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Swamp Thing comes to 4K and Blu-ray in July

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MVD Entertainment Group has announced that Swamp Thing is being re-released in North America on 4K Ultra HD and Blu-yay on July 25, 2023. The release will include the PG rated theatrical cut and for the first time in North America, the Unrated International Cut.

Directed and written by Wes Craven, Swamp Thing was released in1982 and based on the DC Comics character of the same name created by Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson. It tells the story of a brilliant scientist, Dr. Alec Holland (Ray Wise, Robocop) and a government agent, Alice Cable (Adrienne Barbeau, John Carpenter’s The Fog) who have developed a secret formula that could end world hunger and change civilization forever. Little do they know, however, that their arch nemesis, Arcane (Louis Jourdan, Octopussy) is plotting to steal the serum for his own selfish schemes. Looting the lab and kidnapping Cable, Arcane douses Holland with the chemicals and leaves him for dead in the swamp. Mutated by his own formula, Holland becomes “Swamp Thing” – a half human/half plant superhero who will stop at nothing to rescue the beautiful Cable and defeat the evil Arcane… even if it costs him his life. 

The supporting cast includes David Hess (The Last House on the Left), Nicholas Worth (Barb Wire) and Dick Durock as “Swamp Thing” (who reprised the role in the 1989 sequel The Return of Swamp Thing and the 1990 – 1993 “Swamp Thing: The Series”). Swamp Thing became a cult hit upon its release on home video back in the 1980’s and its countless airings on cable television in the 80’s and 90’s.

RELEASE DETAILS:  

MVD LaserVision Collection #1 

TITLE: Swamp Thing (2-Disc Collector’s Edition) [4K
Ultra HD + Blu-ray] 
SKU: MVD12567UHD 
UPC / Barcode: 760137125679 
MSRP: 49.95 
STREET DATE: 7/25/2023 
DISC 1: SWAMP THING 4K LASERVISION COLLECTION – SPECIAL FEATURES: 

  • 2023 4K Restoration (16-Bit Scan of the Original Camera Negative) of both the US Theatrical PG Version and Unrated International Version of the film presented in its original 1.85:1 Aspect Ratio in Dolby Vision / HDR 
  • Audio: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono, Spanish Mono 
  • Optional English Subtitles 
  • Audio Commentary with Writer/Director Wes Craven moderated by Sean Clark (Theatrical / PG Version) 
  • Audio Commentary with Makeup Effects Artist William Munns moderated by Michael Felsher (Theatrical / PG Version) 
  • Collectible “4K LaserVision” Mini-Poster of cover art 
  • Limited Edition “4K Laservision” Slipcover (First Pressing Only) 

DISC 2: SWAMP THING REWIND COLLECTION BLU-RAY – SPECIAL FEATURES: 

  • 2023 HD Restoration of both the US Theatrical PG Version and Unrated International Version of the film presented in its original 1.85:1 Aspect Ratio 
  • Audio Commentary with Writer/Director Wes Craven moderated by Sean Clark (Theatrical / PG Version) 
  • Audio Commentary with Makeup Effects Artist William Munns moderated by Michael Felsher (Theatrical / PG Version) 
  • DTS-HD Audio 2.0 Mono, Spanish Mono Audio 
  • Optional English Subtitles 
  • “Tales From the Swamp” (Remastered) with Actress Adrienne Barbeau (HD, 16:56) 
  • “Hey Jude” with Actor Reggie Batts (HD, 14:30) 
  • “That Swamp Thing” with Len Wein, Creator of Swamp Thing (HD, 13:19) 
  • “Swamp Screen: Designing DC’s Main Monster” featurette (HD, 20:32) 
  • “From Krug to Comics: How the Mainstream Shaped a Radical Genre Voice” featurette (HD, 17:34) 
  • Posters & Lobby Cards – Photo Gallery 
  • Photos from the Film – Photo Gallery 
  • William Munns’ Behind the Scenes Pictures – Photo Gallery  
  • Behind the Scenes Photos by Geoffrey Rayle – Photo Gallery 
  • Theatrical Trailer (HD, 1:31) 
  • “REGION A” LOCKED 

MVD Rewind Collection #51 

TITLE: Swamp Thing (Collector’s Edition) [Blu-ray] 
SKU: MVD8554BR 
UPC / Barcode: 760137855484 
MSRP: $39.95 
STREET DATE: 7/25/2023 

SWAMP THING MVD REWIND COLLECTION BLU-RAY – SPECIAL FEATURES: 

