Vertigo Lives! DC Comics Imprint to Offer THE SANDMAN: OVERTURE and Six More New Titles in the Coming Months

Roughly a year after the San Diego Comic-Con announcement of new Sandman material from Neil Gaiman and J.H. Williams III, DC Comics has unveiled its expanded plans for the Vertigo imprint.

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With a dwindling catalog and the departure of executive editor Karen Berger, Vertigo’s forecast has been murky in recent years. Now, thankfully, some things wicked this way come, much of it around Halloween. That includes Gaiman and Williams’ The Sandman: Overture and the following sinister serials:

  • HINTERKIND – Decades after “The Blight” all but wiped out the human race, Mother Nature is taking back what’s hers and she’s not alone … all the creatures of myth and legend have returned and they’re not happy. After her grandfather disappears, Prosper Monday must leave the security and seclusion of her Central Park village to venture into the wilds to find him, unaware of how much the world has changed. An epic fantasy adventure set in a post-apocalyptic world, HINTERKIND is written by Ian Edginton and illustrated by Francesco Trifogli, and debuts this October.
  • THE DISCIPLINE – Launching this December, THE DISCIPLINE is a dark, erotic thriller about a privileged young woman named Melissa who is thrust into a centuries old battle between good and evil. She begins an affair with a mysterious man named Orlando who opens her eyes to a sexually sinister world she never knew existed. Through this ritualistic seduction (“The Discipline”), Orlando unlocks Melissa’s inner power and then enlists her into a shadowy war that has been fought for centuries. THE DISCIPLINE comes to you from writer Peter Milligan and artist Leo Fernandez.
  • DEAD BOY DETECTIVES – Spinning out of the pages of Neil Gaiman’s SANDMAN, two dead British school boys star in their own monthly series and solve crimes in the 21st century with the help of a new female accomplice. Premiering in November, DEAD BOY DETECTIVES is written by noted British novelist Toby Litt with layouts and painted covers by Mark Buckingham (FABLES).
  • SUICIDERS – Hitting the spinner rack this December, this new series marks the incomparable Lee Bermejo’s (JOKER; BATMAN: NOEL; BEFORE WATCHMEN: RORSCHACH) debut as an ongoing series comic book writer and artist. SUICIDERS follows the lies of two futuristic boxers – one on top of the world, the other trying to fight (and kill) his way there. Set in Los Angeles after “The Big One,” “Suiciders” is the wildly popular reality sport that contestants are literally dying to be a part of … and to be the best, you have to murder the best.
  • COFFIN HILL – When she was 15, Eve Coffin summoned a darkness that had been buried since the Salem Witch Trials. Now Eve’s back to harness the evil that destroyed her friends and is slowly taking over the sleepy town of Coffin Hill. This is a series full of magic, madness and murder via a twisted family of New Englanders. Arriving in stores this October, COFFIN HILL combines the talents of artist Inaki Miranda (FAIREST: THE HIDDEN KINGDOM) with writer Caitlin Kittredge, a young, dark fantasy author whose writing includes the Nocturne City, the Black London, and the Iron Codex series of novels – which include the recently published titles Dark Days and The Mirrored Shard.
  • THE WITCHING HOUR – Just in time for Halloween, this anthology-style one-shot collects short stories exploring witchcraft written and drawn by some of the most talented veterans and newcomers in the business – including Kelly Sue DeConnick, Cliff Chiang, Lauren Beukes, Emily Carroll, Matthew Sturges, Shawn McManus, Tula Lotay and many more.

Read more about Vertigo’s resurgence at The New York Times.

 


Comments

  1. I can’t wait for Suiciders! Bermejos art is some of the best in any comic.

  2. So psyched for Sandman, I love JH Williams, what an amazing artist. Yes yes yes.

  3. Milligan’s always worth a look for me.

    I LOVED Edginton’s Brass Sun in 2000AD (first story ended a few months ago), so I’m definitely going to check his new book out too.

