It’s the time of the month where Dynamite reveals its new books with a series of long pr pieces that includes ton of art. Honestly people, there are worse ways.

Here’s what’s coming in September:

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• Killer Instinct, an adaptation of the hit video game by Ian Edington (2000AD.Batman), and artist Cam Adams (Fallout World), part of a partnership between Dynamite and Double Helix Studios. Variant covers by Yildiray Cinar (Teen Titans), Jonathan Lau (Red Sonja), interior artist Cam Adams, and Udon (Streetfighter), respectively. Limited variant editions in “Black & White” and “Virgin” formats are also available as “retailer incentives for comic shops that support the launch issue by achieving stocking thresholds.”

The Shadow Lord Gargos has been defeated, but the battle to save humankind from his Astral invasion has taken a terrible toll on the Earth. Our world lies in ruin, and asinister new power called the Coven has risen from the ashes, vying with the megacorporation Ultratech to rule the shattered nations. The heroes Kim Wu and Jago-their Astral powers weakened by their devastating war against Gargos-must band together with the scattered remnants of the Night Guard to forge a pathway into the Astral Plane. Here, in the birthplace of The Shadow Lord and The Guardians, festers the secret malevolence that threatens to destroy them all…and enslave the world forever.

Writer Ian Edington said, “Killer Instinct has a colorful and diverse cast of characters, each with their own rich back-stories and with plenty more tales to tell. The Killer Instinct pantheon effectively comprises a superhero universe and it’s hard not to get overwhelmed with the wealth of riches there is to work with. I’ve taken a dozen or so characters – Kim-Wu, Jago, Aganos, Tusk, Aganos, Kan-ra, etc, and built a story around them that’s self-contained but can spring board into other series if need be. I’ve structured it to appeal to die-hard Ki fans and those coming to it cold. You won’t need any foreknowledge of the game to enjoy it. Likewise, there will be plenty of nods and easter eggs to the game for Killer Instinct fans.  I’ve had a huge amount of fun writing this series. It’s a fantastic world to be permitted to play around in.”

Aside: These variants looks really nice, perhaps due to the strength of the early 90s character designs?

 

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• A little while ago we announced the earth shattering news of the Grumpy Cat/Garfield crossover , and now the SENSES-SHATTERING creative team has been announced: Mark Evanier, longtime Garfield scribe, will pen the epic apathy meets negativity tale, and Steve Uy a Grumpy Cat mainstay, will do the drawings. Garfield creator Jim Davis has even okayed the storyline.

It’s the inevitable meeting of these two loveable sourpusses!  Garfield, the reigning cynical cat of newspapers and TV will cross paths with internet sensation Grumpy Cat, whose memorable scowl endeared herself to the world.  Who’s the most sarcastic?  Well, he hates Mondays…and she hates any day ending in “y!”  Is there enough room to accommodate both truculent tabbies within the pages of the same comic book, let alone the same universe? You’ll find out in this three-issue mini-series that will have you purring that it’s the cat’s meow!

Artist Steve Uy says, “Garfield was my favorite comic strip growing up in the ’80s. When I was doing the art for Grumpy Cat last year, there was a Halloween special where I decided to dress Grumpy up as Garfield, and her brother Pokey as Heathcliff in a panel. That didn’t make it to print, and ended up being revised to a Star Wars theme instead, so when I found out there was going to be a Grumpy/Garfield crossover, it seemed like fate had stepped in and given me another chance to draw them all together again!”

Grumpy Cat/Garfield #1  will include variants by Andy Hirsch (Garfield, Adventure Time, Regular Show), interior artist Steve Uy, Fernando Ruiz (Animal Jam), Tony Fleecs (Postcards: True Stories That Never Happened), and Phil Murphy (Regular Show), respectively. The first issue hits in August.

 

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• Sheena #1 is hitting in September, following a successful launch for Sheena #0, and the issue will have guest covers by  J. Scott Campbell,  Ryan Sook, cover artist Moritat, and Carli Ihde.

The series is written by Marguerite Bennett (Batwoman, Animosity) and newcomer Christina Trujilo, with illustrations by Moritat (Hellblazer, Teen Titans).

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• And finally, continuing their busy pacting schedule, Dynamite is teaming with Halfbrick, for a comics series based on the Fruit Ninja game and the creative team has been announced: writer Nate Cosby (Cow Boy, Buddy Cops), and artists Scott Brown (Nightfall) and Ruairi Coleman (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Amazing Adventures).

Writer Nate Cosby said, “I don’t want to get everybody TOO excited, but Fruit Ninja may end up being the greatest comic series ever created. Because there’s fruit and there’s ninjas and there’s jetpacks made of cake and attack hippos wearing goggles that come out of tubes and an army of hyper-aggressive ants that know how to drive peaches. And…that’s…JUST…THE FIRST ISSUE (which reminds me, I really should figure out what’s going be in the second issue)!”