Tag: Kyle Starks

Kyle Starks + Piotr Kowalski tap the ‘Devil On My Shoulder’

The miniseries debuts from Dark Horse Comics in November.

Kyle Starks first caught my attention with his more humor-oriented comics, but that impression has changed in the past few years as he’s gone deeper into horror. Following Where Monsters Lie and Those Not Afraid, Starks will next work with artist Piotr Kowalski, colorist Brad Simpson and letterer Josh Reed on Devil On My Shoulder.

The four-issue miniseries, coming from Dark Horse Comics this fall, is about a woman who, after being tortured, gets revenge on her captors.

“I wanted to do something new with Devil On My Shoulder – I wanted to do something dark and horrifying. A true Horror Story in the style of the classic Bloody Revenges,” said Starks. “This book has terrible people doing terrible things and then suffering terrible consequences. Our villains are awful, do monstrous things and our heroine’s revenge will be equal to what she takes if not worse. Be forewarned, this is not a comedy. This is not humorous. This is a violent and nasty, action-filled book for fans of horror comics, The Crow, Revenge, Kill Bill or I Saw The Devil. We made a book for lovers of revenge and violence and you couldn’t ask for a better partner than Piotr Kowalski. This is our third book together and I think it’s some of his best work yet – it’s extremely cinematic.”

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Kyle Starks + Patrick Piazzalunga bring ‘Those Not Afraid’ to Dark Horse

Two serial killers compete to break the record for the most murders in the miniseries, which debuts next year.

Kyle Starks, writer of Where Monsters Lie, Sexcastle and much more, will team with Monsters Are My Business artist Patrick Piazzalunga for Those Not Afraid, the story of a twisted competition between two serial killers.

Starks said the title for the project was inspired by Richard Ramirez, the serial killer known as The Night Stalker, and in particular when he said: “We’ve all got the power in our hands to kill, but most people are afraid to use it. The ones who aren’t afraid control life itself.” Probably known best for his horror and humor writing, Starks said he also wanted to do something that was more in the True Crime vein.

“I wanted to dip my foot narratively into that world – to step away from humor at all, to lean hard into the terrifying depths of that world and the terrifying creatures who inhabit it,” Starks said. “With Those Not Afraid, I ask the question, ‘What if two serial killers enter into a terrible competition to break the record for murders?’ If you are a fan of – or know a fan of – true crime and serial killers Those Not Afraid is going to be the book for you.”

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Kyle Starks + Piotr Kowalski return for another nightmare-fueled ‘Where Monsters Lie’ miniseries

‘Where Monsters Lie: Cull-De-Sac’ slashes its way into stores in October.

Kyle Starks and Piotr Kowalski’s Where Monsters Lie will get a sequel this fall, as Dark Horse Comics has announced Where Monsters Lie: Cull-De-Sac kicks off in October. They’re joined by colorist Vladimir Popov and letterer Joshua Reed.

That subtitle sounds not so much like a place, but what’s going to happen, doesn’t it? If you read the first series, you know that’s probably true. It featured a neighborhood filled with horror/slasher icons living their best lives when they’re interrupted by Connor Hayes, a former victim who managed to escape from a serial killer and went on to become a bad-ass monster hunter. He showed up to take his revenge in what was a fun and well done, yet oh so bloody, miniseries.

“I love a good horror movie like nobody else,” said Starks. “I adore a great horror slasher. But you know what I like even more? A SEQUEL!  Brilliant artist Piotr Kowalski did such a great job of bringing the awful beasts of Site A to life I just had to see what he would do at Site B! If you LOVED Volume One you have a great treat coming here in the Cull-de-sac. IF you didn’t read Volume One what are you doing! Read it then come pick this up! What terrible, evil fun we’re having!  JUST IN TIME FOR HALLOWEEN!!!”

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The ‘Minor Threats’ universe expands again this summer with ‘Barfly’

Kyle Starks and Ryan Browne team up the tale of a humanoid mutant fly.

