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BREAKING NEWS ON MY KIND OF WEIRD, THE TEAM BEHIND ONI PRESS'S MUCH-LOVED HORROR ANTHOLOGY SERIES 'EPITAPHS FROM THE ABYSS' AND 'CRUEL UNIVERSE' HAVE GIVEN US MORE DETAILS ON WHAT TO EXPECT FROM 'CRUEL KINGDOM':
It was startling news that broke in early 2024 that Oni-Press would be resurrecting horror comics of a bygone pre-comics code authority age. With the release of a brand-new horror anthology series that was an obvious homage to the legendary EC Comics line which published comics from the 1940s to the 1960s.
EC Comics, who started as an Educational Comic Book Publisher in the mid-1940s would eventually rebrand in the 1950s to the horror comics publisher it would become known as today. With releases like The Vault of Horror, Tales from the Crypt, The Haunt of Fear, Weird Science and Weird Fantasy being many of its flagship titles. It was during the 1950s and 60s; a time where civil rights were being questioned, homophobia and communist paranoia was at an all-time high. But, due to the fantastical nature of EC Comics line of releases, which also flirted in the genres of Science Fiction, Noir and Fantasy - it gave their creators an avenue to challenge conservative ideals and the issues of racism, vilification, sex and drug use.
Eventually, the titles and properties would be sold and re-sold before landing in the arms of Oni-Press in early 2024. This saw the release of 'Epitaphs from the Abyss' and 'Cruel Universe' where one was a grim telling of short horror stories and the other leant in the direction of horror science-fiction and horror-fantasy. Two series that saw both famous and rising-star comic book creators lining up to be involved. These two series have been so successful that back in October it saw the announcement of Cruel Kingdom. An anthology mini-series promising to dedicate itself to short stories in the dark-fantasy genre.
And now, it's with extreme pleasure, I'm happy to announce to my viewers that Oni Press are fully embracing the nostalgia in Cruel Kingdom with a startlingly horrific variant cover by Tom Fowler (MAD Magazine, Refrigerator Full of Heads). A cover that fully embraces the arcane magicks we're all expecting within the epic tome of Cruel Kingdom #1.
Oni Press President and Publisher Hunter Gorison has said:
“Since the beginning of EC’s resurrection at Oni Press, we’ve always aimed to extend the patented and powerful EC formula into new and unexpected arenas. First came our first-ever foray into holiday tales with SHIVER SUSPENSTORIES… But CRUEL KINGDOM is our biggest and boldest swerve yet as EC turns its dark gaze toward the golden spires of high fantasy – with its many fairies, witches, and sword-wielding warriors – for the very first time. Picking up exactly where its predecessor CRUEL UNIVERSE is leaving off with its final issue in December, these are delectably dark and deadly inversions of the genre conventions you know and love – where wizards wield curses instead of grant wishes, and every knight harbors a dark secret instead of a valiant heart.”
Joining this announcement is some insanely dark preview pages by artists Leomacs (Ghostlore) and Charlie Adlard (The Walking Dead). Slated to arrive in-stores on January 8th, this first issue of Cruel Kingdom will be an incredible 40 pages and will feature stories written by Chris Condon (Ultimate Wolverine, That Texas Blood), Al Ewing (Immortal Hulk), Greg Pak (Darth Vader) and Ben H. Winters (Cruel Universe). With artists Kano (Cruel Universe) and Andrea Mutti (Rebels) rounding out the artists lineup in a comic book issue which is promising to summon forth tales of magic, myth, murder and forbidden realms.
That's it for now. Be sure to subscribe to the My Kind Of Weird Channel for the latest News and Updates.
