Up-and-coming publisher Z2 Comics is hoping to set itself apart with a slate of truly intriguing titles in the coming year, including Ian McGinty's weirdly wonderful Welcome to Showside, and books from standout talents like Paul Pope, Dean Haspiel, and the late Harvey Pekar. The publisher also hopes to make names of some of its emerging talents, including Mario Candelaria and Karl Slominski, the creators behind Ashes: A Firefighter's Tale.

Ashes is an intense tale focusing on a New York City firefighter named Matt who has to find his way back from a personal trauma. As our exclusive preview shows, Slominski brings a striking visual style to the story that captures the energy and claustrophobia of firefighters in action, matching it with a dramatic emotional charge.

Check out the pages below:

 

loading...
loading...
loading...
loading...
loading...

 

Here's how Z2 Comics describes the book:

 

ASHES: A FIREFIGHTER’S TALE written by Mario Candelaria (UNLAWFUL GOOD) with art by Karl Slominski (GOLGOTHA), takes readers along for the ride with New York firefighter. Matt always had an easygoing life. Girls liked him, his friends were like family and being a firefighter came naturally. But his life changed in an instant when he lost his leg trying to save the last person trapped in a burning building. A riveting tale about perseverance, hard work, and overcoming the odds, ASHES is a gripping tale told in evocative black and white.

And here's what the publisher had to say about the book's creators:

Mario Candelaria (UNLAWFUL GOOD, EPILOGUE) is a writer and stand-up comedian who is constantly on the lookout for new and imaginative ways to bring an authentic perspective into his work. Originally hailing from Brooklyn, New York, Mario currently resides in suburban Philadelphia where he spends his days honing his craft and trying to figure out what exactly a "Wawa" is.

Karl Slominski began drawing comics as soon as his tiny, claw-like hand could grasp a pen. A graduate of The Joe Kubert School of Cartooning and Graphic Art, Slominski's prolific DIY inksplatterings have contributed to film & TV as well as illustrating the graphic novels TAD CALDWELL & THE MONSTER KID, GOLGOTHA, and RUN LIKE HELL. He lives on voracious intake of black coffee, rock n' roll, and love.

More From ComicsAlliance