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Preview: Army of Darkness Forever #1

Army of Darkness Forever #1

writer: Tony Fleecs
artist: Justin Greenwood
covers: Francesco Mattina (A), Arthur Suydam (B), Tony Fleecs (C), Nick Dragotta (D), Blank Authentix (E)
FC | 32 pages | Horror/Adventure | $3.99 | Teen+

After it debuted in 1992, the classic Sam Raimi film Army of Darkness quickly became the most beloved movie of the popular Evil Dead franchise. And with the launch of their Army of Darkness comics in 2005, Dynamite set a new standard for the indefatigable Ash Williams’s adventures in any medium! Now, after nearly three decades of Ash-tastic action, Dynamite is upping the ante with the ultimate AOD comic book series: Army of Darkness… FOREVER!

Picking up immediately after the events of Army of Darkness (the Director’s Cut, natch), Ash chainsaws his way through the Techno Army of Darkness in 2093 and defends the sacred aisles of the S-Mart in 1993! (What? How!?) Meanwhile, in the distant past, his lady love Sheila fights off a rising evil at Castle Kandar!

Written and illustrated by comics heavyweights TONY FLEECS and JUSTIN GREENWOOD, Army of Darkness Forever features incredible covers by some of the medium’s greatest masters of horror, including series writer/mastermind TONY FLEECS, artist NICK DRAGOTTA (East of West), the zombie king himself, ARTHUR SUYDAM, and master painter FRANCESCO MATTINA!

Army of Darkness Forever #1

Godzilla vs Kong vs Justice League gets a trailer

Heroes vs. Monsters! The universe-shattering crossover event of the year, Godzilla vs Kong vs Justice League, begins in October. DC Comics x Legendary Comics!

Justice League vs. Godzilla vs. Kong #1, written by Brian Buccellato with art by Christian Duce and Luis Guerrero, will be published on October 17 with a main cover by Drew Johnson and variant covers by Jim Lee and Scott WilliamsRafael AlbuquerqueFrancesco Mattina; and Dan Mora and Alan Quah.

SDCC 2023: Army of Darkness Gets a Special Sequel!

Over 30 years ago, Sam Raimi’s comedic horror classic Army of Darkness hit theaters, and while fans loved the film, there was an alternate ending that the studio deemed “too pessimistic.” Raimi’s original vision was put aside for a more upbeat S-Mart ending. But now, Dynamite presents a new series from Tony Fleecs and Justin Greenwood that is a direct sequel to how many fans believe the film should’ve ended. Starting this October, Army of Darkness Forever #1 begins to explore what could’ve been.

The story picks up immediately after the events of the beloved film, jumping between three fun timelines. The Techno Army of Darkness of 2093, the S-Mart aisles of 1993, and the middle ages chaos of Castle Kandar, all three get the spotlight in this series. Superstar creator Tony Fleecs, from the best-selling series Stray Dogs and contributions to other franchises like My Little Pony, Gargoyles, returns to the franchise following covers for Army of Darkness vs. Reanimator: Necronomicon Rising. He’s setting out to give fans of Ash Williams the ultimate story they’ve always wanted!

Besides writing the series Fleecs will also be providing covers along with some incredibly talented artists including Francesco Mattina, Arthur Suydam, and Nick Dragotta. Plus, there will be a Blank Authentix cover to allow fans to have their favorite artists draw Ash Williams and some Deadites.

To go along with the new series, Dynamite is releasing an Army of Darkness Movie Adaptation 30th Anniversary Edition and Army of Darkness 30th Anniversary Trading Cards.

The movie adaptation was originally released in 1992, written by brothers Sam and Ivan Raimi, with jaw-dropping painted interiors from John Bolton. The award-winning story is over 80 glorious pages of Ash-ction and the book also features a special interview with Bruce Campbell conducted by comics legend Kurt Busiek.

The trading cards set showcases the best Army of Darkness comic book art and photos, across an 18-card base set, chase cards including 6 signed cards, 9 movie photo cards, 9 line art cards, a 9-card puzzle set, and a special box-topper pack of 3 special cards. Hundreds of exclusive, hand-drawn, one-of-a-kind sketch cards are also included across packs, with a stacked roster of top artists.

