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Oni reveals a Jonna and the Unpossible Monsters Limited Edition Exclusive Deluxe Hardcover Slipcase

Posted on November 5, 2023 by Graphic Policy Team Leave a comment

Oni Press has announced an Oni exclusive edition of the three-time Ringo Award–winning, critically acclaimed, monster-punching hit by renowned comics creator Chris Samnee and co-creator Laura Samnee. Jonna and the Unpossible Monsters Deluxe Edition Slipcase Hardcover collects all twelve issues of the highly acclaimed series in an oversize, ultra-premium hardcover–complete with a high-quality slipcase featuring wraparound, foil-stamped artwork by Chris Samnee himself. The Deluxe Edition Slipcase Hardcover is limited to 250 copies and will be available exclusively in the Oni Press shop.

New editions will also feature an exclusive look at the “Making of”Jonna and the Unpossible Monsters, with creator insights, concept sketches, and behind-the-scenes details that will be present in both the Deluxe Edition Slipcase Hardcover and the widely available Jonna and the Unpossible Monsters Deluxe Edition–which is available at retailers now.

Jonna and the Unpossible Monsters is an iconic masterpiece that readers of all ages can enjoy; the compelling, heart-warming series is jam-packed with action, adventure, and intensely colorful visuals– Jonna tells a story with both sisterly love and post-apocalyptic monster smack-downs.

With the fate of their family and possibly the whole world at stake, can Jonna and Rainbow rescue their dad, battle countless monsters, and tell each other how they really feel?

Jonna and Rainbow are sisters, but that doesn’t mean they’re all that similar: Rainbow’s the bookish one, Jonna is the whirlwind. Jonna’s also incredibly strong and nearly invulnerable—which will come in handy as they search the ruined, monster-infested wasteland that was once their home while looking for their missing father. Their world, once lush and bountiful, has been overrun by giant monsters and prickly, unnatural vines that strangle the life from the natural flora and fauna.

Their differences sometimes feel bigger than they know how to handle, but the girls set out across the broken land to reunite their family, following other survivors and word of mouth from one place to the next. From a cave of huddled refugees to a hidden city of humans that have built a home in the shattered remnants of a mighty redwood forest, things are rarely what they seem. One thing is for certain, it’s a thrill-ride from start to finish, and Rainbow and Jonna won’t stop till they find their father . . . and maybe even save the world!

Collects issues #1–12 of the instant classic of all-ages comics by co-writer/artist Chris Samnee, co-writer Laura Samnee, colorist Matthew Wilson, and letterer Crank!

Comics

Lamentation debuts and more from Oni Press in May 2023

Posted on February 20, 2023 by Graphic Policy Team

Lamentation #1 (of 3)

Written by CULLEN BUNN
Art by ARJUNA SUSINI
Colors by HILARY JENKINS
Cover A by MAAN HOUSE
Cover B by YANICK PAQUETTE
Cover C by KYLE HOTZ
Full Art Variant (1:10) by MAAN HOUSE
B&W Variant (1:15) by YANICK PAQUETTE
B&W Variant (1:20) by KYLE HOTZ
ON-SALE MAY 3, 2023 | $6.99 | 48 pgs. | FULL COLOR

From the mind’s eye of master storyteller Cullen Bunn (The Sixth Gun, Basilisk) and rising star Arjuna Susini (Made Men) comes a darkly glamorous tale of bone-splintering terror at the intersection of shadow and light… dream and nightmare… life and the grim specter of Death himself.

After weeks of grueling rehearsals, a new production is set to begin at the famed Requiem theatre: Razide’s Lament, three acts of gothic horror set inside a haunted castle with a story that some say is more than mere fantasy. Under the stern rule of a dedicated but temperamental director, the script seems to be ever-changing, and, more mysterious still, our lead actress has found herself cast in the role of a lifetime without so much as an audition.

IOD: 3/23/2023
FOC: 4/3/2023

Rick and Morty #5

Written by ALEX FIRER
Art/Cover A by MARC ELLERBY
Cover B by FRED C. STRESING
ON-SALE MAY 24, 2023 | $3.99 | 32 pgs. | FULL COLOR

After Rick denied his friend request, hyper tech-bro Glug Vronksy took it personally and imprisoned our hero in fancy space jail. Meanwhile, Rick-less, slightly losing his mind, and somehow working for Vronsky, Morty continues the search for his lost girlfriend, Noelle, but is a bit preoccupied with cleaning a giant dog. Who will attempt to save Rick from space jail? Who?! S-Summer…it’s Summer.

The all-new ongoing series continues!

