It’s nothing to shrug at — Atlas Comics is coming back to publishing.
Deadline has posted an article up, stating that Jason Goodman — grandson of Atlas founder Martin Goodman, who also founded Marvel Comics — is relaunching the company.
The first two titles, The Grim Ghost and Phoenix, will be revealed at the New York Comic-Con. Other properties owned by the company include the Grim Ghost, Ironjaw and the Cougar. Already, a firm called Reaction Visual Media has posted a cover for The Grim Ghost, which will be written by Joshua Ortega with art by Qing Ping Mui. UPDATE: Atlas has stated that the credits listed by Reaction are incorrect, and updated credits are still being worked out.
“Although my grandfather eventually sold Marvel, he insisted on keeping Atlas Comics in the family,” the younger Goodman told Deadline. “As a result of his vision, Atlas Comics is the largest individually-held library of comic book heroes and villains on the planet. We have 28 titles and hundreds of characters imagined by some of the greatest minds in the industry.”
Ardeen Entertainment’s Brendan Deneen is also backing the relaunch, and writer J.M. DeMatteis will be the company’s new editor-in-chief.
UPDATE II: DeMatteis gave a quick comment to Newsarama, clarifying his role within the Ardeen and Atlas spheres. An extreme hat tip to Zack Smith and Lan Pitts for the quote:
One thing I’d love to clear up: the way the story morphed in the press it looks like a) we’re in the midst of a full-out Atlas revival and b) I’m the editor-in-chief of a reborn Atlas comics. That’s not the way it is. I’m EIC of Ardden Entertainment — we’ve recently relaunched both FLASH GORDON and CASPER (as CASPER AND THE SPECTRALS). Ardden is working with the Atlas license holders (sort of like a co-production between two film studios) to bring two titles out: GRIM GHOST and PHOENIX. That’s it for now. Two titles to test the waters. If they do well—and everyone hopes they do—there will, naturally, be more.
Stay tuned to the Newsarama Mothership for more details as they unfold!
September 14th, 2010 at 1:26 pm
Wow. I loved these comics, bought a complete set of them a few years back and for all the crap they took, they were WAY ahead of their time in some ways.
I know Mark Waid is also a big fan.
I wish these guys MUCH success!
September 14th, 2010 at 1:45 pm
The Brute.
The Cannibal Superhero.
This must happen.
I know they don’t have the rights to Chaykin’s Scorpion, because he basically became Dominic Fortune.
Here’s a real brief writeup on the books from wiki –
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlas/Seaboard_Comics
September 14th, 2010 at 1:47 pm
AWESOME! like Gail, i have them all..and original art as well.
I bought them as they came out in the 70′s and loved them all…especially PLANET OF THE VAMPIRES
HOW COOL..consider them all on my pull list. any plans to reprint the older ones?
jimmy palmiotti
September 14th, 2010 at 1:52 pm
Holy Crap! This is beyond awesome. I loved these books and Grim Ghost, Ironjaw, Demon Hunter and Destructor were some of my favorite comics back then.
September 14th, 2010 at 1:54 pm
We’ll have an interview ASAP Jimmy and find out that sort of thing.
September 14th, 2010 at 1:57 pm
Hah! How cool is that… I was going to comment on Planet of the Vampires and Jimmy beats me to it! I have just about every Atlas comic… I’m going to have to go dig these out now!
September 14th, 2010 at 1:57 pm
Do you know how many copies a book like “Planet of the Vampires” would sell today!? YAY! I hope they make it back!
September 14th, 2010 at 2:04 pm
You could actually put together some pretty familiar names to support these books. I know a few more closet Atlas fans, as well.
LOVED the Grim Ghost, Phoenix, the Cougar, and Planet of The Vampires. Morlock and the Tarantula were a lot of fun, as well…and the Scorpion, and Tiger-Man.
What was the name of the back-up story character drawn by Pat Broderick, anyone remember?
September 14th, 2010 at 2:15 pm
Must…..do…..new……CANNIBAL SUPER HERO COMIC SERIES!!!!!!
NICE!!!
September 14th, 2010 at 2:18 pm
Planet Of The Vampires would be the greatest thing of all to hit comic shelves!!!
