Category Archives: 2012 Releases

Saskatoon’s Riley Rossmo tackles zombie horror for Image Comics with Rebel Blood

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For Immediate Release:

Image Comics Introduces Rebel Blood, a Zombie Story Like No Other

December 9, 2011 — “Save yourself. Stay in the woods. Pray it hasn’t reached the wolves… and keep your gun loaded.” All he knows about what has happened to the world as he knew it has been left in an ominous message. And it’s clear that everything has… changed.

Image Comics and Shadowline are pleased to announce REBEL BLOOD, a new four-part miniseries coming in March with art and concept by Riley Rossmo (GREEN WAKE, COWBOY NINJA VIKING, PROOF) and script by newcomer Alex Link. This gruesome new 21st century zombie outbreak story pays tribute to horror comics’ post-war heyday of titles such as The Vault of Horror, The Haunt of Fear, and Tales From the Crypt, while presenting a concept to rival the best of The Twilight Zone!

“I sketch and paint all the time while I’m working on different projects,” explained Rossmo. “The concept for REBEL BLOOD is something that just began as some sketches, but quickly took on a life of it’s own, to mutate. REBEL BLOOD is what happens when I just run wild with a concept and let it happen.”

“I’m really excited about this project,” said Shadowline Publisher, Jim Valentino. “I’m not a big zombie fan, but this one got me because it was so different than all the others out there. And, I swear, the ending knocked me off my chair. I think it will surprise everyone.”

REBEL BLOOD #1 introduces Forest Ranger Chuck Neville, who, after a strange, unexpected silence, receives a final radio message that a plague is sweeping the country. He learns that the disease has turned every living creature into zombies, all at once rendering the entire animal kingdom unpredictable, violent, and willing to tear apart their neighbors with their bare teeth.

He races home to rescue his family, coming face-to-face with unbelievable horrors along his way and fighting to stay alive. However, when he reaches home, he may find the most horrible part of it all waiting for him…

REBEL BLOOD #1, a 32-page full-color horror comic book for $3.50, will be on sale in stores on March 28 and available for order in the January issue of Previews. A preview of REBEL BLOOD #1 will be featured in the back of both HAUNT #20 (AUG110523), a 32-page full-color horror comic book for $2.99 that goes on sale December 28, 2011, and SPAWN #215 (NOV110468), a 32-page full-color horror comic book for $2.99 that goes on sale January 11,

McElderry Books to publish Emily Carroll’s His Face All Red and Other Stories

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Simon & Shuster’s Margaret K. McElderry Books has purchased the publication rights to Emily Carroll’s His Face All Red and Other Stories which will feature her 2011 Joe Shuster Award-winning webcomics and other “Halloween-themed” work, in a manner the publisher says will be evocative of Grimm’s Fairy Tales.

No publication date was announced, but given the nature, perhaps Fall 2012? Congratulations Emily Carroll.

Thanks to Bryan Munn at Sequential for pointing this out.

Dave Sim’s Last Girlfriend on the schedule for August 2012

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Dave Sim’s Last Girlfriend
by Dave Sim & Susan Alston
Simon & Schuster
$16.99

Publishing Date:
On or around 7 August 2012

Book Description: No figure in comics has been as polarizing as Dave Sim. His long-running series, Cerebus the Aardvark, is seen as one of the singular accomplishments in the history of the form. He has been a champion of self-publishing and of creator rights. But his unorthodox world views on religion and feminism, oft-espoused within the pages of his comics, are seen as regressive by many and have alienated a large swath of his audience. In these pages, you’ll see direct reproductions of the faxes and letters exchanged between Dave and his last and final girlfriend. From the sweet, tender moments to the painful throes of breaking up, these unfiltered, unedited letters will give you a seat on the roller coaster this couple rode right off the tracks.

