Tag Archives: john lees

AWA Studios’ Hotell Returns for a Second Volume

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Artist, Writer, and Artisans (AWA Studios) has announced the return of the original creative team John Lees, Dalibor Talajic, Lee Loughridge, and Sal Cipriano, to bring fans a second volume of the hit horror series, Hotell. Described as a modern-day Twilight Zone with a twist, the series depicts a roadside motel off of Route 66 where a wide array of heroes and antiheroes make their last stand with the demons that haunt them. Some check out. Most don’t. This series will be in stores monthly on December 1st, 2021, with two covers by Keron Grant and Mike Deodato Jr. before being collected in trade paperback in 2022. 

Five more interconnected stories chronicle another harrowing week at Pierrot Courts, the mysterious roadside motel where lost souls make their last stand with the demons that haunt them. A family, desperate and destitute after being evicted from their home. A struggling artist, yearning for inspiration. A lonely bachelor, tending to his beloved, ailing dog. A brutal motorcycle gang, hunting for a runaway initiated… when all these haunted souls check into Pierrot Courts, who will survive to check out?

Hotell Vol. 2 #1 debuts on December 1st, 2021.

Preview: Mountainhead Vol. 1

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Mountainhead Vol. 1

(W) John Lees (A/CA) Ryan Lee
In Shops: Jan 13, 2021
SRP: $17.99

Don’t slow down. Don’t get comfortable. Don’t think you’re safe. Be ready to run. Something sinisters lurks in this graphic novel that is part psychological thriller and part horror story.

Abraham Stubbs and his father Noah roam America in a nomadic existence. Convinced they are being pursued by sinister government forces, Noah has them living off the grid, burgling houses to survive. Elsewhere, on Mount Rector, the lone survivor of a climbing expedition staggers homeward, covered in blood. Both are on an inevitable collision course with the picturesque Canadian resort town of Braeriach. Massive storm clouds are brewing. The animals are running. Something else is on its way.

Mountainhead Vol. 1

Preview: Mountainhead #5 (of 5)

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Mountainhead #5 (of 5)

(W) John Lees (A/CA) Ryan Lee
In Shops: Dec 09, 2020
SRP: $3.99

The acclaimed horror sensation reaches its devastating conclusion! With no hope of escape, the only option left for Abraham is to fight. And so begins a perilous ascent to the peak of Mount Rector, where it all began. But Abraham and his friends won’t just have to deal with dizzying heights and dangerous terrain… they are being pursued. If you thought you were prepared for the revelations of this explosive finale, you were wrong!

Mountainhead #5 (of 5)

ComixTribe Reveals the Full Roster for Legends of the Wailing Blade, Over Two Dozen Creators

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ComixTribe has announced the full list of creators contributing new stories and art that will be featured in Wailing Blade: Headtaker, the collected edition of its popular dark-sci fi fantasy mini-series released last year, which is currently funding on Kickstarter.

Wailing Blade is created by Rich Douek, writer of the IDW series Road of Bones and the upcoming Sea of Sorrows, and Joe Mulvey, artist of ComixTribe’s SCAM and Mummy’s Always Right and the upcoming Happy Hill.

Billed as Mad Max meets Masters of the Universe, Wailing Blade takes place in a future dark age, and tells the story of a bandit prince who will stop at nothing to save a father sentenced to death by the hands of the legendary Headtaker… even if it means falling to the Wailing Blade himself.

The four-issue mini-series is being collected for the first time and will be available in a softcover format as well as a deluxe, die-cut foil-enhanced hardcover edition. The new trade will include an extensive cover gallery as well as an additional final scene not included in the single issues.

Wailing Blade: Headtaker

ComixTribe has also enlisted a murders-row of comic talent to help add even more fire-power to this trade collection. This collection features an all-new “Legends of the Wailing Blade” section including over a dozen tales of the origin of the titular blade. In this world, no one truly knows where the Wailing Blade came from or why it wails… but in every tavern, a different tale is spun.