September 14th, 2010 at 2:20 pm
I’m on board. Can’t wait til I can order them.
September 14th, 2010 at 2:22 pm
Double WOW!! It is such an amazing coincidence because I attended the San Diego Comic Con this year, and purchased a copy of Comic Book Artist #16 which was all about the history of the Atlas/Seaboard Comics company (interesting stuff).
I always enjoyed their comics, and made a point of picking up every issue as they came out. I wanted to get in on the “ground floor” of a new comics company, something many of us probably wish we could have done with Marvel or DC.
I was so disappointed that Atlas didn’t last, and most of the titles only ran for 3 or 4 issues. I will definitely be picking up everything that they put out, and I hope that there is at least a small connection/continuity to the old series.
September 14th, 2010 at 2:33 pm
About the only thing I really loved from Atlas were the first two issues of The Scorpion by Howard Chaykin. I know it won’t happen, but I’d love to see The Scorpion return (along with Chaykin’s art style from that period).
September 14th, 2010 at 2:47 pm
Fantastic news!
Finally completed my set this past summer, with the intent of binding them as a fond remembrance of my childhood reading. So many crazy ideas in their 5 dozen-odd issues, both great, and not-so-much. Either way, a fascinating study of creativity colliding with business needs.
Nice to hear the characters will continue!
September 14th, 2010 at 2:49 pm
JM DeMatteis as E-i-C. Guess there will be another new writer on Booster Gold soon. And hopefully he will get to write for his new bosses as well.
September 14th, 2010 at 2:54 pm
I was just re-reading about these characters a few weeks back. Here’s hoping the new Atlas’ business practices are as innovative and creator friendly as it’s first instance.
September 14th, 2010 at 3:12 pm
PLANET OF THE VAMPIRES! Let’s show Twilight what fangs are for!
September 14th, 2010 at 3:13 pm
For those interested, here’s a link to The Atlas Archives…
http://www.atlasarchives.com/comics.html
September 14th, 2010 at 3:14 pm
HELL YEAH, TO ALAN KISTLER!!!!!!
September 14th, 2010 at 3:25 pm
Yeah I was just gushing about this news over on CBR. I had a complete set but sold it back in the early nineties. Damn good news indeed.
September 14th, 2010 at 3:36 pm
Check out this gorgeous tribute to the Atlas Heroes by UK artist Ian Richardson:
http://www.comicartfans.com/GalleryPiece.asp?Piece=669185&GSub=84834
September 14th, 2010 at 3:38 pm
Scorpion and Demon Hunter got relocated to the Marvel Universe but that leaves among others, Iron Jaw, Planet of the Vampires and most exciting, The Destructor! Always a big Destructor fan, though that was mostly about Steve Ditko.
September 14th, 2010 at 3:49 pm
Looking forward to this. I’ve recently been rereading and reviewing several of the old Atlas (Seaboard) books on my Web site, Comics Bronze Age, and there’s a lot of material ripe for exploration. The Grim Ghost, in particular, has a great back story, and the involvement of J.M. DeMatteis gives me high hopes.
Hope this mean collected editions of the old material might be on the way, too.
Andrew
ComicsBronzeAge.com
September 14th, 2010 at 3:53 pm
The Atlas books were so cool. Congratulations on the relaunch and best of luck. I look forward to reading them.
Bobby
September 14th, 2010 at 3:55 pm
Huh. Can’t say that the early 90s Image art is doing much for me on the couple of pinups/covers I’ve seen so far, but with J.M. DeMatteis involved, I’m optimistic about the writing.
September 14th, 2010 at 4:00 pm
To Gail simone-
Hi Gail, The name of that feature was The Dark Avenger, from the back of Phoenix #3 and not just drawn by Pat Broderick but inked by the great Terry Austin… I’d love to see that make a comeback (and would love it even more if they could get Pat Broderick involved with some of these books).
Really can’t wait to see these, I wish them much luck…
September 14th, 2010 at 4:46 pm
Tiger-man please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
September 14th, 2010 at 4:49 pm
How is it that Marvel can publish those Atlas Era Masterworks? Does Goodman own the rights to the superhero titles only?
