The Nine Lives Of Salem, The Hexiles, Hysteria, Avenger: New Blood & Friday
Archie Comics, Mad Cave Studios, Vault Comics, Lenovations Press & Panel Syndicate
The latest comics news and previews including:
Feline frights abound in Salem's solo thriller!
A new mini-series from Mad Cave Studios.
News on Hysteria!
A new series from Lenovations Press.
And a collected edition of Friday!
Archie Comics does some excellent work for the Halloween season, and this looks to be another brilliant addition. Check out the details of The Nine Lives Of Salem from the Sabrina universe.
Sabrina's feline familiar headlines a solo horror one-shot from Archie Comics in October!
Sabrina the Teenage Witch's famous feline familiar takes matters into his own paws this October with THE NINE LIVES OF SALEM, a new solo horror one-shot from Archie Comics! The creative team behind Salem's first foray into horror comics in 2022 — writer Cullen Bunn and artist Dan Schoening — returns with artist Ben Galvan for a tale of restless demons, warlock duels, and thrilling magical cat action.
"It brings me so much sick joy to return to the dark, twisted, and pawsitively riveting world of Salem," said Archie Comics Senior Director of Editorial Jamie L. Rotante. "It makes me even giddier to return to that world with the same team that brought us the first Salem one-shot. Cullen and Dan have worked perfectly together to craft classic-style horror that not only spotlights Salem, but expands his world and those within it. NINE LIVES OF SALEM explores Salem confronting sins of his past as a warlock, and how he handles them now, as an apex predator."
Part of Archie's "Chilling Adventures Presents" series of horror one-shots, NINE LIVES OF SALEM is a standalone exploration of a fan-favorite character who was recently popularized in the Netflix streaming series Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. Bunn said, "We’re setting our fiendish feline up as an occult investigator of sorts, the John Constantine of the Archie Universe. And, make no mistake, even with a cat as the protagonist, these stand-alone stories are dark and horror-filled. You can grab a copy and delight in the terror we’re unleashing in these pages."
In the first Salem horror comic, CHILLING ADVENTURES OF SALEM, a rare solo outing saw him defending local stray animals from the machinations of an evil magician. The new story is similarly set in a "four legs" perspective, but this time, Salem is pitted against his fellow creatures in a series of magical battles culminating in a new direction for Sabrina's once-cuddly confidante. Bunn and Schoening also recently teamed up on two installments of THE CULT OF THAT WILKIN BOY, another reinterpretation of a classic Archie character for the "Chilling Adventures Presents" label.
"I'm grateful to be back in the world of Archie Horror, and to sink my teeth into this terrifying story penned by the amazing mind of Cullen Bunn," Schoening said. "This time around, I'll be working on designs and layouts, then passing along finishing duties to the sublime hand of Ben Galvan. We've also whipped up some never-before-seen gruesome characters for this issue that you won't want to miss."
Galvan, a regular artist on Archie's line of all-ages comics along with his father Bill, added, "It's always exciting for me to switch over from classic Archie to demonic Archie because it's such a striking switch-up! Cullen's mythical Americana mixed with Dan's scary-beautiful style and detail guarantees some horrifying fun for the Archie Universe."
THE NINE LIVES OF SALEM releases October 16 in comic shops nationwide, with colors by Matt Herms, letters by Jack Morelli, and an open-to-order variant cover by Robert Hack. It will be available for pre-order on July 26.
Mad Cave Studios has announced a new mini-series - The Hexiles.
Mad Cave Studios is stoked to announce THE HEXILES, a six-issue miniseries written by the renowned Cullen Bunn (Harrow County, The Sixth Gun, Night Walkers) and celebrated illustrator Joe Bocardo (Night Walkers), This new tale of hellish familial horror promises to captivate readers with its blend of supernatural dread and intense personal drama.
