I Reads You Juniors June 2018 - Update #46

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RIP - From BleedingCool:  Comic book agent, David Campiti, remembers recently deceased artist, Bong Dazo ("Deadpool").

From BleedingCool:  eBay To Sell Digital Comic Books from Today

From BleedingCool:  See Lucas Turnbloom’s Harry Potter-Styled San Diego Public Library Card

RIP - From THR:  Famed and volatile speculative fiction and television writer, Harlan Ellison, has died.  He also wrote several comics books and many of his stories were adapted for comic books.

From TheBeat:  Updates from Ed Brubaker on "Kill or Be Killed" and more.

From BleedingCool:  Brian Michael Bendis says that DC Comics will promote his creator-owned comics more than Marvel did.

From ComicBookBin:  New webcomic Johnny Bullet episode #166 in English.
From ComicBookBin:  New webcomic Johnny Bullet episode #166 in French.

From THR:  Tee Franklin's LGBTQ graphic novel, "Bingo Love" will return in a Vol. 2 and a new edition of Vol. 1.

From BleedingCool:  "The Trouble With Those 100 Page DC Comics From Walmart" by Rich Johnston.

From TheBeat:  Some retailers are outraged at the DC Comics-Wal-Mart exclusive deal that will see Wal-Mart exclusively carry four 100-page DC titles that will reprint stories, but also include original content.

From ComicBook:  Mike Colter, star of Marvel/Netflix's "Luke Cage," explains why Cage is not called "Power Man" in the series.

From Newsarama:  "Silk" is the latest character from the Spider-Man family that is being developed for film by Sony Pictures.

From Asahi:  "Golden Kamuy" creator, Satoru Noda, does his homework and research in depicting the Ainu ethnic group.  One of the lead characters, Asirpa, is Ainu.  "Golden Kamuy" is one of the best comic books being published today.

From BleedingCool:  Starting from the first of July, according to Bleeding Cool DC Comics and Walmart have done a deal to exclusively sell four one-hundred-page DC Comics anthology titles every month.  The comics will feature both old stories and brand-new content previously unavailable, including original Brian Micheal Bendis "Batman" and Tom King "Superman" 12-part serials.

From TCJ: Niki Smith talks about her erotic graphic novel, "Crossplay," which is set in the comics convention community.

From ComicCon:  2018 Bill Finger Awards for Excellence in Comic Book Writing have been announced.  Two influential women, Joye Murchison Kelly and Dorothy Roubicek Woolfolk, were honored.

From BleedingCool:  Fantagraphics Books 2018 solicitations.

From BleedingCool:  DC Comics rushing out to collections of Geoff Johns and Gary Frank's "Superman" comic books:  "Superman: Braniac" and "Superman: Secret Origins."

From Deadline:  Mark Miller, Olivier Coipel, and Netflix's Image Comics title, "The Magic Order," is selling like hotcakes.

From THR:  Tee Franklin ("Bingo Love") talks about her upcoming socially conscious horror comic book series, "Jook Joint" (Image Comics, October 2018).

From ComicBookBin:  New webcomic Johnny Bullet episode #165 in English.
From ComicBookBin:  New webcomic Johnny Bullet episode #165 in French.

From YahooNews:  Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has fired its editorial cartoonist, Rob Rogers, for being critical of President Trump.

From BleedingCool:  Stephan Frank talks about his wonderful vampire comic book series, "Silver," and launching a Kickstarter campaign to finish it.

From THR:  Marvel has announced the return of one of its "homo" and "freaking female" comic books.  "Iceman" (the home) and "The Unstoppable Wasp" (freaking female) are returning this fall.

From Polygon:  Batgirl will have a new direction, new comic book writer, and new costume.

From Crunchyroll:  "Tokyo Ghoul: re" manga ending soon.

From TheGuardian:  Mark Millar says "Netflix will take risks where a studio won't."

From Newsarama:  The Los Angeles Police Department is investigating claims that 95-year-old Stan Lee is the victim of elder abuse, related to Lee's business manager, Keya Morgan.

