Arriving in March…

SKULLKICKERS #25
story JIM ZUB
art EDWIN HUANG & MISTY COATS
cover JAMES GHIO
MARCH 26 / 32 PAGES / FC / T / $3.50

“A DOZEN COUSINS AND A CRUMPLED CROWN,” Part One
Weep no more. SKULLKICKERS is back with another head-crushing story arc to fill the fantasy fun void in your life.

The dwarf has been forcibly returned to his homeland and the deranged diminutive denizens of Dwayre will make sure it’s a homecoming like no other.

Skullkickers Treasure Trove 2 has been delayed after a misprint. The mistake was caught as copies arrived at the Image Comics office but it looks like a handful found their way into distribution through Amazon.

Here’s what the misprint looks like:

The above spread has a page double printed from the previous chapter of the book.

It’s supposed to look like this:

I spoke to my Image rep about this and, if you’re one of the people who already received a copy, you can report that it’s defective to Amazon and receive a replacement when the new printing arrives.

The book is being reprinted now and, with a bit of luck, I’ll have the corrected version at New York Comicon this week, but that corrected book probably won’t be in stores until early-mid November.

My apologies for the hassle. Believe me, I wish it was correct and already available everywhere right now.

Want to get a one-of-a-kind piece of Skullkickers artwork and also help a great cause?

Reading With Pictures is running a fundraiser and Edwin Huang (artist on Skullkickers) has donated the original full size inked artwork for the splash page of Mighty Skullkickers #1 to the cause.

Bidding starts at $75 (A steal – Edwin’s commission drawings are more expensive!) so make sure you get in there and make it yours before Monday.

Over on Katie’s Korner they’ve added a review of Skullkickers Vol. 1: 1000 Opas and a Dead Body that also includes some recommended educational components teachers or librarians could use in tandem with the book. I’m flattered and thrilled that they enjoy the book so much and appreciate the extra effort put into enhancing its value as a resource in a classroom.

“What I like most about Skullkickers: 1000 Opas and a Dead Body is its ability to blend various stylistic techniques that invite comic book, anime, and graphic novel readers of all persuasions to its pages.”

Skullkickers #24 arrived in comic stores on Wednesday and it’s been well received. Here’s a selection of reviews that have popped up so far:

• Newsarama: “8/10 Skullkickers is one of the smartest comics out there and issue #24 only sets the stage for more crazy to come.”

• Weekly Crisis: “Before Skullkickers is hilarious with precious plot nuggets sprinkled here and there. Verdict: Must Read!”

• Comic Bastards: “4/5 I think all of the stories were pretty funny and stayed true to the Skullkickers brand.”

• Comic Spectrum: “4/5 I think this works as a stepping on point for the book.”

• Nerdspan: “The theme made for some interesting stories and the various creative teams really brought it home with their respective tales.”

Comic Book Resources has a 6 page preview of Skullkickers #24 (a.k.a. ‘Before Skullkickers’) posted on their site. Check out the incredible artwork of Stjepan Sejic in this short story all about Kusia written by Ron Marz.

Our fourth story arc wraps up in grand style with part 5 of ‘Eighty Eyes on an Evil Island’ in Dark Skullkickers Dark #1 (aka. Skullkickers #23). Here’s how critics have responded so far:

• Read Comic Books: “8/10 This series is adventurous, action-packed, humorous, fun, and deep all at once. Everything in this book stands out among the horde of other available titles, from the writing style to the visuals.”

• Comic Bastards: “Everything about this issue and series comes together to form one of the best titles currently being published in comics.”

• Page & Panel: “It’s like a magician explaining how a trick is done. You can still be impressed by the level of craftsmanship that goes into the trick and still amazed by the sleight of hand.”

• Omnicomic: “Huang’s pencils are phenomenal. There are quite a few pages and panels filled to the brim with all manner of beings taking in the spirits and he makes sure there’s equal variety on display.”

• Fanboy Comics: “Dark Skullkickers Dark #1 is a terrific read. It’s filled with action, drunken buffoonery, clever concepts and colorful characters.”

• Broken Frontier: “Staff Pick. Dark Skullkickers Dark #1 continues to push the boundaries of satire and swashbuckling adventure with intelligence and wit.”

• Comic Book Resources: “To say the story wraps up unexpectedly is an understatement.”