Tag Archives: tana ford

Tana Ford, Cully Hamner, J.G. Jones, David Pepose, Brandon Peterson, and John Timms come to Baltimore Comic Con

This fall, the Inner Harbor comes alive for the 24th annual Baltimore Comic-Con, to be held at the Baltimore Convention Center on September 8-10, 2023. This year’s guests include comics writers and illustrators Tana Ford, Cully Hamner, J.G. Jones, David Pepose, Brandon Peterson, and John Timms. Purchase your tickets now to avoid additional lines at the event.

Tana Ford (Tana!) is a Hugo and Eisner Award-winning artist (LaGuardia, BergerBooks/Dark Horse). She has drawn for SilkThe Amazing Spider-ManBlack PantherStar TrekGuardians of the GalaxyNew WarriorsJem & the Holograms, and others.

Cully Hamner has drawn many things for many publishers, but he’s probably best known for his creator-owned comic Red, which was adapted as a pair of hit Bruce Willis films; for co-creating Jaime Reyes (the current Blue Beetle, also about to be a feature film); and his work on The Question. His list of credits at DC is about as long as your leg — most recently as cover artist on numerous titles across the Batman and Superman lines, as well as the new Blue Beetle: Graduation Day and interiors on books like Future State: Superman of MetropolisSuperman Red & Blue, and Blue and Gold. At Marvel, he’s provided numerous covers for the Spider-Man titles, Black Panther vs. DeadpoolWar of the RealmsYonduM.O.D.O.K.Alien, and the upcoming Joe Fixit series. Also coming up are covers for numerous BOOM! Studios titles, such as Something is Killing the Children and Grim.

J.G. Jones is a cover artist, painter, penciller, inker, and writer. He has been nominated for 3 Eisner Awards, as well being credited for his work as co-producer for Universal Pictures film version of the graphic novel Wanted along with Mark Millar. He has contributed both covers and interior art for DC Comics, Marvel Comics, Wildstorm, Dark Horse, Dynamite, BOOM! Studios, Top Cow, Valiant, Defiant, Broadway, and Crusade Comics.

J.G. and writer Devin Grayson introduced the Yelena Belova character in Marvel Knights Black Widow limited series, followed by creating and drawing Marvel Boy with Grant Morrison, before working on Greg Rucka’s Wonder Woman: The Hiketeia.

J.G. has always been a prolific cover artist, painting covers for Brian K. Vaughan’s Y: The Last Man, as well as Wonder Woman. His cover work included many titles, but he may be best remembered for providing all 52 covers for DC Comics’ groundbreaking weekly title, 52.

He then co-created Top Cow Comics’ breakout sensation Wanted with writer Mark Millar before heading to DC to work with Grant Morrison on the epic Final Crisis, and on Brian Azzarello’s Before Watchmen:The Comedian.

Jones recently teamed up with Mark Waid to write Strange Fruit for BOOM! Studios, for which he provided the lushly painted art.

And did I mention covers? Lots and lots of covers.

A former crime reporter turned Ringo Award-winning comic book creator, David Pepose has written for titles such as Savage AvengersFantastic FourHulkAvengers UnlimitedDarth Vader: Black, White & RedSpencer & LockeGoing to the ChapelThe O.Z.Scout’s Honor, and more. Beyond developing properties for comic books, TV, and film, David has worked for CBS Television, Netflix, and Universal Studios. Raised in St. Louis, David now lives in sunny Los Angeles with his understanding partner, their rambunctious terrier, and at least six deadlines.

Brandon Peterson has been a professional illustrator for over 20 years, working primarily as a penciller and inker, but often as a colorist, writer, editor, and art director. He has done a great deal of work at Marvel Comics, as the artist on books like AvXAvengersThe UltimatesUltimate VisionUltimate ExtinctionUltimate X-MenAstonishing X-MenX-Men, and Uncanny X-Men. Brandon was also VP of Special Projects and Art Director of the now-defunct CrossGen Comics, where he created titles like Mystic and Chimera. He is also a veteran of Top Cow Productions, having worked on Codename: StrykeforceCyberforceRipclawMedieval Spawn/Witchblade, and his own book, Arcanum.

John Timms was born and raise in Costa Rica. He studied Graphic Design at Universidad de Costa Rica and worked for a long time as an animator, jumping to comics, a medium he always loved, eight years ago. He has worked on different series, including Inhumans and Nova for Marvel, and for DC Comics, Harley QuinnCatwomanYoung JusticeInfinite FrontierSuperman, and he is the current artist for Superman: Son of Kal-El. He lives in Costa Rica with his wife and two daughters.


