Tag: Graphic Novel

Are You Ready To Ride with Avatar: The Last Airbender Next 2 Releases

Avatar: The Last Airbender continues with the release of an all-new story and omnibus collection!

Avatar: The Last Airbenderr—Azula in the Spirit TempleDark Horse Books has twice the The Last Airbender fun planned this year with the release of an all-new story and omnibus collection! To read these works will help those who are impatient with  waiting for the next animated tale. There’s no timeline for when they will release, but thankfully these works provide some excellent side stories.

These works are all canon. The first release is in partnership with Avatar Studios to tell Avatar: The Last Airbender—Azula in the Spirit Temple!

From the Press Release:

The veteran, award-winning team of Faith Erin Hicks, Peter Wartman, and Adele Matera is back with a new story. This graphic novel, taking place in the world of the hit Nickelodeon series, also features letters by ComicCraft’s Jimmy Betancourt and cover art by Wartman and Matera.

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When Carmilla Arrives on a Dark Horse During Lunar New Year!

Sheridan le Fanu’s Carmilla gets a modern Chinese spin by Amy Chu and Soon Lee.

Carmilla
Available in comic shops and book stores near you. Coming soon onAmazon USA, Feb 84, 2023

Dark Horse Comics Berger Books Imprint
Spoiler Alert

Amy Chu and Soon Lee’s reinterpretation on Sheridan le Fanu’s Carmilla is all kinds of wonderful. Not only do we get a modern interpretation from a Chinese perspective but also Lee’s auburn design on the pages where it flashbacks, alluding to the original prose, is beautiful. Here, the vampire is named Violet, and the place she makes her base of operation may be named after the famous vampire we all know.

Here, Athena is a social worker wishing she can do more for those struggling to survive in Manhattan. Her life is okay, but it seems something is holding her back. When one of her patients turns up dead, she investigates in true Kolchak fashion and what she finds in that nightclub goes beyond simply confronting some pimp. She becomes enamoured, and as a lesbian herself, she understands what’s going on. But after meeting Violet, there’s more than meets the eye not only about this seductress but also this nightmare that soon unfolds.

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A Mix Tape of Delightful Media for Winter Solstice 2022. Yule Be Glad.

Here, we present a list of best Winter Solstice reads, viewing material and other goodness to keep to the spirit of the chilly season.

Winter Solstice at StonehengeOn the darkest night of the year on December 21, 2022, Winter Solstice is a good time to get cosy with a ghost story. Some people enjoy a tale of terror with a classic work, or might be watching HBO Max’s Yule Log, which is new for this year. Once upon a time, people were fearful at this coming of darkness and to acknowledge it is probably why the love persists to this day. That superstition was common amongst Northern Europe people in the old days, but these days, having something cheerier to enjoy makes more sense.

Ancient man did not necessarily fear death. It is part of the cycle of life. From that comes rebirth, and what’s celebrated is not limited to just a few cultures. How I acknowledge this occasion is to enjoy a wide range of media which recognises the transition in some way instead of being very specific to the lore. That would make for a very short list.

From horror to celebratory, I’m aiming to suggest something old and something new to read, hear or view. What I offer is something to enjoy reading, a theatrical presentation on television or a song to listen to. I’m trying very hard to not pick works that’s more about Christmas than Yule. These days, the two terms are synonymous with each other, and it makes knowing what fits into my tighter definition difficult. And thus, I begin with:

The Yule Cat (YouTube)

This live action horror film is perfect to kick off the longest night of terror. Although not set to debut until the 24th, this work makes my list since it’s Icelandic folk horror at its best, and the teaser is perfect to tense things up. This work, along with the aforementioned and coming picks for 2022.

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12 Scary Christmas Comics to Count down the Holidays With

To nail a list of new Christmas comics to countdown the “Twelve Days” is tough since some years don’t offer enough, so we present a mix of old and new.

Christmas Comics from BiblioasisIn sticking to the Victorian age supernatural tradition of enjoying ghost stories for Christmas, I have updated my list of graphic novel best reads to include upcoming releases which I feel are great. To nail a list of new Christmas comics to countdown the “Twelve Days” is tough. Technically, a few of my selections are more paranormal than just about spirits, and if available, the links go to Amazon USA listings. We’re an Amazon Associate, and any purchases made helps support this blog. Thanks!

The Corner Shop; The Dead and the Countess; and A Visit—Seth’s Christmas Ghost Stories (Biblioasis)

Leading this list are Gregory Gallant‘s (pen name Seth) comic book collection of ghost stories, which have three new books in 2022! I’m bundling this entry to one rather than individually, as there’s a lot to like about this cartoonist’s style. One of the first tales he adapted to the medium is The Signalman, originally written by Charles Dickens, and this artist adapted it for the masses to enjoy. It’s described to be, “An eerie story of isolation, dread, and supernatural visitation, this book is a small treasure, meant to be read aloud on a cold, dark winter night.”

Those unfamiliar with this name should look at Mister X and Clyde Fans. Those who read Lemony Snicket’s All the Wrong Questions will know his work. He’s also the author of the Palookaville series of graphic novels.

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Ancient Explorers: The Lost City of Peru and The Man Behind the Legend Quest

Ancient Explorers: The Lost City of Peru is novel – comic book hybrid about two best friends on the quest for adventure!

Omar MaraPeople who attended SDCC a few weekends ago had plenty to look at. Whether that’d be comic books or the latest news on movies, there’s even something for the jungle explorer! Ancient Explorers: The Lost City of Peru is novel – comic book hybrid about two best friends on the quest for adventure! Together with two archaeologists, they discover an ancient map and a compass that’ll point them to more than adventure, but also self-discovery.

It’s now available across various platforms to read, and we at otakunoculture.com got a chance to talk to the author:

Could you please introduce yourself to readers unfamiliar with your work?

My name is Omar Mora. I am a writer, producer and actor from Puerto Rico who lives in Los Angeles. I have written two independent feature films; 30 Days with my brother and Inside the Circle. Both available on VOD. I have written a series of comics called The Unearthians. You can find my work at MorasProductions.com

What made you decide to create a hybrid written work with graphic novel elements? (and was it difficult to decide what parts of the narrative should be illustrated rather than described?)

When Covid came, so did the economy. Producing a comic is expensive, so the finances weren’t quite right. So we decided to do it as a hybrid. And to be honest it was the best decision. Because the design of the book along with the comic pages looks great and gives a special touch to the story. I am very happy with the final results.

It was not difficult to choose which pages were going to be comics. I usually chose pages that introduced a character, a very important aspect of the story, or fantasy elements that I knew would look amazing as art. I also wanted to choose pages that would help create intrigue in the story and create that suspense necessary for the reader to be engaged.

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