Mark Sable

Read my Comic Book Tattoo (Tori Amos Anthology) story for free on MySpace Comics

2008-07-03T10:39:00.001-07:00

Back in December, comic book creator and all around great guy Rantz Hoseley, who I met on Ivan Brandon's message board, asked me to contribute to a top secret comic book anthology. All it took were two words to get me to say yes in two seconds - Tori Amos. Aside from being a phenomenal singer songwriter, she's the inspiration for Delerium in Neil Gaiman's Sandman series, my all time favorite work in any medium.

After I said yes, I realized I was coiming in late in the process. It looked like all the cool songs were taken, as well as the good artists. My initial excitement quickly turned to panic. Luckily, I was wrong on both fronts. The song Upside Down proved incredibly inspiring, and I got paired with artist Salgood Sam (aka Max Douglas), of Therefore Repent and Sea of Red Fame. You can see a page of his art from the story we adapted from Upside Down above.

Aside from the fact that that Tori Amos is involved (and by involved, she didn't just stick her name on it, she treated this like one of her albums), this is a special anthology for many more reasons. It's a a limited edition hardcover, 12" x 12". Despite the fact that (or perhaps, because) Tori is a gifted storyteller those of us involved were told not to do literal adaptations, but let the songs be jumping off points, and the resulting diversity is amazing. Add to that an all-star list of creators...this is one of the greatest projects I've had the privilege of being involved in.

That honor became even more flattering when Tori decided to pick a story that best represented the book for MySpace Comics. She chose Upside Down, and as a result, you can read our story in its entirety FOR FREE here.

CYBORG #2 out Wednesday, #5 available for pre-order

2008-06-16T20:08:00.001-07:00

The second issue of my six issue Cyborg series, is out this Wednesday, June 18th. For long time Titans fans, it's got a hell of a twist at the end. Between this, Two-Face: Year One, my Tori Amos/ Comic Book Tattoo anthology story and a Cthulhu Tales anthology for BOOM! Studios, I should have at least one comic out every month from now until October. Hopefully there will be some more announcements soon.

The fifth issue of Cyborg is now available for pre-order (That's the cover to #5 above, not #2). Here's the solicit info:

DC SPECIAL: CYBORG #5

Written by Mark Sable, Art by Carlos Magno & Jonathan Glapion, Cover by Mike McKone

Meet The Phantom Limbs, an elite team of wounded soldiers saved by Cyborg's technology. The catch? The only way they can keep their new limbs is by killing for the mercenary Mr. Orr. Will Vic be able to save them from this Faustian bargain – or will they kill him first? On sale September 17 • 5 of 6, 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US.

Part 2 of Heroes: Faces

2008-05-28T13:49:00.001-07:00

The second part of my two-part Webcomic for NBC's hit show HEROES is now up, and available for free here. It's about a mother-daughter team of agents that work for the show's mysterious "Company" and should provides a little comic relief from this summer's ongoing story.

Listen to me on Jonesey's Jukebox this Friday May 23rd

2008-05-22T17:44:00.000-07:00

Never mind the bollocks! This comic book thing is getting more and more surreal. This Friday, I'm going to be on Jonesey's Jukebox, one of LA's most popular radio shows, hosted by Steve Jones, guitarist of the Sex Pistols. Along with SCUD's Rob Schrab and GODLAND'S Joe Casey, we'll evidently be judging the weeks newest tracks (something I am excited for yet completely unqualified to do) and to promote HAZED. You don't need to be in the LA area to hear me if you've got one of those internets. Press release below.

SCHRAB, CASEY, SABLE ON JONESY'S JUKEBOX 05.23.08
Press Release
This Friday, SCUD THE DISPOSABLE ASSASSIN's Rob Schrab, HAZED's Mark Sable and GØDLAND's Joe Casey will appear on INDIE 103.1 FM's Jonesy's Jukebox, from 12 to 2 PM."Jonesy's Jukebox is a one of my favorite radio shows so being part of it in time to celebrate the end of SCUD is surreally awesome," Schrab said. "It's a perfect way to cap off over ten years of the series."Jonesy's Jukebox, hosted by Steve Jones of the Sex Pistols on what Rolling Stone declared the best radio station of 2008, airs every Friday from Noon to 2pm with the first hour repeating at 6pm. Each episode features four guests panelists talking about and judging the newest tracks to hit the radio with this week's including Casey, Hazed and Schrab. In addition, they'll be discussing their latest projects such as the Eisner-nominated GØDLAND CELESTIAL EDITION, CHARLATAN BALL, HAZED and SCUD THE DISPOSASBLE ASSASSIN: THE WHOLE SHEBANG. Joe Casey added, "Big Steve Jones fan. Huge guitar sounds hit me just the right way. Moving into the last year of GØDLAND and launching of CHARLATAN BALL, this is a very cool way to get the word out."Jonesy's Jukebox will air Friday, May 23rd from 12 to 2 PM. Listeners out of the Los Angeles area can listen via http://www.indie1031.fm/4045_Listen_Live.php?id=27. GØDLAND CELESTIAL EDITION (MAY071862), a 360-page hardcover for $34.99, and HAZED (DEC072052), a 160-page graphic novel for $14.99, are available now. SCUD THE DISPOSASBLE ASSASSIN: THE WHOLE SHEBANG (TP - APR082180/HC-APR082181), a 786-page black & white collection, will be available June 25th. CHARLATAN BALL (APR082158), a 24-page full color comic book for $2.50, will be available June 11th.

