Comics

One of the Most Inventive Creator-Owned Comics Announces Its Return

“They’ve finished with the game. But the game isn’t finished with them.”

Image Credit: Image Comics

A fan-favorite creator-owned comic book series is making its way back to comic book stores this fall. It’s a competitive market for new comics to try and break through all the noise. It helps to have a compelling hook for a story, plus recognizable creators with a huge following can drive sales. When it comes to the creator-owned space, the majority of successful independent comics are from Image Comics. Typically, creators will make a name for themselves at the Big 2 (Marvel, DC) and then leverage their following at Image to tell stories that they own the rights to. Two of the bigger-named creators are Kieron Gillen and Stephanie Hans, and they’re bringing their RPG-inspired comic back with a vengeance.

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Image Comics announced the return of the British Fantasy Award-winning, three-time Hugo Award-nominated Die by writer Kieron Gillen and artist Stephanie Hans. A new story arc will begin in November’s Die: Loaded, which picks up with the Die cast as they try to reacclimate themselves to life back on Earth after the events of the original series.

Die Has Been Called a “Goth Jumanji”

“In the nineties, six teenagers disappeared into a fantasy role-playing game. Only five returned. Nearly thirty years later, these broken adults are dragged back to discover the game isnโ€™t finished with them yet,” a description of Die reads. Debuting in 2019, Die is described as “goth Jumanji” and sparked a wave of RPG-inspired storytelling.

Cover A by Stephanie Hans
Theย Die RPG Quickstart Game Guide cover

A launch for Theย Die RPG Quickstart Game Guide is also being planned to release simultaneously alongside Die: Loaded for fans interested in trying out the Origin Award-winningย Die RPGย in a standalone and inexpensive format. All you need to play are dice, friends, and a desire to get sucked into the game.

โ€œDie was created by us to talk about fantasy and reality, for as long as we have stories to tell. Suffice to say, we do, and Die: Loaded exactly how much else we have to share, to delight, move and horrify you,โ€ said Gillen. โ€œPlus itโ€™s also important for Die that we give other people a chance to tell their stories. Itโ€™s why we wrote the RPG, and with the Quickstart, we want to let even more people in on the party.โ€

Hans added: โ€œAs an artist, it is such a unique to come back and expand a universe in which we poured so much love. Die is an ever-extending work of art and I have the privilege to shape it alongside Kieron.โ€

A year after the hellish game world events of Die #20, the players reunite in Die: Loaded to gather for Chuckโ€™s wake. Theyโ€™ve finished with the game. But the game isnโ€™t finished with them. Get ready to roll initiative. Whoโ€™s going to DIE this time?

Die: Loaded #1 goes on sale Wednesday, November 12th.