Tag Archives: l.l. mckinney

DC Announces its Fall 2025 Kids Graphic Novel Lineup

DC has revealed the lineup for six graphic novels (and one box set) to publish in Fall 2025, with more to be announced in the coming months! Check out the new books coming from DC next year, including a new early reader (ages 5-7) book about Superman!

Superman’s Good Guy Gang

by Rob Justus
On Sale July 1, 2025; ISBN 9781799504061; $12.99US
Early Reader (5-7)

Clark Kent befriends fellow super powered kids––Hawkgirl and Guy Gardner––for a super team up that is guaranteed to delight fans in DC’s debut early reader graphic novel!

Nine-year-old Clark Kent is pretty super: super fast, super strong, and super cool! But being so super can also be super lonely, until he meets fellow super powered kids, Kendra Saunders and Guy Gardner a.k.a. Hawkgirl and Green Lantern! Together, they’ll form a club where other supers can be themselves, test their powers, grow together, and maybe earn some good guy points along the way.

This super powered buddy comedy from the creator behind Death and Sparkles, Rob Justus, launches DC’s early reader books timed to the Superman movie in July 2025. Fans will be thrilled to see characters from the film featured in this charming story for readers aged 5-7.Future books in the series will include Mr. Terrific, Batman, and Wonder Woman as the Good Guy Gang grows!

Rob Justus is an award-winning author, illustrator and graphic novelist. His graphic novel series Death & Sparkles won the Manitoba Young Reader’s Choice Award in 2023. In 2022, Rob was selected as the illustrator for the prestigious TD Summer Reading Club in Canada. Prior to all this, Rob spent nearly a decade as a market researcher writing very bland reports. Taking a chance on himself, Rob decided to return to his childhood passion of drawing and storytelling and hasn’t looked back. Rob has written and illustrated five picture books and two graphic novels. When Rob isn’t telling people that he draws unicorns for a living, he is wrangling his two young boys in Ottawa, Canada.

Superman’s Good Guy Gang by Rob Justus, on sale July 1, 2025, is available for preorder.

Superman’s Good Guy Gang

Kid Flash: Going Rogue

by Steve Foxe & Jerry Gaylord
On Sale September 2, 2025; ISBN 9781799502296; $12.99US
Middle Grade (8-12)

Kid Flash and his uncle, Barry Allen a.k.a the Flash, team up to teach a teenaged group of rogues—Golden Glider, Pied Piper, Trickster, and The Top—an important lesson. But is Kid Flash the one who has the most to learn?

Ace West has it all figured out. He’s the fastest guy in National City after all! Well, second fastest if you count his uncle, Barry Allen, aka THE FLASH. But this young superhero has more to learn than he thinks.

After messing up one too many missions by getting distracted signing autographs and snapping selfies, Flash takes him and a group of ne’er-do-well kids to a pocket dimension for an intervention. Kid Flash assumes he’s there to show the other kids how to use their powers responsibly, but when Flash gets unexpectedly called away on important Justice League business, Kid Flash must learn it takes a lot more than being super to be a hero.

From the writer behind the Spider-Ham trilogy, Steve Foxe, with dynamic and action-packed art by Jerry Gaylord, comes a story about a ragtag group of kids who must work together or be doomed to life as the “bad kids”.

Steve Foxe is the Eisner and Ringo Award-nominated writer of many, many comics and children’s books including Max in the Middle with Mike Amante, the Spider-Ham trilogy with Shadia Amin, and The Archives of the Unexplained series. He has written for properties like X-Men, Spider-Man, Pokémon, Mario, LEGO City, Justice League, and quite a few more. He lives in the Midwest with his partner and their dog and can run moderately fast, if he warms up first.

Jerry Gaylord has been a Superman fan all his life, with the cartoons, movies, and comics inspiring him to become an artist and pursue a career as a storyteller. Originally from Oxon Hill, MD, Jerry began his career in comics with Boom! Studios and was nominated for a Harvey Award for his work on Fanboys vs Zombies. He has worked with IDW, Archie Comics, and independent publishers, and exhibits at conventions all over the country. After getting his first shot at storyboarding on Disney XD’s Ultimate Spider-Man, Jerry moved to LA to start a full-time career in animation, where he is living the cowabunga lifestyle with his amazing and talented wife, Penelope. He has worked with Warner Bros. Animation, Blizzard Entertainment, and Marvel Studios on the Disney+ series X-Men 97. When Jerry isn’t spending time with his family, he still saves just a little time to draw for fun.

