Elephantmen 2260: Memories of the Future from Image Comics

EL•E•PHANT•MEN [el-uh-fuhnt-men] noun: 1. Transgenics; human/animal hybrids, genetically engineered by the MAPPO Corporation for military deployment in the Afro-Sino War (2239-2243). Rehabilitated by the United Nations, these creatures were gradually inculcated into human society. 2. Derogatory term for such.

Hieronymous Flask (known as “Hip”) is the first of the Elephantmen. A hippopotamus/human hybrid, he possesses immense strength, which he uses along with his cultivated intelligence in his job as an Information Agent. In ELEPHANTMEN 2260, a new storyline in the long-running Image Comics series by Richard Starkings and Axel Medellin, Hip teams up to investigate a double murder with Jack Farrell, a young detective with a secret: He’s being haunted.

A perfect starting point for new readers, ELEPHANTMEN 2260 BOOK ONE: MEMORIES OF THE FUTURE is a taut science fiction mystery in which Hip and Jack must delve deep into the genetic secrets that made Elephantmen like Hip possible. All the while, Jack’s murdered girlfriend Scarlet follows him, seemingly an apparition of his guilt — or is she something more? Scarlet seems to have her own agenda, one that Hip and Jack will have to discover to solve the crime.

This collection of ELEPHANTMEN #51-55 features covers by Boo Cook, a bonus pin-up by Tim Sale and Cook, and back cover art by Joseph Michael Linsner. ELEPHANTMEN 2260 BOOK ONE will be in comic book stores on April 30 and bookstores on May 13 and is specially priced at only $9.99.

ELEPHANTMEN 2260 BOOK ONE: MEMORIES OF THE FUTURE by Richard Starkings and Axel Medellin

•                ISBN 978-1-60706-959-1

•                128 pages, full color, paperback

•                $9.99

•                Collects ELEPHANTMEN #51-55

•                In comic book stores April 30, bookstores May 13

Elephantmen Hits #50 This July from Image Comics

ELEPHANTMEN, Richard Starkings' epic science fiction series exploring the ramifications of genetic experimentation, war, and racism, is reaching a milestone this July: its 50th issue. ELEPHANTMEN debuted in 2006, published by Image Comics, a spin-off of Starkings self-published (and now Image title) HIP FLASK.

Following a group of human/animal hybrid super-soldiers who are struggling to integrate themselves into a society that is often hostile to their very existence, the series has gone on be collected into six hardcovers and trade paperbacks. It has featured art by Ladrönn, Boo Cook, Chris Burnham, Shaky Kane, and Axel Medellin, and the cover of ELEPHANTMEN #43 is among the work that earned Brandon Graham a "Best Cover Artist" Eisner Award nomination.

"Fifty issues! One more and ELEPHANTMEN is as old as I am!" marveled creator and writer Starkings, who also owns the well-respected comics lettering studio Comicraft. "When we launched the series in 2006, I thought maybe I had six issues in me, yet here we are, seven years later and six ELEPHANTMEN collections in stores and another in preparation for release this summer!"

ELEPHANTMEN #50, "Blue Collar Blues," has a cover by renowned comics artist Frank Quitely, and comes after the close of the monumental "Sleeping Partners" story arc. It brings the story into the intimate sphere of one Elephantman, following his everyday life with its struggles and small triumphs. The issue is illustrated by series regular Axel Medellin and Gabe Bautista and also includes a re-presentation of ELEPHANTMEN #1, with art by Moritat, and a gallery of covers by Brandon Graham, Camilla d'Errico, J. Scott Campbell, Brian Bolland,, Chris Weston, Ladrönn, Ian Churchill, and Ed McGuinness.

ELEPHANTMEN #50 will be in stores on July 17 and is available for pre-order from the May issue of Previews (Diamond code MAY130418). The revised and expanded ELEPHANTMEN VOLUME 1, which now includes issue #0 with art by Ladrönn and an introduction by Jonathan Ross, will be in stores on May 22. The newest collection, VOLUME 6: EARTHLY DESIRES, due in stores in July 10, is also available for preorder (MAY130420).

