There are a large number of comic book fans who look for something over than superheroes; something unique, something different, something unexpected. For these readers, that generally means looking to independent publishers. You can guarantee you will find storylines unlike anything put out by the “big two.” Action Lab Entertainment is primed to satiate your cravings. Most known for their hit title Zombie Tramp, the publisher is putting out gems lately. With titles like Archon, Gravedigger, and Holy F*cked, you have a vast array of issues from which to choose depending on your current desire. You can even purchase digital copies of their titles directly from their website (even FREE FCBD comics to download). Here’s a look at Action Lab’s October 2015 solicitations. Some very exciting storylines in these issues.
CYRUS PERKINS AND THE HAUNTED TAXI CAB #1
Writer(s): Dave Dwonch
Artist Name(s): Anna Lencioni
Cover Artist(s): Anna Lencioni (Regular), Casey Castille (Variant)
After a young boy dies in his taxi cab, Cyrus Perkins must solve the boy’s murder… or be haunted by the spirit trapped in his car! Double Jumpers creator and co-writer of the hit all-ages series Vamplets teams with rising star Anna Lencioni to deliver a supernatural crime noir with a hero like no other: Cyrus Perkins!
Featuring a “70s Movie Poster” Variant cover by renowned poster artist Casey Castille, limited to 2000 copies.
32 pgs./ All Ages / FC $3.99 (reg.) $4.99 (var.)
CYRUS PERKINS AND THE HAUNTED TAXI CAB #1
Writer(s): Dave Dwonch
Artist Name(s): Anna Lencioni
Cover Artist(s): Anna Lencioni (Regular), Casey Castille (Variant)
After a young boy dies in his taxi cab, Cyrus Perkins must solve the boy’s murder… or be haunted by the spirit trapped in his car! Double Jumpers creator and co-writer of the hit all-ages series Vamplets teams with rising star Anna Lencioni to deliver a supernatural crime noir with a hero like no other: Cyrus Perkins!
Featuring a “70s Movie Poster” Variant cover by renowned poster artist Casey Castille, limited to 2000 copies.
32 pgs./ All Ages / FC $3.99 (reg.) $4.99 (var.)
ARCHON: BATTLE OF THE DRAGON #3
Writer(s): John J. Perez
Artist Name(s): Marco Maccagni, Bobby Hernandez, Angela Fato
Cover Artist(s): Marco Maccagni
The Justice Department has sent its best Federal Knight to oversee Cayde’s investigation into possible misdeeds at the Archon. Back at the casino Gareth is beginning to wise up to the unsettling truth about his coworkers, all the while Tess spars with her fearsome dragon equal.
32 pgs./ Teen / FC $3.99 (reg.)
THE F1RST HERO: FIGHT FOR YOUR LIFE #3
Writer(s): Anthony Ruttgaizer
Artist Name(s): Danny Zabbal (art), Fred C Stresing (letters/colors)
Cover Artist(s): Danny Zabbal
Jake offers a lifeline to Cooper that will get him out of trouble with the mafia but Cooper has ideas of his own. It’s Jake vs Odinson: ROUND TWO, but will the US military’s Extrahuman Task Force have a say in the outcome?
32 pgs./ Teen / FC $3.99 (reg.)
HERO CATS: MIDNIGHT OVER STELLAR CITY #1 (of 3)
Writer(s): Kyle Puttkammer
Artist Name(s): Alex Ogle
Cover Artist(s): Alex Ogle
Alternate cover by Marcus Williams
Midnight is on the hunt, tracking down the mysterious Crow King. Can the claws of justice outwit this fowl villain and uncover his grand scheme?
32 pgs./ All Ages / FC $3.99 (reg.) $4.99 (var.)
HERO CATS: MIDNIGHT OVER STELLAR CITY #1 (of 3)
Writer(s): Kyle Puttkammer
Artist Name(s): Alex Ogle
Cover Artist(s): Alex Ogle
Alternate cover by Marcus Williams
Midnight is on the hunt, tracking down the mysterious Crow King. Can the claws of justice outwit this fowl villain and uncover his grand scheme?
32 pgs./ All Ages / FC $3.99 (reg.) $4.99 (var.)