Kid Flash: Going Rogue by Steve Foxe & Jerry Gaylord, on sale September 2, 2025, will be available for preorder soon.

Kid Flash: Going Rogue

Supergirl: Cosmic Adventures in the 8th Grade

by Landry Q. Walker & Eric Jones
On Sale August 5, 2025; ISBN 9781799501978; $12.99US
Middle Grade (8-12)

Meet Linda Lee, a.k.a Kara Zor-El, the newest kid on the planet! Find out how an ordinary girl from Krypton became the most extraordinary girl on Earth.

If you think life is tough as a hero, try being in the eighth grade! Super-strength, the ability to fly, and extra-speedy reflexes should make a kid’s life easier, but they only seem to complicate things for Supergirl. Life gets even more messy when a new enemy named Belinda Zee shows up. Suddenly, facing down super-villains doesn’t seem so bad.

Arch-frenemies, scheming faculty, an intergalactic orange kitty, and a flying horse are just a few things that come Linda’s way. Will Supergirl even make it to graduation?

New York Times bestselling author Landry Q. Walker has been making stories happen for over twenty-five years. He has worked on well-known properties such as Star Wars, Batman, Supergirl, Frozen, The Incredibles, the Avengers, and many more. He’s also the author of the all-ages book series titled Project Terra, and writer of several creator owned comics including Danger Club and The Last Siege.

Eric Jones (1971–2022) was an artist of Batman, Supergirl, Star Wars, Danger Club, Pepper Page, and perhaps best known for co-creating the Little Gloomy comic book series for Slave Labor Graphics and Danger Club for Image.

Supergirl: Cosmic Adventures in the 8th Grade by Landry Q. Walker & Eric Jones, on sale August 5, 2025, will be available for preorder soon.

Supergirl: Cosmic Adventures in the 8th Grade

Birds of Prey: The Origins

by Sara Shepard & Stephanie Pepper
On Sale November 4; ISBN 9781799503088; $16.99US
Young Adult (13+)

After a long summer, four teens from various walks of life return to Gotham City with devastating secrets—and some unexpected talents.

Gotham City is a place where people of all walks of life mingle, where the weird, opulent, and violent are celebrated. Helena Bertinelli lost her family here. Barbara Gordon suffered a tragic accident. Dinah Lance ran away from the foster system. And Harleen Quinzel is looking for her place. But each of these girls is hiding something—a secret that could destroy their lives in an instant.

When strange things start happening to students at Gotham Prep, everyone at the school is on edge, worried they might be next. Will Helena, Barbara, Dinah, and Harley be able to put their differences aside and learn to trust each other in time to find out who is behind the mysterious accidents before another victim turns up?

#1 New York Times bestselling author Sara Shepard (Pretty Little Liars) and artist Stephanie Pepper take readers on a thrilling mystery that is sure to keep readers on the edge of their seats!

Sara Shepard is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Pretty Little Liars series, which ran for seven seasons on Freeform and two seasons on Max, as well as many other novels for middle grade readers, teens, and adults.

Stephanie Pepper is an American artist with a background in illustration from the School of Visual Arts and is now based in Australia. Her work includes character design, covers, and comic art for notable clients like DC Comics, Marvel Studios, Boom! Studios, Skybound, and Dark Horse.

Birds of Prey: The Origins by Sara Shepard & Stephanie Pepper, on sale November 4, 2025, will be available for preorder soon.

Birds of Prey: The Origins

Teen Titans: Together

by Kami Garcia & Gabriel Picolo
On Sale November 4, 2025; ISBN 9781799503064; $16.99US
Young Adult (13+)

The highly anticipated team-up is finally here!

H.I.V.E. has been experimenting on teens with super-human abilities, and Kori Anders was next on their list. Dick Grayson, Raven Roth, Garfield Logan, Max Navarro, and Damian Wayne got to Los Angeles to save her before Slade Wilson found her, but should she trust these strangers? After all, they’ve accused her mom’s fiancé of abduction, experimentation, and torture! And Kori’s new friend, Victor Stone, has a summer internship designing next-level prosthetics in Edge Labs, a company funding H.I.V.E.