September 14th, 2010 at 5:41 pm
Besides “Planet of the Vampires” I’d like to see the return of Demon-Hunter (not sure of the rights situation vis-a-vis Marvel’s “Devil-Slayer) and Destructor. Tiger-Man would be pretty easy to find an audience for, or adapt for other media.
September 14th, 2010 at 5:47 pm
Ironjaw! I want to see Ironjaw return as soon as possible. Maybe a good place for Beau Smith and Eduardo Barreto?
September 14th, 2010 at 6:46 pm
This new Grim Ghost looks pretty bad. He looks like he’s 130 pounds. Who screw with the original?
What made those books great was they were all-out 1970s Marvel-like action books. If they try to make them too precious with the modern decompression and talking heads, you lose 100% of what made Atlas cool.
Relaunchs fail times and times again because those in charge become so obsessed to update them for a modern audience and as such miss the point. It’s like when they tried to revamp Valiant after Shooter left. It was so laughable. Nicieza was the wrong person for it. I think Beau Smith would have been more fitting for Atlas than Dematteis.
September 14th, 2010 at 7:51 pm
Long overdue, Grim Ghost and Tiger Man were my favorites.
September 14th, 2010 at 8:20 pm
I’ve got some old copied of Ironjaw in my collection & I always wanted more. Here’s looking foward to a launch & hoping for a quality book.
September 14th, 2010 at 8:39 pm
Hi everyone!
Thanks for the great comments and your feedback about the Atlas relaunch. At the moment there’s not a lot I can add to the press release apart from the fact that the new York comicon will be the place to be to see these for the very first time!
I’ve been working closely with the Grim Ghost artist and although a few of you have compared his work to the 90′s Image style, which there is a shade of, you’ll dig his work as it’s more like Bernie Wrightson meets Jim Lee with a shade of Silvestri thrown in for good measure. I’ve worked with quite a few “unknowns” in the past who have gone on to super stardom — but this guy ticks all the boxes for me!
September 14th, 2010 at 8:47 pm
Hi everyone!
Thanks for the great comments and your feedback about the Atlas relaunch. At the moment there’s not a lot I can add to the press release apart from the fact that the new York comicon will be the place to be to see these for the very first time!
I’ve been working closely with the Grim Ghost artist and although a few of you have compared his work to the 90′s Image style, which there is a shade of, you’ll dig his work as it’s more like Bernie Wrightson meets Jim Lee with a shade of Silvestri thrown in for good measure. I’ve worked with quite a few “unknowns” in the past who have gone on to super stardom — but this guy ticks all the boxes for me!
Rich
September 14th, 2010 at 9:09 pm
Fantastic!
I’m much more excited about this announcement than anything coming from Marvel or DC.
There were some fun, groundbreaking things from Atlas back in the day, unfortunately they tried to change direction on just about every title in the last issues published.
I really hope you can get together a nice reprint collection to act as lead in on these titles.
September 14th, 2010 at 9:18 pm
Awesome. I loved these as a kid.
September 14th, 2010 at 9:50 pm
I am so down for this! That so many in the biz have fond memories is promising of what’s to come. I Terry Allen’s comment, this is the more exciting that whatever DC and Marvel are doing. Looking forward to reading more as this develops.
Myoho-Renge-Kyo.
JPG.
September 14th, 2010 at 10:36 pm
This is awesome news, I always hoped someone would bring them back, they have to do the Destructor and Tiger Man though.
September 14th, 2010 at 10:39 pm
This is absolutely wonderful news. So many good things happening right now in comics, this is one of great ones! I can’t wait to see what they do with The Cougar!
Lance Roger Axt
The AudioComics Company
September 14th, 2010 at 11:04 pm
Plus having JM involved is always a good thing.
Lance Roger Axt
The AudioComics Company
September 15th, 2010 at 12:54 am
Terry Says:
September 14th, 2010 at 4:49 pm
How is it that Marvel can publish those Atlas Era Masterworks? Does Goodman own the rights to the superhero titles only?
