Did you know that the 300th issue of The Many Adventures of Miranda Mercury came out last year? If the title sounds a little unfamiliar, then it's because Miranda Mercury, the creation of writer Brandon Thomas and artist Lee Ferguson, hasn't really been around all that long. First, she knocked around as an idea for a sci-fi, space patrolling vigilante in the minds of Thomas and Ferguson, finally reaching the page at Archaia. The first volume of stories, The Many Adventures of Miranda Mercury: Time Runs Out was just recently released, and we thought we'd pick Thomas' brain on the process of creating the character, why he and Ferguson chose to start the series at issue 294, and the challenges of reaching a broader audience with a black, female, science adventurer character.
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Tags Archaia, Brandon Thomas, Lee Ferguson, The Many Advenutres of Miranda Mercury

Archaia Comics jumped in the sack with comiXology a few weeks ago and kicked things off with a nice sale. Now, the publisher behind awesome titles such as Mouse Guard has added 14 new series’ to their digital line-up on comiXology (listed in the image above) and they‘re not done yet. Read more...

Tags Archaia Comics, Comic Books, ComiXology, days Missing, Digital Comics

Recently, we brought you news that Archaia would be making their first foray into prose with the July 25th publication of Conspiracy of the Planet of the Apes. The book, penned by writer Andre E. C. Gaska, is an illustrated novel whose story weaves in and out of the events of the first PoTA story, with art by the luminaries such as Jim Steranko (who provides the book's cover), Joe Jusko, and Mark Texiera among others.

But enough about the book from us. Gaska, the writer behind Critical Millennium: The Dark Frontier and consultant on Rockstar Games' Grand Theft Auto, Red Dead Redemption, and Midnight Club series recently provided MTV Geek with some insight into the upcoming novel through a series of questions via e-mail. Read more...

Tags Andrew E.C. Gaska, Archaia, Conspiracy of the Planet of the Apes, Planet of the Apes

The name of this new weekly column is "New Comics I'm Excited About!" because I just don't blog about comic books...I'm also a fan and go to the comic shop every week to pick up my stack.

Let's look at my pull list for this week...

PICK OF THE WEEK:

I chose Strange Adventures from Vertigo as my pick of the week not just because of the content, but the fact that I'd really like to see more anthologies like this and Dark Horse Presents on the stands. These books often serve not only as forums for familiar creators to let loose and try something new (Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso's "Spaceman"), but edgy indie talents who deserve more exposure to get their work out there (Kevin Colden's “Postmodern Prometheus”). Books like Strange Adventures are the cauldrons from which we might all get those exciting new concepts, characters and talent fans are always requesting instead of the "same-old, same-old" -- too bad it's only a one-shot, and here's hoping DC puts out more of the same in the future. Read more...

Tags Archaia, DC Comics, Image, Marvel Comics, Vertigo

It's a weird-pleasant surprise that in 2011 we're talking about Planet of the Apes in a big way. Of course, the big deal is the upcoming release of the Rise of the Planet of the Apes movie this August which is a reboot of the franchise, plus we told you earlier this year about BOOM!'s comic series penned by Daryl Gregory. Now, we have a new illustrated prose novel tied into the PoTA mythology coming from Archaia, dropping a week before the film.

The new novel, penned by Andrew E.C. Gaska (consultant on Rockstar Games' Grand Theft Auto, Red Dead Redemption, the Midnight Club series) is the first new prose entry in the series since the original novel by Pierre Boulle, and--from the press release--appears to be an exploration of the events in and around the first film. It's unclear how--if at all--the novel will tie into the new continuity being sprung from the upcoming film.

What is clear is that Archaia has picked up a crazy diverse list of talent to provide the illustrations, including the legendary Jim Steranko on the cover and the likes of Joe Jusko and Mark Texeira on the other painted and black and white art included in the book.

Here is the official release from Archaia: Read more...

Tags Archaia, Brian Rood, Conspiracy of the Planet of the Apes, Dan Dussault, David Hueso, Dirk Shearer, Jim Steranko, Joe Jusko, Ken Kelly, Leo Leibelman, Mark Texeira, Matt Busch, Sanjulian, Tom Scioli

Archaia Entertainment’s CEO PJ Bickett announced today that they will be joining comiXology’s digital ranks with the debut of Days Missing on May 18th! Days Missing reveals The Steward as an all powerful being that has shaped the course of human history to his liking. He has used his powers of time and intellect to literally remove days from the pages from our past -- those stories are finally being revealed. Read more...

