As publisher Archaia continues to push the envelope and bring comic book fans everywhere some of the newest and most original voices in the genres of horror and sci-fi, they also seem to be bringing readers some of the most promising stories as well. Case in point – Mike Kennedy, creator and author of the upcoming hardcover graphic novel, “BLEEDOUT”. The collaborative effort matches Mike up with some of the genres best and brightest illustrators, such as Howard Chaykin, Ben Templesmith, and Glenn Fabry, just to name a few. Mike was kind enough to take the time to sit down and chat with myself and Johnny_Trouble over the weekend at C2E2, and inside you can see the interview in its entirety. Read on for the skinny!

WRITTEN/CREATED BY: Mike Kennedy and Michael Mendheim
WRITTEN BY:Mike Kennedy
ILLUSTRATIONS BY: Tim Bradstreet, Howard Chaykin, Gary Erskine, Glenn Fabry, Nathan Fox, Sanford Greene, Trevor Hairsine, Zach Howard, Vince Proce, Ben Templesmith and David Williams

“Eight years ago, every oil well on the planet ran dry, utterly dissolving the cornerstone of modern civilization. Global economies withered and nations fell like bone-dry dominoes, including the seemingly impervious United States. Caught in a zenith of chaos, Sunrise City now lies in the hands of a criminal cabal who may or may not hold the key to the future… and the secrets behind the planet’s tragic ruin…
BLEEDOUT tells the frighteningly plausible tale of a world destroyed by its own greed and shortsightedness. Based on the expansion to the Massively Multiplayer Online shooter game CRIMECRAFT from Vogster Entertainment, this deluxe hardcover volume collects chapters from some of the comic industry’s hottest superstars, including Nathan Fox, Zach Howard, Sanford Greene, David Williams, Ben Templesmith, Gary Erskine, Howard Chaykin, Glenn Fabry, Vince Proce, and Trevor Hairsine, with cover art by Tim Bradstreet. Written by Mike Kennedy, this graphic novel presents the world of BLEEDOUT in all of its grim, pulp noir glory, with page after page of supplemental graphic and story material that further explores this tragic future, and the frighteningly familiar current events that lead there in the first place.”

Special thanks to everyone at Archaia and to Mike for taking the time to sit and chat with us. As always it was a pleasure for everyone involved, and Mike was nothing short of fantastic. “BLEEDOUT” will be available this April as a hardcover graphic novel via the publisher’s official website and at your favorite local bookstore.