Archie Superheroes relaunch

[leonmallett]

Black Hood #4
Wow; a totally different pace versus issue 3. We get a different type of "hero" here; a sort of overwhelmed guy that finds himself overestimating his own abilities; and underestimating his flaws.
He gets his *SQUEE* handed to him; a vulnerable side I like seeing, and quite unexpected from where we left off in issue 3. We get a time sensitive cliff hanger to boot leading into issue 5. Great read

I think it is the lead's very flaws that make the book so compelling - he is certainly no 'Punisher'.

Really enjoying both books. And The Shield should finally debut this month: http://gulix.github.io/citizen-assemble ... ilder.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

As you can imagine, reviving an icon takes time -- and once we realized we needed a bit more, we wanted to be transparent on the front end, as opposed to surprising readers and retailers with late books. We wanted to ensure that we not only made a splash with issue #1, but regularly for the run of this series -- which is going to be something special. So, we've pushed the launch of 'The Shield' #1 to June. The returnability we gave retailers with 'The Black Hood' #1 and 'The Fox' #1 remains, as do the subsequent incentives.

With Hangman due later this year: http://www.comicbookresources.com/artic ... tieri-ruiz" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[leonmallett]

The text page at the back of Black Hood hints at something Mighty Crusaders related in November. That could be Hangman, or maybe something else?

I really enjoyed the first Black Hood arc. Brutal and well-plotted for me, with a character who is far from superhuman or super-competent. I recommend trying the tpb when it comes. The book is going on hiatus until the end of the year and then returns with a done in one #6 drawn by Howard Chaykin.

[leonmallett]

And I have just learned there will be a Web book in 2016:

http://www.firstcomicsnews.com/?p=144514" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Adding to an already impressive lineup of books that include THE BLACK HOOD, THE FOX, THE SHIELD and THE HANGMAN, Archie’s superhero imprint Dark Circle Comics today announced plans for the latest re-imagining of a classic property with THE WEB.

Written by bestselling novelist Dave White (the Jackson Donne series of PI novels) and featuring art by artist Szymon Kudranski (Batman: The Dark Knight, Spawn), the series stars Jane Raymond, a 14-year-old high-schooler in suburban New Jersey who idolizes a hero known The Web. Finding herself with mysterious powers much like her idol, Jane’s struggle to balance her new life as a superhero while also dealing with family issues will put this new hero to the ultimate test.

THE WEB hits comic book stores early 2016.

[whovian]

I thought about picking these up, but my comic shop doesn't carry them. Picked up the Dark Circle freebie on Free Comic Book Day elsewhere but thought it was a bit disappointing; however, nowhere near as bad as the average Marvel or DC book nowadays. Maybe I should try The Shield. It's going to be tough picking out a favorite cover for that though.

[leonmallett]

I thought about picking these up, but my comic shop doesn't carry them. Picked up the Dark Circle freebie on Free Comic Book Day elsewhere but thought it was a bit disappointing; however, nowhere near as bad as the average Marvel or DC book nowadays. Maybe I should try The Shield. It's going to be tough picking out a favorite cover for that though.

I would totally endorse picking up both The Fox and Black Hood. Tonally very different, but thoroughly compelling for me. While the Fox may seem a little whimsical at times, it has a visceral undercurrent. And as for Black Hood, it is pretty hard-boiled and really entertained me with its twits and turns as our protagonist grew into his shadowy role.

[whovian]

Ordered all current issues of both series. Waiting for the arrival....

[leonmallett]

Ordered all current issues of both series. Waiting for the arrival....

[Cyberstrike]

Tell me when it's in TPB. Then maybe I'll buy it when I get some extra money.

[leonmallett]

Tell me when it's in TPB. Then maybe I'll buy it when I get some extra money.

November apparently, according to Amazon UK.

[leonmallett]

Some info about the upcoming Web and Hangman series - Bleeding Cool on Dark Circle panel: http://www.bleedingcool.com/2015/07/11/ ... rk-circle/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

At the Dark Circle panel for Archie Comics, the publisher announced two new series for the line. The Web and The Hangman.

This new Web is a 14 year cosplayer, dressing as the silver age version of The Web when she gets powers.

While The Hangman is being reinvented as a very intense horror and is intended to be aggressively un-Archie….