Kyle Starks and Ryan Browne are two creators who I would have sworn had worked together before doing a quick Google search to discover that no, I’m apparently wrong. I do think they have similar sensibilities, if you look at their previous work, from Browne’s collaborations with Charles Soule on Cursed Words and 8 Billion Genies to Starks’ Assassin Nation or Sexcastle, as both go out with wild ideas and even wilder executions … so maybe you can see why I thought that.

So I am pleased to see that will soon change, as they’ll team up on another Minor Threats spin-off at Dark Horse Comics, titled Barfly — which is about a humanoid mutant fly. Minor Threats is the 2022 miniseries by Patton Oswalt, Jordan Blum and Scott Hepburn that has produced a previous spinoff and a sequel miniseries that begins in April, and that universe will keep expanding this summer.

“I’m so excited to be invited to add to the tapestry that is the wonderful, super-powered world of Minor Threats that Jordan Blum and Patton Oswalt have brought to comics,” Starks said. “To get to do it with incredible, unequaled Ryan Browne is an unbelievable cherry on top of an already delicious great comic ice cream sundae. I truly think people are going to fall in love with the lovable loser Sh*teater – a sweet little fella who’s just trying to find his place in the world after years of being a nameless minion!”

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Starks + Kowalski hunt for serial killers in ‘Where Monsters Lie’

Enter the very deadly Wilmhurst Gated Community next February.

Kyle Starks and Piotr Kowalski will pull back the curtain on the life and times of serial killers in Where Monsters Lie, a new miniseries coming from Dark Horse Comics.

The duo will be joined by colorist Vladimir Popov and letterer Josh Reed for the story, which is set at the Wilmhurst Gated Community — which caters to all sorts of killers, murderers and monsters.

“Piotr and I are so thrilled that word is finally out about Where Monsters Lie,” Starks told The Daily Dead. “We’re extremely excited about this series and for everyone to meet the twisted, terrible monsters of the Wilmhurst Gated Community and what happens when a survivor to their nightmarish murder sprees shows up ready for revenge.  Anyone who has ever loved a slasher movie or wanted to see their favorite horror monsters team up are going to love this one!”

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‘Thanos: Death Notes’ anthology explores the villain’s past + future

The one-shot spins out of recent issues of ‘Thor’ and ‘Eternals.’

No matter how many times you go for the head, Thanos just keeps coming back. The Mad Titan will return in November as Marvel releases Thanos: Death Notes, an anthology of stories about his past, present and future.

The anthology will include tales by Ron Lim, J. Michael Straczynski, Torunn Grønbekk, Kyle Starks, Christopher Cantwell, Andrea Di Vito, Travel Foreman and more, with Thor playing a big role.

“Ever since the Black Winter gave Thor a glimpse of how he was going to die way back in Thor #6, and Thor saw that it was going to be at the hands of a Thanos wielding not only an Infinity Stones-encrusted Mjolnir but also seemingly a new black Infinity Stone (not to mention with an army of undead super heroes and villains at his side), Thor has been working to prevent this horrific fate,” said editor Wil Moss. “In this Thanos one-shot, his quest brings him to look to Thanos’ past for clues. But in doing so, will Thor learn something of use, or merely realize that Thanos truly is inevitable? Big things are set up here, brought to you by an all-star cast of creators — don’t miss it!”

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Mail Call | Green Lantern Tai Pham returns in a new graphic novel next year

A round-up of recent announcements from DC, Marvel, IDW, Image, Diamond and more.

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.

Tai Pham, the Green Lantern that debuted in the pages of the Green Lantern: Legacy graphic novel, will return in 2022 in Green Lantern: Alliance.

Pham’s adventures will once again be told by Minh Lê and artist Andie Tong, as he once again comes face-to-face with his nemesis, Xander Griffin, but this time he’ll have some help from a new Kid Flash.

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Mail Call | ‘That Texas Blood’ returns with a new story arc in June

Today’s round-up includes announcements and previews from Marvel, DC, Skybound, Image, Dark Horse and more.

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.

That Texas Blood, the excellent small-town noir series by Chris Condon and Jacob Phillips, returns next month from Image Comics with a new story arc that delves into Ambrose County’s past, “blowing off some of that desert dust and seeing what lurks beneath,” Phillips said.

