Image Comics

MUDMAN #1-2 Go Back to Press

Readers wanting to catch up on MUDMAN, Paul Grist’s unique take on the superhero, will now get their chance. The first two issues of a story Grist describes as “all about growing up and finding your way in the world, and how the decisions that you make can affect others” sold out.  But now new printings of MUDMAN #1 (DEC118139) and MUDMAN #2 (DEC118140) will be available at the same time MUDMAN #3 (NOV110463) hits the stands on Wednesday, February 14. In addition, MUDMAN #1’s second printing will feature a brand new cover by Grist and the cover of MUDMAN #2 will have new coloring.

Like the hero of Grist’s beloved series JACK STAFF, MUDMAN’s Owen Craig is a distinctly British superhero, but in an entirely different way. An unsure teen in an English seaside town, Owen discovers that he’s different. His body is turning to mud, and he must learn to control it before he gets stuck in his tiny hometown in a way he never anticipated.

“Even after producing amazing work over the course of almost 20 years, Paul Grist remains one of comics’ best kept secrets,” said Image Comics Publisher Eric Stephenson. “MUDMAN is just the latest example of Paul's wonderfully unique sensibilities, and following the rave reviews the early issues have received, we want to this is something new readers can discover at any time.”

MUDMAN is a full-color comic book series that reviewers have called “free of manufactured angst,” “great fun” and “not to be missed.” It is released monthly, for $3.50 per issue, and is also available through digital platforms.

Brandon Graham and Simon Roy's Prophet Relaunch Sells Out Before Release Date

Berkeley, CA – 16 January 2011 - Brandon Graham and Simon Roy's brilliant re-imagining of Rob Liefeld's PROPHET doesn't hit stores until Wednesday, but it's already sold out at the distribution level today. Image has announced a second printing of PROPHET #21 is being rushed to press as back orders for the first issue of the Extreme relaunch continue to grow.

Kicking off an all-new era for Rob Liefeld's Extreme titles, PROPHET #21 opens with John Prophet awakening from cryosleep in the distant future on an Earth that has been inhabited by alien settlers. His mission is simple: Re-start the human empire. Critically acclaimed KING CITY creator Brandon Graham heads up the visionary new creative team on PROPHET, with up and coming artist Simon Roy (JAN'S ATOMIC HEART) providing the breathtaking visuals. The first issue features a painted cover by Russ Manning Award winner Marian Churchland (BEAST, ELEPHANTMEN), plus a variant cover by Rob Liefeld. The second printing cover will feature an all-new image by Roy.

"This is one of those situations where I hate to say something as glib as 'We told you so,' but in the nicest way possible: We did," said Image Comics Publisher Eric Stephenson. "There's been review after glowing review, along with rousing endorsements from the likes of Warren Ellis – it's not a secret Brandon and Simon have turned in a brilliant first issue. It's always nice to be able to say orders on a book have continued to climb post-FOC, but personally, I think it's better to actually have books on the stands.

"We're going back to press on PROPHET #21 to help retailers grow their orders on this excellent new series, but I'd recommend taking a second look at orders on issue #22 and GLORY #23, as well. PROPHET only gets better from here, and for it's just the tip of the Extreme iceberg."

Added Graham: "I'm really looking forward to being able to do all the barbarian science fiction ideas we've got planned for this series. The freedom Rob and Eric are giving us to take this character and run off the board with it has been fantastic."

PROPHET #21 (NOV110358), a 32-page full-color comic book for $2.99, is on sale in stores and digital platforms this Wednesday, January 18, while supplies last. The second printing of PROPHET #21 (NOV118136) is now available for reorder and will be back in stores the week before PROPHET #22 (DEC110566) hits on February 15.

Joe Keatinge and Andre Szmanowicz Drag Superheroes Into the 21st Century

Berkeley, CA – 6 January 2011 –  The future is now as Eisner and Harvey award-winner Joe Keatinge and ELEPHANTMEN's Andre Szymanowicz debut the last generation of superheroes in the new ongoing series HELL YEAH.

Twenty years ago, the world was rocked by the emergence of real-life superheroes. Sports and entertainment industries collapsed overnight as people who can run across the planet and punch through walls changed the world forever. A new global culture formed around these bigger-than-life beings and now the generation raised in its wake must fight to find a place in this brave new world! By pairing the energy and excitement of the original Image superheroes with modern, innovative storytelling, Keatinge and Szymanowicz have crafted a modern superhero epic that could only begin on Image's 20th anniversary.

"HELL YEAH exists because Image Comics exists," explained Keatinge. "I read superhero comics my whole life, but when Image Comics debuted, it made me realize all the rules and restrictions I saw in other superhero comics didn't have to exist. Anything could happen. You could kill lead characters in first issues. Obliterate long-standing villains in a page turn. They could be in different tone than what's normally presented by the diversity shown in anything from YOUNGBLOOD to CASUAL HEROES. They didn't have to be noble, they didn't have to maintain the same status quo. It was turned into a genre where the term 'impossible' didn't exist. Due to all this my imagination went into over drive and after twenty years of percolating in my brain, HELL YEAH was born."