CYBORG #1 out today, pre-order issue #4 and Two-Face: Year One #2

2008-05-21T00:35:00.000-07:00

Well, the first issue of my new six issue mini, DC SPECIAL: CYBORG, hits stands today, Wednesday May 21st 2008. It's the first solo series for one of the most popular Teen Titans in his 28 years of existence, and I'm really excited to see your reaction to it.

The above cover is for Issue 4, which hits stands August 20th. You can pre-order it while your in the store picking up Issue 1. Here's the solicit:

The mysterious Mr. Orr has transformed one of Cyborg's friends into a killing machine! But is Vic's friend the only victim?Orr has cloned two of the world's deadliest super-villains to prevent Cyborg and The Titans from finding out.On sale August 20

And while you're pre-ordering, why not get Part Two of Two-Face: Year One. Check out this amazing cover by Mark Chiarello:

Here's the solicit.

TWO-FACE YEAR ONE #2
Written by Mark Sable
Art by Jesus Saiz & Jimmy Palmiotti
Cover by Mark Chiarello
The election coverage continues as Two-Face throws his hat in the ring! It’s the shocking conclusion to the tightest race in Gotham City history, and it’s only the beginning of Batman’s struggle with a man who used to be his best friend — and the monster within.On sale August 13 • 2 of 2, 48 pg, FC, $5.99 US

No slight to Cyborg or any of my creator owned works, but I think Two-Face: Year One is the best thing I've ever written. Hopefully it will get a boost from the Dark Knight sequel, which opens the month before. You can read about how I put a "Dent" (as in Harvey Dent) in Two-Face on CBR.

Between Cyborg and Heroes this may be the most readers I've ever had. Huge week, and more to come...

New HEROES Webcomic

2008-05-20T00:18:00.001-07:00

Last fall, I was privileged enough to write a two-part story for NBC's hit show, HEROES, starring Mohinder Suresh. This week, the first part of my new webcomic, FACES, starts, starring a mother-daughter team of Company agents of my own creation. You can read it FOR FREE here.

Like the last online graphic novel, this one is considered just as much a part of the Heroes canon as any episode. And while ties into this summer's over-arching story that leads into this fall's new season, you can read it without having any knowledge of past chapters. Hell, you can read it without having watched a single episode of Heroes.

With CYBORG coming out this Wednesday, and the second issue of TWO-FACE: YEAR ONE now available for pre-order, this is shaping up to be a huge comics week for me.

Hazed - Video Part 2

2008-05-16T02:15:00.001-07:00

The second part of my interview with Comics on Comics about HAZED, my dark comedy about sororities and eating disorders. Robbi and I discuss the creative process as well as what goes into pre-production. Filmed in the green room at Meltdown's Pledge Party.

Chat with me about Cyborg this weekend!

2008-05-14T22:22:00.000-07:00

Next Wednesday, May 21st, the first issue of my six issue CYBORG series debuts. This Saturday, May 17th, at 8:30 PM EST, I'll be participating in my first ever live chat.

I'm happy to talk about Cyborg, my past work on Supergirl my unpublished Titans issues (featuring the first ever meeting between the Titans and the Flash's Rogues Gallery), my upcoming Two-Face: Year One mini-series, and anything else you want to ask me about.

(As a disclaimer, this is not an official DC chat, and anything I write is my own opinion, not DC's etc.)

I'm truly honored to get to contribute to the legacy of one of comics greatest characters, and I think old-school fans will be happy with what Ken, Carlo, Jonathan and myself have done with Vic.

As for how it's going to work... you need to have aol or aim to get in on this chat , just make up a screenname. Then either instant message teentitan2002 (who is gracious enough to host this chat) on aim or aol, or reply to this thread on DC's Teen Titans messageboard maybe one lucky fan might get a surprise after the chat.

Emerald City Con Re-Cap

2008-05-12T20:30:00.000-07:00

When I go to a new city, I like to do the most obnoxious, touristy thing possible, as revenge for having to take friends to the Walk of Fame in Hollywood and direct out-of-towners to Ground Zero when I lived in New York (disgusting how quickly that became a tourist destination). In Seattle, home of this past weekend's Emerald City Con, that meant visiting the world's first Starbucks. How can you tell this Starbucks is special? Check out the logo behind me. Unlike the traditional, ubiquitous mermaid, this one's nipples are exposed.

There were no exposed nipples on display in Seattle, despite the presence of Slave Leias (mandatory at any con) and The Suicide Girls (who I think are teases...have any of them actually killed themselves? Or even tried? They should be like Menudo, but instead of simply being kicked out of the band at age 16, there should be a Logan's Run like rule that they must off themselves as a career capper).

There was something even better on display, however. What's that shirt Marvel editor (and hottest girl in comics) Jen Grunwald is wearing next to Ed Brubaker's trademark Fedora at the Mondo Marvel Panel?