Jamison Kreel is dead. Six of his children from six mothers are attending the funeral of a father they never met. Each of the children possesses a different infernal power. These powers, though, come at a terrible price...a price Jamison Kreel has placed upon the heads of his offspring. And the demonic debtors have come to collect.
“I didn't really notice it during the writing process,” said Cullen Bunn. “I mean, I did, but this tale of the ultimate dysfunctional family with the ultimate infernal heritage wouldn't allow me to slow down. In the aftermath, though, while looking through Joe's gorgeous (and gorgeously sinister) pages, I realized that this is a dark story. Real horror, real dread, drips off these pages. But this is also a story of hope, of standing up for yourself, of rallying against whatever destiny others have cooked up for you. This is a story of raging against the dying of the light. Only, the light isn't dying. It's flaring up. And it's hellfire!”
"The Hexiles is a dark tale about destiny, cursed inheritances, and people bound by blood... lots of blood,” said Joe Bocardo. “A horror story that found refuge in a cave of madmen, where they love comics and work with true professionalism, and created by Cullen, a diabolical mind capable of turning the worst nightmares into words and convincing you to stay and live in them. As an artist, I couldn't ask for a better team."
Heads up, it’s the perfect combination of Umbrella Academy and Hellblazer.
The Hexiles will be in comic shops Oct. 30th, with Cover B by famed horror artist Tyler Crook (Harrow County).
Headsell, the new imprint from Vault Comics, has announced the release of a new graphic novel: Hysteria. This graphic novel mixes the comic form with some rock and roll!
Def Leppard and the Vault Comics imprint Headsell are pleased to offer their forthcoming graphic novel collaboration, Hysteria co-written by Def Leppard guitarist Phil Collen and Eliot Rahal (Bleed Them Dry, The Vain, Midnight Vista), with illustrations by Alex Schlitz (YULE: Dreadful Tales for the Holiday Season, Sagas of the Shield Maiden), Fabi Marques (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Batman: The World) as colorist and Andworld Design as letterer. Def Leppard kicked off their 2024 North American summer tour in July. Retail and deluxe editions of Hysteria will be released spring 2025 with merch to follow.
“Blending music and comics together like this is an incredible and insane dream, and I could not be more thrilled by the work Eliot, Alex, and Vault have put into Hysteria. It has been a joy and one hell of a ride. I know fans are going to love it,” said Phil Collen, Def Leppard guitarist.
Continuing the celebration of rock, the graphic novel Hysteria follows Foz, the frontwoman of indie band Darkside, after she inherits her father's estate and discovers it comes with a half-remembered guitar from her childhood. The guitar speaks to her, promising fame and success. Soon, it delivers. But when Darkside’s equipment is stolen at a massive music venue, just before they’re set to take the stage with Def Leppard, Foz goes on the warpath to get it back. A knuckle-dusting rampage ensues, and the guitar's true history is revealed.
Co-writer Eliot Rahal said, “From the very beginning, before we had anything, this story felt big. Phil came to us with a vision, a ton of passion, and the word ‘Hysteria’—something that has a lot of history for the band. It’s something that carries a lot of meaning. A legacy. And in many ways, that’s what this story is about. The Vault team worked with me tirelessly to help create a framework to capture that spirit. Then… as the team assembled and the art came in… I saw the idea take shape in real-time, and the weight of the project became even more real. I put everything I had into this book because it was clear to me that everyone else also had as well. I’ll be forever grateful for being a part of this project.”
Def Leppard’s Hysteria, the graphic novel, features never-before-heard music from Darkside, to be recorded in collaboration with Phil Collen, as it tells the story of the world's most dangerous guitar. Additional details on the release of the Darkside EP will be announced at a later date.
“As a Midwestern native raised on rock and roll and a musician from a family of musicians, Foz and Darkside's story has come to mean a lot to me,” added illustrator Alex Schlitz. ”The opportunity to work on this book with Def Leppard has been not only a huge honor, but such an exhilarating treat. I'm so grateful to be part of the team bringing this story to life, and I've had such a blast working with Eliot, Phil, and Fabi to create this world. I'm excited for everyone else to finally get to come on the journey with us!”
