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07/08/16 @ 3:25 am EST
Ben Fisher, best known for writing Grumpy Cat, is now shifting gears and working on a post-apocalyptic drama series called The Great Divide. He talks with Byron Brewerabout the first issue that will be on sale from Dynamite in September. Cover A by Mike Henderson, Cover B by Adam Markiewicz, Cover C by Kyle Strahm.  BYRON BREWER: Ben, Dynamite readers may know you best as a writer on the tremendously popular Grumpy Cat title, but this is something worlds away. Tell us how you came to create The Great Divide as a concept and how it came to Dynamite.BEN FISHER: As a writer, I’m always interested in exploring how people with different backgrounds and viewpoints interact – particularly if they’re forced to come together under unusual circumstances. That concept holds true whether the premise is comedy or (in this case) post-apocalyptic drama.One day I was standing on an overcrowded bus heading into downtown Portland, uncomfortable and claustrophobic, and the thought occurred to me: how would the world operate if physical contact was literally a death sentence? Could personal relationships exist if just being in the same room as someone else was a potential risk?So I reached out to Adam Markiewicz, who really has a gift for letting human emotion shine through his panels, and together we brought the concept to Dynamite. They were immediately enthusiastic about the idea, and we really couldn’t have asked for better partners. BB: How closely have you Adam collaborated on the look and design for this book? I would imagine atmosphere is important in this type of series.BF: Atmosphere is essential, absolutely. Adam and I had many discussions about how people completely lacking human contact might express themselves in art, and the post-Divide world is filled with examples of that. We also wanted to capture a society at the beginning stages of admitting defeat – of recognizing that its extinction is a foregone conclusion.As a matter of pure aesthetics, Adam (along with Adam Guzowski, the book’s colorist) put a ton of consideration into conveying loneliness in their depiction of the landscape. BB: Tell us, if you will, about the world in which this series takes place.BF: The series is set in the near future, where all of humanity suffers from a mysterious affliction that causes any skin contact to result in agonizing death. But things only get stranger from there: when two people touch, only one dies, and the victim’s memories transfer to the survivor – usually with devastating effects (such as mental instability and the complete loss of the ability to read and write). To make matters worse, the entire planet periodically enters a temporary sleepwalking trance.And nobody has any idea why all of this is happening. (Well, okay, Adam and I might have an idea.)  BB: Simply, what is the “Divide” that occurs?BF: The “Divide” refers to the exact moment when every person simultaneously contracted “dermadik” – a condition that results in instant death upon skin contact. It also refers to the time when “walkabouts” (the unconscious, uncontrollable bouts of migration) first started.It speaks to the gap in genuine human connection that plagues so many of us in real life, only in this world it has become literalized.Wait, was that “simply?” Sorry, I’m terrible at following directions. BB: A post-apocalyptic environment is very popular in today’s comics, it seems. How will The Great Divide set itself apart from those other series?BF: The concept itself is a bit of a departure from traditional post-apocalyptic stories. We’ve created a fairly unique world and populated it with some very non-traditional characters.But truthfully, almost every action/adventure/horror story is “pre-apocalyptic,” with the protagonists valiantly struggling to stop the Really Bad Thing. A “post-apocalyptic” story just happens to take place after the Really Bad Thing has already happened. I think there’s a lot of headroom for both. BB: Who are the protagonists for this horror-fueled sci-fi drama?BF: At the heart of the story are two people who connect in traditional Hollywood romantic fashion: Paul is an aimless wanderer content to run out the clock on his life. At least, until he meets Maria, who immediately beats him unconscious, robs him, and leaves him for dead.During their journey, we’ll be introducing a strange and diverse cast, including a former solider who often serves as the group’s moral compass, a sociopath who collects memories, and a “baredevil” who thrives on the adrenaline rush of over-exposure.  