Arriving in March…

Samurai Jack #6
Jim Zub (writer) • Brittney Williams (artist) • Andy Suriano (cover) • Michael Avon Oeming (variant cover)

In this issue: Fans demanded it and IDW delivers – The return of the Scotsman! The humungous highland hooligan and the stoically stalwart samurai team up once again! This time they battle against a bizarre mystic curse that—okay, that part’s a secret but trust us, it’s a doozy!

FC • 32 pages • $3.99
• Fan-favorite The Scotsman returns!
• “…a comic that captures the distinct tone of the series to the point where you might wonder if this is secretly a lost script from Tartakovsky himself.” -IGN

Andy Suriano is at it again, posting up teasers from the issue he’s currently drawing. Here are 3 panel tidbits from Samurai Jack #4:

Samurai Jack #2 arrived on Wednesday and, after our strong debut, what did critics think of our latest story? Read on and find out…

• IGN:9.5/10 “Zub, Suriano, Burcham, and Lee have truly created a comic book that any Samurai Jack fan — and Genndy Tartakovsky himself — would be proud of.”

• Big Comic Page: 8/10 “It’s uncanny how spot-on Zub has gotten Jack’s voice – you can hear Phil Lamarr’s voice reading the word balloons aloud in your head. Every one of his lines reads like exactly what Jack would say in that given situation.”

• Comic Bastards:5/5 “Despite a big name to live up to IDW’s Samurai Jack team does great work again, establishing all the things that made this series such a good time in the first place and adding their own, welcome spin on everything.”

• Comic Book Bin:9.5/10 “I love this comic book. It’s one of the best new series of the year.”

• Comic Book Therapy:4/5 “Samurai Jack is a great new series. Everyone is firing on all cylinders and presenting a story that is worthy of what came before it.”

• Comic Vine: 5/5 “Did you love the first issue? If so, it’s safe to say you’re going to love this one, too. Jim Zub fills the book with action and compliments the chaos with such playful dialogue – it basically feels like a cartoon, and that’s absolutely a good thing.”

• Eat Your Comics: “The art by Andy Suriano is fantastic, the story written by Jim Zub is a tight Samurai Jack episode tied into 22 pages and the expectations we are left with increase by the last page.”

• eXPress News & Reviews:6/7 “Only two issues in this series shows more promise than most licenses ever get. A mesh of minimalism and ephemeral line scratch Samurai Jack is fun to read while leaving the somber and serious depth the character deserves.”

• Herotaku:5/5 “If you’re a fan of the original animated series, Samurai Jack is a must-read. Everything is there from the action, humor, unique characters, and even the openings narrated by Aku from the original series.”

• Moar Powah: 5/5 “I am honestly in awe at this comic. Writer Jim Zub has done a great job with the two issues so far. They have felt like such an amazing representation of the animated series, capturing its essence and tone perfectly.”

• Nerdlocker: 4/5 “This was very enjoyable. I’m really looking forward to more.”

• Nerds on the Rocks: 6/7 “I really enjoyed the overall feel and focus of the story – it was clear and precise and put you directly into Samurai Jack’s shoes.”

• Pop Culture Maven: “Thankfully the first issue was no fluke and I am very happy to say that the quality of the second issue is just a great as the first issue.”

• Razorfine:4/5 “Once again the art by Andy Suriano and dialogue from writer Jim Zub capture the feel of the original cartoon while continuing their adventure.”

• Sean Network: “The writing and art feel exactly like the series and I feel like I’m having the voice actors doing a reading of the storyboard of an episode.”

• Shadowhawk’s Shade: 9.5/10 “IDW has a history of putting out such tie-ins and in Jim and Andy’s Samurai Jack, they have another big success on their hands, that’s for sure.”

• The Outhousers: “Andy Suriano, brings strong, solid line work to Samurai Jack #2, which gives a sound foundation for Josh Burcham’s colors.”

I wrote a special article all about working on Samurai Jack that’s been posted on the 13th Dimension site along with an exclusive preview of issue #2 (which arrives in stores on Wednesday November 20th). Give it a read!

Great news today – Samurai Jack #1 is sold out at distribution level and IDW has announced a 2nd printing of the first issue with a new cover!

A distribution sell out means your local comic retailer may still have 1st print copies in stock, but there are no more copies available for order. Whatever is out for sale is all that’s left.

Thank you to the many fans, retailers, and new readers who have helped spread the word that Jack is back. We couldn’t do it without your support!

