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Shawn Pryor

[Interview] Creator Shawn Pryor of CASH + CARRIE – Book Two: “Summer Sleuths” ~ The All-Ages OGN Now on Kickstarter!

by Jason Bennett November 16, 2018

written by Jason Bennett

The Kickstarter for the all-readers graphic novel
CASH + CARRIE – BOOK TWO: SUMMER SLEUTHS is live!

CASH + CARRIE – Book Two: “Summer Sleuths” is a new creator-owned original graphic novel currently campaigning on Kickstarter. In the summer of 2015, Cash + Carrie launched as a single issue all-readers mystery comic on Kickstarter with success. Shawn Pryor put together a full volume (Book One) with co-creator Giulie Speziani that was released in the fall of 2016 from Action Lab Entertainment. Since Cash + Carrie hopped on the scene in 2015, there’s been a LOT of all-readers mystery comics that have emerged, and it’s time for Cash + Carrie to get back into the game in all new adventures!

Currently, with 11 days remaining, the campaign is a little over 60% funded and could use your help in helping it reach the finish line a success. That’s where you can come in as a backer of the campaign to make printing and fulfillment of rewards a breeze! We’ve backed it because it is an incredible series that appeals to young and old alike. It’s a series which NEEDS to continue and be put out in the hands of younger readers and families who want a true all-ages title which will inspire reading, creativity, and reignite those special moments of parents & children embracing something together which they will all enjoy for years to come!

The Story

The all-readers graphic novel CASH & CARRIE returns! The first book was published by Action Lab Entertainment back in 2016. In this second book, the kids go on a trip to Summer Camp Sobol. Because nothing bad could ever happen at a cabin in the words! Except when campers go missing, Bigfoot might actually exist, and the ingredients in the coleslaw are… questionable. Middle school detective duo Cash & Carrie must survive with no WiFi and poor mosquito repellent in order to solve these mysteries.

CASH & CARRIE – BOOK TWO contains 96 pages of all-new stories and content featuring up-and-coming talents. Creator/writer Shawn Pryor comments, “There’s a need for fun, inclusive, all-readers graphic novels and CASH & CARRIE fill it. It’s because of creating CASH & CARRIE in 2015 that I didn’t quit making comics when I was at the lowest point of my creative career. Now, I’m more determined than ever, and I want to see CASH & CARRIE in the hands of every kid and reader in the world. Thank you again for supporting CASH & CARRIE.”

The creators are aiming to reach $8,000 by November 27, 2018 at 11:59 PM EST. They have stretch goals that go to $12,000; if they reach $12,000, they’ll add more pages to the OGN as well.

Help them make CASH & CARRIE – BOOK TWO a reality!

BOOK TWO STORIES AND CREATIVE TEAM:

Big Foot, Small Sneakers, written by Giulie Speziani with art by Marcus Kwame Anderson. Lettering by Justin Birch.

Bull’s-Eye! Written by Giulie Speziani with art by Marcus Kwame Anderson. Lettering by Justin Birch.

Lunch Lady Has The Last Laugh, written by Giulie Speziani with art by Marcus Kwame Anderson. Lettering by Justin Birch.

A Yet To Be Titled Culinary Mystery written by Shawn Pryor, Chris Ludden and Ginger Dee, with art and lettering by Chris Ludden and Ginger Dee.

Mason Middle Messenger: Summer Edition written by Shawn Pryor, with art by Tressina Bowling. Lettering by Justin Birch.

PINUPS FEATURING THE ARTWORK OF:

Penny Candy Studios

Justin Stewart

Anntonia Jackson

Alex Robinson

Pizzaface

Corey Fields

Ken Kirk

Sean Causley & Matt Herms

PopCultHQ had the privilege of discussing the new CASH + CARRIE original graphic novel with the co-creator of the series, Shawn Pryor, to learn more about this unique, captivating, and wildly fun new series destined to make its way into the comic book market. This is a campaign not to be missed and a project PopCultHQ supports, is currently backing, and is excited to share with you. It’s time to learn about, and get excited for, CASH + CARRIE – Book Two: “Summer Sleuths”!

PopCultHQ’s Creator Spotlight:

Shawn Pryor
of CASH + CARRIE
Book Two: “Summer Sleuths”

~~~~~

Cash + Carrie Book Two preview page 1

PopCultHQ: When I grew up, there were Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew mysteries that kids read. Even moreso for me was the Encyclopedia Brown series, focusing on a young detective taking you along for the crime-solving. With the success of Cash + Carrie Book One: Sleuth 101 and now your latest project, Cash + Carrie Book Two: Summer Sleuths, what do you see as the appeal with the mystery genre for all-ages readers?

Shawn Pryor: I’ve always found the mystery genre for kids to be a lot of fun, and before Cash + Carrie had its initial pilot Kickstarter in 2015 (a single issue comic), the genre was very underused, in my opinion. Fast forward to today and there are a nice amount of mystery comics for kids at many of the major comic publishers, as well as the book pubs that have their own graphic novel imprints.

Kids and kids at heart who read Cash + Carrie enjoy seeing themselves when they read it and they revel in the fact that they can be heroes and solve problems without wearing a cape or mask. That, and I was a very big fan of a procedural cartoon called “Fillmore” that took place in a middle school and had a very inclusive cast with topical and fun stories. It was honestly ahead of its time, and I try to bring that kind of energy with every volume that we create.

PopCultHQ: With your first volume, the book featured a number of stories by different featured creative talent and additional pin-ups, which saw the single issues combined into the first book. This time around, though Summer Sleuths will feature a number of stories within, with Book Two you are putting out the new volume in its entirety. What made you decide to go all-out with this latest book?

Cash + Carrie Book Two preview page 2

Pryor: It just makes sense to make this book have more of an original graphic novel feel because it allows us to fully tell the stories that we want. The main story in Book Two is a summer camp mystery, and to confine that to one single issue comic or a series of single issue comics would honestly do disservice to the story.

I also wanted to give co-creator Giulie Speziani a chance to write a bigger feature for Cash + Carrie. Giulie has helped give so much life to these characters, so when she said that she wanted to do a big summer camp mystery, I was completely game for it. She’s able to bring fantastic voices to not only Cash + Carrie, but also the other characters, kid or adult, that interact with them. And it doesn’t hurt that we also get to feature the artwork of Marcus Kwame Anderson, as well as have larger stories that feature the artwork of Chris Ludden & Ginger Dee, and Tressina Bowling.

Plus, some of the most popular graphic novels for kids (Smile, Amulet, El Deafo, Dog Man, Hilda) are sold in a complete volume which makes it easier for everyone to purchase and find without the hassle of trying to find single issues. I want to make it easy for everyone to be able to find, purchase, and support Cash + Carrie. We also live in a content-binge society so being able to have everything you need right in front of you without having to wait is an added bonus.

PopCultHQ: What appeals to you the most about writing an all-ages story and/or to an all-ages audience?

Cash + Carrie Book Two preview page 3

Pryor: The fact that we make the kids in each Cash + Carrie story we create sound and look like kids. You would be surprised at the number of kids and adult who have come to my tables at conventions, see Cash + Carrie and ask “if it’s safe for kids” or they say “they’ve bought books that were meant for kids but had the dialogue of a bunch of 30-somethings.” We have fun making this book and get joy from the fact that kids can relate to the characters.

PopCultHQ: For readers unfamiliar with Cash + Carrie, how easy is it for a newcomer to pick up the essence of the title by beginning with this second volume?

Pryor: It’s pretty easy to pick up on, and in the Kickstarter we even have a tier that allows you to also get the first book if you don’t have it. But for those that don’t know who Cash & Carrie are:

Cash + Carrie is about two middle school detectives, Dallas Cash and Inez Carrie. Dallas is an tenacious techie who believes in the supernatural and Inez bases her crime solving skills in realism, and is also captain of the wrestling team.

Together, they are best friends who attempt to solve mysteries anywhere, and anytime. Inspirations for Cash + Carrie include Disney’s animated series Fillmore, Scooby Doo, Gravity Falls, and the X-Files. Cash + Carrie is an inclusive series on the page and behind the scenes, and is for readers young and old.

PopCultHQ: For readers familiar with the first volume, are there any nods, or perhaps even Easter eggs, in this second book for fans to be on the lookout for in Summer Sleuths?

Pryor: Some minor characters in the first volume get more time on the page in volume two, and we are also bringing back “The Mason Middle Messenger” which was a very popular segement in the first book which showed readers things that the other kids in the C+C universe are getting into, as well as being able to see what Cash & Carrie do outside of solving mysteries.

PopCultHQ: What would it mean for you, either personally or professionally, to have this second book published?

Pryor: I know that I’ve said this a number of times to different people, but there’s a need for fun, inclusive, all-readers graphic novels and CASH & CARRIE fills that need. It’s because of creating CASH & CARRIE in 2015 that I didn’t quit making comics when I was at the lowest point of my creative career. Now, I’m more determined than ever, and I want to see CASH & CARRIE in the hands of every kid and reader in the world.

And for the Book Two Kickstarter, our crowdfunding goal is $8,000, but we’ve set stretch goals at $4,000 (book), $8,000 (free digital comics), $10,000 (sticker sets) and if we reach $12,000 we’ll put 12 additional pages in Book Two. We also have a lot of cool and fun tiers to check out, and as of October 30th we’re adding a Cash + Carrie plushie set tier, and Custom Cash + Carrie Funko Pop tier as well!

PopCultHQ: Upon successfully funding this campaign, what would you say is your projected timeline of getting the book to the printers and the Kickstarter rewards fulfilled?

Pryor: The goal is to have all of production on the book completed by March 2019 and have all of the rewards shipped out by May of 2019.

