Exclusive Preview | ‘Ninjak vs. Roku’ #3

The Road to Resurgence of the Valiant Universe continues this week in a new issue by AJ Ampadu, Emiliano Correa and Marina Leon.

Since acquiring the rights to publish comics set in the Valiant Universe last year, Alien Books has been not only rejuvenating the line, but also building toward something big that’s coming in September — Resurgence Of The Valiant Universe. And along the way, there have been plenty of stops on the Road to Resurgence, including the Ninjak vs. Roku miniseries by AJ Ampadu, Emiliano Correa and Marina Leon.

Courtesy of Alien, we’re pleased to present an exclusive preview of Ninjak vs. Roku #3, which will arrive in stores this Wednesday.

The series pits the two former-lovers-turned-rivals Ninjak and Roku against each other, as they search for the same objective in competing missions. As you’ll see in the preview, things aren’t going well for Ninjak, as issue #2 was not kind to him. Ampadu’s taking a smart approach to the comic, pulling enough from Ninjak and Roku’s shared history to keep previous fans interested but providing enough of a “jump on” point for anyone new to the title. Correa returns to art duties for this issue, alternating with Diego Giribaldi, who drew the previous issue.

You can check the preview out below, along with the main cover and a variant, both by Richard Ortiz.

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Exclusive First Look | ‘The Cursed Library: Alpha’

We have your first look at the Archie Premium Event by co-writers Magdalene Visaggio and Eliot Rahal, artist Craig Cermak, colorist Matt Herms and letterer Jack Morelli.

It’s been more than 10 years since Archie Comics introduce the Archie Horror imprint, bringing us more adult-oriented, horrific and sometimes disturbing stories based on the broader Archie Comics catalog of characters. From Afterlife with Archie to Jughead: The Hunger to the more recent Chilling Adventures Presents… one-shots featuring Madam Satan and Jinx, the Archie Horror line has grown in scope over the last decade, putting the Riverdale gang in a variety of stand-alone horror scenarios.

But what if it was all connected?

All the various threads laid out in the Archie Horror line’s one-shots over the last few years will come together in August in The Cursed Library: Alpha, the first of three issues that’ll be released through October. Courtesy of Archie Comics, we’re happy to share an exclusive first look at this Archie Premium Event.

Magdalene Visaggio and Eliot Rahal, who have written their fair share of Archie Horror titles, will co-write this event, which will feature artwork by Craig Cermak, who has drawn Jinx’s recent appearances. They’re joined by colorist Matt Herms and letterer Jack Morelli.

“I can’t tell you how grateful I’ve been to be a part of this legacy. The leadership under Jamie Rotante of Archie Comics, along with the rest of the Archie team, has been so steadfast and encouraging. It’s truly been an amazing experience. At the end of the day, The Cursed Library has been a team effort, a tale of friendship and the fight against evil, the execution of a vision that’s been many years in the making,” Rahal said. “It’s a true honor to pay homage to all the creators who have lent their voices to this universe, and an even greater privilege to work with someone as brilliant as Mags. And with the incredible artwork of Craig Cermak at our side, this three-issue series is sure to be one Hell of a grand finale.” 

In the preview you’ll see some of the elements from previous one-shots come into play, as Jinx has a meal with her father, Satan, and we catch glimpses of a zombified Jughead and the plant monster from Weirder Mysteries. But the focus will be on the story that’s evolved between Jinx, her best friend Danni and Madam Satan.

“The continuously evolving dynamic between Jinx and Danni is a delight to illustrate, giving me so many fun, bold expressions to communicate,” Cermak said. “And now with the inclusion of Madam Satan and journeying into Hell, it’s gonna be an all-around great time acting out these characters in such big, dramatic fashions. I’m honored to be able to draw this epic tale, and I hope to give readers something they’ll want to revisit for years to come as well as a strong interest in checking out the previous ‘Chilling Adventures’ tales that led to this story.”

Check out the preview and solicitation text for the issue below.

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The Wicked Trinity brings trouble to movie night for Sabrina in this preview of ‘Archie Jumbo Comics’ #352

Check out an exclusive preview of a new story coming in next week’s digest from Archie Comics.

Seeing Sabrina the Teenage Witch in the classic Riverdale setting is always magical, but in this preview of Archie Jumbo Comics Digest #352, her appearance unfortunately comes with some baggage — in the form of her nemesis, Amber Nightstone, and her Wicked Trinity minions.

Fresh off their recent appearance in their own one-shot, Amber, Jade Kazane and Sapphire Gill are looking to make trouble for Sabrina as she attempts to set up a “horror movie fest” for her friends in Riverdale. But I’m sure Sabrina and Salem have some tricks of their own in store for the Wicked Trinity.

The story is by Tania Del Rio, with art by Holly G! and Jim Amash, coloring by Glenn Whitmore and lettering by Jack Morelli, and a cover by Dan Parent.