IOD: 3/23/2023
FOC: 4/24/2023

Rick and Morty Presents: Maximum Overture #1

Written by BROCKTON MCKINNEY
Art/Cover A by JARRETT WILLIAMS
Cover B by PRISCILLA TRAMONTANO
ON-SALE MAY 17, 2023 | $5.99 | 40 pgs. | FULL COLOR

Rick and Morty find themselves in the mad composer’s clutches and must weather Concerto’s orchestral onslaught while trying to figure out what any of this have to do with Rick. Can they survive this macabre musical death race, or will Concerto compose the Rick and Morty Requiem?

IOD: 3/23/2023
FOC: 4/17/2023

Jonna and the Unpossible Monsters Vol. 3

Written by CHRIS SAMNEE & LAURA SAMNEE
Artist/Cover by CHRIS SAMNEE
ON-SALE MAY 3, 2023 | $12.99 | 120 pgs. | FULL COLOR

In the final arc of our incredible tale, we learn the origins of the strange creatures that have invaded the planet, draining it of resources—as well as that of fellow adventurers Gor and Nomi. All the threads converge inside the mysterious giant egg! With the fate of their family and possibly the whole world at stake, can Jonna and Rainbow rescue their dad, battle countless monsters, and tell each other how they really feel?

IOD: 3/23/2023
FOC: 4/3/2023

Jonna and the Unpossible Monsters Vol. 3

Memento Mori

Writer/Artist/Cover by TIITU TAKALO
ON-SALE MAY 24, 2023 | $24.99 | 232 pgs. | FULL COLOR

In Memento Mori, celebrated Finnish graphic novelist Tiitu Takalo chronicles her sudden, unexpected cerebral hemorrhage and the long road to recovery she had to travel.

It is a dramatic story about a life turned upside down overnight: a ruptured cerebral aneurysm, the days and nights spent in an intensive care unit, and the long, painful recovery that led the artist to reflect on her life both past and present.

Much more than a story of survival, Memento Mori is a philosophical and psychological journey told with exceptional honesty and compassion. A deeply moving and insightful graphic novel from a master of the medium that is also ultimately a celebration of life.

IOD: 3/23/2023
FOC: 4/24/2023

Blink

Written by CHRISTOVER SEBELA
Artist/Cover by HAYDEN SHERMAN
ON-SALE MAY 17, 2023 | $21.99 | 128 pgs. | FULL COLOR

Wren Booker was three when she was found alone and covered in blood on the streets of New York. Since that day, she’s been haunted by the childhood she can’t remember…until decades later when she finds a cryptic website streaming multiple CCT feeds from strange rooms in a ruined building. Something clicks, setting off hidden memories that lead her back to a place she’s seen in lifelong nightmares. Hunting for answers, Wren breaks in and finds herself lost in the camera-filled dark mazes of a decayed social experiment known only as BLINK…which she quickly discovers is not abandoned at all. But what should be a foreign nightmare-scape feels all too familiar for Wren as she follows her obsession all the way down, piecing together the story of BLINK—as well as her own ties to it.

Eisner-nominated Christopher Sebela (Dirtbag Rapture), Hayden Sherman (Dark Spaces: Wildfire), and Nick Filardi (Rogue Planet) team up for a found-footage horror where uncovering your past will leave you trapped inside it.

IOD: 3/23/2023
FOC: 4/17/2023

Knee Deep: Book One

Writer/Artist/Cover by JOE FLOOD
ON-SALE MAY 31, 2023 | $21.99 | 224 pgs. | FULL COLOR

Two hundred years in the future, the survivors of an environmental cataclysm took refuge underground. Their descendants now live in a literal sewer, the bowels of a subterranean city–an abandoned future utopia–that was never completed. These sewerfolk, a collection of scavengers, misfits, bandits, renegades, and mutants, eke out a living in this underground maze of tunnels and canals.

Life is hard enough, but an overzealous mining company, PERCH, wants to get their claws on this new underground frontier. And they won’t hesitate to bulldoze any sewerfolk that get in their way.

Caught in the middle is Cricket, a young girl desperately searching for her family that fled underground. Join Cricket as she explores this savage new world to find her parents and unlock the secrets of a past long forgotten in the three-part graphic novel series, KNEE DEEP.

IOD: 3/23/2023
FOC: 5/1/2023

Preview: Jonna and the Unpossible Monsters #10

Posted on June 23, 2022 by Graphic Policy Team

Jonna and the Unpossible Monsters #10

(W) Chris Samnee, Laura Samnee (A) Chris Samnee, Matthew Wilson, Crank!

As Rainbow and Jonna continue to make their way in search of their missing father, they are drawn through monster-infested wastelands toward a spot on the horizon that seems to be surrounded by the strange creatures invading their world. Braving feuding kaiju and razor-sharp vines to get there is one thing, but will our favorite sisters be able to even get inside this mysterious zone when they do? Plus: the return of Gor and Nomi! This issue is 100 percent incredible high-octane action—not to be missed!