Coming in February…

Samurai Jack #5
Jim Zub (writing) • Andy Suriano (art and cover) • Genndy Tartakovsky (subscription variant)

Martial artists, warriors, nobles, monsters and more… Samurai Jack has defeated them all in his quest to gather the Threads of Time. Now, one last strand remains in the lair of Aku the demon wizard. Can Jack defeat his greatest foe and return back to the past?

FC • 32 pages • $3.99

• IDW’s first Samurai Jack story arc wraps up!

The highly regarded Onion AV Club has just reviewed Samurai Jack #1 and they heap a lot of praise on our debut:

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Comic books based on Cartoon Network series have become all the rage recently, with Boom Studios tackling the network’s current output (Adventure Time, Regular Show) while IDW digs into former shows like The Powerpuff Girls and Samurai Jack. That latter series never properly concluded on television, making it the perfect choice for a comic-book adaptation, and Samurai Jack #1 (IDW) showcases the sharp action and imaginative design sense that made Genndy Tartakovsky’s creation a modern animated classic.

IDW has picked the ideal creative team for the book in writer Jim Zub and artist Andy Suriano, a character designer for the original cartoon. Jim Zub’s work on Skullkickers is some of the most clever action writing in comic books (particularly because of his hilarious sound effects), and that voice translates perfectly to the world of Tartakovsky’s time-displaced samurai hero. This first issue finds Jack entering a gladiator arena of monsters to retrieve a Thread Of Time that will help him return to his original era, and it’s an outstanding introduction to the character and his mission. It also looks gorgeous under Suriano’s pen, with stylized widescreen visuals that flow gracefully on the page. It’s one of the strongest cartoon adaptations available, giving Samurai Jack fans the story they’ve been yearning for with visuals that maintain all the beauty of the TV show.

Samurai Jack comic artist Andy Suriano has been posting art teasers on his Twitter account. Here are three of the latest ones from issue #3, which arrives in December:

A week and a half ago Samurai Jack #1 was released and last Friday I posted up reviews we’d received. Since then I’ve been sent a bunch of links to other reviews for the first issue. All of us on the creative team are energized by the outpouring of excitement. Thank you!

• Ain’t It Cool News: “Jim Zub upheld my impeccably high standards for cartoons turned comics and I am very excited to read more”

• ALBOTAS: “This baby is authentic. I mean that. Samurai Jack #1 honestly feels like Genndy Tartakovsky created this comic book himself.”

• Comics Gutter: “Everything that made the cartoon great is preserved and adapted to the comic page, the explosive action and signature cinematic style of Samurai Jack making a comeback thanks to Suriano’s art.”

• Comixverse: “Zub and Suriano do right by Samurai Jack by playing to the comic book format’s strengths, instead of turning the comic into nothing more than a collection of storyboards.”

• Elephant Robot: 4/5 For those who were fans of the Cartoon Network show Samurai Jack or those who have never heard of the show, this is a great place to jump in and read. “”

• Geek Native: “It’s with great relief that I found myself enjoying the first couple of pages of Samurai Jack #1.”

• Good Comics For Kids: “Just within the first issue, Jim and Andy were able to recap the original premise of the show and start Jack on the first part of a quest that included plenty of the action, humor, and adventure that helped make the show one of the highlights of modern cartoons. As a fan of the show I can’t ask anything more.”

• Nerd Machine: “The story is tried and true and the characters are all familiar, welcoming readers with open arms. Samurai Jack hasn’t lost any of his steely calm and combat prowess…”

• Quick Comic Reviews: “…the best part of the issue is that it throws us right back into the life of Jack like no time has gone by.”

• Razorfione: 4/5 “Jim Zub captures the tone of the original cartoon, and I was also very impressed with the art by artist Andy Suriano”

• SciFi Pulse: A+ “Masters Zub, Suriano, and Lee have done great honor to this samurai on his quest to get home. They are continuing his saga with a fantastic tale and incredible art. Highest possible recommendation!”

• Travelling Man: “What this is, without a doubt, is a tremendously assured, funny comic début for one of the greatest cartoon characters in years. Jack’s back. Evil time travelling demons beware.”

Andy Suriano, artist on the Samurai Jack comic (and character designer from the original show), posted up this teaser from Samurai Jack #3 yesterday.

A new character I can’t wait for you to meet. 🙂

Issue #3 arrives in December.