~~~~~

Backers have the possibility to not only get the softcover print volume or digital edition of Cash + Carrie Book Two, but can also select additional rewards featuring everyone’s favorite middle school detectives. Here are the available tiers:

Special thanks goes out to Shawn for making the time to speak with us at PopCultHQ. Be sure to get on-board with CASH + CARRIE – Book Two: “Summer Sleuths” live NOW on Kickstarter! At a little over 60% funded, now is the time to join the over 140 backers already supporting this creator-owned project. Let’s make CASH + CARRIE – Book Two: “Summer Sleuths” a reality and continue to bring this brilliant project into the hands of kids and the homes of families everywhere!

Writer – Shawn Pryor

November 16, 2018 0 comment

Comic Books Crowdfunding

[Interview] CW Cooke & Travis Hymel of L.U.C.H.A.: A Wrestling Sci-Fi Thriller ~ Now on Kickstarter!

by Jason Bennett October 15, 2018

written by Jason Bennett

LUCHA KS variant by Jordan Kroeger

Now on Kickstarter, L.U.C.H.A. is a new creator-owned series coming from the minds of writer CW Cooke and illustrator Travis Hymel. Meeting and surpassing its funding target this past weekend, the campaign is already looking towards achieving some sweet stretch goals! PopCultHQ is already on-board with over 150 other backers who are beyond excited to see this captivating tale come to life. We wanted to spotlight this campaign not only because of the sweeping buzz making rounds in the comic book community for this epic feature, but because the book itself encapsulates everything that is great about comic books: a uniquely, fun narrative, a hearty dose of ingenuity, an abundance of passion on each page, and talented, indie creators seeking to tell a great story, as well as excite readers (and the industry).

Cooke & Hymel are teamed with colorist Jeremy Kahn and letterer Micah Myers, and the first issue is already being colored, with issue two in the works! That’s where you can come in as a backer of the campaign to make printing and fulfillment of rewards a breeze! We’ve backed it because it is an amazing first issue that not only do we want to see in print format, but we want more of this wild concept and the brilliant world in which Cooke & Hymel are building.

The Story

L.U.C.H.A. is the story of Agente, a luchador detective who spends his life solving low level crimes and murders, taking on any job that falls in his lap. He just so happens to get wrapped up in a murder campaign that involves vampires, wrestlers, and other notorious figures before the rug gets pulled out from under him…and the readers!

PopCultHQ had the privilege of discussing L.U.C.H.A. #1 with the creators of the series, writer CW Cooke and artist Travis Hymel, to learn more about this unique, captivating, and wildly fun new series about to make its way into the comic book market. This is a campaign not to be missed and a project PopCultHQ is excited to share with you. It’s time to learn about, and get excited for, L.U.C.H.A. #1!

PopCultHQ’s Kickstarter Spotlight Interview:

CW Cooke & Travis Hymel
of L.U.C.H.A. #1
~~~~~

LUCHA KS Preview page 1

PopCultHQ: L.U.C.H.A. combines the best elements of luchador wrestling, monster stories, science fiction, thrilling crime drama, and superhero action & excitement. How did this wild and fun concept come to life?

CW Cooke: Travis and I happened upon each other in a Facebook group called Kayfabe, which about once a year puts together an anthology of wrestling comics from wrestling fans and for wrestling fans. The idea started as a wrestling noir comic, a Sin City-esque spin starring a luchador, that then blossomed out into the monster aspects of El Santo and then got even crazier and crazier the more we built the thing together. And that’s nothing. You think you’ve seen crazy so far? It gets MUCH more intense and insane as the story develops.

Travis Hymel: It really started when I met CW through the Kayfabe anthology group. We paired up to work together and did the “well…what do you want to do? I dunno…what do you want to do?” From that clueless start, I threw out the idea of a wrestler/Luchador guy that’s a detective. Then CW took it and expanded it to what the first 10 pages came to be for the anthology. We were both pretty pleased with how it came out and CW thought we could potentially pitch the book or even do more with this character.

PopCultHQ: There are a number of exciting elements in this first issue to appeal to many, I would think. What readers or fans do you feel will dig L.U.C.H.A. the most?

LUCHA KS Preview page 2

CW: I think all comic book fans will get a kick out of this. If you like superheroes, if you like wrestling, if you like hard-boiled detective stuff, if you like sci-fi, if you like horror, if you like monsters, if you like stories that show the world outside our window as diverse and open and exciting and fun and explore the deeper meaning of humanity, you’re going to like this. It’s going to be a fun, heartbreaking book.

Travis: Wrestling and superhero fans will love this book. Wrestling and comics itself share soap opera-type stories, crazy action, and interesting characters that can only exist in their respective world.

PopCultHQ: The protagonist for L.U.C.H.A. is Agente, the luchador detective fighting vampires, wrestlers, and more. What can you share about Agente and his background? Does the series have a primary antagonist, or will readers follow his crime-solving adventures and the various encounters he faces?

CW: There are villains that want to destroy Agente by any means necessary. To go into too much depth beyond that would be telling the main premise and plot twist of the book, but they are pure evil. As the story progresses it will absolutely make sense who they are and why they’re doing what they’re doing, and also, Agente will be facing off against werewolves and vampires and various other creatures of the night while still fighting robots and wrestlers and everything in between. Lots of fun stuff here, and lots of fights.

LUCHA KS Preview page 3

Travis: I don’t think CW and myself want to share too much about Agente. However, what I will say is that he has been at this for a long time and has become a fixture in this universe as a top detective. Since he’s been around for a while, he’s made a ton of enemies much like Orloff, who is a vampire mobster who has the police in his back pocket.

PopCultHQ: Now that you’ve reached your funding goal, it looks like issue one is pretty much in the bag (aside from printing). Will you continue to self-publish subsequent issues? With what frequency would you like (or are able) to produce additional issues? Are there any plans to pitch the completed first issue to publishers?

CW: Pitching is planned and has begun, and the first arc is 4 issues of madness that explores and opens up a huge world to look at later. The goal is monthly releases without need of a Kickstarter for every issue. The first issue is fully-drawn and work has begun on issue two as the colorist works on issue one, so things are moving at a nice pace.

Travis: The plan is to keep going. We have some plans in the works, but can’t talk about them just yet.

PopCultHQ: You mention in the campaign that ultimately you are looking to see the series through four issues. Will this contain the entire series or just the first story arc? If the crowdfunding gods continue to favor you and bring you the support needed, are there plans for future issues/story arcs?

LUCHA KS Preview page 4

CW: First story arc is 4 issues. After that, it depends on when Travis gets sick of me or when the audience tells us to stop, really. I would love for this to be another magnum opus, running for as long as possible, allowing us to tell the tale of Agente throughout years of growth as creators. Travis’ work reminds me a lot of Ryan Ottley’s stuff from Invincible, and if I can somehow keep him working for 144 issues of Agente/L.U.C.H.A., I’d be a happy camper. We have ideas, lots and lots of ideas, to continue this forward past the initial four issues, and people are probably going to want more after the last issue ends. Mostly because we’re ending it in the hopes of a sequel series and with another humongous tease of what the world is about.

PopCultHQ: Your creative team also includes colorist Jeremy Kahn and letterer Micah Myers, as well as editing from Action Lab’s Shawn Gabborin and Shawn Pryor. How did this creative team come together for your project?

CW: Travis and I came together through the Kayfabe anthology page, which is run by Micah Myers. I’ve known Micah for a very long time, going back to when he saved me on Solitary and even before that, jumping in and handling the lettering on a book that needed someone to step in and finish an issue lightning fast. Travis feels like the Byrne to my Claremont or the Ottley to my Kirkman, or I guess since I’m the KC Mark Millar, the JRJR to my Millar. Travis and I speak the same language when it comes to the pages and the progress and the needs of the book and work pretty fluid as co-creators on it.

Jeremy is another dude I’ve known for a long time who will be coloring a few things for me because he’s a breeze to work with and he handles the pressure well and is open and honest. The Shawns I’ve known for years because I pitched Solitary to Action Lab first but it didn’t work out, and then got a book called Stillwater picked up through their Danger Zone imprint. Shawn Gabborin has been an editor of mine for a long time (still editing Solitary for me and acting as editor on Stillwater, which you can get on Comixology by the way). So I’ve been lucky to have their guidance throughout my career.

LUCHA KS Preview page 5

PopCultHQ: What has been your biggest obstacle in bringing L.U.C.H.A. to life?

CW: Getting over the nerves of the Kickstarter has been the biggest obstacle, I’d say, and feeling like we might not find an audience for it. We did the story in a small bubble of our own in the Kayfabe group and heard insane praise from everyone involved in it and everyone who came across the story, so it grew from there into this living, breathing thing that is now real and happening and just exploding in the public view. It’s incredible, but at first the anxiety of building the project and tossing it out there was tough to deal with, which is always something I struggle with at first. Creating the thing is easy, but having it out there for people to judge is a hard aspect of making comics. I love them, I love everything about them, and I’m going to fight to make them for the rest of my life. I just have to always get over that first terrifying step and just jump into the deep end.

Travis: I think it was figuring out where to go with the rest of the book after we made the initial story which was originally just 10 pages. We went back and forth for a few weeks on what we can do with Agente and what would make sense. There was just so many options of what we could do with this character. We essentially made a sandbox type of comic where we could do any wild and crazy thing we wanted.

