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03/08/15 @ 7:05 pm EST
Cullen Bunn, writer of Army of Darkness #4, talks with Troy Brownfield about Blood Queen vs. Dracula #1, both on sale now! Covers by Fabiano Neves and Jay Anacleto  CULLEN BUNN: Tell me, how did this project come about for you?TROY BROWNFIELD: Blood Queen vs. Draculahappened as sort of a logical extension of two other projects that I did: last year’s Blood Queen series, and the Prince Dracula novel I wrote for Dynamite. As the first Blood Queen series was closing out, Nick [Barrucci] and I talked about different things that we could do for another mini or one-shot. The first thing that occurred to me, having had Dracula on the brain for so long for the novel, was a meeting between the two. Dynamite has done some different versions of Dracula before, so it seemed like a pretty natural fit. CB: What do you think sets your version of Dracula apart from others we’ve seen?TB: The two things that I really wanted to emphasize with my take on Dracula in this time period were his roles as both patriot and leader. In the original novel, there’s a segment where Dracula talks proudly of having the blood of Attila in his veins and how his people fought to keep the Turks out of their lands. I chose to make the ongoing Ottoman conflict a focus, since that would have been a historical concern for both Vlad and Elizabeth Bathory. To that end, it also gave me the ability to depict Dracula in a kind of war-leader setting. To his own people, Vlad was a hero, a staunch defender of Transylvania. Granted, he was a real bastard (one does not accidentally acquire the nickname “The Impaler”), but there’s evidence that his subjects loved him for fighting the Ottoman Empire. I thought that incorporating these notions of beloved leader and patriot would change things up from some of the typical depictions. CB: A centerpiece of the story is Dracula’s encounter with Leandra. Have we seen the last of her?TB: We’ve seen the last of Leandra, unfortunately, but she’s not the last of Elizabeth’s students to appear in the story. The first issues also carries a reference to some of the young women joining Helena’s Rebellion. Helena was a character from the first Blood Queen series, and I wanted those regular readers to know that she survived Elizabeth’s rise to power and that she’s still out there fighting. If we’re fortunate enough to do more Blood Queen in the future, that’s something I’d definitely get back to.  CB: How much research into folklore and legends did you do for this story?TB: I’ve done A LOT of reading about Dracula and Elizabeth in the past couple of years. I started on both Blood Queen and Prince Dracula in 2013, so I’ve amassed a lot of notes. I already had quite a few books in my own library that I could use (books on vampires, horror history, Stoker’s books and the annotated Dracula, and so on). For Blood Queen vs. Dracula, artist Kewber Baal and I did some specific research on weapons and arms of the time. The cannon is right out of museum photos. The Ottoman outfits are taken from a combination of then-contemporary paintings, museum sites, and other locations. If I’m setting a story in a particular year, I want to be as accurate as possible. Kewber’s done a terrific job. He ran basically every design and sketch for everything by me so that we could double-check each other. He deserves a lot of praise for his commitment to this book. CB: Will the ratio of horse explosions to beheadings remain constant throughout the series?TB: Who knew that so many people would mention the exploding horse? In the script I simply wrote “The Mounted Ottoman and his horse take the full brunt of the blast”, and Kewber ran with it. When I saw the panel for the first time, I actually laughed because it’s really just . . . damn. However, I believe that’s the only animal explosion, so the beheading ratio will be uneven. If you were to ask about the ratio of beheading to neck-biting . . . I’d have to go back and count. Dracula’s not nearly done on that score.
