By the editor
July 18, 2006 - 11:09
Comic-Con International 2006 will be the site of a number of exciting
announcements from Oni Press. In addition to a full schedule of signings and
portfolio reviews at their booth located at Booth 1934, the crew from Oni is
gathering for a panel at 10:30 AM on Saturday, July 22 in Room 8 to preview and
discuss new titles from Ray Fawkes & Cameron Stewart, Hunter Covington,
Ande Parks, and many, many more.
“Man, I can’t put into words how jazzed I am about the next year’s worth of Oni
Press projects,” commented James Lucas Jones, editor-in-chief, about the
announcements. “All of these new comics and graphic novels fit perfectly into
an already rich and diverse Oni catalog, while simultaneously adding new
flavors to the Oni smorgasbord. Our tried-and-true favorite creators are moving
in compelling new directions with their work, and we are pleased to welcome
some very talented new creators into the Oni fold as well.”
Titles announced will be released throughout the next year, and run the gamut
covering a wealth of genres and formats and include both new creator-owned
projects as well as new licensed comics.
This winter, Oni Press returns to licensed comics with a new series based on
the smash NBC hit comedy MY NAME IS EARL! For those people who have been living
under a rock for the last year, MY NAME IS EARL is the story of Earl Hickey
(played by Jason Lee), a former petty criminal who wins the lottery and sets
out to right the wrongs he’s committed in his life. With help from his friends
and family, Earl works his way through the list
he’s compiled of all his misdeeds, making amends and generating a ton of laughs
along the way. Helping Earl along on his comedic quest for karmic redemption in
the comics is EARL staffer Hunter Covington.
“When we first started talking to Fox about doing EARL comics, Hunter is one of
the first names that came up,” Oni Publisher Joe Nozemack explained. “Hunter is
the script coordinator for the show, a big comics fan, and the writer of one of
my favorite EARL episodes, ‘The Bountyhunter.’ With a resume like that, I knew
we had to get him involved in our new adventures of Earl and the gang.”
But Hunter isn’t alone in crossing things off Earl’s list. He’ll be joined by a
bevy of comic creators in making the full color adventures of Earl to the comic
page. Who? Well, you’ll have to come to the Oni Press panel to find out!
Ray Fawkes (MNEMOVORE, SPOOKSHOW) and Cameron Stewart (SEVEN OLDIERS: THE
GUARDIAN, THE OTHER SIDE) bring their cult-favorite series THE APOCALYPSTIX
to Oni in 2007. THE APOCALYPSTIX are the all-girl rock band of
tomorrow and their adventures have previously appeared in the Toronto Comic Art
Festival’s FESTIVAL! anthology, as well as the digest jam book RUMBLE ROYALE.
“I’ve been trying to find a way to work with Cameron Stewart since about five
seconds after I got hired on at Oni!” exclaimed Oni Press editor in chief James
Lucas Jones. “But despite my efforts, the timing was never quite right. As soon
as I heard that Cameron and the equally awesome Ray Fawkes were wanting to do
more with the Mandy, Megumi, and Dot from the APOCALYPSTIX shorts, I set out to
convince them to do it here at Oni.”
But the first APOCALYPSTIX graphic novel isn’t the only new book that has the
boys at Oni Press excited. Also scheduled for release next year is BLOOD RED, a
new graphic novel from Oni Press stalwart Ande Parks and artist Shawn Crystal.
“Earth colonizing Mars! A man with no stomach! Vengeance ! Oh, and Christian
Fundamentalist terrorists!” exclaimed artist Shawn Crystal. “Ande has crafted a
story that won’t let you go until it’s had its way with you and I’m bursting at
the seams with excitement that I get to draw the sucker!”
“We love Ande to death here at W.H.O.O.P.s! (the World Headquarters Of Oni
Press)” exclaimed Oni managing editor Randal C. Jarrell. “We’re excited to see
him leaving Kansas for new locales and situations. And adding an insanely
talented illustrator like Shawn Crystal to the project? That’s like winning the
lottery two weeks in a row!”
The panel will also feature peeks at already announced projects from Brian
Hurtt, Cullen Bunn, & Corey Lewis, as well as announcements and first looks
at totally new projects from Jim Massy & Robbie Rodriguez, Vasilis Lolos,
Marc Guggunheim, B. Clay Moore, James Stokoe, and others. Plus, fans attending
the panel can count on some special giveaways and prizes as a thank you from
Oni for their continued support.
“I’m sure there will be some surprises at this year’s presentation,” concluded
Jones. “We work with some of the most creative and spontaneous people I’ve ever
met and they consistently find ways to delight and inspire me. We’re excited to
have our panel at Comic-Con and give our fans a special opportunity to look
behind the curtain at what we’re cooking up for next year and beyond.”