JOSEPH MICHAEL LINSNER TAKES THE REINS AS BOTH WRITER AND ARTIST OF DAWN / VAMPIRELLA!‏

Via press release:

   Dawn/Vampirella #1 is the historic crossover series being released from Dynamite this September! Not only is this Dawn's FIRST ever crossover, but this series also celebrates the 25th anniversary of Dawn and the 45th anniversary of Vampirella! And as icing on the cake, this series is written and drawn by Dawn creator Joseph Michael Linsner!

   In Dawn/Vampirella #1, our story begins when the silver tongued demon Masodik tricks and kidnaps both Dawn and Vampirella. He tells these two "Bad Girls" they are the most beautiful women in all of the worlds. Their demon host demands a "cat fight" to see who is best suited to his purposes, but the ladies suggest something more feminine -- a storytelling contest. Together they take us to the bloody shores of Draculon, to post-apocalyptic New York and to worlds beyond imagination. Only Ravana knows what rewards and punishment await the winner and the loser in this duel of horror hostesses.

"Fans of good comics should love this book because I am giving it 200 percent," says writer/artist Joseph Michael Linsner. "I've been in the game for 25 years, so I've learned a thing or two. I'll be summoning all of my resources together to make this book rock. It's not going to be the ultimate "bad girl" comic, it's going to be a great comic with something in it for everyone."

"What a privilege it is for Joe (Michael Linsner) to work with us on Dawn's first cross-over ever," adds Dynamite CEO / Publisher Nick Barrucci. "To have that cross-over be with a character as iconic as Vampirella, and for Joe to make time in his schedule to both write and draw the series is just an incredible thrill!"

Renowned Prose Horror Author Nancy A. Collins Scripts New Vampirella Series! All-New VAMPIRELLA #1 in June

From the Press Release:

March 5, 2014, Mt. Laurel, NJ:  Dynamite is proud to announce that Nancy A. Collins, the author of Sunglasses After Dark and Vamps, will revive the iconic horror series Vampirella with a #1 issue in June.  Collins will be joined by talented artist Patrick Berkenkotter (Avengers/Invaders) for the new ongoing series.  Superstar illustrator Terry Dodson will provide the main cover, while a veritable who's who of industry talent will provide variant collectible covers.

"I'm very excited about taking over the reins on Vampirella," says Nancy Collins. "I've really been enjoying myself so far. In celebration of her 45th anniversary, I'm returning the book's focus to its horror roots and giving Vampirella a slightly darker edge.  Dynamite has been wonderful to work with, and have given me a great deal of support.  It's been some time since I last wrote for comics, and it feels great to be back!"

As the debut "Our Lady of Shadows" story arc begins, supernatural heroine Vampirella is sent by the Vatican to investigate the kidnapping of a little girl by the Cult of Chaos... only to become the centerpiece of a ritual invoking Lady Umbra, the sister-bride of Chaos.  Of the fateful repercussions, Collins says, "Vampirella's life is turned completely upside down, and she finds herself having to team up with the strangest bedfellow imaginable in order to battle both a demonic threat and an elite Vatican hit-squad."

Nancy A. Collins has spent the last twenty years writing novels, short stories, and comic books for fans of the supernatural, paranormal, and fantastical.  Her prose works include Sunglasses After Dark, featuring punk vampire slayer Sonja Blue, the YA series Vamps, a collection of Weird Western tales called Dead Man's Hand, and a collection of Southern Gothic stories entitled Knuckles & Tales.  Her comic book work includes Swamp Thing, Jason vs. Leatherface, Machina Jones, and Predator: Hell Come A'Walkin.

