Image Comics has announced a new and unique horror anthology that unites an all-star roster of writers and artists. Titled The Silver Coin, the book will be illustrated by Michael Walsh, of Justice League/Black Hammer fame with each issue written by a different writer, Jeff Lemire and Kelly Thompson among them. The first issue will be in stores this April.
Comics and the horror genre have enjoyed a long relationship, stretching back to the end of comics’ Golden Age, which saw the rise of horror-based titles like Tales from the Crypt. With the implementation of the Comics Code Authority in the 1950s, horror comics receded into the background until the Code was revised in the early 1970s. However, horror comics have struggled to find their footing in an industry driven by superheroes, despite ruling the roost at one point. There have been successes, such as 30 Days of Night, but for the most part horror comics exist on the fringes. Now, Michael Walsh and Image Comics are set to bring them firmly back to the mainstream.
A first look provided to IGN outlines what will separate The Silver Coin from other horror comics. First, it will feature one artist (Walsh) and a different writer each issue, where most horror anthology comics are the other way around. The writers featured include Chip Zdarsky, Jeff Lemire, Ed Brisson and Kelly Thompson. Second, each story, despite the different writers, will be set in the same shared universe, with the Silver Coin being the thread connecting them all. The first story will be set in 1978 and involve an up and coming rock band who discover the coin, as well as the horrific toll it takes. Walsh explained the genesis of the project, saying, "After finishing Black Hammer/Justice League with Jeff Lemire I was really itching to draw a horror comic... A shared world where a bunch of writers can throw amazing and horrific ideas at me to draw the hell out of. I approached a group of writers whose work I not only admired as a fan, but also had a fruitful working collaboration with in the past. Everyone signed up for this simple idea." Enjoy the covers and preview pages for The Silver Coin #1 below:
The talent Walsh has assembled to write The Silver Coin is impressive. Some of the creators have worked on quality horror titles before, such as Lemire’s Gideon Falls, also from Image Comics. Walsh expressed his delight in working with Lemire, Zdarsky and company, and was impressed how they worked with and developed his ideas with each issue. Walsh's stewardship of the title promises to create a darkly interwoven world, and the core concept of a coin "rolling through time" is one ripe with possibilities. Even in the preview pages above, it's already clear how stories will inform each other, impregnating even minor details like where protagonists find the coin with creeping dread.
With a solid premise and enviable talent already attached, The Silver Coin is a must for any fan of horror, and a welcome addition to the growing ranks of critically beloved anthology horror series slowly changing the medium for the better. The first issue, from Zdarsky and Walsh, will be released this April.
Source: IGN