Zestworld, a creator-first digital publishing platform focused solely on comic creators, has announced it has raised $9.37 million in growth capital to “fracture the Marvel and DC duopoly” by providing top-tier comic creators a centralized platform that combines business, community management, digital publishing, NFTs, metaverse events and IP rights management. Zestworld’s goal is to provide a platform that provides a fully stacked product tailored to the comics format and industry.
The round was led by General Catalyst, with participation from Alexis Ohanian’s Seven Seven Six, Polygon Technology, former TaskRabbit CEO Stacy Brown Philpot, Shari Redstone’s Advancit Capital and Twitch founder Kevin Lin. The Series A funding will allow Zestworld to provide the best toolkit for comic creators to build a successful independent business.
This funding round allows Zestworld to launch the ultimate platform for comic creators to build their business and manage their community. Looking forward, Zestworld plans to continue building its platform and explore additional ways creators can express themselves and engage with fans.
Zestworld’s launch lineup includes comic veterans such as Amanda Conner, Jimmy Palmiotti, Peter J. Tomasi, Eric Canete, Phil Jimenez, and Alex Segura. Creators on the platform are able to directly reach their audience through comic-optimized digital newsletters on their own schedule, without having to work against everchanging algorithms or potential shadowbanning that creators often face on other platforms. Additionally, creators will keep full IP rights to their content with Zestworld’s IP management tool.
Readers can look forward to a variety of comics from Zestworld’s initial roster of top-tier talent. Upcoming titles include:
Arc Athenaby Eric Canete – “Neon Gods” to their adoring public, ARC ATHENA is the super powered team that the world is desperate for. Curated by the global tech and entertainment giant known as ARC, each member represents the most aspirational hero that public polling data can provide. Athena’s roster consists of characters whose powers are bombastically perfect for their obsessed audience but yield very low stopping force- everything is for “The Show.”
The Awakenedby Alex Segura, Michael Moreci, Dean Kotz, Jason Wordie – A dark, noir-ish superhero murder mystery that explores what the true definition of power is, and who should wield it.
Blood Tree by Peter J. Tomasi, Maxim Šimić, John Kalisz, Rob Leigh – Follows two obsessed NYPD detectives on the hunt for a vicious butcher called the Angel Killer, a sociopath who preys on the innocent family members of known murderers in order to “purify” the rest of society.
Boom Pow! by Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti – An immortal is awakened from her eons-long slumber by the doughnut-slinging daughter of a nuclear physicist. Together, BOOTY POW POW and KAY BOOM take on the modern world in their own unique and special way.
Found by Jimmy Palmiotti, Juan Santacruz, Alex Sinclair – On a deserted island in the middle of the pacific, a volcano erupts and expels an alien object that has potential to change the world. When this event is shared live by the family of scientists already on the scene, global governments see the potential of owning the technology and scramble to see who can get to the object first.
Otherworlds by Phil Jimenez – A reimagining of the Eisner-nominated Otherworld series, a sci-fi/fantasy epic about a war in another dimension, OTHERWORLDS tackles themes of family, identity, faith, and purpose, exploring whose voices will rise to shape the future and create the Earth anew, and how we all navigate a world where being “great” so rarely means being “good.”
Zestworld will empower fans to interact with creators directly in an array of ways, including private livestreams, exclusive discord communities, access to behind-the-scenes opportunities and the ability to commission art from their favorite artist directly.
Written by Sarah Morgan Art by Mito Orihara Purchase
Taylor has worked long and hard to make her comeback as an actress, and is dedicated to making her newest movie a success. Upon attending a party at the powerful Corretti family’s home to promote her film, she meets Luca, the troubled child of the family. He is handsome and sexy…but also a notorious playboy whom she would be sorry to get involved with! As she tries to leave, Luca suddenly pulls her in and they engage in a passionate kiss. However, unbeknownst to her, their hot steamy encounter had been captured on camera and would be leaked to the world…
Human Torch: Burn
Written by Karl Kesel Art by Skottie Young Cover by Skottie Young Purchase
Collects Human Torch (2003) #1-6.
