Five Finger Death Punch Frontman Makes Literary Debut in Comic Shops Today With Copies Also Available to Order Direct from Z2 Now
 
LOS ANGELES, CA— Z2 Comics made headlines everywhere earlier in the year with the announcement of this book of original poetry from Five Finger Death Punch’s Ivan Moody, landing on shelves today!
 
It’s no trick; the treat rock fans have been waiting for since June is available at your favorite local comic book store now! Presented in an exquisite hardcover format, Ivan Moody’s Dirty Poetry arrives on shelves today with copies also available now through the Z2 website!

Ivan Moody said “Out of all the projects I’ve undertaken this is something truly out of the ordinary, completely unorthodox, and without ‘creative walls.’ It is by far the oddest thing I’ve ever done (and that’s saying something).
 
I had no idea how this would turn out but thankfully - between Blake and myself - I’m ecstatic with this first edition of Dirty Poetry. I’m intrigued and excited to share this FULL DOSE of my thought provoking/chaotic and emotionally stimulating artistic vision with all of you.
 
 Welcome... to My rabbit hole.”
Ever wondered what really lies beyond “where the sidewalk ends?” From the wonderfully twisted mind of the front man of Five Finger Death Punch; Ivan Moody’s Dirty Poetry is a book of original poems punctuated with dark art that’s guaranteed to inspire upside-down dreamscapes in the minds of its readers. Written by Ivan Moody himself, with beautifully haunting ink and watercolor illustrations by Blake Armstrong, Z2 Comics offers this Halloween treat to readers everywhere now! 

The Ivan Moody’s Dirty Poetry illustrated book comes in at 104 pages and will be released in a standard hardcover edition in comic shops today priced at $34.99, and also available directly through the Z2 website! 
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The amazing group of creators were announced by Mad Cave Publisher, Chris Fernandez, and Editor in Chief, Chris Sanchez, along with host Benny Potter, who you may also know as the Comicstorian via the Mad Cave Showcase 4.0, which broadcasted live Friday, October 22nd at 3pm ET/1pm PT.

Join the madness as well as some very special guests—including talented writers, artists, and editors, Anthony Cleveland, Ryan K. Lindsay, Mark London, Dozerdraws and many more—as they discuss exciting upcoming titles, announce the winners of the 2021 Mad Cave Studios Talent Search, preview anticipated D&D series, The Last Session, and get the scoop on what’s in store for 2022 with exclusive trailer premieres.
This past summer, Mad Cave Studios opened their Talent search to eager and talented authors and artists around the globe for the fourth year in a row. Four artists and writers will be announced as the 2021 talent search winners on next week's livestream.

In 2019, Shane Connery Volk and David Hazan, won the talent search creating hit series Nottingham, running over five printings and sellouts. The 2020 winners worked closely with Cullen Bunn to create Mad Cave Studios first ever Horror Anthology, Grimm Tales From the Cave, out Oct. 27th.

October 21st, 2021 — Terror takes over the Valiant Universe this January...

The critically-acclaimed series SHADOWMAN will unleash part 1 of 'Deadside War' in SHADOWMAN #5, a gripping horror storyline that will unfold within the pages of SHADOWMAN for four issues and feature the eagerly anticipated return of fan-favorite character PUNK MAMBO.

Jack Boniface is SHADOWMAN, the brave and powerful supernatural protector who keeps humanity safe from the deadly creatures that dwell within the dimension known as the Deadside. When more and more of these nightmarish creatures start clawing into the world of the living, Jack won't be able to stand alone against the global threat. "We’re seeing Blights — tears in the fabric of reality between our world and the Deadside — opening with increased frequency and increased supernatural mayhem," said New York Times bestselling writer CULLEN BUNN. "It will also awaken some old adversaries who might be too much even for the combined might of our heroes. All this brings us to the titular war, which could rip the entirety of the Valiant Universe apart." 

