Spritbox Brings Metal To The Comics Medium With OGN ETERNAL BLUE

February 17, 2022

Modern Metal Pioneers Spiritbox Unite with
Z2 Comics for Haunting New Graphic Novel,
Eternal Blue: A Spiritbox Graphic Novel, Including
Ghost-Communicating Spiritbox Replica

The breakout band of 2021 joins acclaimed writer Jim Krueger
and artist Amilcar Pinna for the surreal story behind debut LP

LOS ANGELES, CA–Following their formation in 2017, Canadian quartet Spiritbox has
continually possessed the charts with its dynamic blend of metal and block-leveling live
shows. The group will now channel the story behind its 2021 debut, Eternal Blue
(topping at #13 in the Billboard Top-200), in a new graphic novel co-created alongside
veteran comic scribe Jim Krueger (Earth X, Justice) and artist Amilcar Pinna (Poppy’s
Inferno, Generation X). The graphic novel unspools the eerie tale of Eva, a brilliant
painter on the verge of unbelievable acclaim and success. But her inability to reconcile
her public perception with her true self allows a Spiritbox—a device used to
communicate with the dead—to transport her to an ethereal world. Here, she finds
herself trapped in a realm where false shadows become real and dangerous.

“I am in love with this story and artwork. I cannot wait for you to discover Eva and the
world that she has been thrust into,” explains Spiritbox vocalist Courtney LaPlante. “It
truly is an extension of my feelings and the state of mind I held while writing our album,
Eternal Blue, and the lyrics that resonate with me still. Although we are very different, I
can’t help but let a lot of myself seep into Eva’s personality and experiences. I care
about her so much. Jim and Amilcar are brilliant and we are so happy to share this with
you after keeping it to ourselves for so long.”

Ushering the cursed device from the pages of Eternal Blue: A Spiritbox Graphic
Novel to reality, deluxe versions of the book will include a fully functional Spiritbox
replica. This machine cycles through the radio frequency spectrum, creating a din of
white noise that lost souls harness to communicate from beyond the veil. This limited
edition Spiritbox is a precise replica of the mysterious artifact that allows Eva to escape
from the shadow world. When activated, the box gives off a blue glow as it emits the
noises of the spirit world. From the top of the box, an image of Eva is projected onto the
ceiling.

For the last four-plus years, Spiritbox has sent tremors through the metal
establishment; singles “Holy Roller” and “Secret Garden” respectively charted on Billboard’s Hot Hard Rock Songs at 25 and within Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Chart
Top 40. Following its release, the record peaked at 13 on the US Billboard 200 and
topped both Billboard’s Top Rock Albums and Hard Rock Album charts. To date,
Spiritbox has received more than 100 million digital music streams and has graced the
covers of Revolver, Kerrang, Rock Sound, Pollstar and had the number one song
on Sirius XM Liquid Metal for two consecutive years—the first artist in the history
of the program to achieve this.

“Spiritbox has such a precise concept of their aesthetic, and how it ties into their
music, that it makes the process of collaboration and creative exploration a joy,”
editor Rantz Hoseley explains. “The result is an ambitious and haunting journey
that pulls you down through the Eternal Blue darkness into a surreal realm of
deeply personal exploration. For me, this is one of those books where it’s thrilling
to get to read the story before everyone else, and I cannot wait for everyone to
be able to experience Eva’s journey.”

“When I took on this job, I had no idea what it was going to become. I loved the
poetry and metaphoric mysteries of Spiritbox (the band),” writer Jim Krueger
says. “I loved their music and the chance to finally work with Z2. But again, I was
unprepared for the magic that happened creatively with this one. Or the places I
was going to be allowed to go. And the art, the art. I cannot wait for people to
see this. But grab quick, I might be buying all the copies.”

“I couldn’t wish for a better script to draw! Jim’s writing on Spiritbox is weird, nightmarish, and surrealist! All things that I love to draw!” artist Amilcar Pinna
elaborates.

