Art by Colton Worley

One of the greatest pulp characters of all time is now re-launched into the 21st century! The world knows Richard Wentworth as a decorated war hero and the son of a wealthy industrialist – but only a few confidants know the truth. As New York City slides into violence and despair, Wentworth has transformed himself into a force of justice as The Spider! With only his wits, his technology, and  his pistols to aid him, he fights a one-man war against crime, but when a mysterious new villain threatens the city with an unspeakable horror, it may be more than even The Spider can handle. How far will a sane man go to restore order to an insane world?

 Tremendously appealing characters . . . a thoroughly enjoyable, satisfying read.”—Deborah Harkness, author of A Discovery of Witches

Lucy Derrick is a young woman of good breeding and poor finances. After the death of her beloved father, she is forced to maintain a shabby dignity as the unwanted boarder of her tyrannical uncle, fending off marriage to a local mill owner. But just as she is on the cusp of accepting a life of misery, events take a stunning turn when a handsome stranger—the poet and notorious rake Lord Byron—arrives at her house, stricken by what seems to be a curse, and with a cryptic message for Lucy. Suddenly her unfortunate circumstances are transformed in ways at once astonishing and seemingly impossible.

 With the world undergoing an industrial transformation, and with England on the cusp of revolution, Lucy is drawn into a dangerous conspiracy in which her life, and her country’s future, are in the balance. Inexplicably finding herself at the center of cataclysmic events, Lucy is awakened to a world once unknown to her: where magic and mortals collide, and the forces of ancient nature and modern progress are at war for the soul of England . . . and the world. The key to victory may be connected to a cryptic volume whose powers of enchantment are unbounded. Now, challenged by ruthless enemies with ancient powers at their command, Lucy must harness newfound mystical skills to prevent catastrophe and preserve humanity’s future. And enthralled by two exceptional men with designs on her heart, she must master her own desires to claim the destiny she deserves.

Before Captain America, before The Twelve, there was The Aviatrix, The Operative, Achilles, The Revenant and The Surgeon! What drives these five heroes to pull on masks and take to the rooftops of Manhattan? What dark conspiracy not only brings them together, but threatens to tear the America apart?  On the hunt to solve a brutal murder, our champions will smash their way from gleaming penthouses of privilege to squalid alleyways, as the full horror of their enemies’ schemes unfolds! Get ready for an action packed, edge-of-your-seat and in-continuity super hero adventure like no other when Marvel’s first champions take the case this June, only in Mystery Men #1 (of 5)!

June

Mystery Men #1 – #2

The first two issues of this five-part miniseries will ship in June.  Telling, for the first time, the story of Marvel’s earliest generation of costumed vigilantes in New York, this is a dark, pulp-era mystery set firmly within – but requiring no previous knowledge of – the Marvel U.  1932, guys in cool hats, a dead Broadway starlet, an insidious plot, evil capitalists, and a dark plot against the country.  Five heroes will rise to protect America in its darkest hour.  This is a perfect series to follow for readers who have been interested in my comics but haven’t known where to jump in.  This preview will give you a good sense of Patrick Zircher’s amazing art. 

Black Panther: The Man Without Fear #519 – #520

Storm Hunter!  A two-part, self contained story with both issues shipping this month.  It’s the T’Challa, the most dangerous man alive vs. Kraven, the deadliest hunter in the Marvel U.  Plus Storm.  A great place to jump into the unfolding Black Panther saga.  Very cool art by Jefte Palo, which you can see here.

 July

Black Panther: The Man Without Fear #521

The events of marvel’s big summer event, Fear Itself, catch up with Black Panther as a 3-part story begins in which we introduce the American Panther.  Marvel has teased this storyline, but we’ve said very little.  You’ll have to pick up the issue to learn more, though you can take a look at this teaser article if you enjoy, you know, being teased. 

Mystery Men #3

The mystery continues!

Black Panther: The Man Without Fear  Urban Jungle

If you missed our first arc of Black Panther, you can pick up this trade paperback which collects the first six issues.  It makes for great summer reading.

August

The Twelfth Enchantment

My new novel!  Set during the Regency and the Luddite Uprising, the first organized resistance to the industrial revolution.  Think Jane Austen meets urban fantasy.   Lucy Derrick, an impoverished woman on the cusp of a disastrous marriage is drawn into a mysterious plot in which new technology wars with ancient knowledge.   Lord Byron, William Blake and Mansfield Park’s Mary Crawford!  I had a blast writing this one. 

Black Panther: The Man Without Fear #522

Our Fear Itself and American Panther story continues.

Mystery Men #4

The mystery continues again!

September

Black Panther: The Man Without Fear #523

The conclusion of our Fear Itself tie-in.

Mystery Men #5

The saga comes to a thrilling conclusion.

The Monster’s Corner: Stories Through Inhuman Eyes edited by Christopher Golden

An anthology of stories about (non-vampire or zombie) monsters, told from their perspective.  My story, “The Awkward Age,” is about a sexy ghoul.  This is of particular interest to those who liked my story, “What Masie Knew,” which appeared in Chris’s anthology, The New Dead. 

October

Assassins: Sword of the Apocalypse

My second full-lenth book of the year!  This is an illustrated novel that is being published by comics indie, Radical.  It’s the Third Crusade and an ancient evil brings together an unlikely band of heroes: King Richard the Lionheart, Saladin, Robert of Locksley (the future Robin Hood), Temujin (the future Genghis Khan), Morgiana (of the Ali Baba story) and Moses Maimonides.  This is fun historical fantasy with amazing art.

Black Panther

I can’t tell you exactly what we’re doing this month because it has not yet been announced, but I’m very proud of this script, and I think you guys are going to dig this.

Mystery Men, which debuts on June 8^th, is a 5-part miniseries set in New York in the early 1930s. 

Says Marvel:

Marvel is pleased to present your first look at Mystery Men #1 (of 5), from Edgar Award-winning writer David Liss and superstar artist Patrick Zircher! Before Captain America, before The Twelve, there was The Aviatrix, The Operative, Achilles, The Revenant and The Surgeon! What drives these five heroes to pull on masks and take to the rooftops of Manhattan? What dark conspiracy not only brings them together, but threatens to tear the America apart?  On the hunt to solve a brutal murder, our champions will smash their way from gleaming penthouses of privilege to squalid alleyways, as the full horror of their enemies’ schemes unfolds! Get ready for an action packed, edge-of-your-seat and in-continuity super hero adventure like no other when Marvel’s first champions take the case this June, only in Mystery Men #1 (of 5)!

This is a new chapter in the history of the Marvel Universe, and tells the story of the first generation of urban vigilantes to put on costumes and fight crime.  Five all new, all cool pulp-style heroes.  A murdered starlet.  A dark conspiracy.  Evil capitalists and a plot to do terrible things.  Amazing art by Patrick Zircher.  You can read an 8-page preview right now, and I’ll remind you when this bad boy hits the stands.

Art by Francesco Francavilla

T’Challa vs. Vlad The Impaler – the final battle!  He’s left a wake of destruction across Hell’s Kitchen…now Vlad feels the wrath of the Panther! From dark alleys to rain-soaked rooftops, T’Challa must end the bloody career of a ruthless monster, but at what terrible cost? Plus, don’t miss the shock ending that will launch the next arc of the series that has Aint It Cool News raving “I bet you a red billy club Liss and Francavilla will be up for an Eisner…This is good comics!”

This cover art is final, or near final, or not final.  I’m not sure which.  But I think it’s final, so let’s pretend that it is.  Let me know what you think. 

Pencils/Inks by Jefte Palo

Cover by Simone Bianchi