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Review: We Ride Titans #1

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We Ride Titans #1

Pacific Rim seems to have launched (or been part of the wave) of the resurgence of stories featuring giant robots fighting kaiju. Many of them are just spins on the same story, giant creature attacks and a giant robot fights back. They’re entertaining in that popcorn way, not much thought, enjoy the fight. But, there’s a few that have stood out due to the fact they deliver something slightly different. We Ride Titans #1 looks like it’s going to be one of those stories that stands out if the debut issue is any indication.

Written by Tres Dean, the story revolves around the Hobbs family who pilot the mech that protects New Hyperion. The current pilot, Dej, has a drinking problem and causes a massive amount of destruction while battling the latest monster, while he’s drunk. Enter Kit, his estranged sister, who is called back into service by their parents while Dej deals with his issues. Dean delivers the usual battles but the focus on the pilots and those in charge and their dysfunction is what makes this debut issue stand out from such similar general concepts.

Screwed up pilots isn’t anything that’s new. It’s something that seems to be a regular part of the story for the latest wave. The troubled pilot who then saves the day seems to be a given. We Ride Titans #1 though, feels like it’s mostly going to focus on that family dynamic. The relationship of siblings and their parents is at the center of the story, not the threat that they face. The monster isn’t some physical thing, it’s their issues as a family. That’s different and interesting. How do you deal with your own issues while also having so many others rely on your protection? That seems to be where Dean is going with it all.

The art by Sebastian Píriz is solid. With color by Dee Cunniffe and lettering by Jim Campbell, what’s presented is very smart as far as the story that’s being told. Yes, the comic begins with a big battle, but its’ focus to start is the pilot Dej. The art focuses in on him as he struggles to fight and struggles with the messages he’s receiving from command. It’s not about the battle itself, it’s the battle Dej is having with himself. There’s an almost stripped down aspect to it that doesn’t go for flashy fighting and keeps things focused where it should, on the characters, exactly like the first issue does.

We Ride Titans #1 is a solid start to the series. It delivers something new from a genre that was getting a little played out. There’s tension and a lot of dynamics that are easy to relate to. As expected, this is a debut to make sure to grab from the shelf and absolutely check out the second issue when it arrives.

Story: Tres Dean Art: Sebastian Píriz
Color: Dee Cunniffe Letterer: Jim Campbell
Story: 8.75 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8.75 Recommendation: Buy

Vault Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: comiXology – Kindle – Zeus Comics – TFAW

Exclusive: Raze is an All-New Threat for the Valiant Universe. Debuting in Eternal Warrior: Scorched Earth

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The Valiant Universe will face the terrifying flames of an all-new villain in Eternal Warrior: Scorched Earth. We have the exclusive reveal of Raze, the new threat that will debut in the graphic novel currently being Kickstarted.

Born of lava and hellish flame, the ancient fire deity Raze is an uncontrollable threat to Mother Earth, causing massive destruction and leaving only death in his wake.

Centuries ago, Mount Vesuvius tragically erupted and created mass devastation, laying waste to the great city of Pompeii and killing thousands. Gilad knew this to be the work of an ancient fire deity and stepped in as the Fist and Steel of Earth to imprison Raze for good.

Or so he thought…

As mysterious fires begin causing havoc all over the world, this generation’s Geomancer, Tama, tries to live up to her responsibilities of defending Earth while Gilad ventures off to confront his past. But they will soon discover they need each other now more than ever.

With Raze potentially freed of his imprisonment on a new path of annihilation, only the Eternal Warrior and Geomancer can hope to stand in his way to prevent his infernal flames from scorching the Earth.

Written by Tres Dean with art by Alberto Taracido, colors by Rain Beredo, and lettering by Tom Napolitano, Eternal Warrior: Scorched Earth has Gilad Anni-Padda facing an unimaginable threat.

The Kickstarter ends on December 2nd and has already unlocked numerous stretch goals like digital copies of Eternal Warrior (2014) Vol. 1 and Vol. 2.

Eternal Warrior: Scorched Earth is not just making history as Valiant’s first Kickstarter but also going to need a must get as it’s the debut of an all-new villain!

Get a first look at this terrifying new villain that will take both the Eternal Warrior and Geomancer to stop!