Army of Darkness: Forever #1, the Hardcover Film adaptation and the trading cards are slated for release in October 2023.

SDCC 2023: DC and Legendary announce Justice League vs. Godzilla vs. Kong

DC and Legendary Comics kicked off the first full day of San Diego Comic-Con 2023 with a colossal announcement: DC will collide with Legendary’s Monsterverse in Justice League vs. Godzilla vs. Kong, the cataclysmic crossover event of the year you never expected! In partnership with Toho International, the 7-issue series, launching in October, is from acclaimed writer Brian Buccellato, bestselling artist Christian Duce and colorist Luis Guerrero!

What starts as a routine clash between the Justice League and the Legion of Doom takes a dangerous turn when the wall between worlds is breached…with Godzilla, Kong, and the Monsterverse emerging on DC’s Earth! What ensues will be a brawl of unprecedented scale and destruction!

The epic crossover begins when Clark Kent, enjoying a night off with Lois Lane, is interrupted when the entire city shudders under the weight of the monstrous Godzilla, who emerges from the bay.

Justice League vs. Godzilla vs. Kong #1, written by Brian Buccellato with art by Christian Duce and Luis Guerrero, will be published on October 17 with a main cover by Drew Johnson and variant covers by Jim Lee and Scott Williams; Rafael Albuquerque; Francesco Mattina; and Dan Mora and Alan Quah.

And don’t miss the Godzilla “Roar Sound FX” gatefold variant cover and the Kong “Roar Sound FX” gatefold variant cover, both by Christian Duce, on sale November 14 (polybagged, $14.99 US). Sound chips in the covers will have both Godzilla and Kong deliver battle roars when the gatefold is opened! Hear them RRAAGGHH!

Preview: The Joker Uncovered #1

The Joker Uncovered #1

(W) Dave Wielgosz (A) Jorge Corona, Frank Quitely, Gabrielle Dell’Otto, Simone Bianchi, James Stokoe, Lee Bermejo, Alan Quah, Ben Oliver, Kelley Jones, Michelle Madsen, Simone Di Meo, Francesco Mattina, Mark Brooks, J. Scott Campbell, Sabine Rich, Jonboy Meyers, Sean Phillips, Jim Cheung, Romulo Fajardo Jr., Kim Jacinto, Belen Ortega, Alejandro Sanchez, Ryan Brown, Brian Stelfreeze, Jorge Molina, Francesco Francavilla, James Harren, Dustin Nguyen, Clay Mann, Tomeu Morey, Christian Ward, Neal Adams, Darryl Banks, Alex Sinclair,Glenn Fabry, Darren Stephens, Brian Bolland
(L) Darran Robinson
In Shops: Jun 06, 2023
SRP: $5.99

Lowlifes, creeps, and scoundrels, it’s your Uncle Joker here. You know art can come from many places. And most great art is about truly despicable people, like me. In that spirit, you should buy The Joker: Uncovered to see a murderer’s row of the world’s greatest comic book artists commit my beautiful image to dozens of wonderful variant covers, all collected in one place for the very first time. Expand your mind a little bit, and take in some good art.

The Joker Uncovered #1

Horror invade the DC Universe. Discover the Knight Terrors that await DC’s super-villains!

DC has pulled back the curtain a bit more about what will stalk the DC Universe this summer in the upcoming event, “Knight Terrors.” Taking place in July and August, it features multiple two-issue miniseries that will spotlight a hero or villain confronting their worst nightmares. Find out what’s coming along with the creating teams and be ready to see what goes bump in the night!

Knight Terrors: First Blood #1 from Joshua Williamson and Howard Porter kicks things off with an oversized issue. When Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman find the body of one of their earliest enemies inside the Hall of Justice, their investigation takes them past the land of the living, beyond the land of the dead, and directly to a new villain called Insomnia, who uses his powers to engulf every single hero and villain in their own dark and twisted nightmares. The only way to save the world is to call for the help of an unlikely hero—Deadman!

Knight Terrors: First Blood #1 comes to shops on July 4 and will feature art, a main cover, a 1:666 signed variant, and a Darkest Hour variant cover by Howard Porter. The one-shot special issue will also feature open-to-order variant covers by Jae Lee and Francesco Mattina, a 1:25 variant by Riccardo Federici, a 1:50 by Ejikure, and a 1:100 by Jae Lee.

