Black Hammer (comics)

Black Hammer
Cover of Black Hammer #1 (July, 2016). Art by Dean Ormston.
Publication information
Publisher Dark Horse Comics
Schedule Monthly
Format Ongoing
Publication date July 2016 – present
Creative team
Created by Jeff Lemire
Dean Ormston
Written by Jeff Lemire
Artist(s) Dean Ormston
David Rubín
Letterer(s) Todd Klein
David Rubín
Colorist(s) Dave Stewart
David Rubín
Editor(s) Brendan Wright (#1–7)
Daniel Chabon (#1–present)
Collected editions
Black Hammer: Secret Origins ISBN 9781616557867
Black Hammer: The Event ISBN 9781506701981
Black Hammer: Age of Doom – Part 1 ISBN 9781506703893
Sherlock Frankenstein and the Legion of Evil ISBN 9781506705262
Doctor Star and the Kingdom of Lost Tomorrows ISBN 9781506706597
The Quantum Age ISBN 9781506708416

Black Hammer is an American ongoing comic series created by writer Jeff Lemire and artist Dean Ormston, published by Dark Horse Comics.

Plot

Ten years ago, Black Hammer and six other superheroes had saved Spiral City from the Anti-God, but in process became trapped in Rockwood, a timeless Twilight Zone-ish town. Shortly after the heroes arrive, Black Hammer dies. In the present, the six heroes live on Black Hammer farm with very little hope of ever escaping Rockwood.

Publication history

Jeff Lemire originally conceived of Black Hammer in 2007, intending to draw the story himself after the end of Essex County.[1] In 2008 he pitched the series to Dark Horse editor Diana Schutz. The pitch was accepted, but Lemire was unable to begin work until he finished The Nobody and Sweet Tooth for Vertigo, then his exclusivity contract for DC Comics prevented him from working on the series from 2010 to 2014.[2] When Lemire returned to the series in 2014, he was working on so many projects that drawing it himself was no longer possible, so he teamed up with artist Dean Ormston for the title. According to Lemire, it was important for Black Hammer to not to look anything like mainstream superhero comics. He wanted the series to stand outside of superhero comics and comment on them, not become one of them. For this, Ormston's art style was deemed perfect.[3]

Black Hammer #1 was originally scheduled for release March 2015, however Ormston suffered a cerebral hemorrhage,[4] which left the right side of his body partially paralyzed. After months of rehabilitation, Ormston recovered.[3] The first issue of Black Hammer came out July the following year. Lemire continued working on the series while Ormston recovered. In a September 2016 interview, Lemire claimed to have already written twenty issues of the series.[5]

In September 2017, shortly after the cliffhanger ending of Black Hammer #13, Dark Horse Comics announced the series had ended and that it would relaunch as Black Hammer: Age of Doom in 2018.[6] Lemire explained the name change in a press release:

“One thing Black Hammer has always done is comment on the history of superhero comics and we live in a world where superhero universes seem to be rebooted, relaunched, and rebirthed every year. It felt like we needed to play around with that idea, but put a Black Hammer spin on it.”[7]

The World of Black Hammer

In 2017, Jeff Lemire started to expand the Black Hammer universe with spin-off titles, starting with Sherlock Frankenstein and the Legion of Evil. The spin-offs can be recognized by a black banner along the top of the cover which says "From the world of Black Hammer". So far there have been two spin-offs, Sherlock Frankenstein and Doctor Star, with at least four more planned.[8] The universe of Black Hammer and its spin-offs is frequently referred to as "The Hammerverse" (not to be confused with David Drake's Hammerverse) by editor Daniel Chabon in the letter columns, though this name does not appear to be part of any official branding.

Sherlock Frankenstein

In July 2017, Dark Horse Comics announced Sherlock Frankenstein and the Legion of Evil, a Black Hammer spin-off miniseries written by Jeff Lemire with art by David Rubín. The series focused on Lucy Weber, a nineteen-year-old investigative reporter searching for the truth about what happened ten years ago when her father, the Black Hammer, disappeared.[9]

Doctor Star

In December 2017, Den of Geek announced a second Black Hammer spin-off miniseries, Doctor Star and the Kingdom of Lost Tomorrows, written by Jeff Lemire with art by Max Fiumara. The series focuses on Doctor Star, a Golden Age superhero and contemporary of Abraham Slam.[10]

The Quantum Age

On March 27, 2018, Dark Horse Comics announced The Quantum Age, a spin-off set one thousand years in the future about a group of superheroes, inspired by the heroes of Black Hammer Farm.[11]

