Black Masks and Matteo Pizzolo introduce ROGUE STATE

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Matteo Pizzolo is making a comeback with a brand new collection from Black Masks entitled Rogue State. The collection marks Pizzolo’s first collection since 2017, and the writer has launched particulars forward of SDCC 2022, the place the ebook will premier. Try the small print under in addition to some SDCC exclusives from Black Masks.

What if a contested Presidential election plunged America into turmoil? What if political violence consumed the streets? And what if a raging Supreme Court docket, in a strict interpretation of the Second Modification, legitimized and deputized all militias—reworking all the nation right into a paramilitary police state? What if a freedom fighter emerged from the chaos, raised a civilian military, and carved out a territory throughout america–pushing out police, militias, and Nationwide Guard… imposing its personal legal guidelines… sovereign. What if People refused to be ruled?

That is the world of ROGUE STATE, the brand new ongoing graphic novel collection that marks author Matteo Pizzolo’s return to comics for his first new collection since 2017’s acclaimed CALEXIT, reuniting with artist C. Granda (who illustrated 2018’s CALEXIT: SAN DIEGO comedian ebook that raised funds for households separated on the US-Mexico border) and CALEXIT cowl artists Soo Lee and Ashley A Woods. ROGUE STATE will launch this October from Black Masks Studios, the Los Angeles-based indie writer of beloved titles together with BLACK, 4 KIDS WALK INTO A BANK, SPACE RIDERS, KIM & KIM, ALICE IN LEATHERLAND, and GODKILLER. Collectively, Pizzolo and Granda have created a well timed title about rebelling in opposition to tyranny, reconquering stolen land, punching fascists within the face, and constructing a greater nation.

“A giant a part of constructing authenticity and depth to the characters and the world of Rogue State comes from C. Granda’s unbelievable eye for element and the best way he infuses the work together with his personal experiences and observations,” stated Pizzolo, co-founder of Black Masks Studios and the author of ROGUE STATE. “Granda grew up in Medellín-Colombia, the place he nonetheless lives and runs a number of cultural organizations dedicated to supporting comedian ebook creation in Latin America. He was a child through the Palace of Justice siege when insurgents stormed the Supreme Court docket and left half the Justices useless. When Granda imagines a comic book ebook world roiled by political violence, there’s a motive it feels so important and lived-in.”

In ROGUE STATE, a crew of younger vigilantes will rise in opposition to an authoritarian state robbing People of their rights. The continuing collection tells the story of Vya Of Brightstars, a mysterious freedom fighter rising from the unrest, and Clara Cruz (she/her), a younger skilled who turns into activated in Vya’s motion when her fiancée Taylor Sanchez (they/them) is disappeared as militias take over their Mission District neighborhood. As a nationwide police state takes form following a contested Presidential election and The Supreme Court docket’s Second Modification ruling to deputize paramilitary teams, Vya and Clara’s rogue state will blaze a path throughout America, inspiring others to lift their very own armies… some in solidarity, others in opposition. Every difficulty of ROGUE STATE may even embrace non-fiction materials about constructing native assist networks and grassroots campaigning for coming elections.

“Confronting disinformation with political artwork has by no means been extra necessary,” stated Brian Giberson, Black Masks’s head of publishing growth. “Black Masks Studios has all the time centered on tales which are adventurous and now have an actual message driving them. Beginning with OCCUPY COMICS, we revealed tales about inequity and the wrestle for monetary justice. Since then, we revealed tales about gentrification (THE DREGS), LGBTQIA+ self-discovery and located household (ALICE IN LEATHERLAND) and empowered Black superheroes combating racist plutocrats (BLACK). We’ve partnered with creators to fundraise for Black Lives Matter, authorized assist for households separated on the border, comedian outlets subjected to Covid lockdown mandates, and bail funds through the George Floyd protests. The truth that the comedian market continues to assist and supply a platform for such courageous voices is a putting reminder that comics play a vital and necessary function in our social, political, and cultural dialogue.”

“That is a tremendous and essential second within the historical past of comics. It’s an actual renaissance for socially related and politically difficult comedian books and graphic novels, however on the similar time these books are dealing with extra assaults, lawsuits, and bans than they’ve in a era,” stated Pizzolo. “Researchers are mentioning the explosion in ebook banning has been disproportionately impacting graphic novels–and whether or not it’s Maia Kobabe’s highly effective GENDER QUEER, Artwork Spiegelman’s unbelievable MAUS, Alison Bechdel’s transferring FUN HOME, or Alan Moore and David Lloyd’s piercing V FOR VENDETTA, it’s clear that deeply private and fearlessly political comics and graphic novels are capturing imaginations throughout our polarized world. There’s by no means been a extra sturdy vary of comics and graphic novels talking to the demand for social and political change than proper now.”

The primary difficulty of ROGUE STATE shall be out there from Black Masks Studios in October 2022, with a particular preview ebook out there in extraordinarily restricted portions this week at Comedian-Con Worldwide in San Diego. Black Masks’s full slate of exclusives might be discovered under, and followers can discover out extra on the firm’s panel on Saturday, July 24!

Black Masks SDCC exclusives:

Future, NY Chapter 1
(restricted to 99 of most important cowl, 25 of unpolluted artwork)
Particular version of Future, NY’s first chapter. Unique cowl by Amancay Nahuelpan (Calexit, Batman: Detective Comics)

Black Masks: Debuting Tomorrow’s Legends

Saturday July 23, 2022 5-6pm, Rooom 28DE

Black Masks has made a reputation for itself as the most well liked launchpad to debut new expertise and because the dwelling for a few of the coolest, most provocative comics round, together with BLACK, Future NY, CALEXIT, 4 Youngsters Stroll right into a Financial institution, and Alice In Leatherland. Black Masks co-founder Matteo Pizzolo (CALEXIT) joins creators Kwanza Osajyefo (BLACK), Pat Shand (Future NY), Adam Egypt Mortimer (Ballistic), and others for a wide-ranging dialogue of how new concepts are altering comics and the way you might be part of it.