Author Archives: Ashley Kronsberg

Aftershock Announces Political Thriller ‘Red Atlantis’

A series of unexplained, violent crimes on Election Day around the U.S. leads the FBI to zero in on a covert group of Russian terrorists.

When a Texas journalism student named Miriam accidentally finds herself mixed up in the investigation, her life will never be the same. With political espionage, treason, and even mind control, can she clear her name and stop the U.S. from entering into a new Cold War?

From writer Stephanie Phillips (Butcher of Paris, Artemis and the Assassin, Descendent) and artist Robert Carey (Aliens: Resistance, James Bond) comes a fast-paced political thriller that explores the dark history of U.S./Russian relations.

Stephanie Phillips on some of the inspiration behind creating the book:

“Red Atlantis was actually created by Jan Neumann, a former intelligence officer in Russia’s Federal Security Service. After defecting to the U.S. with his wife in 2008, Jan worked with the FBI to find and apprehend European mobsters. Red Atlantis is Jan’s brainchild and born from a lot of his own experiences, as well as the history of the U.S. and Russia’s tense relationship.”

Stephanie Phillips on this being her third book with Aftershock (Descedent, Artemis and the Assassin) and how it’s been working with the publisher and creative teams:

“AfterShock has always supported my work and ideas while giving me a palace to improve my skills as a writer. Working with amazing artists and editors to bring these ideas to life is extremely exciting as a creator.”

Stephanie Phillips on what she hopes comic fans will get out of this and why should they add it to their pull list:

“There are a lot of familiar themes – espionage, politics, Russia/US tension – but the story brings a supernatural element that is actually steeped in history. Add to that Jan Neumann bringing his life experiences and expertise to this story, and I think our creative team was able to accomplish something really unique with Red Atlantis.”

Lonely Receiver (jan 2021)

1

Published by AfterShock Comics

ISBN: 9781949028577
Price: $16.99
Genre: Horror
Ages: 16+

On Sale: April 20, 2021

A Horror/Breakup Story in Five Parts

Catrin Vander, a lonely video producer, buys an Artificial Intelligence partner that’s meant to bond for life. After ten years together, her holographic wife suddenly disconnects without a warning. The breakup drives Catrin to the point of near insanity. She’s alone for the first time in years and reeling from a loss she can’t comprehend.

Set in the new future, drenched in pastels and sunshine, LONELY RECEIVER is a horror/breakup story in five parts. Written by Zac Thompson (UNDONE BY BLOOD, THE REPLACER, HER INFERNAL DESCENT, No One’s Rose, X-Men) and illustrated in color by Jen Hickman (MOTH & WHISPER, Test).

Key Selling Points

  • Psychological thriller asks tough questions about how we define ourselves in relationships and how we lose parts of ourselves to others.

  • Fantasy treatise that boldly goes where society is already headed – straight to the heart of our relationships with our phones.

  • Given the unexpected new reality that so many are living in, a horror romance about a person who lives/works by themselves and the deep relationship they develop with her phone – and the aftermath of the breakup of that relationship – is incredibly timely and relevant.

  • Confronts the fetishization of voyeurism, violence and manipulation, laying bare the psychology behind how far we’re willing to go to please ourselves in a space where nothing is off limits

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Wi21: Devil’s Highway

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Devils Highway_0

Published by AWA Studios

ISBN: 9781953165015
Price: $9.99
Genre: Crime, Mystery
Ages: 16+

On Sale: March 2, 2021

Benjamin Percy (Wolverine) and Brent Schoonover (Batman ‘66) present a pulse-pounding thriller, based on real FBI data, examining murder in the dark underbelly of America’s heartland. A young woman with a dark family secret embarks on a quest to hunt down the serial killer that brutally murdered her father – only to discover he is just one piece of a national network of evil that snakes across the country and hides in plain sight. To catch the devil she must first embrace the darkness within.
 

