Avatar Press

“It it doesn’t scare you, you’re already dead!”

NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD is the quintessential zombie story, the first exploration of what a world would be like overrun by ghouls with a bloodthirsty lust for human flesh. Though the tagline for the original film was, “Pits the dead against the living in a struggle for survival,” the real truth behind the success of George A. Romero and John Russo’s cult classic was that the real conflict comes from human beings in tense situations, turning against one another.

In NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD VOLUME 3: DEATH VALLEY (due in stores today), Mike Wolfer — a man whose creative credits on horror comics exceeds the length of a torn-off arm — provides a terrifying glimpse of dangerous individuals who use the zombie plague to control and manipulate others. What if a cult (like the Manson family) used zombies as foot soldiers in their ‘Helter Skelter’ race war? And what if you were an innocent victim, trapped inside their compound among the chained undead?

The DEATH VALLEY storyline takes place in 1969, a year after the outbreak seen in the classic film. While the eastern seaboard was overrun by zombies and recaptured for humanity, California’s two thousand miles of distance bring comfort to a handful of young and carefree ?weekend warriors.? Eager to leave their tensions behind, they head out into the Baja sands for three days of hot sun, dune buggies, and skimpy bikinis. But the pristine white sands will soon run red, as a secret even more gut-wrenching than flesh-eating ghouls comes to light.

In addition to the gruesome DEATH VALLEY story, NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD VOLUME 3 includes an added bonus story set in the Louisiana bayou, where the psychological threat of the coming undead hordes pits survivor against survivor. As if the bayou swamplands weren’t dangerous enough with beastly carnivores like alligators and zombies, a dangerous group of delinquents callously choose who will survive or die at the hands of the undead.

Care to check out the book? Here’s a preview for your viewing enjoyment!

The NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD VOLUME 3 graphic novel collects the entire five-issue “DEATH VALLEY” miniseries by Mike Wolfer and artist Dheeraj Verma, as well as the NOTLD 2011 ANNUAL, which featured Wolfer handling both the writing and artistic chores. The collection is available in both softcover and hardcover editions, both with fearsome cover images by Mr. Wolfer himself (you can find the softcover edition image at the top of this article, and the hardcover to the left).

NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD VOLUME 3: DEATH VALLEY Softcover
$19.99 Retail, Cover by Mike Wolfer (See Top)
Diamond Item Code: DEC110855
ISBN: 978-1-59291-147-9

NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD VOLUME 3: DEATH VALLEY Hardcover
$27.99 Retail, Cover by Mike Wolfer (See Left)
Diamond Item Code: DEC110856
ISBN: 978-1-59291-148-6

Looking to snag a copy of NOTLD Vol. 3? Head to your local comic shop! The entire collection of Avatar Press NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD graphic novels is still in print, available for purchase.

Ladies and gentlemen, we proudly present to viewing audiences everywhere the latest issue in David Lapham and Gabriel Andrade’s monstrous masterpiece (or is it masterful monsterpiece?), FERALS #2!

Available for purchase at the finest comic shops and specialty stores, FERALS #2 continues the bloody, brutal tale of Officer Dale Chesnutt, a small town lawman drawn into an ancient culture of primal instinct and secrets worth killing over. Residents of Cypress, including his friends, are being hunted and torn apart by a fearsome beast. Reeling from the loss, Chesnutt is seduced by a mysterious woman, and becomes the target for the murderous, cunning werewolf that is terrorizing his town. Now, after suffering a terrible personal loss, Chesnutt finds himself a suspect on the wrong side of the law, and on a collision course with an animal that can eviscerate its prey with tooth and claw. How will our so-called hero survive?

What does David Lapham have to say about the monsters of FERALS? “Without revealing too much, this isn?t a take on the mystical werewolf, full moon and all that. This is about a different kind of person. There are different forms to them but they don?t change back and forth like the Hulk. A person who is feral could be your neighbor and you wouldn?t know it. He doesn?t change when he?s pissed or when the moon is full. The basic form starts with the idea of Alpha male on crack. There are several other tricks up a Feral?s sleeve, and we?ll see that and some other more altered forms of the Feral condition, but we?ll save that for the comics. The classic werewolf is about a monster. A monster story. This is a drama and a noir where the Ferals are a very real thing.”

We happily have a preview of issue #2 to show you. Check it out!

For folks curious about the new series, Lapham (best known for his work on Stray Bullets, Young Liars, and Crossed: Psychopath) also had this to add: “If you were longing for an HBO series about werewolves, forget that and buy FERALS. It?s everything that TV show would be if it existed ? which it doesn?t ? and more, because we have no rules. This is a solid series full of true horror and violence, and built on strong characters that has no limits in terms of where we take it. No limits. Plus Gabriel Andrade?s art, besides beautiful, is immersive. This guy was built for an ongoing and this series will suck you in.” Strong words from a beloved creator! Please, tell us you’re sold.

