Preview: Frank Barbiere’s The White Suits
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Liberator teams up with HC Punk band Earth Crisis and More!
With its debut slate of comics wrapping up, Black Mask Studios, is teasing what we can expect in March 2014, with the full line-up being announced next month. The creator-supporting comics publisher was founded by Matt Pizzolo, Brett Gurewitz,and Steve Niles.
One of the more interesting debuts from the publisher in 2013 was 12 Reasons to Die. The transmedia story integrated a comic and album release, not shocking since two people behind it were RZA and Ghostface Killah. Black Mask Studios is continuing this collaborative and interesting effort in 2014 with their announced team-up of the legendary animal rights hardcore punk band Earth Crisis with the animal-avenging vigilante story Liberator for Liverator/Earth Crisis: Salvation of Innocents. Black Mask revealed that the 12 Reasons To Die comic book sold nearly as many copies in record stores as it did in comic book stores, demonstrating how effective this multi-pronged distribution approach can be at finding new readers for comic book creators.
Black Mask’s primary goal is to support comics creators, and part of that is by cultivating a space where creators can feel safe to support one another. The March debuting Liberator Volume 1 collected book reflects this mission’s success so far, with the book featuring 40 brand new, previously unreleased comic stories taking place in the world of Liberator written by a range of creators including Tim Seeley, Ales Kot, Ed Brisson , Alex de Campi, Frank Barbiere, Fabian Rangel Jr, Megan Hutchison, Matt Pizzolo, Matthew Rosenberg, and Adam Egypt Mortimer.
Check what you can expect Liberator related in March 2014 below!
LIBERATOR/EARTH CRISIS: Salvation of Innocents #1
Creator: Matt Miner
Producer: Matt Pizzolo
Writers: Matt Miner, Earth Crisis
Illustrators: Javier Aranda (pencils/inks), Joaquin Pereyra (colors).
Cover A: Menton3
Cover B: Rod Reis
32 pages / T+ / Full-color / $3.99
Comic book street date: March 5
Album street date: March 4 (Candlelight Records)
“Earth Crisis has wanted to have a comic that went along with an album’s lyrical concept for a while, but we didn’t think one existed that shared the same vision of the band, until now! Liberator and Matt Miner are just what we’ve been waiting for, and we are honored to have him help us tell the story!” -Earth Crisis
“Working with EARTH CRISIS on the comic book side of Salvation of Innocents has been a dream project for me. Our styles, ethics, and ideologies are a fitting match and I’m super excited for folks to read the story.” -Matt Miner, creator Liberator
“It’s crazy to me that it took twenty years for comics to produce a set of animal-minded vigilantes strong enough to roll with EARTH CRISIS. It’s probably the most perfectly aligned superhero team-up ever.” -Matt Pizzolo, Black Mask Studios
Hardcore punk legends Earth Crisis join forces with Liberator for this unique comics & music collaboration, telling the story of a young janitor in an animal testing lab who stumbles on a dark conspiracy and is inspired to rescue the animals.
Different sides of the same story are told in the simultaneously released comic book and concept album.
When Sarah Mann takes a crappy custodial job at a cosmetics lab, she discovers cold-blooded scientist Dr. Elena Reznik’s secret facility where illegal vivisections are performed on live, conscious animals. Inspired by the stories of Jeanette and Damon’s animal liberations, Sarah pulls on her own mask and sets out to rescue the tortured animals.
LIBERATOR Vol .1 Rage Ignition
Creator/Writer: Matt Miner
Illustrators: Javier Aranda (pencils/inks), Joaquin Pereyra (colors)
Cover: Tim Seeley
New Stories:
“This Is You”
Written by Tim Seeley
Illustrated by Tim Seeley (pencils/inks), K. Michael Russell (colors)
“Liber”
Written by Ales Kot
Illustrated by Morgan Jeske
“Broken”
Written by Ed Brisson
Illustrated by Brian Level
“Politics”
Written by Alex de Campi
Illustrated by Sally Jane Thompson (pencils/inks), Jenn Manley Lee (colors)
“What’s a hero, anyway?”
Written by Frank Barbiere
Illustrated by Matthew Marks
“Liberation”
Written & Illustrated by Megan Hutchison
“Anchor Point”
Written by Matt Miner
Illustrated by Tess Fowler
“Unlocking”
Written by Fabian Rangel, Jr.
Illustrated by Jonathan Brandon Sawyer (pencils/inks), Doug Garbark (colors)
“Untouchable”
Written by Matt Pizzolo
“We Are What We Are”
Written by Matthew Rosenberg and Patrick Kindlon
Illustrated by Ariela Rie Kristantina
“Rage”
Written by Adam Egypt Mortimer
Illustrated by Ryan Lee
144 pages / T+ / Full-color / $14.99
Acclaimed from the establishment media of the NY Post to the activist trenches of Earth First, Liberator brings real-world vigilante-heroism to comics for the first time–demonstrated by its popular hook “Real heroes don’t wear capes, they wear ski-masks.”
