Avatar Press Announces Ongoing Stitched Comic Book Series

Stitched by Garth Ennis had quite the packed house at San Diego Comic-Con earlier this year. Naturally, such success should be parlayed into an ongoing comic book series and Avatar Press is looking to do just that, featuring the artwork of Mike Wolfer. Stitched #1 will be released simultaneously with the Stitched DVD in November and expand upon the events of the film.

“We are proud to add Garth Ennis’ Stitched to our growing line of horror comics,” says Keith Davidsen, Director of Sales and Marketing for Avatar Press. “Over the past few years, we’ve established Avatar as the home for innovative storytellers, and as the premiere comic publisher of horror. Mike Wolfer’s work on Night of the Living Dead, Garth Ennis’ creation of the chilling Crossed franchise, David Lapham’s picking up the torch on Crossed and his work on Caligula… these are all titles that prove there’s just no compromise when it comes to terror. With a long-form epic like Stitched joining the ranks, we will gladly deliver massacres and mayhem to our fearless fans month in and month out.”

The film introduced viewers to a cast of stranded pilots and commandos, struggling through the mountains of Afganistan and pursued by both Taliban and and undead assailants. It will launch with the requisite variants, including:

STITCHED #1 Regular Cover Edition $3.99 SRP, Diamond Item Code: SEP110795
STITCHED #1 “Gore” Cover Edition $3.99 SRP, Diamond Item Code: SEP110796
STITCHED #1 Wraparound Cover Edition $3.99 SRP, Diamond Item Code: SEP110797
STITCHED #1 Movie Photo Cover Edition Price SRP, Diamond Item Code: SEP110798
STITCHED DVD $15.99 SRP, Diamond Item Code: SEP110799

The DVD will be released in November and feature the full 17-minute widescreen film, plus a wealth of bonus features including a stills gallery, the original movie script and over 90 minutes of bonus footage spread across the film’s “Making Of” documentary and a career retrospective interview with Garth Ennis.

Mike Wolfer elaborates on the ongoing series: “The first issue of Stitched is an expanded adaptation of the short film. Issues #2 through #6 will adapt the screenplay for the full-length feature which Garth has written, and after that I’ll be scripting new material based on the premise established in the first story arc.” Regarding the future direction of the Stitched storyline, Wolfer says, “Without giving too much away, I can tell you that the Stitched threat is not relegated only to war-torn Afghanistan. That’s where this modern terror has its roots, but we’re going to find that those roots go back centuries, and they are directed by subversive, human intelligence."

Full press release and other covers after the jump. Fair warning...one of the covers is pretty graphic.

AVATAR PRESS ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF ONGOING “STITCHED” COMIC BOOK SERIES, BASED ON THE SHORT FILM WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY GARTH ENNIS

Following the successful packed-theater premiere of the Stitched film at San Diego Comic-Con 2011, Avatar Press proudly announces the upcoming November 2011 launch of an ongoing comic book series by industry legend Garth Ennis and talented artist/writer Mike Wolfer. Released simultaneously with the Stitched DVD at comic book shops and specialty stores worldwide, the upcoming Stitched #1 expands upon the events of the short film, laying the groundwork for a continuing saga of American and British soldiers beset by murderous supernatural creatures.

The Stitched film introduced a cast of stranded pilots and commandos, struggling through the mountains of Afghanistan and pursued by both Taliban fighters and strange, undead assailants. Adapting and building upon the film premise, the comic book series explores the root of this supernatural evil and the extent of its reach. Ennis explains, “Our heroes are up against not just inhuman monsters, but the very human evil that guides them.” The Stitched, glimpsed in the short film for one unnerving battle sequence, are part of a much bigger and nastier picture. “They’re essentially undead war machines. They're animated and controlled by a specific process; their masters have been in conflict for a long time and have learned to use the dead as weapons.”

Mike Wolfer, whose atmospheric, gritty artwork brings Ennis’ creative vision to life, elaborates on the ongoing series: “The first issue of Stitched is an expanded adaptation of the short film. Issues #2 through #6 will adapt the screenplay for the full-length feature which Garth has written, and after that I’ll be scripting new material based on the premise established in the first story arc.” Regarding the future direction of the Stitched storyline, Wolfer says, “Without giving too much away, I can tell you that the Stitched threat is not relegated only to war-torn Afghanistan. That’s where this modern terror has its roots, but we’re going to find that those roots go back centuries, and they are directed by subversive, human intelligence."

The Stitched comic book series launches with a #1 issue conceived by Garth Ennis, and adapted from the original film script by writer Mike Wolfer. Featuring interior and cover artwork also by Wolfer, Stitched #1 is recommended for mature audiences for violence and strong language, and will be available through Diamond Comic Distributors’ Previews September catalog with multiple cover variants, including:

STITCHED #1 Regular Cover Edition $3.99 SRP, Diamond Item Code: SEP110795

STITCHED #1 “Gore” Cover Edition $3.99 SRP, Diamond Item Code: SEP110796

STITCHED #1 Wraparound Cover Edition $3.99 SRP, Diamond Item Code: SEP110797

STITCHED #1 Movie Photo Cover Edition Ask your retailer for pricing! Diamond Item Code: SEP110798

A Mischief Maker Studios production, the Stitched DVD (also solicited through the September 2011 Previews catalog for release in November) features the full 17-minute widescreen film, plus a wealth of bonus features including a stills gallery, the original movie script, and over 90 minutes of bonus footage spread across the film’s “Making Of” documentary and a career retrospective interview with Garth Ennis.

STITCHED DVD $15.99 SRP, Diamond Item Code: SEP110799

“We are proud to add Garth Ennis’ Stitched to our growing line of horror comics,” says Keith Davidsen, Director of Sales and Marketing for Avatar Press. “Over the past few years, we’ve established Avatar as the home for innovative storytellers, and as the premiere comic publisher of horror. Mike Wolfer’s work on Night of the Living Dead, Garth Ennis’ creation of the chilling Crossed franchise, David Lapham’s picking up the torch on Crossed and his work on Caligula… these are all titles that prove there’s just no compromise when it comes to terror. With a long-form epic like Stitched joining the ranks, we will gladly deliver massacres and mayhem to our fearless fans month in and month out.”

Avatar Press is a groundbreaking independent publishing company which produces a wide variety of cutting-edge comic books, graphic novels, and original web content. Their high-quality publications include the work of such industry luminaries as Garth Ennis (Crossed, Chronicles of Wormwood), Warren Ellis (Freakangels), David Lapham (Caligula, Crossed: Psychopath), and Alan Moore (Neonomicon). They also produce a diverse range of licensed projects including the classic zombie epic Night of the Living Dead and George RR Martin’s Fevre Dream. Their Boundless Comics imprint publishes Brian Pulido’s original Lady Death and Mike Wolfer’s reimagining of the classic femme fatales Pandora, Hellina, and Widow in the series War Goddess. For more information about Avatar Press, their publications, and creators, please visit www.avatarpress.com.

Mischief Maker Studios, owned by Brian Pulido and Francisca Pulido, is a multi-media entertainment company that develops, produces, and controls a library of properties and storylines, and partners with world renowned creators and clients to realize their full sales potential across all media platforms including film, television, print, online, mobile, gaming, and merchandising. Their first feature film, The Graves, sold to After Dark Films, Lionsgate, Syfy and a dozen international distributors. For more info, visit: www.MischiefMakerStudios.com.

For more information on the Stitched film, its DVD release, and the comic book series, please visit the website www.FearTheStitched.com.