[leonmallett]

From the Dark Circle page:

Hangman

http://darkcirclecomics.com/2015/07/28/ ... -and-ruiz/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

They say the Hangman is nothing more than an urban legend. A spook story told to scare criminals straight. But those who encounter him—like hitman “Mad Dog” Mike Minetta—know different. They know that when he comes for you… you’re dead already. Join fan-favorite writer Frank Tieri (Wolverine, Batman) and artist extraordinaire Felix Ruiz (Wolverine Max, Halo) for an ongoing tale of horror, the supernatural and violence… and learn why some men may never be redeemed.

[leonmallett]

The Shield:

http://darkcirclecomics.com/2015/07/28/ ... d-johnson/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Since the dawn of the republic, whenever her country faces its blackest days, she returns: a spirit of the revolution sent to fight for what is right. But when she reappears for the first time in a generation with no memories—not even of her own identity—and encounters an evil force expecting her arrival, all the Shield can do is… run!

Written by Adam Christopher and Chuck Wendig with artwork by Drew Johnson, letters by Rachel Deering and colors by Kelly Fitzpatrick, THE SHIELD is the can’t miss series of the Fall!

[Captain Craig]

I also really enjoyed the first arc of both Black Hood and Fox. The serious were polar opposites but enjoyable, perhaps due to their differences. I like how Fox turned into a family affair where love, trust, compassion etc were on display. Then in Hood Greg is trying to regain trust, get compassion and be loved(by himself most of all).

Hoping Shield finally comes out on time next month and Hangman looks intriguing while The Web has me curious.
I'm all in for seeing how long Archie can ride this line!

[leonmallett]

I also really enjoyed the first arc of both Black Hood and Fox. The serious were polar opposites but enjoyable, perhaps due to their differences. I like how Fox turned into a family affair where love, trust, compassion etc were on display. Then in Hood Greg is trying to regain trust, get compassion and be loved(by himself most of all).

Hoping Shield finally comes out on time next month and Hangman looks intriguing while The Web has me curious.
I'm all in for seeing how long Archie can ride this line!

[whovian]

Thanks for recommending these! I'm hooked! I typically don't like books with profanity, but I love Black Hood so much it doesn't bother me. The wait for Shield has been killing me, but it looks like it's finally coming out next week.

I'll try to return the favor... I just picked up the first Double Take Super Pack and think it's amazing! Think Archie Horror, slice-of-life drama. I'm not into zombies but these hooked me. I even bought a copy of Night of the Living Dead (which I had never seen before) just as prep for the Double Take comics. I hear rumors they're building up to some super-hero type stuff.

Bring on Shield and Hangman...

[leonmallett]

Thought The Fox had a really strong finale and on the whole was a top-notch arc.

[whovian]

Still have to read The Fox finale. My copy of Shield 1 should ship out tomorrow (along with the first issue of something called Self Storage, which I'm anxious to get my eyes on).

Sounds like a Mighty Crusaders project is in the works, judging from the letters column in Black Hood 5. These books supplement Valiant rather nicely.

[QUARTZ]

The Black Hood #6 should be out soon. I really dug the reality grounded take on the whole series.

[QUARTZ]

The Hangman #1 was awesome. I am subscribing to that one for sure.

[Aomalle27]

The Hangman #1 was awesome. Didn't really delve much into the namesake "hero"; but rather started off with a vignette of two criminals, but man what a scene that was. Hangman doesn't actually enter til the end. It was such a punch in the mouth issue, I picked up a few extra copies to give some friends. Man this is definitely a radical take on the corny hangman of the 70's. If you dig dark and foreboding pick this up.

Black Hood #6 was a simple little standalone, not bad, but not filling either. Didn't really add anything to the story, but it does stir up my yearning for the next arc.

[dornwolf]

I felt that Hangman was pretty much how I would go with Shadowman, an urban legend type approach.

[leonmallett]

I thought Hangman and Shield both had strong starts, and I am very interested to see where they go.

The second Back Hood arc started well, and I do love the cliffhangers that Swierczynski sets at the end of each issue.

The big problems is that while the line has a definite vibe, the sporadic launches fritter away what little momentum they build with each new book regardless of positive reaction.

[Cyberstrike]

I wanted to like The Shield but one OK first issue and endless delays are not what I'm looking for from any company and/or imprint and my patience with Dark Circle has ran out. Now maybe I'll buy The Shield if/when it comes out in TPB, if gets decent reviews and I have the money to spare.

[leonmallett]

Thoroughly enjoyed Black Hood #8 and Hangman #2.

Really good stories horribly undermined by the stop-start release schedule.

[jeremycoe]

Thoroughly enjoyed Black Hood #8 and Hangman #2.

Really good stories horribly undermined by the stop-start release schedule.

The scheduling caused me to drop the line more than anything else.