DC will be publishing a special-edition comic book, DC Pride: Through the Years #1, collecting three out-of-print comics in an oversize new release. Take a journey through over 30 years of fan-favorite LGBTQIA+ characters in the DC Universe with this collection that not only remembers and celebrates landmark issues of days past but also teases exciting new stories yet to come!
DC Pride: Through the Years (80 pages), with a cover by Derek Charm, will publish on June 13 and contains reprints of The Flash #53 by William Messner-Loebs and Greg LaRocque, in which villain turned hero Pied Piper comes out to his friend the Flash and helps thwart a dastardly villain; Detective Comics #854 by Greg Rucka and J.H. Williams, featuring the thrilling beginning of Batwoman’s first solo series, which launched her into stardom; and Supergirl #19 by Steve Orlando, Vita Ayala, and Jamal Campbell, which tells the story of Lee Serrano, a nonbinary teenager who befriends the Girl of Steel. It also includes an all-new story by Tim Sheridan and Cian Tormey featuring Alan Scott as Green Lantern, teasing exciting new stories that will light the way for Alan’s next great adventure.
Bill Messner-Loebs has done work for almost every major comic publisher. Publishers like Aardvark-Vanheim, BOOM!, Comico, Dark Horse, DC Comics, Eclipse, Fantagraphics, IDW Publishing, Marvel, and more have all featured his talent.
After losing his arm to a cancerous tumor as a kid, Messner-Loebs began his career in comics began in 1983 where he writes and draws with his left hand. That alone is an amazing story of talent. Messner-Loebs has worked for high-profile publishers and on characters such as Jonny Quest, The Flash, Hawkman, Thor, The Maxx, and wrote Wonder Woman starting in 1992.
His tale is one that no matter how high-profile the characters you work on or the publisher you work with, the life of a freelance worker is one of financial perilousness.
Following years of limited freelance work and health-related financial setbacks for his family, Messner-Loebs’ financial situation became dire resulting in the loss of his home and resulting in a benefit auction and tribute book. 18 years later, he still struggles financially forcing him to work two part-time positions and his living out of his car.
Despite his initial setback, Bill found a new home, but that was lost due to a gas leak. He learned of that while receiving the Bill Finger Award at San Diego Comic Con. He had lost house number two. Ever since, for shelter he has gone from church to church while also living out of his card working 16-20 hours a week to survive.
You’d know Bill’s work which lasts to this day. He relaunched Pied Piper as gay in 1991 (groundbreaking for the time) and developed Artemis for the world of Wonder Woman. He has had a lasting impact on comics.
Things are turning around for Bill as he’s been approved for a housing choice voucher so he and his wife can find a place to live. But, his tale is one that’s all too common in the comic industry where wages are low and safety nets are few and far between. All of this while publishers rake in millions and their parent companies make billions off of character created by talent such as Bill Messner-Loebs. Organizations like The Hero Initiative attempt to step in to help, but they can only do so much and need the support of fans and other creators.
Bill’s is a story that’s heart wrenching and sadly there so many more creators whose stories are just as devastating.
Bill and his wife have been helped by the Severe Weather Network. There are currently no county-run homeless shelters in Livingston County, making the program the only emergency housing option in the area. You can donate to help through their GoFundMe.
If you’re able and willing to offer some assistance to Bill, you can email fox2newsdesk@foxtv.com who originally broke the story.
Sam Kieth, William Messner Loebs (w) • Sam Kieth (a & c)
Sam Kieth’s and William Messner Loebs’ opus The Maxx is collected here in all its freshly-colored glory. Taking remastered pages from The Maxx: Maxximized, this new volume collects issues #13–24.
Sam Kieth, William Messner-Loebs (w) • Kieth (a & c)
Sara’s “Horse” Maxx takes her on a journey through a childhood maze of blankets draped over lawn chairs and there she discovers Artie/Gone in a surreal hallucination. Meanwhile a thug named Pablo picks the wrong dumpster to squirt mustard into… as the threat of the Yellow Slug looms.
Sam Kieth, William Messner-Loebs (w) • Kieth (a & c)
Future Sara is still adjusting to putting up with other people’s crap—her roommate Steve, his girlfriend Syke, and even elderly Mr. Gone who’s… well… gone fishing. To say nothing of the Giant Yellow Banana Slug who has surfaced once again.
Written by Mark Waid, Keith Giffen, John Rogers, Michael Alan Nelson, William Messner-Loebs
Drawn by Andy Kuhn, Jon Schnepp
SC, 211pgs, FC, SRP: $19.99
ISBN13: 9781608860760
Diamond Code: JUL110957
We’ve got plenty more mad creations spilling out of our zombie kitchen! Delivering smart, accessible, high-quality zombie short stories, this anthology has met with great acclaim amongst both comic and zombie fans, featuring more great zombie stories from more great writers and artists that you know and love. Don’t worry about leaving room for dessert — you’re it! Featuring work from writers Mark Waid (IRREDEEMABLE, KINGDOM COME), John Rogers (Leverage, Transformers), William Messner-Loebs (THE FLASH, THE MAXX), Brian Augustyn (JLA: YEAR ONE, B.P.R.D.), role-playing game master Monte Cook, Karl Kesel (FANTASTIC FOUR, SUPERMAN), Michael Alan Nelson (28 DAYS LATER), Ian Brill (DARKWING DUCK), Tom Peyer (THE FLASH), Pierluigi Cothran (HEROES webcomic), Bryce Carlson (WALL•E), plus art from the likes of Andy Kuhn (FIREBREATHER), Keith Giffen (52, LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES), Jon Schnepp (Venture Brothers, Metalocalypse), Toby Cypress (KILLING GIRL), and more. With talent like this, neither the dead nor the living stand a chance!