Z2 and Spiritbox present Eternal Blue: A Spiritbox Graphic Novel by writer Jim
Krueger, artist Amilcar Pinna, and colorist Treonna Farrell in both softcover and
hardcover formats, with covers courtesy Justin Cherry available in comic shops, as well
as deluxe, super deluxe and platinum editions packaged with a Spiritbox device,
exclusive vinyl variant LP of Eternal Blue, gallery-ready prints by Jason Levesque, and
more available exclusively through Z2’s webstore.

About Z2:
Recently dubbed the “hottest brand in music” by Forbes, Z2 has quickly become the
premier destination for authentic graphic novels and collectibles, created in partnership
with top-tier artists, musicians and pop-culture icons. Distributed globally via Simon &
Schuster, Z2 has produced 50+ unique graphic novel properties, collaborating with
Gorillaz, Blondie, Elvis Presley, Freddie Mercury, Balmain, Joan Jett & The
Blackhearts, Jason Derulo, The Grateful Dead, Machine Gun Kelly, Sublime,
Beethoven, RZA, Mötley Crüe, Vince Staples, Cheech & Chong, The
Doors, Anthrax, Public Enemy, Ronnie James Dio, King Diamond, All Time Low,
Judas Priest, Ivan Moody, Yungblud, Cypress Hill, Babymetal, Major Lazer, Alter Bridge, Sturgill Simpson, Poppy, John Lee Hooker and Charlie “Bird” Parker.
Learn more at Z2comics.com, and follow us on Instagram (@z2comics) and Twitter
(@z2comics).

About Spiritbox:
Named after a device some believe capable of communicating with the dead,
there’s a gleeful sense of the paranormal running through all that Canadian
metallers Spiritbox do, but this is a group of artists who are very much brimming
with life and creating something remarkable with their music. With ambitious and
intelligent debut full-length Eternal Blue now out in the world, successes continue
to roll in for Spiritbox, with their first LP topping the U.S. and Canadian Rock and
Hard Rock charts, breaking the top 20 in the U.K., Germany and Australia, and
peaking at #13 on the Billboard 200.

Spiritbox’s music is characterized by fierce intensity, unwavering emotion and
technical splendor. Architects frontman Sam Carter is a notable fan, and features
on Eternal Blue song “Yellowjacket.” Elsewhere, single “Circle With Me” blends
the light-and-dark, soft-and-heavy facets of the band’s sound effortlessly, while
on “Secret Garden,” Spiritbox thrillingly mix pop with prog-rock. The cumulative
result is a band who have “delivered a staggeringly brilliant record that
resoundingly delivers on the hype” (Metal Hammer), and with an unbreakable
connection between themselves and their fans firmly in place, the band remains
determined that the Spiritbox phenomenon continues to usher in more and more
followers who identify with Eternal Blue’s imaginative and universal messaging.

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Valiant Entertainment Exclusive Preview: THE HARBINGER #5

Anthony Composto - EIC

February 17, 2022

valiant entertainment exclusive preview harbinger

THE HARBINGER #5 hits your local comic book store on February 23rd, but thanks to Valiant Entertainment, Monkeys Fighting Robots has an exclusive five-page preview for you.

About the issue:
Peter tries to protect Psiot City and encounters a terrifying nightmare monster that seems hauntingly familiar.

Featuring FAITH!

The comic is by writers Collin Kelly & Jackson Lanzing and artist Robbi Rodriguez, with colors by Rico Renzi, and letters by Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou. The covers below are by Rodriguez, Isaac Goodhart, and Ibrahim Moustafa, respectively.

This issue is the start of a new story arc, and includes the return of another fan-favorite Valiant character, Faith.

Check out the THE HARBINGER #5 preview below:

Are you reading this run of HARBINGER? Sound off in the commments!