Valiant’s Eternal Warrior: Scorched Earth Launches on Kickstarter

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Eternal Warrior: Scorched Earth

Eternal Warrior: Scorched Earth is Valiant Entertainment’s first original graphic novel and debut Kickstarter campaign featuring the return of fan-favorite character Gilad Anni-Padda, the Eternal Warrior, and Tama, this generation’s Geomancer of Earth as well as introducing an all-new threat to the Valiant Universe.

Kickstarter is the perfect platform for bringing the community together and celebrating the Valiant fandom, delivering the next evolution of fan engagement. This is realized through Valiant’s debut Kickstarter campaign featuring the first original graphic novel, offering a new way to engage with those who love the Valiant Universe.

Eternal Warrior: Scorched Earth is an original 100+ page graphic novel from writer Tres Dean, artist Alberto Taracido, colorist Rain Beredo, and letterer Tom Napolitano alongside acclaimed cover artist Gerald Parel. For Valiant’s first original graphic novel and a fascinating new chapter for Gilad and Tama, everything was designed for the Kickstarter platform including a special deluxe edition, exciting add-ons and so much more directly from Valiant Entertainment.

The Kickstarter campaign features a standard exclusive hardcover edition with a remarkable cover by Gerald Parel as well as an exclusive Raze’s Flame deluxe hardcover edition featuring the iconic Valiant gold treatment on the cover title and an exclusive AR code bringing the book to life like never before. The pledge tiers offer many exciting opportunities for fans to take advantage of everything the campaign features including limited offer tiers for “THE BOON” that has every single add on and “STAY VALIANT” allowing you to actually appear in the graphic novel! 

There are plenty of add-ons for any backer who wants to collect exclusive merchandise as part of this new Kickstarter campaign. These add-ons will not be available anywhere else following the end of this campaign and are a great opportunity to take advantage of some exciting deals from a new enamel pin to a signed bookplate by writer Tres Dean and artist Alberto Taracido and more.

Valiant’s Eternal Warrior: Scorched Earth Heads to Kickstarter

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Valiant has announced their first original graphic novel featuring fan-favorite character Eternal Warrior. Eternal Warrior: Scorched Earth will be coming to Kickstarter and those interested can sign up now to find out when it launches.

The Eternal Warrior, Gilad Anni-Padda, is back alongside Tama the Geomancer in Valiant’s thrilling first original graphic novel which was designed for the Kickstarter platform with a special deluxe edition, exciting add-ons and so much more directly from Valiant Entertainment. The use of Kickstarter is Valiant’s next step in fan engagement.

Eternal Warrior: Scorched Earth is a 100-page original graphic novel from writer Tres Dean, artist Alberto Taracido, and acclaimed cover artist Gerald Parel, featuring fan-favorite characters the Eternal Warrior, Geomancer, and more as well as introducing a brand-new threat into the Valiant Universe. When a series of mysterious fires appear more targeted than natural, Gilad and Tama begin to suspect there is something more than natural disasters occurring. As Gilad suspects an ancient fire deity is at work and ventures off to ensure they are locked away, Tama focuses on her role as the Geomancer without living in Gilad’s shadow and begins to gain notoriety for her public deeds. Together, the two will uncover secrets long buried and learn just how important their relationship is.

The first 250 subscribers to the official Valiant Kickstarter newsletter will gain free access to an exclusive day one offer when the Kickstarter campaign goes live to receive a bookmark featuring artwork from the graphic novel. Sign up now HERE and stay up to date on all the latest announcements for Valiant’s debut Kickstarter campaign featuring the first original graphic novel.

The Kickstarter campaign is expected to go live in November with pledge tiers ranging from a digital copy to a special deluxe edition, as well as an option catered to retailers. Plus, stay tuned for all the exciting stretch goals and add-ons soon to be revealed.

Vault Announces We Ride Titans from Tres Dean and artist Sebastián Piriz

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Vault has announced We Ride Titans, an epic new mecha and kaiju series co-created by writer Tres Dean and artist Sebastián Piriz. Kaiju hit hard. Family hits harder.

Trying to keep your family from imploding is a tall order. Kit Hobbs is about to find out it’s an even taller order when that family has been piloting the Titan that protects New Hyperion from kaiju for generations. Between a spiraling brother, a powder keg of a father, and a whole bunch of twenty-story monsters, she’s got her work cut out for her.

We Ride Titans #1 will hit store shelves in December 2021, and will debut with a variant cover by Vault Cover Artist-in-Residence, Joshua Hixson. 

