Tales of Lore
Last week, word went about Ashley Wood bringing back his series Lore through our Syzygy imprint. Lore was a series of six oversize, 48-page graphic novels that he drew and co-wrote alongside his partner T.P. Louise.
For this release, beginning in April, he’s fully relettering all six books but we’re presenting them a bit differently — now, they’ll be coming to stores as three 100-page comics, with new covers on each. Image spread word about the series here.
Lore was a fun one back in the day. At around the same time Sony was grabbing hold of our Zombies vs Robots series, Lore was likewise getting all kinds of Hollywood attention, too. Warner Bros signed on for a feature, and back when that happened, 2012, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson hadn’t yet nabbed a superhero franchise but he wanted one. And for a short while, Lore was going to be it. The Hollywood Reporter even said so in this piece where they described Lore as “Men in Black with mythological creatures.” Which was a fine premise for a tentpole franchise but the comic, as with al Ash comics, is weirder than that.
Anyway, Lore is coming back, and here are the three first issue covers and a handful of preview pages from issue 1 to prove it:
Ash Wood AD Nauseum
Speaking of Ash, the month prior to Lore returning sees another big collection of Wood’s work, on the pages of 7174AD, an anthology series of sorts that will house any number of Ash’s comics and art. He finalized that one this week, so it’ll be off to print soon, and will likewise ship with three Ash Wood covers:
Issue 1 features two full stories, Duo Star Racers and Miss and Mrs. You probably know what you’re in for (hint: girls and robots). But if not, here’s a peak at that issue, too:
Help Your Self
I know last time I said I’d break word about a new comic project coming from Owen King, Jesse Kellerman, and Marianna Ignazzi… but it’s not quite true. Word is coming soon but for purposes of coordinating the proper announcement with Image and everyone else involved, I probably shouldn’t jump the gun here. There will be plenty of gun-jumping in the series (which is called Self Help. It’s not a total secret, since I showed a tiny bit of it at Comic-Con a year ago, but the series is finally about to arrive. I’m eager to talk about it, since we’ve been working on it for quite some time now, and also because it’s such a blast, I want all of you to be able to experience in reading it the fun we’ve all had in making it. So, yeah, this is soon coming your way in full, really.
A Thing of Remastered Beauty
Speaking of remastering and releasing great projects with new lettering…
In my previous life, I helped bring into existence the amazing 12-issue adaptation of Owen King & Stephen King’s epic novel, Sleeping Beauties. The story was adapted by writer Rio Youers, and the art team of Alison Sampson and Triona Farrell. The book is gorgeous and compelling and, honestly, a bit of an eyesore to look at over its entirety due to a preponderance of black word balloons with white text.
I certainly understand the look that the editor and letterer wanted for the book, a unique approach to dialogue on par with the unique approach that Alison took with the visuals. Except in hindsight, I gotta admit it didn’t work. If anything, it maybe detracted a bit from Alison and Tree’s art and colors. Sometimes you take shots.
And sometimes you get a chance to fix missed shots, too. When IDW moved toward releasing a complete edition — it’s so far only been collected in two 6-issue volumes — we all pushed to have it relettered. They agreed, and Shawn Lee, a master letterer and designer, took on the assignment and reworked the entire book. It looks amazing, and will also have a gorgeous new cover by Alison to further dress it up.
So I apologize for the previous version of the lettering just not working as we all hoped. It’s fine, but if you want the story in its best and final form, well, the previous version was the chrysalis and this is the book freed from its cocoon. (And not freed too soon, either; we all know from this story how bad that can end up.
May Days
We’ve got three books in all releasing in May. Alongside Lore #1, the penultimate issue of The Cabinet is also on its way, and so is the collected edition of A Haunted Girl.
In Memorium
It was just a few weeks ago, in Tales of Syzpense #33, that was I toasting Ramona Fradon for her long an amazing career in comics. Ramona had announced her retirement from comics just 6 weeks ago, at the age of 97, when we got word that she passed away. It’s worth seeking out her work, whether in any of the nice tribute pieces like the NYT piece I linked to on her self-portrait, or just hitting Google and searching out her work. She produced the kind of work that was just welcoming, friendly, accessible. The kind of work that never failed to put a smile on everyone’s faces. And she did so for decades, dealing with all the sexism and misogyny that female artists were subject to all along the way. I wish she’d been able to enjoy her retirement longer but, as with Charles Schulz’ passing, there’s something sort of poetic and lovely, if still sad, about her leaving us when she has nothing more to give.
The week prior, artist and inker Paul Neary also passed away far too soon. Paul enjoyed a nice career in UK comics, mostly on the pages of 2000AD, before his pencils and brushes emigrated to America in the ‘80s. Paul wrote comics and drew comics — I first saw his work as a penciler on Captain America and other mid-80s Marvel Comics — but it was his work inking the pencils of artists Alan Davis and Brian Hitch that most captivated a wide array of fans. His slick lines over pencil art like Davis’ work on Excalibur, made for some of the most beautiful comics of the era.
And as much as we rightfully talk about the X-Men art team of Byrne & Austin being a high-water mark on any mutant title, Davis & Neary likewise deserve to sit atop anyone’s list of best X-art teams ever.
Spinner Rack Tool Time
Look, I was willing to accept goofy late ‘70s Marvel villains Hammer and Anvil; I’ve long enjoyed the Wrecker even though all he does is wing a magic crowbar and hang out with guys who likewise use archaic weapons like balls and chains; I could even accept the Demotion Team on the pages of Green Lantern because artist Dave Gibbons at least made them look good, despite the inherent silliness of a team of construction workers firing rivets at the guy with the magic space-ring.
But I recently came across a comic featuring guy called Wrench when I decided there needs to be a moratorium on villains named after everyday tools you’d find in your granddad’s garage.
Although my next thought was, ehh, that would also make a ridiculous and yet somehow compelling Spinner Rack theme. And so it is:
Ramona was so utterly FANTASTIC! One of the greats, a giant. I was so lucky to grow up in the Silver Age and to see her gorgeous work in newsagent spinner-racks... Ramona and Bob Haney were an act to be reckoned with.
And, like you, I have really great memories of Paul Neary inking Alan Davis - so fluid and kinetic! Oh, man...