This year’s confirmed guests for the show include: Arthur Adams (Longshot), Sarah Andersen (Sarah’s Scribbles), Jeremy Bastian (Dune: House Harkonnen), Marty Baumann (Pixar artist), Brian Michael Bendis (Action Comics), Jon Bogdanove (The Death of Superman), Judy Bogdanove (Steel Annual), Mark Buckingham (Fables), Jim Calafiore (NED, Lord of the Pit), Chris Campana (Death Dealer), Richard Case (Edgar Allan Poe’s Snifter of Terror), Howard Chaykin (Time Squared), Jim Cheung (Young Avengers), Frank Cho (Harley Quinn), Amy Chu (KISS: The End), Steve Conley (The Middle Age), Katie Cook (Nothing Special), Abby Denson (Uniquely Japan), Todd Dezago (The Perhapanauts), Derec Donovan (Adventures of Superman), Jan Duursema (Star Wars: The High Republic), Garth Ennis (The Boys), David Finch (Moon Knight), Tana Ford (LaGuardia), Trish Forstner (Stray Dogs), Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez (DC Nation), Mike Grell (Jon Sable), Gene Ha (Mae), Bob Hall (West Coast Avengers), Cully Hamner (Blue Beetle), Brian Haberlin (Spawn), Tony Harris (The Whistling Skull), Mike Hawthorne (Deadpool), Greg Hildebrandt (Star Wars), Morry Hollowell (Old Man Logan), Mark Irwin (Green Lantern), Klaus Janson (Daredevil), Dave Johnson (100 Bullets), J.G. Jones (Wanted), Barry Kitson (Amazing Spider-Man), Jeff Lemire (Black Hammer), Matthew Loux (Prunella and the Cursed Skull Ring), Kevin Maguire (Justice League), Tom Mandrake (Spectre), Laura Martin (Nubia: Queen of the Amazons), Ron Marz (Green Lantern), Bob McLeod (New Mutants), Adriana Melo (Action Comics), Pop Mhan (Gears of War 3), Al Milgrom (Spectacular Spider-Man), Karl Moline (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Mark Morales (Thor), Trevor Mueller (Re-Possessed), David Pepose (Savage Avengers), David Petersen (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/Usagi Yojimbo: WhereWhen), Brandon Peterson (Uncanny X-Men), Richard and Wendy Pini (Elfquest), Ed Piskor (Red Room: Trigger Warnings), Joe Prado (Superman), Afua Richardson (Omni), Don Rosa (Uncle Scrooge), Craig Rousseau (The Perhapanauts), Steve Rude (Nexus), Jim Rugg (Hulk Grand Design), Andy Runton (Owly), Louise Simonson (The Death of Superman 30th Anniversary Special), Walter Simonson (Thor), Matt Slay (Equilibrium), John K. Snyder III (Suicide Squad), Sozomaika (DC Power: A Celebration), Joe Staton (Dick Tracy), John Timms (Superman: Son of Kal-El), Wade von Grawbadger (Justice League), John Workman (Wild Things), and Thom Zahler (Love and Capes).

LaGuardia Wins the Hugo Award for “Best Graphic Story or Comic”

LaGuardia

The winners of the 2020 Hugo Awards have been announced. LaGuardia, written by Nnedi Okorafor with art by Tana Ford, colors by James Devlin, and published by Berger Books and Dark Horse won for “Best Graphic Story or Comic.”

The Awards were presented on August 1, 2020 at a ceremony at the 78th World Science Fiction Convention in New Zealand, which was entirely virtual due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Check out below for the full list of nominess and winners this year. Congrats to everyone.

Best Novel

  • A Memory Called Empire, by Arkady Martine (Tor; Tor UK)
  • The City in the Middle of the Night, by Charlie Jane Anders (Tor; Titan)
  • Gideon the Ninth, by Tamsyn Muir (Tor.com Publishing)
  • The Light Brigade, by Kameron Hurley (Saga; Angry Robot UK)
  • Middlegame, by Seanan McGuire (Tor.com Publishing)
  • The Ten Thousand Doors of January, by Alix E. Harrow (Redhook; Orbit UK)

Best Novella

  • This Is How You Lose the Time War, by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone (Saga Press; Jo Fletcher Books)
  • “Anxiety Is the Dizziness of Freedom”, by Ted Chiang (Exhalation (Borzoi/Alfred A. Knopf; Picador)
  • The Deep, by Rivers Solomon, with Daveed Diggs, William Hutson & Jonathan Snipes (Saga Press/Gallery)
  • The Haunting of Tram Car 015, by P. Djèlí Clark (Tor.com Publishing)
  • In an Absent Dream, by Seanan McGuire (Tor.com Publishing)
  • To Be Taught, If Fortunate, by Becky Chambers (Harper Voyager; Hodder & Stoughton)