Johnny Storm is the youngest member of the world-famous Fantastic Four, with the powers and temperament of fire itself. Impulsive, restless and thrill-seeking by nature, the Torch doesn’t need to wait for the rest of the FF. He can get into trouble all by himself. Years ago, after gaining his powers, Johnny became the most popular student on his high-school campus. The Big Man on Campus until the Torch came along was Olympic-bound wrestler Mike Snow. The Snow/Storm rivalry reached a terrible climax when the two fought over a girl. Snow never wanted to see Johnny again – until now, years later, when a fellow firefighter dies before his eyes, inexplicably bursting into flames … like a Human Torch.
Incredible Hulk: Hide In Plain Sight
Written by Bruce Jones Art by Leandro Fernandez Cover by Leandro Fernandez Purchase
Collects Incredible Hulk (1999) #55-59.
For years Crusher Creel has terrorized the world with his ability to absorb the properties of anything he touches. Now, after being locked away in a secret underground prison, The Absorbing Man has gained the new ability to jump in and out of people’s minds. But what happens when the mind he jumps into belongs to the 800-pound monster known as the Incredible Hulk?
Incredible Hulk: Transfer Of Power
Written by Bruce Jones Art by Stuart Immonen, Scott Koblish Cover by Kaare Andrews Purchase
Collects Incredible Hulk (1999) #44-49.
On the run…from the police…the government…clandestine forces with an agenda all their own…and the unbridled beast within, Dr. Bruce Banner knows the dread of the hunted. Now he faces the most unimaginable horror of all: a relentless, unkillable pursuer who knows all his weaknesses and will stop at nothing to bring him down.
Kakegurui – Compulsive Gambler – #84
Written by Homura Kawamoto Art by Toru Naomura Purchase
Kirari responds to Ririka’s request…but what happens when Yumeko joins in? Read the next chapter of Kakegurui the same day as Japan!
Le secret d’un père
Written by Yvonne Lindsay Art by Naomi Watanabe Purchase
Erin, une jeune veuve, dirige un hôtel tout en s’occupant d’un enfant en bas âge. Un jour, un millionnaire du nom de Sam vient séjourner dans son établissement. Alors que ce beau client fascine Erin, il a néanmoins un plan derrière la tête. Ignorant les réelles intentions de Sam, Erin reçoit une lettre contenant un étonnant message : en raison d’une erreur à la clinique de fertilité, le père de son enfant n’est pas celui qu’elle croit, et ce dernier a bien l’intention de se battre pour obtenir sa garde ! Erin est alors loin de se douter que le père de son enfant n’est autre que Sam !
Missing Persons #2
Written by Liam Johnson Art by Bernardo Vieira Purchase
DB Cooper is a man out of time. Indebted to those who ripped him from time, he’s reluctantly agreed to rob a bank alongside a ragtag team of fellow time-displaced bandits. However, with infamous Al Capone acting as enforcer to keep them all in line, Cooper begins to fear his death is inevitable.
Mystique Vol. 1: Dead Drop Gorgeous
Written by Brian K. Vaughan Art by Jorge Lucas Cover by Joseph Michael Linsner Purchase
Collects Mystique (2003) #1-6.
Mystique the sultry mutant shapeshifter, who has stood against the X-Men in battle after battle, is offered the chance at a new life when Professor X recruits her to complete a dangerous mission in Cuba. Can this former mutant-rights terrorist who can disguise herself as anyone on the planet be trusted? In this story of international intrigue and redemption, the sexy Mystique may surprise everyone, including herself.
So I’m a Spider, So What? #51.1
Written by Okina Baba Art by Asahiro Kakashi Purchase
Hooooly snikeys! The Demon Lord blocked off my teleport option, so I’m just running and running and running…where’s a miracle when you need one?! Read the next chapter of So I’m a Spider, So What? at the same time as Japan!
The Case Study of Vanitas #51
Written by Jun Mochizuki Art by Jun Mochizuki Purchase
As blows are exchanged, a decisive difference between the combatants gradually becomes clear. Read the next chapter of The Case Study of Vanitas at the same time as Japan!