PRINCELESS: RAVEN, THE PIRATE PRINCESS #4
Writer(s): Jeremy Whitley
Artist Name(s): Rosy Higgins, Ted Brandt
Cover Artist(s): Rosy Higgins, Ted Brandt
Raven finally has a crew and is ready for cast off when an old friend and his rambunctious daughter come under threat from the town guard. There’s too many to fight and they’re too heavily armed. How will Raven and her crew save one of the only allies they have? Variant cover limited to 2000 copies!
32 pgs./ All Ages / FC $3.99 (reg.) / $4.99 (Var.)
PRINCELESS: RAVEN, THE PIRATE PRINCESS #4
Writer(s): Jeremy Whitley
Artist Name(s): Rosy Higgins, Ted Brandt
Cover Artist(s): Rosy Higgins, Ted Brandt
Raven finally has a crew and is ready for cast off when an old friend and his rambunctious daughter come under threat from the town guard. There’s too many to fight and they’re too heavily armed. How will Raven and her crew save one of the only allies they have? Variant cover limited to 2000 copies!
32 pgs./ All Ages / FC $3.99 (reg.) / $4.99 (Var.)
PRINCELESS: BE YOURSELF TPB
Writer(s): Jeremy Whitley
Artist Name(s): Emily Martin, Brett Grunig
Cover Artist(s): Emily Martin, Brett Grunig
Angoisse Ashe, the oft-forgotten middle sister of the Ashe royal family, is locked in a castle deep in the swamp. Not only is her castle guarded by zombies, but the swamp is full of dangerous hazards. Everything from quicksand to goblins to swamp monsters to…VAMPIRES! But does that give Adrienne pause? Unfortunately not, as she and Bedelia dive head-first into their most dangerous adventure yet! Be sure to pick up this collection and share every moment of this thrilling chapter of the Princeless saga!
32 pgs./ All Ages/ FC $3.99
NUTMEG #5
Writer(s): James F. Wright
Artist Name(s): Jackie Crofts (art), Josh Eckert (colors, lettering)
Cover Artist(s): Jackie Crofts
Fall, Part 5: “Pantry Raids” Poppy and Cassia, the teen masterminds behind the addictive Patty Cake brownies, hoping to better understand their product, violate one of the 10 Crime Commandments: they try their own supply. Also, with this issue we welcome new series colorist/letterer Josh Eckert!
32 pgs./ Teen / FC $3.99 (reg.)
VENTURE #3 (of 4)
Writer(s): Jay Faerber
Artist Name(s): Jamal Igle (penciller/ Inker) Sébastien Lamirand (Colorist)
Cover Artist(s): Jamal Igle
Venture’s public debut didn’t go as planned, so it’s time for Joe and Reggie to have a heart to heart talk. Meanwhile, something monstrous lurks beneath the Santa Monica Pier.
The brainchild of industry greats, Jay Faerber (Image Comics Copperhead) and Jamal Igle (Supergirl, Action Comics) continue their legendary superhero buddy series.
32 pgs./Teen / FC $3.99 (reg.)
GRAVEDIGGER: HOT WOMEN, COLD CASH TPB
Writer(s): Christopher Mills
Artist Name(s): Rick Burchett
Cover Artist(s): Rick Burchett
The popular noir web series returns to print! It’s not easy being a bad guy, as career criminal “Gravedigger” McCrae knows all too well. First he’s framed for the murder of a mob boss’s daughter, and has to escape from an army of professional killers, unarmed and alone. Then, he’s brought in on a South of the Border arms heist where everything that can go wrong, does. It’s all about hot women and cold cash, in this hardboiled, hard-hitting collection. Collects the three-issue Gravedigger miniseries.
Featuring artwork from Eisner award winning artist Rick Burchett (Batman Adventures, Lady Sabre and the Pirates of the Ineffable Aether).
96 pgs./ Mature Readers / Grayscale $11.99 (reg.)
HOLY F*CKED #2 (of 4)
Writer(s): Nick Marino
Artist Name(s): Daniel Arruda Massa
Cover Artist(s): Daniel Arruda Massa
We’re serving up a piping hot pile of excitement as a mild-mannered dinner party turns deadly!
