “DC announces a ‘Compact Comics’ graphic novel line”“Oni 2024” will bring new comics from Olivia Cuartero-Briggs, Zac Thompson, Roberta Ingranata, Chris Condon and more.
Following their partnership announcement with the Nacelle Company, Oni Press heads into New York Comic Con by announcing several new miniseries that will land the first months of 2024, dubbed “Oni 2024.”
Including Invasive by Cullen Bunn and Jesús Hervás, which was announced in San Diego this summer, the initiative begins with five new titles “that will fully embrace the potential of the comics medium to invert, collide and reinvent the foundational genres of horror, science fiction, crime, fantasy and beyond throughout the new year.” More titles are planned for subsequent months.
Continue reading “Oni Press announces four new titles for 2024”The Sectaurs, Power Lords, Robo Force and more will return as part of a connected universe next year.
Oni Press and the Nacelle Company have announced a line of comics based on old toy and animation properties, including the Sectaurs, Biker Mice from Mars, Robo Force and more.
The Nacelle Company has been gathering up these properties since they were formed in 2017, with the idea to turn them into new cartoons, toys, films, podcasts and, now, comic books and graphic novels. Some of them appeared in comics decades ago as tie-ins to the original toy line or cartoon, back in the 1980s and 1990s when deregulation led to a huge influx in toy lines supported by animated shows that were as much ads for the toys as they were stories abut the characters. And in some cases, maybe more so. (Box Brown’s excellent The He-Man Effect tells the story of that particular era really well). Nacelle revealed several of the toy revivals at this year’s Toy Fair.
“Toys and comics have a long and storied history of mutual admiration and cross-collaboration. From Transformers and Micronauts to G.I. Joe and ROM, some of the most impactful comics stories ever told have drawn inspiration from the world of toys. Alongside our partners at Nacelle and our amazing cast of creators, we’re working to craft the next chapter in that time-tested legacy,” said Oni Press President and Publisher Hunter Gorinson. “Having seen firsthand Nacelle’s exciting and ambitious plans for the future, I know toy fans and comic readers alike are going to have a lot to look forward to in the Nacelleverse.”
Continue reading “Oni Press + the Nacelle Company team for a new line of comics”Madam Satan, the Toybox of Terror and more will return in new one-shots from the publisher.
After slowing down during the pandemic, the Archie Horror line found new life last year when the publisher unleashed a wave of one-shots for the Halloween horror season. This year the publisher has planned another “Month of Mayhem” for the fall, with new chills and returning characters.
“We’re so excited to return to our Month of Mayhem event this year, celebrating all things horror and Halloween throughout October,” said Archie Comics Senior Director of Editorial Jamie L. Rotante. “From a psychological thriller in Welcome to Riverdale and a collection of middle-grade horror tales in Toybox of Terror, not to mention all the Halloween fun in our classic-style comics and digests, there’s truly something for every Halloween lover from Archie!”
Here’s a look at what to prepare for.
Continue reading “Archie Horror’s ‘Month of Mayhem’ returns for a second year”The publisher plans both new and reprint titles, which will kick off next year.
Mad Cave Studios and King Features have announced plans for Mad Cave to publish new Flash Gordon comics, along with reprints of older material and graphic novels.
In addition Papercutz, the middle-grade imprint owned by Mad Cave, will publish new Flash Gordon comics aimed at that younger audience.
“As one of the first action heroes Flash Gordon has always been powerhouse in the comics universe,’ said Christina Nix Lynch, King Features’ licensing director. “We’re delighted to have a partner like Mad Cave Studios on board who are true Flash fans as well as publishing experts. This program will bring a long-awaited, regular stream of new and legacy content to generations of readers.”
Continue reading “Flash Gordon will soar again at Mad Cave”Alien Books will take over publishing comics for Valiant, with plans to increase the overall number of titles featuring Valiant characters.
Valiant Entertainment has announced a publishing partnership with Alien Books, where Valiant is essentially outsourcing their publishing to the fledgling publisher. According to Popverse, the deal will see Alien Books “take over all publishing of Valiant properties.”
