Image Comics announced On the Stump Tuesday, a new book from writer Chuck Brown (Bitter Root) and artist Prenzy (#Like4Like) due out in February.
The publisher is billing the book as “hyper stylized” and “hyper violent.” It tells the story of a divergent timeline, in which a pivotal presidential debate in 1868 turned violent, leading to a modern political climate in which our elections are determined by the outcome of public hand-to-hand combat. Those battles will be held in arenas called Stumps, thus the name, On the Stump.
The book will be lettered by Clayton Cowles. The full PR from Image can be found below, along with preview art from the first issue:
Eisner-nominated writer Chuck Brown (Bitter Root) joins forces with Italian artist Prenzy (#Like4Like) and letterer Clayton Cowles (The Wicked + The Divine) to create a hyper-violent, hyper-stylized ongoing series On the Stump coming to Image Comics this February.
Each issue of the first story arc will feature a connecting variant cover by Sanford Greene.
“This the rawest story I’ve ever written,” said Brown. “It literally doesn’t hold any punches. Having Prenzy and Clayton bring it to life has been a dream come true.”
In the On the Stump universe, history diverged in 1868 when a pivotal presidential debate turned violent. Today, elections are decided by highly publicized hand-to-hand combat in arenas called Stumps. Unfortunately, the violence doesn’t end in the ring, and powerful people can still get away with murder. Senator Jack Hammer and FBI Agent Anna Bell Lister are teaming up to bring it all down.
This February the campaign trail is paved with blood and broken bones.
Prenzy added: “This series has everything I love drawing and the fact that I could also colour it helped me make it even more peculiar. Brown created a great story and Cowles was able to give the pages their rightful value. I can say this work will impress the readers… like a punch on the face!”
On the Stump #1 Cover A by Prenzy (Diamond Code DEC190065) and On the Stump #1 Cover B by Sanford Greene (Diamond Code DEC190066) will be available at comic book shops on Wednesday, February 19.
On the Stump #1 will also be available for purchase across many digital platforms, including the official Image Comics iOS app, Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, comiXology, and Google Play.