————–
We’re looking at two different “Atlas” names here. The books that Marvel’s doing in the “Atlas Era” Masterworks were the titles that were published by Atlas Comics, the predecessor to Marvel Comics. The line that’s being referenced in the above article was the comics division of Seaboard Periodicals. As far as I’m aware none of the titles published by Atlas/Seaboard have ever been reprinted and Marvel has NO connection with this particular line of Atlas Comics (aside from having also been created by Martin Goodman, who founded Marvel Comics back in the 1930s as Timely Comics).
September 15th, 2010 at 5:02 am
I am SO ready for this! Son of Dracula, Tiger-Man, Brute, and Planet Of The Vampires were my favorites! I constantly re-read these over and over as a kid and recently got the urge to own these again. It is a pleasent suprise to have this announcement come out as I complete my collection. I feel like a kid again! I am a HUGE DC fan, but in all honesty, it has been years since any news from them or Marvel has excited me the way the Atlas return has. They will have my total support!
September 15th, 2010 at 5:57 am
It’s nice to see folks like Gail & Jimmy profess their appreciation for the old Atlas line. Their books were occasionally wonky, but they were always fun.
September 15th, 2010 at 7:39 am
I have to say, I’m very stoked about the return of the Atlas characters. I have two collections of the entire run, the original issues that I bought brand new off the stands and spinners racks in my youth and then in the 1990′s I bought a second entire run from a very good retailer for next to nothing. Not only have these characters and stories held a fond spot in my crusty heart, but they always had solid to amazing art, stories and most of all great potential.
I wish the new line all the best in the world. My hopes are that the new line will be as much fun as the original and that Atlas will do what they did in the 70′s….carve their own path and not shadow current superhero trends.
Really looking forward to more news on this.
Beau Smith
The Flying Fist Ranch
September 15th, 2010 at 8:08 am
Hey, good luck to anyone in any business but I can’t believe the nostalgia for these books. They were actually kind of crappy and none of them were interesting.
September 15th, 2010 at 8:58 am
The main appeal of Atlas/Seaboard comics, for me, was the talent involved. Ditko, Wood, Chaykin, Hama, Isabella, Nostrand, Ploog…the characters were an extreme 2nd place. I’ll be interested if they get good, established creators in place. While I am not a fan of JM’s stuff, I’m glad to see someone like him in charge, editorially, rather than some newbies I’ve never heard of. The characters just aren’t fascinating enough on their own – what’s needed is some good, proven talent that draws fans.
September 15th, 2010 at 9:58 am
I am sooooo stoked about the return of ATLAS to the stands, it’s way past due. Tiger-Man in particular could probably do well, being WOLVERINE before WOLVERINE was.
September 15th, 2010 at 10:26 am
I think the Pat Broderick backup story was in The Cougar and called Crusader. I have an issue somewhere with that story. Phoenix, The Protector #2, was one of the first comics I ever read and I recently bought it again. Iconic + Fun = Comics and I always got that sense from Atlas Comics. All the best to them on the relaunch of the line. I want to visit Planet of Vampires again.
September 15th, 2010 at 10:41 am
My Uncle was the art director for Atlas. I saw alot of the original art as a kid, and thought they were some great reads. He gave me the unpublished cover of “The Barbarians” #2, featuring Wulf, which still hangs on my wall today.
September 15th, 2010 at 7:37 pm
I used to own a bunch of these. I still have all three TIGER-MANs, a couple of DESTRUCTORs and THE SCORPION numbers 1 and 3 . Some of it was a lot fun and some of it was…well, not so much.
September 15th, 2010 at 9:40 pm
Considering Tiger-Man #2 is very possibly the first comic I ever read… I just may have to have a look at this relaunch.
September 18th, 2010 at 7:46 pm
AWESOME! I bought & read these as a 12/13 year old. Sure their were some real stinkers. But their were a few gems in their as well. Like the Grim Ghost, Tiger-Man, the Destructor, Morlock 2001, Iron Jaw, Man-Monster & The Brute. Good Luck guys! Let’s get the original artists back if possible. Hope to see some great movies made also.Ironically, I just brought this up on the DC General topics boards. Under movies I’d like to see be made. Now this annoucement is made! Karma!
September 18th, 2010 at 7:49 pm
Please get Pat Broderick & Ernie Colan back to their drawing boards! I loved their work at Atlas!
January 17th, 2011 at 11:46 am
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