BB: From what I understand, this is a very character-driven story. Was there any particular inspiration for the challenges our pair face?BF: That’s exactly right, and the post-Divide world allows us to focus a spotlight on the fears of intimacy and human connection that we all share. That’s the real inspiration for Paul and Maria’s relationship. Getting too close to another person is – literally – dangerous. And all the voices from your past encounters echo around your head until you aren’t sure if your own thoughts and emotions can be trusted.So it’s the same issues we all face – just with deadlier consequences and the occasional roving marauder. BB: I understand each issue of The Great Divide will also contain unique bonus content. In fact, #1 includes a download code for “Teowawki,” a doomsday-oriented song written and performed by … Ben Fisher! Tell us about it, and some of the other bonus content which may be coming.BF: Adam and I wanted to include additional digital content with each issue as our way of thanking readers who choose to spend time with us. The first issue will include a tongue-in-cheek song I wrote about a doomsday prepper on a first date. It felt like a thematically appropriate choice. The second issue will have downloadable pages to a post-apocalyptic adult coloring book drawn by Adam.We’ve got a lot of fun stuff planned and, as I hope is evident, we’re not letting the dark tone of the book suck all the fun out of the room. The story is filled with bits of humor and lighter moments to offset humanity’s grim situation, and the bonus content will certainly reflect that.In addition to the digital content, our enthusiasm for The Great Divide has spilled over into our other passions. We’re both musicians (Adam in particular has an ear for ambient soundtracks) and we’ve written a full original score for the series, which we’ll make available online (for free!) to help set the mood.
11/26/19 @ 4:09 pm EST
Dynamite announces a new original James Bond graphic novel for release in February, incorporating contributions from a cavalcade of writers and artists to celebrate the timelessness of the character and the countless talented creators who have brought him to comics.  James Bond in "Reflections of Death" is a 128 page hardcover of nonstop thrills and intrigue. Several Dynamite Bond veterans return for this tapestry, including Benjamin Percy (Wolverine, X-Force), Andy Diggle (Daredevil, Green Arrow) and Greg Pak (Star Wars, Agents of Atlas) and the writers of the December-launching new ongoing series, Vita Ayala (Morbius, Xena) & Danny Lore (Queen of Bad Dreams). Stars of both Dynamite and comics at large Gail Simone (Deadpool, Wonder Woman) and Mark Russell (Red Sonja, The Flintstones) join the team as well. Artists enlisted for the mission include Luca Casalanguida (Hammerhead, Kill Chain, The Body), Robert Carey (James Bond 007), Jordi Perez (Xena), Dean Kotz (Warlord of Mars Attacks), Eoin Marron (Killer Groove) and Kewber Baal (KISS). All wrapped up in another beautiful noir and pulp flavored cover by Fay Dalton (Casino Royale, Vampirella).
With a framing story Ayala and Lore, over 20 total creators will collaborate to contribute stories that both stand on their own and tie into an overarching narrative. The central figure through the anthology of case files is Moneypenny. She's been kidnapped. and the mystery of her captors and their demands will only be revealed when, or if, 007 is able to complete his missions. While Moneypenny herself may have some surprises up her sleeve.
"We're incredibly fortunate to work with so many talented creators, and of course they all want to write one of the most crucial characters in modern fiction!," said Nick Barrucci, Dynamite CEO and Publisher. "Just in time for the new ...
11/26/19 @ 4:07 pm EST
Vampirella's anniversary celebration continues with a hotly anticipated deluxe art book honoring her recent history and portrayals.  This breathtaking tome reproduces countless already and soon-to-be classic portrayals of the Daughter of Drakulon on beautiful oversized pages. Picking up right where ART OF VAMPIRELLA: THE DYNAMITE YEARS left off, this brand-new hardcover volume features hundreds of covers, including well over 40 from 2019's smash hit Vampirella #1. Plus covers from the critically acclaimed 2014 run by Nancy Collins, the Linsners' masterpiece Roses for the Dead, and much more from the Vampi archives. Superstar artists included within these pages include Artgerm, J. Scott Campbell, Lucio Parrillo, Alex Ross, Jenny Frison, Terry Dodson, Joe Jusko, and many, many more.