Best Novelette

  • Emergency Skin, by N.K. Jemisin (Forward Collection (Amazon))
  • “The Archronology of Love”, by Caroline M. Yoachim (Lightspeed, April 2019)
  • “Away With the Wolves”, by Sarah Gailey (Uncanny Magazine: Disabled People Destroy Fantasy Special Issue, September/October 2019)
  • “The Blur in the Corner of Your Eye”, by Sarah Pinsker (Uncanny Magazine, July-August 2019)
  • “For He Can Creep”, by Siobhan Carroll (Tor.com, 10 July 2019)
  • “Omphalos”, by Ted Chiang (Exhalation (Borzoi/Alfred A. Knopf; Picador))

Best Short Story

  • As the Last I May Know”, by S.L. Huang (Tor.com, 23 October 2019)
  • “And Now His Lordship Is Laughing”, by Shiv Ramdas (Strange Horizons, 9 September 2019)
  • “Blood Is Another Word for Hunger”, by Rivers Solomon (Tor.com, 24 July 2019)
  • “A Catalog of Storms”, by Fran Wilde (Uncanny Magazine, January/February 2019)
  • “Do Not Look Back, My Lion”, by Alix E. Harrow (Beneath Ceaseless Skies, January 2019)
  • “Ten Excerpts from an Annotated Bibliography on the Cannibal Women of Ratnabar Island”, by Nibedita Sen (Nightmare Magazine, May 2019)

Best Series

  • The Expanse, by James S. A. Corey (Orbit US; Orbit UK)
  • InCryptid, by Seanan McGuire (DAW)
  • Luna, by Ian McDonald (Tor; Gollancz)
  • Planetfall series, by Emma Newman (Ace; Gollancz)
  • Winternight Trilogy, by Katherine Arden (Del Rey; Del Rey UK)
  • The Wormwood Trilogy, by Tade Thompson (Orbit US; Orbit UK)

Best Related Work

  • “2019 John W. Campbell Award Acceptance Speech”, by Jeannette Ng
  • Becoming Superman: My Journey from Poverty to Hollywood, by J. Michael Straczynski (Harper Voyager US)
  • Joanna Russ, by Gwyneth Jones (University of Illinois Press (Modern Masters of Science Fiction))
  • The Lady from the Black Lagoon: Hollywood Monsters and the Lost Legacy of Milicent Patrick, by Mallory O’Meara (Hanover Square)
  • The Pleasant Profession of Robert A. Heinlein, by Farah Mendlesohn (Unbound)
  • Worlds of Ursula K. Le Guin, produced and directed by Arwen Curry

Best Graphic Story or Comic

  • LaGuardia, written by Nnedi Okorafor, art by Tana Ford, colours by James Devlin (Berger Books; Dark Horse)
  • Die, Volume 1: Fantasy Heartbreaker, by Kieron Gillen and Stephanie Hans, letters by Clayton Cowles (Image)
  • Monstress, Volume 4: The Chosen, written by Marjorie Liu, art by Sana Takeda (Image)
  • Mooncakes, by Wendy Xu and Suzanne Walker, letters by Joamette Gil (Oni Press; Lion Forge)
  • Paper Girls, Volume 6, written by Brian K. Vaughan, drawn by Cliff Chiang, colours by Matt Wilson, letters by Jared K. Fletcher (Image)
  • The Wicked + The Divine, Volume 9: “Okay”, by Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie, colours by Matt Wilson, letters by Clayton Cowles (Image)

Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form

  • Good Omens, written by Neil Gaiman, directed by Douglas Mackinnon (Amazon Studios/BBC Studios/Narrativia/The Blank Corporation)
  • Avengers: Endgame, screenplay by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, directed by Anthony Russo and Joe Russo (Marvel Studios)
  • Captain Marvel, screenplay by Anna Boden, Ryan Fleck and Geneva Robertson-Dworet, directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck (Walt Disney Pictures/Marvel Studios/Animal Logic (Australia))
  • Russian Doll (Season One), created by Natasha Lyonne, Leslye Headland and Amy Poehler, directed by Leslye Headland, Jamie Babbit and Natasha Lyonne (3 Arts Entertainment/Jax Media/Netflix/Paper Kite Productions/Universal Television)
  • Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, screenplay by Chris Terrio and J.J. Abrams, directed by J.J. Abrams (Walt Disney Pictures/Lucasfilm/Bad Robot)
  • Us, written and directed by Jordan Peele (Monkeypaw Productions/Universal Pictures)

Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form

  • The Good Place: “The Answer”, written by Daniel Schofield, directed by Valeria Migliassi Collins (Fremulon/3 Arts Entertainment/Universal Television)
  • The Expanse: “Cibola Burn”, written by Daniel Abraham & Ty Franck and Naren Shankar, directed by Breck Eisner (Amazon Prime Video)
  • Watchmen: “A God Walks into Abar”, written by Jeff Jensen and Damon Lindelof, directed by Nicole Kassell (HBO)
  • The Mandalorian: “Redemption”, written by Jon Favreau, directed by Taika Waititi (Disney+)
  • Doctor Who: “Resolution”, written by Chris Chibnall, directed by Wayne Yip (BBC)
  • Watchmen: “This Extraordinary Being”, written by Damon Lindelof and Cord Jefferson, directed by Stephen Williams (HBO)