Check out the preview below:

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The Gloucester Sea Serpent surfaces in a story by Carol Lay in next week’s ‘Project: Cryptid’ #10

Check out an exclusive preview of a new story coming in next week’s anthology from Ahoy Comics.

Courtesy of Ahoy Comics, we’re pleased to share a preview of a new story by Carol Lay from next week’s Project: Cryptid #10.

If you’re not familiar with Ahoy’s first ongoing title, Project: Cryptid is an anthology of “unbelievably hilarious and hilariously unbelievable tales about cryptids from around the world.” Lay builds her story around the Gloucester Sea Serpent, which was first “discovered” in the early 1800s off the coast of Massachusetts. The creature shows up at just the right time for a young girl who could use some luck.

Lay, the creator of Murderville, Good Girls and Lay Lines, has had her work featured in The New Yorker, Mad Magazine, the Village Voice and many other publications. She’s also done several back-up pieces for Ahoy and was one of the contributors to their “Partially Naked Came the Corpse” round-robin story that ran through several of their titles last year. Her graphic novel, My Time Machine, will be published by Fantagraphics in September.

Lay’s story is accompanied by “Family Tree” by Atagun Ilhan, and the issue will arrive in stores on June 26. Check out the preview below.

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Exclusive Preview | Take a look at Vince Locke’s artwork from ‘Essentials’

The graphic novel by Luke Arnold, Chris ‘Doc’ Wyatt and a host of artists will wrap up its crowdfunding campaign this week.

With less than three days left on the clock, we’re pleased to present an exclusive preview of Essentials, the graphic novel by Luke Arnold, Chris “Doc” Wyatt and a host of artists that’s currently winding down its crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter.

Essentials is about a mathematician who predicted the end of the world but failed to prevent it. He discovers there are other survivors, but they’re trapped in alternate “dream” realities full of zombies, robots, mythical creatures and more. Each of these alternate realities will be illustrated by a different artist, including Vince Locke, Andrea Mutti, MK Perker, Brendan McCarthy, DaNi and Jason Howard, with colors by Jordie Bellaire, Brad Simpson and Wesley Wong, and lettering by DC Hopkins.

Today we’re sharing pages from Locke’s chapter, which appropriately is set in a reality filled with zombies.

“Somehow Essentials feels deeply personal but also the greatest collaboration I could hope to be a part of,” Arnold said. “I love writing novels on my own, but a comic is always going to be a group project, and it’s all about embracing and celebrating that partnership. Because what we write isn’t going to an audience, it’s going to a team of dedicated, talented artists who turn our dreams into reality. And then there’s The Lab, who have been with us the whole way, pushing to make this book as impactful as possible.”

Arnold told me when we initially talked about the project that he and Wyatt were afraid their publisher, the Lab Press, might shut them down when they suggested using different artist for each reality. But they were into it.

“The people at The Lab Press are deeply, deeply weird people,” Wyatt said. “Just hanging out with them, you’re like– these are strange people. Really. It’s a lot. But it worked great for us, because we had a strange story, and they were excited to publish it.”

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Powerteen’s latest plan spells doom for Riverdale in this preview of ‘Betty & Veronica Jumbo Comics Digest’ #324

Check out an exclusive preview of a new story coming in next week’s digest from Archie Comics.

Courtesy of Archie Comics, we’re delighted to present a preview of a new story from Betty & Veronica Jumbo Comics Digest #324, which comes out May 15.

Veronica’s ego has gotten her into some pickles before, but I’m not sure Riverdale can “weather the storm” it brings this time. During a hangout with Superteen, Powerteen, Jaguar and Darkling, Veronica gets into an argument about which hero is the best — so she decides to release an imprisoned supervillain, Climate Changling, to prove it. What could go wrong? See the first panel for the answer to that question. (Also, Climate Changling is a brilliant name for a villain.)

Check out the preview by Ian Flynn, Steven Butler, Jim Amash, Glenn Whitmore and Jack Morelli below. We also have a complete, “classic” Veronica story that will appear in this issue, where Veronica shares her fears about going to prom with Archie.

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Exclusive Preview | Introducing Archie’s newest rival, Daisy Thunder

Check out a preview of next week’s ‘Archie & Friends: Hot Rod Racing.’

Next week Archie Andrews might need a tune-up as his “oldest rival” returns in Archie & Friends: Hot Rod Racing, which introduces Daisy Thunder to the cast.

The Southside Serpent has a bone to pick with Archie because once upon a time, he ruined her art contest drawing, and now she’s back for revenge. Daisy challenges the Archie gang to a race that’ll go through all the different areas of Riverdale, as the racers pass landmarks like the Mighty Legends of Justice Museum and the haunted Igor Estates.

“Racing and cool cars are such a big part of childhood fantasies and part of Archie lore, and we wanted a new character who evoked that feeling with a little bit of danger,” said Archie Comics Editor-in-Chief Mike Pellerito, who added that the character’s look was inspired by “Evel Knievel, Pinky Tuscadero and Penelope Pitstop.” 

