East Coast Dispatches: November 17, 2023

Remember Me?

What’s Up?

Well, it’s been a while. How are you folks doing? Good, I hope. I’ve mostly been keeping my nose down and working on a bunch of unannounced projects. Two of which just got announced (details below!).

I made a bit of a return to conventions this year, after largely taking three years away from doing more than one or two a year — largely thanks to the pandemic, partially thanks to me suddenly becoming more of a homebody.

I don’t remember exactly how many shows I did in 2023. I think six? Seven? However many, it was clear by the end of the year that it was probably too many. Not that I don’t love doing conventions — I do — but they can be exhausting and take a lot of time away from work and family.

In 2024, I think I’m going to cut back to maybe one or two, but we’ll see how well my resolve holds. The big plan is to take in at least one international show next year.

That said, I am planning a small signing tour in February, which I’ll have details on in the coming months.

Why February? I’m glad you asked!

Announcement Time!

I’ve got two new books hitting the shelves in February!

First up…

The Displaced!

I know I say this a lot, but I am very, very, very excited to get this book into people’s hands. I first came up with the concept back in 2008 after a trip to my hometown of Oshawa, Ontario (about 60km north of Toronto, for those unfamiliar). I’d moved more than 4,000 km (approx 2,500 miles) away from Oshawa as a teenager but usually managed to make it back to visit once every couple of years. Every time I visited, there were fewer and fewer places and people that I recognized. The city, like every city, was constantly in a state of change and, as a result, I felt increasingly like a stranger during these visits. Each time I crossed into the city, it felt like I was looking for something that was no longer there. I felt disconnected from the place that I had called home for most of my life.

From that feeling sprung the seeds of an idea that would, over time, evolve into The Displaced. A story about a city that disappears and the people left behind. People who can’t be remembered, who, through any verifiable means, should no longer exist. It’s a story about trying to survive in a world that can’t remember you.

The Displaced was almost my very first published work. About a year before Comeback was picked up by Shadowline/Image, I had pitched The Displaced and had interest from a publisher. However, after months of back-and-forth notes, the book ended up veering away from the book that I wanted to do, so we amicably parted ways. It was a tough call to make, but ultimately, the right one. This book is too dear to me, I didn’t want to lose that.

The concept sat in a digital drawer for years. I’d periodically take it out, blow off the dust, and work on it. Yet it always felt like there was a piece missing. At some point during 2022, that piece finally fell into place and I set out to pitch it again — the first time since that 2011 experience.

I’d been familiar with Luca Casalanguida from his work on Lost Soldiers, Regarding the Matter of Oswald’s Body, and various other books, and had always wanted to work with him on something. His grounded character work coupled with his ability to really sell huge, world-altering moments made him the perfect fit. I reached out to him and thankfully he was into the story and happy to jump on board.

Colourist Dee Cunniffe and I had been in touch for a couple of years about working on something together, so he was my first stop when putting together the team for this book. His colours are such a beautiful compliment to Luca’s linework.

And, as always, Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou is on board to letter. I love Hass’s work, there’s so much thought and consideration behind everything he does. As a former letterer myself, I’m always in awe of his work.

Boom! Studios was one of the first places to hire me back when I was starting out. I’ve done a couple of creator-owned books with them in the past (Cluster and The Last Contract) but it’s been nearly seven years since I last worked with them and I really miss it. Thankfully they seemed to miss it too and welcomed the project with open arms. Editors Eric Harburn and Elizabeth Brei have been invaluable in shaping this book into what it is today.

I’m going to be talking a lot about this project in the coming month. I’ll be sharing some behind-the-scenes and updates as available. I’ll also have an exclusive variant cover that will only be available through me either at signings or (after the tour) through my website.