Best Editor, Short Form

  • Ellen Datlow
  • Neil Clarke
  • C.C. Finlay
  • Jonathan Strahan
  • Lynne M. Thomas and Michael Damian Thomas
  • Sheila Williams

Best Editor, Long Form

  • Navah Wolfe
  • Sheila E. Gilbert
  • Brit Hvide
  • Diana M. Pho
  • Devi Pillai
  • Miriam Weinberg

Best Professional Artist

  • John Picacio
  • Tommy Arnold
  • Rovina Cai
  • Galen Dara
  • Yuko Shimizu
  • Alyssa Winans

Best Semiprozine

  • Uncanny Magazine, editors-in-chief Lynne M. Thomas and Michael Damian Thomas, nonfiction/managing editor Michi Trota, managing editor Chimedum Ohaegbu, podcast producers Erika Ensign and Steven Schapansky
  • Beneath Ceaseless Skies, editor Scott H. Andrews
  • Escape Pod, editors Mur Lafferty and S.B. Divya, assistant editor Benjamin C. Kinney, audio producers Adam Pracht and Summer Brooks, hosts Tina Connolly and Alasdair Stuart
  • Fireside Magazine, editor Julia Rios, managing editor Elsa Sjunneson, copyeditor Chelle Parker, social coordinator Meg Frank, publisher & art director Pablo Defendini, founding editor Brian White
  • FIYAH Magazine of Black Speculative Fiction, executive editor Troy L. Wiggins, editors Eboni Dunbar, Brent Lambert, L.D. Lewis, Danny Lore, Brandon O’Brien and Kaleb Russell
  • Strange Horizons, Vanessa Rose Phin, Catherine Krahe, AJ Odasso, Dan Hartland, Joyce Chng, Dante Luiz and the Strange Horizons staff

Best Fanzine

  • The Book Smugglers, editors Ana Grilo and Thea James
  • Galactic Journey, founder Gideon Marcus, editor Janice Marcus, senior writers Rosemary Benton, Lorelei Marcus and Victoria Silverwolf
  • Journey Planet, editors James Bacon, Christopher J Garcia, Alissa McKersie, Ann Gry, Chuck Serface, John Coxon and Steven H Silver
  • nerds of a feather, flock together, editors Adri Joy, Joe Sherry, Vance Kotrla, and The G
  • Quick Sip Reviews, editor Charles Payseur
  • The Rec Center, editors Elizabeth Minkel and Gavia Baker-Whitelaw

Best Fancast

  • Our Opinions Are Correct, presented by Annalee Newitz and Charlie Jane Anders
  • Be The Serpent, presented by Alexandra Rowland, Freya Marske and Jennifer Mace
  • Claire Rousseau’s YouTube channel, produced & presented by Claire Rousseau
  • The Coode Street Podcast, presented by Jonathan Strahan and Gary K. Wolfe
  • Galactic Suburbia, presented by Alisa Krasnostein, Alexandra Pierce and Tansy Rayner Roberts, producer Andrew Finch
  • The Skiffy and Fanty Show, presented by Jen Zink and Shaun Duke

Best Fan Writer

  • Bogi Takács
  • Cora Buhlert
  • James Davis Nicoll
  • Alasdair Stuart
  • Paul Weimer
  • Adam Whitehead

Best Fan Artist

  • Elise Matthesen
  • Iain Clark
  • Sara Felix
  • Grace P. Fong
  • Meg Frank
  • Ariela Housman

Lodestar Award for Best Young Adult Book

  • Catfishing on CatNet, by Naomi Kritzer (Tor Teen)
  • Deeplight, by Frances Hardinge (Macmillan)
  • Dragon Pearl, by Yoon Ha Lee (Disney/Hyperion)
  • Minor Mage, by T. Kingfisher (Argyll)
  • Riverland, by Fran Wilde (Amulet)
  • The Wicked King, by Holly Black (Little, Brown; Hot Key)

Astounding Award for the Best New Science Fiction Writer, sponsored by Dell Magazines

  • R.F. Kuang (2nd year of eligibility)
  • Sam Hawke (2nd year of eligibility)
  • Jenn Lyons (1st year of eligibility)
  • Nibedita Sen (2nd year of eligibility)
  • Tasha Suri (2nd year of eligibility)
  • Emily Tesh (1st year of eligibility)

1945 Retro Hugo Award Finalists

Best Novel

  • “Shadow Over Mars” (The Nemesis from Terra), by Leigh Brackett (Startling Stories, Fall 1944)
  • The Golden Fleece, by Robert Graves (Cassell)
  • Land of Terror, by Edgar Rice Burroughs (Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc.)
  • Sirius: A Fantasy of Love and Discord, by Olaf Stapledon (Secker & Warburg)
  • The Wind on the Moon, by Eric Linklater (Macmillan)
  • “The Winged Man”, by A.E. van Vogt and E. Mayne Hull (Astounding Science Fiction, May-June 1944)