Why it's a HAZED t-shirt. All the cool kids are wearing them, and you should too.

Of course, you'll have to wait for San Diego if you want one of these suckers, as Emerald City will be my last con until then. In order to tide you over, I'm going to give you one of my trademark extra long con re-caps.

Emerald City was definitely one of the better cons I've been to. I'm starting to appreciate smaller cons (at least small relative to SDCC and NYCC) that are more focused on comics than other media, where you don't have to hear Spike TV blasting wrestling music or gamers mangling Rock Band covers.

What struck me most about ECCC were the fans. I did better than expected business-wise, but most of my interaction with fans was not trying to sell books, but rather readers who brought copies to sign, and more importantly, came to discuss the work. I think the strangest thing for me was how many people brought copies of the one issue of Supergirl that I co-wrote with Joe Kelly. Granted, that issue (which is collected in Supergirl: Identity trade if you want to contribute to my royalty fund) features a new origin for Kara Zor-El, but I didn't realize it had made anyone's radar. I don't know how much the increased recognition was a function of the show, or whether I'm slowly but surely building a fan base, but I've never seen a more engaged group of convention attendies.

What's cool was that it wasn't all "I love your work/what are you doing next". Not that I don't appreciate either of those sentiments, but oddly enough one of the best experiences I had was from someone who read Hazed, liked it, but was offended by my portrayal of fraternity and sorority life.

I give the guy a lot of credit for having the guts to come up to a creator and express their feelings in person, without the safe anonymity of the internet. That said, his argument essentially boiled down to two things. One, his fraternity (AEII) wasn't like the one I portrayed in HAZED. Ironically enough, when I was at Duke, I got in a bit of trouble for ridiculing that particular frat. I had a satirical weekly newspaper column, and I wrote, having attended the self-styled "Jewish fraternity's" lame "Disco Inferno" party, that I haven't felt this sorry for the Jewish people since Schindler's List. I'm a Jew, so I thought it was okay to say that, but evidently the letter-writers calling me a KKK hooded Nazi and the phone callers who threatened my life disagreed.

His other criticism was and that I should have shown the "good side" of fraternities. Which - if you are looking for a fair and balanced portrayal of the Greek system, Hazed isn't for you. I don't think it's my job as a satirist to be even handed. It's my job to make you laugh, and tell the truth, even if it's ugly.

The reaction to Hazed has been pretty much what I thought it would be - extremely polarizing. People seem to love it or hate it, identify with it or find it completely incompatible with their own experiences...and not much in between. As a writer, I think that means I was successful. I'd much rather readers have a negative reaction than no reaction at all. I felt proud that I was able to engender such a strong reaction from someone, and he walked away with a free copy of Grounded #1 (the least offensive thing I could think to give him).

The more intimate setting also allowed me much more quality time with fellow creators. Ed Brubaker was nice enough to play host to a bunch of pros visiting from out of town by showing us some of his hometown drinking establishments. Ed may be the last person in comics in need of a plug, but Criminal is without a doubt the best crime book out there, and it's a book that's worth getting in single issues because it's got some of the best backmatter in comics.

I was a bit nervous meeting Ed, because Two-Face: Year One features the first appearance of many of the characters he and Greg Rucka created for their classic series Gotham Central. In Two-Face, Jim Gordon and Harvey Dent assemble those characters as a team of the only honest cops in Gotham to bring down the - their version of "The Untouchables". I was afraid to mention to Ed that I was mucking around with their creations, so I didn't bring it up. I did get to speak to Greg Rucka, however, and he was extremely gracious, encouraging me to use his characters, essentially saying that's what they are there for.

Other pros I got to drink with Ivan Brandon, editor of the Eisner nominated anthology 24/7, and his girlfriend/my letterer and designer Kristyn Ferretti; and Jerry Duggan and Phil Noto, writer and artist respectively of the Einser nominated book Infinite Horizon (the Odyssey retold in modern day Iraq). So, I was the token non-Eisner nominated creator, which probably explains why I was not allowed to speak unless spoken to.

Dan DiDio and Ian Sattler of DC were nice enough to host a big DC dinner for all their creators in attendance. There to make me feel small were Kurt Busiek, Bill Willingham and Gail Simone. I got to sit at the kids table with Ian, Phil Noto and Rick Remender. There, Rick suggested that we share our most embarassing stories. Phil's involves a hurricane, Rick involves an enema. Sorry Rick, but I love the idea of people coming up to you at cons asking you about it. If it makes you feel better, everyone should check out his Crawlspace book XXX Zombies...a zombie story set in the porn industry - it's like a grindhouse film in comics form. And my story involved pushing a retarded girl in the subway.

Other pros I should mention - new Birds of Prey writer Tony Bedard and DC mainstay Tom Peyer were cool, and it was great hanging out with Dark Horse's Rachel Edinin, who invited me to participate in a feminists in comics lunch (yes, despite the fact I enjoy writing about sorority hazing rituals like circling the fat and group purging, I consider myself a feminist). Josh Williamson, who I met at Meltdown a few months ago, a comics newcomer who has a great book coming out from Image/Shadowline called "Dear Dracula" about a kid who writes to Dracula...I think it's going to be huge.

