A new universe based on the work of Michael Turner, an indie publisher with ties to Kodansha, and Scott Dunbier’s new publishing company will all be launched at Comic-Con on July 26 and 27, 2024.
David Maisel, the Founding Chairman of Marvel Studios, is partnering with Aspen Comics to launch a new universe, Ekos, that is inspired by the work of the late Aspen founder Michael Turner and writer Geoff Johns, who collaborated with Turner on a project with the same name (see “Aspen Cinematic Universe Planned“). The new universe is a joint project of Aspen and Maisels Mythos Studios, which has a 50% stake in Aspen and is itself partly owned by the Korean multinational entertainment company HYBE (which manages BTS, among others). While little has been revealed about the new universe so far, they plan a big splash at Comic-Con, with a large booth on the floor and 250+ activation scanners on the show floor, as well as a panel on Saturday. Ekos Vol. 1, by writer J.T. Krul, artist Alex Konat, and colorist Peter Stiegerwald, will be crowdfunded as a three-issue series to be collected into a 120-page graphic novel. The first volume has a cover by Joe Quesada and will have additional covers by Turner, Alex Ross, J. Scott Campbell, David Mack, and Jerome Opeña.
AMP Comics is a new indie publisher that has already lined up strategic partnerships with manga publisher Kodansha, game publisher The OP, and production companies including Maximum Effort. The new publisher will reveal their plans at a panel on Friday, July 26, and panelists include CEO Don Handfield, President Joshua Starnes, previously Co-Publisher of Red 5 Comics (see “Red 5 Comics Inks Distro Deal“), and Publisher David Byrne, formerly of Scout Comics (see “People on the Move“), as well as writer MC Foley and representatives from Kodansha, Maximum Effort, and The OP; retailer Jen King will moderate. AMP and Kodansha are collaborating on the Script2Comic contest, which offers creators the opportunity to have their scripts made into comics and possibly published worldwide.
When he left IDW last April, Scott Dunbier indicated he had some plans in the works (see “Scott Dunbier to Start New Publishing Company“), and he will announce his new venture on Friday at Comic-Con. He has already revealed the name, Act 4, which he explained on Instagram refers to the fourth act of his career: “My first act was art dealing—I was finding my path through my love of comic art. My second act was WildStorm/DC—expanding that love in a different and more personal way. My third act was IDW Publishing—things were coming into focus and I was honing my craft.” Act 4 will be publishing. Dunbier also unveiled the logo for his new company, which was designed by Chip Kidd.
Source: ICV2