  
"It’s always a pleasure to see so many talented artists, such as Fay Dalton, Jenny Frison and Ben Oliver come in with their contributions every month portraying our favorite vampiress," said Cathleen Heard, Dynamite Art Director. "Many of these pieces are so impressive that we know fans will appreciate them compiled and presented in different ways to truly celebrate this anniversary. Our production and design team always strives to put together books that reflect the prestige of our characters and properties."
Vampirella debuted 50 years ago in the first issue of her self-titled magazine. Originally put out through Warren Publishing as a horror, sci-fi and fantasy anthology alongside sister titles Creepy and Eerie. Intended as a campy hostess, the heroine built up by James Warren, Forrest J. Ackerman, Trina Robbins and Frank Frazetta became a quick fan-favorite in her own right. Especially once comics legend Archie Goodwin and a young Spanish artist named Jose "Pepe" Gonzalez got their chance on ...
11/26/19 @ 4:05 pm EST
Starting in February, Dynamite is proud to announce the Eisner-nominated Mark Russell is kicking off his second full year on the She-Devil with a Sword in the flagship Red Sonja, joined once more by the masterful Bob Q and the return of Jae Lee to Dynamite!
  
  
Following 12 issues and two tie-in one-shots, Red Sonja #13 starts with Sonja the Red in a an unfamiliar position. In the beginning of this epic, she was crowned Queen of Hyrkania, pitting her in battle against Dragan the Magnificent. As the two leaders pushed and pulled on the map, one must come out victorious. This glory is short-lived, as now in a time of relative peace and still on the throne of her conquered kingdom, Sonja must deal with the impossible part... ruling. With no food, infrastructure or plan, she must make some extremely difficult choices, compromises and alliances, lest her reign come to an anticlimactic end.
Mark Rusell details where the saga has been and where it's going, "The first year was about telling the story of Sonja leading her people against the world's most powerful emperor, as adapted into fantasy from the historical story of Queen Tomyris and Cyrus the Great. Being a huge fan of ancient history, it was an amazing opportunity to get to tell a longform and pretty freeform story adapted from the history books, which back then, were almost works of fantasy themselves."
"This next one is going to be different in that it's less about adapting stories from ancient history and more ... 11/27/19 @ 9:10 am EST
In collaboration with Dynamite, Christopher Priest is celebrating Black History Month and paying tribute to the contributions of creators of color on his Vampirella run.
As Christopher Priest's acclaimed run on Vampirella has continued on, the veteran writer and editor is constantly working closely with Dynamite brewing new ideas to engage the comic book community of fans, retailers and press. For February's VAMPIRELLA #8, Priest thought of a symbolic way to pay tribute to an underrecognized and underutilized portion of creators and fans.
“It is a significant and unique gesture on Dynamite’s part to work with me to acknowledge the contributions of African American artists in this industry with a set of covers exclusively developed by artists of color," said Priest. "Both my veteran buddies and inspiring boundary breakers creating their own unique expressions of our favorite Vampiri."
Priest and editor Matt Idelson carefully assembled a team comprised of Denys Cowan, Alitha Martinez, Mark Beachum and Afua Richardson to contribute covers inspired by a simple premise. They were asked to imagine creating the Daughter of Drakulon back in 1969 as if her appearance was inspired by African American women rather than the Bettie Page and Barbarella vein that James Warren, Forrest J. Ackerman, Frank Frazetta and Trina Robbins ended up tapping into. They are also joined by returning cosplayer Mai (Maidenhellxo).
11/22/19 @ 7:33 pm EST
Wow! Kickass Wastelanders like you helped this just-launched Fallout Kickstarter to be a smashing success. The campaign was funded within barely 3 hours, which means the Hidden Vault Collectors' Box will officially be brought into the world and delivered directly to the hardcore Fallout and trading card fans.
