We're learning a lot more about Archie Comics' upcoming slate of superhero books for the Dark Circle imprint.
Although Riverdale's golden boy has only been dead for a day, Archie Comics are already looking to the future. Specifically, their plans for their upstart Dark Circle Comics imprint. We told you last week about the rebranding of the old Red Circle line, but the company has just announced details of the first line of books that will be hitting stores later this year -- and the powerhouse writers and artists who will be involved. From the press release:
Today, Dark Circle Comics – the superhero imprint of Archie Comics – revealed that the label’s first wave of titles will include THE BLACK HOOD from writer Duane Swierczynski (Judge Dredd, X, Birds of Prey) and artist Michael Gaydos (ALIAS), THE SHIELD from writers Adam Christopher (The Burning Dark) and Chuck Wendig (Blackbirds) and artist Wilfredo Torres (The Shadow: Year One), and THE FOX from writer/artist Dean Haspiel (Billy Dogma, HBO’s Bored to Death) and scripter Mark Waid (Daredevil, Kingdom Come, founder of Thrillbent). All three series will be ongoing and launch early next year.
The new titles – overseen by Dark Circle Editor Alex Segura – will serve as ideal jumping on points for new readers – providing unique, literary and cinematic takes on the classic properties in the Dark Circle Comics library that can appeal to new and long-time fans of the characters.
“Alex and the Dark Circle Comics editorial team have done a masterful job of assembling the best talent around and matching them perfectly with the right characters,” said Archie Comics Publisher/Co-CEO Jon Goldwater. “People are going to be hooked from the first page of each of these books, and we’re so excited to finally showcase these amazing titles for the first time. Welcome to Dark Circle Comics, a place where comic fans can expect top-line storytelling, unique characters and a truly cinematic experience.”
Let's just let that settle in for a second. Waid. Haspiel. Swierczynski. Gaydos. Christopher. Wendig. Torres. These are some A-list names right here, folks. So what are the books about exactly? Dark Circle describes The Black Hood as "a dark crime saga in the vein of Boardwalk Empire and True Detective,"The Shield as "a stunning and revisionist new take on the first patriotic hero," and the next run of The Foxas "an off-the-wall adventure that meshes a DIY indie comix aesthetic with the best of superhero craftsmanship." By embracing a more serious ethos (for two of the books anyway), the line should be able to do some serious world-building grounded in a dark realism that hasn't really been attempted on this level with the Red Circle characters before. Pretty exciting stuff.
As a lifelong Philly-resident, I'm especially interested in The Black Hood, which will be set in the City of Not-So-Brotherly Love. In recent years, Duane Swierczynski has proven himself to be no less than a burgeoning neo-noir legend through his prolific fiction and comics work. I'm interested to see how the Black Hood fits into his noirish worldview.
Of course, timing is everything. And what will hopefully not be overlooked in the wake of Marvel's female Thor news from earlier this week is Dark Circle's gender-swapping of The Shield -- a character who predates even Captain America. As for The Fox, I fully expect Waid and Haspiel to build on the comedic heroics that made the Freak Magnetarc so memorable. USA Today has some exclusive images and more information on these books, all of which seem to be part of Archie's Machiavellian plot to overwhelm the comic industry with coolness.
Damn, are these guys on a roll, or what?
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