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AfterShock Comics DOUBLE Preview: WE LIVE: AGE OF THE PALLADIONS #1 BLACK & WHITE

Anthony Composto - EIC

February 17, 2022

aftershock comics exclusive preview we live age of palladions black

We have a special treat for all you AfterShock Comics fans this week! The publisher kindly provided MFR with not one, but TWO exclusive previews today, for two books dropping March 9th: WE LIVE: AGE OF PALLADIONS #1 BLACK and WE LIVE: AGE OF PALLADIONS #1 WHITE!

Again, these are TWO separate comics with TWO distinct stories. Both issues are written by Inaki & Roy Miranda and drawn by Inaki Miranda, with colors by Eva De La Cruz, and letters by Dave Sharpe. Inaki Miranda also did the main covers for both issues. Dustin Nguyen did the incentive cover for the BLACK issue, while Juan Doe did the incentive cover for the WHITE issue.

WE LIVE: AGE OF THE PALLADIONS COLLECTIBLE TRADING CARDS!
Heightening the excitement and appeal of AfterShock’s #1 selling titles, the Miranda Brothers have created collectible trading cards for each issue in this story arc!

Check out both previews below:

WE LIVE: AGE OF THE PALLADIONS #1 BLACK

About the issue:
We are back into the hopeful, apocalyptic world of Tala and Hototo.

Year 2090. Six years have passed since Salvation Day, when Palladions, with their majestic powers, emerged as the protectors of humanity, saving the five remaining Megalopolis and securing the future of the human species.

But nothing stays and the horizon always brings a new storm.

These are dark times. Death, famine and desperation lurk around the streets of Megalopolis 9. The shield has lost thirty percent of its reach. The New Nature has learned to create cuts in the energy channels that power the Beacon and the Palladions. A neverending horde of beasts siege the remains of the city, increasing the desperation among the population.

The responsibility of keeping the city afloat lies on the shoulders of Generals Nesbo and Terrassa, who have to resort to risky survival measures. The reconnection missions are the only thing that is keeping the population secure…but nothing seems enough.

Powerlessness corners the Palladions, who fear not being able to protect the city.

Everything is black, except for the white snow that covers with silence the dying, black present.

WE LIVE: AGE OF THE PALLADIONS #1 WHITE

About the issue:
We are back into the hopeful, apocalyptic world of Tala and Hototo.

But nothing stays and the horizon always brings a new storm.

These are dark times. Death, famine and desperation lurk around the streets of Megalopolis 9. The shield has lost thirty percent of its reach. The New Nature has learnt to create cuts in the energy channels that power the Beacon and the Palladions. A neverending horde of beasts siege the remains of the city, increasing the desperation among the population.

The responsibility of keeping the city afloat lies on the shoulders of Generals Nesbo and Terrassa, who have to resort to risky survival measures. Journeying outside of the city in search of food is the only thing that is keeping the population alive, but nothing seems enough.

Fear opens its way through Megalopolis 9 like a great crack of faith that separate more and more the population from the Palladions.

Snow covers the city with a heavy white mantle, invoking oblivion and nothingness.

Are you reading WE LIVE? Sound off in the comments!

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Review: IRON FIST #1 – A Changing Of The Guard

Justin Munday

From writer Alyssa Wong and artist Michael Yg comes a bold new chapter in Marvel’s premier martial artist’s history with Iron Fist #1. With colors from Jay David Ramos and letters by Travis Lanham, this opening issue offers exciting action and great character writing – even if it comes off as a bit generic.

“WHO IS THE NEW IRON FIST?! After giving up his power to save the world, DANNY RAND believes he’s seen the last of the IRON FIST…But when DEMONS begin to attack cities around the world, a MYSTERIOUS NEWCOMER in a FAMILIAR MASK appears, hands blazing with the CHI OF SHOU-LAO THE UNDYING! Who is this NEW IRON FIST? And does his power really come from the DRAGON OF K’UN-LUN… Or from something far more sinister?”