Oni Press Celebrates Free Comic Book Day with Jonna and the Unpossible Monsters

Posted on May 6, 2022 by Graphic Policy Team

This Saturday, Oni Press is celebrating Free Comic Book Day 2022 with a special edition reprint of the first issue of Jonna and the Unpossible Monsters, the all-ages hit co-written and drawn by Eisner Award-winner Chris Samnee and co-written by Laura Samnee, with colors by Matthew Wilson, and letters by crank!

Rainbow has been searching for her sister, Jonna, for a year. The last time she saw Jonna was also the first time she saw one of the monsters that now roam the planet. They’re big, ugly, and dangerous creatures driving humanity to the brink of extinction. Though there isn’t much hope for survival out in the wild, Rainbow knows that her sister is out there somewhere-and she’ll do anything to find her.

Readers who enjoy this FCBD intro to the action-packed series can also check out the newly released Jonna and the Unpossible Monsters Vol. 2, which collects issues #5–8 of Rainbow and Jonna’s journey, and Jonna and the Unpossible Monsters #9, which begins the third and final arc of the kaiju-filled adventure.

Support your local comic book store and pick up a copy of FCBD 2022 Jonna and the Unpossible Monsters using the Free Comic Book Day Store Locator.

Preview: Jonna and the Unpossible Monsters #9

Posted on April 20, 2022 by Graphic Policy Team

Jonna and the Unpossible Monsters #9

(W) Chris Samnee, Laura Samnee (A) Chris Samnee, Matthew Wilson, Crank!

A new arc begins! After the incredible cliffhanger reveal from last issue, Rainbow and Jonna are reeling—what does it all mean?! The two sisters have come so very far in their search for their father, only to be met with lots of questions…and, as always, giant monsters! Can the girls escape the strange goopy tunnels they are in and find their dad? Plus: The secret origin of Gor and Nomi!

Preview: Jonna and the Unpossible Monsters Vol. 2

Posted on April 14, 2022 by Graphic Policy Team

Jonna and the Unpossible Monsters Vol. 2

(W) Chris Samnee, Laura Samnee (A) Chris Samnee, Matthew Wilson, Crank!

With their safe haven destroyed, the girls set out again, this time following a lead to a hidden city of humans that have built a home in the shattered remnants of a mighty redwood forest. Lured by heartwarming tales of community, Rainbow and Jonna find that life in the big city can be a little confusing! Jonna finds celebrity in the monster-fighting arena, while Rainbow explores their new surroundings, searching for a bit of human kindness and not liking what she sees. Can the two keep their spirits up and their skin on as they outpunch unpossible monsters and outwit not-so-nice humans that stand in their way?

Jonna and the Unpossible Monsters Vol. 2

Preview: Jonna and the Unpossible Monsters Vol. 2

Posted on April 6, 2022 by Graphic Policy Team

Jonna and the Unpossible Monsters Vol. 2

(W) Chris Samnee, Laura Samnee (A) Chris Samnee, Matthew Wilson, Crank!

Jonna and the Unpossible Monsters #1 Heads Back to Print

Posted on March 19, 2021 by Graphic Policy Team

The Oni-Lion Forge Publishing Group is thrilled to announce that the first issue printing of the all-ages single-issue series Jonna and the Unpossible Monsters, in which two sisters struggle on a journey against incredible “unpossible” monsters of all shapes and sizes from the creative team of Chris Samnee, Laura Samnee, Matthew Wilson, and Crank!, has sold out at the distribution level and is heading for an immediate reprint. The second printing features the already-iconic first issue cover by Chris Samnee as reimagined by colorist Matthew Wilson.

Rainbow has been searching for her sister, Jonna, for a year. The last time she saw Jonna was also the first time she saw one of the strange monsters that now roam the planet. They’re big, ugly, and dangerous creatures that have driven humanity to the brink of extinction. Though there isn’t much hope for survival out in the wild, Rainbow knows that her sister is out there somewhere—and she’ll do anything to find her.

Print copies of Jonna and the Unpossible Monsters #1 continue to be available at your local comic book store. Digital copies are available for purchase from comiXology and other digital retailers.

The final order cutoff for the Jonna and the Unpossible Monsters issue #1 reprint is March 22, 2021, it will be available in stores and online on April 14, 2021. The Diamond Previews code for Jonna and the Unpossible Monsters #1 second printing is FEB218316. Final order cutoff for Jonna and the Unpossible Monsters #2 has been updated to March 29, 2021, in light of the second printing of issue #1, with a new on-sale date of April 21, 2021.

You can read our review of Jonna and the Unpossible Monsters #1.