We are offering several different cover editions for issue #2, including the following:

FERALS #2 ? Regular Cover
$3.99 Retail, Cover by Gabriel Andrade
Diamond Item Code: DEC110871

FERALS #2 ? Gore Cover
$3.99 Retail, Cover by Gabriel Andrade
Diamond Item Code: DEC110872

FERALS #2 ? Wraparound Cover
$3.99 Retail, Cover by Gabriel Andrade
Diamond Item Code: DEC110873

Like so many of his fans, we just can’t get enough of Garth Ennis. In addition to the two horror ongoing series written by Garth Ennis (I’m speaking, of course, of STITCHED and CROSSED: BADLANDS), Avatar Press has completely re-mastered and colored the original DICKS series for a new release, hitting stores tomorrow! The new DICKS #1 COLOR EDITION revisits the two would-be investigators Dougie and Ivor, propelling them on hilarious and obscene adventures every month!

Issue #1, illustrated by the ever-incomparable John McCrea, introduces us to Dougie and Ivor, two “idiots from Belfast” who are down on their luck. Associated with the lowest kind of vermin in the city, they become wrapped up in the nefarious and deadly dealings of Ivor’s Uncle Shuggie, crash a shotgun wedding with a wildly inappropriate Best Man speech, and end up on the outs with a fuming mad, musclebound thug named Big Billy. How do they get into such hijinks? Why, the filthy fun is in the telling! As an added bonus, this extra-sized first issue comes with ten pages of “bonus features” showcasing some of the most wickedly funny short stories and gags ever committed to print!

It’s Garth Ennis and John McCrea, folks. We’re talking about the creative team who turned DC Comics on its ear with The Demon and Hitman. These are two wacky gents from Belfast, telling outrageous stories about wacky gents from Belfast. And the best news of all… when all is said and done, and the original adventures of Dougie and Ivor are retold in glorious color, Ennis and McCrea are going to unveil an all-new DICKS epic that will be absolutely legendary. So keep an eye out for things to come!

Alas, we’re getting ahead of ourselves. Why don’t we just show you a few pages from this first issue, and you can whet your whistle for the journey to your local comic shop?

Be sure to take your pick from our two different variant covers!

DICKS #1 Color Edition ? Regular Cover
$4.99 Retail, Cover by John McCrea
Diamond Item Code: DEC110861

DICKS #1 Color Edition ? Offensive Cover
$4.99 Retail, Cover by John McCrea
Diamond Item Code: DEC110862

You may have seen Warren Ellis’ ATMOSPHERICS before, but never like this!

Available at fine comic book shops everywhere, the ATMOSPHERICS Color Edition graphic novel presents Ellis’ psychological thriller in fully painted color, wholly remastered by artist Ken Meyer, Jr.

An event of unparalleled horror happened in the town called Helen, and the only survivor is Bridget Rhinehart. When the entire populace was ripped apart, turned inside out in the style of cattle mutilations, how could one woman live survive? Unless… Bridget herself was somehow responsible. Is she who she claims to be, an escapee of an alien attack? Or is she dangerous, a mass murderer of innocent people and FBI agents? And do her interrogators want the truth, or a scapegoat to pin the massacre on?

We’ve happily provided a preview of the ATMOSPHERICS Color Edition graphic novel below, but we also encourage you to familiarize yourself with Ken Meyer, Jr., the highly skilled artist whose full-color painting gave new life to this science fiction / horror classic. Check out the BleedingCool.com interview by clicking here!

And now, without further ado…

It’s a banner week for David Lapham. Two of the most horrific, spine-tingling comic series of all time are coming to an end, both with the twists and turns you’d come to expect from a writer of his caliber.? Thank goodness FERALS has just started, filling in the void we’d otherwise feel after his departure from CALIGULA #6 and CROSSED: PSYCHOPATH #7!

In CALIGULA #6, the streets of Rome run red with blood as Lapham brings the story of the most feared emperor of all time to its startling conclusion to! Junius has endured the brutal slaughter of his parents, the savage needs of a demonic steed, and the maddened ravings of his beloved and despised enemy (a complex relationship, to be sure). Having been tasked to record the gospel of Caligula, to witness his perverse and murderous deeds and record them for posterity, can this fragile mortal man decipher the supernatural secrets of Rome?s most despised despot and put an end to the insanity? What would it take to kill a man who cannot die?

David Lapham drags fans into the darkest corners of Rome?s history and dares you to stare down the madness within. German Nobile illustrates this final gruesome chapter in the CALIGULA epic. Issue #6 is available with a Regular cover by Jacen Burrows and a Wraparound cover by series artist German Nobile. (Retailers are also eligible to receive a special Golden Age of Rome edition, although availability varies by location).