The main Knight Terrors story will take place over four issues written by Williamson with art by Giuseppe Camuncoli, Stefano Nesi, and Caspar Wijngaard, in which Boston Brand—a.k.a. Deadman—serves as the supernatural tour guide! Following the events of Knight Terrors: First Blood #1, everyone in the world is trapped inside their nightmares, and Batman and Deadman are trying to figure out who Insomnia really is…and why he wants revenge on the heroes of the DC Universe! Knight Terrors #1 is available at comics shops on July 11 with variant covers by Francesco Mattina and Alex Maleev, a 1:25 variant by Evan “Doc” Shaner, a 1:50 by Alex Maleev, a 1:100 by Ivan Reis, and a Darkest Hour cover by Reis.

Knight Terrors #2 continues the terror as it comes to comic shops on July 25. Wesley Dodds, the Sandman, teams up with Batman and Deadman to uncover one of his oldest cases, which haunted him until the day he died. The trio are pointed in the direction of the Nightmare Stone, but Insomnia has unleashed his army, the Sleepless Knights, to hunt them down. Knight Terrors #2 will feature a cover by Ivan Reis and Danny Miki, open-to-order variants by Francesco Mattina and Mahmud Asrar, a 1:25 variant by Jeff Spokes, a 1:50 by Ivan Reis, and a 1:100 by Asrar. Reis is also providing a Darkest Hour variant.

When you’re the Clown Prince of Crime, what kind of nightmare do you have? Working a nine-to-five office job! How will the Joker handle meetings that could have been emails?! Why did management cancel bring-your-child-to-work day?! Who will want to make small talk at the coffee machine?! What is Alexis going to pick for lunch?! And who is the masked madman terrorizing Gotham at night?! Knight Terrors: The Joker #1 is available on July 4, written by Joker: The Man Who Stopped Laughing author Matthew Rosenberg and featuring art and main cover by Stefano Raffaele. This first of two issues includes open-to-order variants by Francesco Mattina and Simone Bianchi as well as a 1:25 variant by Alan Quah, a 1:50 by Ryan Brown, and a Midnight variant by Dustin Nguyen.

It’s another absolutely gorgeous and serene day in Pamela Isley’s lovely little new neighborhood in Knight Terrors: Poison Ivy #1 by Poison Ivy writer/artist team G. Willow Wilson and Atagun Ilhan! Everything and everyone here is wall-to-wall smiles! Nothing ever goes wrong, everyone is friends, and best of all, it’s made just for Ivy with lots and lots of love. Now, Pammy, don’t frown, don’t fuss, and don’t fret—just because this wasn’t what you thought you wanted, that doesn’t mean it won’t fit you like a glove! Have some pie, dear, don’t think too hard, and just smile. Knight Terrors: Poison Ivy #1 hits comics shops on July 4 with a main cover by Jessica Fong, open-to-order variants by Leirix and Jamie McKelvie, a 1:25 variant by Nimit Malavia, and a 1:50 variant by Jessica Dalva. Dustin Nguyen will also provide a Midnight variant cover.

Catwoman murdered Valmont, the man she loved, in order to save the other man she loved, Batman. She broke Batman’s one rule, and he will never forgive her for it, but Selina prays to Sister Zero for forgiveness and to wake up from the Nightmare Realm. Knight Terrors: Catwoman #1 is available on July 18 from Catwoman series writer Tini Howard and artist Leila Leiz. The first issue features a main cover and a 1:50 variant by Leiz, open-to-order variants by Tula Lotay and Corin Howell, a 1:25 variant by Dani, and a Midnight variant by Dustin Nguyen.

Harley Quinn finds herself in a world beyond both the waking world and that of dreams in Knight Terrors: Harley Quinn #1 from Harley Quinn series writer Tini Howard and artist Hayden Sherman. Harley’s nightmare world is one where her every choice creates a series of infinitely rippling profane reverberations. Plus, Leah Williams and Ben Templesmith help Harley crack a cosmic-mystery night terror in their backup story! Knight Terrors: Harley Quinn #1 is available on July 25 and features a main cover by Sherman, open-to-order variants by Jenny Frison and Tula Lotay, a 1:25 variant by Caspar Wijngaard, a 1:50 variant by Harley Quinn artist Sweeney Boo, and a Midnight variant by Dustin Nguyen.