From Polygon:  A major DC Entertainment shake-up signals change for movies, TV, and comics

From BleedingCool:  Jim Lee and Dan DiDio got the "co" dropped from "co-publishers" and are now listed as "Publishers."

From Deadline:  Geoff Johns is leaving his job as Chief Creative Officer (CCO) of DC Entertainment (DC Comics).  Johns will move into a Warner Bros first-look producing deal where he will write movie vehicles to produce for Mad Ghost Productions.  Johns will also continue to work on existing films based on DC Comics properties.

From Vulture:  Many people are still shocked at the apparent recent suicide of celebrity chef and TV host, Anthony Bourdain.  Once upon a time, he wanted to draw comic books.

From TheBeat:  Longtime "MAD Magazines" cartoonist, Nick Meglin, has died at the age of 82, Saturday, June 2, 2018.

From SanFranChron:  A profile of 89-year-old writer, artist, cartoonist, and comic book creator, Jules Feiffer.

From AlbanyTimesUnion:  Shawn Pryor talks about the Kickstarter campaign for his comic book, "Lifted: Of Gods and Thieves."

From ANN:  The "Tokyo Ghoul: re" manga will reportedly make a big announcement on Thursday, June 14th, 2018.

From LATimes:  DC Comics relaunches its "Vertigo" imprint with a new name ("DC Vertigo") and seven new titles.

From BleedingCool:  The real Marvel Comics vs. DC Comics will happen when sales figures come out next week.

From BleedingCool:  Fabian Nicieza is writing a "World Cup" digital comic book for Marvel and ESPN.

From BleedingCool: DC Comics Advertises Metal Collection on AMC, SYFY, TBS, TNT, and TruTV

From SyFy:  Berger Books, an imprint of Dark Horse Comics, has announced a new science fiction title, "LaGuardia," written by Nnedi Okorafor and drawn by Tana Ford.

From ComicBook:  GameStop will apparently start selling comic books.

From AnimeNewsNetwork:  23 Shogakukan Manga Magazines Launch Anti-Piracy Campaign

From BleedingCool:  It's Alive is going to collect Doug Moench's "Aztez Ace" and has initiated a Kickstarter campaign to publish the project.

From GeekTyrant:  The "Batman Ninja" movie will be adapted as a manga for "Monthly Hero's Magazine."

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ComiXology Announcement:

From Newsarama:  COMIXOLOGY ORIGINALS Offers Print-On-Demand, Exclusive New Creator-Owned Titles for AMAZON PRIME

From WashPost:  ComiXology’s new move: A line of original, creator-owned comic books

From BleedingCool:  ComiXology introduces Amazon print-on-demand comics.

From BleedingCool: "ComiXology Originals" is opening June with a big announcement.

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From Otakukart:  Eden’s Zero Manga Reveals New Illustration.  New manga from the creator "Fairy Tail."

Review: SILVER #5 - "Night of the Duvaliers"

SILVER #5 – NIGHT OF THE DUVALIERS
DARK PLANET COMICS – @fromdarkplanet

CARTOONIST/CREATOR: Stephan Franck – @Stephan_Franck
COVER: Stephan Franck with Sean Eckols
32pp, B&W, $4.50 U.S. (July 2015)

This week sees the release of the fifth issue of Silver by Dark Planet Comics.  Silver is a black and white, 12-issue comic book miniseries written and drawn by Stephan Franck, a writer and director of animated films.  Silver extends the fictional world of Bram Stoker's 1897 novel, Dracula, into the 1930s.  The series stars con man James “Finn” Finnigan, a thief extraordinaire who plans to steal silver from the living-dead.

Silver opens in New York City, 1931.  The story opens at the Harker Foundation, which was created by the recently deceased Jonathan Harker and his late wife, Wilhelmina “Mina” (Murray) Harker.  While crashing an auction, Finnigan accidentally stumbles into a crypt where he finds an ancient bar of silver.  This begins his quest to pull of the biggest heist of the last ten centuries.  Beginning with his partners, Ed Mullins and Brantley, Finnigan begins to build a team to pull of this heist.  He adds Rosalynd Van Helsing (a.k.a Rosalynd Sledge); the actor, Hamilton “Ham” Morley; the forger, Mister Moineaux; and the boy who sees the future, Tao.

