DIE 2 out tomorrow (Plus the reprint of issue 1). As in, January 9th.
Preview? It’s just above. The pictures with the words on ‘em. Glad to be back.
First two reviews: Adventures In Poor Taste. The Brazen Bull.
die-comic reblogged
Die by Kieron Gillen and Stephanie Hans. (Image) Die is one of them, perhaps because it speaks to much of the above. Only one issue has come out as I write this in December of 2018, but it’s the most memorable and accessible debut issue I’ve read in a long time.
On the surface, it’s about a bunch of teens who disappear into a role-playing game in 1991. All but one return to the real world two year later. 25 years after that, they go back in search of their missing friend. It’s a great high concept. As Kieron describes in the backmatter, the idea sprung from the question “whatever happened to the kids from the 1980s Dungeons and Dragons cartoon?”. Comparisons to Stranger Things, Stephen King’s It, even Narnia are bound to be made.
But at its core it’s about those of us who grew up obsessed with fantasy, now forced to look at the gap between where we imagined our lives when we were first introduced to something magical (like comics), and where we are now. And to look at that fantasy, and our obsession with it, through a new lens.
For readers, that new lens comes into focus thanks to Stephanie Hans. A stunning cover painter, she shows she can not only maintain that level of beauty on interiors but employ innovative sequential storytelling techniques as well.
Mark Sable writes about DIE in his books of the year over at The Comics Journal.
I was going to do a bunch of posts of the reviews, but realised that would be overkill and take over this tumblr. Probably best to just link to the Comic Book Round Up, which includes links to (count ‘em!) twenty.
Issue 2, out tomorrow. Excited!
(via kierongillen)
I’m doing some updating of the actual site so it links to tags on tumblr, and realised I hadn’t put Elizabeth’s review on the tumblr. As it was first, I really should. Here it is.
Review of the first issue which is a fun one. It’s good to finally get this in people’s hands and seeing what they make of it.
die-comic reblogged
DIEing Thoughts
The first issue of DIE, the Image series that looks set to define where Kieron Gillen goes next after WicDiv, lands this Wednesday. Tim + Alex have read a review copy of the first issue, so we decided to talk it over and share the highlights with y’all.
We tried to ensure the discussion is pretty much spoiler-free. But obviously, if you want to go into the first issue knowing nothing, maybe bookmark this and come back on Wednesday.
Alex: So, what did you make of it?
Tim: I enjoyed it a lot. I don’t think it had quite the same immediate impact as the first issue of WicDiv, but there’s a lot I’m excited about.
Alex: That is, unsurprisingly, the first comparison I immediately reached for. Is it the first creator-owned ongoing Gillen has launched since then?
Tim: I think so? Uber launched before WicDiv, and Mercury Heat was only 12 issues.
Alex: Anyway, for me it definitely has that same feeling of, oh, okay, this is what Gillen is interested in doing next.
The Wicked + The Divine #1 surprised both of us, I think, because it was so firmly plot-driven. After years as dedicated Phonomancers, it was weird to see a Gillen + McKelvie pop music comic that ended on a big cliffhanger.
Review podcast about DIE and Prodigy, which likes them both a lot. Quite fun in that this is someone who hasn’t really responded to my work before, and was taking in completely by this. I have suspected this is going to get some people who I may have left cold before.
To pull a quote...
“I promise I’m not being hyperbolic when I say there’s good reason to believe DIE has the potential to follow in the footsteps of Saga, Invincible, and The Walking Dead to become an instant classic for Image.“
...which is kind