Image EXPO 2015 Announcements
Image EXPO 2015 took place today in San Francisco. As you might expect, many new titles were announced. While some of the guests were announced, many "surprise" guests as well.
We'll have more specific posts with detailed information and some interviews coming up.
Eric Stephenson started out with his keynote speech. Image has won the GEM Award for Best Publisher once again from Diamond. Stephenson pointed out their growth plus the fact their comics have remained at $3.50 with virtually no ads and trade paperbacks at an introductory price of $9.99.
Announcements
Todd McFarlane
Todd starts out telling the story of how he and the other Image Founders got together to start Image. He points out that the deal they started in 1992 hasn't changed. Image doesn't own anything. It's about the option of creators being able to create their own books. "I'm proud of the past 22 years and I hope I get 22 more."
SPAWN #250 is the next issue. Do the math on how long it takes to get there. When asked if he was ever going to renumber SPAWN, his reply was "Hell no!" Issue 250 will be three times the cover. Variants by Greg Capullo, Skottie Young, Jock, and others. There is an Eisner Award winning writer coming so Todd can work on his movie script. After he leaves, SPAWN: RESURRECTION #1 will be written by Paul Jenkins with Jonboy Meyers on art.
The original Spawn, Al Simmons is coming back in 250 and is here to stay. He's a "changed man." There will also be a brand-new series. Spawn 251 will return.
Followed by a new book SAVIOR. The first eight issues are in the can. Fully painted by Clayton Crain.
"What if the most dangerous man on Earth was also the one trying to do the most good?"
James Robinson
AIRBOY is still coming. Has a new sci-fi/fantasy book called HEAVEN about mankind going to war with angels. Art by Philip Tan.
Brian Wood (Not Attending)
New series called STARVE with art by Danijel Zezel. In the future, celebrity chefs are royalty. In September BLACK ROAD is coming. Return to the viking genre with art by Garry Brown.
Brandon Graham
8HOUSE is still coming. It "might've been announced too early last time." Emma Rios will do an arc. Also coming is a magazine called ISLAND with other creators coming. "It's Heavy Metal with less of a teenage boy goal."
Kelly Sue DeConnick and Emma Rios
PRETTY DEADLY is coming back. Kelly Sue said, "Did you guys think we forgot? We didn't forget." Because of the detail Emma puts in, it's not a book that can be done in 30 days. They want to get far enough to keep a schedule. Emma also takes the time to collaborate with Kelly Sue. The second arc is moving ahead in time a little. They're staying in the Old West but there will also be some elements of WWI. Cyrus (the little boy in the first arc) is a grown man now. They're looking at a September release.
Emi Lenox
She has been working on a travel memoir called TADAIMA going to Japan and spending time with her mom. It's a graphic novel which will be done entirely in water colors. It'll also be hand-written because she doesn't do work on computers. The goal is for Summer.
Jeff Lemire
PLUTONA with Emi Lenox and colors by Jordie Bellaire. What happens when some kids find a dead superhero in the woods. No idea when it's out. Maybe in the Fall.
Scott Snyder and Jeff Lemire
The two will be working together on A.D. AFTER DEATH. Jeff is doing the art. It's a graphic novel. It'll be out in the Fall.
Brian K. Vaughan
"I feel lucky just riding on Fiona Staples artwork. Have you see her art?" But there is another book coming. WE STAND ON GUARD with art by Steve Skroce. It's about Canadian freedom fighters in the future fighting off an invading force--the United States. They have giant robots. The first script is 34 pages. Steve is super-fast and the entire first issue is done. The book is coming out this year. It's a limited series. If they don't revisit this, they'll do something else too.
Marjorie Liu
She's collaborating with Sana Takeda. MONSTRESS, coming out this Summer. Monsters roaming the Earth. Made up of different aspects. There is a young girl who is a refugee and wakes up one day with a psychic connection to the most dangerous of the creatures. People want to kill her once they find out and she'll be fighting for survival with a monster at her side.
Brian Buccellato
SONS OF THE DEVIL is coming to Image. Started as a Kickstarter. He apologizes for the delay. Found Toni Infante online. What if you woke up one day and found out your dad was a horrible cult leader? It'll be out this Summer. There is a short film. The movie will be live online later on Image's site.
Eric Canete and Jonathan Tsuei
RUN LOVE KILL. They said the title is very literal. There'll be a lot of ass kicking, robots, and dinosaurs. They took a big 140 page graphic novel and split it up into a series. They're hoping it comes out in April.
Alex De Campi
Working on NO MERCY with Carla Speed McNeil Out in April. They have five issues in the can already.
Kieron Gillen
Working on THE LUDOCRATS with David Lafuente. Gillen gives a very interesting and animated speech. "THE LUDOCRATS will be the greatest comic of all time." A series of fantastical adventures beyond time, space, and mortal comprehension."
Jamie McKelvie joins him on stage. They're headed towards the third volume of WICKED+DIVINE, "Commercial Suicide." Some guest artists include Stephanie Hans, Tula Lotay, and Kate Brown. The reason why is they're also working on PHONOGRAM: THE IMMATERIAL GIRL for August. "Inspired by 80s music videos." McKelvie will return to THE WICKED + THE DIVINE.
Chip Zdarsky
Chip crashes the stage and puts up his own banner during Gillen and McKelvie. "Why are you here?" He said they didn't invite him. Puts up a slide for his HOWARD THE DUCK at Marvel. Stephenson calls for the slide to be removed. It's replaced by GARY THE DUCK. Stephenson says that book will never be published. He's doing a signing at Good Vibrations in San Francisco. It's a sex shop.
Zdarsky is doing a book with Kagan McLeod called KAPTARA. A science fiction comedy series. He talks about playing with his action figures and combining them together. The book will be out in April.
Darwyn Cooke (Not attending)
A tale taking place in Toronto in the 80s. REVENGEANCE! It will be out this Summer.
Skottie Young
I HATE FAIRYLAND. Working on it with Jean-Francois Beaulieu. As a parent, he thinks about being so on edge about how the characters in the books must feel. What if a character like Alice in Alice in Wonderland is stuck there for 40 years but still looks eight. Originally the title was going to be called FUCK FAIRYLAND. They wanted to make it more kid friendly. Pages include the Moon narrated and talking about the girl. She tells it to shut up and shoots it. Then she has to kill the witnesses and shoots the stars. It will be out in the Fall.
Brian K. Vaughan and Cliff Chiang
PAPER GIRLS. The story of four twelve-year-old paper girls and one night, something strange happens. It takes place the day after Halloween. Matthew Wilson will be doing colors. This will be an ongoing series. It's coming later this year.
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