Rising star artist PEDRO ANDREO aims to pull fans right into Cullen's haunting story. "I wanted to capture the horror, stress, and oppression that an actual zombie attack would have in a city that wasn't expecting it," stated Pedro. "I couldn't decide on whether I wanted slow zombies or running zombies so I went with a little bit of both. Both types of zombies! Could you imagine? That would be a nightmare." 
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SHADOWMAN #5 inked artwork by Pedro Andreo

In addition to bringing the horror to new heights, Pedro also enjoyed the opportunity to blend in energetic action sequences. "Cullen's script was specific about everything that took place in these panels, but it let me go wild on the shots, angles, and movement, so I went full anime on them. I had a lot of fun doing the kinetic effects and such crazy panels full of detail, gore and action."
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PORTLAND, Ore. 10/20/2021 — An all-new sci-fi/romance begins in the upcoming Bolero by rising stars Wyatt Kennedy and Luana Vecchio. This visually-stunning five issue miniseries will launch from Image Comics in January 2022.


“Page by page, Wyatt and I put our whole love and passion for comics into this miniseries to convey the strong sense of loneliness and despair that many feel after the end of a relationship," said Vecchio. "Running away might often seem like the simplest solution, but there is no simple solution when dealing with pain”

Kennedy added: "I sincerely can't thank Image enough for giving us the chance to tell this story. I've lived with it and these characters for nearly six years, and no one besides the tremendously talented Luana Vecchio could have imbued this with such soul and joy and kept me from rewriting it for the 87th time."

A woman running away from a broken heart discovers a mother-key into parallel universes. The rules are: The key can work on any door. The mother will only let you visit 53 universes. Do not ask to speak to the mother. Never hop more than 53 times. 

Sex Criminals meets Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind in this fantastical, emotional journey featuring a beautifully diverse cast of characters.

Bolero #1 will be available at comic book shops on Wednesday, January 12:

• Cover A by Vecchio - Diamond Code NOV210047
• Cover B by Jim Mahfood - Diamond Code NOV210048
• Cover C by Maria Llovet - Diamond Code NOV210049

Bolero #1 will also be available for purchase across many digital platforms, including Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, and Google Play.

New “Crossroads” Storyline and Seminal Usagi Yojimbo Tale Offer
Excellent Entry Points to the World of Acclaimed Cartoonist Stan Sakai

SAN DIEGO, CA (October 20, 2021) – Celebrate the new year with two milestone events for Usagi Yojimbo, the beloved epic fantasy by Stan Sakai and winner of two of this year’s Eisner Awards, including “Best Continuing Series”! In January, a new storyline entitled “Crossroads” will debut in the pages of Usagi Yojimbo #25, while longtime fans and curious newcomers can revisit the early adventures of the rabbit ronin, now in full color, with the launch of the six-issue miniseries Usagi Yojimbo: Lone Goat and Kid.
 
Usagi Yojimbo reaches the 25th issue of its full-color, monthly series at IDW with a new two-part storyline, “Crossroads.” In this tale, Usagi and Yukichi have left the Northern Province where Usagi was branded a criminal as a Lord Mifune loyalist. They come upon a group of pilgrims traveling to the local temples, set upon and left for dead by a band of cutthroat ronin with no regard for the law. In hunting after them, Usagi and Yukichi must head back to the very province from which they just escaped!
 
“Yukichi is Usagi's cousin, and someone with whom he will be traveling for a while,” says Sakai. “Yukichi is younger and less experienced so Usagi has to take on the role of mentor, though he learns a few things himself. I like the dynamics between these two and their travels make good springboards for new adventures.”
 
For comic readers interested in seeing vintage Usagi tales through a new lens, the upcoming Usagi Yojimbo: Lone Goat and Kid miniseries reprints a selection of seminal short stories in full color for the first time. The debut issue revisits the tale of “Frost and Fire,” wherein our hero is tasked with retrieving a slain samurai's swords… provided that he can solve an impossible moral quandary first. As a special bonus, David Petersen, the acclaimed creator of Mouse Guard, will provide the cover artwork for all six issues.
 
“I grew up reading and watching Lone Wolf and Cub in manga, movies, and television, so when I was thinking of new characters, this series came to mind as a homage/parody. My first thought was ‘Lone Bear and Cub’ but changed it to ‘Lone Goat and Kid’, which I like even better. I love that kid because, as in the original, he does almost nothing but is still essential to the story,” says Sakai.
 
Written and illustrated by Sakai for more than 35 years, Usagi Yojimbo is set in a unique world based on 17th century Japan. A ronin, Miyamoto Usagi traverses this unique world – a landscape populated by ghosts, dinosaurs, monsters, and warriors of all kinds – honing his skills, saving villages, and often navigating delicate affairs of national/political significance.
 