Artist Patrick Berkenkotter is a staple of Dynamite Entertainment, having contributed artwork to such titles as Red Sonja, Dark Shadows/Vampirella,Project: Superpowers, and two Dynamite/Marvel crossovers, Avengers/Invaders and The Torch.  "I cannot sing Vampirella artist Patrick Berkenkotter's praises loudly of often enough," says Collins.  "His pencils are spectacular, and he's able to make her sexy, menacing, and bad-ass all at the same time.  I think the fans are going to be pleased with his work when they pick up Vampirella #1, and I hope they take me to heart as well." "My first exposure to Nancy's writing was in the pages of Swamp Thing, and I've always remembered her run.  When Gail (Simone) suggested Nancy to write one of the anniversary stories in Legends of Red Sonja, it was a great reminder of how good of a writer Nancy is.  As we were prepping for Vampirella's relaunch, and were discussing potential writers, Joe (Rybandt, Sr. Editor) commented that since we all liked Nancy's Red Sonja story, why not approach her.  The rest, as they say, is history.  Patrick illustrating Nancy's story, and Terry Dodson coming on board as the main cover artist really compliment the series as we go in to Vampirella's 45th Anniversary.  I'm confident that fans are going to love Nancy's take on Vampirella, and be in it for the long haul.  It's that damn good."  States Dynamite CEO/Publisher Nick Barrucci.

Dynamite will celebrate the new Vampirella series with a variety of cover options, including a Main cover by Terry Dodson (X-Men, Wonder Woman), Retailer Incentive covers by Jenny Frison, Sergio Fernandez Davila, Jack Jadson, Mimi Yoon, Ken Haeser, and a Subscription cover by Stephanie Buscema dedicated to those hardcore fans who place preorders with their local comic retailers.  Sergio Fernandez Davila (Legenderry: A Steampunk Adventure) has also created a Retailer Exclusive Variant image that can be tailored to promote individual comic shops.

Vampirella #1 will be solicited in Diamond Comic Distributors' April Previews catalog, the premiere source of merchandise for the comic book specialty market, and slated for release in June 2014.  Comic book fans are encouraged to reserve copies of Vampirella with their local comic book retailers. Vampirella will also be available for individual customer purchase through digital platforms courtesy of Comixology, iVerse, and Dark Horse Digital.

Dynamite Previews 2/12/2014‏

LEGENDERRY: A STEAMPUNK ADVENTURE #2 (of 7)
Bill Willingham (w) 
Sergio Fernandez Davilla (a) 
Joe Benitez (c)
FC • 32 pages • $3.99 • Teen+ 
FANS, ASK YOUR RETAILER FOR THE:
Johnny Desjardins “Green Hornet concept art” retailer incentive cover
Johnny Desjardins “Kato concept art” retailer incentive cover
Johnny Desjardins “original art travelogue” retailer incentive cover

THE EPIC STEAMPUNK CROSSOVER CONTINUES! Magna Spadarossa gets a taste of life in the Big City, but it’s not all she had hoped. Assassins galore are after her, but why? It’s up to Vampirella, the Green Hornet, Kato, and the best Victorian futuristic technology they have to keep Magna safe … but will that be enough?

RED SONJA: BERSERKER (ONE SHOT)
Nancy A. Collins (w)
Fritz Casas (a)
Joseph Michael Linsner (c)
FC • 40 pages • $4.99 • Teen+

After a fight in a tavern results in Red Sonja being arrested and becoming a prisoner, she is sold to a promoter who stages gladiatorial games. There, in the blood-soaked sand of the arena, she finds herself pitted against an old friend – a huge snow bear that she once saved from hunters. But will they unite to wreak havoc on their enemies, or will they fight one another to the death?

RED SONJA #1 DYNAMITE DOLLAR BOOK
Gail Simone (w)
Walter Geovani (a)
Jenny Frison (c)
FC • 32 pages • $1.00 • Teen+ 

ONLY ONE DOLLAR!!! This book is a great way to be introduced to Gail Simone’s monthly series as well as this month’s Red Sonja TPB, which featured the first six issues of Gail’s Red Sonja run! Red Sonja gets a fresh new attitude by the dream team of writer Gail Simone and artist Walter Geovani, on the book they were born to create. Sonja pays back a blood debt owed to the one man who has gained her respect, even if it means leading a doomed army to their certain deaths! In stores one week before RedSonja Vol. 1: Queen of Plagues!