Jesus and Satan are hosting Maria and her new lover, Thanatos, over for an evening of camaraderie and conversation. But Thanatos isn’t actually Thanatos… he’s Hercules! And he wants to kill Jesus.
Plus… introducing the righteous might of The New Apostles!
32 pgs./ Mature Readers / FC $3.99 (reg.) / $4.99 (Var.)
PUPPET MASTER #8
Writer(s): Shawn Gabborin
Artist Name(s): Antonio Ontiveros (Pencils/Inks) and Daniel Morales Olvera (Colors)
Cover Artist(s): Standard Cover: Antonio Ontiveros (Pencils/Inks) and Daniel Morales Olvera (Colors)
Variant Cover: Glenn Lumsden (Pencils/Inks/Colors)
A new story arc, a new locale, a threat from the past. Twenty years ago Camille brought the Puppets to the Bouldeston Institute for Mentally Troubled Tots and Teens… but what has she gotten into since the Puppets returned to the Bodega Bay Inn? When blood starts to spill at the Institute, a young patient named Anthony sets out to find the Puppets, hoping they can stop their former Master’s rampage.
Film and comics collide as the Puppets go toe-to-toe with the human-sized doll, Camille!
tale of revenge!
32 pgs./ Mature Readers/ FC $3.99 (reg.) / $4.99 (Var.)
PUPPET MASTER #8
Writer(s): Shawn Gabborin
Artist Name(s): Antonio Ontiveros (Pencils/Inks) and Daniel Morales Olvera (Colors)
Cover Artist(s): Standard Cover: Antonio Ontiveros (Pencils/Inks) and Daniel Morales Olvera (Colors)
Variant Cover: Glenn Lumsden (Pencils/Inks/Colors)
A new story arc, a new locale, a threat from the past. Twenty years ago Camille brought the Puppets to the Bouldeston Institute for Mentally Troubled Tots and Teens… but what has she gotten into since the Puppets returned to the Bodega Bay Inn? When blood starts to spill at the Institute, a young patient named Anthony sets out to find the Puppets, hoping they can stop their former Master’s rampage.
Film and comics collide as the Puppets go toe-to-toe with the human-sized doll, Camille!
tale of revenge!
32 pgs./ Mature Readers/ FC $3.99 (reg.) / $4.99 (Var.)
TRANCERS #1
Writer(s): Justin Gray & Jimmy Palmiotti
Artist Name(s): Marcelo Salaza (Pencil/Inks), Marcio Freire (Colors)
Cover Artist(s): Standard Cover Marcelo Salaza (Pencil/Inks), Marcio Freire (Colors)
Variant Cover: Amanda Conner(art) Paul Mounts (Colors)
Based on the cult film, Trancers is the story of decorated Police Trooper Jack Deth who has travelled from the year 2247 to 1985 Los Angles on a one-way mission to capture a fugitive with the power to transform ordinary people into psychotic killing machines.
32 pgs./ Mature Readers/ FC $3.99 (reg.) / $4.99 (Var.)
TRANCERS #1
Writer(s): Justin Gray & Jimmy Palmiotti
Artist Name(s): Marcelo Salaza (Pencil/Inks), Marcio Freire (Colors)
Cover Artist(s): Standard Cover Marcelo Salaza (Pencil/Inks), Marcio Freire (Colors)
Variant Cover: Amanda Conner(art) Paul Mounts (Colors)
Based on the cult film, Trancers is the story of decorated Police Trooper Jack Deth who has travelled from the year 2247 to 1985 Los Angles on a one-way mission to capture a fugitive with the power to transform ordinary people into psychotic killing machines.
32 pgs./ Mature Readers/ FC $3.99 (reg.) / $4.99 (Var.)
ZOMBIE TRAMP #16
Writer(s): TMChu, Dan Mendoza
Artist Name(s): TMChu
Cover Artist(s): TMChu (regular, risqué variant), Dan Mendoza (limited variant), Edward Pun (artist variant)
Zombie Tramp crashes in the remote wilderness and stumbles straight into a lakeside camp, complete with a resident hulking heavy breathing slasher. It’s Necronomicon powered zombie queen vs hatchet wielding psycho killer in a special issue written by regular series artist TMChu!
