'Walking Dead' Masterminds Launch Surprise Comic Book Series
The first issue of Robert Kirkman and Scott M. Gimple's new Image Comics series, "DIE!DIE!DIE!," arrives in stores on Wednesday (July 11).
The creative minds behind Rick Grimes are pulling a Beyoncé.
The Walking Dead comic book creator and executive producer Robert Kirkman, alongside former Walking Dead showrunner and current franchise overseer Scott M. Gimple, are teaming together for a brand new comic book series called DIE!DIE!DIE!, published by Image Comics and Kirkman's Skybound Entertainment.
The unexpected new project comes with an even more unexpected twist: the first issue of the freshly announced series will be available for sale this Wednesday (July 11).
"That's right," says Kirkman in an official press release, "in stores TOMORROW! We want to make going to a comic shop exciting again—a place for discovery! The internet has drained all surprise and anticipation from comics. Everyone hears about exciting new projects and then has to wait months or years for it to be in their hands... and half the time at the end of that buildup, the stories get spoiled in some lame attempt at getting wider media attention. So, surprise! Here's a new monthly series. How cool is that?! This is literally the only way I can be like Beyoncé."
"I spend most of my time working in TV," adds Gimple, currently serving as the chief content officer of the Walking Dead franchise. "The big Walking Dead programs keep me plenty busy, but I've had a burning passion for comics since I was nine. I used to go to panels to see Robert Kirkman talk. And now he’s writing quotes in a press release as me that I can read over and tweak!"
In addition to Kirkman and Gimple, DIE!DIE!DIE! comes from comic book veterans Chris Burnham (Officer Downe) and Nathan Fairbairn (Lake of Fire). According to the announcement, the "blood-soaked, no holds barred, action-packed, irreverent story" focuses on "a secret cabal within the United States government that influences world matters through targeted assassination. The world around us is manipulated right under our noses, mostly for the better… but sometimes for individual gain, and sometimes for the fun of it."
"We cooked up all sorts of great action sequences and horrific gross-out gags for this book," says Burnham. "Maybe we should have called it Puke!Puke!Puke!"
DIE!DIE!DIE!, in stores on July 11, marks Kirkman's latest comic book launch, mere months after the release of another new series, Oblivion Song. Kirkman's long-running superhero series Invincible concluded earlier this year, while Walking Dead continues its steady march forward, currently within 20 issues of its milestone 200th installment.