Black Adam is defending Kahndaq from a border assault when the deadly nightmare wave sweeps the planet, putting all people into the nightmare realm! But what are his deepest, darkest nightmares? What horror can put fear into the heart of Black Adam?! Knight Terrors: Black Adam #1 arrives in comic shops on July 4. It is written and drawn by Jeremy Haun with a main and 1:50 cover by Haun, open-to-order variant covers by Christian Ward and Tiago da Silva, a 1:25 variant by Karl Kerschl, and a Midnight variant by Dustin Nguyen.

Deep in an abandoned Kobra safe house is a device able to access the dream powers of John Dee, a.k.a. Doctor Destiny. As heroes across the world succumb to nightmares, Angel Breaker wants it. Now, to infiltrate a hall of horrors, she’ll need the help of a professional thief—the man known as Raptor. But Angel Breaker and Raptor aren’t exactly friends. Can the mysterious merc trust a man who feels nothing but grudges as the strange pair encounter a horror as old as the Coda Sisterhood and even more dangerous? Written by Tim Seeley, with art by Acky Bright, Knight Terrors: Angel Breaker #1 is available on July 25 with a main cover and 1:50 variant by Matteo Lolli, open-to-order variants by Ivan Tao and Leirix, a 1:25 variant by Chuma Hill, and a Midnight variant by Dustin Nguyen.

Alexis Kaye, a.k.a. Punchline, has no fears…or so she’d have you believe! They will be pried out of her in the nightmare world where she’s being hunted, and she’ll be forced to face her deepest, darkest nightmare in true horror-movie fashion! Knight Terrors: Punchline #1 is available on July 18 from writer Danny Lore and artist Lucas Meyer. It will feature a main cover and 1:50 variant by Gleb Melnikov, open-to-order variants by Ben Oliver and Otto Schmidt, a 1:25 variant by Tony Shasteen, and a Midnight variant by Dustin Nguyen.

DC celebrates 30 Years of The Death of Superman with the Original Creative Teams

30 years ago, Superman sacrificed himself to defeat Doomsday. To celebrate the special anniversary of this defining moment, DC has reunited the original creative teams of Dan Jurgens and Brett Breeding; Roger Stern and Butch Guice; Louise Simonson and Jon Bogdanove; and Jerry Ordway and Tom Grummett for The Death of Superman 30th Anniversary Special #1. Available at comic shops on November 8, the comic features four all-new stories that explore the lasting impact that Clark’s death had on his family and friends as well as nine pinups and variant covers by some of the top names in comics.

Each of the original creative teams from The Death of Superman has reunited to tell a story that shows how some of Superman’s biggest allies reacted during and after his fateful battle with Doomsday:

  • “The Life of Superman” by Dan Jurgens (W & A), Brett Breeding (A), Brad Anderson (C), and John Workman (L) – A young Jon Kent finds out in school that his dad had died years earlier, as his parents never told him about that fateful day. In the midst of dealing with this emotional news, Jon and Clark need to team up to fight a new villain connected to Doomsday called DOOMBREAKER.
  • “Standing Guard” by Roger Stern (W), Butch Guice (A), Glenn Whitmore (C), and Rob Leigh (L) – The epic battle between Superman and Doomsday from the Guardians’ perspective.
  • “Time” by Louise Simonson (W), Jon Bogdanove (A), Glenn Whitmore (C), and Rob Leigh (L) – The story of how the death of Superman looked from John Henry Irons’s perspective.
  • “Above and Beyond” by Jerry Ordway (W), Tom Grummett (P), Doug Hazelwood (I), Glenn Whitmore (C), and Rob Leigh (L) – A powerful story of Ma and Pa Kent watching their son fight Doomsday live on television and going through Clark’s photo albums with the feeling that their son always prevails.

W=Writer, A=Artist, P=Penciller, I=Inker, C=Colorist, L=Letter

Highlighting the milestone, The Death of Superman 30th Anniversary will feature variant covers by artists including Jim Lee and Scott Williams; Dan Mora; Ivan Reis and Danny Miki; Francesco Mattina; Dan Jurgens; and Brett Breeding. Fans can also order a premium polybag variant that features a black armband with The Death of Superman 30th Anniversary logo and the main cover inside.

