07/21/15 @ 12:43 pm EST

Source: Bleeding Cool | Categories: Dynamite

Nancy A. Collins writes the regular on-going Vampirella series as well as the Swords of Sorrow: Vampirella / Jennifer Blood series. But her run on the character is coming to an end. Here she talks about her final story, the upcoming Vampirella 2015 Annual that is due to ship this September. Cover art by Jay Anacleto.



BYRON BREWER: Nancy, I am sad to do this interview with you as a fan because it is your swan song on this iteration of Vampirella. Tell us what writing the character has meant to you.

NANCY COLLINS: First and foremost, it has been a lot of fun. More fun than anything I’ve ever written, including Swamp Thing and my own creator-owned characters. Nick and Joe at Dynamite gave me carte blanche to expand on the character in any way I chose. That level of trust and creative freedom from a publisher—especially in regards to what they consider their ‘flagship’ character— is exceedingly rare. Secondly, working onVampirella has allowed me to get back into the groove, as it were, writing comics. Prior to Dynamite signing me on, I had not worked on a monthly book in 20 years. Most things about the industry and how it works have stayed the same since then, but those that have changed have changed a lot, especially on the production/editorial end of the spectrum. In many ways, I feel like Rip Van Winkle, waking up to find myself in a strange new world, but without the bowling.

BB: In your basically year-long run, were there any elements you were hoping to add to the saga of Vampirella you just did not get to?

NC: Yes. I had two more story arcs plotted out. The first involved Draculina breaking Cain out of solitary confinement, and the second featured the return of Vampirella’s mother, Lilith. There were also some plans with a Pantha team-up, but those seem to be in limbo at the moment.

BB: The Kabal has been a great invention for her and I hear they figure prominently into this annual coming in September. Can you give us just a hint at what happens in a non-spoilery manner please?

NC: Since the annual is titled “Vampirella: Agent of The Kabal”, I guess it’s not spoilery to reveal that the story opens with Vampirella being initiated into the Kabal as a full-time field agent. However, things quickly go haywire when a fellow agent is kidnapped by the Prometheus Society, a gang of famous mad scientists lead by Dr. Moreau. Vampirella is sent to bring back a former member of the Kabal who left the organization under less-than-happy circumstances and isn’t particularly interested in returning. This whole adventure is essentially her baptism of fire as a Kabal agent, working alongside a who’s who of Classic Monster tropes. I can honestly say fans have never seen Vampirella like this before.

BB: Wow! Looking at the solicit for this particular annual, it really is a monster rally. Even Frankenstein! What is it about this horror genre that keeps you keeping us on the edge of our seats?

NC: Lazarus the Walking Dead Man is a Frankenstein’s Monster, not THE Frankenstein Monster, I should point out. I really had a blast creating & writing him as he proved to be a pretty neat character. As for ‘what is it about horror’? It is one of the few genres that is named after an emotion, and a fairly primal one at that. Ghost stories and scary stories are some of the earliest fiction we’re exposed to growing up—it’s like riding a roller coaster. We get all the thrills of danger without the downsides. I’ve been a horror fan as far back as I can remember—and I mean as far back as to when I was 3 or 4. I grew up reading all these classic horror stories and watching movies based on them—Dracula, Frankenstein, the Hunchback of Notre Dame, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and the like. Since this was going to being my final bow on the book, I decided to bring as many of them on stage with me as I could—Dr. Moreau, Dr. Frankenstein, Dr. Caligari, Dr. Rappacini, and Dr. Faustus, as well as the real-life alchemist/sorcerer Dr. John Dee. I also set it up so that readers can rest assured that until Dynamite decides what to do next with her, Vampirella is at least in a good place: She has a new career, new friends, a new love interest, and, of course, new enemies.

BB: How did you enjoy Aneke’s rendition of your adventure here?

NC: I think she did a bang-up job. She draws Vampirella as being both confident and sexy, which is exactly what the character needs. Also, I gave her a few pointers and photo reference for Lazarus (who is physically modeled on Iggy Pop and the late Lux Interior of the Cramps), and I’m very happy with the result.