Best Novella

  • “Killdozer!”, by Theodore Sturgeon (Astounding Science Fiction, November 1944)
  • “The Changeling”, by A.E. van Vogt (Astounding Science Fiction, April 1944)
  • “A God Named Kroo”, by Henry Kuttner (Thrilling Wonder Stories, Winter 1944)
  • “Intruders from the Stars”, by Ross Rocklynne (Amazing Stories, January 1944)
  • “The Jewel of Bas”, by Leigh Brackett (Planet Stories, Spring 1944)
  • “Trog”, by Murray Leinster (Astounding Science Fiction, June 1944)

Best Novelette

  • “City”, by Clifford D. Simak (Astounding Science Fiction, May 1944)
  • “Arena”, by Fredric Brown (Astounding Science Fiction, June 1944)
  • “The Big and the Little” (“The Merchant Princes”), by Isaac Asimov (Astounding Science Fiction, August 1944)
  • “The Children’s Hour”, by Lawrence O’Donnell (C.L. Moore and Henry Kuttner) (Astounding Science Fiction, March 1944)
  • “No Woman Born”, by C.L. Moore (Astounding Science Fiction, December 1944)
  • “When the Bough Breaks”, by Lewis Padgett (C.L. Moore and Henry Kuttner) (Astounding Science Fiction, November 1944)

Best Short Story

  • “I, Rocket”, by Ray Bradbury (Amazing Stories, May 1944)
  • “And the Gods Laughed”, by Fredric Brown (Planet Stories, Spring 1944)
  • “Desertion”, by Clifford D. Simak (Astounding Science Fiction, November 1944)
  • “Far Centaurus”, by A. E. van Vogt (Astounding Science Fiction, January 1944)
  •  “Huddling Place”, by Clifford D. Simak (Astounding Science Fiction, July 1944)
  • “The Wedge” (“The Traders”), by Isaac Asimov (Astounding Science Fiction, October 1944)

Best Series

  • The Cthulhu Mythos, by H. P. Lovecraft, August Derleth, and others
  • Captain Future, by Brett Sterling
  • Doc Savage, by Kenneth Robeson/Lester Dent
  • Jules de Grandin, by Seabury Quinn
  • Pellucidar, by Edgar Rice Burroughs
  • The Shadow, by Maxwell Grant (Walter B. Gibson)

Best Related Work

  • “The Science-Fiction Field”, by Leigh Brackett (Writer’s Digest, July 1944)
  • Fancyclopedia, by Jack Speer (Forrest J. Ackerman)
  • ’42 To ’44: A Contemporary Memoir Upon Human Behavior During the Crisis of the World Revolution, by H.G. Wells (Secker & Warburg)
  • Mr. Tompkins Explores the Atom, by George Gamow (Cambridge University Press)
  • Rockets: The Future of Travel Beyond the Stratosphere, by Willy Ley (Viking Press)
  • “The Works of H.P. Lovecraft: Suggestions for a Critical Appraisal”, by Fritz Leiber (The Acolyte, Fall 1944)

Best Graphic Story or Comic

  • Superman: “The Mysterious Mr. Mxyztplk”, by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster (Detective Comics, Inc.)
  • Buck Rogers: “Hollow Planetoid”, by Dick Calkins (National Newspaper Service)
  • Donald Duck: “The Mad Chemist”, by Carl Barks (Dell Comics)
  • Flash Gordon: “Battle for Tropica”, by Alex Raymond (King Features Syndicate)
  • Flash Gordon: “Triumph in Tropica”, by Alex Raymond (King Features Syndicate)
  • The Spirit: “For the Love of Clara Defoe”, by Manly Wade Wellman, Lou Fine and Don Komisarow (Register and Tribune Syndicate)

Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form

  • The Canterville Ghost, screenplay by Edwin Harvey Blum from a story by Oscar Wilde, directed by Jules Dassin (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM))
  • The Curse of the Cat People, written by DeWitt Bodeen, directed by Gunther V. Fritsch and Robert Wise (RKO Radio Pictures)
  • Donovan’s Brain, adapted by Robert L. Richards from a story by Curt Siodmak, producer, director and editor William Spier (CBS Radio Network)
  • House of Frankenstein, screenplay by Edward T. Lowe, Jr. from a story by Curt Siodmak, directed by Erle C. Kenton (Universal Pictures)
  • The Invisible Man’s Revenge, written by Bertram Millhauser, directed by Ford Beebe (Universal Pictures)
  • It Happened Tomorrow, screenplay and adaptation by Dudley Nichols and René Clair, directed by René Clair (Arnold Pressburger Films)

