Dynamite Pubwatch: Looking Back on January, 2019

Dynamite Pubwatch Banner - Red Sonja by Jenny Frison (Dynamite Entertainment)

Welcome to the Dynamite Comics Pubwatch for the month of February!  I’m Lisa, Dynamite is my explosive beat, and here’s this month’s news!

Dynamite Launches Biggest Humble Bundle Yet

In celebration of their upcoming fifteenth anniversary, Dynamite launched an enormous Humble Bundle which will remain available through the month of February.

The bundle is available in three tiers, from a one dollar bundle that includes 50 issues and the entirety of the second volume of their Bettie Page run, an $8 tier which adds the first five issues of their acclaimed new Nancy Drew series among others, and a $15 tier that includes two volumes of their letter-perfect Bob’s Burgers tie in comics. Click the link above for purchasing options and further information on what’s included!

Alleged Rapist to Direct Red Sonja Reboot for Millennium Films

Dynamite property Red Sonja is going to return to the big screen thanks to the efforts of Accused Child Rapist Bryan Singer.  Millennium Films — itself the subject of a 2017 sexual harassment lawsuit — continues to support the embattled Singer, with studio head Avi Lerner calling the accusations “fake news.”   No stars or writers have been attached to the project, which is scheduled to go before the cameras next year.

Full Xena Reboot on tap for April

Dynamite will reboot their Xena series for the fourth time later this year, with a run helmed by Vita Ayala (Shuri, Wonder Woman) and art by Olympia Sweetman. There will be multiple covers for the release, and the first plot will feature Gabrielle and Xena trying to find out if a town filled with super-strong children is the work of the Gods or simply a quirk of nature. This reboot is welcome news, since Dynamite released an ten-issue reboot last year that was perceived by the franchise’s fanbase as generally being lackluster and low on the fun, swashbuckling feeling of the original series.

Dynamite Accidentally Announces Ariana Grande as their new Inker

In one of those “Whoops” moments, while posting a press release for the latest issue in their Six Million Dollar Man series, editor Nate Cosby accidentally tagged Ariana Grande as the series’ letterer, intending to link to Ariana Maher.

Dynamite responded with this amusing mea culpa:

Big Blast of the Month:

 

AOD/Bubba Ho Tep #1 Cover Art Robert Hack writing Scott Duvall Art Vincenzo Federici Copyright Dynamite Comics February 2019

 

Army of Darkness/Bubba Ho-Tep #1

Scott Duvall (writer), Carlos Gomez (Cover Art), Vincenzo Federici (art)

It’s the comic that made Bruce Campbell say:

Combining the cheesy, machismo-laden, campy world of Army of Darkness with the more meditative, world-weary and philosophical (but still kinda cheesy) world of Bubba Ho-Tep is a tall order, but Dynamite has set out to do it.  The first issue is set to feature Ash on a “soul searching road trip” to Texas to find out if the King is alive and really DID kill that mummy at his rest home. The recently-regained-his-mojo (and alive after y’know…dying at the end of the movie) Elvis and Williams soon team up for a universe-bending, time-chasing road trip of their own.  

It’s going to take a lot of fancy footwork to make these two disharmonious universes make sweet music together, and whether it will match up with the pop-iconic surrealism and gore of the no-holds barred Lansdale-guided Bubba Ho-Tep mini-series that IDW published last year remains to be seen. Its first issue is quieter, more interesting and a lot of fun. With its promise of a mid-life crisis suffering Ash and an uncle-nephew like team-up between singer and demon-slayer, it seems to be competing for the heart and gravitas that Cosmic Bloodsuckers lacked. The attempt will be certainly worth reading (and better than Dynamite’s last two attempts at rebooting their frequently restarted Army of Darkness comics continuity).

Bangs and Fizzles:

Elvira: The Shape of Elvira #2

David Avallone (writer), Francesco Francavilla (cover art), Fran Strukan (art)

I keep saying it, and I feel like it’s true: Dynamite’s Elvira series of comics is an under-appreciated gem.  While the main line has had its ups and downs, this new mini-series has been aces throughout as it lampoons both Hollywood mores and The Shape of Water with equal aplomb. The second issue is just as interesting and funny as the first as Elvira becomes more curious about the fella in the Creature suit!

 

Rainbow Brite #5, Cover Art: Paulina Ganucheau Writer: Jeremy Whitley Art: Brittney Williams Copyright Dynamite Comics February 2019

Rainbow Brite #5

Paulina Ganucheau (cover art), Jeremy Whitley (writer),  Brittney Williams (art)

Dynamite’s sadly failed yet somewhat engaging attempt at reviving the Rainbow Brite franchise ends with this issue, which helpfully clear up any further mysteries about Wisp’s origins! While it sported beautiful writing and an attempt at grounding the story in modern times, the series never quite gelled into a full concept.

Leftover Mortar:

NANCY DREW: THE CASE OF THE COLD CASE TRADE PAPERBACK

Red Sonja/Tarzan TPG

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