Key Selling Points

Creator Bio(s)

  • Crime thriller
  • Ben Percy – Wolverine
  • A serial killer under the mask of a long-haul trucker
  • Based on true FBI case files
  •  

BENJAMIN PERCY is the author of four novels, the most recent among them The Dark Net (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2017). He is also the author of The Dead Lands (Grand Central/Hachette, 2015), Red Moon (Grand Central/Hachette, 2013) and The Wilding (Graywolf Press, 2010), as well as two books of short stories, Refresh, Refresh (Graywolf Press, 2007) and The Language of Elk (Grand Central/Hachette, 2012; Carnegie Mellon University Press, 2006).

He broke in to comics in 2014, with a two-issue Batman story arc for Detective Comics. He is know for his celebrated runs on Wolverine, Nightwing, Green Arrow, Teen Titans, and James Bond. He is part of the new dawn of X-Men at Marvel and currently writes X-Force.

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Wi21: Reckless

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4

Published by Image Comics

ISBN: 9781534318519
Price: $24.99
Genre: Crime, Mystery
Ages: 16+

On Sale: December 22, 2020

Sex, drugs, and murder in 1980s Los Angeles… And the best new twist on paperback pulp heroes since The Punisher or Jack Reacher.

Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips, the modern masters of crime noir, bring us the last thing anyone expected from them – a good guy – in a bold new series of original graphic novels, with three books releasing over the next year, each a full-length story that stands on its own.

Meet Ethan Reckless: Your trouble is his business, for the right price. But when a fugitive from his student radical days reaches out for help, Ethan must face the only thing he fears… his own past.

Key Selling Points

Advanced Praise

Contributor Bio(s)

  • Perfect for longtime, devoted Brubaker/Phillips fans, handsell this to readers of PULP,THE FADE OUT, KILL OR BE KILLED, CRIMINAL, MY HEROES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN JUNKIES, BAD WEEKEND.

  • The first in a unique series of standalone stories that share a common protagonist-similar to Jack Reacher novels-and providing original graphic novel story + easy entry points for new readers.

  • Extensive coop and promotional advertising, banners, and social support targeting book market.
    Brubaker/Phillips boast a deep backlist, a devoted fanbase, and a solid sales track with multiple Eisner Awards and the recent breakout sales beast PULP!

  • “Imagine Redford at his peak, ambling through sun-drenched, eighties L.A. in a serpentine plot that is equal parts Long Goodbye and Point Break. No one does crime fic like Brubaker and Phillips and their collaboration has never felt more new. Explosive. Vital. And yes… reckless. I love this book.”

    – Damon Lindelof (Lost, HBO’s Watchmen)

  • “Reckless is an absolute rush: on the same level as golden age Travis McGee novels and the hardest-hitting Richard Stark stories. This one comes at you as fast as Steve McQueen in a souped-up Mustang and as hard as Charles Bronson with a baseball bat. You gotta have it.”

    – Joe Hill (Locke & Key, N0S4A2)

ED BRUBAKER is one of the most acclaimed writers in comics, winning five best writer Eisner and Harvey Awards in the last ten years. His bestselling work with Sean Phillips on CRIMINAL, INCOGNITO, FATALE, and THE FADE OUT has been translated around the world to great acclaim, and Marvel’s movies featuring his co-creation, The Winter Soldier, have all been international blockbusters. Ed lives in Los Angeles with his wife and their crazy dog, where he works in comics, film, and television, most recently on HBO’s new hit series WESTWORLD.

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Wi21: Waluk

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Published by Magnetic Press

ISBN: 9781951719050
Price: $19.99
Genre: Historical
Ages: 9+

On Sale: February 23,  2021

Wáluk and Eskimo are two inseparable bears. Wáluk is very young and Eskimo is very old. Between the two they’ve found a way to survive in an extremely hostile environment, combining the agility of the younger with the experience of the older. When Eskimo decides they should go further north in search of better hunting, they set off on a great journey neither are truly prepared for…

A heartwarming, fun and funny adventure that spotlights the impact of global warming and mankind moving into wildlands, forcing nature to find new ground to thrive.

