Tag: Oni Press

EC Comics draws down on the Western genre in ‘Outlaw Showdown’

Oni Press will publish the one-shot anthology in October.

John Arcudi, Brian Azzarello, David Lapham, Tony Moore, Ann Nocenti, David Lapham and more will saddle up for Outlaw Showdown, a one-shot anthology coming in October from EC Comics and Oni Press.

While the Western genre may not be the first to come to mind when you think of classic EC Comics, the notorious publisher did release several titles featuring cowboys and outlaws.

“Ever since we first began drawing up plans for the return of EC Comics at Oni Press, we knew there were genres and stories that would fit EC like a glove – and westerns were always close to the top of that list,” said Oni Press President & Publisher Hunter Gorinson. “It’s no secret that classic Golden Age series like Gunfighter and Saddle Justice have always been integral – if somewhat under-considered – components of EC’s destructive DNA. But, with Outlaw Showdown – and the other forthcoming genre specials that will follow in its wake – we’re aiming to enhance and amplify the combustible combination of ingredients that has made EC’s stories sing – or scream! – across 70-plus years of comics history. These are stories that will grab you tighter than a hangman’s noose . . . and leave you kicking and screaming for more before the last page is through.”

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Guest Column | Meredith McClaren on ‘Meat Eaters,’ health, identity and transformation

In advance of her new graphic novel ‘Meat Eaters’ arriving in stores, the creator shares a personal essay about her health struggles and how they relate to her protagonist’s journey.

Today we welcome Hinges creator and Black Cloak artist Meredith McClaren to the blog, where she shares her deeply personal reflections on health, identity and transformation.

These themes also appear in Meat Eaters, her new graphic novel from Oni Press that arrives in stores July 7. It follows Ashley, a young woman looking to escape her stagnant small town life, but whose carefully laid plans are shattered when she wakes up one night covered in blood—and discovers she’s dead. As Ashley grapples with this shocking transformation and the changes happening within her, McClaren weaves a powerful story that resonates with her own experiences of unexpected life upheavals.

My thanks to the author for sharing this with us. It’s a wonderfully written essay with illustrations in the same style that I see on her Tumblr, which I recommend you follow if the essay resonates with you. You can also check out her travelogue on visiting Greece.

FUN TIMES
By Meredith McClaren
Author and Illustrator of MEAT EATERS

Your body will betray you.

(That’s a bummer of a starter sentence. Sorry. But stay with me, I have a point.)

Your body will betray you. It’s a universal human experience. I’m sorry. There’s no getting away from it. Some of us get there faster than others but we all eventually find ourselves in the unenviable position of feeling truly, utterly, devastatingly betrayed by our bodies.

For me it started with a tickle at the back of my throat that never went away.

I tried describing it to people. ‘You know how it feels when you suck in a big breath of cold air?’ It’s the way your throat feels tight. Constricted.

‘Sounds like asthma.’ One of my friends said.

But I wasn’t coughing. Yet. It was just a tickle. And it was always there.

The coughing came later. Over months. Over a year. Just one or two. A day. Everyday. Then it was a couple of times a day. Every time I woke up. Every time I went to bed. Sometimes an extra one somewhere in the middle.

It wasn’t until a friend’s wedding that I really reconciled that there was a problem. And I couldn’t really ignore it anymore. 

‘You cough a lot.’ My Dad said.

‘I know.’ I said.

Destination wedding in Flagstaff. A higher elevation. I was coughing. And I knew it wasn’t just the thinner air.

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Smash Pages Q&A | Corinna Bechko on EC Comics’ ‘Blood Type’

The accomplished writer talks about writing the first-ever continuation of an EC Comics anthology short, which gets a preview this weekend on Free Comic Book Day.

The revival of EC Comics has been one of the most interesting and fun things to happen in comics this past year. Oni Press has done a tremendous job of paying tribute to the notorious publisher while also making it feel fresh and different.

Speaking of which, their revival will take another turn this summer as they debut Blood Type. Following the various anthologies Oni has released under the EC Comics banner this past year, Blood Type is the first-ever continuation of an EC Comics anthology short, “picking up the thread of how one lone vampire lost at sea will soon wash ashore on a tropical isle, where she is not the only creature with a taste for flesh and blood,” according to Oni Publisher Hunter Gorinson.

Ada, the lone vampire in question, made her debut in Epitaphs from the Abyss #3, in a story by Corinna Bechko and Jonathan Case. That story will appear in EC Comics Presents Blood Type #0, a Free Comic Book Day offering that’ll be available this Saturday. Bechko, in fact, has a store signing at Collector’s Paradise in Winnetka, California on May 3, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., signing alongside creators Rodney Barnes (Killadelphia) and Patrick Horvath (Free For All, Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees).