BB: Any words for all your Vampirella fans?

NC: Thank you for your kind words and support during my run. It’s been a hoot getting to continue the legacy of a character I used to read as a kid. And I am honored to have been the first woman to write Vampirella in her 45-year history. If you enjoyed my work, I have plenty of other high weirdness up my sleeve. I’m currently writing a 6-part Army of Darkness series for Dynamite called “Damned If You Do”, and my first two Sonja Blue novels, Sunglasses After Dark and In The Blood, are now available in paperback at Amazon and Barnes & Noble Online via Open Road Distribution. There’s also a graphic novel version of Sunglasses After Dark from IDW that’s available in hardback and digital. I’ll be doing quite a few conventions this Fall, all over the country. In fact, I’ll be appearing as a guest at the Fayetteville Comicon in October, along with Rudy Nebres, one of the original Vampirella artists from the Warren era. I’m looking forward to that!

For more on the Vampirella 2015 Annual, click here.

04/25/24 @ 9:48 pm EST

Source: Deadline | Categories: MIsc

Universal Pictures will release DreamWorks Animation‘s Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie on September 26, 2025, the studio said Thursday. Universal already had the release date on hold for an untitled DWA movie.Late September is a prime time to launch family friendly animated pics, going back to Open Season and Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, among others, including DreamWorks Animation‘s own Abominable.In the new film, directed by Ryan Crego, Gabby (Laila Lockhart Kraner, reprising her role from the series) heads out on a road trip with her Grandma Gigi to the urban wonderland of Cat Francisco. But when Gabby’s dollhouse, her most prized possession, ends up in the hands of an eccentric cat lady named Vera, Gabby sets off on an adventure through the real world to get the Gabby Cats back together and save the dollhouse before it’s too late. (via Deadline)

04/25/24 @ 9:38 pm EST

Source: Marvel | Categories: Uncanny X-Men

Mutants may no longer have a homeland—but they’ll always have a home! Announced last month and launching in August, celebrated writer Gail Simone and superstar artist David Marquez’s UNCANNY X-MEN will be the second of three flagship X-titles set in the upcoming From the Ashes era. Today, fans can see the reveal of the main cover and discover more about the series! With Professor X gone and his school transformed into a nightmare reflection of itself called Graymalkin Prison, the series sees Rogue step up to be the pillar of Xavier’s dream alongside Wolverine, Gambit, Nightcrawler, and Jubilee. From their new base of operations in New Orleans, the Uncanny X-Men are back to being the outlaw heroes the world hates and fears—and the light in the darkness for mutants everywhere! Mutantkind made a big statement with Krakoa, and now, life is harder for them than ever before, but Rogue’s X-Men will be there to welcome mutants to their new found family. A core group of essential X-Men rise From the Ashes to face a world without a home – and without Professor X! All bonds among the mutant community seem to be slipping away, and Rogue reluctantly finds herself as the hero designated to bring them back together...but a fearless, malignant power is out there hunting mutants, and it has a terrible secret that may destroy what remains of the X-Men. “Most of my time lately has been spent trying to keep my brain from exploding right out of my skull from this book,” Simone shared. “It's either the fun of all my favorite mutants acting in surprising and wonderful ways, the impossibly brilliant work of the art team, or the thrilling collaboration with all the other writers, but somehow every DAY is just filled with some kind of manic joy. Ever since I took the book, I've been scribbling notes and plots and bits of dialogue day and night. I feel like a kid at a carnival. Who DOESN'T want to write Rogue and Jubilee and Gambit all the rest?” "Uncanny X-Men is the book that made me fall in love with comics,” Marquez said. “It's been a dream come true getting to work with Gail, Matt [Wilson], and the whole Marvel editorial crew under Tom to put together this story: a badass, heartfelt, action-packed, character driven X-Men mystery. I hope readers have at least half as much fun reading it as we have had making it." “I absolutely have to take a moment to praise David Marquez,” Simone added. “Not only is this going to be one of the best-looking books on the stands, he's simply an idea MACHINE and he makes every single page better than I wrote it. Anyway, come join us, we're having an X adventure and you're all INVITED!” With three flagship titles and a host of additional satellite series, the upcoming From the Ashes era will present fans with a wide range of different approaches to the X-Men’s mission. Jed MacKay and Ryan Stegman’s X-MEN are ready to do whatever it takes to secure mutantkind’s future, even if it means revolution. Eve L. Ewing and Carmen Carnero’s EXCEPTIONAL X-MEN train and prepare mutants to survive the dangers they’ll inevitably face. Meanwhile, Simone and Marquez’s UNCANNY X-MEN are here to save everyone, making the world a brighter place for mutant and human alike! Check out Marquez’s main cover below!

