Broken Frontier

Top Cow Productions, Inc. announced today that the Freshmen: Summer Vacation Special, scheduled to ship in June, will feature all-new bonus material in addition to a brand-new story written by Hugh Sterbakov. Freshmen is a Top Cow comic book series co-created by Sterbakov and actor, producer and director, Seth Green (Robot Chicken, Family Guy ).

“We’re going to have a bevy of extras, including a new, back-up text story written by yours chubbily, in addition to some pin-ups and other goodies,” said Sterbakov. “Also, as a special bonus just for our readers and hidden deep within these pages will be the true, honest, secret of the universe. Believe it. Or not.”

In addition to the secret of the universe, the 48-page one-shot issue will contain bonus pin-ups from interior artist Sheldon Mitchell (X-Men: Messiah CompleX), including one that pays homage to characters from the “Star Wars” franchise, which is a favorite of Sterbakov and Green’s. Other extras include a bonus story by Sterbakov, character style sheets, a photo parade of the creators and pin-ups by Rick Basaldua (The Darkness: Levels) and Filip Sablik (Army of Darkness ).

The main story picks up chronologically after the end of the second series, Fundamentals of Fear. “We wanted to do a stand-alone adventure story to show what our kids are up to post second series without getting into the bigger stories of a third series,” said Green. In this issue, Green Thumb (aka Charles Levy), who can communicate with plants, needs the team’s help in dealing with his amorous houseplant. “This is an action-driven story in which Charles’ lovelorn plant returns in a whole new form to wreak devastating havoc on the school, and it’s told through the dazed haze of the Intoxicator,” said Sterbakov, referring to the Freshman who can produce toxic burps when he’s under the influence.

Rejoining Green and Sterbakov will be cover artist Rodolfo Migliari (Rogue), and a new member of the creative team is latest Top Cow find, Sheldon Mitchell. “Sheldon is great, he’s really enthusiastic,” lauded Green. “He’s very familiar with our kids and has a really dynamic style that works well with our story.”

Fans can meet Seth Green, Hugh Sterbakov and Sheldon Mitchell at the Top Cow Booth during San Diego Comic-Con, which takes place at the San Diego Convention Center July 24-27.