Features a variant cover by series creator Dan Mendoza (limited to 2000 copies) a risqué variant cover (limited to 2500 copies), and an artist showcase variant by Edward Pun (limited to 1500 copies).
32 pgs./ Mature Readers/ FC $3.99 (reg.) / $4.99 (Var.)
ZOMBIE TRAMP #16
Writer(s): TMChu, Dan Mendoza
Artist Name(s): TMChu
Cover Artist(s): TMChu (regular, risqué variant), Dan Mendoza (limited variant), Edward Pun (artist variant)
Zombie Tramp crashes in the remote wilderness and stumbles straight into a lakeside camp, complete with a resident hulking heavy breathing slasher. It’s Necronomicon powered zombie queen vs hatchet wielding psycho killer in a special issue written by regular series artist TMChu!
Features a variant cover by series creator Dan Mendoza (limited to 2000 copies) a risqué variant cover (limited to 2500 copies), and an artist showcase variant by Edward Pun (limited to 1500 copies).
32 pgs./ Mature Readers/ FC $3.99 (reg.) / $4.99 (Var.)
ZOMBIE TRAMP #16
Writer(s): TMChu, Dan Mendoza
Artist Name(s): TMChu
Cover Artist(s): TMChu (regular, risqué variant), Dan Mendoza (limited variant), Edward Pun (artist variant)
Zombie Tramp crashes in the remote wilderness and stumbles straight into a lakeside camp, complete with a resident hulking heavy breathing slasher. It’s Necronomicon powered zombie queen vs hatchet wielding psycho killer in a special issue written by regular series artist TMChu!
Features a variant cover by series creator Dan Mendoza (limited to 2000 copies) a risqué variant cover (limited to 2500 copies), and an artist showcase variant by Edward Pun (limited to 1500 copies).
32 pgs./ Mature Readers/ FC $3.99 (reg.) / $4.99 (Var.)
ZOMBIE TRAMP #16
Writer(s): TMChu, Dan Mendoza
Artist Name(s): TMChu
Cover Artist(s): TMChu (regular, risqué variant), Dan Mendoza (limited variant), Edward Pun (artist variant)
Zombie Tramp crashes in the remote wilderness and stumbles straight into a lakeside camp, complete with a resident hulking heavy breathing slasher. It’s Necronomicon powered zombie queen vs hatchet wielding psycho killer in a special issue written by regular series artist TMChu!
Features a variant cover by series creator Dan Mendoza (limited to 2000 copies) a risqué variant cover (limited to 2500 copies), and an artist showcase variant by Edward Pun (limited to 1500 copies).
32 pgs./ Mature Readers/ FC $3.99 (reg.) / $4.99 (Var.)
Here is a bio on the company (courtesy of Action Lab):
The Action Lab is a group of mad scientists who collectively have over 25 years of comic book creating experience. After slaving in obscurity and alone for lo, these many years, these quasi-evil geniuses have now gathered together from around the globe to form a secret research and development collective devoted to world domination through the purification of the comic book art form. The Action Lab has sworn to use its powers for a single purpose — to bring the world the most action packed, most thought-provoking, most entertaining comics available, thereby ushering in a new age of world peace under the dominating yet benign control of the Action Lab.
Their first major release, FRACTURE, was released in July 2011 followed by the now two-time Eisner nominated and five-time Glyph nominated PRINCELESS in October 2011. Action Lab continues to publish genre spanning comics from the all-ages MONSTERS ARE JUST LIKE US, and mature reader books like SNOWED IN and DOUBLE JUMPERS.
Action Lab Entertainment is the public front for all the activities of the Action Lab and its members. Although most of the Action Lab’s activities remain classified, Action Lab Entertainment can disclose that two of its many functions are the marketing of comic books through various sales outlets, and the expansion of their domination into other mediums.
If you have the opportunity to interface with any Action Lab personnel at a comic book show or other event, please approach with caution, but feel free to purchase any of the fine comic book products which may be available.
