Death Dealer

[TheLizard207]

Wow - todays preview looks great! Is this an on going or mini? (if mini how many issues?)

[RaggtyMan]

I dont know but I agree it looks awesome.
I rememberseeing the the deat dealer pictuers when I was a kid and they really do spark imagination, Im not suprised that they are making this a series.

[Yoel]

Yeah, this looks awesome, loving the art. Will definately pick up this book.

[Jonah Weiland]

For those looking for the preview, it can be found here:

http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=9380

[NatJones]

Thanks for the kind words guys! TheLizard207. Death Dealer is slated as a six issue mini.

-Nat Jones

[Killer Bee]

I ordered it the moment I saw it in there. What really was the icing was the little recommendation suggesting it if you were a fan of Red Sonja and Conan. (which I am of both! Sweetness!)

Now I'm just going to patiently wait for Sheena from Devil's Due Pub. and all is good.

[Joshua Ortega]

Thanks everyone for the interest in the book! We're all really proud of it, and Nat and Jay are doing an *amazing* job on the art...I can guarantee that you won't be disappointed!

[mgs]

i hope this is gonna be good. danzig's verotik books are gonna be hard to top.

[Woodwose]

Sweet. I can't wait for this book. I'm sure that it will be epic.

Image's preamble can be found here http://www.imagecomics.com/news.php?content=ffdd_announce

[Joshua Ortega]

Thanks, Woodwose...looking forward to hearing what you think of the book (hint: Frazetta loves it, so the odds are good you're gonna dig it!)

And MGS, let us know how we stack up against the Danzig version!

[K.O.V.G]

This looks interesting I'll have to read this i've never heard of this until now.

[Joshua Ortega]

All right, first issue just hit the stands, looking forward to hearing what y'all think of it!

And check out the cool news:

http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=10274

[toneloak]

Based on the preview art(I don't read previews) everything looks good save for the coloring on the faces. Too clean and smooth seems a little out of place. Draws a little more attention then I would like. But, otherwise the art feels very Frazetta-ish.

[keithtalent]

Being completely sold out within 6 hours seems like a bold claim. Presumably all shops have been contacted and they have confirmed that they have sold all copies? Or perhaps it is just marketing hype willingly reprinted by websites such as this?

[MadBastard]

Draws a little more attention then I would like. But, otherwise the art feels very Frazetta-ish.

The art is definitely the big selling point. However, the writing is decent as well. The team behind Death Dealer seems to have taken the shadowed axe man and cast him into the role of an elemental force, something unstoppable once it has been brought forth, amoral and unquestioning. It should be interesting to see what happens once it has been unleashed. I posted a full review of the first issue over there (http://madbastard.hypersites.com/site/page/pg3226-pn_Death_Dealer_1.html).

[mgs]

Being completely sold out within 6 hours seems like a bold claim. Presumably all shops have been contacted and they have confirmed that they have sold all copies? Or perhaps it is just marketing hype willingly reprinted by websites such as this?

well, selling out means that, presumably, all the printed comics from diamond's warehouses have been sold. doesn't mean they've shipped yet, or that stores will not get the book to put on shelves, but that all printed copies have a destination to go to.

Yes, I think sometimes this is a marketing ploy. But, for most creators it does generate some good hype and lets them know they will make some money. I still hate that Diamond has such a stranglehold over the distribution market though and that has yet to be fixed.

[MAK15]

well, selling out means that, presumably, all the printed comics from diamond's warehouses have been sold. doesn't mean they've shipped yet, or that stores will not get the book to put on shelves, but that all printed copies have a destination to go to.

Yes, I think sometimes this is a marketing ploy. But, for most creators it does generate some good hype and lets them know they will make some money. I still hate that Diamond has such a stranglehold over the distribution market though and that has yet to be fixed.

god I hope this is the case, I wanna pick up DD in the morning, and dont wanna waste gas on a trip fer nothin to my LCS

update: Oh wow, only one copy left!
sweet!

[Joshua Ortega]

Madbastard: Thanks for the great review, man, glad you liked it...and yeah, just wait'll you see what happens when Death Dealer is released! :D

MGS is exactly right, that means the book totally sold out at the distributor level within 6 hours of release, though so many shops are reporting full sellouts of stock already...sometimes sellouts are pure hype, but in this case, it really is a big deal. Image hasn't had this big of a comic launch in over a decade, and with the numbers we did on this first issue, it really is a great sign for independent comics in general. We're literally in Marvel/DC numbers, and it's almost certain that we'll be doing a second printing, making the print run on the first issue even higher.