Coolest of all , however, was Bryan Lee O'Malley, creator of Scott Pilgrim. He did an amazing sketch (which, like my NYCC sketches, will have to wait until a new blog entry when my scanner is hooked up)...for free. He actually refused money, which I then spent on his tablemate Hope Larson's book Salamander Dream, which I highly recommend.

Hopefully you enjoyed this recap as much as I enjoyed the con. Sorry if this was overly name-droppy, but I feel like plugging others work balances that out karmically. Certainly, you've learned quite a bit about me: I think I have a free pass to make Holocaust jokes, I push retarded women on the subway, and if you come up to be at a con and tell me my work sucks, you can get a free book.

Emerald City Con

2008-05-07T01:20:00.000-07:00

This weekend, May 10-11, I'm going to be attending Seattle's Emerald City Con for the first time. It will be my last con until San Diego.

I'm sharing a table with Jeremy Haun. Not only is he was he a great artist on one of my favorite Image Books of the past few years, B. Clay Moore's Battle Hymn, I also just found out he's doing the flashback sequences for Two-Face: Year One. He joins an already impressive art team - Jesus Saiz handles most of the pencilling, Jimmy Palmiotti's on inks and Mark Chiarello is doing the covers (which are not what you'll find in previews).

I'll be there with copies of Grounded, Fearless and Hazed, and I'll be showing off art from Cyborg and Two-Face. Oh, and Hazed T-Shirts...I'm going to have to get a picture up soon, Kristyn Ferretti did a great job designing them - women's tees with the Hazed logo, and unisex "Stop The Spread of STDs" shirts that I hope to become a staple at comic conventions - Green Lantern shirts for the cool kids (STDs being the name of the fictional sororities in Hazed).

I'll also bring my sketchbook and annoy any artists I know. Hopefully, upon my return, I'll not only have one of my lengthy post-con reports, but have my scanner hooked up so I can show off my sketches from here and NYCC.

Comic Book Tattoo

2008-05-07T01:02:00.000-07:00

It's official - a week after the release of Two-Face: Year One (July 16th), and the same week as Cyborg #3 (July 23rd), Comic Book Tattoo, an anthology dedicated to the songs of Tori Amos that will be released. It features a story by myself and artist Salgood Sam (Sea of Red, Therefore Repent) based on a song which I am not allowed to name yet.

If you don't know who Tori Amos is, she's not only an incredible singer/songwriter, but a comics afficianado who was Neil Gaimain's inspiration for Delerium in his Sandman books.

This is my third anthology story, my others being my Midget Western "They Shoot Ponies, Don't They", drawn by Rob Guillory in Popgun Volume 1 and my paen to New York, LA and Grand Theft Auto entitled Coast2Coast, drawn by The Amazing Joy Buzzards Dann Hipp in the Eisner Award nominated 24/7 Volume Two (if you are a pro or retailer, you can still vote for it.)

Newsarama has a good story on it here - http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=156091, featuring the full track list of creators. Like my other anthology work, I'm surrounded by yet another stellar cast of writers and arstists, for which I have to thank editor/mastermind Rantz Hoseley for including me. This book is something special though, a 12” x 12” 480-page anthology.

Hazed Video - Part 1

2008-04-25T23:20:00.001-07:00

Have you ever wondered what I sound like? Whether Robbi Rodriguez speaks English? Or if my headshot is accurate? Now you can find out, with my first ever video addition to this blog, the first part of a HAZED interview courtesy of the great guys at Comics on Comics. Hear Robbi and I weigh in on the controversies surrounding Hazed and the ugly truth behind sorority life. Filmed in the green room at Meltdown's Pledge Party, where I wasn't exactly drunk but not quite sober either.

New York Comic Con Recap

2008-04-25T22:11:00.001-07:00

You know a con has taken a lot out of you when it takes a week to start posting your post-con thoughts.

For years it was mind boggling that New York, headquarters to Marvel and DC and largest media market in the world, never had a comic convention to hold its own with the likes of San Diego and Chicago (although the Big Apple Con, which I attend as frequently as possible, is probably the most creator- and fan-friendly con around). This changed two years ago, with demand exceeding capacity. In this, the NYCC's third consecutive year, the only two knocks against he con - overcrowding and frigid February weather - were eliminated in heavily attended, well spaced con spread out across a beautiful weekend.

Of course, the change from February to April coincided with the Passover holiday, so I had to divide my time between fans and family seders. It meant that I had to miss out on some networking and partying, but compard against the ten plagues that might have been visited upon me if I hadn't gone home, missing a party or two seemed miniscule. I am the first born in my family, and really didn't feel like being slayed this year.

My weekend started the Thursday night before the con, with a great party thrown by DC Comics. Too nervous to really talk with Darwyn Cooke and Grant Morrison, I nevertheless got to say hi to Cyborg editor and assistant editor Eddie Berganza and Adam Schlagman (sporting a Sodam Yat soccer jersey, Green Lantern fans). I got to thank Two-Face: Year One editor Jeanine Schaeffer for not only giving me the dream job of writing the hard-boiled story of Harvey Dent's fall, but for discovering me two years ago at the very first NYCC when all I had was a few issues of Grounded to my name.