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04/25/24 @ 12:24 pm EST

Source: Skybound | Categories: Skybound

Today Skybound and Image Comics, in partnership with Universal Products & Experiences, revealed an impressive slate of variant covers and a first look at interior pages from Universal Monsters: Creature from The Black Lagoon Lives! #2, the next issue of the new four-issue limited comic book series from acclaimed writers Dan Watters (Home Sick Pilots, Lucifer) and Ram V (The Many Deaths of Laila Starr, Batman: Detective Comics), along with artist Matthew Roberts (Manifest Destiny), and colorist Dave Stewart (Ultramega, Hellboy). The next installment of the new Universal Monsters phenomenon hits comic book shops May 22, 2024. In addition to the main cover by Matthew Roberts and Dave Stewart, Universal Monsters: Creature from the Black Lagoon Lives! #2 boasts a variant cover lineup from top artists including both an open to order cover and “classic horror” black and white 1:25 incentive variant by Francis Manapul, the continuation of a four-part 1:10 incentive connecting cover series by DANI, a 1:50 incentive variant by Stephanie Pepper, and a 1:75 incentive variant by Christian Ward. Kate Marsden has miraculously survived – but just who, or what, is the creature that she saw? As Doctor Thompson and Kate work to discover the truth, they come face to face with an elusive serial killer...who’s also the man that Kate has dedicated her life to destroying. Picking up where the original films left off, this Universal Monsters tale takes readers back to the mysterious Amazonian lagoon where terror lurks beneath its murky waters. This series is perfect for new readers and longtime fans alike. Universal Monsters: Creature from the Black Lagoon Lives! is the second Universal Monsters series launch from Skybound, following James Tynion IV and Martin Simmonds’ Dracula, and will be followed by Universal Monsters: Frankenstein by writer/artist Michael Walsh coming in August and more new limited series pairing the biggest names in comics with pop culture’s most iconic monsters. Universal Monsters: Creature from the Black Lagoon Lives! #2 (of 4) (Lunar Codes Below SRP: $4.99) will be available at comic book shops and digital platforms including Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, comiXology, and Google Play on Wednesday, May 22, 2024.

The full list of covers is below:

Universal Monsters: Creature from the Black Lagoon Lives! #2 Cover A by Matthew Roberts & Dave Stewart (Lunar Code 0324IM295)

Universal Monsters: Creature from the Black Lagoon Lives! #2 Cover B by Francis Manapul (Lunar Code 0324IM296)

Universal Monsters: Creature from the Black Lagoon Lives! #2 Cover C (1:10 Connecting Copy Incentive) by DANI (Lunar Code 0324IM297)

Universal Monsters: Creature from the Black Lagoon Lives! #2 Cover D (1:25 “Classic Horror” B&W Copy Incentive) by Francis Manapul (Lunar Code 0324IM298)

Universal Monsters: Creature from the Black Lagoon Lives! #2 Cover E (1:50 Copy Incentive) by Stephanie Pepper (Lunar Code 0324IM299)

Universal Monsters: Creature from the Black Lagoon Lives! #2 Cover F (1:75 Copy Incentive) by Christian Ward (Lunar Code 0324IM300)