Image Comics Celebrating 20 years Right in 2012 Part Two

It is amazing to believe that Image Comics has been part of the Comic Universe for 20 years now. 2012 will be a great year in celebration! Some of our favorite series such as The Walking Dead, Chew, Morning Glories, Carbon Grey, Samurai's Blood and a few others will continue as Image Comics will begin the new year with a few more titles. 

Here are a few to come from Image Comics in February 2012:

 February 2012 Comics

 

THE WALKING DEAD #94

story ROBERT KIRKMAN
art / cover CHARLIE ADLARD & CLIFF RATHBURN

FEBRUARY 29
32 PAGES / BW / M
$2.99

They are unprepared for this.

SPAWN 20^th ANNIVERSARY POSTER #1 (of 4)

art GREG CAPULLO

FEBRUARY 15

24” x 36” / FC

$9.99

 Come celebrate 20 years of Spawn with us! The first installment of our 2012 quarterly poster program starts now with this memorable digitally painted piece from master Spawn artist GREG CAPULLO. Look for 3 more posters to be released later this year in this poster series. Size is perfect for framing to showcase this stellar art!

 
SAMURAI’S BLOOD, VOL. 1 TP

story OWEN WISEMAN

art NAM KIM

cover  JO CHEN

FEBRUARY 29

188 PAGES / FC / T

$14.99

In feudal Japan, an era when lineage defined you, three teenagers must make their way through the world hiding their identities in order to find their destinies. As their village burns behind them, they are headed for a city they’d heard about only in stories. The three young samurai must now struggle to stay alive and take vengeance on the evil usurper who has destroyed the rest of their clan and the only world they’d ever known. Will they rise on the tides of vengeance, or they will they fall on the swords of fate?

Image Comics Celebrating 20 years Right in 2012 Part One

It is amazing to believe that Image Comics has been part of the Comic Universe for 20 years now. 2012 will be a great year in celebration! Some of our favorite series such as The Walking Dead, Chew, Morning Glories, Carbon Grey, Samurai's Blood and a few others will continue as Image Comics will begin the new year with a few more titles. 

Here are a few to come from Image Comics in January 2012

January 2012 Comics

 

CHEW #25

story JOHN LAYMAN

art & cover ROB GUILLORY

JANUARY 18

32 PAGES / FC / M

$2.99

“MAJOR LEAGUE CHEW,” Part Five

For sale: One Cibopath, slightly used, extremely damaged. 

 

 

  THE WALKING DEAD #93
story ROBERT KIRKMAN

art / cover CHARLIE ADLARD & CLIFF RATHBURN

JANUARY 25

32 PAGES / BW / M

$2.99

“A LARGER WORLD” begins here! 

As we ramp up to the release of our monumental 100th issue, the world is changing.  Rick and his band of survivors are faced with new threats – and new opportunities.  Nothing will ever be the same – and with this book, you know we mean it!

MORNING GLORIES #17

story NICK SPENCER

art JOE EISMA

cover RODIN ESQUEJO

 JANUARY 11

32 PGS / FC / M

$2.99

“P.E.,” Part Five

New York Comic Con Image Comics Exclusives

 HEART #1 NYCC Exclusive Variant

Story Blair Butler

Art & Cover Kevin Mellon

$2.99

Mixed Martial Arts and comics collide when an office drone named Oren “Rooster” Redmond follows his older brother into the fiercely competitive world of professional MMA. With nothing left to lose, Oren hopes to find his purpose in fighting – but does passion equal proficiency? Does Oren truly have the heart of a champion? Find out in the first chapter of this four-issue series.

(Available for sale at Image Comics booth #1346 during the Saturday 1:30 - 2:30 ticketed signing and Kevin Mellon's artist's alley table #T7 while supplies last.)