The full roster of participating creators announced include:

  • Michael Avon Oeming (Powers, The After Realm)
  • David Andry (Resonant)
  • John Lees (Sink, Hotell, Mountainhead)
  • David Pepose (The O.Z., Spencer & Locke, Scout’s Honor)
  • Liana Kangas (She Said Destroy, Black AF: Devil’s Dye & Trve Kvlt)
  • Ryan K Lindsay (Eternal, She, Negative Space)
  • Lane Lloyd (God Puncher)
  • Kenny Porter (Superman: Man of Tomorrow, Barnstormers)
  • Gavin Smith (Dead Legends)
  • Malissa White (Nightmare)
  • Russell Nohelty (Ichabod Jones: Monster Hunter, Cthulhu is Hard to Spell)
  • J Paul Schiek (The Lion and the Unicorn, Hush Ronin)
  • Tyler James (The Red Ten, Oxymoron)
  • Jarret Katz (The Foreigner)
  • Alex Cormack (Sink, Road of Bones, Sea of Sorrows)
  • Fraser Cambell (Alex Automatic, Ind-Xed)
  • Iain Laurie (And Then Emily Was Gone, The Edge Off)
  • Andrew Hahn (Powered by The Blood of Five Vampires)
  • Steven Forbes (Runners, The Proving Grounds)
  • Travis Hymel (Arkworld)
  • Rob Multari (Night Wolf)
  • Marc Thomas (The Monstrous Adventures of Beowulf)
  • Mario Candelaria (Killchella)
  • Daniel Earls (Hellfire, Tales from the Pandemic)
  • Matt Zolman (Epic)

The Wailing Blade: Headtaker campaign to raise $30,000 on Kickstarter to help fund the print run for the deluxe hardcover collection runs until Friday, November 20 at midnight. When funded, the books will ship in February, with digital rewards to be fulfilled in December.

​Wailing Blade: HEADTAKER is available now on Kickstarter.

AWA Studios, Magnetic, and Harlequin Deliver 8 New Digital Comics Today

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ComiXology Delivers eight new digital comics for you today including the first round of collections from AWA Studios. You’ll also find new releases from Harlequin and Magnetic Press. Find all eight comics and get shopping here or check out the individual releases below.

Archangel 8

Written by Michael Moreci
Art by C.P. Smith
Colored by Snakebite Cortez
Cover by Jeff Dekal
Purchase

In a world beyond the sight of mortals, Heaven and Hell wage war for the souls of mankind. Principal among God’s legion are seven archangels written about in religious texts for millennia. But there is an eighth archangel, known only from passing allusions in Apocrypha, who operates under a different code. Fighting without God’s sanction, he faces the enemy on his own terms, and shows just how bad good can be.

Archangel 8

A Baby For The Boss

Written by Maureen Child
Art by Megumi Toda
Purchase

Jenny is at a loss. Finally getting a big opportunity for her career, she finds out she’ll have to work with Mike of all people. Jenny had once felt an instant connection with the tall, handsome billionaire. But it had all disappeared when their one-night stand led to a horrible misunderstanding the next morning. Now, trying to forget their past intimacy while working with Mike makes it increasingly difficult for Jenny to deny her feelings. She succumbs and they share another passionate night together. Jenny finds out she’s pregnant, but Mike can’t seem to get over the past…

A Baby For The Boss

The Contaxis Baby

Written by Lynne Graham
Art by Kanako Uesugi
Purchase

“A horrible woman who drove her boyfriend, Connor, to his death.” That’s the cruel reputation that haunts Lizzie. But worse still is the truth about Connor, which Lizzie refuses to reveal. With a heavy heart, Lizzie agrees to a friend’s invitation for a night out. There, she draws the eye of a Greek man named Sebastian. She spends the night with him…but little does she know, his true intention is revenge!

The Contaxis Baby

Hotell

Written by John Lees
Art by Dalibor Talajic
Colored by Lee Loughridge
Cover by Kaare Andrews, Keron Grant
Purchase

You won’t find it on any map, but if you happen to be driving down Route 66 late at night and you’re truly desperate for shelter, sanctuary or secrecy, you might see a battered sign on the side of the road: The Pierrot Courts Hotel – where many check in but few check out.

Hotell

Red Border

Written by Jason Starr
Art by Will Conrad
Colored by Ivan Nunes
Cover by Tim Bradstreet
Purchase

A young Mexican couple narrowly escapes the Juarez Cartel by fleeing across the border into Texas, only to be run down in the desert by the Cartel’s most brutal thugs. Rescued by a mysterious local who takes them to the safety of his family’s ranch, the couple soon realize their hosts have more than just skeletons in their closet. Trapped in a house of horrors beyond their wildest imagination, the army of assassins on their trail might be the least of their problems.

