Undergrowth, Mindset, Rok Of The Reds, Traveller: Far Trader & New Manga
Top Shelf Productions, Vault Comics, Rebellion, Markosia & TokyoPop
Here are the latest comics news and previews, including:
Undergrowth - a new graphic novel.
Big news on Mindset.
News on a transfer of Rok Of The Reds.
Traveller: Far Trader continues.
And new manga coming soon.
Top Shelf Productions has announced a new original graphic novel for the young adult market. They always provide thought-provoking stories, so I look forward to reading this one.
Planetary crisis, mental health, and giant monsters: Top Shelf welcomes the inaugural title from artist Daniele Aquilani and writer Ricky Lima
Time to defeat the invaders from beyond.
Top Shelf Productions is proud to announce UNDERGROWTH, the jaw-dropping YA graphic novel from rising star writer Ricky Lima and artist Daniele Aquilani, featuring colors by Yuliia Shevtsova, and letters by the Award-Winning Andrew Thomas (Quick Stops).
Packed with captivating character designs, epic-scale battle scenes, and thorny questions, Undergrowth is a story about kids who are trying to do the impossible… and just might pull it off.
The world is being ravaged by four terrifying robotic monsters. One fateful night, a group of friends venture out to watch a meteor shower and come face to face with doom... only to find that their story is just beginning.
Returned to life by a mysterious natural power, these young adults are chosen to bear the only weapons that might turn the tide against the invaders: ancient, towering forest entities which they can pilot from within! They’re enormously powerful… but when you’re struggling with the trauma of your own death, is that really the best time to become a living weapon of mass destruction?
“Every character in this book (even the robot!) is affected by trauma in some way and the way each one deals with it is different,” said Ricky Lima. “My goal was to have people read this book and enjoy the big action scenes, but also hopefully see a bit of themselves in one of the characters. I tried to present both good and bad ways of dealing with trauma. Not that the book gives anyone answers or tools to deal with their issues, but hopefully by having something outside of themselves a reader can start thinking about how they deal with trauma.”
“As soon as Ricky told me about the story he wanted to tell, I fell in love with the concept and all the characters, so I had a lot of fun designing the world and then shaping it, page after page,” said Daniele Aquilani. “I really hope I was able to translate how everything felt alive to me; how there is this constant sense of clinging to life when the protagonists face an actual threat but also in quieter moments when they interact with each other. This is what I was thinking while I was drawing Undergrowth, and this is what I tried to communicate.”
Undergrowth hits bookstores and comic shops Sept. 4th and is now available for preorder from Top Shelf, Indigo, and Amazon. Perfect for fans of Neon Genesis Evangelion, Punch Up! and First Test.
Mindset is a fantastic story, and this big news from Vault Comics is something to look forward to.
Boat Rocker, an independent, integrated global entertainment company, today announced it has partnered with Don Cheadle’s production company This Radicle Act to develop a scripted television adaptation of Mindset, an acclaimed science fiction mystery from Vault Comics.
Created by writer Zack Kaplan and artist John J. Pearson, Mindset is a near-future science fiction story of a Silicon Valley startup that accidentally invents a mind control app, and unwittingly opens a Pandora’s Box of mind games and murder that will force them -- and the audience -- to question whether they are in control of their own actions.
Boat Rocker’s David Fortier, Ivan Schneeberg, and Nick Nantell will executive produce for Boat Rocker. This Radicle Act president, Karyn Smith-Forge, will oversee the project for Cheadle’s company. Smith-Forge and Cheadle will executive produce alongside Vault’s Damian Wassel and F.J. DeSanto. The co-creator of the comic, Zack Kaplan, will also executive produce. Anna Register will oversee the project for Boat Rocker.
“We’re looking forward to working with the wonderful teams from This Radicle Act and Vault Comics to adapt this unique mind-bending thriller for television,” said Nick Nantell, Executive Vice President, Head of Scripted Creative, Boat Rocker Studios. “Filled with mystery, intrigue, and layered characters, Mindset is sure to enthrall viewers.”
Don Cheadle and Karyn Smith-Forge said: “From the moment we first came across MINDSET, we were excited to dig into the deeply rich world and complex and complicated characters created by Zack and John. The unique approach and subversive tone has us immediately leaning into the possibilities. We’re looking forward to partnering with Vault and Boat Rocker to further bring this vivid, thrilling and compelling story to life.”
“Given our partners track records in bringing exceptional character driven stories to life, Boat Rocker, This Radicle Act and Vault are a perfect match to bring John and Zack’s creation to the world,” said DeSanto. “We can’t wait to dive into the unique, colorful and unpredictable world of Mindset with them.”
Vault Comics is repped by UTA, Industry Entertainment, and Matt Sugarman at Weintraub Tobin.