D+Q’s Spring 2012 Catalogue (updated with Winter 2012 Catalogue link)

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Spring 2012 Preview

Artists include:
Guy Delisle, Jerusalem
Shigeru Mizuki, NonNonBa
Yoshihiro Tatsumi, Fallen Words
Chester Brown, Ed the Happy Clown
Brecht Evens, The Making Of
Michael Cho, Back Alleys and Urban Landscapes
Marguerite Abouet and Clement Oubrerie, Aya: Life in Yop CityAnouk
Ricard, Anna & FrogaLars Jansson, Moomin Book 7
Yoshihiro Tatsumi, The Pushman, Abandon the Old in Tokyo and Good-Bye paperbacks,
Guy Delisle Shenzhen paperback

And don’t forget to check out the Winter 2012 Catalogue which includes:

Juhani Tolvanen, Moomin Every Day
Seth, Palookaville 21
Dan Zettwoch, Birdseye Bristoe
Matt Forsythe, Jinchalo
Tom Gauld, Goliath
Kevin Huizenga, Gloriana
Amber Albrecht, Idyll

Upcoming: Michel Rabagliati’s Paul au Parc, Expo Paul and The Song of Roland.

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Set to debut in November 2011 from Montreal-based publisher La Pastèque is the seventh Paul graphic novel by Michel Rabagliati Paul au Parc. In this volume we go back to Paul’s childhood and his days scouting and mentoring, during the time of the FLQ and the October Crisis.

Paul au parc par Michel Rabagliati
ISBN  978-2-923841-05-2
144 pages, 7.5×10 inches, black and white
$24.95

For a preview of six pages from the book, please visit here!

Also, in Montreal this November to coincide with the release, a special exhibit entitled EXPO PAUL opens – it’s a look at the world of Paul and his creator, and includes original art, reference materials, notes & photos. It will be held in two locations:

* Bibliothèque Parc-Extension – November 2-28, 2011 – 421, Rue Saint-Roch, Montréal, 514-872-6071
* Maison de la culture Mercier – December 4-January 17, 2012 – 8105 rue Hochelaga, Montréal, 514-872-8755

In May 2012, just in time for the Toronto Comic Arts Festival, Conundrum Press will be releasing THE SONG OF ROLAND, the English translation of Michel Rabagliati’s acclaimed graphic novel Paul à Québec (published by La Pastèque), for which he was honoured as the Outstanding Canadian Comic Book Cartoonist / Créateur Canadien Exceptionnel de Bandes Dessinées in 2010. It is the sixth book in the Paul series

Here’s the specifics:

The Song of Roland by Michel Rabagliati
May 2012
ISBN 978-1-894994-61-3
192 pages, 7.5×10 inches, black and white
$20
BDANG Imprint
Translation by Helge Dascher

The Song of Roland focuses on the life and death of the father-in-law of Rabagliati’s alter-ego Paul, who has been called “The Tintin of Quebec” By Le Devoir. The French edition, Paul à Québec, was critically hailed, winning the FNAC Audience Award at France’s Angouleme festival, a Joe Shuster Award for Outstanding Cartoonist, and was nominated for the City of Montreal’s Grand Prize, and the Audience Award at Montreal’s Salon du Livre. The book is currently in production by Caramel Films. In his classic European cartooning style Rabagliati effortlessly tackles big subjects. As the family stands vigil over Roland in his hospital bed, Rabagliati weaves a story of one man’s journey through life and the legacy he leaves behind. The Song of Roland is a mid-career masterpiece from one of Quebec’s finest draftsmen.

“A formidable ode to life that reminds us of the importance of knowing how to say goodbye” – La Presse

“A novel that goes straight to the heart” – Le Soleil

“His stories are personally revealing but gentle, full of kind people with common problems… Rabagliati employs a light, curvy drawing style and episodic plotting that overtly recalls Herge’s Tintin adventures.” — The Onion

Michel Rabagliati was born in 1961 in Montreal, where he grew up in the Rosemont neighbourhood. Having developed an interest in typography, he studied graphic design and in 1988 moved into freelance illustration. Since 1998, his graphic novels have revolutionized the comic-book art form in Quebec. With his six books, Michel Rabagliati has become an essential figure in the comics scene of Quebec. In April 2005, he was awarded the Grand Prix de la ville de Québec, care of the Festival de BD de Québec, and was selected as a Personality of the Week by the daily newspaper La Presse. In 2007, Rabagliati’s body of work to date earned a Special Mention from the Prix des libraires du Québec.