Twilight Experiment #1 (of 6)
Written by Justin Gray, Jimmy Palmiotti Art by Juan Santacruz Colored by Jose Luiz Roger Cover by Juan Santacruz Purchase
Written by Justin Gray & Jimmy Palmiotti Art and cover by Juan Santacruz Writers Justin Gray & Jimmy Palmiotti (Hawkman, THE Monolith) reunite with artist Juan Santacruz (The Resistance) for Twilight Experiment, a dramatic new 6-issue miniseries dealing with themes of heroism and loss. Decades ago, a handful of brave volunteers sacrificed their humanity in the hope of one day saving their world from a future cosmic event. They failed. This is the story of their children, who, in the twilight of humanity, must find the courage to fulfill their parents’ destiny! Serenity, once the greatest champion humanity had ever known, died defending the world and people she loved. She left behind more than a legacy of heroism ? she left a great secret. For eight years, her son Michael has been stranded on a space station orbiting Earth. Raised by a computer program, possessed of strange powers and a hypersensitivity to light, Michael has longed for the day he would join the human race. That day is today!
Twilight Experiment #2 (of 6)
Written by Justin Gray, Jimmy Palmiotti Art by Juan Santacruz Colored by Jose Luiz Roger Cover by Juan Santacruz Purchase
Written by Jimmy Palmiotti & Justin Gray Art and cover by Juan Santacruz The futuristic new miniseries continues! Ghosts of the past haunt paramedic Rene Doyle as she sets out in search of her father, who disappeared nearly a decade ago. But even if he’s alive, will he have the answers to the unexplained events in her life? Meanwhile, Twilight faces his last training session aboard the orbital space station!
Twilight Experiment #3 (of 6)
Written by Justin Gray, Jimmy Palmiotti Art by Juan Santacruz Colored by Jose Luiz Roger Cover by Juan Santacruz Purchase
Written by Jimmy Palmiotti & Justin Gray Art and cover by Juan Santacruz The Righteous has returned! After eight years in a coma imprisoned by an alien race, the most destructive force Earth has ever produced is awake ? and he wants to unite the world beneath his hand! Plus, what connection is there between Twilight and Rene?
Twilight Experiment #4 (of 6)
Written by Justin Gray, Jimmy Palmiotti Art by Juan Santacruz Colored by Jose Luiz Roger Cover by Juan Santacruz Purchase
Written by Jimmy Palmiotti & Justin Gray Art and cover by Juan Santacruz Thought to be dead, the Righteous has escaped from a Viridian prison and resumed his bid for world domination. Plus, Michael comes face to face with the man who murdered his mother ? but will he share her fate?
Twilight Experiment #5 (of 6)
Written by Justin Gray, Jimmy Palmiotti Art by Juan Santacruz Colored by Jose Luiz Roger Cover by Juan Santacruz Purchase
Written by Jimmy Palmiotti & Justin Gray Art and cover by Juan Santacruz The penultimate chapter of the thrilling miniseries! The Righteous issues a warning to the world: live in peace or die! And in the parallel world of Veridian, the devastating anomaly is reaching critical mass. Will Rene and Twilight be able to avert a pandimensional disaster?
Twilight Experiment #6 (of 6)
Written by Justin Gray, Jimmy Palmiotti Art by Juan Santacruz Colored by Jose Luiz Roger Cover by Juan Santacruz Purchase
Written by Jimmy Palmiotti & Justin Gray Art and cover by Juan Santacruz The climactic conclusion of the TWILIGHT EXPERIMENT saga, as the fate of two worlds hangs in the balance! The new hero Serenity must succeed where her predecessor failed, even as Twilight battles the Righteous, the man who killed his mother. If these two young heroes fail, two worlds die!
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ComiXology has new digital comics at your fingertips with a dozen new releases today. New releases from DC, Marvel, and Harlequin deliver a variety of comics for you.
Check out what you can get today!
Aquaman: Deep Dives #6
Written by Steve Orlando Pencils V Ken Marion Inks Sandu Florea Colored by Andrew Dalhouse Purchase
While investigating an abandoned Scorpio base, Aquamanand the Sea Devils unwittingly activate an old Scorpio weapon…The Torpedoman! Now they must turn the tides and stop this killing machine before it decimates an Atlantean Science Outpost!