And Mak15, glad you scored that last issue...definitely let us know what you think of it!

[keithtalent]

MGS is exactly right, that means the book totally sold out at the distributor level within 6 hours of release, though so many shops are reporting full sellouts of stock already...sometimes sellouts are pure hype, but in this case, it really is a big deal.

Thanks for that Joshua. I think I must be a little unclear on how things work in the US then. Do you not have something like Previews (or indeed Previews) where orders are placed three months in advance? So when does the release time start? Is it when the distibutor opens on Wednesday? If that is the case then presumably it is just the people who have not already ordered months before who are phoning up to get the last few for the next week's delivery (menaing there should be a load in comic shops this week)? But if that was how it worked I could engineer a sell out by just having very few extra comics at the distributor over and above those that had been pre-ordered via previews. If, alternatively, the release time is counted as when it was available for pre-order why was this not reported months ago (and presumably things do not sell out via pre-order as they are not already printed?).

So I am still a little mystified as to what the reported sell out means. Any light shed on my murky understanding of comics distribution gratefully basked in.

[MadBastard]

Yeah, just wait'll you see what happens when Death Dealer is released! :D


Can't wait.

[Joshua Ortega]

Keith: No, we do have PREVIEWS, and orders are placed 3 months in advance. In this case, we received initial orders well over 30,000 copies, and when we saw that, we realized we better print at least 3,000 more than the pre-orders, since it was looking like demand was going to be pretty darn serious.

So, had we just printed what was pre-ordered, I think we would officially have had a sell-out at that point...however, we wanted to make sure there was enough for everyone, so we overprinted beyond the initial orders. Within 6 hours of release, the overprint was gone, hence the sellout, and now the 2nd printing just announced today!

Does that make more sense? If you have any other questions, let me know!
:)

Oh yeah, and here's the link to the 2nd printing announcement!

http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?p=3554212#post3554212

[Joshua Ortega]

Can't wait.

Thanks, man...can't wait to hear what you think of it in May!

[keithtalent]

Thanks Joshua. All is crystal now. So a six a hour sellout is not reason to panic, it is likely that there will be plenty still at the comic book shop, just that when they sell out they will not be able to order any more.

It does seem that by simply stating that all comics have sold out it is likely to increase demand for that comic, perhaps somewhat artificially. (People see that it has sold out and speculate that they had better buy a copy now when perhaps they would have thought about it more and not bothered, or people buy a copy specifically because it has sold out and they speculate that the price will rise.)

Of course Image are in the business of selling comics so one ought not to be surprised or upset by it employing marketing tactics to do so. However a site such as this ought to be wary of printing such press releases as they tread a fine line between news and advertising. In a somewhat odd way it is the very publishing of the press release that gives it most of its newsworthyness (without publishing it there would not be the inflation in demand that it causes).

Anyhow best of luck with the book sellout or no.

[Joshua Ortega]

Thanks for the well-wishes, Keith...we'll put them to good use!
:)

[MAK15]

And Mak15, glad you scored that last issue...definitely let us know what you think of it!

thanks.
Here I go:
the cover and interior artwork is fantastic.
the dialogue was superb, and the story makes me want ish 2 for more than just a pretty picture (something that Spawn should've done during the last arc...)
seeing the DeathDealer erupt from the earth after blood was spilled on his prison? that was pure bad-ass.
Im eagerly a-waintin more medivil hackin/slashin with the Horse-riding death.

sorry its not a detailed review, but it's late and Im not much for words.
keep up the good work!

[mgs]

And MGS, let us know how we stack up against the Danzig version!

I agree a lot of what MAK said. And as a comparison, I think the dark and gritty tone of the book was done well. I got a bit confused in the middle of the story during the fight sequences, and I was confused about there the horse comes from, but the art was very good. I thought it was interesting to have the young boy ressurected as a sort of elemental-type vengeance DD.

[NICK_D]

I was very impressed with overall story. It grabbed my interest from the start. The art was fantasic. Can't wait for issue 2.

Congrats to the creative team on the sell out.

[jayfotos]

Hey folks!

Glad to see you guys are dig'n the series thus far, just wait for issue #2...the axe starts swing'n!

We are doing a second printing(due out May 9th, issue #2 fallowing a week later). The second printing cover is pretty cool, we had to reuse Frank's cover but gave it a little *bling*, where what looks like gold in the logo will be gold foil and as a thanks to all the retailers(each only getting 1 issue) we made up a "Frazetta seal" edition, like the original gold foil reprint will showcase the Frazetta family stamp/seal on the lower left corner...further implementing this series has Franks "stamp" of approval!

