by Jarrod Jones. Humanoids just made a tremendous splash at this year’s New York Comic Con.
After the juggernaut announcements earlier this week that John Cassaday and Mark Waid would be joining the international graphic novel publisher in major roles (Chief Creative Officer and Director of Creative Development, respectively) comes an exciting declaration: The House that Built Métal Hurlant is extending its powers towards a new publishing initiative called H1. As for what H1 is, well. This is where it gets good.
H1 will feature ongoing series that tie into a shared superhero universe and original, stand-alone mini-series, both of which boast incredible creators who hail from all corners of the comics industry.
Image: H1/Humanoids
H1’s first wave of creators is as follows:
John Cassaday * Mark Waid * Kwanza Osajyefo * Carla Speed McNeil * Yanick Paquette * Phil Briones * Afua Richardson * Vanessa Del Rey * Dennis Calero * Shawn Martinbrough * Jock * Mike McKone * Jonathan Lang * Cheryl Lynn Eaton * Helen Mullane * Andrea Mutti * Quinton Peeples * Dom Reardon * Darick Roberston *Alberto Albuquerque
“H1 represents a number of important milestones for Humanoids,” Fabrice Giger, Humanoids CEO and Publisher, said in an official press release. “This is our first foray into a shared universe, one with stories by talented creators whose undeniable creative chemistry is forging a new and fantastic world. Next summer, we’re launching three ongoing comic book series, the first three ongoing periodicals in this company’s history, and we’ll be publishing them in an unprecedented and unexpected way which we’ll announce in the coming months.”
H1 kicks off next summer with an opening salvo of three exciting new series—Omni, Ignited, and Strangelands—though details and creative teams won’t be announced until next year.
“Today marks the next step in the continuing evolution of Humanoids,” Humanoids Senior Editor Fabrice Sapolsky continued. “H1 provides powerful, political, personal and provocative superpowered stories. And the stand alone, self contained mini- series are bold and ambitious. They are going to get people talking. Today marks a new chapter in comics history and we invite fans to join us now, from Day H1.”
Beyond the superhero shenanigans found in the ongoing H1 universe, Humanoids has also announced an array of self-contained mini-series featuring talents such as Dennis Calero, Jock, Shawn Martinbrough, Helen Mullane, Andrea Mutti, Quinton Peeples, Dom Reardon, and Darick Roberston.
Synopses for all projects can be found below, along with the official press release. Long live H1!
Image: H1/Humanoids
IGNITED
Something strange is happening to the planet… Nature itself is reshaping and redefining the balance of power. Natural disasters are breaking out everywhere, and yet, the population continues to grow rapidly. In fact, the world is becoming so dense, that certain individuals are erupting with super abilities. They are called the Ignited.
Image: H1/Humanoids
OMNI
A gifted doctor with a vibrant, compassionate personality, Cecelia Cobbina received boundless praise from her peers and her patients. But that was before the incident in Africa. Before she gained the ability to think faster than the speed of light. Overwhelmed with the power to answer every question, she must now overcome her own fears and tackle the one code she can’t seem to break: the truth behind the Ignited.
Image: H1/Humanoids
STRANGELANDS
Opposites attract? Elakshi and Adam Land aren’t married. In fact, a month ago, they were perfect strangers, dwelling in lands foreign to one another. But now, they’re forced to remain by one another’s side, for their separation could mean the planet’s demise. Now, their greatest challenge is to stay together — even if they have to tear the world apart.
ORIGINAL H1 MINI-SERIES
Image: H1/Humanoids
THE BIG COUNTRY (5 issue mini-series)
The Old West finally died in the early 1980s. We’re in Texas. And this is the story of Grissom Callahan, the last in a long line of sheriffs. Callahan has learned everything he knows from his father and his grandfather. But the old ways don’t seem to prove efficient when it comes to stopping a violent serial killer. And in a simple moment of shaking down an informant, Grissom will start a chain of events that will reshape his life and the world of law enforcement in Texas.
Image: H1/Humanoids
MEYER (5 issue mini-series)
A comedic, coming-of-age quest where the Golden Fleece is a man’s legacy, Meyer is an immigrant’s story rooted in an old mobster’s tale and a deeply moral fable. A Breaking Bad style imaginary biography of Jewish legendary mobster Meyer Lansky as he’s trying to organize his very last con job.
Image: H1/Humanoids
NICNEVIN AND THE BLOODY QUEEN (4 issue mini-series)
Something strange has been unleashed in the North of England. A modern-day druid commits a series of ghastly murders in an attempt to unleash the awesome power of the ancient gods of Great Britain. But all hell really breaks loose when his latest would-be victim, Nicnevin “Nissy” Oswald, turns out to be more than she seems. A British tale mixing black magic and horror godfathered by Jock, one of the new masters of comic book suspense!
From Humanoids: Humanoids, the publisher of some of the world’s most iconic and groundbreaking science fiction and fantasy graphic novels, is launching a major initiative in 2019 to publish original comic book stories written and illustrated by some of the biggest names in comics. During the Humanoids 20th Anniversary In America panel at New York Comic Con, the publisher unveiled H1, an imprint of comic books, featuring a shared superpowered universe with all new characters and stories created by a dizzying lineup of comic book creators. Humanoids’ new Chief Creative Officer John Cassaday and Humanoids’ new Director of Creative Development Mark Waid are closely collaborating with a core team of H1 architects: Kwanza Osajyefo (Black, Black AF), Yanick Paquette (Wonder Woman Earth One) and Carla Speed McNeil (Finder, Sensation Comics) to create an ambitious storytelling experience with creators including Phil Briones, Vanessa Del Rey, Cheryl Lynn Eaton, Mike McKone and Afua Richardson.
“H1 represents a number of important milestones for Humanoids,” said Humanoids CEO and Publisher, Fabrice Giger. “This is our first foray into a shared universe, one with stories by talented creators whose undeniable creative chemistry is forging a new and fantastic world. Next summer, we’re launching three ongoing comic book series, the first three ongoing periodicals in this company’s history, and we’ll be publishing them in an unprecedented and unexpected way which we’ll announce in the coming months.”
Humanoids will launch H1 in Summer 2019 with 3 ongoing series, with details and creative teams being announced next year.
“Today marks the next step in the continuing evolution of Humanoids,” said Senior Editor Fabrice Sapolsky. “H1 provides powerful, political, personal and provocative superpowered stories. And the stand alone, self contained mini- series are bold and ambitious. They are going to get people talking. Today marks a new chapter in comics history and we invite fans to join us now, from Day H1.”
About Humanoids: Co-founded by legendary creator Mœbius, HUMANOIDS released its first graphic novels 44 years ago in Paris, France, and has published thousands of titles since, including international bestsellers and iconic series such as The Incal and Barbarella. Based in Hollywood, California, with branches in Paris, London, and Tokyo, Humanoids is currently developing multiple film adaptations of its books.