Best Editor, Short Form

  • John W. Campbell, Jr.
  • Oscar J. Friend
  • Mary Gnaedinger
  • Dorothy McIlwraith
  • Raymond A. Palmer
  • W. Scott Peacock

Best Professional Artist

  • Margaret Brundage
  • Earle Bergey
  • Boris Dolgov
  • Matt Fox
  • Paul Orban
  • William Timmins

Best Fanzine

  • Voice of the Imagi-Nation, edited by Forrest J. Ackerman and Myrtle R. Douglas
  • The Acolyte, edited by Francis T. Laney and Samuel D. Russell
  • Diablerie, edited by Bill Watson
  • Futurian War Digest, edited by J. Michael Rosenblum
  • Shangri L’Affaires, edited by Charles Burbee
  • Le Zombie, edited by Bob Tucker and E.E. Evans

Best Fan Writer

  • Fritz Leiber
  • Morojo/Myrtle R. Douglas
  • J. Michael Rosenblum
  • Jack Speer
  • Bob Tucker
  • Harry Warner, Jr.

Preview: Livewire Vol. 3 Champion

LIVEWIRE VOL. 3 CHAMPION (TPB)

Written by VITA AYALA
Art by TANA FORD, BRUNO OLIVERA
Colors by KELLY FITZPATRICK, RUTH REDMOND
Letters by SAIDA TEMOFONTE
Cover by RAÚL ALLÉN
On sale MAY 20 | 112 pages, full color | $14.99 US | T+
TRADE PAPERBACK | ISBN: 978-1-68215-354-3

What is the cost of freedom?

Wanted fugitive Livewire has been on the run for months from the authorities for shutting down the country’s power in an effort to protect people gifted with powers. Will a shocking offer to go public from a renowned local politician pull Livewire into a political spotlight?

Valiant’s breakout heroine fights to clear her name in the next electrifying volume from rising stars Vita Ayala (Prisoner X) and Tana Ford (Avengers)!

Collecting LIVEWIRE #9–12.

LIVEWIRE VOL. 3 CHAMPION (TPB)

Check out the Hugo Award’s “Best Graphic Story or Comic” Nominees

Hugo Awards

The nominees for “Best Graphic Story or Comic” for this year’s Hugo Awards have been announced. Normally, the winners are announced at Worldcon but with the event this year canceled due to COVID-19, it’s unknown when the winners will be announced.

The nominees were announced on April 8 and were decided from 1,584 valid nominating ballots with a total of 27,033 nominations. Members nominated up to five works/people in each category, and the top six works/people in each category were shortlisted as finalists.

Check out all of the Hugo nominees and the comic nominees below:

  • Die, Volume 1: Fantasy Heartbreaker, by Kieron Gillen and Stephanie Hans, letters by Clayton Cowles (Image)

Purchase: AmazonKindlecomiXologyTFAWZeus Comics

  • LaGuardia, written by Nnedi Okorafor, art by Tana Ford, colors by James Devlin (Berger Books; Dark Horse)

Purchase: AmazonKindle – comiXologyTFAW

  • Monstress, Volume 4: The Chosen, written by Marjorie Liu, art by Sana Takeda (Image)

Purchase: AmazonKindlecomiXologyTFAW

  • Mooncakes, by Wendy Xu and Suzanne Walker, letters by Joamette Gil (Oni Press; Lion Forge)

Purchase: AmazonTFAW

  • Paper Girls, Volume 6, written by Brian K. Vaughan, drawn by Cliff Chiang, colors by Matt Wilson, letters by Jared K. Fletcher (Image)

Purchase: AmazonKindlecomiXologyTFAWZeus Comics

  • The Wicked + The Divine, Volume 9: “Okay”, by Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie, colors by Matt Wilson, letters by Clayton Cowles (Image)

Purchase: AmazonKindlecomiXologyTFAWZeus Comics

On top of the comics above, Avengers: Endgame and Captain Marvel are nominated in “Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form,” and Watchmen: “A God Walks into Abar” and Watchmen: “This Extraordinary Being” are nominated in “Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form.”


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

Review: Livewire #12

Livewire #12

“Hero” reaches its thrilling endgame in Livewire #12!

With the whole country watching, Livewire is targeted by a trusted confidant, will she remain America’s Most Wanted?

The climactic final chapter building since Secret Weapons and through Harbinger Wars 2 is finally here!

With Livewire #12 Vita Ayala makes the bold decision to have the finale be a much more cerebral affair than your typical run of the mill finales. While there is tension within the comic, it’s not of the physical kind; instead, Ayala weaves a level of intensity through Livewire’s internal narration and the dialogue that borders on thriller level as the machinations of certain characters are teased.

Initially, the ending might seem somewhat underwhelming, and I understand that point of view, but I found it more interesting than reading about Livewire fighting her way through security defenses and the like. The wrapping up of the story in this way is immensely satisfying; there are very few loose ends left after twelve issues, and Livewire is positioned very well for the next person to take on the character.