For the miniseries, Bechko is working with artist Andrea Sorrentino and colorist Dave Stewart to continue the story of Ada. It will kick off on June 18.

I spoke with Bechko about the new series, its historical significance, her love for the horror genre and more.

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Exclusive | Take a look inside Andrew Wheeler + Rye Hickman’s ‘Hey, Mary!’

The graphic novel about a Catholic teenager reconciling his feelings for another boy arrives in stores from Oni Press this week.

Courtesy of Oni Press, we’re happy to present this preview of Hey, Mary! by Andrew Wheeler, Rye Hickman and Hank Jones.

Hey, Mary! tells the story of Mark, a devoted Catholic who realizes he has a crush on another boy at school. The pages we have today show Mark’s struggle and also illustrate why it’s titled “Hey, Mary!” as Mark turns to his faith for answers.

“Hey, Mary is a book about a lot of things — most obviously, trying to reconcile being Catholic and being gay, but it’s also about first love and teenage anxiety and isolation and trying to find your feet as you learn more about the world,” Wheeler said. “This sequence is at the heart of those themes as Mark struggles with the enormity of the question, ‘Why is this who I am?’ Perhaps the worst part is that the very thing he’s been told will give him comfort, his faith, is actually the source of his pain. I love the expressiveness that Rye and our colorist Hank Jones have brought to these silent moments.”

The relationship with Luka is also on display. Luka clearly has feelings for Mark as well, and the two friends have grown apart as the thought of romance pushes Mark away.

“Mark’s conversation with Luka gives us the other side of Mark’s anxiety,” Wheeler said. “Mark and Luka think they’ve grown apart — the truth is that they haven’t found the language to bridge the gap between them. The panel with the two of them running into the park on either side of a painted line is perfect. Also, Rye and I had a lot of conversations about the boys’ personal styles, and Mark’s ‘Camp’ t-shirt is one of my favorite choices!”

“I feel like teenage friendships are The Most, no matter what’s going on in your life, so I’m very excited for readers to relate to our protagonist, Mark, going for a jog with his estranged friend Luka,” Hickman said. “The secret sauce here, though, is that Mark has a big ole crush on Luka and all signs point to Luka also wanting more than friendship. No spoilers, but there’s friction -Luka has rainbow shoelaces and Mark prays for help with the fear he has about being gay himself- so hopefully you’ll pick up the book and find out how that friction resolves!”

Check out the preview below. Hey, Mary! is available in comic shops and bookstores now.

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Exclusive | Take a look inside the deluxe edition of Brenna Thummler’s ‘Lights’

The hardcover arrives in stores today from Oni Press.

Courtesy of Oni Press, we’re thrilled to share this preview of Lights: Deluxe Edition, the final installment of Brenna Thummler’s Sheets trilogy.

Originally published in 2023, Lights wraps up the story of Marjorie Glatt and her best friend, Wendall, who happens to be a ghost that she found living in her family’s laundromat. Together with their friend Eliza, they set out to discover the story behind Wendall’s death — and, eventually, his life as well.

The hardcover deluxe edition, available in stores today, includes never-before-seen bonus content like sketches, a Q&A, Easter eggs and more. You can check out some of it in the preview below.

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Exclusive | Ben Winters + Brian Level share a sage’s sinister ‘gift’ in ‘Ye Will Be Healed’

Check out an exclusive preview of a story appearing in EC Comics’ ‘Cruel Kingdom,’ which arrives in stores today.

Courtesy of Oni Press, we’re back with another preview of one of the stories from Cruel Kingdom #4, which arrives in stores today. It’s the final issue of the dark fantasy anthology that’s a part of their revival of EC Comics.

Today’s preview is for the story “Ye Will Be Healed,” written by Ben Winters with artwork by Brian Level. The story is about a young boy who needed healing, and after a trip to see a dark sage he comes back … different. Winter is the creator of the hit CBS TV series Tracker and worked on Marvel’s acclaimed series Legion for FX. He’s also an award-winning novelist and will add another comic to his resume — Benjamin, a new science fiction series from Oni that will feature artwork by Leomacs and debuts in June.

Check out the preview, along with a look at this issue’s covers. You can also check out more preview pages from Greg Pak, PJ Holden and John McCrea’s story in this issue.

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Exclusive Preview | A brutal and bloody look at ‘Cruel Kingdom’ #4

Take a look at a new story by Greg Pak, PJ Holden and John McCrea before it arrives in stores in April.

Courtesy of Oni Press, we’re pleased to share a preview of one of the stories from Cruel Kingdom #4, which arrives in stores April 2.

Cruel Kingdom is a fantasy anthology from Oni’s partnership with EC Comics, the notorious and influential publishing house from the 1950s. The anthology features two stories per issue, and today’s preview comes from “Headmistress,” a tale by Greg Pak, PJ Holden and John McCrea.