Z2 Comics and Universal Announce a Freddie Mercury Graphic Novel

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Z2 Comics is partnering with Universal Music Group and Mercury Songs Ltd for Freddie Mercury: Lover of Life, Singer of Songs, the first-ever graphic novel paying tribute to one of the greatest figures the music world has ever known. 
 
A first in the comics format, Freddie Mercury: Lover of Life, Singer of Songs will be a journey through Freddie’s life; from his childhood in Zanzibar and India’, through his formative years in England, to becoming the rock star, known and loved by millions around the globe. The story is told in his own words, with each chapter giving a glimpse into the many facets of his life. 
 
Written by Tres Dean, the graphic novel will give true insight into the many experiences that helped shape the young Farrokh Bulsara and his compelling existence, both on and off stage—that was the life of Freddie Mercury, Lover of Life, Singer of Songs.
 
Following up on the tremendous success of the Oscar-winning 2018 film Bohemian Rhapsody, and inspired by the book Freddie Mercury: A Life, In His Own Words,  compiled by Greg Brooks and Simon Lupton, this upcoming graphic novel will be another essential addition to the bookshelf or coffee table of fans new and old, sumptuously illustrated by Kyla Smith, Robin Richardson, Safiya Zerrougui, Tammy Wang, and Amy Liu, with accompanying cover painting by David Mack. 
 
Freddie Mercury: Lover of Life, Singer of Songs is available for preorder in standard 136-page softcover ($19.99) and hardcover ($29.99) editions, released in finer comic shops, book and record stores in November. Available exclusively through Z2 in a special hardcover deluxe edition for $99.99 complete with an exclusive vinyl LP, as well as limited edition prints by Sarah Jones, Kyla Smith, and Sanya Anwar. Reserve your copy today!

Freddie Mercury: Lover of Life, Singer of Songs

Z2 Comics and All Time Low Team for Young Renegades

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Young Renegades

Z2 Comics continues to roll out news of the best in music-related comics and graphic novels for the coming year with news that platinum-selling Fueled By Ramen band All Time Low will be collaborating on a brand new storyline inspired by their 2017 album, Last Young Renegade, which took home Rock Sound’s ‘Album of the Year’ award upon release!

To celebrate their comics debut, the band will release a vinyl edition of their 2017 album in a brand-new colorway available ONLY with the deluxe graphic novel package, exclusively through the Z2 website, and available for preorder now!

Who needs a high school reunion when your favorite band is playing a secret show the same night? That’s what Connor and Becca, two classmates who never crossed paths until their ten-year reunion, decide when they hear about a secret All Time Low show in town. As they follow the clues to the secret location, they begin to realize that larger forces are pushing them together and learn the power of hearing the right song in the right place at the right time

The All Time Low Presents: Young Renegades graphic novel pairs writer Tres Dean with Heartthrob co-creator Robert Wilson IV, and artist Megan Huang and will be released in a standard softcover edition in comic shops and bookstores alike in June 2021, as well a special deluxe edition available for preorder now only through the Z2 website, which will include a special exclusive new vinyl edition of the band’s 2017 album Last Young Renegade in a strictly limited edition! 

Young Renegades Deluxe

Comic Creator Hope Nicholson Named in Sexual Assault

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A year ago, writer Tres Dean went public with an article on Huffington Post recounting a sexual assault that he experienced by a female comic creator. While he doesn’t name the creator, he does talk about the events in a broader article about men and sexual assault.

Dean recounts at an industry event he had a fellow comic creator stick “her tongue down (his) throat” and did it twice more. The creator made further “drunken passes” both physical and verbal towards Dean through the night.

Dean’s article focuses on the stereotype of men when it comes to events like this and how men are treated when they come forward regarding allegations of sexual assault.

While Dean doesn’t name the creator and goes out of his way to keep her name anonymous, the story is back in the news as the creator has admitted to the events on Twitter.

Hope Nicholson Tweeted that while she doesn’t “think that’s the case” as it being assault, she does admit to events in that she “hurt” Dean and would indicate the account of kissing him is correct. She goes on to say the article is “largely accurate” saying she was “…rude. An idiot. A messy drunkard. A pest.” And that doesn’t excuse her actions.

Nicholson is the latest individual to be named when it comes to assault in the comic industry.

If you feel you have been assaulted and need help, visit RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Online Hotline or the National Sexual Violence Resource Center’s website.

Update: The article better reflects the original HuffPo article ran a year ago.

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