Bibliography (includes translated editions).

Is Darwyn Cooke working on Watchmen prequels?

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That was the big rumour circulating late last week, as Bleeding Cool published some stories related to DC Comics’ rumoured revival of the Watchmen franchise with some prequel mini-series featuring the Watchmen characters such as Rorschach and Dr. Manhattan. Rich Johnston’s sources tell him Darwyn is tapped in a writing/coordinating capacity and will be doing some artwork. Whether or not this is true remains to be confirmed so we’ll have to wait for some kind of official announcement from DC and/or Darwyn.

If it is, it will certainly be a controversial announcement. Many people feel Moore and Gibbons’ Watchmen should be left alone, without any prequels or sequels. However, Watchmen is a huge commercial property and there’s enough of a backstory in the Watchmen graphic novel (some 50 years of alternate earth history) that could easily accommodate prequel stories featuring those characters, this could actually be a successful move creatively and commercially.

Simon Roy and Brandon Graham reimagine Liefeld’s Prophet in 2012

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At the New York show last weekend, Image Comics unveiled it’s plans to revive Rob Liefeld’s Extreme Comics line of books – Youngblood, Supreme, Prophet, Glory, et al.

Of interest to us here at the JSA’s is the PROPHET, written by Brandon Graham (formerly of the USA), with art by SIMON ROY and a cover by MARIAN CHURCHLAND.

Rob Liefeld had this to say in his Comic Book Resources interview:

On “Prophet,” you’ve got Brandon Graham writing and Simon Roy on art. What stood out for you in their pitch?

I was a fan of Brandon Graham and his work on “King City,” and his outline for “Prophet” was fantastic. “Prophet” from the outset will appear to be the biggest departure from the original look and feel of the “Prophet” that myself and Stephen Platt made popular, but it’s no less amazing. The storytelling of Graham and Simon Roy is staggering. You can read the book without any word balloons and follow the story effortlessly. The look of the book is reminiscent of Moebius and Geoff Darrow — it’s a gorgeous, European-style graphic novel. Don’t sleep on this book. In the original “Prophet” series, John Prophet was awakened from cryo-sleep in a sarcophagus and had to deal with the reality of a brave new world. This new series finds John Prophet awakened from cryo-sleep in a brave new world where he has to deal with a much harsher reality than anything he faced in the original series. There are some massive spoilers and twists that I can’t reveal, but these guys have attacked this series and it’s easily my favorite of the bunch!

Camilla d’Errico and BOOM! Studios Launch Kickstarter Campaign for New Hardcover Edition of ‘Tanpopo’

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Camilla d’Errico and BOOM! Studios Launch Kickstarter Campaign for New Hardcover Edition of ‘Tanpopo’