~~~~~

Special thanks goes out to CW & Travis for making the time to speak with us at PopCultHQ. Be sure to get on board with L.U.C.H.A. #1 live NOW on Kickstarter! At over 100% funded, join the 150+ backers already supporting this creator-owned project. Let’s unlock those stretch goals!

Follow the L.U.C.H.A. creators online!

Writer – CW Cooke

Artist – Travis Hymel

Colorist – Jeremy Kahn

Letterer – Micah Myers

October 15, 2018 1 comment

Comic Books Crowdfunding independent Comic

[Crowdfunding] One Week Left to Back Shawn Pryor’s Mythic, Sci-Fi Original Graphic Novel – LIFTED: OF GODS AND THIEVES!

by Jason Bennett June 30, 2018

written by Jason Bennett

One week left to back the
LIFTED: OF GODS AND THIEVES Kickstarter!

Action Lab Entertainment‘s President of Creator Relations, Shawn Pryor, has launched his own Kickstarter for LIFTED: OF GODS AND THIEVES. This mythic, sci-fi action graphic novel about a teleporting thief-for-hire and her team is currently on Kickstarter until July 8, 2018 at 10:08 AM EDT. It has raised over $3,500 but needs to reach its $8,500 goal to be a success!

In LIFTED, Sara Jackson is the leader of art and antiquities thieves-for-hire. Constantly chased by a pair of disgraced FBI agents, the team take on many a heist per their clients’ dangerous requests across the globe. Yet the team has an even bigger problem, as Sara unknowingly will be playing a role in a confrontation of gods that could spell worldwide devastation!

About Shawn Pryor:

Shawn Pryor: Writer/Creator

Shawn Pryor is the creator and co-writer of the all-ages graphic novel mystery series CASH & CARRIE, writer of KENTUCKY KAIJU, and has written for Tor.com. He is one of the co-founders of Action Lab Entertainment and currently serves as their President of Creative Relations.

In his free time, he enjoys reading, cooking, listening to streaming music playlists, and talking about why Zack from the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers is the greatest Black superhero of all-time.

LIFTED is created by Shawn Pryor (creator/writer of FORCE, CASH + CARRIE) and Chris Murrin (editor/writer GHOUL SCOUTS, ATHENA VOLTAIRE). The graphic novel is illustrated by John Rodriguez (SPLIT) with colors by George Gant (creator of THE RESET BUTTON and ON THE GRIND) and Eric White. The letterer is Ringo Award nominee Justin Birch (MIRACULOUS, RAVEN THE PIRATE PRINCESS). Uko Smith, who’s worked with LUCASFILM, HASBRO, DC, MARVEL (to name a few) did the cover art.

Lifted: Of Gods and Thieves – Cover by Uko Smith

“LIFTED is a graphic novel five years in the making,” creator Shawn Pryor comments. “I’ve always wanted to create a heist story that mixes elements of films such as The Score and The Thomas Crown Affair with aspects of Clash of the Titans and X-Files. We’ve been able to do something different and dynamic with this dream project of ours, and we can’t wait to share it with all of you.”

The digital edition of the graphic novel is available for $10 and you can get a softcover copy for $20. Deluxe editions, mini-posters and other works by Shawn Pryor (including CASH + CARRIE) are also available. You can check out the rest of the rewards on the Kickstarter page here:

PREVIEW PAGES

Be sure to check out LIFTED: OF GODS AND THIEVES
on Kickstarter NOW and get in on this campaign!

#SupportIndieComics
#SupportIndieCreators
#SupportIndiePublishers

New to Kickstarter? Signing up is a breeze!
Click HERE to enroll and be able to back any Kickstarter campaign,
most importantly LIFTED: OF GODS AND THIEVES!

Campaigns last 30 days and are an “All or Nothing” campaign. If a campaign does not meet its goal by completion, the campaign is not funded and backers are not charged. Upon a successful campaign’s completion, you will be charged the amount you backed. What’s even better, once you’ve backed a successfully funded campaign, the creator will send you periodic updates as to its progress and stays connected with you until your comic(s) arrive!

Writer – Shawn Pryor

Action Lab Entertainment

June 30, 2018 0 comment

Comic Previews HC independent Comic

[Preview] Tee Franklin is Hooking Fans Up w/ Image Comics’ BINGO LOVE Vol. 1: JACKPOT EDITION TPB/HC

by Jason Bennett June 29, 2018

written by Jason Bennett

FANS HIT THE JACKPOT WITH EXPANDED
BINGO LOVE Vol. 1: JACKPOT EDITION
HARDCOVER AND TRADE PAPERBACKS

Tee Franklin made waves this past weekend at the American Library Association’s (ALA) Annual Conference when The Hollywood Reporter dropped the news of forthcoming BINGO LOVE, VOL. 1: JACKPOT EDITION in trade paperback and hardcover. The expanded editions will hit stores this November from Image Comics.

“The two bonus stories that were in the original Bingo Love—Bingo Love: Secrets by Shawn Pryor and Paulina Ganucheau and Bingo Love: Honeymoon by Marguerite Bennett and Beverly Johnson—were only supposed to be for the Kickstarter backers. I decided to create this Jackpot Edition so everyone would have access to the bonus stories that were noted inside of Bingo Love,” said Franklin. “As an added benefit, readers will also be getting three more short stories about Hazel and Mari… including a peek inside of Bingo Love, Vol. 2: Dear Diary. I had no idea when I wrote this story, people would be so welcoming to a story about two Black Queer grandmas. So, thank you all!”

BINGO LOVE Vol. 1 JACKPOT EDITION cover

BINGO LOVE, VOL. 1: JACKPOT EDITION will feature cover artwork by Paulina Ganucheau and will contain over 50 pages of bonus material, including stories from Marguerite Bennett (Batwoman, InSEXts) and newcomer Beverly Johnson, Shawn Pryor (Cash and Carrie, F.O.R.C.E.) and Paulina Ganucheau (Zodiac Starforce) and Gail Simone (CROSSWIND, Domino), with illustrations from Sara Alfageeh (Star Wars: Women of the Galaxy) and Ariela Kristantina (InSEXts, Mata Hari). Plus a sneak peek of BINGO LOVE, VOL 2: DEAR DIARY, with an afterword from Gabby Rivera (America, Juliet Takes a Breath).

BINGO LOVE is an original graphic novel created and written by Tee Franklin, with art by Jenn St-Onge, and colors by Joy San and follows the love story of two Queer, Black women and the love between them that spans decades.

When Hazel Johnson and Mari McCray met at church bingo in 1963, it was love at first sight. Forced apart by their families and society, Hazel and Mari both married young men and had families. Decades later, now in their mid-’60s, Hazel and Mari reunite again at a church bingo hall. Realizing their love for each other is still alive, what these grandmothers do next takes absolute strength and courage.

Franklin is a Black, Queer, disabled woman, known in the comics industry as an activist and advocate for creators of color, LGBTQ, and disabled communities. She is credited for starting the popular hashtag: #BlackComicsMonth, which aims to make comic book fans more aware of talented Black comic creators and their inclusive comic book characters and superheroes that already exist in the industry.

Franklin’s original edition of the BINGO LOVE title won the 2017 Queer Press Grant and raised almost $60k via Kickstarter. It gained traction in mainstream media for its progressive, LGBTQ-positive narrative.

