Tag Archives: anand rk

It’s shocking plans and mysteries in a first look at Lotus Land #4

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BOOM! Studios has revealed a first look at Lotus Land #4. Eisner-winning and Harvey-nominated writer and director Darcy Van Poelgeest is joined by artist Caio Filipe, colorist Patricio Delpeche, and letterer Nate Piekos of Blambot for a timely look at the human condition, set in a dystopic, cyberpunk future that’s as grounded as it is metaphysical. Welcome to Lotus Land, available February 21, 2024.

As he works to unravel the mystery of who attacked him and why, Bennie pays a visit to a club in Gastown where “The Twin” — a man with the power to induce hallucinations — plies his trade. But when Bennie’s interest in “the drowning girl” puts him on the bad side of a worse crowd, he finds himself in the clutches of an underworld power broker with a shocking agenda.

Lotus Land #4 features a main cover by Alex Eckman-Lawn with variants by Alex Eckman-Lawn, Yejin Park, and Anand RK.

Lotus Land #4

Foodies Rejoice for a First Look at Rare Flavours #1

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BOOM! Studios has revealed a first look at Rare Flavours #1, the premier issue of the brand new series from the Eisner, Harvey, and Ringo Award-nominated team behind the critically acclaimed series The Many Deaths of Laila Starr, writer Ram V, artist Filipe Andrade, and letterer AndWorld Design, in this painstakingly prepared series for fans of food, art, and the celebration of life, available this September 20.

Meet Rubin Baksh, a demonic Rakshasa with a down-to-earth dream of becoming the next Anthony Bourdain. To make his dream come true, Rubin enlists Mo, a down-on-his-luck filmmaker, to document the world-renowned cuisine of India and the people behind the glorious, flavourful food. But little does Mo know that there’s more to Rubin than meets the eye, and the mortals play a darker role in the show than they were prepared for…

Rare Flavours #1 features a main cover by series artist Filipe Andrade, with variants by Fabío Moon, Anand RK, and David Mack.

Ram V and Filipe Andrade team up at BOOM! once again with Rare Flavours

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Entice your palate with the follow-up offering from the Eisner, Harvey, and Ringo Award-nominated team behind the lauded, critically acclaimed series The Many Deaths of Laila Starr, of Ram V and Filipe Andrade in this painstakingly prepared series for fans of food, art, and the celebration of life in Rare Flavours!

Meet Rubin Baksh, a demonic Rakshasa with a down-to-earth dream of becoming the next Anthony Bourdain. To make his dream come true, Rubin enlists Mo, a down-on-his-luck filmmaker, to document the world-renowned cuisine of India and the people behind the glorious, flavourful food.

But little does Mo know that there’s more to Rubin than meets the eye, and the mortals play a darker role in the show than they were prepared for…

Rare Flavours #1 features a main cover by series artist Filipe Andrade, with variants by Fabío Moon, Anand RK, and David Mack. It arrives in shops on September 20th.

Dawn of DC delivers three new superhero series, City Boy, The Vigil, and Spirit World, in May

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“Dawn of DC” is this year’s initiative from DC Comics featuring new series, new creative teams, and new characters all-together! In May, the comic publisher will release three new six-issue limited series each featuring Asian superheroes. Check out the solicits below!

Spirit World #1 (of 6)

Story: Alyssa Wong
Art: Haining
Cover: Haining
Variant Covers: Dustin Nguyen, Trung Le Nguyen, Zu Orzu
On Sale May 9, 2023

First seen in Lazarus Planet: Dark Fate #1, Spirit World features Xanthe, a non-binary Chinese hero with the ability to travel in and out of the Spirit World – the realm of the dead, and that of the living. Xanthe possesses the ability to burn items folded from ceremonial joss paper and turn them into real objects that can be used in the physical world. Their super power is based on the East Asian custom of burning joss paper at gravesites to send resources to ancestors in the spirit world. In this debut issue, written by Alyssa Wong with art by Haining, Xanthe forms a reluctant alliance with DC’s bad boy of the mystic arts, John Constantine, to rescue Batgirl Cassandra Cain from a horde of jiangshi (Chinese hopping vampires). Haining provides both the main and 1 in 50 ratio variant covers, additional variant covers by Dustin Nguyen and Trung Le Nguyen, plus a special AAPI Heritage Month variant cover by Zu Orzu.

The Vigil #1 (of 6)

Story: Ram V.
Art: Lalit Kumar Sharma
Cover: Sumit Kumar
Variant Covers: Mukesh Singh, Lalit Kumar Sharma, Anand RK, Pop Mhan
On Sale May 16, 2023

This mysterious team of South Asian metahumans made their first appearance in Lazarus Planet: Next Evolution #1 and can be seen again in issues #1070 and #1071 of Detective Comics. Written by Ram V, with art by Lalit Kumar Sharma, The Vigil is Arclight, Saya, Dodge, and Castle, a group of individuals given powers they didn’t want, determined to stop metahuman research and tech created for military applications at any cost. Along the way, they’ll encounter super heroes that could be allies or enemies, not a surprise for a group that exists to shut down state-sponsored superhumans…and clean up the mess before any hero or villain arrives, as if both the crime and The Vigil were never there. Artist Sumit Kumar provides the main cover, with variant covers by Mukesh Singh and series artist Lalit Kumar Sharma and Anand RK, with Pop Mhan providing a special AAPI Heritage Month variant.