  • 2023 HD Restoration of both the US Theatrical PG Version and Unrated International Version of the film presented in its original 1.85:1 Aspect Ratio 
  • Audio Commentary with Writer/Director Wes Craven moderated by Sean Clark (Theatrical / PG Version) 
  • Audio Commentary with Makeup Effects Artist William Munns moderated by Michael Felsher (Theatrical / PG Version) 
  • DTS-HD 2.0 Mono Audio, Spanish Mono 
  • Optional English Subtitles 
  • “Tales From the Swamp” (Remastered) with Actress Adrienne Barbeau (HD, 16:56) 
  • “Hey Jude” with Actor Reggie Batts (HD,14:30) 
  • “That Swamp Thing” with Len Wein, Creator of Swamp Thing (HD, 13:19) 
  • “Swamp Screen: Designing DC’s Main Monster” featurette (HD, 20:32) 
  • “From Krug to Comics: How the Mainstream Shaped a Radical Genre Voice” featurette (HD, 17:34) 
  • Posters & Lobby Cards – Photo Gallery 
  • Photos from the Film – Photo Gallery 
  • William Munns’ Behind the Scenes Pictures – Photo Gallery  
  • Behind the Scenes Photos by Geoffrey Rayle – Photo Gallery 
  • Theatrical Trailer (HD, 1:31) 
  • Two-Sided Artwork 
  • Collectible MVD Rewind Collection Mini-Poster 
  • Limited Edition Slipcover (First Pressing Only) 
  • “REGION A” LOCKED 

Vault Surprises Comic Shops with a James O’Barr West of Sundown #1 Variant

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Vault Comics has announced that a free surprise one-per-store thank you variant for West of Sundown #1 has shipped to all retailers who ordered issue #1. This very special Vault Vintage cover, drawn by legendary The Crow creator James O’Barr, pays homage to Bernie Wrightson’s iconic 1971 cover art for House Of Secrets #92. The phenomenal Vintage Vintage cover dress was designed by Tim Daniel.

This one-per-store thank you variant will arrive in stores along with the rest of their West of Sundown #1 order from Diamond. 

West of Sundown is a sweeping western horror comic book series written by Tim Seeley and Aaron Campbell, drawn by Jim Terry, colored by Triona Farrell, lettered by Crank!, and designed by Tim Daniel. 

West of Sundown #1 hits store shelves on April 6th, 2022. The full synopsis can be read below: 

A beautiful ancient vampire must flee monster slayers in New York City, and reclaim the ancestral soil that restores her undead flesh. But things have changed since she was reborn in the New Mexico desert, and now Constance Der Abend and her loyal ex-Confederate assistant Dooley must adapt to life in the rough frontier town of Sangre De Moro. A Western tale of survival starring a cast of literary horrors.

Steve Niles, Shannon Eric Denton, and Dan Evans Launch Monster Forge Productions

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Monster Forge Productions

Steve Niles and Shannon Eric Denton have launched Monster Forge Productions, a new company focusing on horror properties. Joining them as a creative consultant is Dan Evans a former vp, creative affairs for DC Entertainment. Niles is the co-creator of the 30 Days of Night franchise and Denton is an artist and animator.

The company is a multi-platform production division that brings together Niles and Denton’s longstanding work and creator relationships focused on film, television, interactive entertainment, gaming, and merchandising. Material will be for adults and kids.

Monster Forge will parter with artists and writers to build franchises across media and appeal to audiences of all ages.

The company already has an impressive roster of talent to work with including Star Trek: Picard supervising producer Marc Bernardin, legendary toy designer James Groman (Madballs), N.W.A. co-founder Arabian Prince, BOOM! Studios co-founder and Hellboy screenwriter Andrew Cosby, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles co-creator Kevin Eastman, The Grudge 3 screenwriter Brad Keene, Hack/Slash creator Tim Seeley and the estate of legendary horror illustrator Bernie Wrightson, among others.

The Inkwell Awards Announces it 12th Annual Award Winners

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The Inkwell Awards has released the list of winners of its 12th annual awards for excellence in the art form of comic-book inking. Normally results are first made public at its live awards ceremony during its host show, The Great Philadelphia Comic Con, but the 2020 event, originally scheduled to take place on April 3-5, was rescheduled for September 4-6 and recently canceled, all due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Nominees were submitted by a separate and independent nomination committee both on their own and from artist submissions. Voting by professionals and fans took place in February for one week from the 23rd-29th on the official ballot at the non-profit advocacy’s website. One winner was chosen in each of five categories based on American interior comic-book work printed in and cover-dated 2019.