Whether it’s vicious dog-fighting clubs or senseless lab experiments force-feeding oven cleaners to monkeys, Jeanette Francis and Damon Guerrero have had enough. Using any and all means available to them, Jeanette and Damon not only rescue the animals but also avenge them – delivering harsh retribution to the animals’ captors and tormentors.
This book collects Liberator issues 1-4 into a single volume for the first time. Collected for the first time, this 144-page volume includes 40 pages of brand-new, previously unreleased comic stories taking place in the world of Liberator.
1/3 of Liberator profits will go to animal rescue initiatives.
NYCC 2013: Dynamite Nabs Gold Key’s Solar, Magnus, Turok and Doctor Spektor
Dynamite Entertainment has announced the return of four fan-favorite comic series — Turok: Dinosaur Hunter, Solar: Man of the Atom, Magnus: Robot Fighter, and Doctor Spektor — through a new licensing agreement with DreamWorks Classics. The publishing company has signed four of today’s most sought-after writers: Greg Pak on Turok: Dinosaur Hunter, Frank Barbiere on Solar: Man of the Atom, Fred Van Lente on Magnus: Robot Fighter, and Mark Waid on the long-lost hero Doctor Spektor. Contributing artists will include Mirko Colak, Cory Smith, and more to be announced. Dynamite will launch the bold new universe of name-brand titles beginning in February 2014.
Originally published throughout the 1950s and 1960s as part of the Gold Key Comics imprint and followed by the monumentally successful run from Valiant Comics in the early 1990s, the titles Turok, Solar, and Magnus: Robot Fighter are immediately recognizable to the modern comic-reading audience. Doktor Spektor, a title launched in the 1970s, rejoins its contemporaries for the first time in decades as part of Dynamite’s reimagined line.
Each contributing writer has shared their thoughts on the bold initiative:
Greg Pak, whose innovating writing style has propelled Batman/Superman to the top of sales charts, says, “When Nate Cosby told me the character he had in mind for me, I couldn’t stop grinning. The original Turok, Son of Stone series featured a Native American warrior fighting for survival in a lost valley populated by dinosaurs. I’m just going to go on the record and say that every single element in that description is solid gold. I want to write stories with a Native American hero. I want to write stories about fighting for survival. And you bet your boots I want to write stories about a world populated by dinosaurs. And now you’re telling me I get to do all three? For sheer thrills and adventure, this book is going to be a blast to work on. And I’m always drawn to stories that feature diverse casts, so I love that a Native American hero headlines the book. I’m also loving the worldbuilding we’re doing. We’re exploring the reasons why dinosaurs walk the earth and all of the social, historical, ecological, and political ramifications that follow. This is huge adventure combined with mind-bending alternate history, and I couldn’t be happier.”
Fred Van Lente, a New York Times bestselling author and fan-favorite writer of Marvel Zombies, says, “I’m thrilled and honored to be reviving such a beloved series. I loved the original Russ Manning book as a kid, and am looking forward to bringing science fiction action to the new series in a thought-provoking way. The very nature of robotics questions what it means to be human — that’s ultimately what Magnus: Robot Fighter will be about. That, and punching robots until they explode. There will be a lot that old-time fans will find familiar, but the science of robotics and cybernetics has advanced considerably even since the last time Magnus had a title, and you’ll be seeing a lot of those reflected here.”
Frank Barbiere, a rising star whose work includes Blackout and Five Ghosts, says, “Dynamite has lined up some of the top talent in the business for the new universe of books, and I am both excited and flattered to be part of it. I think fans are going to be thrilled by the new directions we’re taking with many of the properties, Solar included. I’m a huge fan of the character and will be putting a unique spin on the mythology with an emphasis on family and character. I’m hoping my take will resonate strongly across the readership, new and old alike, and I’ll certainly be bringing a lot of new and exciting things to the table.”
Mark Waid, one of the most celebrated comic writers of the modern era thanks to bestselling titles like Kingdom Come, Daredevil, Amazing Spider-Man, and Indestructible Hulk, says, “Launching a publishing event like this is an exciting opportunity to show how it can be done well, stylishly, and cohesively. The key (no pun intended), as far as I’m concerned, is to get to the core of these characters so we can, with dynamism and confidence, tell the readers who they are, what they want, and why fans will invest in that. For Doctor Spektor, the challenge comes in figuring out how a professional skeptic, a famous investigator who debunks and exposes the extra-normal and keeps himself grounded, can function in a world that suddenly hosts superheroes and supervillains. What do you choose to believe in when your lifelong belief system is swept away?”
The new line of titles will be release beginning in February 2014. The entire line will also be available for purchase through digital platforms courtesy of Comixology, iVerse, and Dark Horse Digital.
NYCC 2013: Dynamite Teases, The Power Consumes…
Dynamite proudly provides the third teaser for a spectacular new comics event slated for early 2014. The final revelation will arrive on Friday, October 11th.