The new story is by Craig Boldman and Steven Butler, and will be accompanied by several classic racing stories.

“Daisy Thunder is a childhood friend of the Riverdale gang — or should we say frenemy? — who moved away when they were very young. Now she’s back!” Boldman said. “In the intervening years, she’s had an amazing life, owing to her father’s career as a globe-hopping professional race car driver. He’s ready to settle down and enjoy a slower pace, but it turns out Daisy’s not wired that way.”

Check out a preview of the new story below, along with a classic racing story by George Gladir and Bill Vigoda.

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The picture’s not so perfect in this preview of a new Shield story from ‘World of Archie Jumbo Comics Digest #138’

Check out an exclusive preview of a new story coming in next week’s digest from Archie Comics.

Check it out — Archie Comics has shared a preview with us of  World of Archie Jumbo Comics Digest #138, which will arrives in stores March 13.

In “Picture Perfect,” everyone in Riverdale is pretty excited that they’re filming a new Shield movie — everyone that is, except for the Shield himself. This one’s written and drawn by Dan Parent, with inking by Bob Smith, coloring by Glenn Whitmore and lettering by Jack Morelli.

Check out the preview below, along with a complete classic Jughead story by Bill Golliher and Al Milgrom.

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Archie’s obsessive fandom helps save the day in ‘Archie Jumbo Comics Digest #348’

Check out an exclusive preview of a new story coming in next week’s digest from Archie Comics.

Hey! We’re back with another preview, courtesy of our friends at Archie Comics. This one’s for a new story appearing in Archie Jumbo Comics Digest #348, which will arrive in stores Feb. 28.

In “The Devil’s in the Details,” Archie’s interview to intern at MLJ Museum with The Shield goes sideways when a swarm of villains show up — but all isn’t as it seems in this story by Ian Flynn, Pat Kennedy, Jim Amash, Glenn Whitmore and Jack Morelli.

BTW, the “MLJ” Museum is a fun Easter egg — it’s a reference to Archie Comics’ original name, M.L.J. Magazines, Inc., which started out publishing superheroes before Archie and the gang were created. It was named for the founders, Maurice Coyne, Louis Silberkleit and John L. Goldwater.

Check out the preview below, along with a complete “classic” Arachie story by Frank Doyle and Stan Goldberg.

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Preview | Take a look at Lonnie Mann’s debut graphic novel ‘Gaytheist: Coming Out of My Orthodox Childhood’

Check out a preview of the new graphic novel from Street Noise Books.

Courtesy of Street Noise Books, we’re pleased to share a preview of Gaytheist: Coming Out of My Orthodox Childhood by Lonnie Mann.

This autobiographical graphic novel details Mann’s childhood in an Orthodox Jewish community where “being gay is a sin and an abomination.” As Mann gets older, he realizes he’s gay and must come to terms with what that means for his relationship with his family and his religion, as well as his own identity and happiness. Mann originally published his story on Tapas, where it was nominated for an Ignatz Award last year.

Gaytheist arrives in stores this week. You can find more information from the publisher as well as the preview pages below.

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Jaguar’s greatest foe might be too many Christmas cookies in this preview of ‘Archie Jumbo Comics Digest’ #346

Check out an exclusive preview of a new story coming in next week’s digest from Archie Comics.

Courtesy of Archie Comics, we’re pleased to present a preview of two new stories from Archie Jumbo Comics Digest #346, which comes out Dec. 13.

This story features the original Jaguar, whose magical belt isn’t fitting quite as well as it was before the holidays (I’ve been there) — which throws him for a loop as he tries to save Santa from a gang of criminals. This tale of too much holiday cheer (and maybe cookies?) is by Bill Golliher, Jim Amash, Glenn Whitmore and Jack Morelli.

Check out the preview below, along with a complete Little Archie Christmas story.

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It’ll take two Jaguars to save Christmas in this preview of ‘World of Betty and Veronica Jumbo Comics’ #31

Check out an exclusive preview of a new story coming in next week’s digest from Archie Comics.

‘Tis the season for giving, and Archie Comics has shared a preview with us of one of the new stories appearing in World of Betty and Veronica Jumbo Comics Digest #31, which will arrives in stores Dec. 6.

“Reindeer of Terror” features not only Ralph Hardy, the original Jaguar, but also Ivette Velez, the legacy character who will star in her own one-shot next year. Along with Betty and Veronica, they’re on a mission to save Christmas after the evil Kennel Kwenn steals Santa’s reindeer. This jolly tale is by writer Ian Flynn, artists Steven Butler and Lily Butler, colorist Glenn Whitmore and letterer Jack Morelli.

You can find more information and the preview below, along with a classic Christmas tale featuring Betty, Veronica and Santa, written by the late Batton Lash.

Continue reading “It’ll take two Jaguars to save Christmas in this preview of ‘World of Betty and Veronica Jumbo Comics’ #31”