David Lapham’s “Stray Bullets” series was one of the greatest crime comics during its initial run from 1995 to 2005. Now, nine years later, it’s set to return March 2014 under the publication of Image Comics.
Lapham’s return to the critically acclaimed crime comic will include “Stray Bullets” #41, the final issue of the original series, and it will also see the release of “Stray Bullets: The Über Alles Edition” collecting issues #1-41. Most excitedly of all, March will see the release of the new ongoing “Stray Bullets: Killers” which will function as a soft reboot of sorts for the series.
Additionally, all of “Stray Bullets” is now online at Comixology and Image’s website for $1.99 an issue, with the first four issues free until March.
Fans of the original series are sure to be shocked and delighted at the news; not just because the Eisner Award winning series is coming back at all, but because it’ll return on Lapham’s own terms. On the decision to shift the series to Image, Lapham said in a press call yesterday, “[Even though we have] Image on the cover it’s the same 32 pages we want to bring to you and that was sort of the key that made us say ‘We can do this, we can come back’ like we did it before.”
“Stray Bullets: Killers” is set to be released monthly and the first issue is said by Lapham to be very new-reader friendly, just as every issue will be. The reason for relaunching the title in the first place instead of continuing onto issue #42 is to welcome any new readers who might be uncomfortable latching on at such a high numbered issue, as Lapham says “I think they can jump in on #4, but #1 on the shelf implies it’ll be reader friendly. And so that’s the message that people will come and read this.”
No word on how long the series will last, but Lapham did say, “[Stray Bullets] is like home to me, this home space and I don’t want to give that up until it really feels natural and I have everything come together to it.”
To say this is great news is a bit of an understatement. I personally never read “Stray Bullets” but seeing Image back up a series like this with such passion shows how much it really cares about supporting creators and made me want to dive into the back issues with all my enthusiasm.
“Stray Bullets” #41 and “Stray Bullets: Killers” #1 are set to come out in March 2014 at $3.50 each, along with “Stray Bullets: The Über Alles Edition” for $59.99 which really is not bad for 41 issues of this acclaimed series. The original run will also be made available digitally shortly, with no restoration and all of the original artwork in place. Check out some preview artwork below:
And here’s Image’s press release:
Image Comics Press Release
STRAY BULLETS, by award-winning creator David Lapham, has found a new home: Image Comics. The critically-acclaimed cult classic that left readers in heart-stopping suspense at the end of issue #40 will pick up where it left off and make up for lost time.
Image Comics is proud to announce that STRAY BULLETS #41 (Diamond Code: JAN140528), a definitive collection of issues #1-41 entitled STRAY BULLETS: THE ÜBER ALLES EDITION (Diamond Code JAN140530), and the first issue of STRAY BULLETS: THE KILLERS #1 (Diamond Code JAN140529), the beginning of a new story arc that will continue as an ongoing monthly series, will all hit store shelves simultaneously on 3/12.
And for the first time ever, every issue of STRAY BULLETS and all forthcoming digital issues will be available immediately on the Image Comics website (imagecomics.com) and the official Image Comics iOS app, as well as on Comixology on the web (comixology.com), iOS, Android, and Google Play. To help readers jump in on the excitement, the first four digital issues will be offered for free.
“I couldn’t be more excited to be back,” said Lapham. “Stray Bullets is home to me. To the fans who have been asking, and asking about it for years…I finally have good news for you.”
Continued belowSTRAY BULLETS won the 1996 Eisner Award for Best Writer/Artist, and the trade paperback collection STRAY BULLETS: Innocence of Nihilism won the 1997 Eisner Award for Best Graphic Album-Reprint. Its trademark dark, neo-noir themes and nonlinear storytelling have been likened to the storytelling styles of Quentin Tarantino and David Lynch.
“I’ve been a fan of Stray Bullets since the book first debuted back in 1995, and working with David and Maria Lapham to bring the book back at Image is hands down one of the most exciting things I’ve done since becoming Publisher,” said Eric Stephenson, Publisher at Image Comics. “Stray Bullets is one of comics’ towering achievements, and I could not be more proud to be publishing it through Image!”
All three STRAY BULLETS will release on March 12, 2014. Full ordering information below:
STRAY BULLETS #41, 32 pgs., Diamond Code: JAN140528
STRAY BULLETS: The Über Alles Edition, 1,200 pgs. TP, Diamond Code: JAN140530
STRAY BULLETS: KILLERS #1, 32 pgs., Diamond Code: JAN140529