But, I’ve rambled on enough already. So, for now, check out these covers and a preview of the first five pages (swearing edited only for previews — all you cuss junkies can be reassured that the book is unedited)

DISPLACED #1 (OF 5) CVR A CASALANGUIDA

BOOM! STUDIOS
DEC230104 – DISPLACED #1 (OF 5) CVR A CASALANGUIDA
DEC230105 – DISPLACED #1 (OF 5) CVR B SHALVEY
DEC230106 – DISPLACED #1 (OF 5) CVR C 10 COPY INCV CASALANGUIDA
DEC230107 – DISPLACED #1 (OF 5) CVR D 25 COPY INCV SORRENTINO
DEC230108 – DISPLACED #1 (OF 5) CVR E UNLOCKABLE SHALVEY
(W) Ed Brisson (A / CA) Luca Casalanguida

The city of Oshawa, Ontario has vanished without a trace. Even worse, nobody remembers it or the 170,000 missing residents that disappeared along with it.
As the survivors also fall into the forgotten, they must seek each other out, if they hope to have any chance of surviving in a world where no one believes they exist…
Highly acclaimed writer Ed Brisson (Batman: The Brave and the Bold, Predator), rising star artist Luca Casalanguida (Regarding the Matter of Oswald's Body, James Bond), and red hot colorist Dee Cunniffe (Barnstormers, Crossover) pose the question… how can you feel connected to reality or each other if by all veritable means, you don't exist?

AND ALSO…PREDATOR (AGAIN)!

The second new book coming in February is my third Predator series! This time with superstar artist Francesco Manna.

Theta’s back! Several years after the events of the second volume, Theta and Paolo are on the hunt for the Predator Stasis Farms — a place where Predators keep humans and other aliens on ice until they’re ready to release them for the express purpose of honing their skills by hunting them down.

PREDATOR #1 (of 4)

ED BRISSON (W) • FRANCESCO MANNA (A) • Cover by CORY SMITH

VARIANT COVER BY FRANCESCO MANNA
VIRGIN VARIANT COVER BY FRANCESCO MANNA
HOMAGE VARIANT COVER BY PACO MEDINA
VARIANT COVER BY SERGIO DÁVILA • VARIANT COVER BY TBA

THE HUNT CONTINUES!

For years, Theta has hunted and killed Predators in her search for the one that killed her parents. Now she’s on a mission to free the human captives from the Predators’ game preserve. But when a Super Predator is on the loose, even a seasoned hunter like Theta can become prey…

Ed Brisson returns, joined by superstar artist Francesco Manna in an epic new arc that will leave you on the edge of your seat!

40 PGS./Parental Advisory …$5.99

Sins of the Salton Trade Paperback Edition

The collected edition of my and CP Smith’s crime/horror book Sins of the Salton Sea is due out in late January. If you missed the series in singles or are a trade waiter, this is the moment you’ve been waiting for!

“One last job” for washed-up demolitions expert Wyatt could mean the last days for all mankind in THE SINS OF THE SALTON SEA, an apocalyptic crime thriller from AWA!

Wyatt, a professional thief living off the grid, is recruited by his brother for one last job. Their target: an armored car traveling down a desolate stretch of California highway. But when it turns out that their target is carrying not gold bars but human cargo, Wyatt is plunged into a conflict between warring factions of a doomsday cult. The cult claims that it is their solemn duty to save the world by means of human sacrifice. Will Wyatt protect the boy who has come into his charge? Or will he be swayed by the cult’s increasingly convincing claims that the end of the world is fast approaching? Collects SINS OF THE SALTON SEA #1–5

Release Date (Comic Shops): January 31
Release Date (Book Stores): February 20
Final Order Cutoff (Diamond): December 18
Diamond Order Code: NOV231293
Final Order Cutoff (Lunar): December 17
Lunar Order Code: 1123AW377

May I Recommend?

Torunn Grønbekk has just launched her own Substack, which I highly recommend. Torunn is an obscenely talented writer and artist, who spends most of her time in a Norwegian cabin, living the kind of life that seems straight out of a Nordic Noir. I’m very jealous of that cabin.

Okay, I Have to Go!

Substack is waving the “this post is too long!” flag, so I’m going to wrap it up for now.

But, before I do, here’s your dose of Lasagna:

Until next time,

Ed Brisson
Halifax, Nova Scotia