Issues

Series Issue Release Date Story Art Colors Letters Cover
Black
Hammer		 #1 July 20, 2016 Jeff Lemire Dean Ormston Dave Stewart Todd Klein
  • Dean Ormston
  • Jeff Lemire (variant)
  • Fábio Moon
    (ECCC 2018 variant)[12]
#2 August 17, 2016
  • Dean Ormston
  • Jeff Lemire (variants)
#3 September 21, 2016
#4 October 19, 2016
#5 November 16, 2016
#6 December 21, 2016
Giant-Sized
Annual
(2017)		 January 18, 2017 Jeff Lemire Michael Allred
Ray Fawkes
Matt Kindt
Emi Lenox
Dustin Nguyen
Nate Powell		 Ray Fawkes
Sharlene Kindt
Dave Stewart		 Todd Klein
  • Jeff Lemire
#7 March 22, 2017 Jeff Lemire Dean Ormston Dave Stewart Todd Klein
  • Dean Ormston
  • Jeff Lemire (variants)
#8 April 19, 2017
#9 May 24, 2017 David Rubín
  • David Rubín
  • Jeff Lemire (variant)
#10 June 21, 2017 Dean Ormston Dave Stewart Todd Klein
  • Dean Ormston
  • Jeff Lemire (variants)
#11 July 26, 2017
#12 August 23, 2017 David Rubín
  • David Rubín
  • Jeff Lemire (variant)
#13 September 20, 2017 Dean Ormston Dave Stewart Todd Klein
  • Dean Ormston
  • Jeff Lemire (variant)
Sherlock
Frankenstein
and the
Legion of Evil		 #1 October 18, 2017 Jeff Lemire David Rubín
  • David Rubín
  • Mike Mignola (variant)
  • Darren Warren Johnson
    (ECCC 2018 variant)[12]
#2 November 22, 2017
  • David Rubín
  • Dean Ormston (variant)
#3 December 20, 2017
  • David Rubín
  • Duncan Fegredo (variant)
#4 January 24, 2018
  • David Rubín
  • Jeff Lemire (variant)
Doctor Star
and the
Kingdom of
Lost Tomorrows		 #1 March 7, 2018 Jeff Lemire Max Fiumara Dave Stewart Nate Piekos
  • Max Fiumara
  • Declan Shalvey &
    Jordie Bellaire (variant)
  • Jeff Lemire
    (ComicsPRO variant)
#2 April 4, 2018
  • Max Fiumara
  • J.G. Jones (variant)
#3 May 2, 2018
  • Max Fiumara
  • Dustin Nguyen (variant)
#4 June 6, 2018
  • Max Fiumara
  • Annie Wu (variant)
Black
Hammer		 FCBD 2018:
Overwatch /
Black Hammer		 May 5, 2018 Jeff Lemire Dean Ormston
Wilfredo Torres		 Dave Stewart Todd Klein N/A
Black
Hammer:
Age of Doom		 #1 April 18, 2018 Jeff Lemire Dean Ormston Dave Stewart Todd Klein
  • Dean Ormston
  • Skottie Young (variant)
  • Rafael Albuquerque
    (2018 Diamond Retailer
    Summit variant)
  • James Stokoe
    (C2E2 2018 variant)
#2 May 23, 2018
  • Dean Ormston
  • Jeff Lemire (variant)
#3 June 20, 2018
  • Dean Ormston
  • Michael Cho (variant)
#4 August 22, 2018
  • Dean Ormston
  • James Harren (variant)
#5 September 19, 2018
  • Dean Ormston
  • Fábio Moon (variant)
#6 October 17, 2018 Rich Tommaso
  • Rich Tommaso
  • Farel Dalrymple (variant)
#7 November 14, 2018
  • Rich Tommaso
  • Christian Ward (variant)
The
Quantum
Age		 #1 July 4, 2018 Jeff Lemire Wilfredo Torres Dave Stewart Nate Piekos
  • Wilfredo Torres
  • Christian Ward (variant)
  • Marcos Martín
    (SDCC 2018 variant)
#2 August 1, 2018
  • Wilfredo Torres
  • Andrew MacLean (variant)
#3 October 10, 2018
  • Wilfredo Torres
  • Marco Rudy (variant)
#4 November 14, 2018
  • Wilfredo Torres
  • Brendan McCarthy (variant)
#5 December 12, 2018
  • Wilfredo Torres
  • Tula Lotay (variant)
#6
Black
Hammer		 Cthu-Louise December 12, 2018 Jeff Lemire Emi Lenox Dave Stewart Todd Klein
  • Emi Lenox
  • Jill Thompson ( (variant)

Collected editions

Trade paperbacks

Bʟᴀᴄᴋ Hᴀᴍᴍᴇʀ
Title # Release Date Material collected Bonus Material ISBN
Black Hammer:
Secret Origins[13]		 1 March 29, 2017
  • Black Hammer #1–6
  • Afterword by Jeff Lemire
  • 2008 pitch character profiles
  • Sketchbook
 9781616557867
Black Hammer:
The Event[14]		 2 December 27, 2017
  • Black Hammer #7–11, #13
  • Sketchbook
 9781506701981
Black Hammer:
Age of Doom – Part 1[15]		 3 January 2, 2019
  • Black Hammer: Age of Doom #1–5
 9781506703893
Sʜᴇʀʟᴏᴄᴋ Fʀᴀɴᴋᴇɴsᴛᴇɪɴ
Title Release Date Material collected Bonus Material ISBN
Sherlock Frankenstein
and the Legion of Evil[16]		 May 9, 2018
  • Black Hammer #12
  • Sherlock Frankenstein and the Legion of Evil #1–4
  • Sketchbook
 9781506705262
Dᴏᴄᴛᴏʀ Sᴛᴀʀ
Title Release Date Material collected Bonus Material ISBN
Doctor Star
and the Kingdom of Lost Tomorrows[17]		 November 14, 2018
  • Doctor Star and the Kingdom of Lost Tomorrows #1–4
 9781506706597
Tʜᴇ Qᴜᴀɴᴛᴜᴍ Aɢᴇ
Title Release Date Material collected Bonus Material ISBN
The Quantum Age April 10, 2019
  • The Quantum Age #1–6
 9781506708416

