No saving throw: Dark Horse launches a new ‘Dungeons & Dragons’ ongoing series

Jackson Lanzing, Collin Kelly and Ibraim Roberson assemble Faerûn’s most legendary heroes as a draconic apocalypse looms over the Forgotten Realms.

Dark Horse continues its partnership with Wizards of the Coast with the launch of Dungeons & Dragons, a new ongoing series written by Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly, with art by Ibraim Roberson, Arabson Oliveira and Dan Brown, and letters by Haley-Rose Lyon.

Dark Horse has published miniseries based on the popular roleplaying game since they picked up the license, including Dungeons & Dragons: Total Party Killers, which debuted this past Wednesday (the first issue was great, if you haven’t read it yet). But this will be the first ongoing comic series based on D&D since the early days of IDW’s comics.

“This book is the very definition of a passion project for us,” said Kelly. “We’ve been roleplaying together for as long as we’ve been a writing team, which is only slightly less than we’ve been friends. Playing D&D is how we started to fuse our individual storytelling instincts into the incredible blade of our partnership; if a table wants to tell imaginative, emotional stories, then it needs to work off of a core of collaboration, creativity and trust. It’s one of the reasons that we think D&D is one of the greatest games ever made. Yes, the mechanics and game design are tip-top – yes, its magic system is incredible and we will be using it to its ABSOLUTE FULLEST – but MOST IMPORTANTLY…D&D is a game that can never be ‘won,’ but which can make you a better person through playing. Of course, player catharsis only comes from character pain…and sadly for our characters, we’re about to end the world.”

Continue reading “No saving throw: Dark Horse launches a new ‘Dungeons & Dragons’ ongoing series”

Brenden Fletcher, Karl Kerschl + Becky Cloonan re-enroll at ‘Gotham Academy’

The creative team behind the fan-favorite series team with new interior artist Marco Ferrari on ‘Gotham Academy: First Year.’

Class is back in session this fall at Gotham Academy, as original creators Brenden Fletcher, Karl Kerschl and Becky Cloonan are joined by new interior artist Marco Ferrari for the six-issue Gotham Academy: First Year.

“I’m so excited to return to the world of Gotham Academy with Becky and Karl,” Fletcher said. “It’s a joy to be back with the original team, and to welcome the incredibly talented Marco Ferrari to the fold. His work brings such life to these characters and to the halls of the Academy itself.”

The miniseries will focus on Olive Silverlock’s first year at Gotham Academy and is set before the events of the previous series. With Ferrari on interiors, Kerschl will provide covers for all six issues. Like this one for issue #1:

Continue reading “Brenden Fletcher, Karl Kerschl + Becky Cloonan re-enroll at ‘Gotham Academy’”

Garth Ennis + Becky Cloonan’s ‘The War’ jumps from ‘Hello Darkness’ to its own series

A story from the BOOM! Studios anthology will expand into its own miniseries, beginning in July.

After a three-part run in BOOM! Studios’ horror anthology Hello Darkness, The War by Garth Ennis and Becky Cloonan will launch into its own series this July.

The three-part story by the two legendary creators explored themes of nuclear war and societal collapse, and will continue to do so this summer.

“As the world around us slides further into ruin, what better time to revisit the cheery subject of atomic obliteration?” Ennis said. “And who better to accompany me on this joyous journey than the wonderfully talented Becky Cloonan?”

Continue reading “Garth Ennis + Becky Cloonan’s ‘The War’ jumps from ‘Hello Darkness’ to its own series”

SDCC | Becky Cloonan + friends gather for the folk horror anthology ‘Come Find Me’

DSTLRY will publish the one-shot in October.

Fresh off receiving two Eisner Awards last night for her gothic horror work, Becky Cloonan returns to DSTLRY for another round, but this time she’s bringing a whole bunch of friends.

At the San Diego Comic Con today, DSTLRY announced Come Find Me: An Autumnal Offering. The one-shot anthology will include stories by Cloonan, E.M. Carroll, HamletMachine, Vanesa R. Del Rey, Céline Loup and Molly Mendoza.

“Just like Somna allowed me to collaborate with Tula Lotay and create something subversive and unexpected, I wanted to cultivate that same feel with Come Find Me. From a place of selfishness, these are my favorite voices in horror comics and uniting them has been a nightmare come true,” said Cloonan. “Much like my first contribution in DSTLRY’s one-shot, The Devil’s Cut, you may just see some of these stories set the stage for larger projects.”

Continue reading “SDCC | Becky Cloonan + friends gather for the folk horror anthology ‘Come Find Me’”

SDCC | Get your digital DSTLRY comics signed at Comic Con this week

DSTLRY is rolling out two new innovations for digital comics owners at their SDCC booth.

While shifting from buying print comics to digital comics has some advantages (storage space!), one of the downsides is that you no longer have something for creators to sign at conventions. DSTLRY plans to change that with DSTLRY Remarques, a new feature that, along with one called DSTLRY Proof, will debut this weekend at the San Diego Comic Con.

“DSTLRY Remarques and DSTLRY Proof exemplify our mission to merge the traditional comic experience with groundbreaking digital advancements,” said DSTLRY co-founder David Steinberger. “These features not only enhance the collector’s experience but also ensure that our creators are continuously supported through perpetual royalties via our digital marketplace.”

Per the press release, DSTLRY Remarques “allows creators to sign and sketch on digital editions of DSTLRY issues and books, creating completely individualized and re-sellable editions.” DSTLRY only offers digital single issues through their own proprietary marketplace, rather than through other platforms like Comixology. That gives them some control over additional features they can add to enhance the experience — like this one.

