Welcome to the Dynamite Comics Pubwatch for the month of June! I’m Lisa, Dynamite is my explosive beat, and here’s this month’s news!
Gail Simone Signs On to Write “The Death-Defying Devil;” First Issue to Debut in August
Journeywoman writer Gail Simone is set to join the Dynamite team for a run on The Death-Defying Devil, one of the company’s Golden Key titles. The first issue will be published in August.
The superhero has an 80 year backlog, and Simone’s hoping to inject it with something fresh by introducing a diverse cast of friends for him to interact with. When the Devil is beaten bloody behind a run-down apartment building, he’s taken in by the tenants living there. Issue by issue, Simone plans on revealing the intermingling lives of these tenants, ultimately providing a series of large-scale mysteries for The Devil to unlock.
Besides Simone, the issue’s talent will include her longtime artistic collaborator Walter Geovani, Colorist Adriano Augusto and letterer Simon Bowland. Covers will be provided by Riccardo Federici (see above), Tyler Kirkham, Ben Oliver, Lucio Parillo and In-Hyuk Lee. Dynamite will also offer a special incentive “Carve Out” cover featuring older art by Alex Ross.
Dynamite Offers ‘draw your own’ issue of Vampirella
In a world where DIY is all the rage, Dynamite’s gone one step further and is offering a completely blank copy of Vampirella #1 when the series reboots in July (No, this is not a lost April Fool’s Day joke). Artists, writers and inkers are all invited to draw their own Vampi and have fun with the book, which will be offered in July.
New Retailer Incentive Red Sonja and Vampirella Meet Betty and Veronica Cover Introduced
There will be a new high end Diamond Level retailer-exclusive cover to the series, drawn by Ergün Gündüz and offered at the Diamond Retailers Summit (see above). $50 Virgin versions of the previously-seen Fay Dalton and Cat Staggs versions will also be offered.
Jerry Lawler to draw Bettie Page Sketch Cards for Dynamite’s BP Trading Card Sets
Legendary pro wrestler, color commentator, Andy Kaufman opponent, and commercial artist Jerry “The King” Lawler is slated to have signed sketch cards in Dynamite’s Bettie Page Deluxe Ultra Premium Sketch Card Collection, which is currently being kickstarted here.
Each pack will include 2 Base Cards, 2 Sketch Cards, 1 black and white “Peek-a-Boo” card, 1 puzzle card, and 1 autographed card for 7 total cards per pack, with 12 packs per box. Each Peek-a-Boo card is a “risque photo of Bettie and will be black bagged like a full size adult magazine so fans will actually open it to reveal the entirety of the card,” to quote the press release.
Backers who preorder four foil packs or more will be able to choose among a selection of top tier artists to produce exclusive one-of-a-kind sketch cards just for them. Also available are various, one-of-a-kind sketch card puzzle sets of 4,6 and 9 cards.
The Big Blast of the Month
Sweet Valley High: Academic All-Star?
Devaki Neogi (Art and Cover), Katy Rex (Writer)
After teasing us with this graphic novel all the way from April, Dynamite’s Sweet Valley High graphic novel is finally set to debut. A charming, modernized take on the Wakefield Twins’ never-ending adventures, this will be a book that will delight readers young and old.
Xena: Warrior Princess #3
Vita Ayala (Writer), Paulina Ganucheau, Emanuela Lupacchino, David Mack (Covers), Jordi Perez (Art)
Dynamite’s Xena series has been astounding and continues to be the best comic they’ve published this year. With perfect writing by Vita Ayala keeping the series in step from issue to issue, Jordi Perez takes over as the series’ main artist without missing a single step.
Bangs and Fizzles
Red Sonja: Birth of the She-Devil #1
Sergio Davila, Lucio Parillo (Covers), Sergio Davila (Art), Luke Lieberman (Writer)
A mini-series that explores RS’ early years, Davila’s lush art is as adept at showing spilled blood as it is Sonja’s curves. If nothing else, the series will reveal a little bit more of Sonja’s past as the series prepares to give us a brand-new future for her with a fall reboot.
Red Sonja and Vampirella Meet Betty and Veronica #2
Laura Braga, Fay Dalton, Robert Hack, Dan Parent, Cat Staggs (Covers), Amy Chu (Writer), Maria Sanapo (Art)
Betty and Veronica battle the editors of their school paper over the content of their articles while Sonja and Vampirella try to figure out who the heck’s been killing half of Riverdale High as this strong, fun series continues apace.
Bettie Page Unbound #3
David Avallone (Writer), Scott Chantler, Julius Ohta, John Royle, David Williams (Covers), Julius Ohta (Art)
And to complete Bettie’s tour of Dynamite-owned heroines, she jumps into the skin of Dejah Thoris!
Leftover Mortar:
