Tag: Tim Daniel

Smash Pages Q&A | D. B. Andry on ‘Estuary: A Ghost Story’

The co-writer of the new horror comic from Oni Press talks about West Coast horror, Catholic guilt, working with Tim Daniel and more.

A haunted cabin in the woods, an abandoned scientific research station in the arctic, an empty road with no civilization for miles … the best horror stories start with the right setting. David “D. B.” Andry and his co-writer Tim Daniel have built a reputation for comics that know exactly where they live, including Denizen, Morning Star and Red Vector.

Their latest, Estuary: A Ghost Story, arrives in stores today from Oni Press, and it may be their most atmospheric work yet: a four-issue supernatural thriller set along the California coast, where a 400-year-old Spanish mission sits atop a tidal estuary full of buried secrets, housing a reclusive nun who has spent decades making sure they stay that way.

I caught up with Andry to talk about “West Coast Horror,” the Catholic Church’s complicated California legacy, underwater ghosts and what it means to write horror with a collaborator who has more ideas in a day than most people have in a lifetime.

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Vault Comics + novelist Jeremy Robinson launch supernatural horror series ‘Excommunicated’ in May

The series pairs a faithful nun with a festering demon after a botched exorcism leaves them cast out from the church and from hell.

Vault Comics will publish Excommunicated, a new supernatural horror/”buddy cop” series written by novelist Jeremy Robinson and illustrated by Tiago Palma, beginning in May.

They’ll be joined by colorist Manuel J. Rodriguez, letterer Jim Campbell and designer Tim Daniel on the series, which features an excommunicated nun and an exorcised demon thrown out of hell teaming up to save the world.

“My whole life I’ve been what people call ‘steeped in the Bible.’ I’ve incorporated this knowledge into my novels the way I do other religions and mythologies, but I really wanted to use my recent discoveries regarding original translations of the Biblical texts that fundamentally change the game—specifically concerning the satan (yes, lowercase) and the strange beings known as Elohim,” Robinson said. “Me being me, I wrote a story that is sinister, action-packed, and funny, but made even cooler by a supernatural backdrop far more interesting than what we’ve all been taught in Sunday school and by Hollywood.”

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Oni Press summons West Coast horror in ‘Estuary: A Ghost Story’

Tim Daniel, D.B.Andry and Maan House present ‘a modern gothic tale for the smartphone age.’

Sun-bleached cliffs, crashing Pacific waves and four centuries of buried sins collide in Estuary: A Ghost Story #1, a four-issue limited series that drags the haunted history of old California out from under the tide, where Spanish missions and restless spirits lurk beneath the postcard-perfect surface of the Golden State.

Written by Tim Daniel and David “D.B.” Andry, who worked together on Crush Depth and Morning Star, and illustrated by Mine is a Long Lonesome Grave artist Maan House, Estuary: A Ghost Story pairs character-driven dread with atmospheric visuals, channeling California’s mythic past into a slow-burn supernatural nightmare. Also, it makes use of Andry’s grade-school diorama skills, something I can attest most California students get to experience:

“Estuary: A Ghost Story is a pretty perfect example of Tim and I writing what we know,” Andry said. “Both of us hailing from Northern California and growing up in and around San Francisco, Bodega Bay and Monterey, this book captures the haunted vibes, the mystery, the romance and the sense of history of these areas. Myself being raised Catholic, tying the other-worldly elements of Estuary to the very real past of the Missions I grew up making dioramas of, was both natural and cathartic. This was a story that poured out of Tim and I, more like something waiting to be discovered rather than something created.”

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Tim Daniel, DB Andry + Alex Sanchez dive into ‘Crush Depth’ next March

The Mad Cave Studios series begins in March.

Morning Star co-creators Tim Daniel and David ‘DB’ Andry will explore the depths of horror in the post-apocalyptic undersea thriller Crush Depth, teaming with artist Alex Sanchez, colorist Kurt Michael Russell and letterer Justin Birch.