City Boy #1 (of 6)

Story: Greg Pak
Art: Minkyu Jung, Sunny Gho
Cover: Minkyu Jung
Variant Covers: Minkyu Jung, InHyuk Lee, Michael Cho, Alexandre Tefenkgi
On Sale May 23, 2023

Both DC and WildStorm fans have already been introduced to Korean super hero Cameron Kim, a.k.a. City Boy, in the WildStorm 30th Anniversary Special #1 and Lazarus Planet: Legends Reborn #1. Cameron is just a kid trying to make a living, using his powers of speaking to cities to find lost and hidden goods to pawn, just trying to get by. But having these powers also means that he hears everything about these cities, everywhere and all at once, including their histories and the truths behind them. In his two current appearances he’s already made “friends” with Gotham City (including a rat avatar made from the city’s scraps), but only time will tell if City Boy is received as openly by Metropolis, Amnesty Bay, Themyscira, or other cities in the DC Universe. This six-issue series reunites writer Greg Pak with artists Minkyu Jung and Sunny Gho, and the debut issue features a main cover and 1 in 50 ratio variant cover by Minkyu Jung, and additional variant covers by InHyuk Lee and Michael Choi, with an AAPI Heritage Month variant cover by Alexandre Tefenkgi.

Vault and Ram V. announce Radio Apocalypse’s Hiatus

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Radio Apocalypse

Vault and Ram V have announced an indefinite hiatus for the series Radio Apocalypse. The series will return in the future when the creative team is ready to continue. The series was announced in February 2021 with the first issue debuting this past November. It was written by Ram V, art by Anand RK, lettered by Aditya Bidikar, and designed by Tim Daniel.

Writer and co-creator Ram V wrote the following statement with the announcement: 

I’m afraid this broadcast will be a bit of a sorrowful one.

We launched this book with much excitement and to celebration and acclaim. And for that I have readers, retailers, and everyone who worked on this book to thank. Unfortunately, in the time since, Anand, Aditya and I have been through some rough times. I will allow everyone including myself some privacy but suffice to say health issues, bouts of COVID and some difficult family emergencies on my end have meant that we have been unable to work on this book with the care and attention it deserves.

It would be unfair of me to place any of the blame on anyone in the team. They all have careers, schedules and other work that will not wait for this story. So, it is with sadness and regret that I’m placing the book on hiatus.

I have no doubt I will return to it once things settle down a little. Life happens. I love my work and I love the people I work with. I hope to come back to this book and to them in time.

Much love and thanks for all your patience, kindness and understanding.

– Ram

We rated the first issue a “buy” with a score of 8.0 with reviewer Logan stating:

Radio Apocalypse #1 is like the comic book equivalent of a five minute opening track on a concept album establishing the visual language and color palette as well as the setting and key players.

Review: Radio Apocalypse #1

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Radio Apocalypse

Radio Apocalypse is definitely more of a vibe than a story, but that’s A-okay as Ram V, Anand RK, and Anisha immerse us in the post-apocalyptic world of Bakerstown where the DJ still plays Springsteen and Muse. However, they’re barely scraping by, and going out after dark attracts the xinos, kind of mutant wolf creatures that emerge from the desert when they find a scent. Radio Apocalypse literally shows a day in the life of the inhabitants of Bakerstown and sets up key characters like the orphan refugee boy Rion and the couple, Tan and Cali, who are just trying to find a warm fire and shelter. The entire narrative and world is connected by the DJ of the last radio station, who is a Greek chorus meets Senor Love Daddy in Do the Right Thing with a bit of a survivalist edge.

Radio Apocalypse #1 establishes Anand RK’s distinct, yet varied art style, and his idiosyncrasies make the story memorable. Something I noticed about his approach to storytelling is that he and Ram V like to insert a panel of a foot before a tense scene like a xino jumping up, or Rion getting caught by the DJ while looking for copper wire for something the scrap and sell and get some food. Usually framed at medium range with the lower leg bending, this repeated motif shows the knife edge that Bakerstown is on. The sunset isn’t something that’s nice to know for golden hour lighting, but life or death. Anisha’s palette gauges the feelings of the characters and also corresponds to the time of day from a nice montage of various citizens on the first few pages to a far off explosion and darkness in the final few that sets up the series’ real hook and conflict.

To draw you into the story, Ram V and Anand RK use archetypal relationships: two lovers and a father and son. However, the second dynamic is different because DJ basically has Rion in indentured servitude paying him in meals and shelter instead of turning him in for breaking and stealing stuff from the station. From the first page, this station connects the world of the town with the outside world as Tan desperately reaches out to Cali with tips for surviving the night and a song in case that doesn’t happen. There are many panels where the words drop out, and RK just indulges in the power of music and all things analog. Even if nothing really nice happens in Radio Apocalypse #1, it’s nice to know that there’s still good music at the end of the world.

