AHOY Comics—the Syracuse-based, independent publisher that pledged for readers to “expect more” from its line of comic book magazines and graphic novels—will resume publishing new comic book magazines in June. “The world pandemic has caused some problems with serialized comics publishing, particularly for small publishers like us,” said AHOY Comics Publisher Hart Seely. “But if there was ever a year that demonstrated the need for laugh-out-loud funny books that are actually funny, it is the year that is 2020. And AHOY Comics will be there for readers and retailers alike.”
AHOY Comics’ updated summer publishing schedule includes:
Ash & Thorn
A 5-issue miniseries by bestselling writer Mariah McCourt (True Blood, Stitched), artist Soo Lee (Analog Sci-Fi Magazine, Charlie’s Angels vs. the Bionic Woman), and colorist Pippa Bowland (2000AD), with lettering by Rob Steen and covers by legendary artist Jill Thompson (Scary Godmother, Wonder Woman: True Amazon).
Originally scheduled to debut on April Fool’s Day, the highly-anticipated debut issue #1 of ASH & THORN will be published on June 24, 2020, followed by issue #2 on July 8, issue #3 on July 29, issue #4 on August 19, and issue #5 on September 9, 2020.
Billionaire Island
A 6-issue miniseries by acclaimed writer Mark Russell (Second Coming) and artist Steve Pugh (Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass), and colorist Chris Chuckry, with lettering by Rob Steen. Issue 1 features a cover by series artist and co-creator Steve Pugh and a variant cover by bestselling artist Pia Guerra (Y The Last Man).
The critically acclaimed series returns on July 1, 2020, with an all-new second issue, followed by issue #3 on July 22, issue #4 on August 12, and issue #5 on September 16.
Captain Ginger Season 2: Dogworld
A 6 issue mini-series by acclaimed writer Stuart Moore (Bronze Age Boogie) and artists June Brigman (Power Pack) and Roy Richardson, and colorist Veronica Ghandini, with lettering by Rob Steen.
Captain Ginger: Dogworld, which had two issues published at the time of lockdown, will complete its serialization in exclusive digital editions from Comixology. The first new issue of Captain Ginger Season 2: Dogworld, issue 3, will be released digitally on June 10, followed by issue 4 on July 8, issue 5 on August 5, and issue 6 on September 2.
In June, AHOY will also be publishing the trade paperback of Dragonfly & Dragonflyman, the prequel to the dazzling series The Wrong Earth—by writer Tom Peyer, artist Peter Krause, colorist Andy Troy, and letterer Rob Steen. The trade paperback will be released in comic book stores on June 3rd and in bookstores on June 16th.
“There was no one-size-fits-all solution for AHOY’s publishing schedule, so we took a creative approach,” said Kit Caoagas, AHOY Comics’ Marketing Associate. “There was a long anticipation for the debut of Ash & Thorn and issue 1 was already printed and at Diamond, so we wanted to get that to market as soon as possible. Billionaire Island had one issue published before the lockdown, so we’ve decided to resume publication as soon as possible on a slightly accelerated schedule, with an eye toward getting the trade paperback out in the fall, as originally planned. And, after a long hiatus, it just didn’t make sense to resume print publication of the second season of Captain Ginger. As with all AHOY books, we’ll release the trade paperback of Captain Ginger: Dogworld in print and digital on schedule, so that old-school sci-fi fans and cat fanatics can read the whole story in their preferred format.”
Originally scheduled for release this summer, as part of the company’s fourth wave of releases, Penultiman , the new superhero title by Tom Peyer and Alan Robinson, will be resolicited at a later date.
“The plan is to postpone Penultiman far enough into the future that we’ll have the technology to send it back into the past, so it won’t be as long a wait as it will be,” said Peyer.
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