This is not completely unexpected; the surprising part — and good news for fans of the characters — is that Valiant’s comic line isn’t just fading away. For the past couple years Valiant’s output has declined considerably, with the publishing line seemingly on life support as they published somewhere between 0-2 titles per month. The press release said Alien would “expand Valiant’s publishing capabilities,” with clarifications from Popverse and the Beat both saying this is pretty much the end of Valiant publishing their own comics (and graphic novels and the like). The Beat adds that “some remaining Valiant staffers will stay on to work on the transition.”
Continue reading “Valiant, Alien Books announce a publishing partnership”The publisher will still work with Diamond for bookstore distribution.
Image Comics will join DC Comics and other publishers at Lunar Distribution for their direct market distribution. Beginning with their September titles, which will be solicited in June, Image will shift away from Diamond Comics Distributors to a new distributor for the first time since the company was founded three decades ago.
“We have enjoyed our relationship with Diamond over the decades and we have made some wonderful friends there, so this decision has been a difficult one,” said Erik Larsen, a founder and current CFO at Image Comics. “It was not a move that we made lightly, though, and ultimately, the change was made because of the benefits to readers and retailers who are our real customers. There are services Lunar will provide that will make it easier for stores to buy our titles, and for fans to find our books. This is a big win for them, and we hope this new partnership is as strong and long-lasting as the previous one. We wish Diamond nothing but the best as we look toward the future.”
Continue reading “Image Comics signs exclusively with Lunar for direct market distribution”The appointments follow last week’s restructuring and elimination of 39% of their workforce.
Following the cuts that IDW Media Holdings made to its staff last week, IDW Publishing has announced who will be serving in several key roles.
Publisher Nachie Marsham was one of the 28 people let go last week, and IDW announced that Mark Doyle and Tara McCrillis have been promoted to co-publishers. McCrillis joined IDW back in 2019 as director of design and production, then was promoted to VP of publishing operations in 2021.
“Mark’s tireless dedication and vision have been integral to IDW’s growth and success, and I am thrilled for this opportunity to partner with him on our publishing efforts,” McCrillis said in a statement. “Together with our amazingly talented editorial and design teams, we will continue to elevate IDW’s creative output and strengthen our relationships with partners, retailers, creators, and fans.”
Continue reading “Doyle, McCrillis named co-publishers of IDW; Rich named editor-in-chief”The parent company of the publisher of ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,’ ‘Star Trek’ and more will also delist its stock from the New York Stock Exchange.
IDW Media Holdings, the parent company of IDW Publishing, announced “significant moves in response to operational challenges,” including the elimination of 39 percent of its workforce.
Their 8-K statement to the Securities and Exchange Commission states that 28 employees were laid off yesterday. “The Board has elected to take these actions to preserve capital and put the Company in a better position possible to unlock value from its assets, including its intellectual property and ability to generate new intellectual property,” it states.
According to a report at The Beat, “the entire marketing and PR staff and half of editorial have been let go, including publisher Nachie Marsham,” who joined the company in 2020 after longtime IDW employees Chris Ryall, Dirk Wood and Alex Cox all left the company. IDW built a solid bench of editorial pros after those changes, and it’s really disheartening to hear that they’re having to go through this.
Continue reading “IDW cuts 39% of staff ‘in response to operational challenges’”The new publisher will offer creators an ownership stake in the company.
If you’ve been wondering what comiXology co-founder David Steinberger and former comiXology Originals head Chip Mosher have been doing lately, wonder no more. Today the duo have launched DSTLRY [pronounced “distillery”], a “next-generation comics publisher that redefines creator-owned comic books and collectibles.”
The new company will offer “limited physical and digital item drops, available online or in-store at local comic shops, while providing creators with fairer deals alongside company ownership.” There’s a lot to unpack from their press release, so let’s jump in … but first, here’s an image of DSTLRY’s founders drawn by Tula Lotay:
Continue reading “Two Comixology vets return to comics with DSTLRY”
