New King Features series debut with covers by Darwyn

This is the connected image of all five covers that Darwyn illustrated for the first issues of Dynamite Entertainment's KING group of comics.

Celebrating 100 years of King Features with a crossover comic book event - Flash Gordon, Mandrake The Magician, Prince Valiant, The Phantom, and Jungle Jim return in 2015.

Place your orders through your local comic book store now!

 

All five first issues of KING connect to form a one-of-a-kind image from Darwyn Cooke.

There are also black & white cover variants as well as variants by Salas and Liefeld.

NOV141191   KING FLASH GORDON #1 (OF 4)

NOV141197   KING MANDRAKE MAGICIAN #1 (OF 4)

NOV141203   KING PRINCE VALIANT #1 (OF 4)

NOV141209   KING THE PHANTOM #1 (OF 4)

NOV141215   KING JUNGLE JIM #1 (OF 4)

Jeremy Dale

We're all reeling from the absolutely horrible news that Jeremy Dale has passed away, all too suddenly and far too soon. 

Jeremy was one of the young guys I've met on the con circuit that always impressed. Jeremy the person was just like his work; Upbeat, sweet and tireless. He did his work his way, and in an all too rare occurrence that meant wholesome and hopeful stories that anyone could read and enjoy. 

Jeremy did this out of sheer love and will and did it without a major publisher. That means no steady paycheck, no pension, no backstop. But he had something better than all of that. He had his dreams, and he had a partner that shared them. 

Right now, the center of our grief and thoughts are with Kelly, Jeremy's wife and partner. They were most truly a team, and now Kelly needs all of us. If you can spare a few dollars, please go to gofundme.com/jeremydale to contribute. 

May your God bless you, Jeremy. 

Love 
Darwyn and Marsha

Darwyn covers King Features Dynamite debuts

Forgive the "Variety" style headline, just seemed to work in this case.

Dynamite Comics is bringing the famous King Features adventure characters back into comic books and for the first issues, Darwyn is providing the covers.

You may have seen some of these images with blackout spots on the characters as Dynamite was teasing them out via social media over the last couple of weeks. The King / Dynamite comics will begin in January.

Here they are in their full glory:

for more information on the individual series and their creative teams, the full article is at icv2 here.

This December, DC stands for Darwyn Cooke!

Forgive the hyperbole of the title - I just think it's great news.

DC Comics continues its themed variants, having done “Bombshells”, “Batman 75th Anniversary”, and “Selfies” for its alternate covers each month. They have just announced that cartoonist Darwyn has done 23 variant covers for December in his smooth retro style. All of Cooke’s December variants will be in the “landscape” format.

The complete list of Cooke’s variants for December includes:

Action Comics #37

Aquaman #37

Batgirl #37

Batman #37

Batman & Robin #37

Batman/Superman #17

Catwoman #37

Detective Comics #37

The Flash #37

Harley Quinn #12

He-Man: The Eternity War #1

Grayson #4

Green Lantern #37

Green Lantern Corps #37

Justice League United #7

Justice League #37

Justice League Dark #37

Teen Titans #5

Sinestro #8

Supergirl #37

Superman #37

Superman/Wonder Woman #14

and Wonder Woman #37.

Contact your local comic book store to order these covers.

They should be easily ordered and at regular cover price at least during the month of release.

PARKER AND THE TORONTO COMIC ARTS FESTIVAL

Hey CanadAmerica; 

Darwyn here. I wanted to drop by and bring attention to our appearance at TCAF this coming weekend, which will see the launch of the Illustrated Parker novels as well as a host of other cool events.

Bringing the Parker novels back in a premium hardcover form with illustration plates is something I've dreamed of for years, and as the dream moved closer to a scheduled reality I realized I wanted the book launch to happen in my hometown of Toronto. That immediately made me think of TCAF and what a fitting show it would be for the launch.

For those who haven't attended TCAF, it isn't your typical North American comics show. More European in approach, it avoids the mainstream and focuses on the art of cartooning and creating comics. An International guest list unrivalled in North America. In depth workshops. An amazing emphasis on comics for Kids as well as the cognoscenti. Free admission to the show proper.The Doug Wright Awards. Panels in local bars. 

http://torontocomics.com/

Need I say more?

Oh yeah, the location. The Toronto reference library is one of the coolest examples of seventies Toronto architecture. Built in '77, my father (a construction foreman) and some of my uncles installed all of the glass in the building. He took us there when it opened, and I can recall being dazzled by it's Logan's Run style moderne.

As a teen I remember pouring over their reference files for illustrations and comic projects. One day I discovered they had bound copies of old periodicals and ended up spending seven hours reading Esquire magazines from the sixties. Long Fall evenings feeding dimes into the old photocopier because you couldn't check out the materials. I bought my first used Parker paperback about a block north in a used bookstore about 30 years ago. So the juju is strong for me in that funky library.

I can't imagine a better time or place for the Parker Novel launch. Scott Dunbier and I will be there with Marsha, bearing a TCAF edition of The Hunter, a limited edition TCAF Parker print, and special editions of the Parker graphic novels.