If you don't know what we're talking about right now... get caught up and pledge now by CLICKING HERE!
Trading cards, sketch cards, custom binders and the awesome Hidden Vault Collectors' Box can all be yours! Head over to Kickstarter to support this project! 
11/21/19 @ 3:33 pm EST
February is just around the corner, and love is in the air! To celebrate the season of flirty fun, Dynamite is releasing a curated selection of themed variant covers by fan-favorite artists for fans to collect.
These special covers feature on Death to the Army of Darkness #1, Vampirella/Red Sonja #6, Red Sonja #13 and Dejah Thoris #3. Sebastián Píriz (Six Million Dollar Man) tackles the first, homaging a timeless classic with Ash taking on quite the handsy deadite bride. Ilustrator Lynne Yoshii (Gotham City Garage) has Red Sonja providing some platonic protection for her latest loved one. While Superstar Sanya Anwar (Assassin's Creed) pulls double duty with two separate picture-perfect portrayals of the Women of Dynamite, one of which checks off a bucket list item for her.
She added, "I've been a fan of Dejah since reading Edgar Rice Burroughs for the first time. Being able to work on such an iconic character is a real treat!"
"Ash is an iconic character, and the rest of the new crew are just too much fun to draw," said Píriz. "Even better, I had the opportunity to work over John Romita's layout. I love this job!"    
And hey, Dynamite bets your crush would love some comic books as gifts too!
DEATH TO THE ARMY OF DARKNESS #1, VAMPIRELLA/RED SONJA #6, DEJAH THORIS #3 and RED SONJA #13 will all be solicited in Diamond Comic Distributors’ December 2019 Previews catalog, the premier source of merchandise for the comic book specialty market, and slated for release in February 2020. Comic book fans are encouraged to preorder copies of the issue with their local comic ... 11/21/19 @ 3:30 pm EST
Dynamite announces two special versions of Warren Ellis' iconic James Bond comics for release in February.
Collecting all of Ellis' espionage epic together in one oversized hardcover volume is the James Bond: The Complete Warren Ellis Omnibus. Included inside are the entire 12 issues that kicked off Bond's epic return to comic books in 2015, by one of the greatest writers of the medium and instant star South African artist Jason Masters. In addition to the critically acclaimed VARGR and Eidolon story arcs, every single cover is included, from the likes of Jock, Francesco Francavilla, Dominic Reardon, Joe Jusko, Ben Oliver, Glenn Fabry, Dan Panosian, Robert Hack and more.
For fans who have never picked up a James Bond comic and want a taste test, or veterans who'd like to revisit that joyful feeling of reading the authentic Fleming-inspired spy tales for the first time, Dynamite is also releasing a Dynamite Dollar Edition of the original first issue. Advertising within the issue will direct fans who can't get enough to check out the omnibus volume and further Bond case files, such as the current series by writers Vita Ayala, Danny Lore and artist Eric Gapstur.
 
This globetrotting adventure takes Bond from his native Britain to Helsinki, Berlin, Los Angeles and further. Ostensibly tasked with breaking up a drug-trafficking operation, the entire scheme unravels with unexpected variables galore. Can Bond break through the political mist and accomplish his mission, let alone survive?
Warren Ellis, alongside his collaborators, is credited with nearly singlehandedly revolutionizing the mainstream American comic book through his influential and acclaimed creations of The Authority and Planetary at the turn of the century. Across comics, prose, video games ... 11/21/19 @ 3:14 pm EST
Ash Williams is back in a new series in February from Dynamite - but wait, there are more Ash Williams?!