"I've been having a ball drawing HELL YEAH and watching how these characters develop, and at the same time its just a great blend of mainstream and indie comics coming together," added Szymanowicz. "On one hand they are just like how I was at this age: aimless, going to rock shows and trying to find someone to date. Then there's the side of it where they are in this superhero world and can sorta kick somebody's ass (or get their own handed to them) from time to time."

HELL YEAH begins with Ben Day, a college student who finds out versions of himself are being murdered throughout the Multiverse. He must determine where his life diverged from his other selves and just why these crimes have taken the interest of even the world's greatest super-celebrities. Keatinge and Szmanowicz build a sweeping world with a massive cast of characters, a world that threatens to destroy Ben's very existence.

"Nothing excites me more than raw, undiluted creativity, and HELL YEAH delivers that in spades," said Image Publisher Eric Stephenson. "Joe and Andre are dragging superheroes kicking, screaming and spitting blood into a brave new world where the impossible is possible, nothing is sacred and no one is safe. HELL YEAH, indeed."

HELL YEAH #1 (JAN120501), an 32-page full-color superhero comic book with no ads for $2.99, will be on sale in stores and digital platforms on March 7 and is available for order in the January issue of Previews. A preview of the first issue of HELL YEAH will be featured at the end of John Layman and Rob Guillory's CHEW #23 on January 18th.

Witchblade Moves to Chicago and Invites New Fans To Join Her

Berkeley, CA – 4 January 2011 – The New Year brings a slew of fresh starts and Witchblade bearer, Sara Pezzini, is no exception. Pezzini will start 2012 in Chicago with a new job and brand new life, thanks to the fresh ongoing creative team of Tim Seeley (HACK/SLASH) and Diego Bernard (The Man With No Name).

Sara Pezzini has always been a born and bred New York City detective, in addition to wielding the ancient Artifacts, the Witchblade. That all changes with WITCHBLADE #151, the first issue by Seeley and Bernard, which finds Pezzini living outside of the Big Apple for the first time in the series history and working as a private detective. The mystery of how and why Sara is in Chicago, as well as what else has changed about her situation, will drive the story and reader interest for the coming year. This issue kicks off the 5-part story arc, entitled “Unbalanced Pieces,” in which Sara must find a way to balance her new role in the Windy City.

"WITCHBLADE is a dream project or me: A great character, an epic art and editorial team, and an important legacy in the history of comic books!" said Seeley. "Top Cow is giving me an awesome opportunity to reintroduce Sara Pezzini to new fans, old readers, and to a whole new setting!"

WITCHBLADE #151 is the first issue in Top Cow’s REBIRTH, an initiative spinning out of the end of the ARTIFACTS event, which concludes in ARTIFACTS #13. REBIRTH will provide ground-level entry points for each of Top Cow’s Universe titles - WITCHBLADE, THE DARKNESS, and ARTIFACTS - and ushers in a bold new age of story-telling to coincide with Top Cow’s 20th Anniversary. In addition to containing the full first story by Seeley and Bernard, the issue will include a five page bridging sequence by Ron Marz (MAGDALENA) and John Tyler Christopher (ARTIFACTS) and an ongoing prose story backup feature by Seeley.

WITCHBLADE #151 is a 32-page full-color comic with no ads for $2.99, and will be available in comic stores and digitally today. This issue ships with two wraparound covers by regular cover artist Christopher. For more information, please visit www.topcow.com.

Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips' New Horror Noir Comic Sells Out Immediately

Berkeley, CA – 4 January 2011 -- Today best-selling writer Ed Brubaker and his frequent collaborator and artist, Sean Phillips, debuted Image Comics' first new hit title for the year 2012, FATALE. This much-anticipated new series has already sold out at distribution level, despite a generous overprinting. A second printing is now underway and will arrive back on shelves next month, appearing alongside the second issue.

"The overwhelming positive response to FATALE from retailers and fans has been a bit shocking, but a great way to start the new year," said Brubaker. "Keep it up, and we'll keep putting out the best book we can."

"2012 is the year of the creator, and we couldn't imagine a more suitable way of kicking off our 20th anniversary than with this brilliant new series," said Image Comics Publisher Eric Stephenson. "Ed and Sean are two of comics' absolute best, and FATALE is their best work yet."

FATALE tells the story of a reporter in 2012 who stumbles on a secret that leads him down the darkest path imaginable… to a seductive woman who’s been on the run since 1935, a mobster who may be an immortal demon monster, and the stories of all the doomed men who’ve been caught in their decades-long struggle. FATALE blends noir and horror to tell a riveting epic unlike anything readers have ever seen before.

FATALE #1 ("Beauty" Cover A: NOV110354, "Beast" Cover B: NOV110355), a 32-page full-color noir horror comic book for $3.50, is on sale now until supplies run out. A second printing of FATALE #1 (NOV118137) is available to order now, and will go on sale February 1, alongside FATALE #2 (DEC110551).