October 2, Mt. Laurel, NJ: Dynamite Entertainment is set to launch a brand new series with superstar writer Kieron Gillen (The Wicked + Divine) and artist Caspar Wijngaard (Limbo) as the publisher brings iconic character Peter Cannon: Thunderbolt back into action this winter! 

Peter Cannon, the orphaned son of an American medical team, was raised in a Himalayan lamasery, where his parents had sacrificed their lives combating the dreaded Black Plague! After attaining the highest degree of mental and physical perfection, he was entrusted with the knowledge of the ancient scrolls that bore the secret writings of past generations of wise men. Peter Cannon: Thunderbolt debuted in January of 1966 through Charlton Comics. In 2012, Dynamite Entertainment resurrected the character in a self-titled series written by Steve Darnall and Alex Ross, drawn by superstar artist Jonathan Lau.

“I've been away from the genre for a few years. This is me refreshed, grinning and more than a little bit angry. I want to try things. I want to have fun. Hell, we've created a whole new supporting cast of heroes for this series because we wanted to. I wanted to do a state of the art, state of the superheroic nation, and Peter Cannon: Thunderbolt is it,” remarked author Kieron Gillen. “High adventure, big ideals, epic destruction, heroism, despair, and nine-panel grids.”

Kieron Gillen’s experience as both a comics writer and journalist makes him a standout choice for the legacy character.  Gillen's first graphic novel, Phonogram (with artist/co-creator Jamie McKelvie), was published through Image Comics in 2006, the same year as Dynamite’s founding.  Gillen’s work on Marvel’s The Uncanny X-Men, Thor, and Young Avengers garnered his mainstream success, but his ongoing gods-as-popstar series with longtime collaborators Jamie McKelvie and Matt Wilson The Wicked + The Divine launched to both critical and commercial success.

Speaking about series artist Caspar Wijngaard, Gillen noted, “He's a strikingly ambitious, notably smart artist, with a writer's creative brain. The word "collaboration" is key. I have written this in an ornate and structured clockwork style, but knowing Caspar would be drawing it, also left room for lots of collaboration and additive ideas.”

“Kieron’s pitch was simply fantastic, he’s really done his research.  Peter Cannon comes from the silver age of comics, the age of the heroic pantheon, and he’s one of my all-time favorite characters,” said Nick Barrucci, CEO and Publisher of Dynamite Entertainment. “We are giving Peter Cannon: Thunderbolt the respect he deserves by bringing aboard the most dynamic creative team possible, with Kieron leading the charge."

The first issue of Peter Cannon: Thunderbolt delivers a wide selection of cover variants, providing fans and retailers a chance to collect the whole set! The cover artwork features the talents of Sean Phillips (Criminal), Dave McCaig (American Vampire),  Butcher Billy (Barbarella), Paulina Ganucheau (Zodiac Starforce) and Casper Wijngaard (Angelic) respectively. Additionally, an Atlas Edition will also be available for fans wishing to have their issue signed by writer Kieron Gillen!

Peter Cannon: Thunderbolt #1 will be solicited in Diamond Comic Distributors' November 2018 Previews catalog, the premier source of merchandise for the comic book specialty market, and slated for release in January 2019. Comic book fans are encouraged to reserve copies of Peter Cannon: Thunderbolt #1 with their local comic book retailers. Peter Cannon: Thunderbolt #1 will also be available for individual customer purchase through digital platforms courtesy of Comixology, Kindle, iBooks, Google Play, Dynamite Digital, iVerse, Madefire, and Dark Horse Digital.