Spinner Rack: Arkham Horror and Gatchaman

Does my Spidey-Sense detect a crossover? No. No, it does not.

The spinner rack just keeps spinning, doesn’t it? There’s a metaphor for life in there somewhere, maybe, but (as per usual) I’m talking about comics. I’ve got three books coming out today. One is a first issue. One is a second issue. And one is a second-printing of a first issue.

Let’s get to it!

ARKHAM HORROR #1: THE TERROR AT THE END OF TIME

Life was all just one big game to adventuring socialite Jenny Barnes. That was, until her sister was abducted by a dangerous cult. Although Jenny thwarted the cultists sacrificial endeavors, and battled the eldritch monsters at their command, the high priestess Abigail Olmstead fled—and took Izzie with her. Private investigator Joe Diamond may not understand Jenny’s story but he understands loss. Joe and Jenny must work together and follow the clues to find Izzie, but more horrors await them in Arkham, Massachusetts, and time appears to be running out...

Written by Eisner-nominated master of horror Cullen Bunn.

The first comic-based addition to the Arkham Horror universe — a Lovecraft Horror from entertainment leader Asmodee, featuring a cooperative adventure board game, cooperative living card game, and several tie-in novellas.

Back in the 80s, when the ARKHAM HORROR board game first came out, I scored a copy and invited some of my friends to come over and play. Before they arrived, I opened the box to set the game up… and was quickly overwhelmed with all the pieces. I put the game away and, when my friends arrived, we played something else.

Since that time, different editions of the game have come out, and I’ve played and enjoyed them. And I’ve really loved the shared world feel of the games in the Arkham Horror Universe.

These days, I’ve played the ARKHAM HORROR card game quite a bit, and it is a ton of fun, and I like the related fiction that has been coming out connected to the game.

I’ve been part of discussions about an ARKHAM HORROR comic book for years with different editors and different publishers. Some of the people who have brought it up to me are not even in the comic book business any longer. I kind of thought it was something awesome that would never really happen. So, when Dark Horse reached out and asked if I might be interested in the book, I was flummoxed.

And I’m working with my pal (and awesome illustrator) Andrea Mutti again? Double-flummoxed!

Writing the book, I knew I wanted to focus on my favorite ARKHAM HORROR character—Jenny Barnes. And, yes, this comic is a follow-up to the events of the novella HOUR OF THE HUNTRESS, but you do not have to read that novella to follow this tale.

GATCHAMAN #2

A terrifying mecha has attacked the city of Amegapolis!

The Science Ninja Team are the city’s only savior from total destruction… but their ship is trapped in the monstrosity’s magnetic grasp! Meanwhile, world-renowned scientists are being captured by an unknown entity. With the Ninja Team out of commission and the town in danger, who can Doctor Nambu call on? The second exciting issue in an ongoing series that expands upon the original anime series!

Chris Batista and I have been having a lot of crazy fun with this comic! With GATCHAMAN, we’re trying to recreate the intense adrenaline rush excitement we had when we watched the cartoon in our younger days. And we want the book to be friendly to a wide range of readers, young and old alike, whether they were previously familiar with the franchise or not.

I saw a bunch of reviews for the series (and for this issue) and it seems like folks are digging it. One of the reviews I saw (from Chris’s Comics Corner by Chris Rundt) had this little snippet that I liked:

“I often opine about the lack of fun in the current comics medium and this series bucks that trend. It not only bucks it, it embraces it and that is what makes it stand out in a flooded market of comic books.”

Fun is the name of the game for this series!

GATCHAMAN #1 (Second Printing)

The triumphant return of Gatchaman, the iconic Japanese animated franchise of a five-member, bird-themed superhero team, known to Western audiences as Battle of the Planets!

A mechanical terror has descended upon numerous cities and the world's greatest scientists are disappearing. Our only hope: Science Ninja Team Gatchaman! As they battle these machinations from the international terrorist organization known as Galactor, their strength, willpower, and even vehicles are pushed to the absolute limit. If they fail…who's waiting in the wings to take their place? The first exciting issue in an ongoing series that expands upon the original anime series!

If you missed the first issue of GATCHAMAN when it came out, here’s your chance to nab it! The second printing (with a lovely new cover) is on the shelves!

And, just to keep you in the loop, here’s a look at books that are coming up in the near future!

Thanks for checking out this missive! My books can be found at (or ordered from) your favorite comic book retailer! I hope you’ll check them out!

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