Key Selling Points

  • A charming middle grade title about friendship.
  • A tale about the harsh realities of global warming.
  • 11 x 8.5 landscape

Digital Assets

Waluk Bookmark

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Wi21: Department of Truth Volume 1

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49626_cover_print

Published by Image Comics

ISBN: 9781534318335
Price: $9.99
Genre: Dystopian
Ages: 16+

On Sale:March 2, 2021

COLE TURNER has studied conspiracy theories all his life, but he isn’t prepared for what happens when he discovers that all of them are true, from the JFK Assassination to Flat Earth Theory and Reptilian Shapeshifters. One organization has been covering them up for generations. What is the deep, dark secret behind the Department of Truth?

From bestselling writer JAMES TYNION IV (BATMAN, SOMETHING IS KILLING THE CHILDREN) and breakout artistMARTIN SIMMONDS (DYING IS EASY)!

Collects DEPARTMENT OF TRUTH #1-5.

Key Selling Points

Creator Bio(s)

  • Simmonds is known for his work on DYING IS EASY (with Joe Hill) for IDW, Punks Not Dead (with David Barnett) for Black Crown, and Friendo (with Alex Paknadel) for Vault Comics. He’s also gained mainstream exposure as a contributing artist to Marvel’s THE IMMORTAL HULK

  • Tynion IV’s name is regularly in the headlines as the writer of DC’s BATMAN as well as his work on Detective Comics, Justice League Dark, and the New York Times bestselling Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles trilogy. He’s also gained critical and fan acclaimed for his Boom series SOMETHING IS KILLING THE CHILDREN

  • Hadsell to BATMAN and WYTCHES readers or anyone who loves conspiracy theory storylines like THE BLACK MONDAY MURDERS or THE X-FILES

JAMES TYNION IV is the writer of Batman, and many other titles for DC Comics, including Detective Comics, Justice League Dark, and the New York Times best selling Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles trilogy. He is the co-creator of Wynd, Something is Killing the Children, Memetic, and the GLAAD award winning series, The Woods. He lives and works in Brooklyn, NY with his partner and their nice old dog.

MARTIN SIMMONDS is a comic artist, and co-creator of Dying is Easy (with Joe Hill) for IDW, Punks Not Dead (with David Barnett) for Black Crown, and Friendo (with Alex Paknadel) for Vault Comics.He is also a contributing artist to Marvel’s The Immortal Hulk by Al Ewing and Joe Bennett, and series cover artist for Marvel’s Quicksilver: No Surrender, and Jessica Jones.Martin currently lives in Surrey, UK with his partner and their two year old son.

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Embodied

9781949518139_40c8c

Published by A Wave Blue World

ISBN: 9781949518139
Price: $16.99
Genre: Poetry, Anthology
Ages: 16+

On Sale: May 18, 2021

Mystical, rooted, painful, joyous, and ecstatic; visions of the body, our genders, and our very identities from across the spectrum of contemporary poetry come together in this monumental intersectional feminist anthology where verse and comics unite in spectacular new ways.

Beautifully illustrated and bracingly written, EMBODIED is a memorable collaboration between cis female, trans, and non-binary poets and comics artists showcasing the power of both forms in a stunningly unique keepsake volume that will be treasured for ages.

This edition includes a study guide and a process art section.

A percentage of the proceeds will benefit International Women’s Health Coalition

Key Selling Points

  • Poetry has always been a source of inspiration in times of political turmoil and crisis, and in the past few years, it has reasserted itself in mainstream awareness, as we can see from book sales and poems that have gone viral on social media.

  • EMBODIED brings contemporary American poetry to comic book readers and comics to poetry readers in a graphic poetry anthology that showcases the relevance, urgency, and power of both genres.

  • Featuring new work on the theme of gender, identity, and the body from twenty-one of America’s premier, award-winning female, trans, and non-binary poets who have been published in places like The New York Times and The New Yorker.

  • Rather than being merely illustrated, the poems have been adapted into sequential art stories drawn, lettered, and colored by top female, trans, and non-binary artists.

  • EMBODIED has strong BIPOC and LGBTQ+ representation including a Native American team. The emphasis of the book is on inclusivity and the amplification of marginalized identities at a time when those identities are most under siege.

  • Released in May, 2021 to coincide with International Women’s Health Month and a portion of the proceeds will benefit International Women’s Health Coalition.

