Tag Archives: matt wagner

Exclusive: Read Mike Mignola’s blurb for Dracula: Book II – The Brides!

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In 1897, Bram Stoker’s classic novel introduced the most famous literary character of all time—the terrifying vampire lord, DRACULA. Yet much of this iconic monster’s background and origins are only hinted at in the course of the original narrative, leaving Dracula’s backstory both intriguing and mysterious. Legendary comic-book creators Matt Wagner and Kelley Jones have teamed up to fill in these tantalizing gaps in the undying centuries of Dracula’s blood-drenched biography. After the resounding runaway success of their first volume Dracula: Book I—The Impaler, these legendary masters of the comic-book arts are returning to the story of the count with Dracula: Book II – The Brides is now live on Kickstarter and fully funded!

Dracula: Book II – The Brides presents 120 pages of sexy and sinister story and art, almost 30 pages longer than Book I. Wagner and Jones are once joined for this creepy foray into the shadows of Castle Dracula by the stellar talents of José Villarrubia on colors and lettering by Rob Leigh. This campaign is the only source for these beautiful, European-album sized hardcover editions of this book as well as the exceptional rewards tiers to be revealed after launch.

We have an exclusive of Mike Mignola‘s blurb for this hot release you don’t want to miss.

Wow - in a good way. And I'm a Dracula snob so that's saying something. This is a wild ride that sails well beyond Whitby and the Borgo Pass - and I believe this may well be the book Kelley Jones was born to draw. Here is all the mood and horror I would expect from him, but also a level of crazy (good crazy) that I've never seen from him before. And a huge nod of the bloody severed head to Matt Wagner, because somebody has to come up with all that crazy in the first place. And a big thank you to both of these guys for showing impalement (in all its anatomical glory) done correctly.

Wow – in a good way. And I’m a Dracula snob so that’s saying something. This is a wild ride that sails well beyond Whitby and the Borgo Pass – and I believe this may well be the book Kelley Jones was born to draw. Here is all the mood and horror I would expect from him, but also a level of crazy (good crazy) that I’ve never seen from him before. And a huge nod of the bloody severed head to Matt Wagner, because somebody has to come up with all that crazy in the first place. And a big thank you to both of these guys for showing impalement (in all its anatomical glory) done correctly.
-Mike Mignola
Creator of Hellboy

A new era of Grendel begins in Grendel: Devil’s Crucible – Defiance Hardcover Collection

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Dark Horse Books presents the newest story arc in the epic saga of Grendel comics, Grendel: Devil’s Crucible—Defiance, now in one complete collected volume. This hardcover collection will be released in March 2025 and contains issues #1-4 of the original comic mini-series. Grendel: Devil’s Crucible—Defiance is a new era in the world of Grendel with writing and art by original Grendel creator Matt Wagner, with colors by Brennan Wagner, letters by Steve Dutro and Rob Leigh, and cover art by Matt and Brennan. The book also includes a cover art gallery featuring variant cover artwork by Brennan Wagner, Antonio Fuso, David Hitchcock, and Matt Lesniewski.

After spending years searching space for a replacement Earth, Grendel Prime has returned home, but things are not as he left them. The pockets of humanity remaining in this post-apocalyptic world are ruled by Necro-Lords, and all things Grendel are outlawed! Grendel Prime must hide his identity as he explores his suddenly hostile home planet. Is there even a place for him here anymore?

The Grendel: Devil’s Crucible—Defiance hardcover (96 pages, 6.625” x 10.1875”) will be available on March 4, 2025 in bookstores and on March 5, 2025 in comic shops. It will retail for $24.99 and is available for pre-order now at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, TFAW, and wherever books and comics are sold.

Grendel: Devil’s Crucible—Defiance

Preview: Grendel: Devil’s Crucible – Defiance #2

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Grendel: Devil’s Crucible – Defiance #2

(W) Matt Wagner (A/CA) Matt Wagner
In Shops: Aug 07, 2024
SRP: $4.99

On a treacherous future Earth that has turned against all followers of Grendel, Grendel Prime finds two rare allies. He gets a short history lesson on his now-hostile home world before encountering a group working for the Necro-Lords, who want him captured. Featuring a standard cover by Matt Wagner and Brennan Wagner and a variant cover by Antonio Fuso and Brennan Wagner!

