A belated Happy New Year to all ’Warp fans! Sorry for the lack of posts around here, but I’ve been so busy overseeing the titles we’ve got lined up for 2013 (our 20th Anniversary year!) that I haven’t had the time to tell you what’s coming down the pipeline. So let’s get to it, shall we?
The Saga of Pandora Zwieback
Yes, I know Blood Reign: The Saga of Pandora Zwieback, Book 2 is running extremely late (boy, do I ever!), but you will be reading it this spring—and I hope you’ll think it was worth the wait. Pan was in some dire straits when we last saw her at the cliffhanger ending of Book 1, Blood Feud, and Book 2 hits the ground running on April 30 as we find out what happens to her next.
Then on May 8 The Saga of Pandora Zwieback Annual #1 will hit comic book shops through Diamond Comic Distributors, the U.S.’s premier distributor to the direct market. It’s a 48-page full-color special featuring “Song of the Siren,” a tale of Pan and her boyfriend Javi on their first date, written by me, with art and color by the always amazing Eliseu Gouveia, who also drew and colored our freebie comic, The Saga of Pandora Zwieback #0, and is one of the contributing artists to our Mature Readers graphic novel, Lorelei: Sects and the City.
The annual also includes “After Hours,” a short backup tale of the Paniverse by writer Sholly Fisch (DC’s 2012 Action Comics Annual #1 and the Eisner Award–nominated series All-New Batman: The Brave and the Bold) and the legendary Ernie Colon (co-creator and artist of the original version of DC’s recently revived Amethyst, Princess of Gemworld). Plus there’s “Shopping Maul,” an exclusive short story by me, about Pan and her friends in the “Fiend Club” butting heads with Elegant Gothic Loilta vampires. And check out that cover art by Henar Torinos, writer/artist of the Spanish graphic novel series Mala Estrella (Bad Star)—pretty sweet, huh?
Lorelei: Sects and the City
It’s true that our first Mature Readers graphic novel was published last June—to rave reviews, I might add—but toward the end of 2012 it attracted the attention of Diamond Comic Distributors, and by December they’d added Lori to their upcoming releases. Look for Lorelei: Sects and the City when it debuts at your local comic shop tomorrow, February 6.
Also available on February 6 will be the graphic novel’s digital edition. Can’t make it to the comic shop to pick up a print copy? Then you’ll be able to download the book from the StarWarp Concepts webstore and our shop at DriveThru Fiction for the extremely seductive price of just $5.99!
For those of you unfamiliar with this title, here’s the basic pitch: Lorelei: Sects and the City is the tale of a soul-stealing succubus named Lorelei Munro who tries to stop Elder God worshipers from summoning their ancient masters. Featuring a cover painting by comics legend Esteban Maroto (Vampirella), a script by me, and art by Eliseu Gouveia, Steve Geiger (Web of Spider-Man), and Neil Vokes (Fright Night), it’s perfect for fans of old-school horror comics, Hammer horror movies, and fantastic “good girl” art.
Don’t know where your local comic book dealer is located? Then visit the Comic Shop Locator and help spread the word!
Free Comic Book Day
May 4, 2013 (the day after the movie Iron Man 3 opens) is the eleventh celebration of Free Comic Book Day at comic shops around the world, and we’ll be offering yet another title for you to download. This time it’s Heartstopper: The Legend of La Bella Tenebrosa #3, the final issue of the never-completed 1990s miniseries that starred monster hunter Sebastienne “Annie” Mazarin long before her role as mentor in the Pan Zwieback novels. It features a script by me, pencils by Holly Golightly (School Bites), inks by “Chainsaw” Chuck Majewski, and cover colors by Eliseu Gouveia.
StarWarp Concepts Book Festival II
Last year we held our first online convention to coincide with October’s New York Comic Con. This year we’ve decided to move it up on the schedule to June 21, the first official day of summer, to help kick off your beach reading. We’ll be focusing on e-books this time around, so prepare your Kindles, Nooks, iPads, or whatever reader you own for some bargains!
Graphic Novels and Comics
Bestselling author Richard C. White (Gauntlet: Dark Legacy: Paths of Evil, Star Trek: S.C.E.: Echoes of Coventry) has been an integral member of The ’Warp’s convention staff these past few years, and in 2013 he joins our publishing schedule with two projects: the graphic novel Troubleshooters, Incorporated: Night Stalkings, about a supernatural superhero-team-for-hire on their first assignment; and The Chronicles of the Sea Dragon Special, a 48-page, one-shot digital comic about a crew of pirates. And did I mention that Sea Dragon will be available for the incredible price of just 99¢? Well, I did now!
But Wait—There’s More!
Or there will be. We’ve got a couple more projects in the works, but I’ll hold off from discussing them for the time being. Stay tuned for more news!