Silver #5 (entitled “Night of the Duvaliers”) opens in April 1931, aboard the Orient Express.  Finn and company managed to get Hamilton invited to a very exclusive vampire event, using Hamilton's skills as an actor and the art of the pickpocket.  As the team catches its collective breath, the story moves into the secret world of the vampires.  It seems that members of the vampire elite are positioning themselves to pick a bride for a king, but Lillian has something to say about that.

Reviews of the Silver comic book series can make a reviewer repetitive.  Every issue, thus far, has been exceptional, and Silver #5 is no exception to that.  This fast moving, old-fashioned tale has the spirit of movies like Raiders of the Lost Ark and the 1999 version of The Mummy, but steeped in the Gothic atmosphere of Bram Stoker's novel, Dracula.

Although Franck works in animation, he is proving to be a master of the art of comic book storytelling.  He is a genuine inheritor of the glorious black and white comic art of Alex Toth, and his work recalls the 1950s horror comics of Steve Ditko.  If you are turned off by vampires, are you also turned off by great comic books?  There may not be a better original vampire comic book in America than Silver, and it is also one of the best comic books currently being published in America.

A+

[Silver #5 contains another “Under the Hood” essay, in which Franck shows the process of creating Silver's first full-bleed, double-page spread.]

http://darkplanetcomics.com/
facebook/darkplanetcomics

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux (Support Leroy on Patreon.)


The text is copyright © 2015 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Stephan Franck's "Silver #5" Due July 8th

Issue #5 of Award-Nominated Stephan Franck's SILVER Coming July 8, 2015

Los Angeles, CA – Dark Planet announced that “Night Of The Duvaliers”, the 5th issue in Stephan Franck’s acclaimed mini-series SILVER, will become available on ComiXology Submit on July 8th (https://www.comixology.com/Silver/comics-series/10508).  ComiXology recently ranked SILVER number 2 on its well respected “ESSENTIAL READS” list (http://dark-planet-comics.com/blog/2015/5/17/silver-makes-comixology-submits-essential-reads-list).

A direct continuation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula universe, set forward 50 years into the pulp/noir era of the 1930's, SILVER introduces James Finnigan, a con man, who endeavors to separate the vampires from their precious silver.  Personal entanglements and character comedy ensue, as Finnigan assembles the team of talented but broken misfits needed to pull off a heist for the ages.  Released last year, the first volume in the series earned Stephan Franck a 2014 Russ Manning Award nomination at San Diego Comic Con.

While the new 31-page extended issue continues the series’ trademark character explorations, in particular the inevitable bonding between Finn and Tao, it is also an exciting feat in WORLD-BUILDING. As the train reaches its final destination, we enter the hidden world of vampires--a culture of intrigues, vanity, decadence and ancient traditions.

“I couldn’t wait to present my take on Dracula’s legendary castle and to start lifting the veil on our unique mythology” says Franck, “everything we’ve seen and heard so far in the story has been leading up to this.”

Since the series’ inception, SILVER has been noted for its strong female characters, in particular troubled vampire-hunter and fans favorite Rosalynd “Sledge” Van Helsing. In issue #5 we  discover vampire princess Liilian, described by Finnigan as “A real troublemaker, someone with an agenda. A bonafide nutball”, with whom Sledge is on a collision course.

As with previous installments in the series, comic books luminaries have been vocal supporters of Franck’s storytelling:

“With SILVER, Stephan Franck cuts right to the bone of the story and masterfully drives his narrative home. A breath of fresh air in the world of comics!”--TOMMY LEE EDWARDS (Marvel 1985, The Question, Turf)

“Why was I not reading this before?  Why? Why? Why?  It’s everything I love about comics.  And everything I miss about a lot of comics these days. Hey Stephan Franck, I want more.” — JIM KRUEGER (Earth X, Justice, The Runner)

Single issues SILVER 1 to 5 as well as SILVER Vol. 1 (which compiles the first 3 issues) are available digitally on ComiXology. The trade paperback print edition of Silver Volume 1 is available at comic shops everywhere, on Amazon, and from the Dark Planet Webstore (http://dark-planet-comics.com/shop-1/). Print editions of all Dark Planet products are available from the Dark Planet booth at comic book conventions (http://dark-planet-comics.com/dates/) across the US, where the company maintains a dynamic presence.