Mad Cave will publish the first issue of the horror/action series next March. The story follows the Chief Science Officer on a submarine that’s afraid to surface in a world devastated by climate change — but when something alien arrives on the sub, she may not have a choice.

“The DNA of Crush Depth is laced with inspiration from John Carpenter’s The Thing to Jeff Vandermeer’s Annihilation and several other touchstones such as The Abyss, Underwater and Neville Shute’s novel On The Beach,” said Tim Daniel. “It’s evocative of that time but ultimately will prove to be as cathartic as the moment when we collectively threw open our doors once again and ventured out of our homes to find the world had changed some and maybe we had too.”

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Patton Oswalt + Garth Graham join Tim Seeley for the next ‘Money Shot’ series

‘Money Shot: Big Bang’ will kick off with a zero issue that recaps all the sexual and relationship shenanigans of the previous two series.

If you thought Vault’s Money Shot had shot its load, worry not — the alien porn/relationship comic by writer Tim Seeley will rise again next year, and Seeley’s bringing some new friends along for the ride.

Comedian Patton Oswalt, who recently worked with Seeley on the Minor Threats series The Alternates, will co-write Money Shot: Big Bang, with webcomics artist Garth Graham providing art. They’re joined by Kurt Michael Russell on colors, Crank! on letters and designer Tim Daniel.

If you’ve never read Money Shot — or just need a recap of the previous two series — Big Bang will kick off with a zero issue that explains the story thus far.

“Money Shot has always been about finding the right partners,” said Seeley. “Lots of partners. Friends. Strangers. Aliens with a dozen or so sex organs. And even beloved comedians and acclaimed webcomics artists! So, with Big Bang, I’m positively throbbing to work with my friend and collaborator Patton Oswalt, and burning hot new (to print comics) talent, Garth Graham!”

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Vault Comics launches ‘spicy’ comics line this summer with ‘Lilith’

Threshold will feature science fiction, fantasy and horror stories for mature readers.

Vault Comics will launch a mature readers imprint this summer, with the first sexy title for the sexy new imprint being Corin Howell’s sexy horror series Lilith.

According to Vault, the Threshold imprint will feature science fiction, fantasy and horror stories, much like the traditional Vault line, but with “a spicy new twist.” They plan to announce several more titles in the coming months. Vault hasn’t shied away from adult-oriented content in the past — they already publish a comic titled Money Shot — so it’ll be interesting to see where they go with Threshold.

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‘Barbaric: Born in Blood’ will delve into Owen’s bloody childhood

The do-gooder barbarian and his talking axe return next February.

Barbaric will return next year with a new miniseries, Born in Blood, written by Michael Moreci, drawn by Nathan Gooden, colored by Fabi Marques, lettered by Jim Campbell and designed by Tim Daniel.

Published by Vault Comics, Barbaric is the story of Owen, a cursed barbarian forced to do good, and his blood-hungry talking axe. This new story will show us Owen’s past — all the way back to his childhood.

“I’m so thrilled to announce the next big arc of Barbaric,” Gooden said. “This new arc is a deep dive into the history of Owen and the Barbarian clans. Readers get to see Owen as a child and how he becomes the ruthless Barbarian we all love. Friendships and alliances are splintering while Owen pushes against his curse. New characters and a brand new adventure will dramatically expand the world!” 

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Horror gets personal in ‘Something Crawled Out’ by Son M. + MadCursed

The new Vault Comics title, announced today in San Diego, will arrive in October.

Son M. and Cas ‘MadCursed’ Peirano will get up close and personal with horror in a new title from Vault that will debut this fall. Something Crawled Out will introduce a woman who enlists her best friend to help find her missing sister — only for her to start to suspect her best friend is the Devil himself.

The new title is colored by Vittorio Astone, lettered by Jim Campbell and designed by Tim Daniel.

“Love is a violent thing. I’ve always been obsessed with the inherent connection between brutality and beauty, and the way we express our relationships in different ways” said Son M. “Something Crawled Out is about two desperate people trying to save someone they love, and thus committing unspeakable acts of violence onto others along the way. I’ve always wanted to write horror that was so tied to expressions of the Final Girl trope, mixed with the active presence of the Hunter. Rather than reacting to the tragedies around her, Eddie is constantly causing devastation in her desperation to find her sister.”