Avengers Next: Rebirth
Written by Tom DeFalco, Ron Lim Art by Ron Lim Cover by Mike Wieringo Purchase
Collects Avengers Next #1-5.
The time has come for the next generation of Avengers to choose a new lineup, but first they must battle zombie versions of themselves! Then, as Katie Power (from Power Pack) joins the team, American Dream and her friends mount a search for the missing Thunderstrike. The man called Nova guest stars when strange visitors from outer space land on Earth. And more!
Captain America & The Falcon by Christopher Priest: The Complete Collection
Written by Christopher Priest Art by Joe Bennett, Andrea Di Vito, Dan Jurgens, Bart Sears, Greg Tocchini Cover by Howard Porter Purchase
Collects Captain America and the Falcon (2004) #1-14.
They’re best friends, teammates, brothers-in-arms – but that bond is tested to the limit when Falcon targets the Rivas drug cartel, and the Super-Sailor known as the “Anti-Cap” sets his sights on Sam Wilson! Can Captain America thwart his dark doppelgänger before Sam Wilson’s wings are clipped? Fingers crossed, because there’s a Mental Organism Designed Only for Killing waiting in the wings, and nobody’s better at stopping him than Cap and Falcon! But M.O.D.O.K.’s not the only big headache on the horizon, with the Avengers about to be Disassembled and all. Is this really the best time for Steve to be kissing the Scarlet Witch? Plus: With the Rivas out for revenge, Falcon may cross a line that could finish one of comics’ greatest partnerships once and for all!
Falling For His Proper Mistress
Written by Tessa Radley Art by Masami Hoshino Purchase
In the sparkling city of New York, Avery fell into a passionate affair with Guy. However, on the night of her birthday, she learned that Guy only wanted her for sex and they had a terrible breakup. To think they’d reunite in Colorado at a festival where she’s been hired to work as a sommelier! Avery is angry at herself for remembering the nights she spent with Guy and tries to place distance between them, but he offers her a tantalizing proposal that causes her heart to waver. He proposes they enjoy a no-strings-attached relationship until her work there ends.
When You Call My Name
Written by Sharon Sala Art by Amie Hayasaka Purchase
Glory has unusual powers, and one night, in the middle of a snowstorm, she uses these powers to save the life of a man named Wyatt after he gets into a car accident. Glory has premonitions, but her power causes people to fear her. Still, she has a happy life with her loving family…until someone sets their house on fire and Glory loses her father and brother. Isolated and afraid, Glory reaches out to Wyatt for help. Even though they’ve never met, ever since his accident, Wyatt and Glory have shared a connection, and she knows that Wyatt will come to her when she calls for him.
The Blackmailed Bride
Written by Kim Lawrence Art by Nanao Hidaka Purchase
Kate Anderson is a kindhearted woman who works hard as a lawyer to support a pediatric hospital. While on a trip with her family in Majorca, Spain, a smuggler threatens her spoiled sister. If they don’t pay him, he will leak scandalous photos of her sister to the press. Determined to save her, Kate plans to sneak into the smuggler’s room to retrieve the photos. But she gets caught, not by the smuggler, but by a dashingly gorgeous man named Javier Montero, a world-class entrepreneur and millionaire!
The Season For Suitors
Written by Nicola Cornick Art by Yukako Midori Purchase
Clara is the daughter of a wealthy noble. Sheltered all her life, she doesn’t know anything of the world of kisses, but now that she’s of age, she’s sick of all these marriage proposals and fickle seductions from nobles who want her family’s money. That’s when she asks London’s greatest playboy, Lord Sebastian Fleet, to teach her how to handle men. However, Clara didn’t think her plan through. She once had strong feelings for the handsome, sophisticated Sebastian, but now she’s falling so hard for him again that she feels like she could give him everything!