While the digital edition debuts same day as print, Franck we be signing and drawing original sketches inside the print copies of the book at San Diego Comic Con, at the Dark Planet booth (2204).


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Stephan Franck is an award-nominated animator/writer/director/comic book creator. He was a supervising animator on the cult classic THE IRON GIANT, and contributed story to DESPICABLE ME. He co-created the animated TV series CORNEIL & BERNIE (Nicktoons - Hub Network), and received an Annie Award nomination for Best Director In a TV Program for the special SMURFS: THE LEGEND OF SMURFY HOLLOW, which presented the Smurf for the first time in 2D animation at a feature-animation level of quality. Stephan’s graphic novel debut, SILVER Volume 1 earned him a nomination for the prestigious Russ Manning Award at San Diego Comic Con 2014, and landed on ComiXology Submit’s ESSENTIAL READS list.

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I Reads You Review: SILVER #3

SILVER #3 – CURSE OF THE SILVER DRAGON
DARK PLANET COMICS

CARTOONIST/CREATOR: Stephan Franck – @stephan_franck
COVER: Stephan Franck with Alan Bodner
32pp, B&W, $4.50 U.S. (2014)

Silver is a 12-issue miniseries created by Stephan Franck (a filmmaker in the American animation industry) and published by Dark Planet Comics.  Silver extends the fictional world of writer Bram Stoker, the author of the novel, Dracula (1897), into the 1930s.  The series stars con man James Finnigan, a thief extraordinaire who plans to steal silver from the living-dead.

Act 1 of Silver focuses on Finnigan's mission to assemble a crew that can help him pull off the biggest heist of the last ten centuries.  The series opens in New York City, 1931 at the Harker Foundation, a creation of the recently deceased Jonathan Harker and his late wife, Wilhelmina “Mina” (Murray) Harker.  That is where Finnigan crashes an auction of rare silver pieces from the Harkers’ private collection and accidentally stumbles into a crypt where he finds an ancient bar of silver.  He loses something during the heist-gone-bad, displeasing his partners, Ed Mullins and Brantley, but he sells them on a bigger heist, the Harker silver.  He recruits a new member of his heist team, Rosalynd Van Helsing a.k.a Rosalynd Sledge.

In Silver #3 (entitled “Curse of the Silver Dragon”), Finnigan continues to assemble his heist team.  He adds Mister Moineaux a.k.a. Maitre Moineaux the “French Touch,” and Hamilton “Ham” Morley, a washed-out actor who has become an “In n' Out” guy.  Now, Finnigan tells them the part of the story of Dracula that is not well known.  It is the story of “The Dragon,” a work of art that is a pyramid made of silver bars.  Not all of his team is buying this story.

I loved Silver after only reading the first issue.  I am always looking for comic books that remind me of the reasons why I love comic books so much:  the sense of adventure, of new worlds to discover, of strange new places to visit, and of peculiar new people to meet.  Of course, the most important reason is that they are fun to read.  When I find a comic book like that, I want to convince other readers, as both a comic book fan and reviewer, to try it, hoping that they will like it – even if they don’t like it as much as I do.  Silver is the kind of book I want to convince others to read.

In Silver, Stephan Franck recalls both the work and storytelling of such legendary comic book creators as Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, Will Eisner, and Harvey Kurtzman.  As the second issue did, Silver #3 has striking page layouts and imaginative storytelling.  Silver is a gripping narrative and a comic book series worth repeated readings.

A+

[Silver #3 contains a behind scenes look at Franck's artistic process for this issue and also an interview/preview with sculptor Troy Saliba.]

http://dark-planet-comics.com/

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


The text is copyright © 2014 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for syndication rights and fees.

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Dark Planet Comics Has "Silver #2" at comiXology

COMIXOLOGY RELEASES SECOND CHAPTER IN DARK PLANET COMICS'  ACCLAIMED “SILVER” MINISERIES 

Dark Planet Comics is happy to announce the wednesday 10/30/2013 ComiXology release of the second issue in writer/director/comic book creator Stephan Franck's acclaimed 12-issue mini-series SILVER.