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04/25/24 @ 12:16 pm EST

Source: Hollywood Reporter | Categories: MIsc

A new Harry Potter audiobook series is coming to Audible. As part of a partnership with Pottermore Publishing and Audible, the two will release seven new English language audiobooks scheduled for late 2025. The audiobooks will feature a full range of character voices, with the Audible CEO citing more than 100 actors, Dolby Atmos sound design and new scoring. Each book will be released sequentially and globally. This is in addition to the original single-voice audiobook recordings by Jim Dale and Stephen Fry, which were first released in 1999 and have reached 1.4 billion global listening hours after launching on Audible in 2015.The Harry Potter audiobooks on Audible also include The Tales of Beedle the Bard performed by Jude Law, Harry Potter: A History of Magic performed by Natalie Dormer, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them performed by Eddie Redmayne, and Quidditch Through the Ages performed by Andrew Lincoln. (via The Hollywood Reporter)

04/25/24 @ 12:16 pm EST

Source: Image Comics | Categories: Image

The feast-for-the-eyes, bestselling comic book series Seven to Eternity—by fan-favorite and New York Times bestselling team of Rick Remender (Napalm Lullaby, Deadly Class, LOW), Jerome Opeña (The Avengers, The Punisher), James Harren (Ultramega, Rumble), and colorist Matt Hollingsworth (Love Everlasting, Wytches)—will be collected in its entirety into one complete compendium paperback edition this September and join the Giant Generator line at Image Comics. The Seven to Eternity Compendium will include Seven to Eternity issues #1-17 of the series with a brand new cover by Opeña and Hollingsworth. The God of Whispers has spread an omnipresent paranoia to every corner of the kingdom of Zhal; his spies hide in every hall spreading mistrust and fear. Adam Osidis, a dying knight from a disgraced house, must choose between joining a hopeless band of magic users in their desperate bid to free their world of the evil God, or accepting his promise to give Adam everything his heart desires. “I couldn’t be prouder of a project than Seven to Eternity. The sum of my relationship with Jerome, which began 20 years ago at Image on Strange Girl, you’ll find no better comic with our names on it. We’re very excited to put the entire tale in one compendium to allow a whole new audience to enjoy the entire journey,” said Remender. Opeña added: "Seven to Eternity represents seven years of my life and is one of the projects I’ve worked on that I am most proud of. I’m extremely thankful to everyone that has supported the book over the years and hopeful that new readers will be able to enjoy the book with this new Compendium Collection." Seven to Eternity Compendium paperback (ISBN: 9781534363861) will be available at local comic book shops on Wednesday, September 11 and independent bookstores, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, Indigo, and Waterstones on Tuesday, September 24.

Seven to Eternity is also available in trade paperback and hardcover editions:

Vol. 1 trade paperback - ISBN: 9781534300613

Vol. 2 trade paperback - ISBN: 9781534303218

Vol. 3 trade paperback - ISBN: 9781534306981

Vol. 4 trade paperback - ISBN: 9781534312425

Book One deluxe hardcover - ISBN: 9781534319318

Seven to Eternity will also remain available across many digital platforms, including Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, and Google Play.

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04/24/24 @ 5:02 pm EST

Source: Deadline | Categories: MIsc

Briarcliff Entertainment has acquired domestic rights to Valiant One, a military action thriller starring Chase Stokes (Outer Banks) and Lana Condor (To All the Boys franchise), slating it for release in theaters nationwide on January 24, 2025. Check out a first-look still above. Marking the feature directorial debut of producer Steve Barnett, the film watches as a routine mission goes awry when a U.S. army helicopter crashes deep within North Korean territory. Now, a team of non-combat tech specialists, led by Captain Edward Brockman (Stokes), must navigate the hostile terrain and fend off North Korean forces as they desperately race to escort a civilian tech specialist across the treacherous Demilitarized Zone. A Monarch Media production written by Barnett and Eric Tipton, with counsel from former members of the U.S. Military, CIA and Department of Defense, Valiant One also stars Desmin Borges (Only Murders in the Building) and Callan Mulvey (The Grey Man). The film is produced by Bernie Goldmann and Alan Powell, and executive produced by Vicky Patel. Stokes served as co-executive producer. (via Deadline)