I finally met Bat editor Mike Marts, story editor, Ian Sattler and the amazing Jann Jones, who deserves a big thank you for throwing a party where you could actually talk together together before the madness of the con. I didn't get to thank Jimmy Palmiotti or Mark Chiarello. I just learned last week Jimmy will be inking over Jesus Saiz's pencils for Two-Face (can you ask for a better inker - answer: no), and that Mark will be doing the covers (which are NOT what you've seen solicited).

The highlight of the party though was meeting Geoff Johns. Geoff's work, particularly on Flash, brought me back to reading mainstream DCU titles after a long hiatus. He's a writer I try to emulate because he balances boundary pushing creativity (52, Sinestro Corps Wars) with a real respect for what's come before. It's very rare when someone you admire is as nice you imagine, but Geoff fit that bill or was at least nice enough to pretend to. Having written a seminal run on Teen Titans, he's got a lot invested in Cyborg. Between that and Dan DiDio telling me Two-Face is his favorite Bat villain, I'm either going to be the most popular writer at DC by the end of this summer...or blacklisted.

Friday, I began the job of running back and forth between my artist's alley table with Grounded artist Paul Azaceta and signings at the Image booth. My first signing was with Killing Girl's Glen Brunswick. Great crime book (with art by Frank Espinoza and Toby Cypress), great guy.

I took a break to attend the "Women in Comics" panel, arranged by Occasional Superheroine blogger/Friend of Lulu President Valerie D'Orazio and featuring writer Gail Simone, artist Becky Cloonan and Marvel Editor (and official "hottest girl in comics") Jen Grunwald. I had hoped they would all gush about how the best comic about women was in fact written by a man (that comic being Hazed and that man being, well, me). Instead, it was a refreshingly positive discussion of the contributions being made on every level by female talent despite the barriers to entry this industry makes for women, be they writers, artists, editors or fans.

Still, could no one have worn a Hazed t-shirt? See me for a standing offer of a free trade/t-shirt if you promote/wear one on a comics panel. Yes, I am that shameless.

Saturday was a first - I was a guest on a comics panel. Image: Brave New Worlds, was a panel featuring members of different generations of Image Comics, from founders Erik Larsen and Jim Valentino to longtime Noble Causes/Dynamo Five writer Jay Faerber, to rock star/indie comics writer Claudio Sanchez of Coheed and Cambria/and The Amory Wars, to, well, me.

Jim and Erik were the trailblazers, taking a huge career risk in the 90's to establish a home for creator-owned material. Jay represented the next generation of established big company talent to bring smart, original superhero work over. Claudio is doing something completely different, adapting rich fantasy world he's created in music and translating to the page.

Me...I guess I fit somewhere in between - I love doing original superhero work like Fearless and Grounded for Image. There really was no second choice for me when I pitched those books. And it's hard to imagine any other publisher taking a flier on a dark comedy about sorority hazing rituals.

Using a film analogy, the Image founders seem to me like Coppola, Scorsese and Lucas, doing these epic but personal movies that redefined comics. I kind of feel like I'm closer to the early Kevin Smith/Tarantino generation. Inspired by what came before, we maxed out our credit cards making comics instead of films.

Not that I had a chance to say any of this. Most questions were from Coheed and Cambria's rabid fan base. The only line I got that received any coverage was when Jim Valentino said that Image was for those who wanted more than "guys in panties punching each other." I said that Hazed fit that bill exactly, since it was girls in panties punching each other. Thus, erasing the strides made in the previous day's Women in Comics panel with one fell swoop.

Closed out the weekend nother signing with Nixon's Pal's artist Chris Burnham. I hope to have a sketch of his on here soon. I also got great sketches by Nikki Cook, with whom I hope to work, Aqualeung's Paul Maybury, and best of all, Salgood Sam. Salgood is illustrating an adaptation of a song I wrote for Tori Amos' Comic Book Tattoo anthology. More on Comic Book Tattoo later, but it may be the best project I've been a part of.

With all the signing, sketching, paneling and networking, I didn't have as much time to hang out with my artists as I'd like. Joining Paul and me at our table were both Hazed's Robbi Rodriguez and, all the way from Northern Ireland, Fearless' very own PJ Holden. My writing skills are far too meager to convey how entertaining PJ is in person. He did some great Hulk sketches which Marvel seemed to take some notice of. Here's hoping he gets the attention he deserves.

I'm leaving way too much out. It's always most gratifying to meet readers, so thanks to all of you who came out, whether it was to say hi again or try my work for the first time. I continue to be really moved by people who are so affected by Hazed, particularly. The highlight of the weekend, though, was the kid who told me he almost got kicked out of church for laughing so hard the copy he'd snuck in. It's nice to know that I'm putting youth at risk of not only of moral corruption but spiritual damnation. I've really got to keep my out for those ten plagues...

HUGE NEWS WEEK

2008-04-14T20:09:00.001-07:00

Wow...so much to announce this week.

