By Jarrod Jones. If you’ve been among the many who’ve wondered about the future of DC Comics’ Vertigo imprint — especially with the world-shifting debut of Neil Gaiman’s Sandman Universe right around the corner — prepare to be swallowed whole by a tidal wave of thrilling information.
DC Entertainment has initiated a top-to-bottom relaunch of Vertigo Comics, now re-branded as DC Vertigo. Four titles will kick off this new initiative in September, beginning with Border Town, a cross-dimensional romp through a small Arizonan town from writer Eric M. Esquivel and artist Ramon Villalobos. Hex Wives, from Ben Blacker and Mirka Andolfo, will follow in October, with Bryan Hill and Leandro Fernandez’s American Carnage hitting in November and Goddess Mode by Zoë Quinn and Robbi Rodriguez closing out the year. Three other titles — High Level, Safe Sex, and Second Coming — are expected to drop some time in 2019.
Image: DC Entertainment
Mark Doyle, who will oversee production of this new line, is excited to begin a new era for the 25 year-old imprint. “It’s time to rebuild DC Vertigo,” he says in the official press release. “We’re returning to our roots by spotlighting the most exciting new voices in comics, as well as bringing new voices to comics. From the corners of television, games, music, activism, podcasting, comics and more, all of our creators are passionate and have something to say. These sophisticated stories have amazing new characters and vast worlds to explore. That’s what it has always been about for me—new stories, new voices, new possibilities. We’re creating a new generation of DC Vertigo classics for readers of all genres.”
Solicit info for the new lineup follows, including creative teams, covers, and preliminary dates for what looks to be a bold new era for the provocative and influential imprint.
BORDER TOWN
Written by Eric M. Esquivel (Adventure Time, Starburns Presents)
Art and covers by Ramon Villalobos (Nighthawk, America)
When a crack in the border between worlds releases an army of monsters from Mexican folklore into the small town of Devil’s Fork, Arizona, the residents blame the ensuing weirdness—the shared nightmares, the otherworldly radio transmissions, the mysterious goat mutilations—on “God-dang illegals.” With racial tensions supernaturally charged, it’s up to new kid in town Frank Dominguez and a motley crew of high school misfits to discover what’s REALLY going on.
SEPTEMBER 2018
HEX WIVES
Written by Ben Blacker (co-creator of The Thrilling Adventure Hour)
Art by Mirka Andolfo (WONDER WOMAN, SHADE, THE CHANGING GIRL)
“The women are too powerful. They must be tamed.” A malevolent conspiracy of men brainwashes a coven of witches to be subservient, suburban housewives. But it’s only a matter of time before the women remember their power…
OCTOBER 2018
AMERICAN CARNAGE
Writer Bryan Hill (TITANS show set to launch on the DC-branded digital service, MICHAEL CRAY)
Art by Leandro Fernandez (THE NAMES, The Punisher Max)
In this thrilling crime saga, disgraced FBI agent Richard Wright, who is biracial but can pass for white, goes undercover in a white supremacist group believed to be responsible for the death of a fellow agent.
NOVEMBER 2018
GODDESS MODE
Written by Zoë Quinn (Crash Override, featured in People’s 25 Women Who Are Changing the World and Forbes’ 30 Under 30)
Art by Robbi Rodriguez (Spider-Gwen, FBP: FEDERAL BUREAU OF PHYSICS)
In a near future where all of humanity’s needs are administered by a godlike A.I., it’s one young woman’s horrible job to do tech support on it. But when Cassandra finds herself violently drawn into a hidden and deadly digital world beneath our own, she discovers a group of super-powered women and horrific monsters locked in a secret war for the cheat codes to reality.
DECEMBER 2018
HIGH LEVEL
Written by Rob Sheridan (former art director for Nine Inch Nails, co-creator of the Year Zero alternate reality game)
Art by Barnaby Bagenda (THE OMEGA MEN, GREEN LANTERNS)
Hundreds of years after the world ended and human society was rebuilt from scratch, a self-interested smuggler with a price on her head is forced to traverse a new continent of danger and mystery to deliver a child messiah to High Level, a mythical city at the top of the world from which no one has ever returned.
2019
SAFE SEX
Written by Tina Horn (host/producer of Why Are People Into That? podcast, writer/journalist/lecturer in sexual education and activism)
Art by Mike Dowling (UNFOLLOW, 2000 AD)
A dystopian sci-fi thriller about a ragtag team of sex workers fighting for the freedom to love in a world where sexual pleasure is monitored, regulated and policed by the government.
2019
SECOND COMING
Written by Mark Russell (God Is Disappointed in You, THE FLINTSTONES)
Art by Richard Pace (IMAGINARY FIENDS)
God sends Jesus to Earth in hopes that he will learn the family trade from Sun-Man, an all-powerful superhero, who is like the varsity quarterback son God never had. But, upon his return to Earth, Christ is appalled to discover what has become of his Gospel and vows to set the record right.
2019
From DC Vertigo: DC Entertainment is celebrating 25 years of graphic storytelling with a line-wide relaunch and rebranding, returning to where it all began with DC Vertigo. Following the news of a Neil Gaiman-curated Sandman Universe imprint, DC Vertigo will continue to expand its slate with seven new series from bold voices across various entertainment backgrounds including novels, games, television, comics and more.
The relaunch is helmed by Mark Doyle, who returned to DC Vertigo last year after oversight of the Batman group of titles for DC. Under his leadership, DC Vertigo editorial is rededicating its focus to creating modern, socially relevant, high-concept, inventive stories appealing to readers of all genres.
DC Vertigo has curated seven new comic books giving writers and artists the creative freedom to tell their most imaginative stories. Kicking off the next 25 years of DC Vertigo, four monthly series will launch this fall/winter, while the remaining titles will follow in early 2019.
“It’s time to rebuild DC Vertigo,” explains Doyle. “We’re returning to our roots by spotlighting the most exciting new voices in comics, as well as bringing new voices to comics. From the corners of television, games, music, activism, podcasting, comics and more, all of our creators are passionate and have something to say. These sophisticated stories have amazing new characters and vast worlds to explore. That’s what it has always been about for me—new stories, new voices, new possibilities. We’re creating a new generation of DC Vertigo classics for readers of all genres.”
Prior to being named DC Vertigo’s Executive Editor, Doyle began his career in comics at Vertigo in 2006. He went on to oversee the Batman family of titles, where he edited Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo’s New York Times best-selling run on BATMAN. He also led the charge in crafting Gotham-based series with varying tones such as GOTHAM ACADEMY, BATGIRL, GRAYSON and more. Doyle returns to launch DC Vertigo with a passion to bring the imprint back to the forefront of graphic storytelling.