To make matters worse, Kori’s sister, Kira, is working with the organization and singing their praises. H.I.V.E. has a plan for taking down Raven’s demon father, Trigon. They’ve got a plan for training the next generation of superheroes. They’ve got plans for everything.

Lines blur as the teens struggle to decide what to do. H.I.V.E. might be their greatest ally…but at what cost? Can the Teen Titans pull together a plan before they fall apart?

Join #1 New York Times bestselling author KAMI GARCIA (Beautiful Creatures) and artist GABRIEL PICOLO, the creative duo behind the New York Times bestselling TEEN TITANS graphic novel series, for the ultimate showdown!

Kami Garcia is the #1 New York TimesUSA Today, and international bestselling co-author of the Beautiful Creatures and Dangerous Creatures novels. Beautiful Creatures has been published in 50 countries and translated into 39 languages. Kami’s solo series, The Legion, includes Unbreakable, an instant New York Times bestseller, and its sequel, Unmarked, both of which were nominated for Bram Stoker Awards. Her other works include X-Files Origins: Agent of Chaos and the YA contemporary novels The Lovely Reckless and Broken Beautiful Hearts. Kami was a teacher for 17 years before co-authoring her first novel on a dare from seven of her students. She is a cofounder of YallFest, the biggest teen book festival in the country. She lives in Maryland with her family.

Gabriel Picolo is a Brazilian comic artist and illustrator based in Sao Paulo. His work has become known for its strong storytelling and atmospheric colors. Picolo has developed projects for clients such as Blizzard, BOOM! Studios, HarperCollins, and DeviantArt.

Teen Titans: Together by Kami Garcia & Gabriel Picolo, on sale November 4, 2025, will be available for preorder soon.

Teen Titans: Together

Nubia: Too Real

by L.L. McKinney, Robyn Smith & Manou Azumi
On Sale September 2, 2025; ISBN 9781799500179, $16.99US
Young Adult (13+)

The highly anticipated sequel to Nubia: Real One highlights the importance of self-acceptance and the enduring power of true friendship!

After a turbulent school year, Nubia is both thrilled and anxious as she embarks on a transformative summer training with the Amazons on Themyscira! Amid the mounting pressure of expectations, she grapples with feeling like an outsider, letting the weight of her self-doubt strain her most important relationships.

Just when she thought her life couldn’t get more complicated, her biggest fear threatens the safety of everyone on Paradise Island. Will Nubia rise above the chaos and embrace her true self as the hero she was destined to be?

From critically acclaimed author L.L McKinney and brought to life with delightful, vivid art by Robyn Smith and Manou Azumi, Nubia: Too Real follows Nubia as she explores her Amazonian identity, navigates her friendships, and learns how to love herself.

L.L. McKinney is an advocate for equality and inclusion in publishing, and the creator of the hashtag #WhatWoCWritersHear. Elle’s also a gamer, Blerd, and adamant Hei Hei stan, living in Kansas. Her works include the Nightmare-Verse books, starting with the A Blade So Black trilogy, the upcoming Black Widow: Bad Blood as presented by Serial Box; Splintered Magic of the Mirror novels from Disney; and the Jane Eyre reimagining Escaping Mr. Rochester.

Robyn Smith is a Jamaican cartoonist known for her mini-comic The Saddest Angriest Black Girl in Town, illustrating Nubia: Real One (written by LL McKinney) and Wash Day Diaries (written by Jamila Rowser) which won the 2022 LA times Book Prize for Best Graphic Novel.  She has an MFA from the Center for Cartoon Studies and has also worked on comics for College Humor, Nike, and The Nib. She loves cake and her cat, Benson, and holds onto dreams of returning home to the ocean.

Manou Azumi is a self-taught Haitian-American artist hailing from Las Vegas. She began her journey as a cashier but made her breakthrough into the comic industry with the WEBTOON series Vixen: NYC, the longest-running DC comic featuring a Black female lead. Beyond her artistic endeavors, Manou has a deep passion for fashion, spending her free time curating her wardrobe and discovering new pieces. She’s also a fan of video games, anime, and campy ’80s movies.

Nubia: Too Real by L.L. McKinney, Robyn Smith & Manou Azumi, on sale September 2, 2025, will be available for preorder soon.