First of all, DC has finally annouced my top secret project, TWO FACE: YEAR ONE. It's coming out in July, just in time for The Dark Knight (although it takes place in DC, not movie continuity). Here's the cover:

And the solicit info:

TWO-FACE YEAR ONE #1

Written by Mark Sable

Art by Jesus Saiz & Jimmy Palmiotti

Cover by Mark Chiarello

In a time of corruption and greed, the only force keeping Gotham City from collapsing into utter chaos included Assistant District Attorney Harvey Dent, a cop named Jim Gordon, a vigilante known only as Batman — and a mysterious group of untouchable crimefighters working outside the law. Be here to witness the beginning of a legacy, when a meeting between Gotham’s Finest and Gotham’s Vilest spawn the protectors who will safeguard Gotham’s future, as well as the monster who will try to burn it to the ground. Don’t miss the start of this exciting 2-part miniseries featuring one of The Dark Knight’s most fearsome foes!On sale July 16 • 1 of 2, 48 pg, Prestige Format, FC, $5.99 US

I'll have much more to say on it later, but for now...let me just say it's a dream project for me.

Also in July, the third issue of my Cyborg mini series hits. Here's the cover:

And the solicit:

DC SPECIAL: CYBORG #3

Written by Mark Sable

Cover by Tony Daniel & Sandu Florea

Art by Carlos Magno & Jonathan Glapion

Victor Stone thought he was the only man to deal with the power and pain that comes with the name Cyborg. Now, he's learned that someone long thought dead is using Vic's deadly technology to battle the Teen Titans. Can Vic stop this new enemy and learn the dark truth behind his foe's creation?On sale July 23 • 3 of 5 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

More to say on Cyborg later too.

What, that's not enough? What if I told you that 24/7, the anthology where my story COAST2COAST with art by the Amazing Joy Buzzard's DAN HIPP was nominated for an Eisner. And EISNER! I said this on Editor Ivan Brandon's forum, but it was an honor to be asked to be part of a project with so many great creators (Ashley Wood, Adam Hughes, Jason Aaron...the list is staggering). Ivan edited GROUNDED and was the de-facto editor of FEARLESS and HAZED. It's not an understatement to say I wouldn't be in comics if it wasn't for his time, wisdom and patience. He's incredibly deserving of this award, so if you're a voter or a judge, reward him for putting together a phenomenal book.

There's more. I'll post more details soon, but I'll be at New York Comic-Con this weekend, April 18-20th, along with my collaborators Paul Azaceta (GROUNDED), PJ Holden (FEARLESS) and Robbi Rodriguez (HAZED). I'll have a table in artist's alley (K6 to be precise), I'll be signing at the Image table from 3-4 on Friday and doing a panel on Saturday afternoon as well:

Brave New World - Image Comics

SAT 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM Room 1e16
Three generations of Image creators, including Image founders (Publisher Erik Larsen), established creators (such as Dynamo 5 and Noble Causes' Jay Faerber) and all-new creators (including the front man of the insanely popular prog rock band, Coheed & Cambria, Claudio Sanchez, who is establishing himself as a writer in The Amory Wars and Mark Sable from Hazed & Grounded) will spend the hour in this exclusive New York Comic Con interview.

Believe it or not, still more news to come...

PLEDGE NIGHT: THE AFTERMATH

2008-04-08T13:15:00.000-07:00

Dave Crosland, me and Brian Lynch

In my short time as a comics pro, I’ve been a part of many signings, both by myself and with others. But I think it’s safe to say that none were as successful as “Pledge Night”, the West Coast release party for HAZED, my dark comedy about sororities and eating disorders illustrated by Robbi Rodriguez.

We had massive turnout. I would say somewhere in the neighborhood of 200 people were there over the course of the evening. But it wasn’t just the numbers of people, it was the quality. Meltdown comics in LA has become a hot spot for art shows as well as comic signings. My non-comic book geek friends from law school, college and “the industry” were all shocked at the fact that these were smart, hip, good looking people who were could converse on topics other than whether Captain America is a Skrull.

Not all of the guests were there for me. Many were there for our co-hosts, Brian Lynch and Dave Crosland, creators of IDW’s “Everybody’s Dead”, about the last fraternity on earth following a zombie invasion. I’ve know Dave for a long time, in fact we discussed doing Hazed together. He and fellow Silky Bureaucrat Jim Mahfood did live art to the beat of DJ Expo.

I met Brian, who also writes Angel with Joss Whedon, that night. Not only is he an incredibly nice guy, but Everybody’s Dead is an absolutely hysterical book which I highly recommend. Chris Ryall from IDW was there, who I still refer to as “Riled”, his old Bendis Board handle.

An example of the live art at the party

The idea, if it’s not apparent, was to take two college-themed comics and have a frat/sorority party. We had a keg. I shot down the idea of Dave Matthews music. Unfortunately, everyone else shot my idea of hiring a model to stand there and let girls circle her fat.

Pledge night also marked the debut of the official HAZED t-shirts, one of which I’m wearing in the photos. The unisex version says “Stop the Spread of STDs” (STDS being the name of the fictional sorority in HAZED), a source of much amusement to former sorority girls in attendance.