Thanks and I hope you enjoy the rest of the series-

Jay

[jayfotos]

Hey folks!

Glad to see you guys are dig'n the series thus far, just wait for issue #2...the axe starts swing'n!

We are doing a second printing(due out May 9th, issue #2 fallowing a week later). The second printing cover is pretty cool, we had to reuse Frank's cover but gave it a little *bling*, where what looks like gold in the logo will be gold foil and as a thanks to all the retailers(each only getting 1 issue) we made up a "Frazetta seal" edition, like the original gold foil reprint will showcase the Frazetta family stamp/seal on the lower left corner...further implementing this series has Franks "stamp" of approval!

Thanks and I hope you enjoy the rest of the series-

Jay

[jayfotos]

Anyone live around the metro Phx. area?...come on down then!

Joshua, Nat and myself will be there with the new snazzy gold foil DD#1 reprint(due out next week).

http://www.atomiccomics.com/Portals/0/events/fcbdflier.jpg

[Joshua Ortega]

Second printing of Issue #1 now in stores (you can tell by the gold foil logo), and the second issues hits the stands this Wednesday...enjoy!

[andy khouri]

With the second printing of sold out issue #1 as well as the new issue #2 in stores today, CBR News gives readers a "Death Dealer" primer.

http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=10582

[MadBastard]

There's a review for the second issue over at Silver Bullet Comics (http://www.silverbulletcomicbooks.com/reviews/117942538380884.htm).

[Joshua Ortega]

Awesome, thanks, guys!

Looking forward to hearing everyone else's thoughts on #2!

[Carnival of Chaos]

I dont want to be a dick and I definatley can not draw worth shit but I dont really like the art in this book its to gritty and it does not resemble the paintings that well. FF paintings are gritty but they dont lose any detail. I found myself staring at some of the pictures for like a minute untill i finally figured out what was going on. It reminded me of the drawing in Hellblazers "Original Sins" TPB. Yet the story is awsome and I am still going to read it and the art is good its just not my style

[jayfotos]

Yep, seems we sold out of the second printing of #1 and now going to a 3rd printing with the platinum logo edition!(it's silver foil, but platinum sounds so much cooler)

Also, issue #2 is on it's way out and we are going to a 2nd printing on that issue as well.(with silver foil logo)

Thanks to everyone that has supported the series thus far, we are blown away...again, we thank you!

Jay

[Spyderz]

i thought there was going to be a gold foil reprint for #2 just like the first issue...:(

[Joshua Ortega]

i thought there was going to be a gold foil reprint for #2 just like the first issue...:(

I'll check into this, Spyderz! :)

[WVUFan]

Picked up the silver foiled first issue and the second issue last week in my local store, and I have to say I'm really impressed with the overall feel for the title. In books like this TOO much dialogue is bad, and not enough is even worse, and I think the writer did an excellent job of pacing the book in the right way.

To me, a well written book tells you JUST enough to want you to know more, and this book succeeds in that. The art (especially the coloring) is VERY impressive. The feel of the art and style reminds me of another Image book from awhile back called Ruins of Ragnan, and that's not a bad thing.

You're certainly got me as a reader. I'm just sorry I didn't catch on to this title earlier.

[Joshua Ortega]

Thanks so much, WVU fan...really appreciate the kind words, and yeah, that careful balance of dialogue is something that is *really* important for me!

Glad to hear you're digging it, let us know what you think of #3 later this month!

And Spyderz, no luck on the gold, Jay Fotos (colorist supreme) says it doesn't look right with the art...so silver/platinum foil it is!

[Spyderz]

shucks,but still i will pick up the silver logo #2 once it arrives in my store
anyway is there any sneak shot for how the platinum logo is going to look like :D

[jayfotos]

The foil logo on the second printing of #2 is changed a bit as well, more of a purple "inners" with silver foil. Can't really show anything due to it's at the printers and it's hard to show foil without seeing it in person, it'll look sharp.;)

[Ite]

My mom had a Frazetta's portraits all over the house so when I saw this at the comic store I had to pick it up, they only had #2, and #1 was sold out, now I gotta try to find it somehow, I think the second printing of #1 was even sold out.

[Joshua Ortega]

FFDD makes WIZARD's Hot 10:

http://www.wizarduniverse.com/magazine/wizard/004720030.cfm

And Ite, you'll be glad to know that the third printing of #1 is on its way!
:)

[Spyderz]

i noticed death dealer #3 is listed in my local comics store
great!
any news on the second reprint of #2?

[Saruman]

I'm loving this series. Amazing artwork. Too bad there are only 4 more issues left.

