Crucifix Executioner Volume 3 promises Mayhem and Slaughter

PLUS: Oswald's Body, Limit Break Comics at Dublin Con and Bad Bug Media Update

Welcome to this week’s edition of Graphic Opinions! It’s been a minute since I reported on the latest comic book industry news. That’s because I’ve been working with the amazing chaps at Bad Bug Media to promote their latest comics. In this edition of Graphic Opinions we discuss anti-heroes, the end to Oswald’s Body and Limit Break Comics at Dublin Con. But first, it’s time to pay the bills.

Periwinkle art progress

Periwinkle, the 80+ page graphic novel about a very angry elf from the North Pole who has a score to settle, is coming across quite nicely. I say this as someone who loathes comics about Christmas time.

So, to subvert your expectations, here’s a sneak peak at a page the artist, Arturo Mesa, has just turned in.

Black Jackets #4 and #5 hits 137% on Kickstarter

Join six teenagers as they embark on a journey to unravel the mysteries of a fraternal organization of monster hunters known as the Black Jackets.

See an onslaught of original and interesting monsters.  

Humor, action, and horror propel this black and white series written by Mike Tener, illustrated by Francesco Tomaselli, and lettered by Dave Lentz.

Check out the campaign by clicking here.

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How Anti-Heroes inspired the Mayhem in Crucifix Executioner

By Anthony Pollock

»Warning: Clicking on any links in this article takes you to NSFW art.

Earlier this week I caught up with the creators of Crucifix Executioner - Duncan Cunningham and Aaron Cassidy. The series tells the story of a psychic who is attacked by local police officers and sustains serious brain damage from the incident. Unable to control himself and his gift, the psychic morphs into an anti-hero crusader who violently battles with the city’s criminals as he seeks revenge on the corrupt cops that ruined his life. Duncan and Aaron delved into how Anti-heroes inspired the grit and mayhem of Crucifix Executioner.

Crucifix Executioner is back for another fresh serving of blood. Give us a taste of this latest instalment has in store for readers.

Duncan: Readers can expect blood, fire, mayhem and slaughter.

Aaron : This is the big finale so obviously a lot of characters will meet their ends, some deserve it whilst others not so much.

This is the last part of your three part thriller/slasher series. How would you say your writing has evolved during this process?

Duncan: Well, we realised we were not making a low budget indie film and could make whatever we wanted to happen in it. So we added all the good stuff into the comic, you know: explosives, killer sicko clowns, cannibal biker sex, prison riots, weaponized circus animals, high speed chases; all the good stuff from your favourite exploitation films.

Aaron: It's been liberating, as we've been able to push harder against the suspension of disbelief in each volume and still deliver a tangible and fun story arc (loaded with blood and violence of course)

Which inspirations of yours come out in Crucifix Execution that fans will salivate over?

Duncan: I was watching a lot of ozploitation films, and reading stuff like “revenge” and “X-Force” and following TV shows like “Dexter” around the time I came up with the idea.

Aaron: There are lots of little tips of the hat along the way for fans to pick up on. All they have to do is take an evening off and have a read it.

The premise of Crucifix Execution sounds akin to The Crow and Spawn. Which pop culture anti-heroes land for you and which don’t?

Duncan: Yeah. Spawn ,The Witcher Geralt, Batman, Redhood, Punisher, Wolverine, Deadpool, Venom and the Don’ts’s are Ghost rider, Silver Sable, Winter Soldier, Namor and Harley Quinn. I like darker anti-heroes.

Aaron: I can appreciate any flawed protagonist, but for me right now, "The Boys" lands best. I've never been able to reconcile why I had to worry about a hero that is practically unbeatable, there just isn't enough tension, whereas if you flip the situation like what they have done in the boys, you get real anti-heroes with genuine vulnerabilities, hence building great tension. I really don’t like super heroes or antiheroes of that ilk.

How has your previous experience as a Director informed the directing of the art in each of the three volumes?

Duncan: Well I would say, I run it more like a film and work with the artist to give them my vision then I re-edit to fit the coverage.