04/02/25 @ 5:02 pm EST
Artists Federico Vicentini and Iban Coello earlier today shared a first look at IMPERIAL, a new comic series launching this June that’s set to revolutionize the cosmic side of the Marvel Universe! The four-part event series is written by visionary writer Jonathan Hickman, known for his transformative work on Fantastic Four, X-Men, Avengers and Marvel’s new Ultimate line, and drawn by both Vicentini and Coello, two of Marvel’s elite Stormbreaker artists. IMPERIAL lays the foundation for an entire new landscape of interconnected space-set comic series coming later this year, making it the must-read comic book of the summer! IMPERIAL kicks off with the elimination of several prominent intergalactic leaders. Nature abhors a vacuum, and as empires fall, rulers are overthrown and power is seized, a new galactic order is born! The saga delivers groundbreaking developments for various groups in the Marvel Universe, including HULKS, BLACK PANTHERS, NOVAS, GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY, and, as revealed last week in X-Manhunt Omega #1, mutants! The finale of the X-Men’s latest milestone crossover, X-Manhunt, saw Professor X depart to the stars to rescue his daughter, Xandra, deposed Majestrix of the Shi’ar Empire. The new IMPERIAL preview spotlights two main story threads. Coello’s pages depict Hulk, She-Hulk and Brawn returning to the savage planet Sakaar, where Hulk raged and conquered in the epic “Planet Hulk” storyline. Meanwhile, Vicentini’s pages tease both hope and corruption as Star-Lord recruits Nova to help guard the galaxy against the coming turmoil—while his father J’Son plots how to take advantage of it! Both sets of pages feature spectacular new characters designs, showcasing the immense amount of creative energy these acclaimed artists are bringing to this all-new era of storytelling! Asked about his design process, Vicentini said, “When creating the costumes, I wanted to go back a bit to the past, such as bringing back Star-Lord’s helmet, giving Nova an aviator-style jacket, and taking inspiration from classic heroes like Flash Gordon.” "Usually Jonathan Hickman gives me a general idea of the character’s look in the script, and I work based on that,” Coello said. “Tying the new look with the personality of the characters and having it make sense in this new era they’re entering. I think that She-Hulk is the one who underwent the biggest change.” Check out the new artwork and preorder IMPERIAL #1 at your local comic shop today!         
... 04/02/25 @ 4:39 pm EST
The first footage from the upcoming season of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds teases new genre-twisting episodes that give Star Trek takes on a murder mystery, a romantic comedy and a documentary-style episode. The stunt episodes build on the Paramount+ sci-fi show’s second season, which made headlines with a musical episode. The new season will consist of 10 episodes and debut sometime this season. The official description: “In season three when we reconnect with the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise, still under the command of Captain Pike (Anson Mount), they face the conclusion of season two’s harrowing encounter with the Gorn. But new life and civilizations await, including a villain that will test our characters’ grit and resolve. An exciting twist on classic Star Trek, season three takes characters both new and beloved, to new heights and dives into thrilling adventures of faith, duty, romance, comedy and mystery with varying genres never before seen on any other Star Trek.” (via THR) Trailer: https://youtu.be/PjAWSIJCcmY 04/02/25 @ 4:31 pm EST
In an unprecedented 4×4 order, Fox has picked up four 20th TV Animation series for four seasons each, renewing animated stalwarts The Simpsons, Family Guy and Bob’s Burgers for four more years and confirming American Dad!‘s return to the network after an 11-year break, also with a four-season order. Solidifying its status as the top linear home of adult animation, the network called the pact with Disney TV Studios, which had been in the works for months, a “meganimation deal.” It will take all four animated comedies through the 2028-29 broadcast season. The term is not arbitrary. It matches the length of the $1.5B extension Fox signed with Disney streamer Hulu in November that also runs through 2029. It was that deal, which includes in-season streaming rights to Fox’s slate, that paved the way for the network and 20th TV Animation parent Disney TV Studios to hammer out the blockbuster multi-series, multi-year pickup. (Hulu and sibling Disney+ are already the exclusive global streaming home of the four series’ collective library of all 2,000 episodes, with Family Guy, Bob’s Burgers and American Dad! on Hulu and The Simpsons on Disney+ in the U.S.) According to sources, the four pickups are all for 15 episodes a season each. While that is below the standard 22-episode orders, broadcast networks, including Fox, have been increasingly favoring shorter runs for scheduling and financial reasons. The Simpsons, Family Guy and Bob’s Burgers have already been airing fewer than 22 episodes a season for the last couple of years. (via Deadline) ... 04/02/25 @ 4:24 pm EST