Tags apps, Archaia Comics, Comic Books, ComiXology, days Missing, Digital Comics

On November 11, visual impresario and director Tarsem Singh's swords, sandals, and gods epic Immortals is hitting the big screen, but in September, Archaia will be providing fans with a glimpse of the world behind the story in the anthology Immortals: Gods and Heroes. Featuring talents like Francisco Francavillia, David Mack, Jock, Chris Roberson, and David Gallaher, it's a new title through Archaia's recently-created Black Label line of books, which are high-end multimedia tie-ins to film and television properties, joining Jim Henson's The Storyteller and The Dark Crystal later this year.

Recently, our own Alex Zalben had a chance to talk to Archaia editor, Nate Cosby about the book, but for those of you who didn't take the opportunity to check the piece out (what, you can't make one little click?), both Immortals and its companion book Gods and Heroes are a gritty retelling of Greek myth, where the heroic Theseus (played by Superman-to-be Henry Cavill in the film) rising up to challenge a mad King Hyperion played by Mickey Rourke, a haunted villain who is seeking a weapon which will allow him to unleash great evil upon the world.

Gods and Heroes weaves in stories around the film--as these things tend to go--taking place as a prequel without trampling on the events of the movie. Archaia has announced that this hardcover will be a flip book with stories featuring the gods on one side and humans on the other. During WonderCon, Cosby explained that it was about characters "fighting not because they can win but because it's better to fight than not" --

                   WonderCon 2011: Nate Cosby Talks Immortals: Gods and Heroes

We'll know more about Immortals closer to its release. Until then, enjoy the new images by Jock!

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Tags Archaia, Immortals, Wondercon 2011

Former Marvel Editor, and current Bulldog enthusiast Nate Cosby is editing two anthologies for Archaia, and writing an ongoing series for Image Comics with newly hot scribe, and all around charming Englishman Ben McCool. The former are both anthologies, a collection of stories inspired by Jim Henson’s Storyteller, and one inspired by the upcoming movie Immortals. The latter is a thriller about what happens when a KGB spy sleeper cell is awakened, and charged with overthrowing the American government.

To find out more about all these projects, how he got there, and how many times his bulldog Daffodil will show up in these books, we chatted with Cosby:

MTV Geek: For those who don’t know you, give ‘em a little introduction – what’s your background?

Nate Cosby: Hello. I’m Nate Cosby from Columbus, Mississipi. I was an editor at Marvel for a while. I oversaw THOR THE MIGHTY AVENGER, THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ, PET AVENGERS, MARVEL ADVENTURES SPIDER-MAN and SUPER HEROES, SENSE & SENSIBILITY, PRIDE & PREJUDICE, FRANKLIN RICHARDS, MINI-MARVELS, DAMAGE CONTROL aaaand like a bazillion other things. I was Associate Editor on also worked on AGENTS OF ATLAS, WORLD WAR HULK, INCREDIBLE HERCULES, WHAT IF…? ?…and I edited the Custom Publishing projects (tie-ins to the Iron Man and Hulk flicks, the Eminem/Punisher project for XXL Magazine, etc).

I’ve also been a producer/writer for children’s television on PBS, and written a few storybooks/movie novelizations for Disney. These days…I write and edit other stuff while my bulldog (Daffodil) sleeps beside me.

Geek: At Marvel, what I always heard from people was this surprise that this “dude” was in charge of the All-Ages titles… Did you ever wish you were a cuddly old guy with glasses on the end of your nose and beard? Or were you fine with that dichotomy?

NC: I dunno, I can embrace my inner Comic Book Geek when I need to (I can ’ll talk about The Life & Times of Scrooge McDuck for hours). I’m passionate about a lot of things that don’t necessarily mix… Hip-hop, college football, romantic comedies, long-distance running, accessible storytelling, meat…When I started at Marvel, I actively worked to be placed in the All-Ages department. All-Ages books are really important to me… You’re making something that can entertain young people whose perception of a narrative is still developing, as well as veteran fans with experience in entertainment absorption. It’s a strange, tricky, fun thing to do, especially when you’re trying to make it personal and clever, not dumbed-down.