Nubia: Too Real

DC Spooky Graphic Novels for Kids Box Set

On Sale July 1, 2025; ISBN 9781788503514; $39.99US
Middle Grade (8-12)

Mischief and mayhem abound in four of DC’s spookiest graphic novels for kids!

Deadman is ready to share some spine-tingling adventures in Deadman Tells the Spooky TalesMystery of the Meanest Teacher stars thirteen-year-old Johnny Constantine and his new teacher who may be more dangerous than any of the angry demons he’s escaped before. We Found a Monster features a young boy and his growing creature collection he’ll need to keep secret from the townspeople at all costs! Welcome to the magical, mystical, topsy-turvy world of Zatanna and the House of Secrets where Zatanna embarks on a journey of self-discovery and adventure!

No tricks and all treat, middle grade readers will delight in these four graphic novels collected together for the first time just for spooky season!

Deadman Tells the Spooky Tales bios:

Franco Aureliani is an Eisner Award-winning writer and artist who last worked on Superman of Smallville for DC Books for Young Readers. Other greatest hits include the Dino-Mike book series, Patrick the Wolf Boy, and Aw Yeah Comics!, as well as critically acclaimed comics like Superman Family Adventures, and the New York Times bestselling, multi-Eisner Award-winning series Tiny Titans and Super Powers for DC Comics. He has also worked on Grimmiss Island and Itty Bitty Hellboy with Dark Horse Comics. Franco is also one of the principal owners of Aw Yeah Comics retail stores. When he is not working on comics, Franco can be found shaping young minds as a high school teacher.

The Mystery of the Meanest Teacher: A Johnny Costantine Graphic Novel bios:

Ryan North is the writer responsible for Dinosaur Comics, the Eisner and Harvey award-winning Adventure Time comics, the #1 bestselling anthology series Machine of Death, and the New York Times bestselling and Eisner-Award winning Unbeatable Squirrel Girl series for Marvel. He’s adapted Kurt Vonnegut’s SLAUGHTERHOUSE-FIVE into a graphic novel, turned Shakespeare into NYT-bestselling choose-your-own-path books, and his book HOW TO INVENT EVERYTHING is nothing less than a complete cheat sheet for civilization. He lives in Toronto.

Derek Charm is an Eisner Award-winning comics artist and illustrator living in New York. He was the artist on the Jughead and Jughead’s Time Police comics series for Archie Comics, The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl for Marvel, and Star Wars Adventures for Lucasfilm/IDW Publishing. Outside of comics, he has done illustration and design work for Random House, Marc Jacobs, and DreamWorks Animation.

We Found a Monster bios:

Kirk Scroggs is an author-illustrator best known for the Snoop Troop books, It Came from Beneath the Playground and Attack of the Ninja Potato Clones, as well as the series Tales of a Sixth-Grade Muppet and Wiley & Grampa’s Creature Features.

Zatanna and the House of Secrets bios:

Matthew Cody is the acclaimed children’s author of several popular books including the award-winning Supers of Noble’s Green trilogy: Powerless, Super, and Villainous. He lives in Manhattan with his wife and son.

Yoshi Yoshitani is a California based illustrator inspired by fairytales and bright patterns. Yoshi uses their own multiethnic background to inform their work, creating bold graphic mythologies for the new mixed generation. Originally a concept artist for video games, Yoshi now freelances and creates band posters, book covers, and comics.

DC Spooky Graphic Novels for Kids Box Set, on sale July 1,is available for preorder.

Virtuous Con announces its Preliminary Special Guests for February 2024: Tananarive Due, Victor Lavalle, and L.L. McKinney

Virtuous Con 2024 guests

Save the date! Virtuous Con, has announced its preliminary line up for their 4th Annual science-fiction and comic culture convention launching February 23 – 25, 2024. The virtual event, themed “The Future is Ours” is dedicated to celebrating independent Black artists and creators worldwide.  

Preliminary special guests for the Black HIstory Month event include: 

  • Tananarive Due, Award-Winning Author and Producer of ”The Reformatory” and “Horror Noire”
  • Victor Lavalle, Award-Winning Author and Producer of ”The Changeling” and “Lone Women”
  • L.L. McKinney, Award-Winning Author of “Nubia: Real One”, “A Blade So Black”

An ardent champion for independent creators within the realms of science fiction, fantasy, and comics, Murphy responded to the challenges faced by her creative colleagues, especially those from BIPOC backgrounds, during the COVID-19 shutdowns by establishing Virtuous Con in 2020.

