AfterShock Comics announced a new book on Thursday, and it’s Artemis and the Assassin #1, due out in March from the creative team of Stephanie Phillips, Meghan Hetrick, Francesca Fantini, Lauren Affe, and Troy Peteri.

Artemis and the Assassin is the story of a time-traveling assassin doing battle with a 1940s spy. At stake is potentially the outcome of WWII, which could be altered as we know it! AfterShock had a very busy 2019 in terms of new titles, and books like this are looking to keep that momentum going in 2020.

Full press along with preview art from the AfterShock Comics announcement can be found below:

Artemis and the Assassin #1 / $4.99 / 32 pages / Color / On sale 3.18.2020
Writer: Stephanie Phillips
Artists: Meghan Hetrick & Francesca Fantini
Colorist: Lauren Affe
Letterer: Troy Peteri
Cover: Phil Hester w/ Mark Englert
1:15 Incentive Cover: Dave Johnson

What happens when a time-traveling assassin and a spy from 1944 try to kill each other?

For a price, a top-secret assassination organization will travel through time and interfere with watershed moments. Trained as the agency’s top assassin, Maya is sent to kill Virginia Hall, the deadliest spy of WWII. Charged with carrying important plans about the invasion of Normandy to the allied troops, Virginia’s death would have a cataclysmic effect on WWII as we know it.

Written by Stephanie Phillips (Butcher of Paris, DESCENDENT), with art by Meghan Hetrick and Francesca Fantini, colors by Lauren Affe, and letters by Troy Peteri, Artemis and the Assassin is a pulpy adventure story about the cost of changing history

WHAT’S THE STORY ABOUT AND WHY ARE YOU EXCITED FOR IT TO BE RELEASED?

“The story is about an international group of time-traveling assassins willing to interfere in watershed moments throughout history for a price. One such assassin, Maya, is tasked with killing the most notorious female spy of WWII, Virginia Hall. When the mission goes awry, both Maya and Virginia’s lives are changed forever as both women are pitched headlong through time. 

I love writing two very distinct, unique, and kick-butt women traveling through time. Obviously, there is a lot of tension since Maya’s goal was initially to kill Virginia. I also love the opportunity to place these characters in bizarre situations. With time traveling on the table, the obstacles and settings are endlessly fun.”

WHAT WAS THE INSPIRATION BEHIND THE PROJECT?

“I’m a huge fan of old pulps and was initially inspired by unexpected team-ups, like Doc Savage and The Shadow. There is definitely a lot of pulpy action throughout this story, but I also wanted to take that a step further and add my own mythology to the world of Artemis and the Assassin.” 

WHAT ARE (3) REASONS COMIC FANS SHOULD PICK THIS BOOK UP?

1. The main character has a bow-and-arrow that shoots glowing blue beams of energy. That’s pretty awesome.

  1. There’s time travel. Also awesome. 
  2. Nazis get killed. Super awesome. 

If those aren’t enough reason to check out the series, the artwork is gorgeous. Meghan Hetrick and Francesca Fantini have really brought this crazy, pulpy story to life with their distinct styles.” 

STEPHANIE PHILLIPS ON THE ART AND HOW IT BRINGS HER WORDS TO LIFE:

“I love working with both Meghan Hetrick and Francesca Fantini. Creating these characters and this world has been a super collaborative process with both artists. Writers always have a vision in their mind’s eye for what everything will look like, but both Francesca and Meghan exceeded my expectations. They really made everything come to life, and I’m really proud of what we’ve created.”

Artemis and the Assassin

Artemis and the Assassin

Artemis and the Assassin

Artemis and the Assassin