 Calling all Beltalowda (and Inners and OPA)! BOOM! Studios proudly presents THE EXPANSE: A LITTLE DEATH, which picks up the story where the groundbreaking events of THE EXPANSE: DRAGON TOOTH left off! This BOOM! Direct Reserve campaign will feature exclusive variants of each comic, available in single-issue, softcover and hardcover collections, plus slipcased editions and sets available nowhere else. These variants will be limited to this BOOM! Direct Reserve Campaign, never to be printed again! Under the direct supervision and creative guidance of THE EXPANSE creator, James S.A. Corey, THE EXPANSE: A LITTLE DEATH is an in-canon sequel story following the events of THE EXPANSE: DRAGON TOOTH. Alongside Corey and TV studio Alcon Television Group, superstar actor Wes Chatham (Amos Burton, The Expanse) makes his comic book writing debut, joining forces with returning stars writer Andy Diggle (The Expanse: Dragon Tooth, The Losers) and artist Francesco Pisa (The Expanse: Dragon Tooth). Together, they will weave together the threads of the show, answer lingering questions, and take readers and viewers alike far beyond the stellar horizon in this monumental 4-issue comic book series. The epic, immersive universe of THE EXPANSE has captured the imaginations of science fiction fans around the globe for over a decade – first in the Hugo and Dragon Award winning novel series and then in critically acclaimed, Saturn Award winning television series (now streaming on Amazon Prime) – instantly entering the highest echelon of genre-defining Sci-Fi. The Hugo award winning series, based on the hugely popular science fiction novels by James S.A. Corey, was developed and scripted by the Academy Award nominated writing duo Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby who executive produce the series alongside Naren Shankar, Andrew Kosove, Broderick Johnson, Laura Lancaster, Sharon Hall, Sean Daniel, Jason Brown, Daniel Abraham, Ty Franck and Dan Nowak. Shankar serves as showrunner for all seasons. The Expanse is produced by Alcon Television Group. Following the fallout of THE EXPANSE: DRAGON TOOTH, the Rocinante crew is plunged into a high stakes conspiracy when an old acquaintance of Amos Burton’s comes to him for aid. Set in the same 30 year period between Babylon's Ashes (Book 6) and Persepolis Rising (Book 7) and after the conclusion of The Expanse Season 6, THE EXPANSE: A LITTLE DEATH continues the story, available in single issue or graphic novel format. THE EXPANSE: A LITTLE DEATH will be available in one of five slipcased hardcover sets along with THE EXPANSE, and THE EXPANSE: ORIGINS. Fans can secure exclusive variants of all three collections available only through this BOOM! Direct Reserve campaign, never to be printed again. “It’s an absolute joy to be able to publish more stories in this world and have such an incredible creative team come together to expand the universe of THE EXPANSE,” said Deputy Publisher, Bryce Carlson. “Fans better buckle up and get ready.” THE EXPANSE: A LITTLE DEATH BOOM! Direct Reserve campaign will run for 30 days, with special surprises, exciting product reveals, and hidden stretch goals unveiled throughout the month. Plus, for the first 24 hours, fans who pre-order any physical tier will automatically receive an exclusive Expanse Dog Tag as a special Early Bird Bonus! ... 04/02/25 @ 4:25 pm EST
Like father, like daughter! Wolverine and Deadpool are teaming up again this July in a new comic series—and this time, they’re bringing their daughters along for the ride! Get ready for a double dose of the iconic duo in WOLVERINES & DEADPOOLS, a three-issue limited series by writer Cody Ziglar and artist Rogê Antônio. During their acclaimed run on Deadpool, Ziglar and Antônio reintroduced Wade’s daughter Ellie, who stepped up as the all-new Deadpool following Wade’s death (he got better!). In this exciting evolution of the series, a new threat brings the whole family together as both Deadpools join forces with both Wolverines—Logan and Laura—for some quality time slashing and shooting their way through the Marvel Universe! CLAWS & MUTANTS. MERCS & MOUTHS. WOLVERINES & DEADPOOLS! What’s better than THE BEST THERE IS partnered up with the MERC WITH THE MOUTH? How about adding daughters Ellie Camacho and Laura Kinney to the mission as they go up against a classic X-VILLAIN? Wolverines & Deadpools, baby! “ The past 15 issues I’ve spent writing Wade and Ellie have been a dream come true,” Ziglar shared. “Getting to finish out their journey with two of the coolest mutants is just a cherry on top—I can’t explain just how much I look forward to exploring the father-daughter dynamics with these four!” Check out the main cover by Rogê Antônio along with a variant cover by Taurin Clarke and preorder WOLVERINE & DEADPOOLS #1 at your local comic shop today!  
