The bestselling, award winning writer Kieron Gillen (The Wicked + The Divine, Die) and creative powerhouse artist Caspar Wijngaard (Home Sick Pilots, All Against All) took Emerald City Comic Con by storm on Friday when Gillen shared news of their upcoming The Power Fantasy series at his Spotlight panel to a standing room only audience. Gillen and Wijngaard were guests of the show and further entertained a queue of enthusiastic fans eager for for more details on this forthcoming series with Image Comics slated for August.

The Power Fantasy concept is laid out in a two-page comic advert released at the book’s announcement. It’s a world where “Superpowered” has a specific meaning. It’s reserved solely for those with the destructive potential of the nuclear arsenal of the most powerful nations on Earth. There are presently six superpowered beings, and the future of the planet is reliant on them never, ever coming into conflict.

“The Power Fantasy emerged in a similar way to The Wicked + The Divine,” said Gillen in an exclusive scoop with The Hollywood Reporter. “I was doing a book at Marvel, and became aware of exactly the sort of things I could do with the reins taken off. As The Wicked + the Divine was to Young Avengers, this is to Immortal X-men. It’s a comic informed by superheroes, but one where a fight is the absolute lose state, for everyone. It’s set from 1945-1999, and so is a chance to really have fun with an alternate cultural history too. I think you can see it as an extension of my best work: WicDivian alternate-pop culture, a cold-war take on Uber’s realpolitik, Die’s social group drama hyper-charged by genre…”
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Bestselling writer Sean Lewis (King Spawn, Thumbs) teams with fan-favorite artist Jonathan Marks Barravecchia for a blood-splattered story of conquest in the forthcoming, Bear Pirate Viking Queen. This three issue miniseries is set to launch in May from Image Comics.

Bears. Pirates. Vikings. And Queens—all battling for their claim to determine what the world will become. Bear Pirate Viking Queen is a gorgeous, high fantasy story about the blood spilled to make countries. With 72 pages rendered in stunning watercolor artwork, this new comic book series is sure to be one of the most beautiful and thought-provoking books of the year.

“I always wanted to make something that hit me like From Hell the first time I read it,” said Lewis. “Something with historical scope, something with a really uncompromised visual beauty, and something that felt BIG. Jonathan’s work is incredible. The story is one I am incredibly proud of. We are shooting for ‘canon’ with this one.”

Barravecchia added: “Bear Pirate Viking Queen has been a true collaboration, and unlike any other project I’ve worked on in the past. It’s been fascinating to go back and forth with Sean, and truly impressive—even to me—that a meeting over drinks listing random ‘cool’ things to draw could turn into such an epic and poetic story. I’m so excited to share this book!”
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Red 5 Comics has released a first look at Blood & Fire #1, which is set to hit stores in May 2024 and will appear for pre-order in the March 2024 Previews Catalog.

Set in 16th Century Japan when the country was in chaos. After centuries of rule, the central government has lost control, plunging Japan into a bloody civil war. Anarchy reigns as warlords seek power and territory.

After the death of Lord Ishida after many months of illness, his brother Nobutaka is next to rule. But the youngest brother, Kiyotane, is not content to sit on the sidelines. Assaulting Castle Ishida in a surprise attack, Kiyotane has taken power, but he has not counted on a lone, loyal samurai surviving. And supernatural forces fuel his quest for justice and honor.

Blood & Fire is written by Aaron Wroblewski, drawn by Ezequiel Rubio Lancho, and lettered by Es Kay. The series is three issues.