It’s certainly the best time to be a Comic Book Geek! Writer Scott Snyder and illustrator Jeff Lemire’s incredible A.D.: AFTER DEATH, a three-part epic series published by Image Comics, has been acquired by Sony in a significant deal in a multi-party bidding war, to be developed into a feature film. Snyder and Lemire will serve as Executive Producers on the project.
Josh Bratman of Immersive Pictures will work alongside Eric Fineman at Columbia to produce the film. Bratman is also developing Lemire and Dustin Nguyen’s comic series DESCENDER into a feature film franchise.
A.D. is set in a future where a genetic cure for death has been found. One man, years after the discovery of the cure, starts to question everything, leading him on a mind-bending journey that will bring him face-to-face with his past and his own mortality.
A.D. is the first project Snyder and Lemire, longtime friends and both acclaimed and bestselling comic creators in their own right, have worked on together. This is the first project Lemire has illustrated that he has not also written. Book 1 was published November 2016, with Book 2 available December 21, 2016.
Snyder is a New York Times bestselling author and an Eisner and Harvey Award winning writer (AMERICAN VAMPIRE with Stephen King, SWAMP THING, BATMAN). His short story collection, VOODOO HEART, was published by Dial Press in 2006. The collection received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Booklist, and was a Kirkus Reviews “Hot Debut” of the year. WYTCHES, his creator-owned Image Comics graphic novel series with illustrator Jock, is under option at New Regency with Plan B producing.
Lemire is a New York Times bestselling author and the creator of the acclaimed graphic novels SWEET TOOTH, ESSEX COUNTY, THE UNDERWATER WELDER, and TRILLIUM. Having won the American Library Association’s prestigious Alex Award—recognizing books for adults with specific teen appeal—and having been nominated for multiple Eisner awards and Harvey awards, Lemire currently writes the monthly adventures of MOON KNIGHT (DC Comics), THE X-MEN (Marvel), and his creator-owned ongoing DESCENDER (Image Comics). The rights to Lemire and Emi Lenox’s PLUTONA at Image Comics have been acquired by Ken Kao to produce as a feature film. Lemire’s graphic novel trilogy ESSEX COUNTY is under option to Canadian production company First Generation Films with Christina Piovesan producing as a TV series.
In other Comic Book related news. The Artist owned Z2 Comics has been on fire as of late! You’ve heard me go on about WWI War Veteran Anti-Bond Noir Classic Carver: A Paris Story by Christopher Hunt which is featured in my recent All Things Geek 2016 Holiday Gift Shopping Guide.
Another gem is Kwanza Osajyefo’s fearless and unforgettable BLACK that strips the veneer off traditional comic thin racial metaphors with a simple and jarring question – “What if only Black people developed superpowers?” In this world writer Kwanza Osajyefo, designer Tim Smith 3, artists Jamal Igle, Khary Randolph (covers), Sarah Stern (tones), and editor Sarah Litt. Black men can develop superpowers and the series’ creators chronicle how the world would react — and how those superpowerd black men might respond. During thier highly successful Kickstarter campaign I interviewed the creators and it’s definitely worth your time to read “In Depth Interview With BLACK Comic Creators” BLACK available wherever comics are sold or contact publisher http://z2comics.com
Now here is Z2 Comics hat trick LEGEND:DEFEND THE GROUNDS
What if a biological terror agent wiped out most of humanity and our domesticated animals were left in charge? How would our dogs and cats set about about ruling and rebuilding the world?
Acclaimed novelist Samuel Sattin (THE SILENT END) an award-winning artist Chris Kohler make their graphic novel debut with LEGEND: DEFEND THE GROUNDS. A gripping post apocalyptic tale in the vein of Cormac MC Carthy’s THE ROAD, where cat technology rules, (they had me at armored cats) dogs partner with hawks and humans are things of Lovecraftian nightmares! Originally published in comic book form by Z2 Comics and now available for the first time as a graphic novel LEGEND tackles religious conflict, opposing political systems and the environment all through the eyes of our four legged friends.
As LEGEND begins, in the ruins of an unnamed devastated city. The Alpha of the Dog Tribe, a wise, one eared German Shepard named Ransom has been murdered by mysterious creature known as the Enddark. An English Pointer named Legend reluctantly rises to lead his tribe and become the new “Sunheart” which is the title the Dog Tribe leader is bestowed, vowing to rally his Pack, kill the monster once and for all. My favorite character was Legends Lieutenant, a fierce Rottwilder named Herman who has no love for the humans who abused him and trained him to fight and kill his own kind nor upholding the brokered truce with the nearby Cat Tribe. Novelist Samual Staten and Chris Kohler who’s illustrations have appeared in the Atlantic and Wired have created a reading experience that recalls beloved childhood stories while creating something both dark & entirely new, since dogs actually see the world differently than we do the color pallet and over saturated glow for the canine world is breathtaking. LEGEND combines unforgettable characters, exceptional world building, and delivers an unforgettable, bitter sweet read first page to last!
LEGEND is a special book for both pet lovers who’ve never read a comic before. Biblophiles and passionate comic readers looking for a cool unique gift idea! (WATERSHIP DOWN with ARMORED CATS? I mean come on!) This graphic novel debut knocked my socks off and I give LEGEND my full-throated recommendation!
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