Where can fans find you online?

www.killercomics.com @killercomics Facebook twitter and Instagram

Then there’s our Kickstarter. Which is kickstarter.killercomics.com

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BOOM! Studios announce final issue of Oswald’s Body

By Anthony Pollock

BOOM! Studios have revealed a first look at REGARDING THE MATTER OF OSWALD’S BODY #5, the final issue in the new five-issue comic book series that presents an off-kilter crime thriller set in the shadows of history’s greatest conspiracy, from Eisner Award-nominated writer, producer, and director Christopher Cantwell (Iron Man, The United States of Captain America), artist Luca Casalanguida (Lost Soldiers, Scout’s Honor), colorist Giada Marchisio, and letterer AndWorld Design, available in March 2022.

Our cast arrives in Terlingua, Texas, looking to flee to Mexico, all the while wondering if they’ve been the good guys in all this, doing their patriotic duty and whether they should stay and fight after all. But with Frank and a hired killer to deal with, will there be any second chances? And just who is the shadowed figure overlooking Oswald’s exhumation in 1981?

REGARDING THE MATTER OF OSWALD’S BODY #5 features main cover art by series artist Casalanguida and Incentive Variant cover art by acclaimed artist E.M. Gist (Moon Knight).

Print copies of REGARDING THE MATTER OF OSWALD’S BODY #5 will be available on March 16, 2022 exclusively at local comic book shops or at the BOOM! Studios webstore.

And the Graphic Novel? Fans and readers can purchase copies of REGARDING THE MATTER OF OSWALD’S BODY SC, collecting the entire five-issue series, in local comic shops on August 24, 2022 and in bookstores everywhere on August 30, 2022.

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Limit Break Comics to debut 5 new comics at this weekend’s Dublin Comic Con

By Anthony Pollock

Limit Break Comics is set to launch five new books at Dublin Comic Con this coming weekend, March 12 and 13. Among the new releases are second issues to the collective’s 2019 titles, Meouch and Plexus, and the introduction of a new creator.

The five books to be launched at Dublin Comic Con consist of: Meouch #2, an action comedy for grown-up kids; Plexus #2, a science fiction anthology series focusing on human connection; LENS, an espionage thriller collected in print for the firs time; Old Game Plus #1, a collection of shot comics inspired by video games, and; Limit Break Presents #1, a new anthology series of stories connected by a theme. The new titles serve to re-introduce the collective to the Irish convention scene following the cessation of events during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Meouch #2 picks up where the 2019 issue left off. Creators Gareth Luby (Artist) and Paul Carroll (Writer) teamed up with Rebecca Nalty (IDW, Boom!) on Colours and PanelXPanel Editor Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou on Letters to bring the next chapter in the story to press.

Plexus #2, written and lettered by Paul Carroll, features three stories illustrated by Irish artists: Leeann Hamilton, Barry O’Sullivan, and Donna A Black. The stories focus on human connections, and the monsters we meet along the way.

LENS, written by Gary Moloney with art by Raquel Kusiak, is a one-shot following Jane Danner, an award-winning photojournalist by day, assassin by night. The first chapter of LENS was published in Bun&Tea, with the whole story collected in print for the first time.

Old Game Plus #1, written by Seamus Kavanagh, introduces Kavanagh as a creator for Limit Break Comics. Kavanagh’s stories – illustrated, coloured and lettered by an all-star collection of creators – are inspired by a range of video games across multiple genres.

Limit Break Presents #1 collects three stories, written by Gary Moloney, Paul Carroll and Seamus Kavanagh. The trio of writers are joined by John McGuinness and Rebecca Reynolds on art, Ellie Wright on colours, and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou and Alice Coleman on letters. The book serves as the first issue in a series, with stories connected by a single theme.

Along with its new titles, Limit Break Comics is bringing Turning Roads to an Irish convention for the first time. The book was featured in the Irish Times list of Graphic Novels 2021 and awards the Irish Comics News Award for Best Anthology 2021. It contains 18 short stories by 35 creators, telling stories inspired by Irish folklore.

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Graphic Opinions is a weekly publication reporting on the most essential Indie Comics and Pop Culture news. Every week you’ll find a mix of News items, Regular Columns, Interviews and Reviews.

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Editor-in-Chief: Anthony Pollock
Contributing writers: Adam Burt, Aubrey Lyn Jeppson, Angel Young and Travis Lakata

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