In addition, the Inkwells’ internal committee this season decided to not limit lifetime achievement awards chosen within a given year. They selected three inductees of the annual Joe Sinnott Hall of Fame and three recipients for the Stacey Aragon Special Recognition Award (SASRA). There were no internal Silver Inkwell Awards recipients this year nor any internal and community-based Above & Beyond Awards. Ballot nominees are listed below with their credits and the percentage of votes received by the winners, along with the other nominees in alphabetical order.

FAVORITE INKER (Favorite ink artist over the pencil work of another artist; cannot also be nominated for the “Props” award):
Walden Wong (43%) (genLOCK, Justice League [DC], Crazy, Incredible Hulk: Last Call, Marvel’s Hero Project Season 1: Mighty Rebekah, X-23 [Marvel])
Other nominees: Mark Morales, Joe Prado, Norm Rapmund.

MOST-ADAPTABLE (Artist showing exceptional ink style versatility over other pencillers):
Walden Wong (41%) (genLOCK, Justice League [DC], Crazy, Incredible Hulk: Last Call, Marvel’s Hero Project Season 1: Mighty Rebekah, Star Wars: Age Of Republic Heroes–Obi-Wan Kenobi, X-23 [Marvel])
Other nominees: Marc Deering, Jonathan Glapion, Scott Hanna, Jay Leisten, Norm Rapmund, J.L. Straw.

PROPS AWARD (Ink artist deserving of more attention):
Eber Ferreira (32%) (Freedom Fighters, Detective Comics, Supergirl [DC])
Other nominees: Jonathan Glapion, Stefano Guadiano, Le Beau Underwood.

S.P.A.M.I. (Favorite Small Press And Mainstream/Independent  (non-Marvel//DC) inking over another penciller):
Stefano Gaudiano (22%) (Walking Dead [Image])
Other nominees: David Cabeza, Adelso Corona, Anthony Fowler, Le Beau Underwood.

ALL-IN-ONE (Favorite artist known for inking his/her own pencil work):
Liam Sharp (34%) (Green Lantern [DC])
Other nominees: Brad Krause, Sean Gordon Murphy, Stan Sakai.

THE STACEY ARAGON SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD (SASRA): 

Allen Bellman, Sal Buscema, and Norman Lee

Other nominees: Jack Abel, Gene Day, Bill Everett, Frank Frazetta, Graham Ingles, Dennis Janke, Michael Kaluta, Pablo Marcos, June Tarpe Mills, Bob Oksner, George Papp, Wendy Pini, Stan Sakai, Bill Sienkiewicz, Dave Simons, Jim Starlin, Art Thibert, Charles Vess, Al Vey, and Bob Wiacek.


THE JOE SINNOTT HALL OF FAME: 

Bob Layton, John Romita Sr., and Bernie Wrightson

Other nominees: Brett Breeding, Johnny Craig, Mike Esposito, George Klein, Steve Leialoha, Pablo Marcos, Terry Moore, Mike Royer, Chic Stone, and Bob Wiacek.

Full acceptance statements from the winners will be found in the “Award Recipients” section of the Inkwell Awards’ website.

The Inkwell Awards is the only official 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to promote and educate regarding the art form of comic-book inking, as well as annually recognize the best ink artists and their work. Established in 2008, the Inkwells are overseen by a volunteer committee of industry professionals and assisted by various professional ambassadors and contributors. They sponsor the Dave Simons Inkwell Memorial Scholarship Fund for the Kubert School and host the Joe Sinnott Hall of Fame Award.

Around the Tubes

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Hellmouth #3

It’s a new week and we’re getting ready for the end of the year and 2020! While we keep getting things in order, here’s some comic news and reviews from around the web in our morning roundup.

Newsarama – Original Art for Wrightson’s Frankenstein Cover for Marvel Sells for $1.2 Million – Wow. Beating expectations.

The Beat – Matthew Medney named new CEO of Heavy Metal Magazine – Interesting…

Reviews

Talking Comics – Dark Knight Returns: The Golden Child #1
Comics Bulletin – Hellmouth #3
Flickering Myth – Star Trek: Voyager: Mirrors and Smoke

Around the Tubes

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Roku #1

It’s new comic book day tomorrow! What’s everyone excited for? What do you plan on getting? Sound off in the comments below! While you think about that, here’s some comic news and reviews from around the web in our morning roundup.

iO9 – Watchmen‘s Ideas About Trauma and Legacy Are Making the Show More Mystifying – It’s a hell of a show and this is part of it.

