DC Comics Announces Line-Wide Vertigo Relaunch & Rebranding
The Mature-Readers Imprint Celebrates its 25th Anniversary With Seven New Series From Zoë Quinn, Bryan Edward Hill, Ramon Villalobos & More
Main Art by Joëlle Jones & Jordie Bellaire/ Tula Lotay/ Ben Oliver
This year marks the 25th anniversary of DC Comics’ legendary Vertigo mature-readers imprint—although you’d be forgiven for not knowing that. Aside from the welcome announcement of the Neil Gaiman-curated Sandman Universe imprint, Vertigo has had a quiet 2018, with a handful of new mini-series but no particular fanfare amidst the exciting announcements of new DC Comics initiatives like the DC Ink Young Adult line, the DC Zoom middle-grade collection and DC Black Label, a new set of “edgy,” standalone takes on DC’s most iconic heroes. All of that changes this fall, when Executive Editor Mark Doyle oversees a line-wide Vertigo relaunch and rebranding aimed at injecting new life into the once-revolutionary imprint.
Doyle began his comics editorial career at Vertigo in 2006, and returned to the imprint last year after a stint overseeing the Batman group of titles for DC proper. Under his leadership, Vertigo editorial is “rededicating its focus to creating modern, socially relevant, high-concept, inventive stories appealing to readers of all genres.” The first new slate of titles celebrating Vertigo’s 25th year includes seven new series from creators with various entertainment backgrounds, including gaming, television, podcasts, art direction and, yes, comic books. Four monthly series will launch this fall and winter, with the remaining titles following in early 2019.
“It’s time to rebuild DC Vertigo,” explained Doyle in a statement. “We’re returning to our roots by spotlighting the most exciting new voices in comics, as well as bringing new voices to comics. From the corners of television, games, music, activism, podcasting, comics and more, all of our creators are passionate and have something to say. These sophisticated stories have amazing new characters and vast worlds to explore. That’s what it has always been about for me—new stories, new voices, new possibilities. We’re creating a new generation of DC Vertigo classics for readers of all genres.”
For a full breakdown of the seven new titles, including creative teams and covers, keep reading below—and be sure to check back later this year for Paste’s thoughts on Vertigo’s latest revival.
Border Town #1 Cover Art by Ramon Villalobos
Border Town
Writer: Eric M. Esquivel (Adventure Time)
Artist: Ramon Villalobos (Nighthawk)
Colorist: Tamra Bonvillain
Release Date: September 2018
When a crack in the border between worlds releases an army of monsters from Mexican folklore into the small town of Devil’s Fork, Arizona, the residents blame the ensuing weirdness—the shared nightmares, the otherworldly radio transmissions, the mysterious goat mutilations—on “God-dang illegals.” With racial tensions supernaturally charged, it’s up to new kid in town Frank Dominguez and a motley crew of high school misfits to discover what’s REALLY going on.
Hex Wives #1 Cover Art by Joëlle Jones & Jordie Bellaire
Hex Wives
Writer: Ben Blacker (co-creator of The Thrilling Adventure Hour)
Artist: Mirka Andolfo (Wonder Woman)
Colorist: Marissa Louise
Release Date: October 2018
“The women are too powerful. They must be tamed.” A malevolent conspiracy of men brainwashes a coven of witches to be subservient, suburban housewives. But it’s only a matter of time before the women remember their power…
