The Expatriate

[RUIZ]

THE EXPATRIATE BEGINS RUN IN FEBRUARY

Hawaiian Dick creator debuts first ongoing series from Image Comics

BERKELEY, CA -- November 30, 2004 -- Beginning in February of 2005, Image Comics is set to unleash the latest original series from the home of new ideas.

THE EXPATRIATE, a monthly full color book written by HAWAIIAN DICK and BATTLE HYMN creator B. Clay Moore, and illustrated by Jason Latour, will take readers places they've never been in a comic book. Throwing convention to the winds, Moore has crafted a new story initially set in the mid-sixties...a spy book without spies that will eventually cover a wide range of ground as the book's hero, Jack Dexter, takes on everything from the CIA to...the Beatles?

"Basically, the book starts off as a chase story," explains Moore. "Our hero, Jack Dexter, is being chased by CIA agents through a tiny South American country. They want to kill him and bring his body home, but he has no idea why. And they kill a lot of people to get to him."

And what makes the book so unique? Moore gives a clue with his answer.

"The reason they're chasing him. Readers won't see it coming, but it will make sense once they see the result of his capture," says Moore. "If readers will give us three issues, I'm pretty sure they'll be hooked. I'm trying to break some new ground with Expat, and I hope the market is ready for it. We've got the book plotted through two years, and have no plans to stop there."

While Moore's penchant for crafting unique twists on pop cultural icons has been well established with the critically acclaimed HAWAIIAN DICK, he says Jason Latour's contribution is what really solidifies the book. Latour is currently providing one-page backup strips to Robert Kirkman's INVINCIBLE, but Moore says those strips are only the tip of the iceberg for the artist.

"Jason Latour is going to be a star," says Moore. "He's one of these guys with an unlimited imagination, and a driving devotion to improving his craft. He's like a sponge, soaking up lessons from the best the business has seen. By the time we're a year or so into THE EXPATRIATE, Jason will be in a pretty elite class, if he isn't already."

According to Moore, it was WALKING DEAD and INVINCIBLE writer Robert Kirkman who convinced him to do the book as a monthly ongoing, after hearing Moore's ideas for the book.

"I ran what I thought would be the craziest idea I could think of past
Robert during the Baltimore Comicon, and he flipped out," says Moore.
"After telling me I had to use the idea or he'd steal it, he grabbed Latour and bullied him into agreeing to make the book a monthly. And I'm glad he did."

Kirkman remains the book's most enthusiastic supporter.

"When Clay told me his plans for the Expatriate is was like a punch to the stomach," says Kirkman. "I was extremely enthusiastic about the idea. I wished I had thought of it so badly that I tried to convince Clay that I had. Sadly, it didn't work. I'll be counting the days until the release of the Expatriate."

According to Image Executive Director Eric Stephenson, THE EXPATRIATE is exactly the kind of original book readers should expect to see from the new Image.

"The Expatriate is a gripping example of comic book excellence and a truly unique project," says Stephenson. "Image needs more new concepts from guys like Clay, and we're proud to be publishing this one."

THE EXPATRIATE #1 is solicited in the December PREVIEWS, and will hit stores in February.

[Jonah Weiland]

See the story here:

http://www.comicbookresources.com/ne...em.cgi?id=4515

[Apathy Boy]

Oh, baby. I saw the ad for this book in Previews and pre-ordered a copy on the spot. I almost never do that, but the premise and the cover art looked so damn good I couldn't resist.

I'm feeling too lazy to read right now, so I haven't read the article yet. But I will!

[JimmyDee]

Love HAWAIIAN DICK. LOVE IT, I say. I've read nothing else from Moore (has he had anything else out to this point that I should be reading?), but I'm willing to give this a try. The premise sounds great and I love the potential of the agents. They sound like two very dispicable guys ... my kinda guys.

[Scott Beeler]

I wasn't sure based on the Previews blurb, but that article makes it something I think I'm going to have to buy. Especially those art samples -- nice work, and the single-color-dominant look is extremely striking. Got me sold on it.

[Arvid Nelson]

Clay told me a little bit about this at last year's SD con. I think it's going to be awesome, and I can't wait to read this!

[JimmyDee]

Originally Posted by Arvid Nelson

Clay told me a little bit about this at last year's SD con. I think it's going to be awesome, and I can't wait to read this!

I just don't know how you could go wrong with this book. It seems to have the perfect amount of intrigue and adventure. One of my more anticipated books at this point.

[JasonLatour]

THE EXPATRIATE...the second issue is being solicited AS WE SPEAK in the January PREVIEWS (in the Image section), so make sure you get your retailer to order a few copies.

Written by B. Clay Moore (HAWAIIAN DICK, BATTLE HYMN), with art by your's truly, Jason Latour.

Anyway, here's how it starts. Hope you dig it. Give it a shot. It's going to be a WILD ride!

[JasonLatour]

For more info:
The initial press release:

http://www.comicbookresources.com/ne...em.cgi?id=4493

An interview:

http://www.comicbookresources.com/ne...em.cgi?id=4515

Clay's Message boards:
http://www.imagecomics.com/messagebo...wforum.php?f=5

-J La

[JimmyDee]

Hey Jason,

Thanks for posting that stuff. Looks great. I very much like Clay's work, so this is a definite pick up for me. Someone should write someone at CBR and tell them to run this as a preview on their front page.

Edit: Duh, looks like they've got a number of those pages already in the interview, but hey, it was still a good idea! Oy ...

[Greg T]

The more I see of this, the more I like. Can't wait for it!

[JasonLatour]

I'm glad you guys seem to enjoy the pages!

As for a preview on this and other sites, I'm told it should be in the works sometime in the near future. Possibly with more pages ta boot! We have a lot of high hopes and think that this series has a lot of potential but we'll need your help in order to help it reach that potential, so if you're interested please tell a friend or two! Again thanks a ton for the praise!

-J La

[Christopher Burton]

This is gonna be gooooood. I especially like the groovy colors. Jason, is that you or do you guys have somebody else doing the colors?

[Christopher Burton]

Writer and Image marketing dude, B. Clay Moore, discusses the upcoming The Expatriate series over at Newsarama.

[Apathy Boy]

Anyone else read the first issue?

I did, and me like! Not a lot happens in this issue beyond setting up the premise. But it's a damn good premise. Besides, a book like this is all about setting the mood.

The only minor complaint I have about the book is the ending. With a suspense book (and a first issue), you'd kind of expect things to end with a major cliffhanger. I don't think spoilers:

the hero on the run kissing the femme fatale really qualifies. It's rather obvious for the genre, actually

end of spoilers Fortunately, the rest of the book was so well-executed that I had already been hooked by that point anyway.

OK, maybe one more complaint: if any book deserves to be in black-and-white, it's this one.