Speaking of which, the highlight of the night was not the attention, the chance to hang out with friends, or even the free alcohol. A female college student, an aspiring comics artist, had travelled quite a distance to tell me how much Hazed had reflected her campus experience. While I’m sad that the sorority hazing rituals I learned about at Duke years ago still occur nationally today, it’s small moments like this that make me feel like what I’m writing is resonating with the right audience.

Me and Matt Gagnon

Thanks to everyone who came out, to Asahi beer for sponsoring it, and especially to Meltdown Comics. I also want to single out Matt Gagnon, who organized the party at Meltdown, and is now an editor at BOOM! He’s been a great friend, and while I’m sad he won’t be there every Wednesday to chat comics, I’m happy that he’s finally going to be able to use his sharp comics mind to shape the medium for the better.

More Cyborg!

2008-03-26T10:48:00.000-07:00

My CYBORG special is not one, but SIX issues, and the second issue (on sale in JUNE), is available for pre-order now. Below is the solicit, which neglects to mention there’s a hell of a reveal on the last page of his issue for long time Cyborg fans.

DC SPECIAL: CYBORG #2
Written by Mark Sable
Art and cover by Ken Lashley & Jonathan Glapion
Vic Stone has sworn that he'll never let anyone undergo the horrific process that transformed him into Cyborg. Now it appears he's on a nationwide rampage taking out S.T.A.R. Labs. Are not one, but TWO teams of Titans enough to stop this madness?
On sale June 18 • 2 of 5 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

PLEDGE NIGHT!

2008-03-24T04:13:00.001-07:00

This Saturday at 8:00PM, March 29th, Meltdown Comics here in LA is hosting “Pledge Night!”, the official college-themed release party for HAZED (as well as Brian Lynch and Dave Crosland’s “Everybody’s Dead”, an hysterical book about the last fraternity on earth during a zombie invasion).

HAZED artist Robbi Rodriguez will be there, Jim Mahfood and Dave Crosland will be doing live art to the beat of DJ Expo.

And oh yeah…OPEN BAR courtesy of official sponsor Asahi Beer.

Meltdown (7522 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles CA 90047) is not only within stumbling distance of my apartment, it’s one of the cooler stores and party venues in LA (their Y: The Last Man Party was amazing). Which means it’s suitable for taking your non-comic fan friends and significant others.

Get Ready For Cyborg!

2008-03-16T12:00:00.000-07:00

Who is Cyborg?

He’s the most popular superhero never to have his own series. Until now.

Why should you care?

Because starting May 21st, D.C. Comics is publishing the first ever solo series starring The Greatest Teen Titan of Them All, and I’m writing it.

But seriously, dude, who is Cyborg. I’ve never read a comic book before.

Where do I start? Before the horrific accident (or was it?) that transformed Victor Stone into Cyborg, he was an Olympic class athlete and a genius with an IQ above 160, torn. An African-American torn between his gang-member friends and the (then) emerging black middle class that his family represented. He was rife with conflict even before he had Molybdenum steel grafted to what was left of his maimed, scarred body.

Once he became Cyborg, both power and pathos were added to the mix. With an indestructible body and limbs capable of transforming into an assortment of weapons, he’s physically more than a match for most of the Justice League, let alone their villains. And because he’s half-machine, he still carries around the whole Ben Grimm/Thing angst about whether he’s a man or monster.

The analogy I like to use is that if the Teen Titans are DC’s X-Men (their group of young, edgy characters), he’s their Wolverine.

Follow my logic here. The New Teen Titans were created at about the same time as The All New, All Different X-Men. While others might have been content to keep the Titans a book of sidekicks like Robin and Kid Flash, creators Marv Wolfman and George Perez decided to create new characters. African Americans like Cyborg, women like Raven and…well, orange aliens with big breasts like Starfire.

Okay, I get it, he was a revolutionary character. But the revolution was never televised. What makes you think he’s interesting NOW?

When you read a superhero comic, we’re always being asked to suspend out disbelief. But for me, I’ve always had a nagging question. In a world with not just super-heroes but super science…why can’t everyone have a goddamn flying car?

A lot of creators have sought to answer that question. In Grant Morrison’s Fantastic Four run, he said posited that each of Reed Richard’s devices was a work of art that couldn’t be mimicked. In Warren Ellis’ Planetary, he answered that question by creating an evil FF analogue who purposefully kept their secrets to themselves so they alone could have the power. In GROUNDED, I just made the argument that superhero parents were selfish and self-absorbed.

The idea for my Cyborg run came by asking a more pointed question. In a world where Vic stone can lose his limbs and have them replaced by cybernetic weaponry, why don’t ordinary humans, particularly soldiers in this time of war, have access to Vic’s technology?

If I asked these questions, then certainly they must have occurred to greatest fictional minds in the DC universe…and possibly the more devious ones. Without giving too much away, Cyborg series is about what happens when someone uses Vic’s technology in a way that anathema to who he is and what he stands for.

Wow, that sounds deep. No, really. But I want to see him punch things.