04/01/25 @ 12:40 pm EST
The stars of Sony's Karate Kid: Legends have brought the martial arts franchise’s latest film to CinemaCon. The project’s elaborate presentation began with a group of onstage dancers, percussionists and individuals holding lanterns. After that, hitting the stage at the Las Vegas event was first Karate Kid star Ralph Macchio, who played the titular hero Daniel LaRusso in Columbia’s 1984 original feature and the Netflix revival series Cobra Kai. Joining him was franchise addition Ben Wang, who plays Li Fong, a martial arts student who counts Daniel and Jackie Chan's Mr. Han as his mentors. New footage introduced at CinemaCon included an emotional scene of Mr. Han paying his respects to the late Mr. Miyagi and bonding with Daniel LaRusso. “I want Li to learn Miyagi karate,” Chan says in the sequence. Another clip pacled with action was also shown. (via The Hollywood Reporter) 04/01/25 @ 12:25 pm EST
Today Skybound and Image Comics, in collaboration with leading games, IP and toy company Hasbro, revealed a first look at interior pages from G.I. JOE: A Real American Hero – Duke #1, the all-new one-shot debuting for Skybound’s Silent Missions month. Written and drawn by Wes Craig (Kaya, Deadly Class), with colors by Jason Wordie (The Energon Universe miniseries Duke), this issue hits comic book shops on April 30. The face of comic books changed forever when G.I. JOE: A Real American Hero #21 introduced fans to the “Silent Interlude,” an action-packed story with no dialogue. Now, superstar creators present unforgettable and all-new G.I. JOE Silent Missions throughout the month of April 2025. In the standalone silent issue from Wes Craig, Duke treks through Cobra-infested terrain to find his target – a traitor who’s joined the enemy. Can Duke do the unthinkable to complete his mission? "When the Silent Missions were conceived, Wes Craig was my first call,” said Alex Antone, Editorial Director at Skybound. “Not only is he one of the very best storytellers in comics, it turns out he’s a massive G.I. JOE fan! His Duke issue is a love letter to G.I. JOE, and a fitting finale to this exciting event.” In addition to the main cover by Wes Craig & Jason Wordie, the lineup of variant covers includes an open to order cover by Jorge Fornés (Rorschach), a 1:10 incentive black and white version of Wes Craig’s cover, and a 1:25 incentive foil letter version of Fornés’ cover. G.I. JOE: A Real American Hero – Duke #1 is the fifth of five all-new Silent Missions one-shots, each releasing on a Wednesday this April, from a murderer’s row of creative talent also including Phil Hester, DANI & Dan Watters, Leonardo Romero, and Andrew Krahnke. In celebration of Silent Missions month, Skybound will also be releasing a “Silent Missions” edition of the historic “Silent Interlude,” G.I. JOE: A Real American Hero #21, which includes a new letter from Larry Hama. G.I. JOE: A Real American Hero, the currently running, smash hit series from legendary series writer Larry Hama (Marvel’s Wolverine), artist Chris Mooneyham (Nightwing, Sgt. Rock and the Unknown Soldier) and colorist Francesco Segala (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers) is a cornerstone of the historic collaboration between Skybound and Hasbro, alongside the shared Energon Universe that features ongoing series Void Rivals by Robert Kirkman (Invincible, The Walking Dead) and artist Lorenzo De Felici (Oblivion Song), TRANSFORMERS by writer Daniel Warren Johnson and artist Jorge Corona (Middlewest), and G.I. JOE by writer Joshua Williamson (Superman, Dark Ride) and artist Tom Reilly (The Thing). G.I. JOE: A Real American Hero – Duke #1 ($3.99) will be available at comic book shops and digital platforms including Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, and Google Play on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. The full list of variant covers is below: G.I. JOE: A Real American Hero - Duke #1 Cover A by Wes Craig & Jason Wordie (Lunar Code: 0225IM284) G.I. JOE: A Real American Hero - Duke #1 Cover B by Jorge Fornés (Lunar Code: 0225IM285) G.I. JOE: A Real American Hero - Duke #1 Cover C by (1:10 incentive) (Black & White) by Wes Craig (Lunar Code: 0225IM286) G.I. JOE: A Real American Hero – Duke #1 Cover D (1:25 Incentive) (Foil Letter) by Jorge Fornés (Lunar Code: 0225IM287)
 
 
   