CALIGULA #6 Regular Edition
$3.99 Retail, Cover by Jacen Burrows (pictured)
Diamond Item Code: OCT110851

CALIGULA #6 Wraparound Edition
$3.99 Retail, Cover by German Nobile
Diamond Item Code: OCT110852

Also in stores today, you’ll be able to find CROSSED: PSYCHOPATH #7. It’s all come down to this, folks! Harold Lorre was a despicable excuse for a man before the collapse of civilization, but his sick desires and deadly manipulations have reached levels that would inspire awe and envy even in the Crossed themselves! And now, in the final issue of PSYCHOPATH, his cat-and-mouse game with beautiful, strong-willed Amanda finally comes to an end. This is gruesome psychological terror at its most intense! To paraphrase the CROSSED catch phrase: Is there hope? Is there escape? If there is only to be one left remaining, who will it be, and what will be left of him or her?

The highly detailed and spine-chilling illustrations of Raulo Caceres (CAPTAIN SWING, CRECY) perfectly bring the terrors from inside David Lapham’s head right to the comic page!? CROSSED: PSYCHOPATH #7 has three standard cover variants in stores today, with a Regular edition by Jacen Burrows and Torture and Wraparound editions by Raulo Caceres. (Retailers are also eligible to receive a special Red Crossed edition, although availability varies by location).

CROSSED: PSYCHOPATH #7 Regular Edition
$3.99 Retail, Cover by Jacen Burrows (pictured)
Diamond Item Code: NOV110765

CROSSED: PSYCHOPATH #7 Torture Edition
$3.99 Retail, Cover by Raulo Caceres
Diamond Item Code: NOV110766

CROSSED: PSYCHOPATH #7 Wraparound Edition
$3.99 Retail, Cover by Raulo Caceres
Diamond Item Code: NOV110767

And here’s a preview of the final PSYCHOPATH chapter for your reading enjoyment:

When Avatar Press recently announced the upcoming CROSSED: BADLANDS comic book series, an ongoing, bi-weekly title that reunites CROSSED creator Garth Ennis with his partner-in-crime, Jacen Burrows, the retailer and fan reaction did not disappoint! We’re pleased as punch to hear so much positive feedback and excitement about the upcoming project!

But with all the BADLANDS hooplah and hollerin’, we want to make sure that our other big news isn’t lost in the shuffle! Avatar Press proudly announces that Diamond Comics, North America’s premiere distributor of comic books, has bestowed the coveted “Featured Item” accolade upon our January Previews catalog listing of the CROSSED VOLUME 3: PSYCHOPATH graphic novel. What an honor!

In PSYCHOPATH, comic legend David Lapham (Stray Bullets, Ferals) and the wickedly talented Raulo Caceres (Captain Swing, Crecy) present a vicious tale from the collapse of civilization, in the aftermath of the worldwide outbreak of insanity. For one small band of survivors, the discovery of a starving, injured man in the desert seems like an unexpected blessing. He knows where they could be safe: the location of a last holdout for America’s scientific community, where military remnants offer protection and the cure to the Crossed plague. But Harold Lorre is not the savior they hope him to be. He’s a calculating, lethal man whose mind was dangerously unhinged even before the world went mad. Surrounded by marauding hordes, their nerves shattered by unending fear, the group falls victim to the manipulations and deadly perversions of a true psychopath.

The CROSSED VOLUME 3: PSYCHOPATH graphic novel is available in three editions:

CROSSED VOLUME 3: PSYCHOPATH Softcover Edition
$19.99 US, Diamond Item Code: JAN120869
ISBN: 978-1-59291-152-3

CROSSED VOLUME 3: PSYCHOPATH Hardcover Edition
$27.99 US, Diamond Item Code: JAN120870
ISBN: 978-1-59291-153-0

CROSSED VOLUME 3: PSYCHOPATH Signed Hardcover Edition
$19.99 US, Diamond Item Code: JAN120871
ISBN: 978-1-59291-154-7
Limited to 1,000 copies and signed by David Lapham!

If you’d like to check out an interior preview of CROSSED VOLUME 3, please click on the link below! There, you’ll find a page sampling from the first comic book issue, which is collected in this graphic novel alongside the entire miniseries!

Remember, folks — orders for books in the January Previews catalog are due by January 26th. Retailers, make sure to stock up on the PSYCHOPATH graphic novel, which will be released in time for C-Day (March 14th)! And fans, make sure to visit your local comic shop this month and ask them to reserve a copy for you! If you love creepy horror that pushes beyond all boundaries of sanity, this book was made just for you!