Library Editions

Volume Release Date Material collected Bonus Material ISBN
Black Hammer – Volume 1[18] October 24, 2018
  • Black Hammer #1–13
  • Black Hammer: Giant-Sized Annual (2017)
 9781506710730

Awards

Award Year Category Result
Eisner Awards 2017[19] Best New Series Won
Best Lettering (Todd Klein) Won
Best Writer (Jeff Lemire) Nominated
2018[20] Best Continuing Series Nominated
Best Writer (Jeff Lemire) Nominated
Best Penciller/Inker or Penciller/Inker Team (David Rubín) Nominated
Best Coloring (David Rubín) Nominated
Best Coloring (Dave Stewart) Nominated

References

  1. ↑ Sunu, Steve. "Lemire Explores Superheroics in "The Black Hammer"". Comic Book Resources. Comic Book Resources. Retrieved February 9, 2018.
  2. ↑ Renaud, Jeffrey. "Jeff Lemire Goes DC Exclusive". Comic Book Resources. Comic Book Resources. Retrieved February 9, 2018.
  3. 1 2 Lemire, Jeff (March 29, 2017). The Real Secret Origins of Black Hammer (Afterword in Black Hammer – Volume 1: Secret Origins). Dark Horse Comics. ISBN 9781616557867. Retrieved February 9, 2018.
  4. ↑ Brett, White. "Dark Horse's "Black Hammer" Delayed". Comic Book Resources. Comic Book Resources. Retrieved February 9, 2018.
  5. ↑ Edgar, Sean. "Nate Powell, Matt Kindt, Dustin Nguyen & More Expand Jeff Lemire's Black Hammer Universe in New Annual". Paste Magazine. Paste Magazine. Retrieved February 17, 2018.
  6. ↑ Sagers, Aaron. "Jeff Lemire and Dark Horse End Black Hammer and Will Return With Age of Doom". Syfy Wire. Syfy Wire. Retrieved February 17, 2018.
  7. ↑ "The Eisner-Award Winning Comic Book Saga "Black Hammer" Returns in 2018". Dark Horse Comics. Dark Horse Comics. Retrieved February 17, 2018.
  8. ↑ Salvatore, Brian. "An Interview With Our Best Writer of 2017, Jeff Lemire". Multiversity Comics. Multiversity Comics. Retrieved February 9, 2018.
  9. ↑ Marnell, Blair. "Mike Mignola covers Sherlock Frankenstein & the Legion of Evil # 1". Crave. Crave. Retrieved February 17, 2018.
  10. ↑ Dandy, Jim. "Doctor Star Takes Center Stage in New Black Hammer Spinoff". Den of Geek. Den of Geek. Retrieved February 17, 2018.
  11. ↑ "C2E2 2018: Jeff Lemire and Wilfredo Torres Explore the Future of Superheroes". Dark Horse Comics blog. Dark Horse Comics. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
  12. 1 2 "Dark Horse Announces Emerald City Comic Con 2018 Exclusives". Graphic Policy. Graphic Policy. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
  13. ↑ Lemire, Jeff; Ormston, Dean (March 29, 2017). Black Hammer – Volume 1: Secret Origins. Dark Horse Comics. ISBN 9781616557867. Retrieved February 9, 2018.
  14. ↑ Lemire, Jeff; Ormston, Dean; Rubín, David (December 20, 2017). Black Hammer – Volume 2: The Event. Dark Horse Comics. ISBN 9781506701981. Retrieved February 9, 2018.
  15. ↑ Lemire, Jeff; Ormston, Dean (January 2, 2019). Black Hammer – Volume 3: Age of Doom – Part 1. Dark Horse Comics. ISBN 9781506703893. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
  16. ↑ Lemire, Jeff; Rubín, David (May 9, 2018). Sherlock Frankenstein and the Legion of Evil. Dark Horse Comics. ISBN 9781506701981. Retrieved February 9, 2018.
  17. ↑ Lemire, Jeff; Fiumara, Max (November 14, 2018). Doctor Star and the Kingdom of Lost Tomorrows. Dark Horse Comics. ISBN 9781506706597. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
  18. ↑ "Dark Horse to Publish Library Edition of "Black Hammer"". Dark Horse Comics. Retrieved May 23, 2018.
  19. ↑ "2017 Eisner Awards Winners (Full List)". Newsarama. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
  20. ↑ "2018 Eisner Awards Nominations". Newsarama. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.