Latest news with #OniPress
New York Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
8 Comics to Read This Pride Month
Suburban moms, international locales, caped-and-cowled heroes and villains and a couple of autobiographical tales are all part of the mix in this collection of comic books and graphic novels celebrating L.G.B.T.Q.+ champions. Happy Pride! Hey, Mary! A teenage boy, Mark Dudyk, is struggling to reconcile his sexual identity with his Christianity. The story is thoughtful and also takes provocative leaps: Mark envisions conversations with saints whose sexuality was erased in interpretations of the Bible. The soldiers and martyrs Sergius and Bacchus, who are drawn here with the chiseled good looks of runway models, present a simple truth: 'There have always been queer people, since before we had the language for it.' Written by Andrew Wheeler and drawn by Rye Hickman. (Oni Press. Available now.) Love Languages Sarah Huxley and Ping Loh have their meet-cute moment in Paris when Sarah, trying to avoid two aggressive mimes, stumbles on a street and Ping comes to her aid. An unlikely relationship begins — one that has to surmount a language barrier: The women communicate haltingly in English, French and Cantonese. (The word balloons include English translations of what is being spoken.) There is a joyous moment for the women when Sarah finally gets the hang of Cantonese. By James Albon. (Top Shelf. Available Now.) Motherlover Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Geek Vibes Nation
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Geek Vibes Nation
GVN Exclusive: Cave Grave: Wild West Tales By Shawn Kuruneru Coming From Oni Press In March 2026
Back in September of 2022, talented creator Shawn Kuruneru brought his Western Noir Thriller—Cave Grave to Kickstarter. Cave Grave tells the story of three outlaws and a robbery that leads them down a terrifying path. The campaign was successful, and those who contributed were rewarded with a great title from a rising comic star. Looking ahead, Oni Press and Shawn are gearing up to bring this exciting story, along with a brand-new tale, to a wide audience in March 2026. Thanks to Oni Press and creator Shawn Kuruneru, we're thrilled to share this exclusive announcement and page preview of 'Cave Grave: Wild West Tales.' Cartoonist Shawn Kuruneru Goes Guns Blazing for CAVE GRAVE: WILD WEST TALES – Coming Spring 2026 from Oni Press! The Acclaimed Artist of THE GODDAMN TRAGEDY and BLACK HAMMER: COLONEL WEIRD & LITTLE ANDROMED A Presents a Two-Fisted, Original Graphic Novel PORTLAND, OR (May 28, 2025) Oni Press, the multiple Eisner and Harvey Award-winning publisher of groundbreaking comics and graphic novels since 1997, is proud to announce CAVE GRAVE: WILD WEST TALES – a powerful and power burned collection of two previously self-published graphic novellas written and illustrated by acclaimed cartoonist and fast-rising star Shawn Kuruneru. Recently making Oni Press debut as the artist of THE GODDAMN TRAGEDY (with writer Chris Condon), Kuruneru is a Montreal-based writer/artist who also appeared in series including Fishflies (with writer/artist Jeff Lemire) and Black Hammer: Colonel Weird & Little Andromeda (with writer Tate Brombal). Slated for release as a uniquely sized and specially designed hardcover collection in March 2026, CAVE GRAVE: WILD WEST TALES will mark the first widely available solo collection of work from one of the most closely watched cartoonists in the industry today. CAVE GRAVE: WILD WEST TALES features two startling stories of double-crossing desperation and hopeless humanity set against a backdrop of the lawless Wild West. In Cave Grave, the art of double-crossing is taken to a new extreme as three struggling thieves attempt to pull off the heist of a lifetime—only to realize they've stolen more than they bargained for. In Poor Moon, a cowboy searching for purpose turns to bounty hunting. Catch, return, reward—it's simple, until he picks up a bounty that'll change his life forever… Shawn Kuruneru CAVE GRAVE collects two Western stories, Cave Grave and Poor Moon. Cave Grave starts as a straightforward heist story that follows outlaw brothers Jimmy and Harv, and their friend the ruthless Jacky Boy. After stealing a mysterious satchel, the thieves hide in a cave where they discover a creature lurking in the shadows and must overcome their greed to make it out alive. Then, in Poor Moon, an ex-soldier turned bounty hunter named Held yearns for peace. One last big score sets him on a journey searching for the wanted Cassie the killer. The closer Held gets to Cassie, the more he is pulled into a world of violence and murder. I love drawing the Western environment and wanted to write crime stories in the vein of Alfred Hitchcock—psychological edge, unexpected twists, and a focus on the characters' internal struggles and paranoia. These two stories deal with a constant desire for wealth and power, and how that obsession can manifest into something monstrous. Editor Megan Brown Shawn's gorgeous, evocative art will take you back to the Wild West at its most desperate, its most greedy, and its most tragic. A stunning look at the vastness of the environment and those struggling to make a name within it, these stories will leave you wanting more—and we're so excited for folks to be able to experience them soon in comic shops and bookstores.' Saddle up and get ready to ride to the edge of your seat when Shawn Kuruneru's CAVE GRAVE: WILD WESTERN TALES arrives in comic shops and bookstores everywhere on March 3, 2026! For more updates on Oni Press, visit them on Bluesky, Facebook, and Instagram.