BINGO LOVE explores the complications of coming out at an older age and how that decision affects their families’ lives.

PREVIEW PAGES

BINGO LOVE, VOL. 1: JACKPOT EDITION (ISBN: 978-1534309838) will be available in comic book stores on Wednesday, November 7th and in bookstores on Tuesday, November 13th. It can be pre-ordered now on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, IndieBound, and Indigo.

ABOUT IMAGE COMICS:

Image Comics is a comic book and graphic novel publisher founded in 1992 by a collective of best-selling artists. Image has since gone on to become one of the largest comics publishers in the United States. Image currently has five partners: Robert Kirkman, Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri and Jim Valentino. It consists of five major houses: Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline, Skybound and Image Central. Image publishes comics and graphic novels in nearly every genre, sub-genre, and style imaginable. It offers science fiction, fantasy, romance, horror, crime fiction, historical fiction, humor and more by the finest artists and writers working in the medium today. For more information, visit www.imagecomics.com.

June 29, 2018 0 comment

Comic Books independent Comic

[Spotlight] Action Lab Entertainment’s Danger Zone Imprint Celebrates 5 Year Anniversary!

by Jason Bennett May 5, 2018

written by Jason Bennett

Action Lab Entertainment made its initial entry into the comic book industry in 2011. The indie publisher quickly gained recognition for their all-ages offerings, especially the fantasy adventure series Princeless and the NFL-licensed Rush Zone. As they continued to produce all-ages material, they also were interested in titles and IPs which were intended for the mature readers out there. So the mad scientists at Action Lab decided to expand their library (and options) by creating an imprint for the more adult-themed comics. In 2013, a Kickstarter was run to create Action Lab: Danger Zone and the response was fantastic! The new line of books were to be comprised of a wide spectrum of genre-vexing and boundary-blasting creator-owned titles.

Initially the imprint kicked off with six titles and has grown to a massive catalog with over fifty titles in the past five years. This month, Action Lab is celebrating the 5-year achievement and PopCultHQ wanted to spotlight the publishing company for attaining the magnificent milestone. We spoke with publisher Jason Martin about the early beginnings of Danger Zone and the evolution it’s experienced growing to a successful imprint. We’re also giving you a look at their titles (with synopsis!) to get you in the know regarding their vast library.

PopCultHQ: Two years after the inception of Action Lab Entertainment, you took to Kickstarter to help launch your new, mature readers imprint Danger Zone. On April 23, 2013, the campaign was successfully funded and offered six books right out the gate: Ghost Town, The Final Plague, Night of the 80’s Undead, The Trip, Double Jumpers, and Zombie Tramp. What was the atmosphere like around the Action Lab Entertainment offices once you knew your desire to publish creator-owned, mature reader comics was going to be a reality? How did it feel seeing that kind of support from fans and the community who believed in what you were doing?

Jason Martin: Action Lab was already publishing creator-owned titles of every variety, at that time though they were becoming known for all ages titles, with the Eisner nomination on Princeless and the NFL Rush Zone License. So they needed to put the mature books within a separate imprint, and I was good friends with co-founder Dave Dwonch, and we’d been talking and realized it was a great opportunity for me to take what I was doing and bring that to ALE.

I started out self publishing (my series Super Real), and then ventured into creator-owned publishing with my Super Real Graphics imprint, which last released Dan Mendoza‘s Zombie Tramp volume one. So when I came aboard, we brought Zombie Tramp volume two and paired it with the other mature rated Action Lab titles and the launch for Danger Zone was born!

We also thought a Kickstarter was a good opportunity to help kick things off and promote the line. It’s hard to believe that was already 5 years ago!!

Action Lab’s Danger Zone Imprint Kickstarter Video

PopCultHQ: Danger Zone has released a slew of titles, worked with numerous creators, and has left its imprint (pun maybe intended?) on the comic book community. When your mature readers line officially kicked off, who were the core members that helped with its launch? What does the staffing look like now five years later?

Vampblade (2016) #1

Jason Martin: Yeah, we’ve been fortunate to have an amazing run of creator-owned titles come through the imprint to date, and have turned Zombie Tramp into its own licensed franchise. The core Action Lab group that was there at the start is primarily still in place (myself, Bryan Seaton our CEO, Shawn Gabborin our EIC, and Shawn Pryor and Dave Dwonch have shifted roles but are still on board), but we’ve had numerous talented individuals come and go too along the way, helping make these books a reality for the many talented creators.

What many people don’t know about Action Lab, is that it was founded by a group of fans and creators with talents that together offered the range of skills needed to run a comic company. And from the beginning, it’s been a passion project that folks have worked on, by and large, in addition to their regular lives. Which is very much like a comic book origin story isn’t it? Like a publishing Voltron, that fights for comics by night!

Now, we’ve come a long way since then (Eisner nominations, Diamond top 20 publisher and exclusivity, television and movie options, year over year growth) but we’re still unique in that way. A company by creators, for creators… building and striving toward joining the ranks of the top tier comics publishers.

PopCultHQ: Danger Zone has worked closely with Full Moon Features to produce comics based on their properties, such as Puppet Master, Trancers, and the recently-released title Subspecies. What do you enjoy most about working with a production company like Full Moon? Can we expect more titles, sequels, or spin-offs from their properties?

Jason Martin: We’ve loved working with Full Moon, and offering books from their extensive catalog, from creatives who are passionate fans for their titles. Jimmy Palmiotti & Justin Gray, Tim Seeley, Cullen Bunn, Brockton McKinney, and our own Shawn Gabborin are all huge fans that relished the opportunity to bring those titles to comics (and some for the first time), and produced great comics that stood on their own and tied faithfully to the films. But right now we’re closing out that chapter on a high note with the recent Puppet Master: Curtain Call series that wrapped up the years long Action Lab Danger Zone comic series, the aforementioned Subspecies mini by Bunn and Daniel J. Logan, and the trip-tastic Gingerdead Man Meets Evil Bong!!

Puppet Master Curtain Call #1 Cover A

Subspecies #1 Cover A by Daniel J Logan

Gingerdead Man Meets Evil Bong #1

Zombie Tramp #46 Cover C

PopCultHQ: Zombie Tramp, which has endured the test of time and is essentially (imho) your tentpole character/series, has become synonymous with the Danger Zone brand. Vampblade, and then later DollFace and Black Betty, being integrated into the “Zombie Tramp Universe” has really rounded out the easily-identifiable badass babes at the imprint. How important is it for Danger Zone to maintain and grow this universe in the years ahead?

Jason Martin: What can I say about Zombie Tramp? It’s such a simple hook, you either love it or you don’t… and that’s what’s so great about it! For me, I love genre works that challenge the limits, and that’s what Zombie Tramp embodies. Is it for everyone? Clearly, no. But if it is to your taste, it’s damn tasty! And it also happens to be, aside from the surface trappings, a genuinely creative and engrossing read. Dan has built a great new modern mythology here that’s inspired by equal parts comics and film, horror and anime. He and I share similar sensibilities, and I myself as a creator too, have had the good fortune of contributing to the story some, as well as the production of the series for it’s entire now nearly four year run at Danger Zone. And yes, it’s popularity has spawned now several series within the same universe that all build and compliment the Zombie Tramp mythology. Books like my Vampblade series, and Dan and Bryan’s DollFace, and now Shawn Gabborin’s Black Betty (and the team up series Danger Doll Squad).

And yes, the book has been our most popular title in single issues, and so it’s certainly a key to the success of Danger Zone. But that said, with or without Zombie Tramp, the Danger Zone (like Action Lab) is home to a varied and impressive range of titles.

Dollface #2 – Cover B by Dan Mendoza (Tattered and Torn Variant)

PopCultHQ: From its inception, Danger Zone has been hailed as the home to boundary-pushing, genre-redefining, quality creator-owned comic books with no limits. How true is that statement today? What are the imprint’s plans as it looks to continue to grow and evolve, and what, if anything, is different now than it was in 2013?

Jason Martin: That’s still very much the mission statement today. Quality, creative, genre-redefining comic books with no limits. But simply put, it’s just an extension of Action Lab, and that’s the same that could be said for any of our titles. The difference here with Danger Zone, is that we happen to be the imprint where the titles that would be rated-R live.

And then the only change from when we launched, is that now we’re also the home to the Full Moon and Zombie Tramp universe of books (just as Action Lab is home to Miraculous and other licenses in addition to creator-owned titles).

PopCultHQ: Already in 2018, you’ve launched new titles such as Black Betty, Baby Badass, and Subspecies, have nearly-released Gingerdead Man Meets Evil Bong and the third season for Vampblade, a new volume for Danger Doll Squad and Brigands (Ruin of Thieves), Double Jumpers is returning with a new run, and we’re leading up to the Death of Zombie Tramp event. What more could you possibly have planned for 2018?!