Damian Wassel, Vault CEO, added, “I could say all the usual things about this graphic novel. Hysteria is one of the most iconic albums of all time. Def Leppard are titans of rock. So, no surprise, the graphic novel rocks too. But there’s so much more to it than that. Because Def Leppard guitarist Phil Collen isn’t just an animal on the guitar. He’s a lifelong comics fan. Poured out on the pages of this graphic novel is a story he couldn’t tell you in a song that takes you to places Def Leppard have never gone before with their music. Leading the creative charge for the band on this project, Phil has worked hand in hand with writer Eliot Rahal and artist Alex Schlitz to create a graphic novel that takes off like a rocket, about a band that gets cursed and is left with no choice but to run riot.”
Def Leppard joins forces this summer with fellow rock icons Journey for The Summer Stadium Tour 2024, which kicked off on July 6th in St. Louis, MO at Busch Stadium and will run through 24 cities, from coast-to-coast, ending on September 8th in Denver, Colorado at Coors Field. Cheap Trick, and The Steve Miller Band will join the tour, varying city by city. Tickets are currently still available through local providers
Horror, thrills, music, and more are blended together in this fun, fast-paced, roller coaster ride from one of the biggest bands in rock history. Hysteria will be available in stores and online on April 15, 2025.
Lenovations Press has announced a special new comic - Avenger: New Blood. It’s their 25th title and the revival of a classic character.
Lenovations Press is thrilled to announce their revival of "The Avenger," a beloved superhero from the golden age of comics. Originally debuting in 1955, The Avenger stands out as one of the few traditional, costumed superheroes created just before the Silver Age of Comics began. The original series, though short-lived with only four issues, remains a prime example of the atomic age's best work.
The story revolves around Roger Wright, a wealthy scientist and the inventor of the STARJET, a groundbreaking airplane. When spies kidnap his brother to force Wright into surrendering the plans for his invention, he chooses to fight back instead. Taking on the identity of The Avenger, Wright becomes a relentless crusader against evil, dedicated to stopping criminal plots and protecting the innocent.
Lenovations Press is excited to breathe new life into this golden-age gem with a modern twist. In the new series, The Avenger gains a sidekick, Booker Roberts, a photojournalist who aids him in his fight against crime. Booker's aspiration to document their heroic adventures for a best-selling book adds a fresh and engaging dimension to these golden-age tales.
In This First Issue:
Introducing Rica Roberts, the niece of Booker Roberts. Although Booker has recently passed away, his legacy endures through his films and recordings, allowing him to narrate one of his earlier adventures with The Avenger. The narrative unfolds with two mysterious men breaking into a missile base and launching missiles toward a nearby city. However, the conclusion of this story promises to be anything but expected.
This revival of "The Avenger" also marks a significant milestone for Lenovations Press, as it represents the 25th comic published by the company. Established in May of 2014, Lenovations Press has spent the past decade bringing exciting and innovative comics to readers, cementing its place in the industry.
Lenovations Press invites readers to join The Avenger and Booker Roberts in this thrilling revival, where timeless heroism meets modern storytelling. Get ready for an unforgettable adventure as the classic hero returns to combat crime with renewed vigor. Copies of the Avenger can be purchased directly through the Lenovations Press website, DriveThruComics, and IndyPlanet.
You can purchase copies from:
Friday by Ed Brubaker, Muntsa Vicente, and Marcos Martin is now available on Panel Syndicate as a collected edition.
Just a quick note to let you know all 9 issues of FRIDAY by Ed Brubaker, Muntsa Vicente and myself are now available as one convenient 336-page volume! Only in English for now, I'm afraid, for a very simple reason: I got tired of renumbering the whole damn thing and couldn't bring myself to do it all over again in the Spanish version. So there, I'm lazy, just in case anyone needed further proof.