... 04/01/25 @ 12:14 pm EST
Sony Marvel’s Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse, the third in its animation trilogy, is finally returning to the release date schedule. Audiences can expect the film to bow in theaters June 4, 2027, Deadline is reporting from CinemaCon. The movie, which originally had a theatrical release date of March 29, 2024, was pushed back in July 2023 due to the strikes. This was due to a number of voiceovers being unavailable. Also, it takes a lot of work to make these stylistic, groundbreaking animated titles work. The filmmakers appearing on stage at CinemaCon teased that Miles Morales is on the run and his friends like Gwen might not be able to save him. As fans may recall at the end of Across the Spider-Verse, Miles discovered that a parallel version of him had transformed into the villainous Prowler in an iteration of Earth that lacks a Spider-Man and features a lawless New York City. 04/01/25 @ 12:12 pm EST
Dexter: Original Sin has been renewed for a second season at Paramount+ with Showtime. A Season 2 writers room is set to begin shortly, with production dates to be revealed soon. From showrunner and executive producer Clyde Phillips, Dexter: Original Sin is the first prequel series in the expanding franchise following serial killer Dexter Morgan. Michael C. Hall, who portrayed the titular antihero in the mothership series, is the prequel’s narrator. Patrick Gibson plays Dexter in his late teens, when he was a baby slayer in training, 15 years before the events of the original Dexter series. The 10-episode original drama series is set in 1991 Miami and follows Dexter (Gibson), a student refining his killer skills with the help and support of his adoptive father Harry (Christian Slater). In his dad, he finds solace and understanding, especially as his bloodthirsty urges grow and can no longer be ignored. (via Deadline) 03/31/25 @ 7:23 pm EST
BOOM! Studios today revealed a first look at MOUSE GUARD: DAWN OF THE BLACK AXE #2. There are few series as lauded and beloved as David Petersen’s Eisner Award-winning and New York Times bestselling Mouse Guard. Now, in celebration of the 20th anniversaries of both Mouse Guard and BOOM! Studios, David Petersen, along with Eisner-nominated artist Gabriel Rodríguez (Locke & Key), bring a brand new chapter to life in this sprawling saga with MOUSE GUARD: DAWN OF THE BLACK AXE. The origin story of the Black Axe continues! Bardrick, the first wielder of the Axe, continues his campaign against the serpents surrounding the mouse territories, but even he can’t be everywhere at once… The legendary weapon-bearer must serve his duty, but can he truly manage it all on his lonesome?! MOUSE GUARD: DAWN OF THE BLACK AXE #2 features main cover art by series artist Gabriel Rodríguez with variant covers by David Petersen and Kevin Eastman (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) with David Petersen. MOUSE GUARD: DAWN OF THE BLACK AXE is the newest release from BOOM! Studios’ award-winning Archaia imprint, home to inspiring graphic novels such as Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut, Ryan North, and Albert Monteys; The Sacrifice of Darkness by Roxane Gay, Tracy Lynne-Oliver, and Rebecca Kirby; Big Black: Stand at Attica by Frank “Big Black” Smith, Jared Reinmuth, and Améziane; The Killer by Matz and Luc Jacamon; We Served the People by Emei Burell; New World by David Jesus Vignolli; Eighty Days by A.C. Esguerra; Better Angels: A Kate Warne Adventure by Jeff Jensen and George Schall; The Short While by Jeremy Sorese; About Betty’s Boob by Vero Cazot and Julie Rocheleau; Flavor Girls by Loïc Locatelli-Kournwsky; I’m Still Alive by Roberto Saviano and Asaf Hanuka; and licensed series including Sabaa Tahir’s An Ember in the Ashes; Lev Grossman’s The Magicians; and Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, The Storyteller, and Labyrinth. MOUSE GUARD: DAWN OF THE BLACK AXE #2 will be available in comic shops May 7, 2025. It is available for pre-order at your local comic shop. Digital copies can be purchased from content providers, including Kindle, iBooks, and Google Play.       
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