Comicbook – Bernie Wrightson Comic Book Cover Estimated To Command Up To A Million Dollars At Auction – Well deserved.

Newsarama – DC Names New Publicity & Communications Director – Interesting move and congrats on the new position.

The Beat – Comics going uptown: The Color of Power: Heroes, Sheroes, & Their Creators exhibit opens November 16 – Sounds like an interesting exhibit.

The Comichron – October 2019 comics sales estimates: X-Men #1 launches near 256k copies – For those that enjoy the horse race.

Reviews

Newsarama – Fantastic Four #16
Comics Bulletin – Roku #1

DC Universe’s Swamp Thing Gets a New Trailer

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Swamp Thing follows Abby Arcane as she investigates what seems to be a deadly swamp-born virus in a small town in Louisiana but soon discovers that the swamp holds mystical and terrifying secrets. When unexplainable and chilling horrors emerge from the murky marsh, no one is safe.

Based on the DC characters originally written and drawn by Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson, Swamp Thing is a new original series for DC Universe. The series debuts May 31 with new episodes weekly.

Preview: Bernie Wrightson Artifact Edition

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Bernie Wrightson Artifact Edition

Len Wein and Various (w) • Bernie Wrightson (a & c)

Bernie Wrightson began his career in the late 1960s, just barely out of his teens, and within a decade, rose to prominence as the preeminent horror artist of his generation. This loving tribute to comics’ Master of the Macabre will showcase Wrightson’s groundbreaking work in the DC Comics Mystery books and his legendary artistic turn on Swamp Thing. Additionally, we have assembled a number of rarely seen and completely (until now) unseen treasures.

HC • B&W • PI • 152 pages • 12” x 17” • ISBN: 978-1-68405-211-0

Bernie Wrightson Artifact Edition

Detective Comics #1000 Gets a Deluxe Hardcover Edition this June

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In celebration of Batman’s 80th anniversary and the release of the landmark 1,000th issue of Detective Comics, debuting on March 27, DC will present Detective Comics #1000: The Deluxe Edition this summer.

Available in comic book stores on June 12 and other major retailers on June 18, the milestone hardcover features new stories from well-known DC talent, historical decade variants and more. With more than 160 pages of some of the top names in comics paying tribute to DC’s Caped Crusader,Detective Comics #1000: The Deluxe Edition will be available for the suggested retail price of $19.99.

This 168-page collector’s item celebrates the Dark Knight with all content from the Detective Comics #1000 periodical, including standalone short stories from an all-star collection of the top writers and artists in Batman’s recent history such as Tom King, Tony S. Daniel & Joëlle Jones, Scott Snyder & Greg Capullo, Brian Michael Bendis & Alex Maleev, Warren Ellis & Becky Cloonan and more, including the debut of a new version of the Arkham Knight into DC canon as writer Peter J. Tomasi and artist Doug Mahnke kick off a new story arc, “Medieval.”

The deluxe hardcover edition of Detective Comics #1000 will also include:

  • A new 12-page Batman story, written by Robert Venditti with art by Stephen Segovia. “Table for Two” pits Batman against a Gotham City gauntlet of his most dangerous rogues, as Two-Face unites half of the Gotham underworld to eradicate the Dark Knight once and for all. This is the first Batman story ever written by Venditti, best known for his fan-favorite run on Hal Jordan and the Green lantern Corps and most recently Hawkman, Freedom Fighters and the soon-to-be-released Six Days.
  • Tribute art celebrating Batman from popular artists Jason Fabok, Mikel Janin, as well as Amanda Conner and Paul Mounts.
  • A gallery of 32 unique retailer-exclusive variants drawn by some of the biggest names in comics and art, plus the nine decade-themed variant covers from artists such as Steve Rude, Michael Cho, Jim Steranko, Bernie Wrightson, Frank Miller, Tim Sale, Jock and Greg Capullo. 
  • The dynamic wraparound cover from the Detective Comics #1000 comic book by the fan favorite team of Jim Lee, Scott Williams and Alex Sinclair.
Detective Comics #1000: The Deluxe Edition

DC Reveals the Creative Lineup for Detective Comics #1000

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DC Comics has unveiled full story details on the landmark 1,000th issue of Detective Comics, debuting on March 27, 2019. The 96-page Detective Comics #1000 celebrates the Dark Knight through a series of seven-to-nine-page standalone short stories from an all-star collection of the top writers and artists in Batman’s recent history including Tom King, Tony Daniel and Joëlle Jones, Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo, Peter J. Tomasi and Doug Mahnke, Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev, Warren Ellis and Becky Cloonan and more.