Boat Rocker is behind a growing number of premium scripted productions, including Orphan Black: Echoes for AMC, American Rust: Broken Justice for Prime Video, and Beacon 23 for MGM+.
With all the football happening at the moment, there is the big news that Rok Of The Reds has struck a deal with Rebellion and transferred to Judge Dredd Megazine.
Rok On! – John Wagner & Dan Cornwell's creator-owned strip coming soon to Judge Dredd Megazine!
Major news has hit the world of football today, with the announcement that highly sought-after free agent Rok of the Reds has been dramatically signed by Judge Dredd Megazine for a run in their 2024/25 Season!
The creator-owned series from legendary writers John Wagner (Judge Dredd), Alan Grant (Batman), and breakout artist Dan Cornwell (Rogue Trooper), Rok of the Reds is a hilarious and chaotic blend of sci-fi and sports that puts the shooting back into the penalty shoot-out!
The first explosive season will launch in the Judge Dredd Megazine later this year – to be followed by the second, and then a much-anticipated brand new third season by Wagner and Cornwell!
Speaking on the surprise signing, co-creator John Wagner said: “Rok fans kept asking for a third series of our alien footie saga, but keen as Dan and I were to do it we couldn’t see a way to make it happen. So when Rebellion stepped in and agreed to run it in the Judge Dredd Megazine we went from ’sick as parrots’ to ‘over the moon’ quicker than you could say ‘Fergie time’!
“We’re more than pleased, too, that books one and two will be reprinted first, helping to bring the story to a wider audience. As regular readers will tell you, you don’t have to love football to enjoy Rok of the Reds.
“As for book three – provisionally titled ‘Rok the World’ – in our alien hero’s hands may lie the fate of the human race…not to mention the more weighty matter of promotion for the Radford Reds!”
2000 AD's intergalactic ‘Manager’ Tharg the Mighty said: “With a proven track record, Rok of the Reds is a zarjaz addition to our back line, and will add even more depth of play to the already stacked roster we have in the Meg”
Originally published in two volumes, Rok of the Reds is a black comedy about revenge, redemption, and relegation. It follows Rok of Arkadi, an alien who seeks refuge on Earth after his homeworld is destroyed by bounty hunters. However, his attempts to hide under the radar are complicated when he has a chance meeting with arrogant young footballer Kyle Dixon, a bad boy who has been causing problems for his struggling team.
Assuming Kyle’s identity, Rok finds himself thrust unexpectedly into the spotlight: not only does he have to keep himself safe from ruthless alien bounty hunters – but he’s got games to win! Rok is going to have to learn to love the beautiful game if he’s going to keep his cover intact, or he’ll risk being captured by his enemies… or worse, relegated!
The first two Rok of the Reds stories will begin to be republished in Judge Dredd Megazine towards the end of 2024 – and will be followed by an all-new run from Wagner and Cornwell in 2025!
Markosia has announced that the latest Traveller: Far Trader issue is available for pre-order with issue #3.
Fresh off the smash hit release of Traveller: Riftbreaker #1, Markosia is pleased to announce that the latest instalment in its hit Far Trader series, Traveller: Far Trader #3, is now available for pre-order. Currently dominating the Best Sellers list on DriveThruComics, fans of science fiction won’t want to miss out on this latest adventure set in the world of one of the galaxy’s foremost science fiction role-playing games.
Aramis Subsector on the Imperial Frontier. Aramanx was intended to be a luddite paradise, a pastoral world where the pressure and conflict of life in the Imperium could be forgotten. But things haven’t worked out that way. The balkanised world has become a war zone where its numerous nations are ratcheting up tension with one another. It is a powder keg waiting to blow. The crew of the Slowhand enter this volatile environment, hoping to repair their ship and make a few deals, but getting out unscathed could be trickier than they think.
Tokyopop has announced it’s manga releases coming this summer and autumn.
Publisher TOKYOPOP previews a wide array of new manga titles set for release throughout the Third Quarter. These include a host of new BL romance manga and light novels set for release under the LoveLove imprint as well as a notable new titles to be added to TOKYOPOP’s Comics That Matter collection.
Things kick off in July with the manga and light novel series debuts for MY BEAUTIFUL MAN, followed by additional LoveLove manga imprint series launches for TOO CLOSE TO FALL IN LOVE, JEALOUSY BINDS LOVE, and WAILS OF THE BOUND. August sees the debut of the manga series, WORLD’S END BLUE BIRD. September opens with the debut of the light novel, DINNER FOR THREE, as well as the manga debuts of the one-shot title, THE TROUBLESOME GUEST OF SOTOMURA DETECTIVE AGENCY and a pair of new series including BOYS GILDING THE LILY SHALL DIE!? and SANCTIFY as well as the award-winning single volume release of A SMART AND COURAGEOUS CHILD under the Comics That Matter collection.