We here at Biff Bam Pop! love our Black Hammer!
Created by the brilliant minds of Jeff Lemire (Sweet Tooth, Moon Knight, Descender, Essex County), and Dean Ormston (Lucifer, Books of Magick: Life During Wartime, Judge Dredd) and first published in the summer of 2016 courtesy of Dark Horse Comics, Black Hammer is a comic book series that takes a new turn on superheroes, dropping them into an entirely novel and mysterious locale, in order to tell character-driven stories about a very human existence.
Sure, Black Hammer has got the drama, the action, and the omnipresent big bads of other superhero comic books, making it instantly recognizable – even if some of the characters are strangely called Madame Dragonfly, Golden Gail, Talkie Walkie and Colonel Weird. But the series pushes the envelope of the kinds of stories superhero characters can carry.
Black Hammer: Visions continues to push that creative envelope.
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Black Hammer: Visions is an eight-issue miniseries, wherein original creators Lemire and Ormston take a backseat in the storytelling chores. No, they’re more like you and I, excited readers, eagerly anticipating the guaranteed creative payoff as conscripted writers and artists from all sorts of backgrounds take a turn on their beloved characters.
In the first issue, actor/comedian Patton Oswalt (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,The Boys, Ratatouille) takes a turn on writing duties, partnered with artists Dean Kotz (The Butcher of Paris). Together, they take a deep dive into the world (and mind) of Golden Gail, who struggles to maintain balance as a middle-aged woman forever trapped in the super-powered body of a grade-school girl. It’s the reverse of Big, and Gail carries, a-hem, bigger issues than Tom Hanks ever did.
Each 32-page issue of the series will feature different characters from the Black Hammer world, written and illustrated by different creative forces. Following in the footsteps of the best of those old Marvel Comics “What If…” issues, the series will set a spotlight on Madame Dragonfly next and then it’s on to Abraham Slam, etc. all brought you by such great talents as Geoff Johns, Mariko Tamaki, Chip Zdarsky, Johnnie Christmas, Scott Kolins and many others!
It’s a testament to the trust Lemire and Ormston have in their hand-picked brethren, to allow those artists the opportunity to tell new and great stories about the compelling characters in the Hammerverse.
And it’s an exciting opportunity for all of us to experience those stories firsthand! You can catch a sneak peek at Black Hammer: Visions #1 right here.
Make the run to your local comic book store today and pick up a new, visionary turn on your fave Black Hammer characters with Black Hammer: Visions #1.
If it isn’t your favorite book yet, it soon will be!
