Young Animal

Courtesy of DC Comics, ComicsAlliance brings you an advance look at new periodical comic books, collected editions, graphic novels and collectibles going on sale in December 2016 (and in some cases beyond) from the publisher’s superhero line and the mature readers Vertigo imprint.

This week saw the debut of DC Comics’ new “pop-up imprint” Young Animal, spearheaded by The Umbrella Academy’s Gerard Way. Described as “Comics For Dangerous Humans”, Young Animal seeks to recapture the spark of the Golden Age of Vertigo, while updating it for the 21st century. Way himself has led the charge as the writer of this week’s Doom Patrol #1, along with Nick Derington on art, Tamra Bonvillain on colors and Todd Klein on letters and while occasionally --- and seemingly intentionally --- confusing, it’s a strong start for DC’s newest imprint.

Shade the Changing Girl is a sight to behold. From the creative team of writer Cecil Castelluci, line artist Marley Zarcone, and color artist Kelly Fitzpatrick, the title is part of DC's Young Animal line, overseen by Gerard Way. Though it spins out of the classic Peter Milligan Vertigo series Shade the Changing Man, and protagonist Lorna is an admirer of the earlier Shade, this series looks set to stand on its own, judging from this first look.

Courtesy of DC Comics, ComicsAlliance brings you an advance look at new periodical comic books, collected editions, graphic novels and collectibles going on sale in November 2016 (and in some cases beyond) from the publisher’s superhero line and the mature readers Vertigo imprint.

DC's upcoming "pop-up" boutique Young Animal is one of the most anticipated projects of the year, and its debut is right around the corner. Curated by The Umbrella Academy's Gerard Way, it seeks to capture the spark of classic Vertigo while forging a bold new path of its own in the industry. Ahead of the November solicitations, DC has provided us with an exclusive first look at November's Young Animal releases, including the first issue of Jody Houser and Tommy Lee Edwards' Mother Panic.

San Diego Comic Con is without a doubt the biggest event on the industry's calendar, and people will be flying from around the world to attend panels, watch trailers, meet creators, and make friends. This year's event is bigger than ever, with so much going on every single day that it can be difficult to sift through all that information and decide how to spend your time. With the event only days away, we've looked through the schedules and hand-selected some of the best events happening on Thursday and Friday for fans of comics, collectibles, TV and film, so you can be sure you don't miss that must-see panel or signing.

Since it was announced at Emerald City Comic Convention, details have been relatively scarce surrounding Gerard Way's so-called "pop-up imprint" at DC, Young Animal. We know the four comics that will make up the line, the creators involved, and tidbits of individual synopses, but not much else. Last night, Way took to his blog to give fans the first of what will seemingly be a weekly sneak peek behind the curtain of Young Animal, discussing the creative and collaborative processes that went into the genesis of each title. He also unveiled brand new art for each series by the likes of Tommy Lee Edwards, Nick Derington and Michael Avon Oeming.

DC’s mature readers imprint Vertigo has had a rough few years; where once it was the benchmark of challenging and thought-provoking creator-owned comics, many of its classic titles have wrapped up their runs, and Vertigo has struggled to find new epics to replace them. In what DC describes as an effort to "set the business up for future success," the publisher has announced a restructuring of the imprint that includes the elimination of its executive editor role. Unfortunately that means letting go of veteran editor Shelly Bond, who has been with Vertigo since almost the very beginning.

This summer, DC Comics aren’t just relaunching their entire line, they’re starting a whole new imprint headed up by The Umbrella Academy’s Gerard Way. The imprint, Young Animal, will be overseen by Way who will also write or co-write several of the titles which will take place in DC Universe continuity, but with a mature readers edge. Described as “comics for dangerous humans”, DC referred to Young Animal in their announcement as a “pop-up imprint” and Way cited the influence of experimental comics from the eighties and nineties as guides for how to take classic characters and concepts to new places.