The full lineup of stories, writers and artists to be featured in Detective Comics #1000 is:

“Medieval,” by Peter J. Tomasi and Doug Mahnke

Appearing in DC’s comic book continuity for the very first time, a new and mysterious version of the Arkham Knight will be debuting in a story that looks at Batman’s encounters with his villains throughout his career through the Arkham Knight’s eyes—but the Knight’s scheme remains to be seen.

“Batman’s Longest Case,” by Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo

One of the most popular talent teams in the history of the Dark Knight delivers a tale in which Batman follows clues around the world, leading him back to his home in Gotham City and to a secret organization that has been keeping tabs on him for years.

“Manufacture for Use,” by Kevin Smith and Jim Lee

The fan-favorite director of Clerks and one of Batman’s most visionary artists present a story that cuts between Batman fighting his greatest villains and his attempts to track down the gun that killed his parents.

“The Legend of Knute Brody” by Paul Dini, Dustin Nguyen, Derek Fridolfs and John Kalisz

The villains of Gotham speak, documentary-style, about that one henchman they each hired who was the absolute WORST at his job, constantly screwing up their plans.

“The Batman’s Design” by Warren Ellis and Becky Cloonan

Warren Ellis pens “The Batman’s Design” with Becky Cloonan, the first woman to draw Batman in the main comic series, in a story of Batman pursuing a pack of technologically enhanced mercenaries into a warehouse, where they think they’ve trapped him.

“Return to Crime Alley” by Denny O’Neil and Steve Epting

A direct sequel to O’Neil’s classic “There Is No Hope in Crime Alley,” from Detective Comics #457, in which Leslie Thompkins takes Batman to task for his addiction to violence, which, in her mind, perpetuates the horror that birthed him.

“Heretic” by Christopher Priest and Neal Adams

Two of the biggest powerhouse writers and artists in the comic book industry work together on a story featuring Batman helping a young man escape from Ra’s al Ghul’s League of Assassins— who then turned up in Gotham, dead. Batman travels to Tibet with a message for the League.

“I Know” by Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev

The creative team behind SCARLET takes a unique future look at Batman and the Penguin. The Penguin comes to an elderly, wheelchair-bound Batman to tell him of the time that he learned Batman was Bruce Wayne—and to explain why he never did anything with that information. This story is available to read in its entirety on DCComics.com.

“The Last Crime in Gotham” by Geoff Johns and Kelley Jones

Superstar writer Geoff Johns and famed artist Kelley Jones tell a future story where the future family of Batman and Catwoman face off in a battle with the family of The Joker and Harley Quinn.

“The Precedent” by James Tynion IV and Alvaro Martinez

The team of James Tynion IV and Alvaro Martinez return to DETECTIVE COMICS after their highly successful Rebirth run, in a story of the night Bruce Wayne made the decision to bring Dick Grayson into his dark world, ending with the classic candlelight oath.

“Batman’s Greatest Case” by Tom King, Tony Daniel and Joëlle Jones

Groundbreaking BATMAN writer Tom King is joined by Tony Daniel and Joëlle Jones, who share artistic duties on the story. Presented using parallel story threads, Bruce Wayne visits his parents’ grave while Batman assembles his entire coalition of allies around him.

In addition to the above stories, Detective Comics #1000 will feature additional art from Mikel Janín and Amanda Conner, as well as a two-page spread from Jason Fabok depicting the current state of the Batman universe and its heroes and villains.

To further celebrate the Caped Crusader’s 80-year legacy, Detective Comics #1000 will offer an extensive retailer variant cover program. Hard-core collectors will want to get their hands on this series of variant covers showcasing the Dark Knight through various decades from iconic Batman artists such as Steve Rude, Michael Cho, Jim Steranko, Bernie Wrightson, Frank Miller, Tim Sale, Jock and Greg Capullo—plus an homage to Jerry Robinson’s cover of November 1942’s Detective Comics #69 by Bruce Timm.

This 96-page oversize collector’s edition issue will be available at comics retailers and digitally on March 27, 2019, for $9.99.

Detective Comics #1000
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