[Ckretsqrl1]

I posted this in the other Death Dealer thread, but I'll say it again.......this comic is what got me back into the fray after being out for 13-14 years.....this weeks order was $48 (all I can say is wow, I've been missing out).....kind of bummed out I had to order the "B" cover this week, but fear not, I WILL track down the FF cover as well :)

Thanks again guys for a great book...can't wait to get this one in the mail thursday (yes, the mail, as I don't have a LCS)

[Jonah Weiland]

I posted this in the other Death Dealer thread, but I'll say it again.......this comic is what got me back into the fray after being out for 13-14 years.....this weeks order was $48 (all I can say is wow, I've been missing out).....kind of bummed out I had to order the "B" cover this week, but fear not, I WILL track down the FF cover as well :)

Thanks again guys for a great book...can't wait to get this one in the mail thursday (yes, the mail, as I don't have a LCS)Wow, that's cool to hear that DD brought you back to comics. That's pretty huge.

[Dwight L. MacPherson]

Wow, that's cool to hear that DD brought you back to comics. That's pretty huge.

Yeah, that's about the best compliment you can get. :)

[Saruman]

Issue 3 was another good one. I'm really enjoying this series. Again, I wish it were longer.

[Spyderz]

anybody found the silver logo DD #2 in their LCS?
im still waiting:(

[Joshua Ortega]

Saruman: Glad you're digging the book enough to want it to be longer...but not to worry, we have some suprises in store, just wait until our announcements at Comic-Con!

Jonah, Dwight: Agreed, guys, really doesn't get better than that! And Ckretsqrl1, thanks again for making the return to comics!

Spyderz: Anything yet? That book should be pretty easy to find! If you're having trouble, let me know and I'll check in on it!

[jayfotos]

Hey folks, wanted to jump in real quick.

We have a cool contest going on at the FFDD Forum, check it out...win a Death Dealer Mini Statue!

http://www.imagecomics.com/messageboard/viewtopic.php?t=33447

PS- All the reprints are all out in stores and available, call your local shop and ask, if not tell them to order it!;)

[Joshua Ortega]

Nat Jones, Jay Fotos, and I will signing everyday at San Diego next week, so drop on by and say hi if you're at the show! We'll also have lots of cool giveaways and special surprise sneak peek at an upcoming sculpture!

[juggalotus]

Yo, I collect and read alot of comics.
But by far my favorites deal with war, swords, Axes, armour, blood, and
the supernatural. Now Conan is one of my fav comics, but i have never been so keyed up about any comic until i heard image was releasing death dealer.
Ive got all the first three issues so far, but ive only read the first, because it just got me too pumped up and craving more instantly. I have to let the issues build up a bit then read them all at once. I also want to read them when the season changes over to fall up here as i equate colder weather with hardcore....and this book is just f'n hardcore. I also lift weights and as fall approaches i begin to lift heavier, and this death dealer and all the awesome art will only add inspiration and drive to fuel my workouts.

Amazing stuff guys and i just want to add that an ongoing series would be the shiznit.

[LoganX]

Yo, I collect and read alot of comics.
But by far my favorites deal with war, swords, Axes, armour, blood, and
the supernatural. Now Conan is one of my fav comics, but i have never been so keyed up about any comic until i heard image was releasing death dealer.
Ive got all the first three issues so far, but ive only read the first, because it just got me too pumped up and craving more instantly. I have to let the issues build up a bit then read them all at once. I also want to read them when the season changes over to fall up here as i equate colder weather with hardcore....and this book is just f'n hardcore. I also lift weights and as fall approaches i begin to lift heavier, and this death dealer and all the awesome art will only add inspiration and drive to fuel my workouts.

Amazing stuff guys and i just want to add that an ongoing series would be the shiznit.

These kind of stories make me wanna hit the iron too.

[Joshua Ortega]

For those interested in my other work, THE NECROMANCER #1: PILOT SEASON is now available for pre-order through Previews and your local comic book shop...

You can check out the cover and more info here:

http://www.wizarduniverse.com/magazine/wizard/005228874.cfm

And Juggalotus and LoganX, keep on pumpin' that iron, and we'll keep on providing the inspiration!
;)

[Joshua Ortega]

The Frazetta Universe has arrived!

http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=124657

[Ite]

The Frazetta Universe has arrived!

http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=124657

Can't wait to get Silver Warrior as well, my mom had the Death Dealer and Silver Warrior paintings on her walls so I have seen the characters since I was a little kid.

Really cool to have these in comic book form!

[Joshua Ortega]

Thanks, Ite...glad we can bring the paintings to comic form for you!