  • Along with the release, AWBW is producing a fully animated music video of an original song by NYC recording artist Angela Elia directed by AWBW’s director of operations and media, Justin Zimmerman.

Review(s)

FOREWORD (STARRED) — Verse and visuals meet, with spectacular results, in the graphic anthology Embodied. Poetry is a visual medium, not just an oral one: the placements of words and blank spaces are often intended to appeal to the eye, and they affect the interpretation and enjoyment of a poem. This book makes full use of the opportunities for color and page design that are inherent to comic books—here, used to maintain or enhance the impact of poems. The poems and their graphic interpretations come from a lineup of award-winning women, trans, and nonbinary creators. After each artist’s adaptation, the original text-only version of the poem is included, allowing for interesting comparisons. Some adaptations preserve the original appearance of the text, while others take a different tack, splitting or combining lines for a particular effect. The art is attractive and imaginative. In “Bassam,” a metaphor is depicted as something more than just a figurative truth: “Each morning my heart is / a vulture beating its wings for scraps,” it says. 

The words are accompanied by images of a scavenger alighting on a shoulder. Images from the poems are given form and shape, sometimes with daring, unexpected approaches, and always in ways that are complementary. The variation among the art and writing styles keeps every segment fresh and exciting. A study guide forwards two stimulating questions about each poem, regarding their subjects, techniques, and interpretations—enough discussion material to fill a university-level course. Also included are rough sketches from the various adaptations—a fascinating glimpse into artistic processes.

This book bridges the gap between comics and poetry, combining the best of both worlds. With a portion of the proceeds benefiting the International Women’s Health Coalition, Embodied is a wonderful book that’s well worth engaging.

Digital Assets

Book Trailer

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Reckless

4

Published by Image Comics

ISBN: 9781534318519
Price: $24.99
Genre: Crime, Mystery
Ages: 16+

On Sale: December 22, 2020

Sex, drugs, and murder in 1980s Los Angeles… And the best new twist on paperback pulp heroes since The Punisher or Jack Reacher.

Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips, the modern masters of crime noir, bring us the last thing anyone expected from them – a good guy – in a bold new series of original graphic novels, with three books releasing over the next year, each a full-length story that stands on its own.

Meet Ethan Reckless: Your trouble is his business, for the right price. But when a fugitive from his student radical days reaches out for help, Ethan must face the only thing he fears… his own past.

Key Selling Points

Advanced Praise

Contributor Bio(s)

  • Perfect for longtime, devoted Brubaker/Phillips fans, handsell this to readers of PULP,THE FADE OUT, KILL OR BE KILLED, CRIMINAL, MY HEROES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN JUNKIES, BAD WEEKEND.

  • The first in a unique series of standalone stories that share a common protagonist-similar to Jack Reacher novels-and providing original graphic novel story + easy entry points for new readers.

  • Extensive coop and promotional advertising, banners, and social support targeting book market.
    Brubaker/Phillips boast a deep backlist, a devoted fanbase, and a solid sales track with multiple Eisner Awards and the recent breakout sales beast PULP!

  • “Imagine Redford at his peak, ambling through sun-drenched, eighties L.A. in a serpentine plot that is equal parts Long Goodbye and Point Break. No one does crime fic like Brubaker and Phillips and their collaboration has never felt more new. Explosive. Vital. And yes… reckless. I love this book.”

    – Damon Lindelof (Lost, HBO’s Watchmen)

  • “Reckless is an absolute rush: on the same level as golden age Travis McGee novels and the hardest-hitting Richard Stark stories. This one comes at you as fast as Steve McQueen in a souped-up Mustang and as hard as Charles Bronson with a baseball bat. You gotta have it.”

    – Joe Hill (Locke & Key, N0S4A2)

ED BRUBAKER is one of the most acclaimed writers in comics, winning five best writer Eisner and Harvey Awards in the last ten years. His bestselling work with Sean Phillips on CRIMINAL, INCOGNITO, FATALE, and THE FADE OUT has been translated around the world to great acclaim, and Marvel’s movies featuring his co-creation, The Winter Soldier, have all been international blockbusters. Ed lives in Los Angeles with his wife and their crazy dog, where he works in comics, film, and television, most recently on HBO’s new hit series WESTWORLD.