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Jason Copland’s ‘Full Tilt’ blasts through its crowdfunding goal

The campaign on Zoop tops $20,000 on its first day.

Kill All Monsters artist Jason Copland’s been working on his latest project, Full Tilt, for the past five years. Fueled by passion and Slurpees, Copland has created an “action-filled future noir epic,” loaded with love, grit and numerous two-page spreads.

The 300+ page black-and-white hardcover went live on Zoop yesterday, asking for a modest goal of $10,000. Full Tilt was well over $20,000 by the end of the day, and is approaching $30,000 as I type this.

“Full Tilt is a gritty, violent tale about a 23rd century crime family consigliere who must face the consequences of a choice he made between love and loyalty,” Copland said in his newsletter. “It’s an action filled future noir epic that touches on many eternal themes such as love and hate, family and power.”

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Mind control goes viral in Kaplan + Pearson’s ‘Mindset’

The new Vault Comics series debuts in June.

Vault Comics will publish the “new psychedelic sci-fi thriller” Mindset, written by Zack Kaplan (Eclipse, Port of Earth), drawn and colored by Eisner-winning Blue In Green artist John J. Pearson, lettered by Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou and designed by Tim Daniel. 

“Mindset is a mind-bending sci-fi thriller about four wide-eyed grad students who discover mind control and put it in an app, and a dark journey that follows, twists and turns, murder and mystery, love and heartbreak through the absurd world of overnight technopreneurs and social media empires,” said Kaplan. “But the series is really about a dilemma I think we all feel today. How do we use devices, social media and apps to connect with each other and feel influential without allowing the technology to influence the very choices we make and thoughts we have? We believe the timing for the story couldn’t be more socially reverent, since we’ve increased our dependency more than ever on technology, but as Silicon Valley tightens its digital grip on our behavior, mind control exists right now.”

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Vault announces the comedy-fantasy series ‘Quests Aside’

Brian Schirmer and Elena Gogou tell the story of a retired adventurer and his tavern.

Pour a cold one and get ready for some stories, as Vault Comics has announced Quests Aside, a new fantasy-comedy series about the local tavern and the retired adventurer trying to keep it open.

The new series is written by Brian Schirmer, writer of the excellent fantasy comic Fairlady, and drawn by Greek comics artist Elena Gogou (Campfire Stories, My City). They’re joined by colorist Rebecca Nalty and designer Tim Daniel, who brings a creative consistency to everything Vault publishes.

“I’ve always loved stories about the thief who wants to take One Last Score, or the outlaw who needs to take One Last Ride,” said Schirmer. “Their eyes are frequently fixed on retiring thereafter. Usually, things don’t work out as they planned. We take this conceit to a fantasy realm, where a legendary adventurer has already actually succeeded in taking One Last Quest, opened a tavern, and got to retire. That’s where we begin.”

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Seeley + Campbell + Terry head ‘West of Sundown’

The new horror/western series from Vault Comics arrives in March.

Tim Seeley, Aaron Campbell and Jim Terry will team for a new comic next year “that mashes up Hammer Horror and Sergio Leone,” according to Seeley.

West of Sundown, announced today by Vault Comics, will feature Seeley and Campbell as co-writers. Terry will draw the comic, which will be colored by Triona Farrell, lettered by Crank! and designed by Tim Daniel.

“West of Sundown is about the great mythologies of the old world slamming into the folklore of the new world…the legends of Europe, and the birth of the American beast,” Seeley said in the press release. “And, taking that theme as a skeleton, we’ve draped it with the sewed together skin of Sergio Leone Westerns and Hammer Horror films. Gritty sunsets meets foggy nights. The gothic graveyard meets Boot Hill. What horrors lie in our shared unconsciousness, and how do we stuff them all into a too-tight corset?”

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