Usually, the best way to vote for what you want in comics is with your dollars, but that’s just because most publishers don’t let you literally vote for what you want. It’s only happened a few times before. Fans decided the fate of Jason Todd in an infamous call-in vote, as well as who would win a few of the various fights in the very first DC vs. Marvel miniseries. More recently Archie Comics allowed fans to vote for the names of Archie’s future children via polls on Twitter. This week, AHOY Comics is asking fans to decide what will be their next series with a try-out one-shot called Steel Cage.
Steel Cage presents three stories, the details of which, provided by the publisher, are below, along with accompanying promo images:
“Noah Zark” by writer Mark Waid and artist Lanna Souvanny, in which an alien boy is kidnapped into an interplanetary zoo—and becomes the protector of the animals;
“True Identity” by writer Tom Peyer and artist Alan Robinson, in which we learn what secret anguish drives the most beloved superhero on Earth;
Writer Stuart Moore and artist Peter Gross’s “Bright Boy” in which we discover the grim tale of the world’s smartest human—and the havoc he leaves in his wake.
Only one of those stories will go to series based on the results of an online fan vote. Voting for the stories opened today, taking place on AHOY’s website, and will run through the Friday before San Diego Comic Con (so, July 12th). The winner of the voting will be announced during SDCC the following week.
There doesn’t appear to be a limit to how many times you can vote, and purchase of Steel Cage #1 is not required, nor has the issue even been released yet with voting now open. It makes one question whether this is a legitimate vote or not, but I say, ultimately it doesn’t matter. Whether it’s legit or not, it’s a fun way for AHOY to engage with their audience and drum up interest in three stories that people may not have read otherwise.
You can see Elsa Charretier’s cover for Steel Cage #1 below, as well as more info from AHOY including some epic trash talk from the creative teams. Be sure to look for our review — and recommendation on which story to vote for — later this week. The issue goes on sale on Wednesday, June 26th.
June 24, 2019) AHOY Comics—the startup publisher that pledged for readers to “expect more” from its comic book magazines—is inviting readers to vote on what comic should receive its own series. On Wednesday, June 26 AHOY Comics will publish STEEL CAGE #1, a one shot comic book anthology featuring three dazzling short “pilot” stories from all star creative teams. Fans can vote on which story continues at the AHOY Comics website: https://comicsahoy.com/vote 6/26 and the outcome of the vote will determine what comic book series is published.
The competing stories in the STEEL CAGE One Shot are:
“Noah Zark” by writer Mark Waid and artist Lanna Souvanny, in which an alien boy is kidnapped into an interplanetary zoo—and becomes the protector of the animals;
“True Identity” by writer Tom Peyer and artist Alan Robinson, in which we learn what secret anguish drives the most beloved superhero on Earth;
Writer Stuart Moore and artist Peter Gross’s “Bright Boy” in which we discover the grim tale of the world’s smartest human—and the havoc he leaves in his wake.
Competition between the comic book veterans is fierce.
“I mean, let’s get real,” said Stuart Moore, the writer and co-creator of CAPTAIN GINGER and BRONZE AGE BOOGIE. “When you come home from a hard day at the Soylent Green plant and rip open your comics bundle, what do you want to read about? A kid in a zoo? A SUPERHERO? No—you want to read about the smartest guy in the world! Bright Boy for the win!”
Tom Peyer, AHOY Comics’ Editor-in-Chief and the writer of its acclaimed comics THE WRONG EARTH, HASHTAG DANGER and HIGH HEAVEN, said, ““When I read Bright Boy or Noah Zark—and I’ve been reading both stories obsessively—my head is tilted as if to say, ‘what an adorable, childlike attempt to prevent the inevitable victory of Alan’s and my True Identity.’ And then I shed a tear, because there’s something deeply sad about their efforts.”
Mark Waid, the New York Times bestselling writer of beloved comics including KINGDOM COME and IRREDEEMABLE, is contributing his first story for AHOY Comics in STEEL CAGE. Waid said, “As I look down from high above the Mount Olympus of legendary comic book writers, it amuses me to see the flailing True Identity and Bright Boy teams wander aimlessly in search of some sort, any sort. of ladder with which to ascend by standing on the backs of their adorable ‘creations.’ Perhaps there will come a day when they find themselves privileged enough to sit before Lanna and I and bask in our boundless glory. Until then, we shall simply nibble on our ambrosia and laugh.”
AHOY Comics is led by Publisher Hart Seely, an award-winning reporter whose humor and satire has appeared in The New York Times and on National Public Radio. “STEEL CAGE just might be the greatest moment of fan participation since fans called a 1-900 number and voted for a teenage sidekick to die,” Seely said.
In addition to STEEL CAGE, AHOY Comics eclectic lineup of comic book magazines and graphic novels range from religious satire (the highly anticipated SECOND COMING comic book and the HIGH HEAVEN graphic novel) to tales of time travel (BRONZE AGE BOOGIE and PLANET OF THE NERDS) and the literary parody EDGAR ALLAN POE’S SNIFTER OF TERROR.
Voting is live now and will end the Friday before San Diego Comic Con International. The winner will be officially announced during San Diego Comic Con International. For more updates on AHOY Comics, visit them on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.