New Animal Man and Frankenstein #1's Coming in September!

Via Entertainment Weekly this morning....

A new Swamp Thing, a new Frankenstein, and more: DC Comics will roll out more new #1s:

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DC Comics continues to roll out announcements of new first-issuesfeaturing famous characters and creators in striking combinations. This morning we start off with two highly intriguing combos: Scott Snyder, who’s been doing such strong work on American Vampire, will write a new version of Swamp Thing, and Jeff Lemire, author of one of comics’ finest current books, Sweet Tooth, is taking on Animal Man. Since re-workings of Swamp Thing and Animal Man are so closely associated with other, earlier writers (Alan Moore and Grant Morrison, respectively), these re-re-imaginings are bound to be both fascinating and, perhaps inevitably, subjects of debate.

Other new supernatural/fantasy/horror-themed books that will be announced by DC Comics today and scheduled to publish in September include:

• Justice League Dark, what DC terms “a band of supernatural heroes” — John Constantine, Deadman, Shade the Changing Man and Madame Xanadu (wouldn’t it be cool if they really were supposed to be a band?) – written by Peter Milligan.

• Demon Knights, super-heroism set in medieval times, a premise that would have me yawning except that it’s being written by Paul Cornell, who did such a terrific job recently onKnight and Squire, and on Lex Luthor in Action Comics.

• Frankenstein, Agent of SHADE, which may be the most below-the-radar promising of all. The writer is again Jeff Lemire, taking the Frankenstein monster and turning him/it into an action hero alongside other fictional monsters in the service of a government organization: The Super Human Advanced Defense Executive. This giddy mish-mash has the potential for either delicious cleverness or disastrous offal. Either way, I’m in for issue #1.

DC Comics co-publisher Dan DiDio told me these new titles are intended to “shake up the status quo” and to take the company and its creators “out of their comfort zone,” to inspire “new, fresh” creativity.

ESSEX COUNTY TO BE ADAPTED TO FILM

Visual effects supervisor John Dykstra has set up his first feature film directing gig called Super Zero, which is an adaptation of the comic book Essex Country: Tales from the Farm. Dykstra most recently worked on the film X-Men: First Class, which was a pretty incredible movie for those of you who haven't seen it yet.

Tales of the Farm was created by Jeff Lemire, and was adapted into screenplay form by John Carr. The film will be shot live action, but will include heavy special effects sequences. The story is described as being edgy, but family-friendly. The story follows an orphaned 10-year-old who goes to live on a farm with his uncle. As their relationship grows strained, he befriends the town's gas station owner, a former pro hockey player, and the pair escape into a private fantasy world of superheroes and alien invaders.

The comic book has won several awards and according to Variety "the producers' plan is to "make a big splash at ComicCon, where Lemire and the publisher, Top Shelf Productions, will make an appearance." Producers will be making a very hard push over the next few weeks, which will include casting announcements as well as financing and distribution commitments. After that a package will be sent out to the studios.

Dykstra also worked on the original Star Wars film, Spider-Man 2, and was a producer on the original 1978 Battlestar Galatica series. Here's what he had to say in a statement,

I've been so involved in films that are primarily based on the action sequences and over-the-top visuals that this to me was incredibly attractive just based on the depth of the characters and the evocative nature of the story.

This sounds like it could to out to be a very fun sci-fi movie. Here's a description of the story from the comic book:

Xeric-Award-winning cartoonist Jeff Lemire (Lost Dogs) illustrates the tale of Lester, an orphaned 10-year-old who goes to live on his Uncle's farm. Their relationship grows increasingly strained and Lester befriends the town's gas station owner, and damaged former hockey star Jimmy Lebeuf. The two escape into a private fantasy world of super-heroes, alien invaders and good old-fashioned pond Hockey. Tales from the Farm is the first volume in a trilogy of graphic novels set in a fictionalized version of Lemire's hometown of Essex County, Ontario.

http://geektyrant.com/news/2011/6/6/essex-county-comic-book-to-get-film-adaptation-called-super.html

Win a page of Sweet Tooth Art!!

In Store Signing, June 8 4-7 pm at Comics and More!

Sketchbook Update

Just a quick update on the sketchbooks some of you ordered a few weeks back. It's taken much longer than expected to do sketches in all 100 sketchbooks I ended up selling online. I apologize for the delay, but the books will be shipped out by the end of this week and should arrive within the next week or two depending where you live.

Also I wanted to clarify the sketch policy. Please understand that I am not taking requests for the sketches inside the book, in fact they are just very quick doodles, not elaborate, detailed commissions. If anyone is unhappy with this, I will be happy to provide a full refund, simply email me.

Thanks for your patience!

ULTRA THE MULTI-ALIEN Out Today!

Today the STRANGE ADVENTURES Anthology from Vertigo hits stores and in addition to great stories by the likes of Brian Azzarello, Eduardo Risso, Pete Milligan and others it features an 8-page Sci-Fi story by me.

As a challenge from editor Mark Doyle I did a story about one of, if not the strangest characters in DC Comic' history, ULTRA THE MULTI-ALIEN (His original appearance from Mystery In Space #103 featured above). I'm really proud of how the comic came out, it may be my best short story and features great colors by my Sweet Tooth collaborator Jose Villarubia and awesome old-school lettering by Superboy's letterer John J. Hill.

Above I've posted my initial design sketch for the character from my personal sketchbook and below are some of the layouts for the story. Check them out then go grab the comic to see the finished story!

Double Dose of SUPERBOY in August!

SUPERBOY #10-11

Written by JEFF LEMIRE
Art by PIER GALLO, PETE WOODS and CAFU
Covers by KARL KERSCHL
SUPERBOY ships twice in August!
First, in SUPERBOY #10, learn how the threat currently facing Superboy and Smallville stretches all the way back to the time of ancient Atlantis! Guest-starring Arion and the Viking Prince, with art by Pete Woods and CAFU!

Then, in SUPERBOY #11, Jeff Lemire and Pier Gallo bring the saga of “The Hollow Men” to its explosive conclusion! Superboy, Lori, Simon and Psionic Lad must fight for the very soul of Smallville hundreds of miles beneath the town’s surface!
Issue #10 on sale AUGUST 3
Issue #11 on sale AUGUST 17
32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T