 The "Chosen One" has had enough of that nonsense, but gets way more than he bargained for when Ashley Joanna Williams suddenly splinters into multiple differing clones. And each is packing the same over the top personality as the original! Writer Ryan Parrott (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Batman: Gates of Gotham) has concocted this comedy-horror extravaganza alongside artist Jacob Edgar (Savage Tales: Red Sonja). Their groovy crew is completed with colorist Kike J. Díaz (Sherlock Frankenstein, Ether) and letterer Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou (Red Sonja, Peter Cannon: Thunderbolt) - who must have cloned himself to double as one of the best letterers and an Eisner-winning critic! Picking up just barely after the legendary Army of Darkness film, the big mixup is of course due to some classic bad translation of the Necronomicon. Introducing the cast... Ash is joined by the personification of his feminine side with Ashley Williams, the erratic Lil' Ash, Dash aka Doggie Ash, the cynical and morose Skeleton Ash and Chainy - Ash's now sentient chainsaw! Together they must travel through time to Ancient Egypt and prevent the Necronomicon from ever being written in the first place. Along the way, can Ash solve his split personality predicament - and how would the others feel about that? Could one of the party members be hiding something? Fans will just have to read to find out!
Writer Ryan Parrott is no stranger to "team books," as the architect of the critically acclaimed Power Rangers franchise in comics today. After spearheading the ongoing spinoff series alongside his mentor Kyle Higgins, he's leveled up to the flagship.
Parrott shared, "Ash is just such a ... 11/21/19 @ 10:35 am EST
War, war never changes. Dynamite Entertainment announces a Kickstarter extravaganza for the new Fallout® Collector’s Trading Cards series!
The campaign is live right now - CLICK HERE!
Last year, Dynamite partnered with Bethesda Softworks® to create and release the first-ever Fallout trading card series. Available across the globe in stores including Target, GameStop, GAME (UK), Amazon, Toynk Toys and comic book specialty stores, they flew off the shelves and sold out almost instantly at retail. This year, Dynamite celebrates the sequel series by offering an exclusive, limited-edition collectors box directly to the fans! Backers on Kickstarter can get the Hidden Vault Collector's Box, stuffed with all the collectibles to prosper and barter within the post-apocalypse. Each of these custom packages, numbered and limited to 600, includes a complete base set of the sold-out Series 1 Fallout Trading Cards (144 total cards) saved for this special campaign, plus 5 foil packs of Series 2 (50 more cards), and 7 exclusive S.P.E.C.I.A.L. cards created only for this package. That's a massive haul of over 200 collectible trading cards.
And there's more... All Hidden Vault Collector's Boxes additionally include two rare items. Bethesda is allowing artists outside of their company to contribute official art to the Fallout franchise through a limited number of literally one-of-a-kind sketch cards, from only the most talented artists in the field! These sketch cards are exclusive to Kickstarter. Cream of the crop artists including Andy Bohn, Norvien Basio, Miranda Gainey, Rusty Gilligan, Alex Mines, Rich Molinelli, Barry Renshaw, April Reyna, Xinjix & more!
The Hidden Vault Collectors Box is the perfect way to start your Fallout collection, but fans will have the option to increase their loot with more foil packs and boxes from ... 11/15/19 @ 5:16 pm EST
Dynamite has just a few days left to go on its mega-gigantic Humble Bundle. Add it all up, and you can get almost 350 issues and 12,000 pages of comic books & more for under $20. That's a deal! Check out all the tiers and make sure to sneak in your purchase before it ends soon! Don't miss the Dynamite 15th Anniversary Bundle <- CLICK! Your friends at Dynamite want to show you this sweet Army of Darkness story. It's written by Scott Duvall, who Ash Williams fans may remember from Army of Darkness / Bubba Ho-Tep. The art is masterfully handled by Edu Menna and Jordan Michael Johnson, with colors and letters by Salvatore Aiala and Taylor Esposito. Fitting for a Humble Bundle stuffed full of great books, Ash is on a book tour. But he has bad experiences with a certain book... Before or after you read the story, check out this interview with Scott about the story - CLICK!And probably after you finish it, check out Scott's page-by-page commentary on the issue - CLICK!      |
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