Too Strong To Deny
Written by Emma Darcy Art by Keiko Okamoto Purchase
Elizabeth is a teacher who was charged with a crime despite being innocent, so she visits top lawyer Price to ask for his help. Price Domenico is the father of one of her students. Although there are many dark rumors surrounding him, Price greets her with a handshake and a warm welcome and Elizabeth’s nerves are put at ease. But when she tells him about her circumstances, his gaze suddenly turns cold and he turns her down! Why? Were his warm hands and friendly smile just an act?
Falling For The Enemy
Written by Shawna Delacorte Art by Keiko Okamoto Purchase
“This man is my boss…and my father’s enemy.” Bryce’s dirty tricks drove Paige’s father to his death. Now she slips into Bryce’s company as a secretary in order to find out his weakness. However, he doesn’t trust her and is trying to discover her motives. They’ve both been keeping their suspicions a secret, but now the seeds of a dangerous love are beginning to sprout!
Haunt Of Horror: Lovecraft
Written by Richard Corben Art by Richard Corben Cover by Richard Corben Purchase
Collects Haunt Of Horror: Lovecraft #1-3.
Horror comics legend Richard Corben (HAUNT OF HORROR: EDGAR ALLAN POE) brings you a new series of eerie new spins on the poems and short stories of H.P. Lovecraft. Each adaptation is beautifully rendered in black and white with gray tones as only Corben can do it — along with a printing of the original source text by H.P. Lovecraft.
Marvel Adventures Iron Man: Armored Avenger
Written by Margot Blankier, Jeff Parker, Paul Tobin, Fred Van Lente Art by Scott Koblish, Alvin Lee, Juan Santacruz Cover by Francis Tsai Purchase
Collects Marvel Adventures Iron Man #13, Iron Man: Golden Avenger #1, Marvel Adventures Iron Man & Hulk — Free Comic Book Day 2007 Edition, Marvel Adventures Iron Man & Hulk & Spider-Man — Free Comic Book Day 2008 Edition.
The Armored Avenger powers through more exciting, all-ages adventures! Featuring Hulk, Spider-Man, Ant-Man, Jolt, Plantman and Backlash!
Marvel Illustrated: The Man In The Iron Mask
Written by Alexandre Dumas, Roy Thomas Art by Hugo Petrus Cover by Marko Djurdjevic Purchase
Collects Marvel Illustrated: The Man In The Iron Mask #1-6.
Alexander Dumas’ brilliant follow-up to The Three Musketeers, brought to vivid life as only Roy Thomas and Hugo Petrus can! Deep inside the French prison known as the Bastille resides prisoner number 12, Philippe…who is none other than the twin brother of King Louis XIV. He was incarcerated to prevent him from setting off a civil war in his quest for the kingship itself. But there are forces who will work tirelessly to free this man in the iron mask — and put Philippe on the throne! It’s an adaptation that will draw you in with political intrigue so timely it will shock you.
This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links and make a purchase, we’ll receive a percentage of the sale. Graphic Policy does purchase items from this site. Making purchases through these links helps support the site
(W) Paul Benjamin (A) David Nakayama, Juan Santacruz, Gary Martin, Mario Gully, Scott Koblish, Raul Fernandez, Steve Scott, Nathan Massengill, Terry Pallot (CA) Carlo Pagulayan In Shops: Jan 01, 2020 SRP: $17.99
Collecting the richest Marvel adventures for young readers! Break into the history of Bruce Banner and his transformation into the HULK, and then read along as heroes like the Fantastic Four, Silver Surfer, and Doctor Strange battle to protect Earth! They’ll face off against a rogues gallery of foes ranging from Radioactive Man, Dormammu, Terrax, Doc Samson, and even Juggernaut. Collects Marvel Adventures Hulk Issues #1-12.
Paul Benjamin and Paul Tobin
(w) • David Nakayama and Alvin Lee (a) • Juan Santacruz (c)
A double feature as
everybody’s favorite rage monster joins forces with the Marvel Universe’s
biggest heroes! First—Bruce Banner visits the doctor to get control of the
Hulk—but Doctor Strange has problems of his own! Then—Hercules needs a helping
hand, and that spells T-R-O-U-B-L-E for Hulk, Spider-Man, and Iron Man!