Writing & Plot

Alyssa Wong’s script for Iron Fist #1 is sharply paced and entertaining, even if it relies a bit heavily on generic tropes to move its plot forward. Following the events of The Death of Doctor Strange, Danny Rand, the original Iron Fist, no longer has the Chi of Shou-Lao (er, his “iron fists”.) While Rand is still practicing martial arts and dealing with his usual sort of trouble, a new character appears to have his old powers. A young martial artist named Lin Lei now wears the Iron Fist garb and seems to carry the power of Shou-Lao’s chi. He also has the shattered remains of an ancient sword embedded in his hands (McGuffin). These details end up revolving around fighting demons and deciding upon the new protector of K’un-Lun in a well-written and solidly entertaining opening chapter.

Wong’s real strength’s here are her pacing and her ear for dialogue. Every moment of the comic grabs your attention and propels the plot in mostly intriguing ways. There’s a lot going on here in this first issue, often guided by pages stacked with word bubbles. Despite this, the reading experience never feels bogged-down or overbearing. The quiet moments and exposition-dumps are neatly paced out by snarky Marvel-style action bits that keeps the comic fun and full of momentum. Wong’s dialogue is quick and witty, with lots of character-revealing conversations interlaced with plot info. The scripting can get pretty dense, with word balloons dominating several panels, but it fortunately doesn’t become overbearing.

My only gripes with this comic come from how familiar and inconsequential the enemies and plot devices feel thus far. Watching Rand and Lei pummel nameless demons while talking about ancient McGuffin swords and cryptic demons feels like old hat. Despite a solid cliffhanger, none of these plot elements hold up to the creativity within the rest of the issue.

Art Direction

The fast-paced and well-choreographed action needed in any good martial arts comic is brought to life by Michael Yg for Iron Fist #1. His sharp character designs and solid directing make for an exciting read, fit for a new chapter of Marvel’s premier kung-fu master. Yg’s detail work is thorough and intricate, crafting compelling views of our heroes and the New York shops they crash through while fighting fanged, lanky demons. His design for Lin Lei’s Iron Fist suit is great; a cool mix of genuine martial artist and superhero that feels modern yet obviously familiar. Yg’s panel direction and blocking feel effortless in their execution, guiding the readers eyes through the fights and story with ease. My one gripe here is that if you spend a lot of time looking, some of the character’s faces get a bit wonky. Aside from that inconsistency, the pencils here are super-clean and phenomenally executed.

The colors by Jay David Ramos are rich and tonally perfect for this comic. His work here within Yg’s lines offers a very high fidelity and professionally sharp look that comes as what you might expect from a modern superhero comic, just crafted at the highest degree. The Iron Fist signature green and gold has scarcely looked better. Finally, Travis Lanham’s letters keep the show on the road in solid form, even with some very crowded word balloons. His font choice for this comic fits the story and characters well, and he brings some solid FX letters to the table. Overall, this opening chapter is a great looking comic book.

Verdict

Iron Fist #1 is an entertaining and relatively intriguing comic with a few small flaws that keep it from true greatness. Alyssa Wong’s script is fun and successfully introduces a new protector of K’un Lun, but it’s held up by some uninteresting plot points. Michael Yg’s pencils are sharp and full of energy, but marred a bit by some inconsistent art in places. Still, this is a very solid first issue, so grab a copy when it hits shelves on 2-16!

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Review: PRIMORDIAL #6 — What Just Happened?

Zac Owens

If you know what happened in the finale to Image Comics’ brilliant series Primordial, then you’re smarter than I am. When it comes down to it, I’m not sure Primordial #6 makes much sense. But, even more importantly, I don’t think I care. In fact, it feels like there was no better way to end this series. Writer Jeff Lemire, artist Andrea Sorrentino, colorist Dave Stewart, and letterer Steve Wands have been writing a series that defies logic. If Primordial‘s finale made any sense, well… that wouldn’t make much sense.

Writing

The reason a cryptic, confusing, mysterious script like Lemire’s works is because it nails one thing completely: emotional resonance. You might not know what’s going on, but you care that it’s happening. Lemire has taught us to love these characters. So when they look up at large sci-fi objects coming out of the sky, we’re not stuck on the mystery of what’s flying towards them, we’re fixed on their expression. Lemire wants to cut through the psychedelia and make you feel. And make you feel he does. The fear, sadness, and catharsis that these characters experience hits you like a train. As you turn the last page of Primordial, you may not have all the answers, but you’ll be satisfied.