Geek Vibes Nation
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Vibes Nation
GVN Talking Comics Exclusive Look: Oni Press 'THE SIXTH GUN: BATTLE FOR THE SIX #0'
In July of 2023, we had the privilege of speaking with Cullen Bunn and Brian Hurtt, the creative duo behind Oni Press's The Sixth Gun. During that conversation, as they were promoting 'THE SIXTH GUN DELUXE OMNIBUS LIBRARY' on Kickstarter, these talented creators hinted at their desire to introduce a new story within The Sixth Gun universe. Hints Become Reality Well, that hint has become a reality as coming July 23rd, Oni Press, Cullen Bunn and Brian Hurtt will bring The Sixth Gun: Battle for the Six to fans who have been hoping for more and those new to the Sixth Gun Saga. Coming June 4th, Oni Press is releasing The Sixth Gun: Battle for the Six Issue# 0 'a one-shot prelude featuring three all-new short stories spotlighting key cast members from THE SIXTH GUN in the years between the series' epic conclusion with issue #50 and its forthcoming resurgence in THE SIXTH GUN: BATTLE FOR THE SIX #1!' Exclusive Page Preview Now thanks to Oni Press and the generosity of the creative team of Bunn and Hurtt, we are proud to present this exclusive 5-page preview of The Sixth Gun: Battle for the Six, Issue#0. This is followed by excerpts from the Press Release and comments by the creators. Press Release – Excerpts In 1866, out of the ruins of the failed Confederate uprising, a race to claim six objects of unfathomable occult power began … thrusting the fate of humanity into the hands of an ordinary young woman and a hard-nosed gunslinger who, together, were our last, best hope to forestall Armageddon. At a terrible price, they prevailed. But that was then. This is now. Three decades later, as the gears of a new millennium begin to grind on the cusp of the 20th Century, THE SIXTH GUN is about to be REBORN once more – as it has been countless times across the eons. This time, however, a brigade of familiar fighters lies in wait to meet THE SIXTH GUN's nigh-limitless power head on … alongside a secret cabal that wish to harness its unspeakable power to incept a new century of war, genocide, and suffering. Only one will survive to claim victory. THE BATTLE FOR THE SIX is about to begin! The return to one of the 21st Century's first true creator-owned comics classics beginning on June 4 in THE SIXTH GUN: ROAD TO THE SIX #0, featuring covers by Brian Hurtt (Manor Black), Justin Greenwood (Army of Darkness Forever), and Matt Kindt (Mind MGMT) … and then master storytellers Cullen Bunn and Brian Hurtt reload the chambers of their occult American odyssey for a brand-new generation in THE SIXTH GUN: BATTLE FOR THE SIX #1 – coming to comic shops everywhere July 23! Co-Creator and Artist Brian Hurtt 'Returning to the world of THE SIXTH GUN has felt like a homecoming!' said co-creator and artist Brian Hurtt. 'This series is such a monumental part of my life, and finding a way to spend more time playing in this sandbox that Cullen and I created has been an absolute joy—and I think our shared enthusiasm comes through in this series. I'm so excited to invite readers—new and old—back into this world with us!' Co-Creator and Writer Cullen Bunn 'Sometimes, the world just gets me down, you know. Like…I'm not sure I have the physical or mental fortitude to soldier on. Then…I realize…there's a new SIXTH GUN series on the way! 'With that knowledge, I can face the tempest. I remember, as Drake Sinclair said, the apocalypse can't stop me.' Oni Press Senior Editor Bess Pallares
Geek Vibes Nation
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Vibes Nation
GVN Talking Comics Interview: Philip K. Dick Award Winning Writer Ben H. Winters For Oni Press 'Benjamin #1'