SILVER, which extends the original Bram Stoker universe 50 years hence into the pulp era of the 1930’s, has been embraced by comics fans, pulp fans and die-hard Dracula fans alike… “My favorite fan letter in Silver #2 comes from the Count Dracula Fan Club,” says Franck, “and yes it is a real one, and yes, there is such a thing as a Count Dracula Fan Club--which is either awesome or terrifying.”

Introducing pulp-era master-thief James Finnigan, SILVER #1 was released in May 2013 to rave reviews. Ain't It Cool News wrote "Franck knows his customers, what they expect, and he gives it to them in spades." Studio System News named SILVER in its article: "Comic-Con and Trickster 2013: Top Picks For Movies and TV".

In Silver #2, the paradigm shift continues for Finn, as he seeks out Rosalynd "Sledge" Van Helsing, who he hopes might help him authenticate Jonathan Harker’s ledger. As it turns out, Rosalynd carries on her grandfather’s handy work, and could very well be too much woman for Finn to handle. "We basically spent the first issue showing-off Finn's nerves of steel, and establishing that he's a master manipulator," Franck says. "In SILVER #2, It’s a lot of fun watching him lose control of his reality--not to mention having to deal with a woman who's even more of a rebel than he is."

With SILVER, Franck brings the combination of light tone and character depth that has made him first-call in the animation industry. “Silver is about misfits;” Franck says, "people whose soul is broken, each in their own way. Some of them use irony as a coping mechanism. Others...well, they'll just drink your blood."

The ComiXology release of Silver #2 adds to a very productive year for Franck. THE SMURFS: THE LEGEND OF SMURFY HOLLOW, which he directed for Sony Pictures Animation, aired last weekend on ABC Family, as part of the “13 Nights Of Halloween” block, garnering excellent reviews, and earning him a mention in Animation Magazine as one of the current "Rising Stars In Animation".

SILVER #1 & #2 ComiXology link: http://www.comixology.com/Silver/comics-series/10508

Silver #1 and #2 are also available to order in print edition from the Dark Planet Comics website: http://www.darkplanetcomics.com/store

For additional contact and information, visit http://www.darkplanetcomics.com

Like our page of Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DarkplanetComics

About Stephan Franck:
Stephan Franck is a writer/director/animator who has worked for Disney, Dreamworks, Warner Bros, Universal, Columbia Pictures, and Sony Pictures Animation. He was a supervising animator on THE IRON GIANT, and contributed story to films such as DESPICABLE ME. He is the co-creator of the cult TV show CORNEIL & BERNIE (AKA WATCH MY CHOPS) (TF1, BBC, ABC Australia), that runs in over 60 countries and is in production on a second season. He’s had the giant out-of-body experience of being personally hired by George Lucas to direct a movie so cool and crazy it had to be abandoned, and just directed THE SMURFS: THE LEGEND OF SMURFY HOLLOW for Sony Pictures Animation, which was selected in official competition for the 2013 ANNECY INTERNATIONAL ANIMATION FESTIVAL in the Best TV Special category. He will be appearing November 1-3 at Stan Lee's Comikazee in Los Angeles and November 23-24 at the Long Beach Comic Book & Horror Convention.

About Dark Planet Comics:
Created in 2013, Dark Planet Comics is the home of Stephan Franck ’s original comic book properties. “Having a comic book imprint has been a dream of mine,” Franck says, “it’s about authorship. It’s about the commitment to put my stories out into the world in the way they were intended to be.”

www.darkplanetcomics.com

Review: SILVER #2 – Sledge

SILVER #2 – SLEDGE
DARK PLANET COMICS

CARTOONIST/CREATOR: Stephan Franck – @stephan_franck
COVER: Stephan Franck with Alan Bodner
32pp, B&W, $3.50 U.S.

I’m always looking for a comic book that reminds me of why I love comic books so much.  When I find one, as a comic book reviewer, I want to convince other readers to try it, hoping that they will like it – even if they don’t like it as much as I do.