Jason Martin: Well, you pretty much covered all the high points for the first half of the year. But moving into the latter half of 2017 a huge event for us is the big 50th issue of Zombie Tramp that you mentioned in July. And that will also kick into gear a year-long event in the series, The Death of Zombie Tramp, that will pay off everything that we’ve been building towards in the book to date… and that’s exciting! But yes, we also have new creator-owned series lined up for each month as well: Ruin of Thieves from Ram V, Aberrant by Ryland Grant, Guncats, Twelve Devils Dancing, the list goes on and on). Lots and lots of great comics, for every taste. As always, stuff that we’re truly excited to release!

RELATED: [Interview] The Creative Team Behind ABERRANT

PopCultHQ: In retrospect, seeing all that has grown and blossomed at Danger zone over the last five years, what does the next five look like? Could we eventually see more titles making a return to the imprint?

Brigands: Ruin of Thieves #1 – Cover A by Sumit Kumar

Jason Martin: We do have some returning titles on the near horizon. There is a Brigands sequel from Ram V (Paradiso), Ruin of Thieves starting this May. We’ll also have Voracious volume three from Markisan Naso and Jason Muhr later this year, as well as sequels to a couple of last years big hits for us; Spencer & Locke and Misbegotten down the line from that.

I wish I could say we had sequels to all our titles, but the market can be cruel. Titles that you’re sure will hit big can be passed by. Or books that do relatively well just aren’t viable for the creators to continue. It’s just a reality of the business. But we’ll keep championing these works, and we truly appreciate folks like yourself who take up the cause, and all the fans that support us and our titles. We couldn’t do it without you!

PopCultHQ: To whom or what do you credit the success of Danger Zone’s five years in operations (with no signs of slowing down)?

Jason Martin: The creators. It all starts with them.

We’ve had an amazing five year run, with so many titles of such variety and craft.