Although Ayala has scripted an interesting and compelling tale about Livewire, there’s no denying that they were left with an… interesting place to begin after the events of Harbinger Wars II. While Livewire’s actions were extreme in that story, it’s refreshing that they weren’t just swept away as the world moved on (while there may be some who choose to ignore Harbinger Wars II, this series will at the very least serve as the epilogue).

I’ve enjoyed the political spin of this comic. When I say that, I’m not saying that no other comics are political, but rather that I enjoyed the way this comic treats politics, politicians and the process of an election. It’s probably not utterly accurate, but at least from my understanding, it’s pretty close (the huge caveat there is that I am an Englishman living in Canada, so I’m not all that familiar with the way senate elections actually work).

This series has served in many ways to recenter Amanda McKee and deal with how her actions have impacted the general public, as well as the psiot herself. With the political background of the final arc, Ayala’s taken an interesting path to Livewire’s redemption – and it’s well worth reading if you like a little bit of the political process with your comics.

Livewire #12 specifically, though, is a strong book. Both as the finale and as a standalone comic. Ayala comes out of this series on a high note, and I am sure that their star will continue to shine in comics.

Story: Vita Ayala Art: Tana Ford
Colorist: Kelly Fitzpatrick Letterer: Saida Temofonte
Story: 8.6 Art: 7.1 Overall: 8.3 Recommendation: Buy

Valiant provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Preview: Livewire #12

LIVEWIRE #12

Written by VITA AYALA
Art by TANA FORD, BRUNO OLIVIERA
Cover A by STACEY LEE
Cover B by HELEN CHEN
Cover C by KEVIN WADA
On sale NOVEMBER 6 | 32 pages, full color | $3.99 US | T+

“Hero” reaches its thrilling endgame!

With the whole country watching, Livewire is targeted by a trusted confidant, will she remain America’s Most Wanted?

The climactic final chapter building since Secret Weapons and through Harbinger Wars 2 is finally here!

LIVEWIRE #12

Review: Livewire #11

Livewire #11

Amanda McKee—aka “Livewire”—continues the fight to clear her name in Livewire #11.

Teamed up with politician John Wright, Amanda learns there’s more to superhero-ing than just punching bad guys.  When masked men hold a charity rally hostage, Livewire is ready to show the world she can be a hero in the spotlight!

With Vita Ayala placing Livewire in a situation that finds her caught in the middle of a political battle being used as a pawn in an election battle between an incumbent senator and his challenger, we’ve been treated to a unique and interesting story that has a focus away from what we’ve been used to seeing; Livewire’s reputation being repaired through political means.

It’s a fascinating concept, and I’ve really enjoyed how Ayala has allowed this to play out while giving us an at first subtle subplot to the arc, as well.

There’s a touch less subtly this issue as Livewire attends a charity ball/event/whatever-it-is, which (as you may have guessed from the above preview text) leads to her having a very quick and very real impact on the lives of the party goers. Whether this furthers the agenda of the politician looking to make a career based on taking a stand for psiots. That there’s an underlying motive goes without saying, and it’s how both plots weave in and out of focus as the story progresses that has struck me.

Yes, Livewire’s redemption is a secondary concern to the councilman, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t playing the game to the best of his ability (and we still don’t know what his end game is, I’m enjoying the tidbits we’re getting).

Tana Ford‘s art still isn’t my cup of tea, but I still think that I just need time to adjust to the thicker lines and a style that gives me a rough pop art feel. I can understand the appeal, but I’m not there yet (and I say yet, because I wasn’t fond of Raul Allen and Patricia Martin’s style until after I spent a good few issues absorbing it).

Livewire #11 is, on the whole, a really solid comic with an interesting angle on the way politicians and public figures manipulate the general public’s perception and thoughts.

Story: Vita Ayala Art: Tana Ford
Colorist: Kelly Fitzpatrick Letterer: Saida Temofonte
Story: 8.4 Art: 7.1 Overall: 8.2 Recommendation: Buy

Valiant provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Review: Livewire #10

Livewire #10

Amanda McKee—a.k.a. technopath psiot “Livewire”—fights to clear her name in Livewire #10.

But when she teams up with a politician to repair her image and make herself a hero again…

…Will the public be able to forgive her?

Valiant‘s Livewire #10 is written by Vita Ayala and features Tana Ford‘s artistic talents, and Kelly Fitzpatrick‘s colors. It continues the campaign to change the psiot’s public image at the behest of a Senate hopeful and his campaign manager. Is everything really as straight forward as it seems? Or is there an ulterior motive for somebody to want to improve Livewire’s image?

Well, as with all things politics, I’m sure you can guess the answer. Ayala has created a story arc that has the potential to write a scathing commentary. It skewers the way we interact with media and how we’re manipulated by others into thinking a certain way. It’s got the potential to be a fantastic way to approach the subject through the eyes of a disgraced hero. That makes this a story that I’m really interested in, especially given the current climate.