UNCANNY #6
Andy Diggle (w) 
Aaron Campbell (a)
Sean Phillips (c)
FC • 32 pages • $3.99 • Teen+ 

When both sides are gunning for you, keep your head down and play them off against each other. That's Weaver's only chance to get out alive. If he runs, he'll lose his last chance to discover the truth about his own origins. But if he stand his ground, he might just find there's a worse fate than death awaiting the Specials...

BATTLESTAR GALACTICA #8
Dan Abnett (w) 
Cezar Razek (a) 
Colton Worley (c)
FC • 32 pages • $3.99 • Teen+ 

"Dreams of the Thirteenth" continues! The Galactica has led the fleet into an uncharted storm zone to escape the Cylons, but danger awaits. Haunted by chilling dreams of the lost colony of Earth, the crews of the fleet encounter a vast and mysterious artifact at the heart of the storm. Sensors report that the Cylons have pursued the fleet into the storm. Which is the greatest threat: what lies ahead or what snaps at their heels?

VAMPIRELLA: SOUTHERN GOTHIC #5 (of 5)
Nate Cosby (w) 
José Luis (a) 
Johnny Desjardins (c)
FC • 32 pages • $3.99 • Teen+

Love, blood, rage and death. The heartbreaking conclusion to Vampirella's misadventures in Mississippi. Her former lover wants to murder her, and her own body is shutting down from a mystical wound. For the first time, all Vampirella has to rely on...is faith.

GRIMM #10
Marc Gaffen, Kyle McVey (w) 
Rod Rodolfo (a) 
Lucio Parrillo (c)
FC • 32 pages • $3.99 • Teen+ 

When Nick is injected with a lethal poison, he finds himself under the control of a mysterious new foe, and is forced into completing herculean tasks in order to get the antidote... or die trying. The Labors of Grimm begins!

SHERLOCK HOLMES: MORIARTY LIVES #2 (of 5)
David Liss (w) 
Daniel Indro (a) 
Francesco Francavilla (c)
FC • 32 pages • $3.99 • Teen+

Stranded in Switzerland, his criminal network in tatters, and with the world believing him dead, the world’s most notorious villain, Professor James Moriarty, faces his greatest challenge yet – taking care of an orphaned child. Bound by a solemn promise, and determined to seek revenge against a local madman, Moriarty begins a clever campaign to work his way inside his enemy’s fortress. The trap is set, and Moriarty is determined to succeed, but is he villainous enough for the task?

THE MOCKING DEAD VOL. 1 TPB
Fred Van Lente (w) 
Max Dunbar (a) 
Bill Tortolini (c)
FC • 168 pages • $17.99 • Teen+

A small outbreak can turn into a worldwide apocalypse... but only through a long string of screw-ups! Once actual zombies begin popping up in our world, a lone intelligence analyst realizes real-life events are beginning to mimic the events of a long-lost, Grade-Z, drive-in horror flick. As he races to save humanity with this knowledge, he quickly learns the only thing more dangerous than ravenous walking corpses is the ineptitude of the living! The gutsplitting (and then eating) comedy that pokes fun at the zombie horror phenomenon! Illustrated in graytones with red highlights (for blood and gore, of course), so it feels like the ever-popular The Walking Dead series. Collects the complete storyline from issues #1-5 of The Mocking Dead comic book series, complete with a cover gallery!
Collection Features:
• Issues 1-5 of The Mocking Dead by Fred Van Lente and Max Dunbar
• Introduction by David Wellington
• Script to issue one by Fred Van Lente
• Sketches by Max Dunbar
• Complete cover gallery featuring art by Bill Tortolini and Max Dunbar
“Plenty of laugh-out-loud moments!” – Major Spoilers
“Max Dunbar’s art add volumes to the enjoyment of this title. His renderings are funny, gross, and graphic.” – Unleash The Fanboy
“The Mocking Dead is very meta, pretty funny, and awfully clever.” – Multiversity Comics
“Fred Van Lente already did a great job on the subject (of zombie parodies) with his work on Marvel Zombies, but damned if he didn’t manage to find a unique approach to the concept with Mocking Dead.” – Comic Book Resources