Entertainment
DC Is Rebooting Vertigo With 7 New Adult-Oriented Comic Books
DC Comics
In 1993, under the stewardship of Karen Berger, DC Comics launched Vertigo, a subdivision where comic creators got to tell provocative, adult stories they couldn’t in mainstream comics because of the archaic Comics Code Authority. But it’s been a hot minute since Vertigo mattered as much as it did throughout the ‘90s and early ‘00s. Now, in 2018, Vertigo is getting a major resurrection. On Thursday, DC announced the relaunch of Vertigo with seven new creator-owned comics launching in 2018 and three more in 2019. Under the guidance of former Batman editor Mark Doyle, who was promoted last year to helm the newly-titled DC Vertigo and Young Animal — another imprint with comics for adults — the revived imprint has assembled offbeat talents whose proven works fall outside the typical Wednesday pulls and into the realms of podcasting, TV, activism, and music. “It’s time to rebuild DC Vertigo,” Doyle said in a statement. “We’re returning to our roots by spotlighting the most exciting new voices in comics, as well as bringing new voices to comics.” He added that DC Vertigo will continue the legacy of telling “sophisticated stories” with “amazing new characters and vast worlds to explore.” In its heyday, Vertigo published influential titles like 100 Bullets, Fables, Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman, Y: The Last Man, Swamp Thing, and Hellblazer. Now, DC Vertigo will relaunch with a fresh slate of new comics. “That’s what it has always been about for me—new stories, new voices, new possibilities,” Doyle said. “We’re creating a new generation of DC Vertigo classics for readers of all genres.” See previews of them in the slideshow below.
'American Carnage'
Bryan Hill is a writer on DC’s live-action series Titans, but he’s also releasing a new creator-owned comic for DC Vertigo with illustrator Leandro Fernandez (Punisher MAX): American Carnage, in which disgraced FBI agent Richard Wright goes undercover in a white supremacist group believed to be responsible for the murder of a fellow agent. American Carnage will be released in November 2018.
'Border Town'
Mexican folklore and the American southwest collide in Border Town, by writer Eric M. Esquivel (Adventure Time) and illustrator Ramon Villalobos (Nighthawk, America). When a crack in the U.S./Mexican border releases monsters, new kid Frank Dominiguez teams up with his fellow high school misfits to discover what in the infierno is going on. Border Town #1 will be released in September.
'Safe Sex'
Sex workers become comic book heroes in Safe Sex, a sci-fi series set in a future dystopia where sex is monitored, regulated, and policed by the federal government. The series comes from writer/podcast/sex educator Tina Horn, and 2000 AD artist Mike Dowling. Safe Sex #1 will be released in 2019.
'Hex Wives'
Podcast host and writer Ben Blacker (co-creator of The Thrilling Adventure Hour) and Wonder Woman artist Mirka Andolfo team up to tell a supernatural spin on The Stepford Wives with Hex Wives. When suburban men brainwash a coven of witches to be their housewives, the women remember their power and hell breaks loose. Hex Wives #1 will be released in October.
'High Level'
Former art director for Nine Inch Nails, Rob Sheridan, and illustrator Barnaby Bagenda (Green Lanterns) collaborate in an epic post-apocalyptic sci-fi set hundreds of years after humanity has rebuilt from scratch. A smuggler with a bounty on her head travels to a new continent to deliver a child messiah to “High Level,” a fabled city at the top of the world that no one has ever returned from. High Level #1 will be released in 2019.
'Second Coming'
Catholicism meets superhero parody in Second Coming. From acclaimed writer Mark Russell, whose The Flintstones comic reboot made a prehistoric family an extremely timely American satire, and illustrator Richard Pace, Second Coming follows Jesus Christ who is sent by God to learn from Sun-Man, a powerful jock superhero whom the heavenly father might actually love a little more than his own begotten son. But when Christ arrives on Earth and discovers mankind has gotten the Gospel all wrong, Jesus vows to set the record straight. Second Coming descends upon us at retail in 2019.
'Goddess Mode'
In the future, mankind depends on advanced A.I. to do practically everything for them, leaving Cassandra with the thankless job of being tech support. But Cassandra’s life is turned upside down when she discovers a group of powerful women and monsters are waging a secret war in the dark web, with both sides seeking “cheat codes” to reality. Goddess Mode comes from author Zoë Quinn and Spider-Gwen artist Robbi Rodriguez. Goddess Mode #1 hacks onto shelves in December.
