Image Unveils Millarworld/Netflix Plans and New Comic Book Projects

Image Comics held its latest Image Expo — an hours-long affair in which new projects from the company are announced — in Portland, Ore., on Wednesday, showcasing a number of returning creators as well as some new faces releasing work through the independent publisher.

Arguably the biggest news from the event was that Mark Millar and Oliver Coipel’s The Magic Order — the already announced first project from Millar’s Millarworld imprint since it was purchased by Netflix — will be released through Image starting this summer. The six-issue series was rumored to be receiving a release by Netflix itself, but Image is now expected to be the destination for all Millar’s Netflix/Millarworld projects.

Additionally, Image founder Todd McFarlane revealed new Spawn-related projects as his long-anticipated Spawn movie heads into production. In addition to the ongoing Spawn series, which is close to approaching its 300th issue, he plans to release a new ongoing series about a young teen girl out to protect those abused by others around the world, as well as three new mini-series: Medieval Spawn/Witchblade, Spawn Kills Everyone 2 and Sam and Twitch: True Detectives. The latter project, McFarlane teased, would be particularly important to fans of the movie, as “Twitch” Williams is the main character of the Spawn movie.

Of the all-new projects launched, the most eye-catching include Jook Joint — a five-issue period series about domestic abuse, race and revenge set in a brothel, written by Tee Franklin, author of the hit Bingo Love graphic novel, with art by Maria Nguyen — and Dead Guy Fan Club, a murder mystery from Annie Wu in which members of an online community reunite when the object of their teen affections is murdered and they suspect one of their fellow fans may be responsible. (Artwork above is from Dead Guy Fan Club.)

More controversial, perhaps, will be Son of Hitler, a World War II graphic novel in which the biological son of one of history’s most hated figures becomes key to an attempt to end the war. Written by Anthony Del Col, with art by Jeff McComsey and Geoff Moore, the title will be released in May.

The full list of projects unveiled during today’s presentation are:

Blackbird by Sam Humphries and Jen Bartel: “Harry Potter meets Riverdale” set in Los Angeles, according to the creators.

Bloodstrike: Brutalists by Michel Fiffe: A revival of the 1990s superhero concept by the indie comic creator, with backup features by other indie creators including Chuck Forsman and Ed Piskor.

Crowded by Christopher Sebela, Ted Brandt and Ro Stein: What happens when someone targeted by a crowdfunded assassination ends up relying on someone she found through the bodyguard version of Uber?

Dead Guy Fan Club by Annie Wu: Three old friends reunite to solve the potential murder of a once-beloved rock star.

Dead Rabbit by Gerry Duggan and John McCrea: A former mercenary comes out of retirement with the aim of becoming a modern-day Robin Hood. Things don’t necessarily go so well.

Death or Glory by Rick Remender and Bengal: Life on the open road gets dangerous when Glory, raised while traveling across the highways of the U.S., has to pull a number of heists in order to fund her father’s medical expenses.

Echolands by Haden Blackman and J.H. Williams: The creators behind DC’s Batwoman series from the New 52 reunite for a fantasy about the final war on Earth.

Farmhand by Rob Guillory: A biologist trying to raise his family right discovers a creepy new strain of crop growth: human body parts.

Jook Joint by Tee Franklin and Maria Nguyen: A thriller described by the publisher as “a time-period horror piece about a brothel/jazz club exposing the social evils of racism, rape and inequality.”

The Last Siege by Landry Q. Walker and Justin Greenwood: Mixing the storytelling tropes of spaghetti Westerns and the subject matter of medieval war, this series promises to be epic, violent and unexpected.

Leviathan by John Layman and Nick Pitarra: A group of unthinking quasi-magicians accidentally conjures up a demonic monster out to destroy all life on Earth.

Medieval Spawn/Witchblade by Brian Holguin: Two fan-favorite characters from the 1990s meet for the first time in two decades in a brand new miniseries.

Misery by Todd McFarlane Productions: A new hero inspired by the #MeToo movement, according to the publisher. Creative team to be announced.

Proxima Centauri by Farel Dalrymple: The creator of Pop-Gun War takes on psychedelic space fantasy with a new series about a teenage hero trying to find his way back home after escaping an alternate dimension.

The Red Hook by Dean Haspiel: The web comic about a superhero who has to do good or die comes to print with this first story about a Brooklyn that’s started to think for itself… literally.

Sam and Twitch: True Detectives by Todd McFarlane Productions: Eight issues focusing on the two detective characters central to the Spawn mythos. Creative team to be announced.

Shanghai Red by Christopher Sibela and Joshua Hixon: A turn-of-the-(20th)-century thriller about a sailor traveling from Shanghai to Portland, Ore., in search of a new life and revenge.

Son of Hitler by Anthony Del Col and Jeff McComsey: A baker’s assistant discovers that his father just happens to be Adolf Hitler, leading him to agree to a mission to end the war by killing his dad.

Spawn Kills Everyone 2 by Todd McFarlane and Will Robson: Spawn gives birth to a number of miniature Spawn “babies” that set out to help their father… well, kill everyone, as the title suggests.

Unnatural by Mirka Andolfo: The Italian artist brings her European erotica series about a “pig girl” in an anthropomorphic world to the English language for the first time.

The Weather Man by Jody LeHeup and Nathan Fox: A local weatherman is accused of being responsible for the worst terrorist attack in history. Worse, he can’t remember whether or not it really is his fault.

What’s the Furthest Place From Here? by Matthew Rosenberg and Tyler Boss: The partnership responsible for 4 Kids Walk Into a Bank reteams for a new series about a group of young punks getting lost in America while trying to look out for each other.