  4. If you check out the NY Times article, there is what looks like cover art for the first issue. And it’s clearly a Williams (as opposed to McKean) piece. So that’s weird.

    • McKean is doing variant covers, which is the one thing about the prequel I don’t like. No offense to Williams, his art is amazing, but designating McKean’s work as the variant sounds like a money grab. Sigh. I have a rule about not paying inflated variant prices, but, if they’re within reason, I may break that rule for McKean . . .

    • word up.

  5. Sandman is a must. Hinterkind and Suiciders sound interesting. Dead Boy Detectives sounds good too. The continuing features in recent Vertigo anthologies has me curious.

  6. I actually just started reading the Sandman series for the first time (and I’m loving it) so I’m very much looking forward to checking out the new series, especially with Williams on the book.

  7. I wonder if this will finally quiet the “Vertigo is dead” talk.

  8. Well this is exciting

  9. These all look like they are worth checking out.
    Hinterkind, The Discipline, and Coffin Hill are the ones I am most interested in (aside from Sandman of course).

    Dead Boy Detectives wins the prize for craziest and most unexpected spinoff

  10. Yes! Such great news. Milligan? Count me in (story sounds intense). Where did I read a Dead Boy Detective short? Time Warp? CBLDF? I remember being mildly interested. Of course Sandman is anticipated. Like a comment above, I too just started reading it for the first time (on the second trade) and have found it a good read, but feel like I’ve barely scratched the surface. I just hope that these aren’t all minis. I need some good Vertigo ongoings in my pull list to look forward to every month.

    • There was a DBD in Vertigo’s “Ghosts” anthology last Halloween (?). As far as I can guess, I think most of these are ongoings, and Sandman is a mini.

      PS, the second Sandman book is my favorite. Sereal Killer convention…Classic.

    • Except for Sandman and the anthology, they all sound like ongoings to me . . .

      The only Dead Boys short I’ve read was in Time Warp, but it was continued from somewhere else (at least I hope so, as I had no idea what was going on in it . . .)

      Season of Mists has always been my favorite Sandman arc, if I had to chose. It’s the storyline that first hooked me, so I’ve always had an extra sentimental attachment to it. It’s all brilliant, though. My advice is simply take your time and enjoy the series.

    • Just finished it. DISTURBING. I liked this much better than the first volume. Better get on to #3, I got some reading to do before October.

    • I envy you @theWAC1, I may reread all the books over this weekend just to get an iota of the joy you must be getting.

      The series gets better and better as it goes on, but after the first 3 or 4 it becomes more fantasy oriented. Nothing wrong with that, and it feels very natural, but I kinda missed the horror feel of the book.

    • @Cosmo DBD part 1 is in a Vertigo anthology that came out back in Dec called “Ghosts”. It flew under my radar but I just saw it in an out of town shop so I picked it up. Haven’t read it yet, but that’s where it is, and don’t worry, I was lost too. Apparently Gaiman has something to do with it, unless I read the cover wrong.
      @IthoSapien Haha, thanks man! I’m super lucky my local library has this stuff. Kinda reminds me of the first time I read Moore’s Swamp Thing. Just very unnerving and unexpectedly great. So far, a great use of the medium. I’ll be picking up volume 3 weds prolly.

  11. Besides Sandman, the only thing that interests me right now is (maybe) Hinterkind and (probably) Suiciders. I’m kinda in the mood for some smart horror that Vertigo is known for but hasn’t produced much of lately (I’m talking like Hellblazer, Swamp Thing scary). I don’t really want to expand my pull-list but if its good and $2.99, how can I refuse that? Plus I wouldn’t have to catch up through 6-7 volumes (Still not caught up to Unwritten or Fables or even Fairest!).

    Also unless I’m mistaken theres some new blood at Vertigo now, novelists and such. More good news.

    • If you’re looking for smart horror I’d recommend The Wake. Only two issues in but I’m really enjoying it and it sounds like it’d be what you’re looking for.

    • I’d second that comment about The Wake — it’s gotten off to quite a strong start . . .