04/24/24 @ 4:46 pm EST

Source: Marvel | Categories: Wolverine

Marking the milestone 50th issue of Benjamin Percy’s run and hitting stands during Wolverine’s 50th anniversary year, next month’s WOLVERINE #50 will be one of the character’s most pivotal issues ever! In anticipation of this landmark issue, fans can check out never-before-seen artwork from each story now. Packed with bonus material, the giant-size issue presents the explosive final chapter of Percy, Victor LaValle, Geoff Shaw, and Cory Smith’s 10-part epic “Sabretooth War” storyline plus a story co-starring Jubilee from legendary Wolverine scribe Larry Hama and a special sneak peek at Wolverine’s upcoming adventures in the From the Ashes era! Having masterfully guided Logan over the last few years, Benjamin Percy will also bid farewell to the character in WOLVERINE #50. After closing out Wolverine’s Krakoan age adventures in the main story, Percy will team up with artist Javi Fernández in a special send-off that explores Wolverine’s incredible legacy. On closing out his run, Percy shared, “Fifty issues of Wolverine is a hell of a lot to be thankful for. But the math gets hairier when I do some accounting. I've actually been writing Logan -- in the audio drama, in X-Force and Wolverine and all the crossovers and spin-off events -- for seven years, twenty episodes, and a hundred thirty-ish issues. That’s a whole lot of SNIKT. That’s a big part of my life and career, and I feel nothing but gratitude for the experience. I can’t believe I’ve been lucky enough to serve as the custodian of a character who is so important to me. Thanks, bubs, for joining the mayhem.” The Sabretooth War concludes in the way it began - a violent, bloody battle - but WHO will be left standing? Preorder WOLVERINE #50 at your local comic shop today!

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04/24/24 @ 2:50 pm EST

Source: Deadline | Categories: MIsc

Jeffery Self (Search Party, The Horror of Dolores Roach) and Gabrielle Ryan (Power Book IV: Force, Bonding) have boarded Christopher Landon’s coming fast-paced thriller Drop from Blumhouse, Platinum Dunes and Universal Pictures. The duo join the previously announced cast including Meghann Fahy and Brandon Sklenar. The film’s logline is being kept under wraps at this time. Drop is written by Jillian Jacobs & Chris Roach. Michael Bay, Jason Blum, Brad Fuller and Cameron Fuller are producers. Ron Lynch and Sam Lerner are EPs. Drop is a Platinum Dunes and Blumhouse production for Universal. (via Deadline)

04/24/24 @ 2:52 pm EST

Source: Skybound | Categories: Skybound

Today Skybound Comet and Image Comics revealed all-new interior pages from Sea Serpent’s Heir Book Three: Queen of Mercy, the third and final installment of the high seas fantasy trilogy about growing up and changing your fate from acclaimed creators Mairghread Scott (Netflix’s Dragon Age: Absolution, Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy) and Pablo Tunica (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles). Sea Serpent’s Heir Book Three concludes the fantasy Young Adult trilogy from Skybound Comet, the original graphic novel imprint aimed at Young Adult (Ages 12+) and Middle Grade (Ages 8-12) audiences, but sure to captivate readers of all ages. In the final chapter of the Sea Serpent’s Heir Trilogy, the hunter becomes the hunted after Aella’s aunt Kiana steals the power of Xir for themselves! Can Aella stop the person who taught her everything she knows about magic from destroying the world?

Sea Serpent’s Heir Book One: Pirate’s Daughter (Lunar Code 0623IM958, ISBN 978-1-5343-2129-8 I SRP: $14.99) and Sea Serpent’s Heir Book Two: Black Wave ( Lunar Code 0723IM381, ISBN 978-1-5343-9993-8 I SRP: $14.99) are available everywhere books are sold now.

