Beloved arthouse comics studio Fantagraphics will launch its own superhero line in March, bringing in top-tier talent to bring a fresh perspective to the genre.
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The hope, presumably, is to make superhero comics that elevate comics as an art form and look at sequential art differently, in keeping with Fantagraphics’ usual publishing goals.
They will also bring in a diverse talent pool that bridges generations, with early announcements being Al Milgrom (co-creator of Firestorm), Ben Marra and Noah Van Sciver.
Featuring characters like Atlas, Blind Justice, Bullwhip, and Crime Destroyer (each of whom will get their own solo stories), Fantagraphics’ All Time Comics line hopes to re-establish comics as the pre-eminent home of the groundbreaking superhero story.
“All Time Comics is celebration of independent comics and the best of pulpy superhero comics of the past,” writer Josh Bayer, who will shepherd the line, told Entertainment Weekly. “We are making a circle complete. This is also a period when comics seem to be in danger of being eclipsed by movies and video games, and All Time Comics is here to remind people that comics, not movies, not action figures or toys, that started our cultural obsession with superheroes. All Time Comics is us, and we stand for comics. Comics are not fading. They will stand… for all time.”
Herb Trimpe, the veteran Marvel Comics artist best known for contributing to the creation of Wolverine during his long run on The Incredible Hulk, will have some artwork in All Time Comics, in spite of having passed away in April of 2015.
Trimpe, who hadn not worked regularly in comics for years at the time of his death, has already had some of his work published posthumously in the form of a backup story he contributed to Savage Dragon #200.
More Herb Trimpe News: Marvel Comics Legend Trimpe To Draw Savage Dragon / Hero Initiative Unveils Exclusive Herb Trimpe Wolverine Image / Erik Larsen On Herb Trimpe’s Savage Drgaon story / Herb Trimpe Passes Away / Remembering Herb Trimpe, by Erik Larsen
You can check out the first two covers in the attached image gallery and the solicitation text for All Time Comics: Crime Destroyer #1 below. You can pre-order that issue at the Fantagraphics website.
All Time Comics: Crime Destroyer #1
Benjamin Marra, Josh Bayer, Herb Trimpe
$4.99
This product will be shipped on 03/31/2017
From Fantagraphics, the publisher of the world’s greatest cartoonists, comes ALL TIME COMICS, a shared superhero universe featuring the world’s most fanta*stic heroes. Atlas! Blind Justice! Bullwhip! Crime Destroyer! Each issue of ALL TIME COMICS features a mash up of new cartoonists and classic comic book creators collaborating with writer Josh Bayer to unleash superhero stories that no other publisher would dare to publish: a stunning series of six comic books featuring startling stand alone, interconnected adventures chock full of retro crime fighting.
ALL TIME COMICS: CRIME DESTROYER #1 is a 36 page oversized spectacular featuring the wonderful writing of Josh Bayer, the irresistible inks of Ben Marra and the last art by legendary artist Herb Trimpe, who co-created Wolverine. The first issue also features covers by acclaimed cartoonists Jim Rugg and Johnny Ryan. Upcoming issues feature art by Rick Buckler Jr., Ben Marra, Al Milgrom, Noah Van Sciver, and more!