PIGS #1 NYCC Exclusive Variant 

Story Nate Cosby & Ben McCool

Art Breno Tamura

Cover Katie Cook

$2.99

ISSUE ONE: HELLO, CRUEL WORLD
A KGB sleeper cell has been in Cuba since 1962. And now they’re coming to kill you. Nate Cosby (MARVEL), Ben McCool (CHOKER, MEMOIR) and hotshot newcomer artist Breno Tamura present PIGS, an ongoing series set to join Image’s elite ranks. Terrorists have descended on America, assigned to destroy everything in their path…but why, and why now?

(Available for sale at Image Comics booth #1346 during the Friday 3:00 - 4:00 pm and Saturday 12:00 - 1:30 pm signings while supplies last.)

CBLDF LIBERTY ANNUAL 2011 NYCC Exclusive Variant

 Story by Matt Wagner, J. Michael Straczynski, Kazim Ali, Dara Naraghi, J.H. Williams III, Mark Waid, Carla Speed McNeil, AJ Lieberman, Michael Bramley, Steve Niles, Brandon Montclare, Judd Winich, Richard Starkings

Art  by Matt Wagner, Kevin Sacco, Craig Thompson, Chris Mitten, J.H. Williams III, Jeff Lemire, Carla Speed McNeil, Riley Rossmo, Frank Quitely, Shane Davis, Fred Hembeck, Michael  Montenat & Jack Purcell, Joelle Jones, Greg Lang, Greg Horn, Thiago Micalopulos & Rodney Ramos, Dustin Nguyen, Dave Cooper, Ivan Reis, Shaky Kane

$4.99

A COMIC BOOK LEGAL DEFENSE FUND BENEFIT BOOK!
Stand Up For Your Rights! Censorship is the ultimate form of bullying. Censors want to take away the power people have to think, speak, or create freely. In CBLDF LIBERTY ANNUAL 2011, Legendary Editor BOB SCHRECK gathers an all-star line-up of comics creators to stand up to those censoring bullies with 48 powerful pages of ALL NEW story and art about standing up for your rights! All proceeds from this book benefit the important First Amendment work of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, who've been fighting censorship in comics for 25 years!

This year's Liberty Annual includes incredible contributions, including all-new original stories by superstarsJ. Michael Straczynski, Frank Quitely, J.H. Williams III, Steve Niles, Judd Winich, Mark Waid, and Carla Speed McNeil. Plus, new tales featuring Grendel by Matt Wagner, Cowboy Ninja Viking by AJ Lieberman & Riley Rossmo, and Elephantmen by Richard Starkings & Shaky Kane. Plus a massive, and first ever color story from indy comics master Craig Thompson! Even Marvel and DC have stepped up to show their support all-new pin-ups including Batman by Dustin Nguyen, X-Men by Greg Land, Green Lantern by Ivan Reis, and The Avengers by Greg Horn!

GIANT-SIZED ELEPHANTMEN

Direct from Image...

GIANT-SIZED ELEPHANTMEN OFFER MORE

The complete Man And Elephantman Story Arc Introduces Elephantmen To New Readers

Berkeley, CA – 28 September 2011 – In November, a giant-sized helping of ELEPHANTMEN, Richard Starkings' increasingly popular ongoing science fiction series, will be available from Image Comics. GIANT-SIZE ELEPHANTMEN #1 will collect the entire sold out Man Or Elephantman story arc, which was previewed in the back of THE WALKING DEAD #86. GIANT-SIZE ELEPHANTMEN #1 will include MAN AND ELEPHANTMAN #1, ELEPHANTMEN #31, and ELEPHANTMEN #32. 

Plus, it will all be wrapped up by a beautiful tri-fold cover by J. Scott Campbell and Nei Ruffino, as well as a variant cover by regular series artist Axel Medellin. New readers who were intrigued by the flip issue that ran in THE WALKING DEAD #86 are invited to find out what everyone has been talking about in GIANT-SIZE ELEPHANTMEN #1!

Starkings, ELEPHANTMEN writer and creator said, "Axel Medellin's art went from strength to strength in the course of MAN AND ELEPHANTMAN, so I'm happy readers who missed out on the original issues get a chance to catch up on the story in time for Axel's triumphant return, after a three issue break, on ELEPHANTMEN #36 which is entitled The Day After Yesterday. It locks into the Man And Elephantman storyline and starts a series of events which will lead to the death of one of our major characters!"