Virtuous Con takes place yearly in February Celebrating Black History month. The con is a virtual floor show that celebrates Black creatives. Four virtual “floors” that feature Indie artists, authors and vendors dedicated to science fiction, fantasy, comic books, anime, and more in a live interactive virtual space. Complete with virtual “booths” where vendors interact live with attendees about their products. 

Secure your early bird tickets for Virtuous Con at the exclusive price of $18.00! Early Bird tickets are available for purchase on Friday, November 17th, starting at noon, and ends on December 15th.

Preview: Power Rangers Unlimited: Edge of Darkness

Power Rangers Unlimited: Edge of Darkness

(W) L.L. McKinney, Frank Gogol (A) Simone Ragazzoni (CA) Dan Mora
In Shops: Dec 22, 2021
SRP: $16.99

DISCOVER THE TRUE STORIES OF TWO OF THE MOST POPULAR POWER RANGERS EVER – ASTRONEMA & THE PHANTOM RANGER!

For the first time ever, discover true stories of two of the most popular Power Rangers characters ever – the deadly assassin known as Astronema, and the mysterious hero bearing the name Phantom Ranger.

Before she became a Power Ranger, a young girl named Karone was kidnapped by bounty hunters and brainwashed into the assassin known as Astronema by two of the greatest threats in the galaxy – Dark Specter and Ecliptor.

Answering Zordon’s call, the Phantom Ranger investigates the aftermath of an Empyreal attack. Only to discover their connection to an ancient evil he encountered long ago… which may have finally returned to threaten the entire universe.

The superstar team of L.L. McKinney (A Blade So Black), Frank Gogol (Dead End Kids), and Simone Ragazzoni (Power Rangers: Drakkon New Dawn) reveal the secrets that no Power Rangers can afford to miss.

Collects Power Rangers Unlimited: Heir to Darkness #1 and Power Rangers Unlimited: Edge of Darkness #1.

Power Rangers Unlimited: Edge of Darkness

Preview: Power Rangers Unlimited: Heir to Darkness #1

Power Rangers Unlimited: Heir to Darkness #1

(W) L.L. McKinney (A) Simone Ragazzoni (CA) Dan Mora
In Shops: Mar 31, 2021
SRP: $7.99

Astronema is one of the most popular Power Rangers villains ever and her true origin is revealed for the first time in a one-shot directly connected to the events of Mighty Morphin and Power Rangers!

Before she became a Power Ranger, a young girl named Karone was kidnapped by bounty hunters and brainwashed into the assassin known as Astronema by two of the greatest threats in the galaxy – Dark Specter and Ecliptor.

But what is Dark Spector’s true plan…and what does it mean for the new Mighty Morphin & Power Rangers teams?

Acclaimed author L.L. McKinney (A Blade So Black) and artist Simone Ragazzoni (Power Rangers: Drakkon New Dawn) present a powerful new story that no Power Rangers fan can miss.

Power Rangers Unlimited: Heir to Darkness #1

Get a First Look at Power Rangers Unlimited: Heir to Darkness #1

BOOM! Studios has revealed a first look at the brand new oversized special issue, Power Rangers Unlimited: Heir to Darkness #1, as acclaimed author L.L. McKinney, artist Simone Ragazzoni, colorist Igor Monti, and letterer Ed Dukeshire present a powerful new story that no Power Rangers fan can miss on March 31, 2021.

Astronema is one of the most popular Power Rangers villains ever and her true origin is revealed for the first time in a one-shot directly connected to the events of Mighty Morphin and Power Rangers! Before she became a Power Ranger, a young girl named Karone was kidnapped by bounty hunters and brainwashed into the assassin known as Astronema by two of the greatest threats in the galaxy—Dark Specter and Ecliptor. But what is Dark Spector’s true plan. . . and what does it mean for the new Mighty Morphin Power Rangers teams?

Power Rangers Unlimited: Heir to Darkness #1 features main cover art by Dan Mora and variant cover art by illustrators Jungeun Yoon, Vincenzo Riccardi, and Jenny Frison.  