One of the best things about Action Lab and where we are in the industry, is that we offer opportunities to emerging talent, creators with raw talent and energy, with unique voices and inspired ideas. And then with Danger Zone, you get the ideas that are even more twisted or out there. We’ve had; gangster teddy bears, foul-mouthed drugged-out cartoon rabbits, animal zombies, dark magic zombies, killer puppets, violent magical girls, noir crime imaginary friends, dinosaur chefs, Jesus clones, domesticated Jesus and Satan, … the list goes on and on!! It’s been a wild ride! Here’s to the next five years!!

~~~~~

Here’s a look at (most, if not all) of Danger Zone’s past and present titles currently available on ComiXology. For more info on any title, or to see individual issues available digitally, click on the image to be taken to the title’s ComiXology page for additional details!

Amerikarate

Amerikarate

Sam Kickwell was the best of the best–until a terrible karate accident involving his brother and ninjas convinced him to hang up his black belt. Now he and his appendage-less sibling have moved to a town that has outlawed martial arts; a place they can finally be at peace—until the fateful day his enemies arrive, forcing him back into the only life he’s ever known: Karate fighting for America. Featuring artwork by Devin Roth, lead character designer for the hit animated series, BOB’S BURGERS!

RELATED: PopCultHQ Comic Creators Spotlight: Brockton McKinney, Corey Kalman, Devin Roth of AMERIKARATE

Baby Badass

Baby Badass

The future ain’t pretty. It’s 2043, and the United States Under God is a dry, violent place filled with aggressive degenerates. ‘Born’ into this world is Baby Badass; a failed military experiment who escapes into the New West desert where he’s discovered by a sweet waitress who takes him in, not knowing that the slumbering bundle is actually a 33 year old half-formed hybrid clone of super-soldier Alphie Omega. On the run from an evil entity called M.O.T.H.E.R. (Military Organization to Harness Evolutionary Resources), it’s Mad Max meets Idiocracy—a hilarious and disturbing journey into a dark future of fear, sex, violence, and the occasional diaper-change.

RELATED: [Interview] Writer D.E. Schrader of Action Lab: Danger Zone’s BABY BADASS

Back In The Day

Back In The Day

What would you do for love? For Darren Toshida, the answer is far from simple: build a time machine. With his best friends Todd and Mikey in tow, Darren decides to go back to a pivotal time in his life, change history, and get the girl that got away. Armed with twenty years of experience, the trio returns to the summer of 1987 to mentor their younger selves in the fine art of romance. From indie mavericks Dave Dwonch, (Space-Time Condominium, Double Jumpers) and Daniel Logan (Exo-1 and the Rock Solid Steelbots), Back in the Day is a heartfelt and hilarious sci-fi romp that redefines the coming of age tale.

Black Betty

Black Betty

Meet the newest member of Zombie Tramp universe! Black Betty has made a living killing the unkillable. She has taken down monsters of every shape and size with a style all her own. But when a man’s daughter is kidnapped by a local legend, Betty steps in to save her… for a price! If you need it dead (and you’ve got the cash!), Betty’s your girl!

Bo Plushy Gangsta

Bo Plushy Gangsta

Are the legends of Bo, the “teddy bear” gangsta, true? And, did we just say teddy bear gangsta?!? You’re about to find out– when Bo’s girls get nabbed by a rival gang boss, the fearsome plushy gangsta is forced into action! Bo Plushy is Scarface meets Ted, with over-the-top video game style gang boss battles.

Bolts

Bolts

During a brutal attack by townspeople in his own time, Frank is torn apart and loses his memory. Only to have his mangled body pieced back together and thrown into a new and strange dimension where he crosses paths with Casey, a scavenger with a penchant for trouble. Now the two must face merciless monsters and perilous roads, while Frank fights his own battle to become a righteous hero or spiteful villain!

Brigands

Brigands

Pulled from death row and recruited by the secretive inquisition to steal an artifact called The Myros Pendulum, Stilian Desault now paired with an old colleague, Veina must put together a group of Brigands for the heist of their lives. But there are no happy endings or quick deaths for battle-forged blades. Stilian will soon discover that things are about to go very wrong.

RELATED: PopCultHQ’s Comic Creator Spotlight: Ram Venkatesan of BRIGANDS

Cougar and Cub

Cougar and Cub

The courageous Cougar and the cunning Cub are Megaville’s ferocious feline fighters, tussling with an outrageous rogues gallery and prowling the city for crime all the time. But when a slow night on the job turns into a saucy encounter in the sack, the age old question will finally be answered… WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A SUPERHERO HAS SEX WITH THEIR SIDEKICK?

Crimson Society

Crimson Society

In a futuristic world where supernatural beings live among humans in peace, Jack Crimson finds his life as a werewolf frustrating and wants nothing more than a cure. Desperate to free himself from this curse, he makes a series of decisions leading him down a path that will change his life forever. Pearl City is full of vampires, zombies, werewolves, and more. Learn more about this mysterious world and follow Jack on an epic journey.

Danger Doll Squad

Danger Doll Squad

Danger Zone has three popular monthly titles each starring different deadly ladies, and now for the first time, all three girls come together in one book! Danger Doll Squad zero is the fuse that ignites the explosive upcoming series featuring; Zombie Tramp, Vampblade, and DollFace! An all new crossover featuring our three most popular characters in one special event with covers by three different artists (each with a risqué variant as well)!

DollFace

Dollface

In the town of Boston, a witch-hunter lurks among the shadows, but this witch-hunter is like none you’ve ever seen. She is Lila, a 17th century soul that has been transported into present time and into the body of a life size, ball jointed doll, created by a couple of MIT students trying to use technology and a 3D printer to create the perfect women. Join in this super-sized debut issue and learn how she came to be known as DollFace, the ball jointed witch hunter.

Double Jumpers

Double Jumpers

After Jason and his team of programmers get stuck in their virtual reality game, Dungeon Lords, they must find a way back to the real world. Unbeknownst to them, the fantasy characters they inhabit have taken control of their bodies–and now wizards and warriors run free in Las Vegas!

Dry Spell

Dry Spell

Tom Ferris lives in a world of costumes and wonder. Figures streaking across the sky, hurling themselves over rooftops at night. They are everywhere. They are common. But Tom doesn’t notice that world anymore. His world is made up of spreadsheets, phone bills, software, coffee, collared shirts. When a coworker takes an interest in Tom, a chain of events begins to unfold…

Ehmm Theory

Ehmm Theory

Gabriel Ehmm has awoken to a world where zombie “little people” rise from graves, someone calling himself “Saint Peter” offers bargains, and his pet kitten can now “talk.” Connected by blood and straddling the afterlife, Gabe and Mr. Whispers (the aformentioned talking cat) begin a universe-spanning adventure in the first issue of this mind-bending and genre-blending new series.

Ehmm Theory: Everything In Small Doses

Ehmm Theory: Everything In Small Doses

Time-jumping assassin monkeys, an evil military super-force, and paranormal ex-lovers plague Gabriel Ehmm and his blood-bound talking feline Mr. Whispers in this eye-smashing, brain-messer of a sequel entitled ‘Everything and Small Doses.’

Ghost Town

Ghost Town

Moments after scientists create a time machine, terrorists steal and weaponize the device, sending bombs into the future. Las Vegas evaporates in flame as the terrorists reveal their future target: Washington DC. Now, the FBI must find the terrorists before the capital becomes a Ghost Town. The clock is ticking.

Gingerdead Man

Gingerdead Man

There is a new designer drug on the streets, and it’s called Confection! It’s so powerful that it has to be baked into a culinary treat, and the abandoned Betty’s Bakery has been taken over by a gang of drug dealers! But by using a leftover box of seasoning containing the remaining ashes of Millard Findlemeyer, the gang has unwittingly unleashed that cookie of doom: GINGERDEAD MAN!

Gingerdead Man Meets Evil Bong

Gingerdead Man Meets Evil Bong

The soul of a serial killer in the body of a cookie! It’s the Gingerdead Man, and this time he’s facing off against Eebee the Evil Bong, a cursed artifact who wants to cast his crunchy body into the magical realm of BongWorld! Bloodshed and blunts collide for the hardest you’ll ever laugh at being scared! Collects the entire gruesome af-fair!

Gravedigger

Gravedigger

Framed for the murder of a mob boss’s daughter, “Gravedigger” McCrae is on the run in a South Florida paradise, pursued by a relentless crew of killers. His pursuers think tracking him down will be easy, but Digger McCrae is particularly dangerous prey. Gravedigger is a master class in hard-boiled comic action!

Holy F*ck

Holy F*ck

Why is a nun barging into a seedy Tokyo karaoke bar in the middle of the night to find a sleazy naked man smoking meth? Because that man is Jesus, and Sister Maria needs him to help her and Satan stop humanity’s mythological gods from f***ing up the earth.

Holy F*cked

Holy F*cked

After recklessly killing tons of gods in HOLY F*CK, Jesus is back, again, and chilling with Satan in domestic bliss. And their best bud, Sister Maria, is managing a local homeless shelter. Sounds great, right? Not for Hercules! The “Muscles from Mt. Olympus” is pissed and he wants revenge. Plus… what shocking news does Satan have for his macho messiah?

Infinite Seven

Infinite Seven

For centuries, a secret world government has employed the INFINITE SEVEN, the world’s greatest assassins to do their dirty work. The only way to become one of their members is to prove your worth by killing one of their members. But what happens when Anthony Zane, a teenage boy from the suburbs does just that? Action hero archetypes are reimagined in what is sure to be the blockbuster series of the year!

Itty Bitty Bunnies in Rainbow Pixie Candy Land

Itty Bitty Bunnies in Rainbow Pixie Candy Land

Take some time for an adventure to a magical world with two cute bunnies… two foul mouthed, drug using, butt-naked bunnies that go on adorably offensive, insultingly hilarious adventures!!! Your journey into off color fun begins here, with this mix of Adventure Time and underground comix!!!

Itty Bitty Bunnies: Tales From the Crib

Itty Bitty Bunnies: Tales From the Crib

It’s time for another round of tasteless tales from Rainbow Pixie Candy Land’s resident raunchy rabbits, Phil and Tyrone. Please join them as they kill their liver, take in a puppet show, do unspeakable things to a frog prince, and trip hard with Willy Nellson! No, really.

Kingdom Bum

Kingdom Bum

It’s Game of Thrones with cardboard homes as this wild new series brings an inner city’s hidden world to life in contemporary fantasy style! First Coast City’s homeless suffer under the thumb of tyrant, Philip the Ax. As the seeds for a violent coup begin to sprout, it falls to benevolent vagabond Simon to try to stave off war and bring peace back to the alleys. Then: Simon takes control of the underground homeless “kingdom,” and the Ax’s thumbless victims start a phalanges-deficient support group. Now: Son, the young outsider caught up in the local drama, discovers another clue about his father only to have his search derailed when demons from the past come back to threaten the kingdom.

Medisin

Medisin

“First Do No Harm” Chapter 1 Health care for super villains! Criminal mastermind Malady has recruited a team of down on their luck physicians to provide medical aid for the world’s worst bad guys. Led by the brilliant Ethan Sharp, the blackmailed doctors struggle to uphold their own ethical codes (or lack thereof) in violent and confusing battlefields. And when one doctor goes rogue, the rest learn a terrifying lesson from Malady.

Misbegotten

Misbegotten

What if Marilyn Monroe fell in love with Jesus of Nazareth and tried to save him from the cross? There is a world in which this scenario is not that far-fetched: the world of MISBEGOTTEN–a post-apocalyptic saga about hot clones, holy relics, and a priest sent on a mission to spoil the most accurate passion play ever.

Night of the 80’s Undead

Night of the 80’s Undead

It’s 1986, and Russia’s last-ditch Cold War effort is to strike at our American excess lifestyle with bio-engineered Colombian cocaine. What happens when two girls out for a good time cross paths with a huge celebrity party hyped up on commie zombie blow? Radical undead action, man! Totally!

Oblivion

Oblivion

A sequel to the acclaimed Full Moon space western that introduced the world to “cowboys and aliens!” The backwater planet Oblivion has fallen on hard times, but everything’s about to get harder for Marshall Zack Stone with the arrival of Lyz Azorr, the daughter of notorious outlaw, RED EYE!

Puppet Master

Puppet Master

Charles Band’s long-running cult classic horror film series makes its way to the comic page! When a group of friends sets out to use the abandoned Bodega Bay Inn as a party spot, they find out first-hand that the bizarre local folklore is more truth than fantasy as an army of twisted autonomous Puppets have their way with the trespassing teens! The Puppets are back, and they’re out for blood!

Scum of the Earth

Scum of the Earth

Laura and True are a pair of rednecks travelling the South, leaving a trail of mayhem and murder in their wake… could be the only thing able stop them be something not of this world?!? Scum of the Earth is a crazy grindhouse road movie and sci-fi manhunt mash-up that will keep you guessing, and fiending for more!

Sleigher

Sleigher

Sleigher is the most recent (and reluctant) heir of the centuries old lineage to bear the title of “Santa Claus.” He’d rather slam back bourbon than glasses of milk, and blast metal instead of carols. But when evil rears its head before he’s delivered a single present, maybe he’s found his true calling—dishing out a holiday ass whoopin’!!!

Southern Dog

Southern Dog

When awkward high school teen Jasper Dixon conceals an injury sustained during a hunting excursion with his family, his infected wolf bite combined with the hormonal changes of puberty triggers a disturbing physical transformation. Now he’s forced to confront his Deep South upbringing and monsters far worse than what he’s become!

Space-Time Condominium

Space-Time Condominium

It’s 1985 and the Multiverse is in Crisis. Luckily for Griffin Griffins, a mysterious man known only as The Gatekeeper is gathering Griffins from parallel Earths to live under one roof. But can Griffin survive living with four versions of himself? Containing a slew of bonus material, including the previously unreleased “unaired” pilot (three pages of which are featured below!), Space-Time Condo Season One is a must have for fans of sitcoms like Friends, Arrested Development and Seinfeld, as well af fans of DC’s Crisis on Infinite Earths.

Spencer & Locke

Spencer & Locke

When his grade-school sweetheart is found dead, there’s only one friend Detective Locke can trust to help solve her murder — his childhood imaginary panther, Spencer. But when they face a vicious crime syndicate and memories from Locke’s traumatic youth, can this unlikely pair survive long enough to find the truth.

Stillwater

Stillwater

Take a small town with a dark secret, a young man with a new home, and a paranoid cop and you’ve got Stillwater, a brand new horror tale sure to shake you to your core! Glimpse inside the madness of a pond and a creature beyond explanation.

Subculture, Vol. 1

Subculture, Vol. 1

10-Page Preview! Everything SubCulture in one book! Join Jason, Arthur, Noel and the entire Kingdom Comix crew as they live — and enjoy — the geek life in this funny and poignant look at fanboy (and fangirl) culture. This 336-page tome collects the critically-acclaimed four-issue mini-series plus all 501 webcomics published between 2008 and 2012. Also includes dozens of strips from guest artists, pinups, and behind-the-scenes features.

Subspecies

Subspecies

Michelle survived being attacked by the vampire Radu, defeated him on more than one occasion, and has been living with the fallout for years. Her life forever changed since she was infected by him, she has adjusted to her existence as a creature of the night. Now, though, the unthinkable has happened. Radu has resurfaced… only now there appears to be FIVE incarnations of the fiendish vampire.

The Circle

The Circle

After the death of his mother, Christian moves with his single father to the sleepy coastal town of Shell Bay. Upon being bullied at his new school, he’s quickly befriended by the group of “weird” kids. But what Christian doesn’t know is that their playful occult shenanigans may actually be rituals that damn his soul!

The Consultant

The Consultant

Marcus Greenberg has a very particular set of skills, as a former Navy S.E.A.L., he does the dirty work of our nation’s superheroes, keeping his clients out of the papers and off of death row. With the help of his assistant Russell, a reformed shape-shifting supervillain, Greenberg is the go-to-guy for making super-sins disappear. He is, The Consultant.

The Final Plague

The Final Plague

The Final Plague has begun, and with it mankind’s final hours. Can a rural Iowan family survive the initial onslaught of crazed, rabid animals, presumably the product of a mutated super-virus? Or will they succumb to the plague that threatens to end all life as we know it? From the creator of Top Shelf’s BB Wolf and the 3 LPs.

The Harcourt Legacy

The Harcourt Legacy

Rich occultist Edward Harcourt lies on his deathbed. After a lifetime of searching for true magic, Edward thinks he’s found some answers, and he wants to pass them along to his grandniece, a gloomy teenager named Violet. But that may be a problem for Edward’s sister Edwina, who has her own plans for his legacy.

The Trip

The Trip

A group of college kids on a desert-baked road trip take a Native American drug that unlocks their deepest fears. Now, if a teenager and his grandfather from the local reservation can’t find them in time, they’re going to have to face their own personal terrors, or be consumed by them! The Trip is an Indian drug fueled ride into horror!!

Tomboy

Tomboy

The death of a childhood friend sparks a series of events that lead Addison from teenage field hockey player to a murderer of criminals. There’s no lack of targets for her in a city built on corruption, but payback doesn’t come for free. Addison’s reality begins to blur in the pursuit of vengeance and justice is used as justification to become a monster.

Trancers

Trancers

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.

Vampblade

Vampblade

When a young comic shop employee is transformed by mystical blades into a walking talking (and slicing & dicing) 90s comic book bad girl, she must quickly learn how to survive the new grotesque world the blades reveal. Now, other-dimensional parasites hidden all around us resembling the “space vampires” from the 90s comic, Vampblade, are all too real, and out for her blood!

Voracious

Voracious

JURASSIC PARK MEETS TOP CHEF! Haunted by the death of his sister, Chef Nate Willner has lost his desire to cook. Forced to move back to his hometown in Utah and work at a coffee shop, Nate’s life is quickly becoming a dead end. But when he unexpectedly inherits a time travel suit that takes him to the age of dinosaurs, Nate’s passion for cooking is reignited!

Zombie Tramp

Zombie Tramp

The series relaunch previewed in the recent issue 0 continues here. Join creator Dan Mendoza for the all new adventures of the cult hit series featuring his undead anti-hero, Zombie Tramp, now brought to life by the amazing talents of new superstar artist, TMChu. It’s kinky supernatural fun as Zombie Tramp hits the road, starting in… Sin City of course!

Zombie Tramp vs. Vampblade

Zombie Tramp vs. Vampblade

In a story too big to contain in the pages of her regular monthly series, fan-favorite undead anti-heroine Zombie Tramp breaks out into an all-new limited series that pits her against a new larger-than-life supernatural foe… Vampblade! Can Zombie Tramp hold her own against this new interdimensional weapon-wielding comic book bad girl brought to life, or has she met her sexy/crazy/cool match? Let the hair pulling and blood spilling begin!

Zombie Tramp: Origins

Zombie Tramp: Origins

The impossible to find, long out of print original series, in full color for the first time! Revisit the powerful origin story that launched a modern cult classic as high priced Hollywood call girl, Janey Belle, gets set on her fateful path to become… Zombie Tramp! This is a remastered reprinting of the first series that was never before released in single issues to the direct market. Features a new cover by series creator Dan Mendoza, as well as all new SEXY, and GORY variants (each with risqué variants), plus a “replica” variant (featuring a recreation of the rare first issue cover), and a blank sketch variant! The definitive collector edition!

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We at PopCultHQ would like to thank Jason Martin for taking the time for this spotlight interview. We’d also like to give an extra special thanks to all the Action Lab creators we’ve had the privilege in working with over the years. Congratulations on an amazing five year run and excited for what the next five have in store from the mad scientists at the Action Lab! Be sure to follow Action Lab Entertainment and Action Lab: Danger Zone online to stay in thr loop with all the incredible titles they’re putting out! (links below)

May 5, 2018 0 comment

Comic Previews independent Comic New Comic Book Day

[Preview] Action Lab’s 2/7 Release: FORCE Vol. 1: The Wright Time

by Jason Bennett February 6, 2018

written by Jason Bennett

FORCE VOLUME 1:
Collect the beginning of a new era in sports-drama!

This coming Wednesday on New Comic Book Day, Action Lab Entertainment has the collected volume of the new sports drama FORCE! Here’s a look at the cover, storyline, and preview pages for this week’s new release from Action Lab Entertainment on New Comic Book Day! #NCBD

ACTION LAB ENTERTAINMENT COMICS
IN STORES THIS WEEK

New Release for the week of February 7th, 2018