Preview Pages

Department of Truth Volume 1

49626_cover_print

Published by Image Comics

ISBN: 9781534318335
Price: $9.99
Genre: Dystopian
Ages: 16+

On Sale:March 2, 2021

COLE TURNER has studied conspiracy theories all his life, but he isn’t prepared for what happens when he discovers that all of them are true, from the JFK Assassination to Flat Earth Theory and Reptilian Shapeshifters. One organization has been covering them up for generations. What is the deep, dark secret behind the Department of Truth?

From bestselling writer JAMES TYNION IV (BATMAN, SOMETHING IS KILLING THE CHILDREN) and breakout artistMARTIN SIMMONDS (DYING IS EASY)!

Collects DEPARTMENT OF TRUTH #1-5.

Key Selling Points

Creator Bio(s)

  • Simmonds is known for his work on DYING IS EASY (with Joe Hill) for IDW, Punks Not Dead (with David Barnett) for Black Crown, and Friendo (with Alex Paknadel) for Vault Comics. He’s also gained mainstream exposure as a contributing artist to Marvel’s THE IMMORTAL HULK

  • Tynion IV’s name is regularly in the headlines as the writer of DC’s BATMAN as well as his work on Detective Comics, Justice League Dark, and the New York Times bestselling Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles trilogy. He’s also gained critical and fan acclaimed for his Boom series SOMETHING IS KILLING THE CHILDREN

  • Hadsell to BATMAN and WYTCHES readers or anyone who loves conspiracy theory storylines like THE BLACK MONDAY MURDERS or THE X-FILES

JAMES TYNION IV is the writer of Batman, and many other titles for DC Comics, including Detective Comics, Justice League Dark, and the New York Times best selling Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles trilogy. He is the co-creator of Wynd, Something is Killing the Children, Memetic, and the GLAAD award winning series, The Woods. He lives and works in Brooklyn, NY with his partner and their nice old dog.

MARTIN SIMMONDS is a comic artist, and co-creator of Dying is Easy (with Joe Hill) for IDW, Punks Not Dead (with David Barnett) for Black Crown, and Friendo (with Alex Paknadel) for Vault Comics.He is also a contributing artist to Marvel’s The Immortal Hulk by Al Ewing and Joe Bennett, and series cover artist for Marvel’s Quicksilver: No Surrender, and Jessica Jones.Martin currently lives in Surrey, UK with his partner and their two year old son.

News/Media Coverage

‘Department of Truth’ Gets Picked Up for Screen Adaptation

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If Ur Stabby

Published by Hermes Press

ISBN: 9781613452059
Price: $24.99
Genre: Horror, Humor
Ages: 13+

On Sale: January 12, 2021

Who’s positively magical and ready for sunshine, giggles, and sliding down rainbows? Not Stabby! Meet the world’s surliest unicorn.

This stab-happy unicorn is a fan-favorite character from “Mother Goth Rhymes” (www.mothergothrhymes.com Hermes Press, Halloween 2020) and now he’s getting his own book!

“If UR Stabby” follows Stabby as he deals with life’s challenges the only way he knows how—horn first. “If UR Stabby” is a teen and adult humor book.

Author Bio(s)

KAZ WINDNESS specializes in cute and creepy characters and humor for kids of all ages.

Forever curious about what lurks in the shadows, Kaz has been drawing monsters, bats, and spiders her whole life.

Kaz studied children’s book illustration at the Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design (RMCAD) where she was a valedictorian graduate in 2002. A proud SCBWI member, Kaz volunteers as the Rocky Mountain Chapter Illustrator Coordinator (2009-present). She is passionate about helping artists succeed and believes education is key. She is a professor of illustration at RMCAD (2013-present) and RMC-SCBWI illustrator mentor.

Kaz is obsessed with dogs, waffles, and all things spooky and witchy-woo-woo. She loves working in acrylic, collage, pencil, and Photoshop. There’s not much she won’t turn into an art supply. 

Kaz lives in Colorado with her English teacher husband, two sons, and a cornball Boston Terrier named Remy

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