Red Border

The Collected Toppi Vol. 4: The Cradle of Life

Written by Sergio Toppi
Art by Sergio Toppi
Purchase

The fourth volume contains ten tales set in Africa, India, and Australia, presented in English for the first time: The Kokombo Dossier, Bwuma, my Son, Warramunga, M’Felewzi, and Pacific Island. Featuring a foreword by NYTimes and Eisner-winning author John Jennings.

The Collected Toppi Vol. 4: The Cradle of Life

The Resistance

Written by J. Michael Straczynski
Art by Mike Deodato Jr.
Colored by Lee Loughridge, Frank Martin Jr.
Cover by Rahzzah, Mike Deodato Jr.
Purchase

J. Michael Straczynski – creator of Babylon 5, co-creator of Sense8, and writer of beloved runs on The Amazing Spider-man, Thor, and Superman: Earth One – returns to comics teaming with Mike Deodato Jr. – the blockbuster artist of The Amazing Spider-Man, The Incredible Hulk, and Infinity Wars. Together they plant the flag for a new universe of heroes and villains. A global disaster leaves hundreds of millions dead in its wake. Shortly after, a few thousand suddenly manifest superhuman powers. Are they harbingers of more perils to come…or Earth’s last hope?

The Resistance

Year Zero

Written by Benjamin Percy
Art by Ramon Rosanas
Colored by Lee Loughridge
Cover by Kaare Andrews
Purchase

Ben Percy (Wolverine) and Ramon Rosanas (Star Wars: Age of Resistance) team up to present an epic tale that offers a global look at the Zombie Apocalypse. A Japanese hitman, a Mexican street urchin, an Afghan military aide, a Polar research scientist, a midwestern American survivalist – five survivors of a horrific global epidemic who must draw upon their unique skills and deepest instincts to navigate a world of shambling dead. Year Zero wrestles with the weighty moral and theological questions posed by the pandemic and investigates its cause and possible cure.

Year Zero

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Review: Hotell #4

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HOTELL #4

There is a reason why everyone who has watched any of Alfred Hitchcock’s films calls him the master of suspense. As his deft use of tension and silence allowed the one thing viewers usually hope for, relief. As you unconsciously hope the good guys win and the evil incarnate perishes. This is where Hitchcock both excels and cruelly tricks the viewer, as this si where he usually twists the knife.

As the terror that usually we spend the whole film waiting, for is equally unanticipated and worse than what the viewer expected.  Take, for example, Psycho, where we find out who is the villain in the film, as they are both tragic and inexorably malevolent. As the materialization of said sinister force, makes the payoff, that much more rewarding.  In the final issue of Hotell, the Pierrot Courts finally have their reckoning.

We are taken back for the last time, to the Pierre Courts Hotel, where the front desk clerk, as our narrator, feels the agitation and knows we are asking to leave, from the frights that lie within. We meet David, a man traveling with a priest, Father Villalobos, who just kidnapped his son, Cody, believing he was been possessed by a dark spirit, prompting David to commit an exorcism. Before long, the spirit overtakes him, destroying the hotel and a long-dead secret which leads the spirit to the hotel in the first place, leaving the place overtaken by the fire. By the story’s end, every occupant gets their comeuppance, in the most unsettling ways.

Overall, a more than satisfying conclusion to a collection of stories that has redefined nightmare fuel. The story by John Lees is shocking. The art by the creative team is spectacular. Altogether, a story that more than induces fear, it remixes it for the modern era.

Story: John Lees Art: Dalibor Talajic, Lee Loughridge, and Karen Andrews
Story: 10 Art: 10 Overall: 10 Recommendation: Buy

AWA Studios provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: comiXology – Kindle – Zeus Comics

Review: Hotell #3

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HOTELL #3

The Old Guard has created a lot of chatter since it premiered. The film starring Charlize Theron offered a new take on the hitman genre. My first thought was that it may be another Wanted. Also based on a comic series, it turned out to be much more, as these particular hitmen are mostly immortal.

Just like the book, it got into the backstories of several important characters. We find out Charlize Theron’s character knew another immortal that got imprisoned underwater for the rest of her days. The mere thought of never being able to die and being held captive for the rest of your days is in effect hell on earth. In the third issue of Hotell, the Pierrot Courts have a guest who may not leave.