Geek: Skipping ahead, it seems your new projects are playing to all your strengths: the “dude” side, and the strong love for all-ages projects. Yes? No? Maybe?

NC: I love playing with genres and projects with different demographics. If I hit a wall on an adult conspiracy project, I’ll jump over to a book for kids. Or if I’m feeling too sappy and sugary on a romantic story, I’ll hop over and tinker with a crazy action script. I don’t feel the need to limit myself to one genre or demographicspeed. It’s all storytelling to me.

Geek: You also seem to really be easing into things. I know you have a lot of projects in the works – which we’ll get to in a second – but rather than saying, “Here I am, I’m launching my own solo projects right off!” You’re editing two anthologies, and co-writing a book. Was that the plan, or is that just how things worked out?

NC: I was offered an offered an opportunity to help develop a couple projects for TV, which kept me busy at first. But after a couple months, my comic itch got to tingling, so I started scratching out a few ideas in my spare time, talking to people I knew at other companies, listening to a few offers. Everything I’m doing, both announced and still-being-developed, has grown pretty organically. Taking a little time off comics was good for me, let me clear my head, get off the never-ending comics-production carousel and , make a long-term plan. It’s been really positive so far. Read more...

Tags Archaia Press, Immortals, Jim Henson, Marvel Comics, Nate Cosby

Additional reporting by Valerie D'Orazio

Archaia announced their continuing commitment to bringing the classic works of Jim Henson to comic books at WonderCon this weekend. Not only will they be bringing back The Dark Crystal, but The Storyteller and a lost treasure from the Henson vaults.

Every "80s Kid" remembers the 1982 fantasy film The Dark Crystal, about the quest by Gelflings Jen and Kira to locate a mystical shard of crystal. It was, in a sense, a darker Henson project than people were used to -- sort of the link between the Muppets and 1986's Labyrinth. What will Archaia do with the property? Will it be a movie adaptation, or a continuation of the story? I've no doubt Henson fans find the possibilities intriguing!

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Tags Archaia Press, Jim Henson, The Dark Crystal, The Storyteller, WonderCon

It’s taken over three and a half years, but writer (and Jeopardy!-winner) Andrew Rostan has finally gotten his OGN, An Elegy For Amelia Johnson published this week through Archaia. During C2E2, Rostan was visibly exuberant to have his work out in the wild, telling MTV a little about its journey from initial concept to finished product.

The story is about the titular Amelia who, upon finding out that she’s dying of cancer, convinces her friends to lifelong friends to journey cross-country to chronicle her life. The friends are Henry, an Oscar-winning documentarian, and Jillian, a high-strung magazine writer, and through the course of learning more about their friend they begin to discover more about each other and the lives that—in spite of their successes—they’ve failed to live.

Rostan hopes that readers come away from Amelia Johnson feeling “a greater sense of something for others” after reading this story about “what it means to be human.” When we last spoke with Rostan and artist Dave Veleza about the book two months ago, Rostan explained how the themes of the book were born, in part, by the difficulties he was having in life at the time attempting to understand who he wanted to be and how he wanted to live:

In fact, probably the best passages of it were written in a time when I was really unsure where my future was heading… Amelia became, in a lot of ways, a projection of what I wanted, but more importantly, a goal so many of us in this world should aim for. Amelia is… a happy woman because she chose what she wanted and accomplished it. She chose what she wanted out of her life, what she wanted out of love, and her relationships, and that was the basis for her contentment.

             C2E2 2011: Andrew Rostan On The Humanity Of 'An Elegy For Amelia Johnson'
Rostan credits Savannah Institute of Art and Design grad Veleza with successfully visualizing the world in the script, saying “I would get a little heart attack every time I opened my e-mail.” Unfortunately, Veleza was unavailable to finish work on the book, necessitating his SIAD classmate Kate Kasenow to come in and work on the remainder of the book, finishing it in what Rostan says was record time. Veleza’s SIAD classmates also came through in a pinch, delivering feedback during its creation about the structure and throughline of the book resulting in Rostan scrapping and subsequently re-writing 70% of the story. Read more...

Tags An Elegy for Amelia Johnson, Andrew Rostan, Archaia, C2E2