Scott and I will also be at a spotlight panel on Saturday hosted by Tom Spurgeon at the Pilot tavern. Sunday Spurge has me on a design panel with hypertalents Mimi Pond, Ed Piskor and Kate Skelly. There is an amazing lineup of programming at TCAF. For the full list, follow the link;

http://torontocomics.com/news/tcaf-2014-announces-complete-programming-line-up/

For me, the event of the weekend will be teaming back up with my old partner in crime Ed Brubaker for a night at the Bloor Cinema. We're going to jaw about the crime and the noir, and then screen Kubrick's The Killing, one of the greatest caper movies ever made. Afterward, we'll be at the Beguiling for more chat and some signing.

http://torontocomics.com/events/ed-brubaker-darwyn-cooke-in-conversation-kubricks-the-killing/

This is going to be an amazing weekend for comics, Toronto. So drop by and see us at table 180 on the main floor, Saturday or Sunday.

Signing at the Beguiling during TCAF and screening of Kubrick's The Killing with Ed Brubaker

Darwyn will be at "an evening of Criminal Activity featuring a screening of The Killing, Stanley Kubrick's crime noir classic, at the Bloor Cinema in Toronto during the Toronto Comic Arts Festival weekend (http://torontocomics.com). Tickets are $7, $10 at the door. More info is at the Bloor Cinema here.

It will be followed by a signing at The Beguiling.

(As if you needed more reasons to get to TCAF!)

new Batman Beyond short!

"Darwyn Cooke's Batman Beyond" animated short, part of the Batman 75th anniversary celebrations, is up on Yahoo Movies / Videos now.
Featuring Bruce Wayne (voiced by Kevin Conroy) and Terry McGinnis (voiced by Will Friedle), they  confront a very familiar foe.

https://movies.yahoo.com/video/batman-beyond-short-film-192211473.html

Batman's 75th anniversary animated short

Darwyn is working on a short film to honour Batman's 75th anniversary. A preview was released today featuring Batman Beyond. Watch it below:

New Frontier in one softcover volume next February!

February 10th of 2015 will see the release of DC: The New Frontier! Written and illustrated by Darwyn, the all-in-one volume will be 480 pages, standard trade paperback dimensions collects the entire epic DC: THE NEW FRONTIER in a single trade paperback, along with sketch and background material from the absolute edition.

You probably know the story already, but just in case: In the 1950s, Cold War paranoia has resulted in the mystery men of the Golden Age being outlaws. Stalwarts such as Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman continued to fight for truth and justice, but as the world hurtles toward an uncertain future, it would take a new breed of hero to define the American Way. DC: THE NEW FRONTIER takes readers on an epic journey from the end of the Golden Age of heroes to the beginnings of the legendary Justice League of America.

Collects DC: THE NEW FRONTIER #1-6, JUSTICE LEAGUE: THE NEW FRONTIER SPECIAL #1 and material from ABSOLUTE DC: THE NEW FRONTIER.

Contact your local bookseller, comic shop or on-line retailer to order!

Stan Sakai fund-raiser auction is on now!

Darwyn has donated a Green Lantern piece for the STAN & SHARON SAKAI BENEFIT AUCTION currently running on ebay here.

Done in Pen/Ink on bristol paper and about 10 1/2 X 14 inches in size, Green Lantern is shown flying through space, probably on his way to save the galaxy when he's supposed to be meeting Carol Ferris for dinner!

The auction is organized by CAPS (Comic Art Professional Society) to help aid USAGI YOJIMBO creator Stan Sakai and his wonderful wife Sharon with increasing medical bills due to Sharon's present debilitating illness. There are donations by many of the industry's top artists, companies, and fans alike. With over 400 pieces to be auctioned, they will be listing 30-40 pieces of original art, signed prints and books, and limited edition statues every week.

100% of the proceeds of the auctions go directly to Stan & Sharon Sakai.

As a major part of the auctions, they will be selling many pieces of Usagi Yojimbo tribute art by fans and professionals alike. Much of this art will be published in July by Dark Horse in the book THE SAKAI PROJECT: ARTISTS CELEBRATE THIRTY YEARS OF USAGI YOJIMBO. Because of their love for Stan & Sharon, the list of professionals who contributed to this project is unbelievably impressive! Don't miss a chance to own great Usagi artwork by your favourite artists! Order a copy today from your local comic book shop. The order code for THE SAKAI PROJECT is "MAR140071".

The Parker Illustrated Novels debuts this May with "The Hunter"

From IDW's press release:

In 1962, Donald E. Westlake, writing under the pseudonym Richard Stark, created what would become one of the most important and enduring crime fiction series' ever produced-PARKER. Westlake wrote more than 20 Parker novels, many are considered classics of the genre, and a number of which have transitioned to the big screen. Most notable of these is Point Blank, directed by John Boorman and starring Lee Marvin, released in 1967. Westlake received many accolades during his distinguished career, including being named a Grand Master by the Mystery Writer's of America, that prestigious organization's highest honour. 

A signed and numbered edition of this book will be available at a later date.

Darwyn Cooke has adapted four Parker books as graphic novels so far, including the recently released Slayground. The first three, The Hunter, The Outfit, and The Score have all won Eisner and Harvey Awards. He will be providing all-new color illustrations for The Hunter, the first in a series of hardcover prose novels released in chronological order and featuring Cooke's art.

The Hunter, the first book in the Parker series, is the story of a man who hits New York head-on like a shotgun blast to the chest. Betrayed by the woman he loves and double-crossed by his partner in crime, Parker makes his way cross-country with only one thought burning in his mind-to coldly exact his revenge and reclaim what was taken from him!

For ordering from your local comic book store, they might need the item code: FEB140359.

Priced at $24.99 US, it's estimated to be released on May 14, 2014 and is a 160 page full-colour hardcover.