Press Release
Award-winning publisher BOOM! Studios is proud to announce the March debut of EVIL EMPIRE, the political thriller that asks: What would happen if modern society crossed the line and became the megalomaniacal force we’d always fought against? Instead of a story that picks up when this so-called “evil empire” is already in place, Say Anything lead singer Max Bemis (POLARITY) and artist Ransom Getty (Guarding the Globe, Suicide Squad) take us to the very beginning and show the devolution of society through the eyes of an outspoken, female hip-hop artist named Reese.
To add to the anticipation surrounding Bemis’ first long-form series, BOOM! has added a pre-Final Order Cutoff (FOC) incentive promotion for retailers. Similar to the DAY MEN #2 promotion, the publisher will have 50, limited-edition, screen-printed, and numbered prints created of one of Jay Shaw’s iconic cover images for EVIL EMPIRE. The “We The People” print promotion means that each one of the 25 top-ordering retailers will receive one print. Additionally, in keeping with the democratic nature of the series, 25 additional retailers, chosen at random, will receive one print each. Retailers have until the end of the day on Monday, February 10th to finalize their orders for EVIL EMPIRE #1.
“Max has created a provocative thriller in EVIL EMPIRE,” said BOOM! Studios Editor-in-Chief Matt Gagnon. “At BOOM!, we want our comics to resonate beyond the page, and EVIL EMPIRE is the kind of explosive storytelling we love to get behind. We saw with POLARITY that Max is a bold new voice in the industry, and we were eager to work with him again. EVIL EMPIRE is an intense vision of a society’s dark transformation. It’ll turn some heads.”
WHY WE LOVE IT: After POLARITY, we just had to work with writer (and Say Anything lead singer) Max Bemis again, and his thrilling take on how a modern society could evolve into an evil empire is absolutely terrifying.
WHY YOU WILL LOVE IT: Every fan of fiction is aware of the trope of the “evil, sinister empire” i.e. the Empire in “Star Wars.” Oftentimes, when we are introduced to these totalitarian establishments, they are already fully in power and it’s up to our hero to bring back order and peace. However, in EVIL EMPIRE, we explore how that would unfold in a real-world setting. How close to the precipice are we right now in the world we live in? Would we let it happen? More specific to this tale: Would we secretly WANT it to happen?
WHAT IT’S ABOUT: Told through the perspective of an underground rapper named Reese, Max Bemis’ gripping story explores a scenario in which we watch modern society gradually evolve (or is it devolve?) into an evil empire.
EVIL EMPIRE #1 arrives in comic shops on March 5th with a cover price of $3.99 under Diamond order code JAN140984. The issue ships with a main cover by Mondo print illustrator Jay Shaw along with two retailer incentive covers by Robbi Rodriguez (FPB: Federal Bureau of Physics) and Shaw. Not sure where to find your nearest comic retailer? Use comicshoplocator.com or findacomicshop.com to find one! It’s also available for order directly from boom-studios.com.
ABOUT BOOM! STUDIOS
Founded by Ross Richie in 2005, Diamond Gem Award-winning “Best Publisher” BOOM! Studios (boom-studios.com) generates a constellation of best-selling Eisner and Harvey Award-winning original and licensed comic books and graphic novels with the industry’s top talent. BOOM! Studios is the home of Mike Carey’s SUICIDE RISK, Clive Barker’s NEXT TESTAMENT and HELLRAISER, Paul Jenkins and Humberto Ramos’ FAIRY QUEST, PLANET OF THE APES, Max Bemis’ POLARITY and Mark Waid’s IRREDEEMABLE. Steven Grant’s graphic novel 2 GUNS was recently released as a feature film from Universal Pictures, starring Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg. BOOM!’s all-ages imprint KaBOOM! publishes Charles Schulz’ PEANUTS, Jim Davis’ GARFIELD, Cartoon Network’s ADVENTURE TIME and REGULAR SHOW, Mike Kunkel’s HEROBEAR AND THE KID, and Roger Langridge’s Eisner Award-winning SNARKED. In June 2013, BOOM! acquired Archaia Entertainment (archaia.com). Archaia is the Eisner and Harvey Award-winning graphic novel publisher of MOUSE GUARD, COW BOY, GUNNERKRIGG COURT, RUST, SPERA, JIM HENSON’S TALE OF SAND, and many other great titles. In October 2013, BOOM! Studios entered into a unique first-look relationship with 20th Century Fox, giving the studio access to its library of titles and giving the publisher access to Fox’s vast catalog of films.