Set 200 years in the future, ELEPHANTMEN is the story of human/animal hybrids, genetically engineered as biological weapons of mass destruction. The war they were designed to fight has long-since ended and the surviving "Elephantmen" have been freed and rehabilitated to live out the rest of their lives peacefully, despite living amongst those they were created to kill. They are continually treated with suspicion and contempt except by a handful of trusted human allies. 

GIANT-SIZE ELEPHANTMEN #1 (J. Scott Campbell cover: SEP110368, Axel Medellin cover: SEP110369), a 68-page full-color sci-fi comic for mature readers, will be on sale in stores November 2 for $5.99.

Image Comics: Elephantmen and The Walking Dead Come Together

The latest issue of Robert Kirkman's immensely popular original series THE WALKING DEAD will be presented as a flip book, offering readers a preview of the Eagle Award winning ELEPHANTMEN, industry legend Richard Starkings' acclaimed science fiction series.

On the flip side of THE WALKING DEAD #86, the 23-page introduction into the world of ELEPHANTMEN has been taken from ELEPHANTMEN: MAN AND ELEPHANTMAN #1, an issue that proved a great jumping on point for readers who had yet to pick up the series. Axel Medellin provides the ongoing title with sexy and colorful painted art, and while his style sharply contrasts Charlie Adlard's stark, realistic black and white pages for THE WALKING DEAD, Kirkman and Starkings know that the two series share many of the same readers.

Phoenix Comicon: Comic Artist Signings at the Show Part 1

Image Comics

Mark Kidwell, Jay Fotos, and Nat Jones of '68

John Layman and Rob Guillory of Chew

Rob Guillory doing a couple of sketches for us. Awesome!

Ro

J. Scott Campbell Signing Gen 13 and Elephant Man Variant Cover

J. Scott Campbell mentions that he did not know that Starkings was at the Phoenix Comicon, but we told him we got it signed at the Long Beach Comic Expo.

Crusade Comics

Billy Tucci signing our Shi comics

Thank you guys for the great signings and sketches at Phoenix Comicon 11!

Long Beach Comic Con Expo

We attended the Long Beach Comic Con Expo on Saturday, April 23rd and it was a lot of fun. Our day was filled with lots of fun with being extras in the Guild Season 5, Aspen Panel, Transformers vehicle, and of course comics and sketches! 

The day started bright and early with the Guild Season 5 filming. We can not give really too much information on the show other than it being filmed throughout the day at the Long Beach Comic Con Expo. We want to thank the Guild crew for the great opportunity of being part of the show. It was a lot of fun! 

While waiting for the filming of a scene, we did run into this very awesome surprise! A replica of Ratchet from the Transformers G1 Series. 

Throughout the morning and early afternoon, we continued scenes for the Guild. We were hoping we would not miss the Aspen Panel and got lucky and caught it half way through. We did learn that Lady Mechanika #2 would be coming out very soon. There are high hopes to be a movie for Aspen's Soulfire. The Executive's Assistant will be a weekly series coming out this July just in time for the San Diego Comic Con.  The panel was a great tribute to the late Michael Turner who was a great innovator to comics, his fans, and co-workers.  The Aspen staff shared memories of Michael Turner and Joe Benitez mentioned how Turner's work made people push themselves to make their art work even better. It was a great panel!!

After the shooting and Aspen panel, we were off to the convention floor. We got to meet Shane and Chris Houghton of Reed Gunther comics. We picked up the free mini comic they promised to people that visited their booth. We also were lucky to get a great sketch of Reed Gunther by Chris Houghton! Thank you very much!

We then headed to meet Richard Starkings the creator of Image Comics, Elephantmen. We also were very lucky to get an incredible sketch drawn by Starkings. We do want to thank Mr. Starkings as well for the awesome sketch. 

We had a lot of fun at the Long Beach Comic Con Expo and hope to attend the Long Beach Comic  and Horror Con in October.