Retailer website ICv2 reports that Platinum Studios, a company often needled for announcing plenty of comics but never seeming to publish any, plans on 60 releases over the next year.
The Print & Publishing page on Platinum’s website lists 20 titles for 2007, so I presume “60 releases” covers individual issues, as properties like Hero By Night, Blood Nation and Unique are miniseries.
Watchdogs and Blood Nation #1 have already been solicited through Image Comics for release in January and February, respectively. According to ICv2, Hero By Night #1, Unique #1 and Blood Nation #2 should hit shelves in March. On its website, Platinum also lists Biff Spartacus, Final Orbit and Mal Chance for Spring 2007.
January 2nd, 2007 at 1:58 pm
A quick scan of the myriad creators on these books does not produce any names that I recognize (which means next to nothing, I know), but I’m curious if there’s any known quantities in the creative talent for these various projects. Also, did I misread the website, or are they claiming some connection to the old Awesome universe (didn’t it cease having any new comics years ago when Moore took most of that kind of work to ABC etc…)
January 2nd, 2007 at 2:09 pm
I wish they’d print the one drawn L. Frank Webber.
Adventures of Tymm. I want to see more!
January 2nd, 2007 at 2:49 pm
The name that jumped out at me was Dean Motter; Terminal City was awesome!
Hopefully Unique will see print.
January 2nd, 2007 at 4:22 pm
“I’m curious if there’s any known quantities in the creative talent for these various projects.”
Platinum’s one of the few companies known for its willingness to work with and develop un- or little-known creators, and much of the publishing line reflects that. Off the top of my head, here are at least some of the creators that people in the community at least *might* have heard of:
UNIQUE’s undoubtedly got the highest value when it comes to marquee names, with writer Dean Motter–creator of MISTER X and Vertigo’s TERMINAL CITY, as well as the writer/artist of DC’s THE PRISONER miniseries based on the television show–and Dennis Calero, who’s drawn several issues of Marvel’s X-FACTOR.
Danny Fingeroth, long-time Marvel writer and editor and current editor of TwoMorrows’ WRITE NOW! magazine was involved with developing ATLANTIS RISING.
COIN and SOCORRO are both written by Steven Grant, writer of ComicBookResources.com’s Permanent Damage column and too many comics to name, most recently IDW’s CSI: DYING IN THE GUTTERS.
CRIMEFIGHTER is written by Brian Augustyn, writer of many comics, the most famous of which is probably DC’s original Elseworld book GOTHAM BY GASLIGHT.
BONE HILL was created by Wil Radcliffe, writer of the Young Adult fantasy novel series NOGGLE STONES.
ALIEN AT LARGE artist Rich Watson did artwork for an X-MEN portfolio and Steven Grant’s WHISPER in the 1980’s.
HERO BY NIGHT creator DJ Coffman writes and draws the webcomic YIRMUMAH.
COWBOYS & ALIENS co-writer and WATCHDOGS, GHOSTING, and FINAL ORBIT writer Fred Van Lente writes the critically acclaimed independent comic series ACTION PHILOSOPHERS!, as well as several Marvel projects, including the revamped SCORPION and another book I’m really excited about but don’t think has been announced yet.
The third and fourth issues of BLOOD NATION are drawn by John Keane, a former professional animator who moved into comics and North America (from Ireland) at roughly the same time.
Scott O. Brown, writer of ATLANTIS RISING and NIGHTFALL, has written DEATH VALLEY, a graphic novel originally published by Speakeasy Comics. His small-press publishing company Cyberosia has published numerous trade paperbacks, including Peter Milligan and Bret Ewing’s JOHNNY NEMO, Jamie Delano’s 2020 VISIONS, and Steven Grant and Mike Zeck’s DAMNED.
In addition to co-writing COWBOYS & ALIENS and writing AGE OF KINGS for Platinum, I’ve written the graphic novel PARTING WAYS, published by Speakeasy Comics, and the five-issue satirical vampire series DONE TO DEATH, which recently concluded at Markosia.
Pretty much everything at Platinum has been edited by either Lee Nordling (former editor at DC and writer for Disney) or Jim McLauchlin, former EiC of Top Cow Comics.
“are they claiming some connection to the old Awesome universe(?)”
I believe Platinum controls the multimedia rights to the Awesome properties. I’m not sure they’re still up there, but for awhile you could find Alan Moore’s outlines for unpublished Awesome comics work on the Platinum site.
Andrew Foley
January 2nd, 2007 at 5:45 pm
Andrew, thanks so much for the background. Indeed I just didn’t look deep enough into the site, as in fact I do recognize many of those names. (And now I want to see if those Moore outlines are still there). Thanks for the response and good luck on your ongoing and upcoming work.