Here’s how it’ll work:

Continue reading “SDCC | Get your digital DSTLRY comics signed at Comic Con this week”

BOOM! welcomes the darkness in a new horror anthology this summer

‘Hello Darkness’ will include stories about everything from ‘primal fears to modern political horror’ by Garth Ennis, Becky Cloonan, R.L. Stine, Francesco Francavilla, James Tynion IV, Werther Dell’Edera and more.

Back in their very early days, BOOM! Studios released a couple of horror anthologies titled Zombie Tales and Cthulhu Tales, which ran for 12 issues each and featured stories by the likes of Mark Waid, Keith Giffen, Steve Niles, William Messner-Loebs, Joe R. Lansdale, Fabio Moon and many more. Now BOOM! is getting back into the horror anthology business with Hello Darkness, which kicks off this summer.

The title will feature “the darkest stories yet,” promising to cover everything from “primal fears to modern political horrors.” The first six issues will include a new Something Is Killing The Children story by James Tynion IV and Werther Dell’Edera.

“My whole careers started writing comic shorts, so it’s very exciting to bring it all around full circle and tell a SIKTC story in that format. The story Werther and I are going to be telling here is one that’s been in the back of my mind for almost five years, and I’m thrilled we finally have the perfect platform to bring that story to readers,” Tynion said.

Continue reading “BOOM! welcomes the darkness in a new horror anthology this summer”

DSTLRY + Kodansha announce cover artist exchange partnership

DSTLRY titles will feature variant covers by Kodansha artists, starting with a Shūzō Oshimi cover for ‘Somna’ #3.

DSTLRY has announced a new cover artist exchange program with manga publisher Kodansha, starting with a variant cover for Somna #3 by Shūzō Oshimi.

DSTLRY, the new comics company formed by former Comixology execs David Steinberger and Chip Mosher, began releasing comics last August with The Devil’s Cut, which was followed by print editions of Gone by Jock and Somna by Becky Cloonan and Tula Lotay. The company has gone all in on variant covers, offering them through retail channels, their own website and on the limited-edition digital comics they started releasing late last year.

“I was drawn to the story of Somna where dreams and reality intermingle, and the way it’s expressed through different artistic styles,” Oshimi said. “Drawing the variant cover was fun!”

According to the press release, this variant cover by Oshimi will be the first of many by Kodansha artists:

Continue reading “DSTLRY + Kodansha announce cover artist exchange partnership”

DSTLRY announces an ‘erotic folk-horror comic series’ from Tula Lotay + Becky Cloonan

‘Somna’ will launch in November.

With The Devil’s Cut arriving in (brick and mortar) stores this week, DSTLRY has announced a second title that will spin out of the anthology — Somna by Tula Lotay and Becky Cloonan.

The project will feature both creators as writers and artists, and DSTLRY says it’s been a decade in the making. It spins out of their 11-page story “What Blighted Flame Burns in Thee?” from The Devil’s Cut anthology and is an “eerie exploration of puritanical oppression and forbidden passion presented in oversized, 48-page perfect bound issues.”

Somna culminates from a decade plus reveling in the darkest mythologies of history,” Cloonan said in a statement. “Being able to explore these lifetime obsessions alongside one of my favorite creators has made this a career-defining project.”

Continue reading “DSTLRY announces an ‘erotic folk-horror comic series’ from Tula Lotay + Becky Cloonan”

Eric Powell recruits Becky Cloonan, Mike Mignola, James Harren for a spooky Christmas anthology

‘Four Gathered on Christmas Eve’ continues the Victorian tradition of telling spooky stories on Christmas Eve.

The Goon creator Eric Powell is a fan of both Christmas and horror, so it’s only natural he’d put together a crew of elves to help deliver Four Gathered on Christmas Eve, an anthology of Victorian-style Christmas Eve ghost stories coming from Dark Horse this winter.

“As someone who unapologetically loves Christmas and spooky stories, I’ve always been intrigued that telling ghost stories used to be a regular part of the tradition,” said Powell. “I’ve been kicking around the idea of doing a Victorian Christmas Ghost book for a while and was thrilled when three of my favorite comic creators agreed to join me.”

Continue reading “Eric Powell recruits Becky Cloonan, Mike Mignola, James Harren for a spooky Christmas anthology”

Skybound announces a second ‘Creepshow’ miniseries with Hester, Cloonan, Ennis + more

The anthology will run for five issues and include stories by Michael Walsh, Dan Watters, Abigail Larson, Zoe Thorogood and more.

Creepshow, the iconic horror movie that Skybound turned into a comic last year, will return with a second miniseries in September.

Creepshow by director George Romero and writer Stephen King debuted in theaters back in 1982. Inspired by EC Comics’ horror titles like Tales from the Crypt and Vault of Horror, the film featured a kid reading a comic called Creepshow and a host, “The Creep,” who was reminiscent of the Cryptkeeper and other horror comic hosts.

Continue reading “Skybound announces a second ‘Creepshow’ miniseries with Hester, Cloonan, Ennis + more”

Two Comixology vets return to comics with DSTLRY

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”

What Are You Reading? | Thunder Gods + Powerbombs

This week the Smash Pages crew talks about ‘Mighty Thor,’ ‘Batgirls’ and ‘Do A Powerbomb.’

Welcome to What Are You Reading?, our look at what the Smash Pages crew has been checking off their “to read” list lately. Today’s reviews include a good chunk of the Jane Foster issues of Thor, as well as recent issues of Batgirls and Do A Powerbomb.

Let us know what you’ve been reading lately in the comments or on social media.

Continue reading “What Are You Reading? | Thunder Gods + Powerbombs”