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James Tynion IV and Martin Simmonds’ Universal Monsters: Dracula #1 gets previewed by Skybound. Jonathan Hickman reveals G.O.D.S. isn’t an acronym. And DC Comics’ Jim Chadwick is retiring. This is Comic Book Club News for September 1, 2023.
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Episode Transcript:
Dracula bites back.
DC’s Jim Chadwick retires.
G.O.D.S. isn’t an acronym.
This is Comic Book Club News for September 1, 2023.
Universal Monsters: Dracula Bites Into A Preview:
Yesterday on Comic Book Club News we opined that it is difficult to offer a comic book preview in audio format. And then we did it anyway. Due to popular demand, by which we mean nobody told us not to, we’re doing it again.
Specifically, Skybound has dropped some more fantastic-looking pages, this time for their upcoming Universal Monsters: Dracula #1. The new take on the classic vampire comes from writer James Tynion IV, and artist Martin Simmonds – the team behind The Department of Truth. Now, they’re taking on one of the most iconic monsters of all time in the new series.
Here’s the synopsis of the four-part miniseries, via Skybound: “When Dr. John Seward admits a strange new patient into his asylum, the madman tells stories of a demon who has taken residence next door. But as Dr. Seward attempts to apply logic to the impossible…his surrogate daughter Lucy begins to fall under the spell of the twisted Count Dracula!”
In the preview pages, the madman teased in the synopsis is revealed… And it’s none other than Renfield. We see Renfield eating a fly, and talking about how all blood belongs to his master, to Dr. Seward. The pages sing with Simmonds’ painted style, depicting a monstrous Renfield devoid of color — and seemingly a nose.
The first issue of the miniseries will hit stores on October 25, and be followed by other series focusing on other Universal Monsters. But do you know what the real universal monster is? A lack of universal healthcare. If you think about it. Hmm??
Universal Monsters: Dracula #1 Preview Pages (Not In Audio):
Check out preview pages from James Tynion IV and Martin Simmonds’ Universal Monsters: Dracula #1.
DC Comics’ Jim Chadwick Is Retiring:
As shared on Linkedin, the internet’s number one source for comic book news, DC Comics’ Jim Chadwick is retiring. The longtime DC employee has been the head of the publisher’s youth titles since 2019, overseeing middle-grade and YA graphic novels.
Said Chadwick, “I’m truly grateful for the time I’ve had with DC Comics the past 18 years. And for the three-and-a-half years I spent with them in New York in the early 90s. And all the other jobs I had before and in between. But mostly for DC, a company that has treated me exceedingly well and has given me opportunities I never imagined I would ever have. And for enabling me to meet and make friends with so many wonderful people all around the world. There’s a whole host of people I can thank, but that list would make this run on forever. Perhaps I’ll do that separately, later.”
The good news is that nobody is forcing Chadwick to retire… He’s 66, going on 67, and just wants more time to actually enjoy retirement. So congrats to Chadwick and good luck to whoever takes over the young reader’s line at DC after him. They have a hard act to follow.
Marvel’s G.O.D.S Isn’t An Acronym:
Earlier this week, we talked about Marvel’s new, highly anticipated Jonathan Hickman series G.O.D.S. The assumption, given there’s a little period between each letter, was that G.O.D.S. is an acronym for something. Turns out, it’s not. It’s a word puzzle.
Now, before you shout “DOGS,” it’s not an anagram, either. Probably.
In an interview with Popverse, Hickman explained. “We haven’t revealed this yet, but if you look at the title page — I actually think we didn’t put it in the first issue because we had to pull the data pages out of it because it was already out of it — the little dots have numbers in them. It’s more like a word puzzle than it is an acronym. We’ll reveal that soon enough.”
Also according to Hickman, Marvel did want G.O.D.S. to be an acronym, like S.H.I.E.L.D., S.W.O.R.D., and other organizations in the comics. Marvel won the “include dots between the letters” fight, while Hickman won the “it’s not an acronym” fight. And history was made, question mark?
For Comic Book Club News, I’m Alex Zalben. And can I just say: DOGS.
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