Five Ghosts Becomes an Ongoing Series
The Five Ghosts team returns to Image Comics for another arc, following the unmissable September release of the first trade paperback collecting the original Five Ghosts five-issue miniseries. The fan-revered debut by burgeoning creators Frank J. Barbiere and Chris Mooneyham has readers primed for even more eye-popping adventure as the book is made into an ongoing series, starting in October.
Five Ghosts: The Haunting of Fabian Gray follows the story of infamous treasure hunter Fabian Gray, who, after being bewitched by the mysterious power of “The Dreamstone,” must battle the unwieldy power of five archetypal ghosts that both possess and guide him. Lost in forgotten cities, Fabian faces enemy shadows in a mesmerizing series riddled with literary allusions.
The sixth issue of the self-declared “literary pulp adventure” series will borrow the talents of guest artist Garry Brown to reveal the next chapter of Fabian’s story.
Five Ghosts: The Haunting of Fabian Gray #6 will be in stores on October 30, and is currently available for pre-order from the August issue of Previews (Diamond code AUG130582).
The first volume of the series, Five Ghosts: The Haunting of Fabian Gray , Vol. 1 TP will be published on September 18 and is available for order (Diamond code JUL130450).
Preview: Five Ghosts: The Haunting of Fabian Gray #5 (of 5)
Five Ghosts: The Haunting of Fabian Gray #5 (of 5)
Story By: Frank J. Barbiere
Art By: Chris Mooneyham
Price: $2.99
Diamond ID: MAY130554
Published: July 31, 2013
…THE END?
Review: Five Ghosts #4
I hope that, by now, most readers are either aware of or avid fans of pulp adventurer Fabian Gray and his fantastical journeys. Only four issues in and this Barbiere/Mooneyham collaboration continues to thrive. In Part Four, we find our tortured protagonist submerged in a mystical spring in an attempt to confront and control, through a series of tests, the five apparitions that have invaded his being. All the while his trustworthy sidekick, Sebastian, and newfound pretty-sure-he’s-a-good-guy-but-kinda-sketchy friend Zhang Guo, defend the Forgotten City from Iago’s onslaught.
While I’m quite aware of the space constraints writers face in this literary medium, I wish some of Fabian’s tests were a bit longer and more fleshed out. In his defense, Barbiere was able to incorporate some poignant messages, particularly in the Samurai scene (did the mask make anyone else instantly think of Sucker Punch?).
Mooneyham’s art continues to match, and sometimes exceed, the brilliance of the storyline. Although I could have done without Iago’s sword-licking scene. I don’t know what it is about tongues in comic books, but if they aren’t drawn right they look…dare I say…comical. Lauren Affe’s muted oranges, grays, and yellows beautifully complete the picture…all other colors are just an afterthought.
I mistakenly read all four issues in one sitting. I am now aching for Part Five. If the next book is as good as its predecessors, this series will compete with Helheim as one of the best reads of the year.
Story: Frank J. Barbiere Art: Christopher Mooneyham
Story: 8.5 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8.5 Recommendation: Buy
Image Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
Five Ghosts #2 Sells Out
The second issue of the pulp-inspired Image Comics series Five Ghosts: The Haunting of Fabian Gray by Frank Barbiere and Chris Mooneyham has sold out the same week as its release and has immediately gone back to press. The second printing will be in stores on May 15, a week before Five Ghosts #3.
The first issue of Five Ghosts also sold out. Its second printing was in stores alongside #2 on April 17.
Dark Horse Presents Turns 25!
It’s no secret that Dark Horse Presents continues to be comics’ greatest anthology, boasting eighty pages with no ads and new stories every month. Heading into its third year of publication, the Eisner and Harvey Award–winning anthology is bringing in the big guns with the landmark twenty-fifth issue!
After training with Buffy, Billy the vampire slayer heads back to his hometown to deal with the zompire epidemic! Delve into a time-travel story from Eisner Award–winning writer Matt Fraction! Publisher Mike Richardson adapts Andrew Vachss’s vision of violence in the big city in Underground!
Read a chapter of The Chapel Chronicles by fifteen-year-old Emma T Capps. Plus, new installments of Ron Randall’s Trekker, Frank Barbiere’s Blackout, Mike Baron and Steve Rude’s Nexus, Phil Stanford’s Crime Does Not Pay, Fred Van Lente’s Brain Boy, Peter Hogan’s King’s Road, and Dan Jolley’s Bloodhound!
Dark Horse Presents #25 is on sale June 19, 2013, and is available for preorder through Diamond APR130017.
Preview – Skybreaker #1
SKYBREAKER #1
Story: Michael Moreci
Art: Drew Zucker
Letterer: Frank Barbiere
$.99 – Ages 15+
From the creator of Image’s HOAX HUNTERS and newcomer Drew Zucker comes SKYBREAKER, a dark tale of revenge set in the Wild West. Skybreaker is a man of two worlds, half Sioux and half Christian. When these worlds clash, he is betrayed and left for dead–and now it’s time for revenge. SKYBREAKER explores the violent roots of American life, and how you can never kill your way to peace.