Author Ben H. Winters has exercised his immense writing talent in a myriad of media. His is the creator of CBS' acclaimed TV series Tracker and author of the Edgar Award-winning and Philip K. Dick Award-winning 'The Last Policeman' novel trilogy. So, it came as no surprise that he would eventually try his hand at comics. Starting with EC's Cruel Universe , and Underground Airlines. Now Ben is tackling his first full-length comic by Oni Press, the part series, Benjamin# 1 with artwork by acclaimed illustrator Leomacs (EC's Epitaphs from the Abyss, DC Black Label's Rogues). Here is the synopsis of this exciting new book as stated in their previous press release: In the tradition of Philip K. Dick's A Scanner Darkly and Thomas Pynchon's Inherent Vice comes a uniquely fascinating and hilariously deranged excursion into the metatextual nexus where existence and oblivion, past and future, genius and madness, and glitter and grim reality all meet just beyond Hollywood Boulevard in the first of three prestige-format, ad-free issues unlike anything you've ever experienced . . . in this timeline anyway . . . More than just a writer, more than just a science-fiction icon, Benjamin J. Carp was a cultural revolutionary. Across 44 novels and hundreds of short stories—including the counterculture classic The Man They Couldn't Erase—Carp pushed the boundaries of literary respectability for the sci-fi genre and his readers' perception of reality itself . . . until decades of amphetamine abuse and Southern California excess finally ended a mind-bending career that always just escaped mainstream success. He died in 1982. Until 2025 . . . when Benjamin J. Carp awakens, alive, in a burned-out motel on the fringes of Los Angeles. He remembers dying. He knows he shouldn't exist. Is he a dream? A robot? A ghost? A clone? A simulation? In his own time, Carp pondered all of these scenarios intensely through his fiction—and now, as he treks from Studio City to Venice Beach and onward into the paranoid sprawl of 21st-century Los Angeles, he will be called to investigate his greatest mystery yet: himself. In advance of the release of Benjamin #1 , we had the opportunity to catch up with the talented writer to discuss his career, his turn at comics and his newest venture with Oni Press and artist Leomacs. So, let's welcome award-winning writer Ben H. Winters to GVN Talking Comics. The Origins of his Writing GVN: Thank you for taking a moment to chat, Ben. Since this is our first conversation, I'd like to begin by discussing your creative beginnings. When did you first develop an interest in writing, and which authors inspired you to pursue that goal? BEN: Well, thank YOU! Like so many writers, I'm absolutely desperate for attention, so any chance to talk about myself is a real gift, and I don't take it for granted. I've always loved to write—always loved to tell stories of all kinds. When I was in third grade, I wrote a series of stories called Piggy Wiggy, in which the title character (a pig) would always die in some convoluted way in the end. A huge, huge hit with everyone over at Taylor Elementary, I assure you. And now that I think of it, most episodes were illustrated by my friend Victor Chang, so those were officially my first creator-owned comics. Favorite authors is such a tough question. There are so many, from so many different times of my life. I have had transformative experiences reading Patricia Highsmith; reading Alan Moore; reading George Eliot; reading and listening to Stephen Sondheim. As a kid I really loved any sort of sci-fi or fantasy that was also funny or tongue in cheek; so obviously Douglas Adams, and Terry Pratchett, and I loved the 'Myth' books by Robert Aspirin. I could go on—boy, could I. I haven't even mentioned Charles Dickens. The Impact of Music and Comedy GVN: Even before you began writing, you had a diverse range of interests. You were a member of the punk band Corm and also participated in the comedy group Mama's Pot Roast while attending Washington University in St. Louis. Did any of these experiences influence your writing, or were they simply other ways for you to explore your creative side? BEN: Oh, it's all writing. It's all building the muscles and learning the tricks of it, whether you know it or not. In the band I was the bass player (and not a very good one) but my main role was as the lyricist, and it was an early foray into putting words to interesting use. It was also an early experience in collaboration—my primary writing partner was our guitar player, John Davis, who went on to have an illustrious rock and roll career (notably in the DC post-punk band Q and Not U). As to college