Art

Sorrentino, once again, draws in a bright style with thin pencils, that is completely different to his usual chiaroscuro approach. In many ways, this issue of Primordial sees all of Sorrentino’s experiments in this series, with style and form, come crashing together in a glorious, tangled mess. “Mess” both feels like the wrong and perfect word to use here. In one sense, Sorrentino’s art is ordered and neat. Small panel boxes sprinkle the page, dividing scenes up into little pieces. But the overall effect is one of mind-bending chaos. Sorrentino gives us reason to be in quiet awe of whatever is happening in these pages. It’s complicated, occasionally a little rough around the edges, but beautiful.

Coloring

The first thing you’ll notice about Primordial #6 is how little color there is to it. Stewart makes great use of big portions of dead space. Nearly every scene is framed in large sections of white. It makes the comic feel like it’s breaking apart into nothingness. The rest of the issue is colored in relatively dull colors. There are plenty of greys, browns, and pale blues. But in these scenes Stewart often adds a ripple of brightness. There is a stark contrast here between the natural, earthy scenes of normal reality, and the technicolor, neon moments of sci-fi weirdness. Stewart gives each of these aspects their own unique flavor and brings them together in a spectacular way.

Lettering

Wands’ lettering choices continue to push the story forward effectively, sometimes in the most subtle ways. We continue to see the dialogue from the animals in squiggly word balloons. The way Wands presents the animals’ lines tells us that they are different from everyone else, in some mysterious way. In one flashback, we see the death of another character. As they slip away, the tail to their word balloon begins to look wavy and curled. This makes their line seem a little weak, like it’s struggling to make its way out. But, in a strange way, it also begins to resemble the word balloons of our animal friends. In the last moments of this character’s life, do they experience some form of enlightenment too?

Image Comics’ Primordial has been an utter joy. This creative team has been experimenting with the medium, constantly pushing themselves to new heights. And despite there being little logical sense to this conclusion, there’s a strong emotional resonance to it. Primordial #6 is a stunning conclusion that puts its heart before its head, to brilliant effect. Pick up Primordial #6, out from Image Comics February 16th, at a comic shop near you!

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Review: SECRET X-MEN #1 Allows a New Team to Rise to the Occasion

Jeremy Carter

What happened to the X-Men that didn’t get voted on to the brand new Krakoan X-Men team? This week’s Secret X-Men #1 answers that question for us. Tini Howard has the opportunity to write some wonderful characters who don’t get nearly as much spotlight as they deserve. Francesco Mobili handles the pencils while Jesus Aburtov adds the colors, and Clayton Cowles lays down the letters to round out the art team.

WRITING

Tini Howard has been around the X-universe for a while now. She has written Excalibur since the beginning of the Krakoa era, and will be continuing that journey with Knights of X. For Secret X-Men, Howard focuses on Sunspot as he attempts to gather a team for a space adventure. Howard does a nice job of giving every member of the cast a chance to shine. Whether it’s Strong Guy wearing a funny get up or Marrow discovering she can use her bone powers as a spacesuit, Howard does utilize every member of the team. Howard also builds on the relationship between Sunspot and Deathbird as seen in previous X-Men books. Their relationship is tough, but they do respect one another. Howard shows this when Deathbird allows Sunspot to live instead of killing him for a suspected betrayal. Although each character has their moment, some of the dialogue is a bit clunky. Marrow specifically reads a little like Beavis and Butthead. Howard writes her several times with a “heh” before she speaks. Marrow’s tone comes off very childish and immature, which is inconsistent with how much she’s grown since Si Spurrier’s X-Force.