DC had previously announced details of The Death of Superman 30th Anniversary Deluxe Editionwhich will include Superman: Day of Doom #1-4 for the first time ever and will be available at comic shops and local bookstores on December 6, 2022. DC will also be releasing Superman #75 Special Edition featuring the original story by Dan Jurgens and Brett Breeding, which will be available at local comic shops on November 1.

Christopher Chance Returns to Pursue his Killer this September

The Eisner-nominated series by acclaimed writer Tom King and artist Greg SmallwoodThe Human Target, resumes this Fall as Christopher Chance dives deeper into the mystery behind his poisoning, and time is running out!

King and Smallwood turn up the heat for Chance in more ways than one, beginning with Book Seven, in comic book stores and participating digital retailers on Tuesday, September 27. After discovering clues, the death of a Green Lantern and a torrid romance with Tora Olafsdottir, a.k.a. Ice, DC’s top bodyguard may meet his match when Beatriz da Costa, otherwise known as Fire, steps into his life. Only time will tell what secrets this flaming femme fatale might hold, and just how badly The Human Target might get burned.

Book Seven of The Human Target features a main cover by artist Smallwood, with a main variant cover by Stanley “Artgerm” Lau, plus a 1 in 25 ratio variant cover by Francesco Mattina. Fans can check with their local comic book store of availability and pre-ordering details. The issue weighs in at 40 pages at a price of $4.99.

Tom Taylor and Trevor Hairsine Reunite for DCeased’s Final Chapter!

From the original DCeased, to DCeased: Dead Planet, DCeased: Unkillables, to DCeased: Hope at World’s End, acclaimed writer Tom Taylor and artist Trevor Hairsine turned the DCU upside down, combining horror, heroism, and hope in the face of Armageddon.

Taylor and Hairsine reunite for the last chapter in this fan-favorite franchise, DCeased: War of the Undead Gods. This eight-issue monthly limited series arrives in comic book stores and participating digital platforms on Tuesday, August 9.

What began as a battle for Earth has become a war for the galaxy! The emergence of a reborn, undead Darkseid in DCeased: Dead Planet sets the stage for the most devastating conflict yet for Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman! As the Anti-Life Equation spreads into the cosmos, the survivors of Earth prepare for the coming apocalypse and realize their only hope could lie in the most powerful surviving hero from the first DCeased series.

Like previous DCeased series, DCeased: War of the Undead Gods will feature more than just breathtaking art from Trevor Hairsine, but an incredible collection of cover art from some of comics’ best talents. In addition to the card stock main cover from Hairsine, the debut issue also features a card stock homage variant cover by Dan Mora a card stock acetate variant cover by Kael Ngu, a 1 in 25 ratio “horror” variant cover by DCeased mainstay Francesco Mattina, a 1 in 50 ratio variant cover by Sun Khamunaki, and a 1 in 100 card stock “virgin” homage ratio variant cover of Dan Mora’s art. The variant covers for issues #1 – #4 by Mora connect to form a larger homage image of one of the best-selling comics of all time.

DCeased: War of the Undead Gods cover
DCeased: War of the Undead Gods connecting variant covers

Preview: Army of Darkness 1979 #5

Army of Darkness: 1979 #5

writer: Rodney Barnes
artist: Edu Menna
covers: Francesco Mattina (A), Arthur Suydam (B), Jungguen Yoon (C), Stuart Sayger (D), Arthur Suydam (E-RI/BW), Stuart Sayger (F-RI/BW), Junggeun Yoon (G-RI/BW), Francesco Mattina (H-RI/BW)
FC | 32 pages | Horror, Action/Adventure | $3.99 | Teen+

It’s a battle royale, 1970s style as the gangs converge and Ash stands ready to fight his way out of the swinging 70s and back into the… present day? Or wherever the Necronomicon sends him next!

The mayhem concludes by Rodney Barnes and Tom Garcia and an undead who’s-who of cover artists: Mattina! Suydam! Yoon! Sayger!

Did you know: Sam Raimi’s original title for Army of Darkness was The Medieval Dead.

Army of Darkness: 1979 #5
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