Power Rangers Unlimited: Heir to Darkness #1

Power Rangers Unlimited: Heir to Darkness #1 Gets a Cover by Jenny Frison

BOOM! Studios have revealed the variant cover by acclaimed artist Jenny Frison of the brand new oversized special issue, Power Rangers Unlimited: Heir to Darkness #1, as acclaimed author L.L. McKinney, artist Simone Ragazzoni, colorist Igor Monti, and letterer Ed Dukeshire present a powerful new story that no Power Rangers fan can miss on March 31, 2021.

Astronema is one of the most popular Power Rangers villains ever and her true origin is revealed for the first time in a one-shot directly connected to the events of Mighty Morphin and Power Rangers! Before she became a Power Ranger, a young girl named Karone was kidnapped by bounty hunters and brainwashed into the assassin known as Astronema by two of the greatest threats in the galaxy—Dark Specter and Ecliptor. But what is Dark Spector’s true plan. . . and what does it mean for the new Mighty Morphin Power Rangers teams?

Power Rangers Unlimited: Heir to Darkness #1 features main cover art by Dan Mora and variant cover art by illustrators Junggeun Yoon, Vincenzo Riccardi, and Jenny Frison.

Power Rangers Unlimited: Heir to Darkness #1 Jenny Frison cover

Review: Future State: Immortal Wonder Woman #2

Future State: Immortal Wonder Woman #2

The lead story in Future State: Immortal Wonder Woman #2 deals with the actual end of the DC Universe, and it’s brilliant, poetic work from writers Becky Cloonan and Michael W. Conrad and artist Jen Bartel. We get to see the final battle between Superman and Darkseid, and it’s epic as hell. However, it’s not the center of the narrative, which is Wonder Woman traveling the universe looking for signs of life and hope and trying to avoid the Undoing. Except for the ending and little glimmers, this whole issue is Diana staring into the abyss and trying to find purpose in a world that doesn’t need saving anymore and is truly in its death throes.

In the first issue, Jen Bartel demonstrated that she could operate on an epic scale in both linework and color palette, and this extends to Future State: Immortal Wonder Woman #2. Her punches have true power and weight behind them, the lasso finds the truth in the last few characters it entangles, and the contrast between light and shadow in her color palette is operatic, especially in Wonder Woman’s final moments as well as Superman and Darkseid’s. There’s a kind of glow in her trail as she flies across the void of space, past the ruins of the Daily Planet or Brainiac’s ship, that is in direct opposition of the black tendrils of the Undoing. Cloonan and Conrad don’t go deep into The Undoing’s backstory, but they’re the inevitability personified and wipe out the whole Legion of Superheroes in a single page that establishes their universe ending threat level. They’re like “The End” on the last page of a story, and the final pages of Immortal Wonder Woman #2 definitely take on a metafictional quality and set up yet another myth cycle.

Cloonan, Conrad, and Bartel definitely use the lead story of Future State: Immortal Wonder Woman #2 to deal with weighty philosophical issues, like the purpose (or purposelessness) of life and the effects of revenge, especially when Spectre comes into the picture. The whole Ragnarok/Twilight of the Gods vibe carries through from the previous issue, but with the Undoing, not Darkseid, being responsible for the end of the universe. In the big picture, he’s just a god, not an unknowable cosmic force. These themes and ideas as well as the general scale of Jen Bartel’s visuals truly makes this story feel like it’s a kind of modern mythology instead of using gods from various pantheons as window dressing, comic relief, or public domain action figures.

However, Becky Cloonan, Michael Conrad, and Jen Bartel don’t forget what makes these myths and legends endure, and that is these heroes’ flaws and recognizable emotions. (For example, young queer people are making Tik Toks about Achilles and Patroclus just like Alexander the Great was writing fan fiction about them two millennia ago.) Bartel does a wonderful job showing Wonder Woman’s emotions throughout the story with many close-ups of her crying, and those tears floating in space to make these panels even more tragic. She also differentiates sad tears like when she witnesses Superman’s death from happy ones like when she finds the Spectre, the last living being. However, Wonder Woman isn’t all sadness in Immortal Wonder Woman #2. There’s a lot of anger too, especially in her last fight, against the Undoing as Cloonan and Conrad’s narration reveal her last thoughts about how she’s a contradictory figure: a warrior, yet peaceful. This ties into the conclusion of the two part storyline, which is quite satisfying, primal, and touches on the nature of immortality in a very cosmological way.