Check out the preview, along with a look at covers by Adam Pollina, Gabriel Rodriguez, Albert Monteys and Rian Hughes.

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‘Adventure Time’ returns to comics this April from Oni Press

Return to the Land of Ooo in a new ongoing series.

Adventure Time, the popular Cartoon Network series that spawned a 75-issue comic run at BOOM! Studios about a decade ago, will return to comics in April, courtesy of Oni Press.

The series will feature rotating creative teams, starting with animator and Bloody Mary creator Nick Winn. The comic will bring back Finn, Jake, Marceline, Princess Bubblegum and the other residents of The Land Of Ooo for the ongoing series.

“Adventure Time was such a huge part of me growing up,” said Winn.” Not only was it hilarious, but it had such an emotional intelligence that very few shows could pull off back then. Being able to revisit the land of Ooo through Oni Press has really been such a joy and a challenge to build something new while still keeping the energy and charm the show cast on me in middle school!”

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Oni announces ‘The Goddamn Tragedy’ by Chris Condon + Shawn Kuruneru

The vicious Western draws from the real-life story of the Donner Party.

That Texas Blood writer Chris Condon is teaming up with Fishflies artist Shawn Kuruneru for the Western thriller The Goddamn Tragedy, a new graphic novel that Oni Press will publish next year.

While the story is fiction, it does draw from the real-life tale of the Donner Party in the mid-1800s, whose ill-fated journey from Illinois to California became infamous when members of the party resorted to murder and cannibalism during a harsh winter spent in the Sierra Nevada mountain range.

“I had been reading about the tragic Donner Party of 1846 and an idea struck me: there’s a story here to tell, one that could capture the psychological tumult a family endures as they are faced with an impossible decision: kill…or be killed,” Condon said. “We all know how the Donner Party played out, but we don’t know how things work out for the Janson family and that’s a story that the masterful Shawn Kuruneru and I are all too excited to tell. Thankfully, we’ve found a great home for this one-shot of survivalist terror at Oni Press who excels at telling gut-wrenching tales from beyond the pale.”

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Oni Press will publish Patrick Horvath’s ‘Free For All’ next March

Billionaires defend their riches in ritual combat in the graphic novel.

Oni Press has announced plans to publish Free For All, a graphic novel written and drawn by acclaimed creator Patrick Horvath, next year. Horvath is the creator of Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees, the excellent “cozy horror” miniseries published by IDW, and previously funded Free For All on Zoop.

Free For All seems to have dropped the “cozy” and replaced it with “brutal greed.” It’s set in a world where the world’s richest people are forced to either donate money to charity or face off in ritual combat to defend their millions.

“I’m thrilled that Free For All has found a home with Oni Press,” said Horvath. “The idea for it came from an immense frustration with the state of society almost a decade ago, and with the issues of the world as they stand now, it’s only become more relevant. I’m so glad this book has a chance now to reach a wide audience.”

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Oni Press will publish Meredith McClaren’s ‘Meat Eaters’ next year

The horror graphic novel is about a woman who dies and wakes up to a new reality.

Black Cloak artist Meredith McClaren is back with a new graphic novel landing next year from Oni Press. Meat Eaters, a horror story about a woman whose life changes when she dies and wakes up as something else, will arrive in stores next July.

“Meat Eaters is an ode to all the teen horror television I lovingly consumed over the years,” McClaren said. “Where there are bad things in the world, sometimes they hurt you, and sometimes that makes you change in ways you do not like.”

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Marco Finnegan brings ‘Calavera, P.I.’ back to life at Oni Press

The four-issue miniseries about an undead private investigator kicks off in November.

A folk hero returns from the dead to solve a kidnapping in Calavera, P.I, a four-issue miniseries coming from Oni Press later this year. Marco Finnegan writes and draws the story of Juan Calavera, a private investigator who defended the Chicano barrios in Los Angeles until he was murdered — but on Dia de los Muertos, he returns to continue his mission.

“Calavera, P.I. came about for two reasons,” Finnegan said. ”One, I love film noir/pulp novels and comic strips from the 1930s and ’50s. Those set in L.A. I love even more. There’s something about seeing the underside of a town you’re familiar with reflected back at you in black and white or written about in newsprint.

“The second reason is that as I learned more about the history of Chicanos in Los Angeles, the more it nagged at me how none of this history was reflected in those noirs I loved. Occasionally [Raymond] Chandler would have a Mexican driver give Marlowe some hot tip, or the Continental Op would chase a Latino hood in a [Dashiell] Hammett novel, but for the most part, we were erased. So I thought, if I lived during the thirties, what kind of hero would I want to represent me? Thus: Calavera, P.I.“

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