~~~~~~~

Welcome to the world of FORCE (Football Operations Rated Championship Elite), created by Shawn Pryor, B. Alex Thompson, and Jay Reed, published by Action Lab Entertainment. FORCE opens a new era of sports-drama series to comics, blending the hyperactive action on the field with the personal drama that takes place behind the scenes.

FORCE Vol. 1: The Wright Time

Writers: Shawn Pryor, B. Alex Thompson
Artist: Jay Reed
Cover Artist: Jay Reed

96 pgs./ T / FC
$9.99

Quarterback Terrance Wright is about to play in the biggest game of his life, Supreme Bowl XXVII. However, events leading up to the game could alter his fate. Will Terrance’s health, finances, his scheming agent, a beloved rookie backup quarterback, and his personal relationship with the franchise operations manager take him to his breaking point before the game begins?

Sometimes the battle off the field can be as tough as the battle on it. Welcome to the world of F.O.R.C.E. (Football Operations Rated Championship Elite), collecting issues 1-3 of the breakout sports drama.

<[Interview] Shawn Pryor, B. Alex Thompson & Jay Reed of Action Lab’s FORCE>

What people are saying about FORCE:

“Buy! While other forms of media have attempted to create series that
follow the drama on and off the field F.O.R.C.E. #1 is one of the first comics to do so.”
– Rogues Portal

PREVIEW PAGES

Follow FORCE at forcefootballleague.com for the latest news and updates about the series!

Follow FORCE Online!

Publisher – Action Lab Entertainment

February 6, 2018 0 comment

Comic Previews independent Comic New Comic Book Day

[Preview] Action Lab’s 1/17 Release: FORCE #3 by Shawn Pryor, B. Alex Thompson & Jay Reed

by Jason Bennett January 21, 2018

written by Jason Bennett

This Past Wednesday on New Comic Book Day, Action Lab Entertainment has the third and final issue of the new sports drama FORCE!

<[Interview] Shawn Pryor, B. Alex Thompson & Jay Reed of Action Lab’s New Sports-Drama Series FORCE>

Here’s a look at the cover, storyline, and preview pages for this week’s new release from Action Lab Entertainment on New Comic Book Day! #NCBD