The Skybound Comet slate also includes the upcoming release of Ava's Demon Book Two: Aftermath (Lunar Code 0324IM187, ISBN: 978-1-5343-9852-8 SRP: $17.99), the next chapter of the groundbreaking YA graphic novel by acclaimed author Michelle Fus, available for the first time in the book market in May 2024 along with the July release of Super Dinosaur Compendium One (ISBN: 978-1-5343-2775-7 I MSRP: $34.99) from Robert Kirkman (Invincible, The Walking Dead) and artist Jason Howard (Batman, The Flash). Clementine Book Two (Lunar Code 0923IM926, ISBN: 978-1-5343-2519-7 SRP: $14.99) by acclaimed writer/artist Tillie Walden (Spinning, On a Sunbeam) is available everywhere books are sold now.

Sea Serpent’s Heir Book Three: Queen of Mercy (ISBN: 978-1-5343-3209-6 SRP $14.99) will be available at comic book shops on Wednesday September 4, 2024, and at booksellers, along with digital platforms including Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, comiXology, and Google Play Tuesday, September 17, 2024.

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04/24/24 @ 2:33 pm EST

Source: Image Comics | Categories: Image

The New York Times bestselling, multiple award winning writer Chip Zdarsky (Newburn, Batman), fan-favorite artist Rachael Stott (Fantastic Four, Dr. Who) and stellar colorist Eren Angiolini (Justice League: Last Ride) bring fans of the Eisner Award winning series Public Domain its comic-book-within-the-comic-book in the upcoming new title, The Domain. This five-issue miniseries is the in-universe comic book at the center of the Public Domain series and will launch this July from Image Comics. In the pages of Public Domain, Syd Dallas and the team at Dallas Comics reimagine their classic character The Domain for a new audience, and… this is that comic! “When I realized that my characters from Public Domain would be creating a new superhero comic, I just knew I had to actually make that comic! It was an opportunity to create a fun, classic superhero comic while also enhancing the narrative of Public Domain and those characters’ journeys," said Zdarsky. "But to do it right I needed a great art team who could pull off a kinetic, explosive superhero style, and Rachael Stott and Eren Angiolini are the perfect fit for this story. The only problem has been that fact that they’re too good and have, in fact, made Public Domain look bad by comparison. I did this to myself!" Stott added: "Every single time I get to work with Chip Zdarsky I feel like the luckiest artist in comics—we've worked in his sexy Sex Criminals universe on the Sexual Gary Annual, and then an equally sexy Spider-Man one shot, but now we get to create a world and characters together for Domain. Every (sexy) page has been a joy and delight to draw. And sexy. Then add Eren Angiolini into that equation and you have a dream project. They are one of the most talented colourists working today, and I'm so lucky to get to collaborate with them again. I love being a part of this team, and we've made a really cool, beautiful book together and I'm so proud excited for people to read it. Chip, did I say sexy enough? How many times did you say it would take to get the book on Oprah's book club?" In the upcoming The Domain, three best friends discover a crashed UFO and uncover technology that imbues them with incredible abilities. But there’s a catch: only one of them can use the powers at a time! Can their friendship survive the power’s temptation? The Domain promises a classic superhero story for those coming in fresh, and a fun meta story for readers of Public Domain. "Do you know what is better than working with Chip Zdarsky on Justice League and better than working with Rachael Stott on Doctor Who? Working with BOTH Chip AND Rachael on a fun, cosmic adventure filled with badass characters and handsome aliens," said Angiolini. "I had a wonderful time colouring this series and I couldn't be prouder of the result! Also, they let me go wild with illustrating the TTRPG variant covers! Pretty cool, right?!”

The Domain #1 will be available at comic book shops on Wednesday, July 10:

Cover A by Stott - Lunar Code 0524IM229

Cover B by Angiolini - Lunar Code 0524IM230

The Domain will also be available across many digital platforms, including Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, and Google Play.

Public Domain, Vol. 1 trade paperback (ISBN: 9781534324572) is available now at local comic book shops and independent bookstores, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, Indigo, and Waterstones.

Public Domain #6 (Lunar Code 0524IM245) will be available at comic book shops on Wednesday, July 3.

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