Robot 6
SDCC ’10 | Marvel announces Strange Tales II [UPDATED]
Strange Tales II #1 by Rafael Grampa
Strange days indeed! At today’s Mondo Marvel panel at the San Diego Comic-Con, Marvel officially announced the October launch Strange Tales II. Like the original Strange Tales anthology, the sequel will be three giant-sized issues’ worth of alternative, underground, indie, and web cartoonists putting their stamp on Marvel’s characters. The line-up this time around includes Alex Robinson, Dash Shaw, David Heatley, Dean Haspiel, Edu Medeiros, Farel Dalrymple, Frank Santoro, Gene Yang, Gilbert Hernandez, Harvey Pekar, Jaime Hernandez, Jeff Lemire, Jeffrey Brown, Jhonen Vasquez, Jillian Tamaki, Jon Vermilyea, Kate Beaton, Nick Gurewitch, Paul Hornschemeier, Paul Maybury, Rafael Grampa (that’s his cover above), Shannon Wheeler, Terry Moore, Tim Hamilton, Tony Millionaire, and the proverbial “and more.”
UPDATE: Just added to the roster: Benjamin Marra, Sheldon Vella, and Ty Templeton. Dang!
The project has been rumored pretty much since the first issue of Strange Tales I hit stands, with many of its contributors enthusiastically leaking news of its creation and posting images on their websites. Heck, Santoro even scanned his Spider-Man-branded paycheck for his Silver Surfer contribution.
Over at Marvel.com I interviewed editor Jody LeHeup about the project. [UPDATE: Link added. Thanks, Ben Morse!] LeHeup gives the scoop on a few of the first volume’s more controversial pieces from Jim Rugg, Brian Maruca, Max Cannon, and Peter Bagge, and in my favorite part of the interview he talks about the book’s impact on traditional Marvel readers:
Actually I’ve read several responses from fans of Marvel comics who weren’t necessarily fans of “indie” comics that really got a lot out of the book. So much so that some wonder why we don’t have more stories like this as backups in our more traditional issues. And many have expressed a desire to check out more works by the creators in question. So while I doubt we were successful in broadening the horizons of every Marvel fan, the answer is a definite yes, and in my mind, that makes this book a win.
Please put me on the record as a vote for altcomix backups in mainstream Marvel books. “Avengers, by Brian Michael Bendis, John Romita Jr., and Gilbert Hernandez”? Sure, I’ll eat it!
23 Comments
Nicholas
July 22, 2010 at 3:55 pm
I want that cover for a poster!!!
Damn, these independence artists, Rafael Grampa and Juan Jose Ryp is the new “Paul Pope”!
Ortiz
July 22, 2010 at 4:11 pm
Harvey Pekar? Really, REALLY interested.
Peace.
Mitchell Craig
July 22, 2010 at 4:23 pm
Pekar?
Wow.
Up next: R. Crumb Wolverine?
Stranger things HAVE happened.
Adam K
July 22, 2010 at 4:26 pm
I AM SO FUCKING EXCITED.
THIS RULES.
CAPS LOCK
Jason Michael
July 22, 2010 at 6:48 pm
I really enjoyed the first series, and this looks to be as good a line-up of talent.
But I vote “NO!” on continuing this by having it run as back ups in mainstream Marvel books. I like having them in their own title. Because I don’t actually buy many regular Marvel titles anymore. It’s easier to get the stuff I’m interested in this way.
Kumar
July 22, 2010 at 6:54 pm
Excellent line-up again this time!
Ozymandas
July 22, 2010 at 7:10 pm
That is one hell of a lineup. Looking very forward to this.
Joe Yank
July 22, 2010 at 7:42 pm
Floppies and trade: sold and sold.
Mike Muller
July 22, 2010 at 8:31 pm
If Jon Vermilyea doesn’t do Man-Thing I’ll be PISSED!
Nicholas
July 22, 2010 at 10:10 pm
Rafael Grampa MUST draw The Avengers, period!!!
Clemfold
July 23, 2010 at 4:28 am
I didn’t think I’d ever see Alex Robinson working for Marvel, pleased that he will though. AND Kate Beaton AND Ty Templeton, both great choices for this.
themonte9
July 23, 2010 at 6:10 am
I have the first in flop and Hardcover……I need the new one. Love that they are doing another. So Many Great Indy Artist. Rafael Grampa’s Cover needs to be a POSTER!!!!!!
PaxHouse
July 23, 2010 at 7:19 am
Wow-wie……A sequel, eh..??
And it appears that the readers will get a chance to see one of Pekar’s first & final work for Marvel (unless he did before within the 1st STRANGE TALES Anthologies.
Thad
July 23, 2010 at 8:20 am
Love the cover; loved the first set. Looking forward to this one.
“Please put me on the record as a vote for altcomix backups in mainstream Marvel books. “Avengers, by Brian Michael Bendis, John Romita Jr., and Gilbert Hernandez”? Sure, I’ll eat it!”
I was pleasantly surprised recently to find that Bart Simpson appears to be going this route — they’ve got a regular Aragones backup, and I picked one up the other week that had a Dorkin story.
Beto did one of the Treehouse of Horror anthologies a few years back, and I think he did a story in Simpsons Comics after that (though that might have been Bart Simpson too).
Ryan George
July 23, 2010 at 10:16 am
Rafael Grampa=New KING OF COMICS!
Kickass Annie
July 23, 2010 at 10:35 am
I’d like this even more if Michael DeForge was a contributor!!!
Killroy
July 23, 2010 at 10:35 am
“Jhonen Vasquez”? Hell yes. Can anyone imagine this sick muther fucker writing for Spider-Man and Venom, or the Hulk!? Bow down to greatness, I shall.
R-L-A-George
July 23, 2010 at 11:05 am
Sweeeeeeet….Holy crap O_O……I’d love to be a part of something like this sometime, a girl can dream ^_^
Ryan
July 23, 2010 at 2:04 pm
Jhonen Vasquez! Yes!
Nicole
August 6, 2010 at 8:27 am
kate beatonnnnnnnn
and some other people.
Marie France
August 6, 2010 at 8:39 am
Kate Beaton AND Tony Millionaire!
Kate Beaton!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nobara
August 11, 2010 at 10:05 pm
http://twitter.com/JhonenV
Seems like Jhonen is out
Jesskah
September 19, 2010 at 4:25 pm
Nope, Jhonen is in. He did MODOK.