Grendel: Devil's Crucible - Defiance #2

SDCC 2024: Spiral City rises from the ashes of Jeff Lemire’s Black Hammer: Spiral City

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Dark Horse Comics presents Black Hammer: Spiral City, the next series in the Black Hammer universe. This dystopian story, written by Jeff Lemire, and illustrated by Teddy Kristiansen, follows a new cast of heroes struggling to survive in a chaotic new world. The first issue will arrive November 2024 and features a cover by Kristiansen and three variant covers by Mike Mignola, Matt Wagner, and Duncan Fegredo.

Black Hammer: Spiral City picks up after The End, following the Second Cataclysm and the rearranging of the universe. Many of its lost heroes have returned, but there is no homecoming parade as anti-superhuman sentiment grows, fueled by recent events and stoked by Malcolm Gold, the former head of T.R.I.D.E.N.T, now running to become Spiral’s new mayor. Making matters worse, Spiral Asylum has shut down with many of its low-risk, mentally ill superhuman inmates being set loose into the streets. With this reshaped Black Hammer Universe as the backdrop, several new stories begin to unfold and intertwine, creating a rich portrait of some lesser-known inhabitants living on the fringes of Spiral City.

Black Hammer: Spiral City #1 (of 7) arrives in comic shops on November 13, 2024 and is now available to preorder at your local comic shop for $3.99.

Dark Horse will also be hosting a signing with Jeff Lemire and Ray Fawkes at San Diego Comic-Con to celebrate Black Hammer. Stay tuned for more details!

Grendel: Devil’s Crucible Defiance #1 is an easy debut for new readers to start with

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Grendel: Devils Crucible Defiance #1

Grendel Prime has returned to Earth, but things are not as he left them. The pockets of humanity that remain and the “Necro Lords” that rule them have turned against Grendel. Grendel Prime will need to hide his identity as he explores his suddenly hostile home planet. Grendel: Devil’s Crucible Defiance #1 kicks off a new story arc that’s surprisingly new reader friendly.

I know nothing about Grendel. It’s not a comic I’ve ever read and it’s a character I have little experience with. I’ve heard good things and it’s one I’ve been intrigued to check out, so Grendel: Devil’s Crucible Defiance #1 felt like a chance to see what it’s all about.

Even with that lack of knowledge, Grendel: Devil’s Crucible Defiance #1 is an easy comic to dive into. It lays out the basics you need to know and keeps the story rather basic and not all that complicated. Grendel Prime is back on Earth and there’s no bosses in town who hunt Grendels and kill them. It’s not more complicated than that.

Matt Wagner who handles the story and art keeps the comic laser focused making it easy to enjoy and read. Grendel Prime is unfamiliar with this world and how its changed, so Wagner uses that to catch up readers as to what’s going on and what they can expect. We get a feudal type world where technology has slid backwards. It’s an interesting take and feels slightly different than the post apocalyptic world we see so often. The story itself has a lone samurai/western vibe to it as Grendel gets in trouble with local authorities and find allies. It’s a narrative we’ve seen many times but it’s done well enough.

The art by Wagner with color by Brennan Wagner and lettering by Rob Leigh is good. There’s an interesting style to it all with it embracing the various ideas and genres it mashes together. There’s that samurai feel along with the broken down technology vibe. The art is good and doesn’t go heavy on too much detail which might distract, instead it keeps things focused on the visuals that matter and help tell the story of the world, not necessarily of Grendel.

Grendel: Devil’s Crucible Defiance #1 isn’t a comic that necessarily has me excited to see what’s next but it’s an entertaining read and I can understand what people can see in the character and world. New readers can dive in without any need of knowing the history and continuity which is impressive. Overall, an enjoyable read but not one that’ll stick out after.

