Dynamite Entertainment proudly announces the return of
four fan-favorite comic series -- Turok: Dinosaur Hunter, Solar: Man of the
Atom, Magnus: Robot Fighter, and Doctor Spektor -- through a new licensing
agreement with DreamWorks Classics. The
publishing company has signed four of today's most sought-after writers: Greg
Pak on Turok: Dinosaur Hunter, Frank Barbiere on Solar: Man of the Atom, Fred
Van Lente on Magnus: Robot Fighter, and Mark Waid on the long-lost hero Doctor
Spektor. Contributing artists will
include Mirko Colak, Cory Smith, and more to be announced. Dynamite will launch the bold new universe of
name-brand titles beginning in February 2014.
"These are super-bold, all-new takes on awesome
characters by some of the best creators working in comics today," says
Nate Cosby, editor of the new line.
"I couldn't be more jazzed to oversee the revamping and
re-imagining of the Gold Key line, especially when the incredible stories are
coming from Greg, Fred, Mark, and Frank, with beautiful art by Mirko, Cory, and
more. It's a treat to work with these
guys to dig down and find the core of each character, what makes them tick and
why they've lasted for so many decades.
We can't wait to show you what we've been cooking up!"
Originally published throughout the 1950s and 1960s as
part of the Gold Key Comics imprint and followed by the monumentally successful
run from Valiant Comics in the early 1990s, the titles Turok, Solar, and
Magnus: Robot Fighter are immediately recognizable to the modern comic-reading
audience. Doktor Spektor, a title
launched in the 1970s, rejoins its contemporaries for the first time in decades
as part of Dynamite's reimagined line.
Each contributing writer has shared their thoughts on the
bold initiative:
Greg Pak, whose innovating writing style has propelled
Batman/Superman to the top of sales charts, says, "When Nate Cosby told me
the character he had in mind for me, I couldn't stop grinning. The original Turok, Son of Stone series
featured a Native American warrior fighting for survival in a lost valley
populated by dinosaurs. I'm just going
to go on the record and say that every single element in that description is
solid gold. I want to write stories with
a Native American hero. I want to write
stories about fighting for survival. And you bet your boots I want to write
stories about a world populated by dinosaurs.
And now you're telling me I get to do all three? For sheer thrills and adventure, this book is
going to be a blast to work on. And I'm
always drawn to stories that feature diverse casts, so I love that a Native
American hero headlines the book. I'm
also loving the worldbuilding we're doing. We're exploring the reasons why
dinosaurs walk the earth and all of the social, historical, ecological, and
political ramifications that follow.
This is huge adventure combined with mind-bending alternate history, and
I couldn't be happier."
Fred Van Lente, a New York Times bestselling author and
fan-favorite writer of Marvel Zombies, says, "I'm thrilled and honored to
be reviving such a beloved series. I
loved the original Russ Manning book as a kid, and am looking forward to bringing
science fiction action to the new series in a thought-provoking way. The very nature of robotics questions what it
means to be human -- that's ultimately what Magnus: Robot Fighter will be
about. That, and punching robots until
they explode. There will be a lot that
old-time fans will find familiar, but the science of robotics and cybernetics
has advanced considerably even since the last time Magnus had a title, and
you'll be seeing a lot of those reflected here."
Frank Barbiere, a rising star whose work includes
Blackout and Five Ghosts, says, "Dynamite has lined up some of the top
talent in the business for the new universe of books, and I am both excited and
flattered to be part of it. I think fans
are going to be thrilled by the new directions we're taking with many of the
properties, Solar included. I'm a huge
fan of the character and will be putting a unique spin on the mythology with an
emphasis on family and character. I'm
hoping my take will resonate strongly across the readership, new and old alike,
and I'll certainly be bringing a lot of new and exciting things to the
table."
Mark Waid, one of the most celebrated comic writers of
the modern era thanks to bestselling titles like Kingdom Come, Daredevil,
Amazing Spider-Man, and Indestructible Hulk, says, "Launching a publishing
event like this is an exciting opportunity to show how it can be done well,
stylishly, and cohesively. The key (no pun intended), as far as I'm concerned,
is to get to the core of these characters so we can, with dynamism and
confidence, tell the readers who they are, what they want, and why fans will
invest in that. For Doctor Spektor, the challenge comes in figuring out how a
professional skeptic, a famous investigator who debunks and exposes the
extra-normal and keeps himself grounded, can function in a world that suddenly
hosts superheroes and supervillains. What do you choose to believe in when your
lifelong belief system is swept away?"
Nick Barrucci, the CEO and Publisher of Dynamite
Entertainment, adds, "Longtime fans can rest assured -- their beloved
heroes are in capable hands. I can't
believe the dream team of creators bringing these fantastic characters back,
and with a vengeance! I'm honored that
Greg Pak, Fred Van Lente, Frank Barbiere, and Mark Waid are at the helm. It's new, it's fresh, it's mind-blowing --
look for Turok, Solar, Magnus, and Spektor to win the hearts of dedicated fans
and curious newcomers alike!"
The new line of titles will be solicited in Diamond Comic
Distributors' Previews catalog, the premiere source of merchandise for the
comic book specialty market, slated for release beginning in February
2014. Comic book fans are encouraged to
reserve copies of Turok, Solar, Magnus: Robot Fighter, and Doctor Spektor with
their local comic book shop or hobby specialty store. The entire line will also be available for
individual customer purchase through digital platforms courtesy of Comixology,
iVerse, and Dark Horse Digital.