    • Also, catching up on Unwritten is well worth it . . .

    • I’ve only read issue 1 on The Wake. It didn’t grab me, but most of Snyder’s first issues never do. Plus it feels very similair plotwise to “Aliens vs Predators”. I’m gonna read issue 2 but right now I feel like I could pass it up very easily.

      @Cosmo, yes I’m on volume 7 I think? Very good so far, still full of surprises, still making me sweat waiting for the next part. I like reading it in trades but I still think I’m too far behind to pick up the issues yet.

      Fairest volume 1 really surprised me. Just when I was sick of Fables spinoffs they finally publish a good one.

    • Glad to hear that you’re enjoying Unwritten, IthoSapien, it’s one of my favorite series at the moment. For my own part, I really need to sample some Fables. I keep meaning to, only, well, it’s a lot to catch up on. Someday, though, someday . . .

      I understand if The Wake doesn’t quite grab you, though I’ve been enjoying it. On a non-Vertigo horror note, have you tried Fatale?

    • Yeah, I love reading “The Unwritten”. It’s probably on top of my “get ASAP” when I go to my library. I checked and I have volume 7 on my nightstand right now. I highly recommend Fables, I had given up on it during the (not so) Great Fables crossover but Willingham pulled me back in. It’s one of those series that only gets better as it goes on, not unlike Unwritten. Start at volume 1 and if that grabs you at all, try 2.

      I googled Fatale, and damned if it doesn’t sound perfect for me. A noir series focusing on a femme fatale? I love Noir storytelling, so I’ll add it to my list of stuff to check out soon. Right now though I want to finish up on Sweettooth, catch up on Walking Dead, and maybe read all of Alan Moore’s Swamp Thing run (I like to keep busy with my reading, I’m reading all kinds of stuff right now).

    • Thanks for the recommendation for Fables. I’m pretty sure my library has some of it, it’s just a matter of how much. It may need to wait until I finish with my Sandman rereading project, though. I’ve never read any of Moore’s Swamp Thing, so that too has long been on my must read list.

      I read the first issue of Sweet Tooth when it came out, but for whatever reason it did not grab me. I want to give the series another try, since I have enjoyed a lot of Lemire’s other work since then . . .

      If you’re fond of noir and horror, you should definitely check out the first trade of Fatale. I’m not always a big fan of those genres, but Brubaker’s name made me try it, and I’m very glad that I did. Also, the art is quite lovely . . .

    • Believe it or not, the first time I read Moore’s Swamp Thing I didn’t care for it. Young minds, not comprehending y’know. I decided to give it a try after finishing Snyder’s run and trying Tom Strong. I can follow and appreciate what Moore is saying in the stories which makes all the difference.

      I’ve felt that Sweettooth is just “ok”, despite what others have on this site. it’s a good story, but I don’t feel that Lemire’s art style is suited to the kind of horror tone the book is trying to set. But I’m 5 volumes in, I want to see how it ends. Matter of fact I’ll just start over to see if my feelings have changed.

      Rest assured, Fatale is on my list. With any luck I’ll get around to it before you start Fables ;).

  12. Sounds like an intriguing assortment. The Sandman has long been a given for me. I may check out the Dead Boys as well (I just finished rereading Season of Mists, so I kinda have a hankering for more of them). Out of the rest, none of them grab me outright, though, Hinterkind and Disciple have potential (Milligan is hit or miss for me, always has). On a related note, I’ll probably be checking out that new Collider series later this month. And I can’t wait for Trillium . . .

    All in all, great to see new ideas and talent from Vertigo.

  13. This is certainly great news.

    I’ll be checking out Sandman, but at the moment Hinterkind and maybe The Discipline have my attention. Any one of these could be a sleeper hit though. Like I said, the announcement of new work coming out of Vertigo alone is exciting.

