Shining a Spotlight on ABLAZE Publishing

Ablaze is turning into one of my favorite boutique publishers. The quality of their indie comics is skyrocketing, and month after month, they’re dropping some great reads in comic shops. I wanted to make sure all my lovely readers knew about these epic indie comics, so check out the solicits, some quick thoughts from your favorite reviewer (It’s me. Hi.), and get ready to spend some extra money while you’re out comic shopping!

The Boogyman #1-5 (sixth and final issue out 2/22)
Mathieu Salvia words
Djet art
Nathan Kempf letters

Monsters don't only exist in children's minds...

Passionate about reading, Elliott has always had a preference for the stories of boogeymen, those monstrous creatures which, at night, hide in the shadows or under the bed to frighten little children. He can't imagine how much they will change his life... Witnessing the bloody murder of his parents, he will discover that, in reality, boogeymen do indeed exist, and very precise codes govern their existence. When one of the most powerful boogeymen, "Father-Death," decides to protect him, Elliott finds himself plunged into a terrible conflict at the heart of a universe as terrifying as it is fascinating. On a dark, stormy night, Elliott's destiny will be fulfilled…

I blew through these first five issues. Initially, it had some similarities with Something Is Killing the Children–which isn’t a bad thing–but it quickly turned into a very unique premise. There isn’t just a Boogyman. There are Boogypeople, and the mythos Salvia builds around them is fresh and interesting. The horror and violence are incredible on the page, but with every new issue, I’ve grown excited to learn more about the monsters, their uprising, and what’s driving them to turn against their elders.

I’m counting the days until the final issue, and I highly recommend snagging the back issues to get ready for a truly epic finish to a wonderful horror story.

Children of the Black Sun #1 (2nd issue out today!)
Dario Sicchio words
Letizia Cadonici art
Francesco Segala colors
Ingegni letters

"It is not difficult to be happy under a blue sky. But it takes a lot of courage to be strong even under a black sun."

Over the years, a black sun has risen twice. A dark dawn whose rays have done terrible things to people's minds, driving them to all sorts of horror. Twelve years have passed since the last time and the world still fears the return of that inexplicable phenomenon. But fear is not the only legacy of those terrible days. All the women who got pregnant under the influence of the black sun have given birth to babies with some... peculiarities. White hair, ashy skin, abnormal proportions, and eyes as red as fire: the Children of the Black Sun.

Brightvale is a small town like many others. Here the Children of the Black Sun are treated with particular contempt, especially in the days leading up to the anniversary of the two disasters. The hatred of their fellow villagers, terrified of a possible return of that horror, will push these kids to unite and embark on a hallucinatory journey to discover themselves and their true nature. But is the black sun really about to return?

This book is creepy and weird and I love it. It’s rich with mystery and unknowns, and the creative team isn’t afraid to make their audience uncomfortable. The tension being built within these pages is beyond intense. Brightvale is not a nice place. This small town is ready to turn on these new-type humans, but these children of the black sun seem eerily capable of protecting themselves. I’m getting big Village of the Damned vibes, and that movie creeped me out to the max. You gotta check this one out!

Traveling to Mars #1-3 (4th and final issue out 3/1)
Mark Russell words
Roberto “Dakar” Meli art
Chiara Di Francia colors
Mattia Gentili letters

Traveling to Mars tells the story of former pet store manager Roy Livingston, the first human to ever set foot on Mars. Roy was chosen for this unlikely mission for one simple reason: he is terminally ill and therefore has no expectation of returning. Roy is joined on his mission to Mars by Leopold and Albert, two Mars rovers equipped with artificial intelligence, who look upon the dying pet store manager as a sort of god. Against the backdrop of not only his waning days but those of human civilization as well, Roy has ample time to think about where things went wrong for both of them and what it means to be a dying god.

A riveting story of planetary exploration and of finding meaning in your final days.

I really dug the first issue, and the excellence has continued. Read my review for the first issue here. 

I’m a big fan of Mark Russell, and I feel like Traveling to Mars is some of his best writing. Unlike a lot of comics, Russell’s prose gets to flourish and take its time. Readers spend a lot of time traversing the intricate layers of Roy Livingston’s mind. The inner-monologuing is beautiful. Russell uses it to speak on humanity in some really outstanding ways. Loss and memory weigh heavy on the narrative, and those feelings don’t go unnoticed to the audience. We’re not just traveling to Mars. We’re traveling the scope of human existence.

This is a comic you must experience. There’s nothing like it.

Lastly, I’d like to point you all in the direction of a really epic box set of Ablaze’s The Cimmerian. It contains the 4 volumes of this courageous and uncensored Conan comic. This isn’t the Marvel stuff. It’s sexy and violent, and it’s on my pre-order list. This collection drops in shops on May 3rd!

ABLAZE is proud to present its bestselling line of UNCENSORED Robert E. Howard Cimmerian graphic novels, now available in a handsome slipcase box edition, collecting Volumes 1-4. Each Cimmerian volume contains two complete Conan stories, plus bonus material, including the original prose stories, in one epic hardcover collection! Plus a bonus folded poster!

* VOL 1 - Featuring "QUEEN OF THE BLACK COAST" & "RED NAILS"

* VOL 2 - Featuring "PEOPLE OF THE BLACK CIRCLE" & "THE FROST-GIANT'S DAUGHTER"

* VOL 3 - Featuring "IRON SHADOWS IN THE MOON" & "THE MAN-EATERS OF ZAMBOULA"

* VOL 4 - Featuring "BEYOND THE BLACK RIVER" & "HOUR OF THE DRAGON"

Discover the true Conan, unrestrained, violent, and sexual. Read the stories as he intended!