Sakai’s deft weaving of history, folklore, and Japanese culture into Usagi Yojimbo has made it a critical favorite, adored by comic readers. New full-color adventures of Sakai’s classic character began in 2019 with IDW’s monthly comic series, collected in three volumes so far (Bunraku and Other Stories, Homecoming, and Tengu War!). Meanwhile, classic tales have been made available in full color for the first time ever as part of the Usagi Yojimbo Origins trade paperback series. This past June, Sakai and his wife, Julie Fujii Sakai, released Chibi-Usagi: Attack of the Heebie Chibis, an original graphic novel illustrated in a fun, cartoony style welcoming to young new readers.
 
“It’s been a real treat to see Stan’s new stories come to life month-to-month while also revisiting his early work in our color reprint series,” says editor Bobby Curnow. “What’s utterly remarkable is how engaging the world of Usagi Yojimbo has always been and still is. The humanity of Stan’s characters and stories always shines through with wit, action, and heart, regardless of the year.”
 
For information on how to purchase IDW’s line of Usagi Yojimbo comic books and graphic novels, please contact your local comic shop or visit www.comicshoplocator.com to find a store near you.Body

PORTLAND, Ore. 10/20/2021 — Fan-favorite Djeliya creator Juni Ba introduces a new fantasy universe in an upcoming miniseries of connected one-shot stories, Monkey Meat. This five-issue, action-packed romp will launch from Image Comics in January 2022.


The Monkey Meat Company made its fortune selling cans of processed meat all around the world. Using that money to fuel their wacky experiments, they turned their native island into a magical hyper-capitalist hellscape where even demons have to pay rent!

"Monkey Meat is a passion project born of wanting for us all to poke fun at how dystopian the world is," said Ba. "It’s fun and colorful but most of all aims to be cathartic, and bring you great cartooning!"

Follow the lives of the creatures of Monkey Meat Island in this series best described as the storytelling style of W. Maxwell Prince and Martin Morazzo’s Ice Cream Man meets the satire of Jonathan Layman and Rob Guillory’s Chew. Monkey Meat #1 (Diamond Code NOV210056) will be available at comic book shops on Wednesday, January 5. 
Monkey Meat #1 will also be available for purchase across many digital platforms, including Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, and Google Play.

​​OCT. 15, 2021, (SEATTLE, WA) — Mad Cave Studios is thrilled to announce the Mad Cave Showcase 4.0, which will broadcast live Friday, October 22nd at 12pm ET/9am PT, and will be hosted by Benny Potter, who you may also know as the Comicstorian. 

Join the madness as well as some very special guests—including talented writers, artists, and editors, Anthony Cleveland, Ryan K. Lindsay, Mark London, Dozerdraws and many more—as they discuss exciting upcoming titles, announce the winners of the 2021 Mad Cave Studios Talent Search, preview anticipated D&D series, The Last Session, and get the scoop on what’s in store for 2022 with exclusive trailer premieres.

Throughout the stream there will be several in chat giveaways to participate in. Prizes will include but not be limited to exclusive variants, posters, full collections, D&D dice sets, and more surprises!
This past summer, Mad Cave Studios opened their Talent search to eager and talented authors and artists around the globe for the fourth year in a row. Four artists and writers will be announced as the 2021 talent search winners on next week's livestream.

In 2019, Shane Connery Volk and David Hazan, won the talent search creating hit series Nottingham, running over five printings and sellouts. The 2020 winners worked closely with Cullen Bunn to create Mad Cave Studios first ever Horror Anthology, Grimm Tales From the Cave, out Oct. 27th.

Click to View the Mad Cave Twitch Channel

To read any of Mad Cave’s titles make sure to ask your Local Comic Shop for a copy or check Mad Cave out on Comixology, Drive-Thru Comics, or the Mad Cave Studios online store.

Don’t forget, you can always download the first issue of any Mad Cave series absolutely free! 


ABOUT MAD CAVE STUDIOS: Driven by madness and committed to quality. Mad Cave Studios provides quality entertainment with a fresh take on an array of genres. From fantasy and action to scifi and horror, Mad Cave publishes stories that resonate with unapologetic and authentic audiences.
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