Future State: Immortal Wonder Woman #2’s second story, “Nubia”, definitely plays second fiddle to the lead story with writer L.L. McKinney continuing to cram a six issue miniseries’ amount of lore and exposition in six issues. However, she and artists Alitha Martinez and Mark Morales and colorist Emilio Lopez do show Nubia being a hero and kicking ass against the likes of Grail and Circe, who Grail has summoned to get the last artifact: Nubia’s tiara. This artifact is magical, and Grail is more into science so she needs an assist from a sorceress of her own. However, little does she know, that this crown is imbued with magic from the Yoruba goddess, Oshun, and it only strengthens Nubia. But, of course, there is a price, and Nubia still owns Aunt Nancy a favor. McKinney definitely leaves plenty of plot threads and potential supporting players and goddesses on the table for future stories.

But for most of the pages of “Nubia”, McKinney, Martinez, and Morales focus on the task at hand: a battle royale between Nubia, Grail, and Circe. Grail and Circe definitely underestimate their opponent so it’s quite vindicated when she breaks free from their control in an iconic full page image, and then throws, kicks, and punches them in a double page spread. Instead of going the stiff pinup route, Martinez and Morales use the spread to showcase Nubia’s speed and strength using borderless panels for her battle with Grail and the bordered panels for her fight against Circe. The choreography is gorgeous in this sequence as McKinney, Martinez, Morales, and Lopez are all on the same page and cut to the best moves. For example, Nubia ducks under a magic blast from Circe and switches opponents to throw Grail with her super strength before delivering a gut punch to the sorceress. Alitha Martinez’s layout choices give a real flow to the action while Mark Morales accentuates details like Nubia’s shoulder muscles when she hurls Circe into the sky, and Emilio Lopez uses bright primary colors during intense moments like when Circe and Grail struggle to take Nubia’s crown off.

Although, these characters are highly powered, the fight has a personal feel to it culminating in Nubia reinforcing the fact that she’s Wonder Woman, an Amazon warrior, and you can’t take important artifacts from her. L.L. McKinney gives Nubia some great one-liners to show that she’s becoming more confident as a hero and coming into her own as a “Guardian”. The flashback with the different gods might be a little text-heavy, but seeing Nubia break free from a villain who is literally staring her down and saying “Submit” is well worth it. But she doesn’t get a chance to celebrate in the epilogue of this story, and Martinez and Morales draw her with tense body language while setting up another potential arc down the road. I’ve really grown to enjoy Nubia’s courage and determination as well Alitha Martinez’s fight choreography, and I would definitely like to see more stories with this creative team. Having a Nubia limited or ongoing series would also give L.L. McKinney an opportunity to pace out some of her worldbuilding elements as well as her protagonist’s connection to Yoruba mythology and Akan folklore plus the magical/superheroic side of Atlanta in the DC Universe.

Future State: Immortal Wonder Woman #2 wraps up with two very different takes on the iconic DC Comics superhero. Becky Cloonan, Michael Conrad, and Jen Bartel tell an archetypal self-contained story of life and death, hope and despair, and finding purpose when there’s nothing to live for starring Diana Prince. Plus it really captures the range of emotions one would feel before the inevitable end of the universe. In the second story, L.L. McKinney, Alitha Martinez, Mark Morales, and Emilio Lopez cram in lore, exposition, multiple villains, and one kick-ass fight scene to lay the foundation for future stories featuring Nubia. It’s like a two-hour pilot screaming for a series order whereas the lead story is a beautiful elegy with career-best interior art from Jen Bartel, who masterfully depicts both the cosmic and human.

Story: Becky Cloonan, Michael W. Conrad, L.L. McKinney Art: Jen Bartel, Alitha Martinez with Mark Morales
Colors: Jen Bartel, Emilio Lopez Letterer: Pat BrosseauBecca Carey
Story: 7.5 Art: 8.8 Overall: 8.1 Recommendation: Buy

DC Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review


Purchase: comiXologyAmazonKindleZeus ComicsTFAW

Preview: Future State: Immortal Wonder Woman #2

Future State: Immortal Wonder Woman #2

Written by: L.L. McKinney, Michael Conrad, Becky Cloonan
Art by: Alitha Martinez, Jen Bartel

The Undoing is here. Superman couldn’t stop it. Darkseid couldn’t stop it. Only Diana Prince is left to hold back the being that could spell the complete disintegration of the cosmos. But will even she be powerful enough for the task? Meanwhile, in another future, Nubia’s attempts to stop the theft of ancient artifacts have led her to an even bigger conspiracy, and an even bigger foe. Circe is up to her old tricks, even after all these years-and she has an offer that Nubia will find hard to refuse.