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Los Angeles, Oct. 3rd, 2011 — International pop-artist and graphic novelist Camilla d’Errico and publisher BOOM! Studios have announced the launch of a Kickstarter campaign to fund an exclusive run of two different hardcover editions of d’Errico’s fan-hit series Tanpopo.
Originally started as an independent project, Tanpopo combines Camilla d’Errico’s unique and immediately recognizable style of art with famous literally classics, specifically Goethe’s Faust, to create an experience that is part graphic novel, part play, and part poem.
The story follows a young girl named Tanpopo who is attached to a strange machine which gives her the entire knowledge of the world, however, she is unable to feel human emotions. Crying out for the chance to feel love, the devilish shape-shifting Kuro hears Tanpopo’s plea, and agrees to free her from the machine, and to show her real love, in exchange for her soul.
First sold at comic conventions across the world, the first three volumes of Tanpopo were self-printed by d’Errico Studios in Vancouver, Canada before being serialized on MTV Geek earlier this year as announced at San Diego Comic-Con. Still running online through MTV Geek, Tanpopo will be available to read for free until 2012 when the hardcover editions from BOOM! Studios are expected to be released.
In order to cover the printing costs of a 160 page hardcover edition of the book, as well as a limited edition which features numbering and signature from Camilla d’Errico, BOOM! Studios has started a Kickstarter campaign with a variety of gift tiers ranging from $1 to $175. Regular hardcover editions of the book start at only $25, but are limited to 500 copies. Other items in the Kickstarter campaign include a brand-new art print of the updated Tanpopo cover by Camilla d’Errico, plush toys of the character Kuro and his alter-ego Specter, keychains, and more.
For more information about the Kickstarter campaign, please visit: http://kck.st/n5C0FS
Tanpopo on MTV Geek: http://on.mtv.com/pA2y2J 
To speak with Camilla d’Errico about the project, or to receive images, video, and other feature assets, please use the contact information listed at the bottom of this public release.
—————————————————
About Camilla d’Errico:
Camilla d’Errico is an urban contemporary painter, illustrator, character creator and comic artist residing in Vancouver, BC. With roots in comics and manga stylings, Camilla’s beautiful work is seen on toys, clothes, accessories and more.  She has been published by Random House and Tokyopop (Avril Lavigne’s Make 5 Wishes), Simon & Schuster (Camilla d’Errico’s BURN), Image Comics (Sky Pirates of Neo Terra, Fractured Fables), IDW (Swallow 5, Sparrow 13) and Dark Horse (Myspace Dark Horse Presents, Vampy Cat, Femina & Fauna). More details of her recently announced project with Joshua Dysart (The Unknown Solider, B.P.R.D.) titled Helmetgirls: Origins will be revealed at this year’s New York Comic Con.
About BOOM! Studios:
Headquartered in Los Angeles, California, BOOM! Studios generates bestselling comic books and graphic novels with the industry’s top talent with titles like Mark Waid’s Irredeemable and Stan Lee’s Solider Zero, The Traveler, and Starborn, as well as the award winning series Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? based on the novel by Philip K. Dick, Hellraiser by Cliver Barker, several projects from 20th Century Fox, and The Henson’s Company’s Farscape. Earlier this year, BOOM! announced the start of an all-ages line called KABOOM! that will publish Peanuts and a variety of popular Disney titles.
For more information, or to receive content assets, please email Aaron Colter at info@camilladerrico.com with a short note concerning your request.camilladerico.com

Alpha Flight now an ongoing series from Marvel Comics

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Announced this weekend, appropriately enough at Fan Expo Canada — Marvel Comics has decided to turn the 8-issue Alpha Flight mini-series into an ongoing series with the same creative team of Greg Pak, Fred Van Lente and Canada’s own DALE EAGLESHAM.

According to related news, Canadian superteam Alpha Flight will find out they are part of a commonwealth of superheroes…. this is not unlike the fact that most Canadians don’t really remember the fact that Canada itself is still a member of the Commonwealth of Nations (formerly known as the British Commonwealth) that includes the UK, Australia, India, Pakistan, South Africa and 48 other countries around the world.

Saga by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples

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Announced at Comic-Con International in San Diego, Brian K. Vaughan makes his long-awaited return to ongoing comics in 2012 with “Saga,” a new science-fiction series for Image Comics. “Saga” is an epic drama chronicling the life and times of one young family fighting to survive a never-ending war. Co-created and illustrated by Fiona Staples, “Saga” is Vaughan’s first ongoing series since his Eisner-winning “Ex Machina” came to a dramatic close last summer.

Comic Book Resources.
Bleeding Cool.
Fiona’s blog

Lemire’s The Underwater Welder GN coming in 2012

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Joe Shuster Award winning cartoonist Jeff Lemire (Essex Country Trilogy, Sweet Tooth, The Nobody) will be producing an original, 250 page graphic novel entitled THE UNDERWATER WELDER to be published by Top Shelf in 2012.

Pressure. As an underwater welder on an oilrig off the coast of Nova Scotia, Jack Joseph is used to the immense pressures of deep-sea work. Nothing, however, could prepare him for the pressures of impending fatherhood. As Jack dives deeper and deeper, he seems to pull further and further away from his young wife, and their unborn son. But then, something happens deep on the ocean floor. Jack has a strange and mind-bending encounter that will change the course of his life forever. … Equal parts blue-collar character study and mind-bending science fiction epic, The Underwater Welder is a 250-page graphic novel that explores fathers and sons, birth and death, memory and truth, and treasures we all bury deep down inside.