Broken Frontier

Oni press is thrilled to announce WASTELAND, a new monthly ongoing comic series by Antony Johnston (QUEEN & COUNTRY: DECLASSIFIED, THE LONG HAUL, SPOOKED) and Christopher Mitten (PAST LIES, QUEEN & COUNTRY: DECLASSIFIED) with covers by Ben Templesmith.

This new ongoing series kicks off in July with a deluxe double-sized issue for just $2.99 - the regular issue price!

WASTELAND is a grand epic about what happens after the world has ended, full of action, mystery and adventure. Taking place in a devastated, post-apocalyptic future America one hundred years after a catastrophe known as the ‘Big Wet’, it’s the story of Michael and Abi, two characters with strange and unnatural powers, as they search for the fabled land of A-Ree-Yass-I…where legend has it the Big Wet began.

Their quest will take them thousands of miles across a ruined, hostile land where technology has been forgotten and scavenging is a way of life. Where a relentless sun beats down through a cloudless sky. Where no birds take to the air, no forests carpet the hills, and the oceans are fetid and poisonous, impossible to cross.

But Michael has been walking this land longer than he can remember. If anyone can beat the odds and survive the journey, Abi believes it's him. With his survival skills and her quick thinking, can they find A-Ree-Yass-I together?  Perhaps. But along the way they'll face betrayal, prejudice, war, revolution and more...

“WASTELAND is a real epic, the largest-scale story I’ve ever written,” says writer Antony Johnston.  “It’s a challenge, balancing the immense scale of the setting with a story that’s still very much about human values and the characters’ search for the truth, but that’s what makes the series so interesting. And Christopher’s art strikes the balance perfectly. I’m very excited about it, and I hope readers will be too.”

“This is a really big deal for us at Oni Press,” explains Oni’s Editor-in-Chief, James Lucas Jones.  “Most of our offerings have been original graphic novels or comic book miniseries.  WASTELAND is only our third ongoing series in nine years.  The only other times we’ve utilized the ongoing format were for Greg Rucka’s QUEEN & COUNTRY and Andi Watson’s LOVE FIGHTS, both of which were helmed by master storytellers. I think that’s quite a pedigree and shows how much faith we have in this particular book.”

Oni Publisher, Joe Nozemack, explains, “We always look for books with a unique voice.  Antony and Chris have come up with a great story that is excellently written, perfectly executed and full of surprises.  We think once people read the first issue, they’ll be hooked.”

WASTELAND #1 will be double-sized, with 44 story pages and a bonus text piece, also by Antony Johnston, but is priced at just $2.99 - the price of a regular issue.  It’s hard to find a better bargain in comics today!

In anticipation for this book, we have also created a dedicated website at www.thebigwet.com. The site offers exclusive content about the series, story previews, creator forums, wallpapers, AIM buddy icons and more.  There’s even a WASTELAND theme song to download! Come check it out.

The double-sized WASTELAND #1 arrives in stores July 2006, priced $2.99 US.