We are taken to the Pierre Courts Hotel, where we meet Kirsten Clements, who is driving in the rain to right to the Pierrot Courts. As we soon find out she is tracking the whereabouts of a woman who went missing at the hotel and never left. She soon has a nightmare where the victim finds her, which leaves her restless, and leads her down a tunnel where an ungodly discovery captures her. By the issue’s end, Kirsten realizes she now faces the same fate as the victim she came to look for.

Overall, a skin-crawling entry into an already spooky story. The story by John Lees is devastating. The art by the creative team of Dalibor Talajić, Lee Loughridge, and Sal Cipriano is stunning. Altogether, a story understands the power of the anthology.

Story: John Lees Art: Dalibor Talajić, Lee Loughridge, and Sal Cipriano
Story: 10 Art: 10 Overall: 10 Recommendation: Buy

AWA Studios provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: comiXology – Kindle – Zeus Comics

Review: Hotell #2

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Hotell #2

Jay and Mark Duplass are somewhat famous actors who have made their way into Hollywood through indie films. Many of their movies revel in character introspection and quiet moments. It can be sometimes an interesting ride in their movies while also being quite bizarre. One their first series on HBO, Togetherness, was a mix of what made them so magnetic while transitioning to the general audience’s more mainstream tastes.

Just when you think you know what to expect from the siblings, they introduce to the world of Room 104. It’s an anthology series which is part science fiction, part character study, and part horror. All depending on which episode you watched, and what goes on, each installment sought to tell something deeper. In the second issue of Hotell, the Pierrot Courts turn in another twisted tale

We are taken to the Pierre Courts Hotel, where a couple, Bobby and Muriel, are checking in this mysterious lodge. As Bobby is much older than Muriel, and is somewhat paranoid about their new respite, as the first thing that jumps out is a black bunny that follows them around. Out of the blue, Muriel is stricken by the wine Bobby brings, eventually dying a bloody messy death from it, something he had planned from the start. He cuts up her body into parts and dumps it in a pond nearby. By the issue’s end, Bobby gets his just due and Muriel lives another day.

Overall, a horror tale that deserves to be alongside anything on Shudder. The story by John Lees is skin-crawling. The art by the creative team is beautiful. Altogether, a story that will creep you out.

Story: John Lees Art: Dalabor Talajic, Lee Loughridge, and Karen Andrews
Story: 10 Art: 10 Overall: 10 Recommendation: Buy

Preview: Hotell #3

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Hotell #3

(W) John Lees (A) Dalibor Talajic (CA) Keron Grant
In Shops: Jul 22, 2020
SRP: $3.99

You won’t find it on any map, but if you happen to be driving down Route 66 in the dead of night and you’re truly desperate for shelter, sanctuary or secrecy, you might see a battered sign on the side of the road. The Pierrot Courts Hotel – where the tormented make their last stand with the demons that haunt them…where many check in, but few check out.

Hotell #3

Review: Hotell #1

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Hotell #1

When it comes to noir movies, I think many new filmmakers tend to try too hard. Take, for instance, Knives Out, where it wins much on the story and the execution, as well as the performances by some great actors. Where it lacks is how it lacked many of the tropes that make the genre so effective, and even the foil, at times, was underwhelming. This is in great contrast, to his noir masterpiece, Brick, which continues to stun years after its debut.

It is within the subtleties which makes a noir thriller great. One of my favorite movies within the genre of recent was Bad Times at the El Royale. All taking place in a hotel right on the border of two states. In the debut issue of Hotell, we find such a place like the El Royale, both bizarre and intended.

We are taken to the Pierre Courts Hotel, hidden on Route 66, where we meet Jack Lynch, the hotel check-in clerk, who seems to be more than a weird old man. We meet a pregnant young lady, Alice, seeming desperate and possibly on the run, and needing a place to find respite. We soon find out that she is on the run from an abusive boyfriend, who practically haunts her dreams. We find out it is not the baby’s father who controls her dreams, it’s actually her Baby. By issue’s end, Ted eventually catches up to Alice but not without being scathed and what their baby is, is wholly disturbing.

Overall, an excellent story that blends horror and noir into a satisfying dish that will more than have readers intrigued. The story by John Lees is eerie and well developed. The art by the creative team is gorgeous. Altogether, a story that will have readers on the edge of their seat.

Story: John Lees Art: Dalabor Talajic, Lee Loughridge, and Karen Andrews
Story: 10 Art: 10 Overall: 10 Recommendation: Buy

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