For fans of British comics, “Action” doesn’t necessarily just mean the comic that Superman debuted in; it was an anthology series in the mid-70s that was a direct precursor to “2000AD.” In “Action,” there was a story called “Hook Jaw,” a tale of a great white shark, heavily inspired by Jaws, that tackled both environmental issues, and had a shark eat a ton of people. Well, in Decemeber, Titan is resurrecting the property, under the pen of Si Spurrier and illustrated by Conor Boyle.
The book, announced at San Diego Comic Con today, is a five issue miniseries that returns the character – once banned for being too violent – to the sea, but this time sets the story off the coast of Somalia, updating the title in subtle ways, but making sure to keep the overall tone of the original series.
The full press release follows below, and check out the book in December.
THE CLASSIC KILLER GREAT WHITE – REIMAGINED BY COMICS SUPERSTAR SI SPURRIER & RISING STAR CONOR BOYLE!
July 22 2016 – Titan Comics are thrilled to announce the release of a brand-new “Hookjaw” mini-series, the publisher announced today at the San Diego Comic Con Diamond Retailer presentation.
Hitting stores in December 2016, the five issue mini-series is written by comics fire-cracker Si Spurrier (“Cry Havoc,” “Weavers,” “Doctor Who,” “Numbercruncher”) and illustrated by rising star Conor Boyle, with colors by Giulia Brusco and edited by legendary British comics editor and marine life expert artist, Steve White.
The mini-series is set to be an intense modern iteration of the titular ocean predator, which debuted in legendary British comic (and forerunner to “2000AD”) “Action” #1. Initially inspired by the success of the film, Jaws, “Hookjaw” was one of many “Action” strips so violent it was banned from the shelves upon release!
“I’ve wanted to do a ‘Hookjaw’ story as long as I’ve been making comics,” gushed A-list writer Si Spurrier. “Social, complex, intelligent and exceptionally good at what it does, today’s ‘Hookjaw’ arrives like a shadow amidst a catalogue of zoologists, soldiers, spies and Somali Pirates. Every person involved thinks they’re the hero of the story. They’re all wrong.”
As the series synopsis indicates, this creative team are pushing this new iteration into completely uncharted water.
Off the coast of Somalia, a rag-tag group of marine scientists are studying the Virgin Brides, a pack of female great white. What secrets are laying at the bottom of the Indian Ocean? And just how will they face up to the shadowy terror of the legendary great white – HOOKJAW?!
“Hookjaw” #1 will be on sale in comic stores and digital devices from December 2016 and is available to order from the October edition of PREVIEWS.
To find out more about Titan Comics follow on Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr.