ACTION LAB ENTERTAINMENT COMICS
IN STORES THIS WEEK

New Release for the week of January 17th, 2018

~~~~~~~

FORCE #3

Writers: Shawn Pryor, B. Alex Thompson
Artist: Jay Reed
Cover Artist: Trevor Fraley

As a rookie QB takes the helm for the Tennessee Boxers during the biggest game of the season, injured starting QB Terrance Wright is in the locker room, contemplating a decision to get back on the field that could possibly end up permanently damaging his body and career. Will the Boxers come from behind to defeat the Skyhawks? And what secret is Terrance’s girlfriend, Cassie hiding from him? Watch the drama unfold at Supreme Bowl XXVII in the epic conclusion of FORCE! Cover by artist Trevor Fraley!

PREVIEW PAGES

32 pgs./ T / FC $3.99

Follow FORCE at forcefootballleague.com for the latest news and updates about the series!

Writer – Shawn Pryor

Writer/Artist – B. Alex Thompson

Artist – Jay Reed

Follow FORCE Online!

Publisher – Action Lab Entertainment

January 21, 2018 0 comment

Comic Previews independent Comic

[Preview] Action Lab Entertainment’s FORCE Vol. 1: ‘The Wright Time’ by Shawn Pryor, B. Alex Thompson & Jay Reed

by Jason Bennett January 3, 2018

written by Jason Bennett

FORCE VOLUME 1:
Collect the beginning of a new era in sports-drama!

FORCE Vol. 1: The Wright Time

Writers: Shawn Pryor, B. Alex Thompson
Artist: Jay Reed
Cover Artist: Jay Reed

96 pgs./ T / FC
$9.99

Enter the world of F.O.R.C.E. (Football Operations Rated Championship Elite), where readers get to see not only the action on the field but also the personal drama behind-the-scenes. Join Quarterback Terrance Wright, who is about the play the biggest game of his life, Supreme Bowl XXVII. But before he sets foot on the field, Terrance has to deal with his health, finances, scheming agent, a beloved rookie backup quarterback, and his personal relationship with the franchise operations manager.

FORCE is the beginning of a new era of sports-drama series to comics. Writer Shawn Pryor (CASH & CARRIE) comments, “Action Lab Entertainment has allowed us to be trailblazers by letting us represent for an underrepresented genre in American comics. If you enjoy football on the college or professional level, or if you’re not a fan of sports but enjoy 30 for 30 ESPN documentaries, then you’ll enjoy the drama on and off the field that FORCE delivers.”

<[Interview] Shawn Pryor, B. Alex Thompson & Jay Reed of Action Lab’s FORCE>

What people are saying about FORCE:

“Buy! While other forms of media have attempted to create series that follow the drama on and off the field F.O.R.C.E. #1 is one of the first comics to do so.” – Rogues Portal

PREVIEW PAGES

FORCE VOLUME 1 collects the first three issues of the series. It will arrive in comic book stores on February 28, 2018. Pre-order your copy at your local comic book store with the Diamond Item Code DEC170985.

Follow FORCE at forcefootballleague.com for the latest news and updates about the series!

~ MEET THE CREATORS ~

Shawn Pryor: Writer/Creator

Shawn Pryor is the creator and co-writer of the all-ages graphic novel mystery series CASH & CARRIE, writer of KENTUCKY KAIJU, and has written for Tor.com. He is one of the co-founders of Action Lab Entertainment and currently serves as their President of Creative Relations.

In his free time, he enjoys reading, cooking, listening to streaming music playlists, and talking about why Zack from the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers is the greatest Black superhero of all-time.

B. Alex Thompson: Co-Writer/Co-Creator

Los Angeles born and Midwest raised, B. Alex Thompson is a comic book writer, screenwriter, letterer, and artist who has done work for Alias Enterprises, Approbation Comics, Arcana Studios, Lion Forge Comics, and Graphic Planet.

Jay Reed: Artist/Co-Creator

Raised in Southern California, Jay Reed studied graphic design at Santa Ana College and launched his design business StyleUniversal in 2002. Jay is also a freelance graphic designer and published the comic book series CONTENT WITH KAOS with Hound Comics in 2013.

Follow FORCE Online!

Publisher – Action Lab Entertainment

January 3, 2018 0 comment

Comic Previews independent Comic New Comic Book Day

[Preview] Action Lab Entertainment’s 12/13 Release: FORCE #2 by Shawn Pryor, B. Alex Thompson & Jay Reed #NCBD

by Jason Bennett December 12, 2017

written by Jason Bennett

This Wednesday on New Comic Book Day, Action Lab Entertainment has the second issue of the new sports drama FORCE!

<[Interview] Shawn Pryor, B. Alex Thompson & Jay Reed of Action Lab’s New Sports-Drama Series FORCE>

Here’s a look at the cover, storyline, and preview pages for this week’s new release from Action Lab Entertainment on New Comic Book Day! #NCBD

ACTION LAB ENTERTAINMENT COMICS
IN STORES THIS WEEK

New Release for the week of December 13th, 2017

~~~~~~~

FORCE #2

Writers: Shawn Pryor, B. Alex Thompson
Artist: Jay Reed
Cover Artist: David Nakayama

Testosterone levels run high during Supreme Bowl XXVII as Terrance Wright and the Boxers try to gain ground on the Skyhawks. Will Terrance’s body breakdown before halftime? Why is there beef between Terrance and Skyhawks QB Brent Tettleton? Can Cassie Knox get new investors for the Boxers franchise without the owner present? The battle on and off the field continues in FORCE! Cover by artist David Nakayama (Rocket Raccoon, All-New Guardians of the Galaxy,Deadpool).

PREVIEW PAGES

32 pgs./ T / FC $3.99

Follow FORCE at forcefootballleague.com for the latest news and updates about the series!

Writer – Shawn Pryor

Writer/Artist – B. Alex Thompson

Artist – Jay Reed

Follow FORCE Online!

Publisher – Action Lab Entertainment

December 12, 2017 0 comment

Comic Previews independent Comic New Comic Book Day

[Preview] Action Lab’s 11/8 Release: FORCE #1 by Shawn Pryor, B. Alex Thompson & Jay Reed #NCBD

by Jason Bennett November 8, 2017

written by Jason Bennett

<[Interview] Shawn Pryor, B. Alex Thompson & Jay Reed of Action Lab’s New Sports-Drama Series FORCE>

Here’s a look at the cover, storyline, and preview pages for this week’s new release from Action Lab Entertainment on New Comic Book Day! #NCBD

ACTION LAB ENTERTAINMENT COMICS
IN STORES THIS WEEK

New Release for the week of November 8th, 2017

~~~~~~~

FORCE #1

Writers: Shawn Pryor, B. Alex Thompson
Artist: Jay Reed
Cover Artist: Jay Reed

32 pgs./ T / FC
$3.99

PREVIEW PAGES

Follow FORCE at forcefootballleague.com for the latest news and updates about the series!

Writer – Shawn Pryor

Writer/Artist – B. Alex Thompson

Artist – Jay Reed

Follow FORCE Online!

Publisher – Action Lab Entertainment

November 8, 2017 0 comment

Newer Posts

Older Posts

Shawn Pryor

The Kickstarter for the all-readers graphic novel CASH + CARRIE – BOOK TWO: SUMMER SLEUTHS is live!

PopCultHQ’s Creator Spotlight:

Shawn Pryor of CASH + CARRIE Book Two: “Summer Sleuths”

PopCultHQ’s Kickstarter Spotlight Interview:

CW Cooke & Travis Hymel of L.U.C.H.A. #1 ~~~~~

Follow the L.U.C.H.A. creators online!

One week left to back the LIFTED: OF GODS AND THIEVES Kickstarter!

About Shawn Pryor:

PREVIEW PAGES

Be sure to check out LIFTED: OF GODS AND THIEVES on Kickstarter NOW and get in on this campaign!

#SupportIndieComics #SupportIndieCreators #SupportIndiePublishers

FANS HIT THE JACKPOT WITH EXPANDED BINGO LOVE Vol. 1: JACKPOT EDITION HARDCOVER AND TRADE PAPERBACKS

PREVIEW PAGES

FORCE VOLUME 1: Collect the beginning of a new era in sports-drama!

<[Interview] Shawn Pryor, B. Alex Thompson & Jay Reed of Action Lab’s FORCE>

PREVIEW PAGES

Follow FORCE at forcefootballleague.com for the latest news and updates about the series!

<[Interview] Shawn Pryor, B. Alex Thompson & Jay Reed of Action Lab’s New Sports-Drama Series FORCE>

FORCE #3

PREVIEW PAGES

32 pgs./ T / FC $3.99

Follow FORCE at forcefootballleague.com for the latest news and updates about the series!

FORCE VOLUME 1: Collect the beginning of a new era in sports-drama!

<[Interview] Shawn Pryor, B. Alex Thompson & Jay Reed of Action Lab’s FORCE>

PREVIEW PAGES

Follow FORCE at forcefootballleague.com for the latest news and updates about the series!

~ MEET THE CREATORS ~

<[Interview] Shawn Pryor, B. Alex Thompson & Jay Reed of Action Lab’s New Sports-Drama Series FORCE>

PREVIEW PAGES

32 pgs./ T / FC $3.99

Follow FORCE at forcefootballleague.com for the latest news and updates about the series!

<[Interview] Shawn Pryor, B. Alex Thompson & Jay Reed of Action Lab’s New Sports-Drama Series FORCE>

PREVIEW PAGES

Follow FORCE at forcefootballleague.com for the latest news and updates about the series!

The Kickstarter for the all-readers graphic novel
CASH + CARRIE – BOOK TWO: SUMMER SLEUTHS is live!

Shawn Pryor
of CASH + CARRIE
Book Two: “Summer Sleuths”

CW Cooke & Travis Hymel
of L.U.C.H.A. #1
~~~~~

One week left to back the
LIFTED: OF GODS AND THIEVES Kickstarter!

Be sure to check out LIFTED: OF GODS AND THIEVES
on Kickstarter NOW and get in on this campaign!

#SupportIndieComics
#SupportIndieCreators
#SupportIndiePublishers

FANS HIT THE JACKPOT WITH EXPANDED
BINGO LOVE Vol. 1: JACKPOT EDITION
HARDCOVER AND TRADE PAPERBACKS

FORCE VOLUME 1:
Collect the beginning of a new era in sports-drama!

FORCE VOLUME 1:
Collect the beginning of a new era in sports-drama!