Story: Matt Wagner Art: Matt Wagner
Color: Brennan Wagner Letterer: Rob Leigh
Story: 7.0 Art: 7.5 Overall: 7.0 Recommendation: Read

Dark Horse provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: TFAW – Zeus Comics – Kindle

Preview: Grendel: Devil’s Crucible Defiance #1

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Grendel: Devil’s Crucible Defiance #1

(W) Matt Wagner (A/CA) Matt Wagner
In Shops: Jul 03, 2024
SRP: $4.99

A new Grendel story from visionary creator Matt Wagner! Grendel Prime has returned to Earth, but things are not as he left them. The pockets of humanity that remain and the “Necro Lords” that rule them have turned against Grendel. Grendel Prime will need to hide his identity as he explores his suddenly hostile home planet. Featuring a standard cover by Matt Wagner and a variant cover by Brennan Wagner.

Grendel: Devil's Crucible Defiance #1

James Robinson’s ‘Patra with Scott Kolins kicks off the first of many projects at Dark Horse

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From the acclaimed creators behind Starman and The Flash comes ‘Patra, a new supernatural series about slasher monsters, mad scientists, and cult movie-inspired horror. James Robinson will write the series with art and covers by Scott Kolins and letters by Jim Campbell. Francesco Francavilla will provide the variant cover for the first issue, with Gabriel Hernandez Walta, Matt Wagner, and Kelley Jones illustrating variant covers for subsequent issues.

‘Patra is the first of several new creator-owned comic series helmed by Robinson, with more set to begin in Fall 2024 and into 2025, all to be published by Dark Horse. Stay tuned for more details to come!

In this new horror series, a young girl named ‘Patra wakes up with no memory of her past. All she knows is that a big knife and a horrific mask appear whenever she’s in danger. Oh, that, and a deranged killer, in the tradition of 1980s slasher films, who is slaughtering families in a small mid-western town, and wants to make Patra his victim too.

‘Patra #1 (of 4) arrives in comic shops on August 21, 2024. It is now available to pre-order at your local comic shop for $4.99. 

Grendel Prime returns to Earth in Grendel: Devil’s Crucible – Defiance

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Following Grendel: Devil’s Odyssey, the latest story arc in the epic saga of Grendel, comes an all-new Grendel tale in Grendel: Devil’s Crucible—Defiance, the first of three series in the all-new Grendel: Devil’s Crucible storyline. This series is written and illustrated by visionary creator Matt Wagner, colored by Brennan Wagner, and lettered by Steve Dutro and Rob Leigh. The first issue features a main cover by Matt Wagner and Brennan Wagner together, and a variant cover by Brennan Wagner, solo.

A new story arc begins: Grendel Prime has returned to Earth, but things are not as he left them. The pockets of humanity that remain and the “Necro Lords” that rule them have turned against the Grendels. Grendel Prime will need to hide his identity as he explores his suddenly hostile home planet.

Grendel: Devil’s Crucible—Defiance #1 (of 4) will arrive in comic shops on July 3, 2024. It is available for pre-order now at your local comic shop for $4.99. 

Matt Wagner, Kelley Jones, and José Villarrubia’s Dracula Book 1: The Impaler

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This October, Dark Horse Comics will publish Dracula Book 1: The Impaler, a bold and terrifying secret history of the world’s most famous vampire from writer Matt Wagner, artist Kelley Jones, colorist José Villarrubia, and letterer Rob Steen. The project marks the first ever collaboration for Wagner and Jones, two legendary comic book creators and longtime friends. The book, which began as a crowdfunding sensation on Kickstarter, will now be available in comic shops and bookstores in time for Halloween 2024.

The first of four planned volumes, Dracula Book 1: The Impaler explores the legendary Count before his debut in Bram Stoker’s iconic novel—from his first foray into the dark arts to his rise to lord of the undead! The series of books will fill in these tantalizing gaps to provide a terrifying portrait of Vlad Dracula, with Dracula Book 1: The Impaler exploring Dracula’s bloody history and his tenure at Satan’s legendary seminary of the dark arts, the Scholomance.

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