  14. Vertigo was my No. 1 line of comics for the longest time, but other than Sandman, none of these really interest me. I want to like Hinterkind, but right now it looks like Fables in post-apocalyptic land (that’s my first impression, that doesn’t mean it will be), and the writer is just meh for me. Frankly, all the writers are meh for me, and Vertigo used to be the place to go for good writers. Lee Beremejo is an awesome artist, but still has a lot to prove on the writing front (that Batman special he wrote was not good). And of course so do the newbies. I find it interesting that I read recently that Vertigo is the place for new comic writers to cut their teeth. I remember back in its heyday Vertigo was more for writers with some establishment behind them, even if they weren’t “known” names (Brian K Vaughan was a relative unknown to the public when Y came out, but he’d been writing comics for a bit by then). I think it’s great to see Vertigo finally return, but right now I don’t see any real “hits” coming out of this batch, and you can usually spot them. Here’s hoping Collider is great, as I loved Simon Oliver’s Exterminators, I just hope he can reach a wider audience with this one, as Exterminators getting cancelled was a shame (one of the few honestly, while every series has its fans, most series that get cancelled aren’t real bit surprises). With Image stealing the big names, I’m not sure we’ll see any classic Vertigo writers again sadly, aside from a few DC loyalists like Milligan and Azzarrello. Vertigo is definitely in a state of change, hopefully for the best.

    • It is absolutely accurate to say Vertigo is the place where new writers cut their teeth. Grant Morrison, Garth Ennis, and Neil Gaiman were almost a complete unknowns in this country before their first Vertigo runs on Animal Man, Hellblazer, and Sandman respectively. They had done some things in the UK but nothing very high profile and really nothing in the US.

      Brian Wood was, at best, an up-and-comer when he started DMZ at Vertigo.

      And Brian K. Vaughn had done very little prior to Y, and nothing that had gotten him nearly the exposure Y did.

      To say Vertigo wasn’t a place for young talent to hone their abilities is revisionist. In recent years it has become a place for only big DC talent but that is not how it started and not how it produced great books in its “heyday.” This line up is a return to form for Vertigo, pure and simple.

    • I disagree about Beremojo’s Batman book not being good. I thought for a guy who’s writing and drawing the whole book, he did a decent job. Personal taste aside I want to see how he does on Suiciders.

      Also I think alot of writers here on this list on novelists, who I’m guessing are established in their own circles. Whoever the chick was who wrote “Air” was in a similar boat but did a good job I thought. Wish she’d come back, I thought she had talent.

    • USPUNX, while Ennis, Ellis and Gaiman, etc. were unknown to us, they had been writing comics for a while. Vertigo’s submissions guidelines back in the day was that you had to have stuff published. Now it’s about bringing in “virgins” if you will. Young talent is one thing, inexperienced talent is another. And Beremejo’s writing was quite, simple, if you will.

    • @CGPO: Just because you have something published doesn’t mean you’re established. I mentioned that all of them had been published before but they were very clearly all up-and-coming writers. Vertigo is where they made their major impressions on the comic reading world and went from young writers to industry names.

      And except for maybe Ian Edginton, I fail to see how any of the writers on these announced books could qualify as virgins. They are all young talent but far from inexperienced.

  15. Wow, it seems obvious where all my funds are going this fall! 🙂 Seriously, could not be anymore psyched for these titles. What big names I see draw me, and I’m always looking to try someone new! Plus… SANDMAN!

  16. “THE DISCIPLINE”

    50 Shades of Grey meets Twilight?

    • HAH!

    • Anyone else remember Milligan’s Extremist? When my early teenage self bought the first issue, the sales clerk said, quite seriously, “your mom better not come back to me complaining about this . . .” Serves me right for not buying it at my regular shop, I suppose . . .

    • I do not remember that series but I had a similar experience buying a copy of Sports Illustrated swim suit edition when I was 13. I think my intentions were fairly transparent….

  17. The Witching Hour, Dead Boys, and Hinterkind all sound interesting to me. And of course Sandman. Gaiman’s Sandman was just abou the only comic I read in the early 90s. Looking forward to it’s return. And with JHW3!

  18. Now we need a movie adaptation of Preludes Nocturnes with John Turturro as Dream.