Comics
New ‘Rogue Trooper’ Series Gets A Creative Team
Announced this year at SDCC, IDW will be rebooting the genetically enhanced blue solider with an all new “Rogue Trooper” series. The book finally has a creative team in novelist Brian Ruckley and artist Alberto Ponticelli (“Frankenstein Agents of SHADE”). Rogue Trooper was one of 2000 AD’s hottest characters back in the day, and now that IDW has hold of Judge Dredd, you can probably expect a crossover heading your way.
Official Press Release:
San Diego, CA (November 10, 2013) – As announced at San Diego Comic-Con 2013, the genetically modified G.I., Rogue Trooper is returning! Expanding the relationship started with the successful Judge Dredd series, IDW and Rebellion/2000 AD will return to the frontlines of Nu-Earth and Rogue Trooper with an outstanding creative team!
After storming the world of fiction with his debut fantasy novel, Winterbirth, the first book in The Godless World Trilogy, Brian Ruckley will report for duty as the writer of the brand-new series. Joining Ruckley, and bringing his dynamic and monstrous style back to IDW, Alberto Ponticelli (Godzilla: Gangsters and Goliaths) will be handling the art for the series. In addition to the standout creative team, Rogue Trooper will feature covers by esteemed artists Glenn Fabry (Preacher, Slaine) and James Stokoe (Godzilla: Half-Century War, Orc Stain).
“Rogue Trooper is likely the most recognizable 2000 AD character not named Dredd, and it’s extremely exciting to have the opportunity to reintroduce the character to an all-new audience,” editor Denton J. Tipton says. “Brian and Alberto are longtime fans of the strip, and will bring a fresh spin on Nu-Earth while retaining a healthy respect for the original material. And with gripping covers by Glenn and James, the series is practically going to leap off the rack right into your face.”
On the war-torn world of Nu-Earth, Rogue Trooper trudges across the poisoned planet in search of answers and justice. Haunted by betrayal, Rogue Trooper accepts a mission that defies the war that has ravaged the stategically important location.
“As a kid, I read the original Rogue Trooper strip from its very beginning, and was fascinated by the brutal, strange world and striking characters it presented,” said Brian Ruckley, “to now get the chance to revisit and re-imagine all of that for a new audience, and do it alongside such amazingly talented folk as Alberto Ponticelli, is just crazily exciting.”
Co-created by Gerry Finley-Day and renowned artist Dave Gibbons in 1981 for 2000 AD, Rogue Trooper became a showcase for some of Britain’s top artistic talent. In addition to Gibbons, Steve Dillon, Colin Wilson, Cam Kennedy, Brett Ewins, and Chris Weston have contributed art to the popular strip.
Beginning in 2014, Rogue Trooper will return to the comics page not only in this brand-new series, but additionally, IDW will begin re-producing the classic series from 2000 AD. Look for both in the coming year!
The supernatural world of Korean folk horror movie Exhuma grows larger with the arrival of prequel spinoff webtoon Maengjong this weekend, Variety reports today.
Naver Webtoon debuts Maengjong on May 30.
The series hails from Haemuri (Olgami) and will trace the high school origins of how shaman duo Hwarim and Bonggil, played by Kim Go-eun and Lee Do-hyun in the 2024 film, came together to face occultish threats.
The story is set to begin when “Hwarim, who has been concealing her identity following a childhood encounter with a snake spirit called Jin, crosses paths with Bonggil at their school.”
Variety notes that Exhuma director Jang Jae-hyun participated in the project’s early concept stage.
“We are presenting ‘Maengjong,’ a new series capturing the appeal of the horror-occult genre, ahead of the full summer season,” said Lee Jeong-geun, Naver Webtoon’s Korea webtoon content leader. “With the high school story of Hwarim and Bonggil, who left a strong impression in the film ‘Exhuma,’ enhanced by Haemuri’s characteristic tense direction, we expect it will be a welcome work for genre fans.”
“It is meaningful that the spin-off story of ‘Exhuma,’ loved by many audiences, expands by meeting the new grammar of webtoon,” said Lee Hyeon-jeong, managing director of the film business division at Showbox, which distributed the film. “We hope it will be a fresh experience for both film fans and webtoon readers.”
Exhuma was a breakout hit in 2024, becoming the first Korean occult film to surpass 10 million ticket buyers and the country’s highest-grossing film of the year. I wrote in my review that “the intricately woven Exhuma delivers one of the year’s biggest surprises in horror so far.”
The bond between Hwarim and Bonggil was one of the film’s highlights, making this prequel webtoon a must for fans.
You must be logged in to post a comment.