Livewire’s reputation at this point is… well it isn’t exactly great. If you were to liken it to another comic universe, you’d be thinking Magneto at his absolute worst – she is responsible for the deaths of a lot of innocent people, after all. But did the results of her actions justify the reasons? Can she be redeemed? I don’t know, but I’m really enjoying Ayala’s exploration of what it means to be a hero to some and a villain to others. The writer’s willingness to embrace the moral ambiguity of the title character is really exciting, and is going to provide some brilliant social commentary.

Once again, despite the strength of the story, Ford’s art doesn’t do it for me. I’m not a huge fan of the thicker lines used in the comic; I’m aware it’s a stylistic preference, but the boldness of the lines takes away from energy in the story. Ford has a great sense of page construction and sequential story telling, balancing Ayala’s script pretty well.

I’m still in a strange place with the art and the writing; on one hand I want to like the art, but I’m not there yet (there are certainly positives to it, but Ford and Fitzpatrick don’t compliment each other as well as other pairings have in the series), and on the other I’m really intrigued by the story. Your mileage will obviously vary, but for my money (because I will also buy this book), this comic is still well worth buying.

Story: Vita Ayala Art: Tana Ford
Colorist: Kelly Fitzpatrick Letterer: Saida Temofonte
Story: 9.1 Art: 7.3 Overall: 8.6 Recommendation: Buy

Valiant provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Preview: Livewire #10

LIVEWIRE #10

Written by VITA AYALA
Art by TANA FORD
Colors by KELLY FITZPATRICK
Letters by SAIDA TEMOFONTE
Cover A by STACEY LEE
Cover B by KATIE COOK
Cover C by IRENE KOH
Pre-Order Edition by ELSA CHARRETIER
$3.99 | 32 pgs. | T+ | On sale SEPTEMBER 11th

Amanda McKee—a.k.a. technopath psiot “Livewire”—fights to clear her name.

But when she teams up with a politician to repair her image and make herself a hero again…

…Will the public be able to forgive her?

LIVEWIRE #10

Review: Livewire #9

Livewire #9

In Livewire #9, wanted fugitive Livewire has been on the run for months from the authorities for shutting down the country’s power in an effort to protect people gifted with powers.

Valiant‘s Livewire #9, written by Vita Ayala and featuring Tana Ford‘s artistic talents, and Kelly Fitzpatrick opens a new arc. It finds Livewire as the target of a campaign manager who wants to improve her image. It’s a story arc that has the potential to write a scathing commentary of the way we interact with media. Based on the first issue, Ayala seems more than ready to talk about that. That makes this a comic that I’m really interested in, especially given the current climate.

What’s interesting about a campaign manager looking to improve Livewire’s public perception is that we’re going to see how the media and the public will react to Livewire as the campaign manager manipulates the information available – and how it will be done.

We’ve seen what Livewire has done and why she’s viewed as a terrorist by the public. If you don’t know, she intentionally caused a nationwide blackout for several days as a reaction to the murders of young psiots. In so doing she caused the deaths of those who relied on the nations electrical grid. We’ve also become familiar with how Livewire feels about her actions.

Perhaps one of my favorite things about this series is how Vita Ayala has yet to explicitly cast Livewire as a hero in her own book, and that’s what makes the newest arc in the series so interesting; do you see the title character as a hero, a villain or something in between? Ayala is able to challenge our views on what makes a hero a hero without ever really coming out clearly on either side of things.

One thing is for certain, though; under Ayala’s deft hand Amanda McKee has become one of the most interesting characters in comics.

Unfortunately, despite a strong showing from Ayala, Ford seems a little inconsistent with the visuals in the comic. Art, obviously is very subjective. You might read this book and think it’s great. If you do, I’m pleased for you. But for me the comic felt like it lacked a certain polish in more places than not. One of the early scenes in the comic involves a fight. There’s three panels that don’t flow as well as they could have. A different choice in the choreography, a left hand instead of a right hand, would have made a world of difference. Unfortunately, this was early enough in the comic. That took me out just enough to pay attention to the art with a harsher critical eye.

My feelings on the art and the writing live in an odd dichotomy; I’m not a huge fan of one and love the other. This leaves me to think about the product as a whole, and overall it’s still a very strong one.

Livewire has been one of Valiant’s better series over the last few months. It’s one that has been gaining momentum in the quality department. So it can afford a stumble or two without and loss of faith from yours truly. Really, this stumble is entirely down to arguably the most subjective aspect of the comic. Ayala’s willingness to play with the superhero tropes whilst continuing to write a compelling story should not be missed.

Story: Vita Ayala Art: Tana Ford
Colorist: Kelly Fitzpatrick Letterer: Saida Temofonte
Story: 9.1 Art: 7.1 Overall: 8.6 Recommendation: Buy

Valiant provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

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