Future State: Immortal Wonder Woman #2

DC Announced as an Official sponsor of Virtuous Con

Virtous Con

Virtuous Con has announced that international comic book publisher DC is an official sponsor and virtual vendor of the virtual convention launching live worldwide on February 20 and 21 along with several new special guests. Including Eisner Award-winning artist Alitha Martinez (World of Wakanda, Immortal Wonder Woman)​ and Robyn Smith (Wash Day, NUBIA: Real One)​ , who will both join previously announced guest, award-winning writer L. L. McKinney (A Blade So Black, Immortal Wonder Woman, NUBIA: Real One)​ on the panel “Nubia is Back! The DC Storytellers who reintroduced Wonder Woman’s Sister”. ​ Live host and culture journalist ​Karama Horne (SYFYWIRE, theblerdgurlLIVE, NERDIST)​ will moderate the panel.

Founded by award-winning science fiction writer Cerece Rennie Murphy, Virtuous Con: Black History Month will feature indie artists and exhibitors in a live interactive virtual space dedicated to science fiction, fantasy, comic books,
anime and more.

Martinez, Smith and Horne will join previously announced guests YA author Daniel José Older (Shadowshaper Cypher, Star Wars: The High Republic​), artist, editor and founder of Megascope imprint John Jennings (Black Comix Returns, Kindred: A Graphic Novel), writer and H1 imprint co-founder Kwanza Osajyefo (BLACK, Ignited) and Nigerian comic creator and founder of YouNeek Studios Roye Okupe (E.X.O. The Legend of Wale Williams, Malika).

February will not be Virtuous Con’s premier convention. Murphy successfully beta-tested the event in October 2020 with a small group of attendees and vendors on the Remo platform, customized to support the convention. Virtuous Con still has a few tables left for vendors, but programming space is limited. For details about vending, panels, and sponsorship opportunities, please visit https://virtuouscon.com/.

Founded by Cerece Rennie Murphy, Virtuous Con: Black History Month Launches in February!

Virtuous Con

Virtuous Con, a brand new virtual comic book convention series, announced several special guests today for Virtuous Con: Black History Month going live February 20 and 21, 2021. The announcement featured on the Virtuous Con
website included several award-winning artists and writers, including YA author Daniel José Older (Shadowshaper Cypher, Star Wars: The High Republic​), artist, editor and founder of Megascope imprint John Jennings (Black Comix Returns, Kindred: A Graphic Novel), author and activist L.L. McKinney (A Blade So Black, NUBIA: Real One), writer and H1 imprint co-founder Kwanza Osajyefo (BLACK, Ignited) and Nigerian comic creator and founder of YouNeek Studios Roye Okupe (E.X.O. The Legend of Wale Williams, Malika).

The virtual venue will feature Indie artists and exhibitors in a live interactive virtual space dedicated to science fiction, fantasy, comic books, anime and more. Complete with virtual “booths” for vendors to interact live with attendees about their products and interactive panels. Also, live programming, where the audience can watch and interact in real-time discussions, as opposed to pre-recorded Youtube or Zoom links.

Virtuous Con also happens to be founded by an African-American woman. Cerece Rennie Murphy, a science fiction author (The Order of the Seers ​ and The Wolf Queen), entrepreneur, is no stranger to conventions. An avid comic con attendee herself, she was already immersed in the speculative lit space with her indie scifi website Narazu. Murphy created Virtuous Con out of a need to help many of her creative colleagues and friends whose businesses were adversely affected by the COVID-19 shutdowns. Especially BIPOC creatives.

February will not be Virtuous Con’s maiden voyage. Murphy successfully Beta tested the event in October 2020 with a small group of attendees and vendors on the Remo platform, which she customized to support the convention. Currently, Virtuous Con is offering an early bird discount to vendors who sign up by 1/22/2021. For details about vending, special guests, and sponsorship opportunities, visit the convention website.

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