Silver is a new 12-issue miniseries created by writer, director, and animator, Stephan Franck, and published by Dark Planet Comics.  Silver extends the fictional world of writer Bram Stoker, the author of the novel, Dracula (1897), into the 1930s.  The series focuses on a con man who plans to steal silver from the living-dead and his mission to assemble a crew that can help him pull off the biggest heist of the last ten centuries.

The story opened in New York City, 1931 at the Harker Foundation, a creation of the recently deceased Jonathan Harker and his late wife, Wilhelmina “Mina” (Murray) Harker.  There, con man and thief extraordinaire, James Finnigan, crashes an auction of rare silver pieces from the Harkers’ private collection.  Finnigan accidentally stumbles into a crypt where he finds an ancient bar of silver.

As Silver #2 (entitled “Sledge”) opens, Finnigan learns that he did not make quite the clean getaway from the Harker Foundation that he thought he did.  He left something behind, and now his partners, Mullins and Brantley, are none too happy about it.  Finnigan, however, is always a man with a new plan – a bigger and bolder plan... or so he thinks.  Now, he must find a young woman named Rosalynd Sledge, but wait until he learns what her line of work is.

Like The Black Beetle (Dark Horse Comics), Silver is a great new comic book series that harkens back to the classic past of comic books. Silver’s Stephan Franck and The Black Beetle’s Francesco Francavilla remind me of writer/artists and cartoonists such as Steve Ditko, Will Eisner, Harvey Kurtzman and others who mastered the graphic storytelling sensibilities possible with comics.

Whether it is flashy page layouts or weird and imaginative compositions of splash pages or within panels, the masters of the Golden and Silver Ages of comic books made the narrative of sequential art an eye-popping, mind-bending experience.  But the art was not just pretty illustrations, but it was also story, and it conceived, heightened, and embellished the story, character, and setting.

This is Silver, the visual and graphical elements of comics unleashed as a gripping narrative.  Franck’s black and white art might also remind people of Frank Miller’s work in his Sin City comic books.  I hope readers embrace Silver the way they did Sin City.  Silver is the antidote for our comic book reading complacency.

A+

Readers can purchase Silver #2 here or http://www.darkplanetcomics.com/store

Readers can purchase Silver #1 on ComiXology: http://www.comixology.com/Silver/comics-series/10508

www.darkplanetcomics.com
www.facebook.com/DarkPlanetComics
www.darkplanetcomics.tumblr.com

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux

The text is copyright © 2013 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for syndication rights and fees.

Review: SILVER #1 – Finnigan

SILVER #1 – FINNIGAN
DARK PLANET COMICS

CARTOONIST/CREATOR: Stephan Franck – @stephan_franck
32pp, B&W, $3.50 U.S.

Stephan Franck has been a writer, director, and animator. The veteran filmmaker has worked for Disney, DreamWorks, and Warner Bros., among others. He was a supervising animator on The Iron Giant, contributed story to Despicable Me, and recently directed the upcoming movie, The Smurfs: The Legend of Smurfy Hollow for Sony Pictures Animation.

Now, Stephan Franck is creating comics and recently released Silver, a new 12-issue miniseries published by Dark Planet Comics. Silver extends the fictional world of writer Bram Stoker, the author of the Gothic novel, Dracula (1897), into the 1930s. Silver focuses on a con man who steals silver from the living-dead. He begins to assemble a crew to help him pull off the biggest heist of the last ten centuries.

Silver #1 opens in New York City, 1931. The Harker Foundation, founded by recently deceased Jonathan Harker and his late wife, Wilhelmina “Mina” (Murray) Harker, is holding an auction of rare silver pieces from the Harkers’ private collection. Tonight, there is an unwanted guest, con man and thief extraordinaire, James Finnigan. Finnigan’s “visit” is expected, however, which turns into a chase that covers practically every corner of the building.

Like Francesco Francavilla’s The Black Beetle, Silver is a stylish urban-set comic book that is part Film-Noir and part Depression-era pulp fiction. James Finnigan is not quite in the classic heroic tradition of the pulps. He’s more like Indiana Jones, a hero styled in the pulp tradition: two-fisted, smart, wily, and a lucky bastard who always escapes in the nick of time.

