Broken Frontier

Desperado Publishing is giving the latest Deadworld story the treatment by releasing it in hardcover format as well as providing an online video promotion.  Deadworld: Slaughterhouse is an original story from writer Gary Reed and illustrated by Sami Makkonen.  Makkonen is also the artist of the new Hatter M book being released that ties in with the NY Times best-seller, The Looking Glass Wars.

Coming in October, Deadworld: Slaughterhouse was originally intended as a four issue mini-series and the first issue was released.  However, do the increased viability of books in today’s market, Desperado decided to forego the remaining issues and put the story out complete in a single book.  The complete first issue is available for free at Myebooks.  In addition to providing the free first issue, Desperado has put together a promotional video of the saga:

“Deadworld has some really hard core fans,” said Publisher Joe Pruett, “and I’ve wanted to do a hardcover of a Deadworld story for awhile and so here we are.  It’s a really good story by Gary and Sami’s artwork is just fantastic.  This deserves to be in hardcover format.”

Writer Gary Reed said he was also very pleased with Sami’s art.  “It was just the style I was looking for to do a story arc.  And I like the idea of doing original graphic novels which this essentially is.  The next one is already underway and that is called “The Last Siesta” and is being illustrated by Mark Bloodworth who has worked on Deadworld in the past and was the artist on Clive Barker’s Hellraiser put out by Marvel.”
 
Also on the schedule is a collection of all the material produced by the original Deadworld artist, Vince Locke, including his promotional pieces and the very first Deadworld story that has never seen print.

Reed said that activity on Deadworld is heavy.  “The action figures are due out very soon as is the Halloween mask.  The t-shirts, licensed out to Rotten Cotton, are back in high production, the CD package from Eagle One Media will have a special insert put in, but unfortunately, the role-playing game from Seraphim Guard has been delayed until mid to late 2010.”

Desperado and Reed will be appearing at a number of conventions over the next few months and Reed has been booked on panels to discuss Deadworld.  “I’m always surprised at the enthusiasm fans have for Deadworld so I’ll be discussing that as well as what’s going on with the film.”  Reed said that he will be giving away free copies of Deadworld at every panel discussion he participates in as a “thank you for having to listen to me.”

As for the film being produced by Coraline producer Bill Mechanic (who also did Fightclub, Braveheart, and Titanic) and written by Watchmen and X-Men scripter, David Hayter, is moving along according to Reed.  “It’s moving at Hollywood speed but at this stage, there’s a lot of different areas that have to be addressed. But I’m happy with things so far.”

Deadworld: Slaughterhouse is currently available in the Diamond Previews under Desperado Publishing.