ART

Francesco Mobili absolutely slays it on pencils this issue. Mobili gives us a gorgeous panel of the team recruited by Sunspot. The scale of Strong Guy as he hulks over all the other characters is impressive and really shows how big and strong he actually is. The action panels are easy on the eyes as everything is clear and the lines are crisp. Seeing Armor unleash her power in space as she fights aliens looks as good as it ever has with Mobili on pencils.

The colors by Jesus Aburtov leap off the page with his vibrant work. Aburtov uses warm colors like reds and orange when Cannonball or Sunspot use their gifts. Background colors fit the mood of the scene. When our heroes meet with Deathbird, the colors get significantly darker. As stated above, Armor using her powers in space allows Aburtov to use a pink that simply catches your eye. It’s almost as if you’re immediately drawn to the bright color laid down by Aburtov on every page.

The letters by Clayton Cowles are crucial for a story like this. Cowles is responsible for all the sound effects in the space battle. When several X-Men are fighting aliens, a big “BWWOOOOOOF” is scrolling across the panel. When Sunspot attacks, “BOOM” is shown after every blast he unleashes. As we read these sound effects, it feels like we’re experiencing them too. Cowles is a strong letterer who always enhances any issue he touches.

CONCLUSION

Secret X-Men is a decent one shot issue that allows lesser used characters to feel like the A-team. Tini Howard does a fine job of using her cast and showcasing how fun other characters in the X-Men rolodex can be when given the chance. Secret X-Men #1 is out now at your local comic shop!

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Review: NOTTINGHAM #6 – Of Alliances and Betrayals

Jake Palermo

Nottingham #6 restarts a Mad Cave Studios title on April 6, 2022 that is now available at comic stores for pre-order.

Nottingham Background

In late 12th century England, the grizzled Crusades veteran Sheriff Blackthorne of Nottingham tries to help who he can. With the Merry Men stealing the people’s taxes, Blackthorne tries to find their leader Robin Hood. Who, despite his loyalty to King Richard, is more than willing to betray allies like Lady Marian.

Nottingham #6 Layers of Intrigue

David Hazan takes an interesting new direction in comparison to Nottingham’s last volume. With a cast of characters that could turn on each other at any point, readers are glued to the page. Political and ideological tensions are felt throughout the pages as everyone is scheming to get the upper hand. With Blackthorne and Robin working together, the readers can’t help but wonder who will come out on top.

It’s Getting Darker

Shane Connery Volk continues a gritty aesthetic to match the dark atmosphere of Nottingham. The facial features and body language look especially grim from the angles in which characters present themselves. It’s like one person is always trying to assert their dominance. Luca Romano’s coloring really helps in these circumstances, especially with shading. The dark coloring of Blackthorne feels frightening but not dominating, in contrast to his haughty adversaries.

But for all of those advantages, there are are a few quirks that look odd. Take for example, Marian’s swaying hips in what’s supposed to be a serious announcement, or a panel’s background suddenly becoming black in a bright room. These can take readers out of the compelling story.

Justin Birch’s lettering meanwhile remains eye-catching by reflecting the moments’ moods. Some panels get so filled with word balloons, the words can feel heavy. Other times the SFX emphasize how small actions can make differences, like how a kick can knock a deadly assailant away.

Where Do You Side in Nottingham #6?

Nottingham #6 brings readers back into a compelling story about tenuous alliances. With different sides trying to dominate one another, it’ll be interesting to see who comes out on top. Nottingham #6 is out from Mad Cave Studios on April 6th.

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Review: NIGHTWING #89 Introduces a Perfect Team-Up

Zac Owens

I have a confession to make. I have not read Tom Taylor and John Timms’ Superman: Son of Kal-El. I’ve heard great things, seen awesome previews, interviews, and more. And now, with Nightwing #89, Superman: Son of Kal-El is higher on my reading list than ever. Writer Tom Taylor, artist Bruno Redondo, colorist Adriano Lucas, and letterer Wes Abbott bring these series together in spectacular fashion. It makes you wish “World’s Finest Sons” was a whole series, rather than just a short arc.