Jonna and the Unpossible Monsters #1 2nd printing

Review: Jonna and the Unpossible Monsters #1

Posted on March 3, 2021 by Logan Dalton

The talented artist/colorist duo of Chris Samnee and Matthew Wilson dive headfirst into the world of all-ages fantasy comics in Jonna and the Unpossible Monsters #1 with Samnee handing story duties as well with co-writer Laura Samnee. The premise of the story is simple, yet heart-rending. Jonna is an energetic young girl, who enjoys running, climbing trees, and being generally adventurous. However, she runs into a big monster one day and goes missing. The hook for the series is that her older sister, Rainbow, must find her in a landscape that’s gone from pastoral to dystopian. With a knapsack on her back and a feather in her beanie, Rainbow also seems to have that adventurous spirit, but it’s for a purpose: finding her lost sister and family.

The first and second half of Jonna and the Unpossible Monsters have completely different tones, and the Samnees and Wilson do an excellent job conveying that through script, art, and color palette. All the dialogue in the first half of the comic comes from an exasperated Rainbow, except for one word from Jonna, “Unpossible”. And, honestly, that’s all that needs to be said about her character and the setup of the comic. Jonna is a doer, not a talker, and Samnee and Wilson fill full pages of her leaping from branch to branch culminating in a triumphant splash page at her leaping at the titular monster. These pages are a showcase for Samnee’s skill at showing action and tension as Jonna’s position changes from panel to panel, and Samnee switches from horizontal to vertical layouts depending on the degree of difficulty of her jumps and flips. The tension comes when a branch almost break, and, of course, when she encounters a monster so Wilson uses red to symbolize fear and danger almost in a similar manner to how he colored Chris Samnee’s work on Black Widow when its protagonist got in a rough spot.

However, the second half of Jonna and the Unpossible Monsters swaps out Matthew Wilson’s bright colors for something a little more drab. (The one exception is Rainbow’s shock of blue hair.) Facial expressions and dialogue play a larger role as the Samnees’ story transitions from a little girl running free in the wood to her sister trying to find her. Chris Samnee digs into the hopelessness of this new monster-infested status quo in little ways like Rainbow’s utter surprise when she has a nice conversation with another kid about the feather (From the last bird ever!) in her cap or from a close-up of her kicking rock to show the sheer emptiness of her surrounding. However, he and Laura Samnee find little glimmers of light like through Rainbow’s interactions with the totally adorable Gramma Pat, who wants nothing more than for Rainbow to settle down and stay in the camp for a while. However, she also understands that the potential of finding Jonna or the rest of her family is what keeps her motivated and basically gives her a reason to get up in the morning.

Jonna and the Unpossible Monsters #1 reminds me a lot of Gareth Edwards’ excellent kaiju film Monsters although the Samnees’ comic has a much more whimsical vibe than the film. The main similarity is in the focus on how these giant monsters have affected human civilization instead of epic battles. (For now.) Rainbow blacks out when she sees Jonna jumping at the monster, and then there’s a page of black with a couple stars that leads into the one year time skip. It shows that these monsters have changed humanity’s way of life and aren’t just gentle giants that young girls can hop around in the woods. These two pages between the first and second part of the comics are a metaphor for having to grow up too fast and sacrifice your childhood and sense of wonder to survive, which is what Rainbow has had to do even though she does keep around relics of the “before time” like her beanie, the aforementioned feather, and her blue hair. These little costume and design choices from Chris Samnee definitely add a hopeful tone to the dark setting of the second half of the comic and hint at a rich world that we’ve only scratched the surface of.

Jonna and the Unpossible Monsters #1 shows off Chris Samnee and Matthew Wilson’s skill at visually depicting both dynamic movement and quiet character moments as they and Laura Samnee set up a world full of danger and things that go bump during the night and day plus a plucky protagonist, who is willing to face them because she loves and misses her family. I can’t wait to see how Rainbow grows as a character and the dangers (Aka monsters) she faces and hopefully overcomes on her adventure with a purpose.

Story: Laura Samnee and Chris Samnee Art: Chris Samnee
Colors: Matthew Wilson Letters: Crank!
Story: 8.0 Art: 9.5 Overall: 8.7 Recommendation: Buy

Oni Press provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: comiXology – Kindle – Zeus Comics – TFAW

Early Review: Jonna and the Unpossible Monsters #1

Posted on February 15, 2021 by Logan Dalton

Story: Laura Samnee and Chris Samnee Art: Chris Samnee
Colors: Matthew Wilson Letters: Crank!
Story: 8.0 Art: 9.5 Overall: 8.7 Recommendation: Buy

Oni Press provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Pre-order: comiXology – Kindle – Zeus Comics – TFAW

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