That Texas Blood #7 will arrive in comic shops on June 30.

“Returning to Ambrose County and these characters is like going home in many ways. They feel like old friends more than old creations and none more so than Sheriff Joe Bob Coates. I’m beyond excited to explore a bit of Joe’s past in this next story arc as we travel back in time to 1981. We’ll see new places, meet new people, and explore ideas we haven’t before. I’ve always believed that the beginning years of any decade are the hangover of the previous one, and I am absolutely thrilled that we are allowed to dissect this over the next six issues with our merry band of Ambrose Countians,” said Condon. “But don’t be fooled, we aren’t viewing the past through rose-colored glasses. I’ve said before that Texas is America’s mystical land, but every fantasy world has a minotaur lurking in the dark or a dragon breathing through smoking nostrils over armor-clad corpses. Our Texas is no different. The shadows there stretch to the horizon, devouring all light. But there are some who see the darkness and strike a match to light the way. I hope that you’ll join us on our trip down Highway 90, into the heart of Ambrose County and into the dark depths of the past. But don’t you fret, we’re not out of matches yet.”

Check out the first issue’s covers:

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Starks + Schweizer head to Hollywood for ‘The Six Sidekicks of Trigger Keaton’

The new ‘Whodunnit?’ series starts in June.

Six former sidekicks of a terrible TV will team to solve his murder in The Six Sidekicks of Trigger Keaton, by Kyle Starks and Chris Schweizer, who previously worked together on Mars Attacks! The new series from Image Comics/Skybound will start in June.

“I’m so excited to be working with Skybound again on another great action-comedy series,” said Starks. “This time I get to do it with my best friend, America’s best kept cartoonist secret and three-time Eisner nominee Chris Schweizer. Chris came to me and suggested the remarkable title which we crafted into the tale of six former kid TV sidekicks trying to solve the murder of their awful human TV mentor. Sort of like Knives Out meets Once Upon A Time In Hollywood? If there are two things I love to write, it’s charming dummies and action, and this book is full of both plus rising stakes, escalating nonsense and a lot of fun. Comics should be fun, so we made a fun one!”

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Fund Me Monday | ‘The Bone Herder,’ TCAF Showcase and more

Check out projects by Simon Roy, Malachi Ward, Rich Tommaso, Kyle Starks and more.

Crowdfunding continues to serve as a viable method for creators to fund their creative endeavors, as comic-related projects flourish on sites like Kickstarter, Patreon and IndieGoGo. The internet also allows creators to sell their creations direct to fans, through sites like Gumroad, Etsy and of course their own websites. If you’re looking to buy something from or support a creator directly, you’ve come to the right place. And that’s a good thing to do, now more than ever.

Send any suggestions of your own to jkparkin@yahoo.com.

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Starks + Schweizer conspire to bring back ‘Mars Attacks!’

New series featuring the zany Martians from the 1960s trading card series begins in October at Dynamite.

Dynamite Entertainment and Topps have found a way to make me want to buy a Mars Attacks! comic — and their names are Kyle Starks and Chris Schweizer.

Starting this October, the duo — who are also best friends — will team up to revive the 1960s-trading-card-series-turned-1990s-feature-film, which, as the title implies, features Martians attacking Earth.

“Mars Attacks! is coming back to comic stands and I’m thrilled to be a part of it,” said writer Kyle Starks. “I’ll be bringing my two-time Eisner nominated trademark humor and action to this totally awesome and classic franchise.”

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Santa Claus is coming to ‘Dead of Winter’ [Preview]

The second issue of Kyle Starks and Gabo’s horror-comedy miniseries finds our zombie-fighting heroes getting some help from a drunk mall Santa.

I enjoyed the first issue of Dead of Winter, Kyle Starks and Gabo’s horror-comedy miniseries based on the game by Plaid Hat Games. Oni Press has sent out a preview of the second issue, which features our zombie-fighting heroes getting some help from the man in red and white — Santa Claus. Or a drunk mall Santa, to be precise.

You can find the preview and solicit info below. Dead of Winter #2 comes out on Wednesday.

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