Graphically, Silver is a classic black and white comic book, in which the artist uses positive and negative space to not only set tone and mood, but to also pace the narrative. When done with skill, a black and white comic book can create a sense of swiftly-moving action. Black and white comic book art can also present static images that convey danger, menace, and suspense with but a lone image or in a single panel. Franck does that throughout Silver #1.

In James Finnigan, Franck has created a character that will keep the series lively and funny, making Silver an adventure tale that mixes in other genres such as action, horror, and crime fiction. Silver is a gorgeous comic book that gets more entertaining with each page. Silver is the kind of comic book that has kept me in love with comic books since I was child.

Readers looking for classic pop comics will want Stephan Franck’s Silver.

A

Readers can purchase Silver #1 on ComiXology: http://www.comixology.com/Silver/comics-series/10508

www.darkplanetcomics.com

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux

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Dark Planet Comics' "Silver #1" at ComiXology

COMIXOLOGY PICKS UP “SILVER”, ANIMATION VETERAN’S COMIC BOOK DEBUT

DARK PLANET COMICS is proud to announce the digital release of its very first title: SILVER #1, now available for download on ComiXology. Silver, a 12-issue miniseries, marks the comic book debut from animation veteran Stephan Franck (The Iron Giant, Despicable Me).

Set in a direct 1930’s extension of Bram Stoker’s universe, and steeped up to its eyeballs in the pulp tradition, SILVER introduces James Finnigan, a witty but (figuratively) soulless con man, who sets out to separate the living-dead from their silver. As Finnigan assembles the crew of talented but broken misfits needed to pull off the heist of the last ten centuries, personality conflicts, emotional entanglements and character comedy abound.

With SILVER, Franck brings the combination of light tone and character depth that has made him first-call in the animation industry. “Silver is about fathers;” Franck says; “It’s about sons. Sons who had bad fathers, and who carry the fear of not knowing how to be good into manhood. Ultimately, it’s about greed and emptiness versus the elusiveness of feeling alive.”

Comic book luminaries have been enjoying Franck’s debut comic:

“With SILVER, Stephan Franck shows how much excitement can be packed into a fast-moving, thrill-filled story...dynamic, unfussy, black and white art, all in the service of speed and momentum...a really, really fun ride.” — Tim Sale (Batman: The Long Halloween; Batman Dark Victory; Superman For All Seasons)

“A beautifully drawn and masterfully told noir/heist story with a teasing side of the supernatural that constantly kept me surprised with it’s reveals. I was particularly taken aback by the creative camera angles and use of shadows. I was kinda blown away, really.” — Takeshi Miyazawa (Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane; X-Men Unlimited; Runaways)


ABOUT STEPHAN FRANCK:
Stephan Franck is a writer/director/animator who has worked for Disney, Dreamworks, Warner Bros, Universal, Columbia Pictures, and Sony Pictures Animation. He was a supervising animator on The Iron Giant, and contributed story to films such as Despicable Me. He is the co-creator of the cult TV show, Corniel & Bernie (ADA Watch My Chops) (TF1, BBC, ABC Australia), that runs in over 60 countries and just got picked up for a second season. He’s had the giant out-of-body experience of being personally hired by George Lucas to direct a movie so cool and crazy it had to be abandoned, and just directed THE SMURFS: THE LEGEND OF SMURFY HOLLOW for Sony Pictures Animation, which is selected in official competition for the 2013 ANNECY INTERNATIONAL ANIMATION FESTIVAL in the Best TV Special category.

ABOUT DARK PLANET COMICS
Created in 2013, Dark Planet Comics is the home of Stephan Franck’s original comic book properties. “Having a comic book imprint has been a dream of mine,” Franck says, “it’s about authorship. It’s about the commitment to put my stories out into the world in the way they were intended to be. ComiXology’s amazing platform makes this kind of independence possible.”

Silver #1 on ComiXology: http://www.comixology.com/Silver/comics-series/10508

In addition to digital downloads, Silver #1’s print edition is available on the Dark Planet Comics website: www.darkplanetcomics.com