comedy, that was mostly just me finding my tribe, as one ought to do in college. But you do learn a lot about writing through improvisation. Namely that you need to take risks; be unafraid of embarrassment; trust your own ideas. Take the leap. Just go. That's what I cherish about that time in my life. The Transition to Writing Comics GVN: You have successfully written in various media, including fiction, audio, poetry, screenplays, and television. All of which has been critically praised. Thus, it made sense that you tackled the comic book genre, starting with EC's 'Cruel Universe.' Did you have to make any changes to your creative process when taking on this new challenge, or is storytelling just storytelling, no matter what the medium? BEN: Well, I don't know if all of it has been critically praised, but I'll take the compliment. I guess I have a restless creative spirit, which is another way of saying that sometimes success as a creative person involves hustling, i.e. taking the gigs, you can get. There is a formal challenge to comic writing, which is just, you know, how do you lay out a comics script? How do you clearly communicate to your editor and artists what it is you're imagining? And then the artistic challenge is in concision: you want each panel to pull its weight, so to speak. A novel can expand outward forever—it shouldn't, but it can—where a comic needs to work within those allotted 32 pages or whatever it is. Having said that, I do accept your premise: storytelling is storytelling. The fundamentals of good characters, interesting situations, surprising events, catharsis, theme…these are all applicable across the various media. Oni Press 'Benjamin' GVN: Your latest comic series, titled 'Benjamin,' is your first creator-owned project with Oni Press. It marks the beginning of a three-issue exploration of life, death, and everything in between, illustrated by the talented Leomacs. How did this project come to be, and how long has it been in development? BEN: I met Oni Publisher Hunter Gorinson at a crossroads at midnight on a full moon night, and he offered me the opportunity to write a three-issue prestige series in exchange for my immortal soul. I said I would need to talk it over with my lawyer, but he said there was no time for that. In retrospect, I guess I probably should have insisted on a more traditional contract, but I'm very proud of the comic, so, you know—pros and cons. Working with Leomacs GVN: As I mentioned, you are collaborating with Leomacs (EC's Epitaphs from the Abyss, DC Black Label's Rogues). How did this partnership come about, and how did his work enhance the story? BEN: Oh, man – he is so great. The partnership was pure comics-world matchmaking; since I am relatively new to this world and had no existing contacts in the art world, I relied on the incredible editor Sierra Hahn to point me toward possible pencilers, and Leomacs just seemed like he'd be perfect. And he was! Oni Press Gives 'Benjamin' the Deluxe Treatment GVN: Through Oni Press, Benjamin is getting the deluxe treatment with enhanced design elements, deluxe cardstock covers, and a select group of variant cover artists. Was this part of the selling point to you for agreeing to work with Oni, or was it merely their way of giving Benjamin the quality it deserved? BEN: Oh, I love this story so much, and was so excited to tell it, I would have said yes even if they were going to print it on a pile of greasy napkins. But I am absolutely honored to be getting the deluxe treatment and delighted for Leomacs to see his work so lovingly presented. BENJAMIN_001_Cover-B_LEOMACS BENJAMIN_001_Cover-C_MWARD BENJAMIN_001_Cover-A_MWARD BENJAMIN_001_FullArt_WARD Future Projects GVN: Thank you again, Ben, for your kind indulgence. Before I let you go, I want to give you the chance to promote any other new projects you have upcoming. BEN: Benjamin is my main focus for now! I hope people get a chance to read and enjoy and reach out to let me know what you think! If you're dying for more Ben, my most recent novel is called BIG TIME and that came out last year. Thanks so much! Oni Press Benjamin# 1 by Ben H. Winters and Leomacs is coming to comic stores near you on June 18th.
