The Allred Family Are Taking on Jack Kirby's Forager in Young Animal's BUG!

02/14/2017 06:47 pm EST

Michael, Laura, and Lee Allred are teaming up this spring to take on Jack Kirby's DC Universe in Bug!: the Adventures of Forager.

The miniseries, which will be published under DC and Gerard Way's Young Animal imprint, was announced this morning at The AV Club, where it was described as "a multiversal journey" featuring not only Forager the Bug but also Kirby's takes on characters like Sandman and the Blue Beetle.

Allred, the creator of Madman and co-creator of iZombie, will continue to work on Marvel's Silver Surfer with Dan Slott, but will reduce his public appearances in 2017 to accommodate the increased workload.

"I am absolutely thrilled to have the first family of comics, the Allreds, producing Bug!: The Adventures Of Forager," Gerard Way, curator of the Young Animal imprint, told The AV Club. "This year, DC is celebrating the fantastic brain of Jack Kirby and this is our offering to that wonderful tribute. In Young Animal fashion, this miniseries takes an alternative look at a character from the past, Forager, who still has a few unturned stones in his history. The Allreds' brand of wild and weird fits perfectly with what we are doing, and in some ways inspired various aspects of the imprint — so it only makes sense to bring them in to do what they do best. We can't wait to show you what they're cooking up and hope this is the first of many family projects for the imprint that they'll be involved in."

Both Marvel and DC are celebrating the hundredth birthday of Jack Kirby this year; at Marvel, it's with Monsters Unleashed, an event miniseries that centers on a number of Kirby-created monster characters. DC has Bug! as well as The Kamandi Challenge, which unfolds throughout the year with over a dozen creative teams flexing their muscles on one of Kirby's best-loved worlds.

Michael and Laura Allred are no strangers to Young Animal, having done the art for April's Doom Patrol #7.

Michael Allred took to Twitter moments after this story was published to note that he and his brother have worked together on FF, Batman '66, Batman Black & White, and Solo. You can check the tweet for specific issue numbers if you're not already familiar.

"Every time I get to work with my 'big bro' Lee, it's like tapping into our most thrilling childhood comic book daydreams," said Michael Allred. "If you gave me the chance to list the characters I'd most like to get my hands on from Kirby's Fourth World, Forager the Bug sits squarely at the top. And now we are throwing him into the DC's Young Animal mix, winding him up and letting him go! When you add in our not-so-secret weapon of Laura's magical colors, I couldn't possibly be more pumped about this series!"

More Jack Kirby news: Stan Lee reveals Kirby's last words to him | Kirby, Simon, & the dawn of the romance comic | Breaking down The Kamandi Challenge's cliffhanger with Dan Abnett | Check out Jack Kirby's The Kamandi Challenge cameo

Bug!: The Adventures of Forager will be on the stands in May.

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