Radio Apocalypse #1 is like the comic book equivalent of a five minute opening track on a concept album establishing the visual language and color palette as well as the setting and key players. Ram V, Anand RK, and Anisha walk a tight rope between hope and hopelessness throughout the story and use seemingly throwaway dialogue between characters to set up the main brunt of the plot. (For now.) Compared to the areas outside it that are seen through the blurry, pain-filled POV of Cali and Tan, Bakerstown is pretty damn idyllic, but the darkness is coming.

Story: Ram V Art: Anand RK
Colors: Anisha Letters: Aditya Bidikar
Story: 7.0 Art: 9.0 Overall: 8.0 Recommendation: Buy

Vault provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: comiXology – Kindle – TFAW

Vault Announces Radio Apocalypse #1 Local Comic Shop Day Edition

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Vault Comics has announced their Local Comic Shop Day 2021 release: a limited, deluxe foil, full art edition of Radio Apocalypse #1, written by star writer Ram V, Eisner Award-winning artist Anand RK, colorist Anisha, letterer Aditya Bidikar, and designer Tim Daniel.    

Long after the rock out of space struck the world and turned it all to dust, in Bakerstown stands the last Radio Station on the planet. Radio Apocalypse broadcasting into the unknown, a beacon in the dark for those who wander the lost places. Now change is coming to Bakerstown. Among the refugees flocking into an already precarious settlement, an orphan boy Rion, caught in an indiscretion, will twine his fate with the Radio Station. And in doing so, begin this mixtape of love and heartbreak and interminable hope. This soundtrack to the end of the world.

Local Comic Shop Day takes place on Saturday, November 24th, 2021.

Readers can preorder the Radio Apocalypse #1 LCSD Edition at their local comic shop using Diamond Order Code: AUG219488. 

Vault Debuts a Look at Ram V and Anand RK’s Radio Apocalypse #1

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Vault Comics has released a first look at the interior art from Radio Apocalypse #1, the new series by star writer Ram V, Eisner Award-winning artist Anand RK, colorist Ahisha, and letterer Aditya Bidikar.  

Long after the rock out of space struck the world and turned it all to dust, in Bakerstown stands the last Radio Station on the planet. Radio Apocalypse broadcasting into the unknown, a beacon in the dark for those who wander the lost places. Now change is coming to Bakerstown. Among the refugees flocking into an already precarious settlement, an orphan boy Rion, caught in an indiscretion, will twine his fate with the Radio Station. And in doing so, begin this mixtape of love and heartbreak and interminable hope. This soundtrack to the end of the world.

Radio Apocalypse #1 will hit store shelves on November 17th, 2021. Issue #1 will debut with a stunning variant from Vault Cover Artist In-Residence, Martin Simmonds and a special Vault Vintage cover from Nathan Gooden and Tim Daniel that pays homage to Kieron Gillen’s and Jamie McKelvie’s legendary Phonogram #1.

Radio Apocalypse #1

Tune Into Radio Apocalypse #1 in October

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Today Vault announced that, due to Covid-related delays, the release of Radio Apocalypse #1 has been pushed back to October 2021.

Radio Apocalypse is written by Ram V, star artist Anand RK, letterer Aditya Bidikar, and designer Tim Daniel.

Long after the rock out of space struck the world and turned it all to dust, in Bakerstown stands the last Radio Station on the planet. Radio Apocalypse broadcasting into the unknown, a beacon in the dark for those who wander the lost places. Now change is coming to Bakerstown. Among the refugees flocking into an already precarious settlement, an orphan boy Rion, caught in an indiscretion, will twine his fate with the Radio Station. And in doing so, begin this mixtape of love and heartbreak and interminable hope. This soundtrack to the end of the world.

Radio Apocalypse #1

Your First Look at The Many Deaths of Laila Starr #1

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BOOM! Studios have revealed a first look at The Many Deaths of Laila Starr #1, the first issue in a new original series from acclaimed comics creator Ram V, superstar artist Filipe Andrade, and letterer AndWorld Design, that explores the fine line between living and dying in Mumbai through the lens of magical realism, available on April 14.

With humanity on the verge of discovering immortality, the avatar of Death is fired and relegated to the world below to live out her now-finite days in the body of twenty-something Laila Starr in Mumbai. Struggling with her newfound mortality, Laila hatches a plan and soon discovers a way to be placed at the time and location where the creator of immortality will be born . . . But will Laila take her chance to permanently reverse the course of (future) history, or does a more shocking fate await her within the coils of mortal existence?

The Many Deaths of Laila Starr #1 features main cover art by series artist Andrade and variant covers by famed illustrator David Mack, and acclaimed artist Anand RK.

The Many Deaths of Laila Starr #1
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