Don’t worry, he punches lots of things. Fan favorite supervillains. “The Phantom Limbs”…an all new characters I’ve created who share Cyborg’s technology and may or may not be on Vic’s side. And not one, but TWO groups of teen Titans.

Oh yeah, and he also punches himself. Chew on that one for a while.

Okay, okay, you had me at African-American Cyborg. Where and how do I get this book?

You can pre-order it now at your local comics shop (comic shop locator link?) from March PREVIEWS. It’s called DC Special: Cyborg, and the order code (I think) is MAR08 135.

Prepare To Be Hazed!

2008-03-02T18:18:00.000-08:00

Two years ago you were GROUNDED. Now…prepare to be HAZED!

On Wednesday, March 5, the comic world changes forever. On that day, HAZED, my masterwork, will be unleashed upon a largely unsuspecting public. Expect rioting to ensue.

A satiric graphic novel about sororities and eating disorders illustrated by Robbi Rodriguez, some have compared it to the films “Heathers” and “Mean Girls”. I find these comparisons to be shamefully inadequate. My work is incomparable.

Just where did this work of genius come from, you might ask? As many of you know, I attended Duke University as an undergraduate. Duke is known the home of the greatest college basketball program of all time, as well as the most infamous lacrosse team. It is also known as the “Harvard of the South”, on par with or better than many Ivy League schools.

But from the minute I set foot on campus, I found myself asking the following question: how is it that the some of the smartest women in the country, who have so much going for them besides their looks, decide to revolve their entire identity around their sexual desirability the second a frat boy asked looked their way?

HAZED is my politically incorrect answer to that question, in comic book form. I know I’m going to take a lot of hits on this, a male writer not just writing about issues like date rape and eating, but writing about them in an over-the-top comedy. But, as one reviewer put it, I’m not making fun of these issues; I’m making fun of the “people and societal pressures behind them.” That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

Keep that in mind when you’re reading about girls circling each other’s fat, or purging so often that their dorm drains are clogged with vomit. Also keep this in mind: when I set out to write this book years ago, I used a lot of artistic license. I took the worst urban legends about sorority life and exaggerated them further. And yet sadly, often my imagination was matched, if not exceeded, by stories told to me by sorority sisters. Nothing hurts so much as the truth.

All hyperbole aside, this is a boundary pushing book. At the same time, I’d like to think it’s also hysterically funny, not least of which because of Robbi’s art. I think his cartoonish characters help soften the darkness of my writing, while at the same time he pushed the comedy to the very edge of good taste (Robbi’s favorite three words: abortion sight gag). This is “Animal House” with girls. How could that NOT be fun?

I hope you all will pick up the book this week. Whether you are repulsed, convulsing on the floor with laughter, or both, I’d love to hear what you think (there’s a comment’s section here, as well as a Mark Sable message board). I’m ready for anything. I hope you are.

Why You Should Buy FEARLESS

2008-02-27T12:00:00.000-08:00

This week, the fourth and final issue of FEARLESS, my mini-series co-written by Dave Roth with art by PJ Holden (2000AD), hits comic stores everywhere.

If you’re coming to this site because you’ve read about my work on CYBORG, HAZED or GROUNDED, you may not know what FEARLESS is all about. FEARLESS is the tale of a vigilante who is dependent on an anti-fear drug, which he needs not only to wage his one man war on crime, but to function as a human being as well. The story starts when someone cuts off his drug supply, and things get worse from there

If that Hollywood log line doesn’t sell you, here are some reasons to check it out:

ORIGINALITY: At the risk of being immodest, it’s one of the few original superhero ideas to come along. While I think execution trumps concept, if you start from someplace no one’s been before you’ve got a leg up on the competition.

MORE BANG FOR YOUR BUCK: In this age of decompression, you rarely get a complete story in four 22 page issues, let alone one. The shortest issue of Fearless is 28 pages, the first and last are 32 pages each. Do the math, and you are getting about five or six issues worth of story for the price of four. And that’s not including wonderful pin-ups by the likes of Rafael Albuquerque (BLUE BEETLE).

PJ HOLDEN & “THE FEAR EFFECT”: Artist PJ Holden kicked some major ass on this book. He’s not just a hired hand, but co-creator. His costume design alone is worth the price of admission. But what really makes this book sing is how he and colorist Nick Filardi (POWERS…as well as every creator owned book I’ve done) handles the sequences where our protagonist runs out of the drug. We don’t just see fear kick in, we FEEL it. Vertigo kicks in as leaping off a one story brownstone in a suit of impregnable battle armor becomes a death defying free fall from a skyscraper. Pathetic henchmen become more muscular, better armed, more numerous. The arch villain becomes, a mere mortal, becomes truly terrifying…it’s as if the protagonist is creates his own Jekyll and Hyde in his mind.

If all that doesn’t sway you, this will: the entire first issue is available FOR FREE on Newsarama .

Check it out, let us know what you think. And if you like it, let Image know what you think…while this is a complete, self contained story, we’ve got more FEARLESS stories we’re just itching to tell. And nothing will help that like strong sales and letters, e-mails and board posts telling a publisher you haven’t had enough of our anti-hero yet.

WONDERCON: A Creator's Perspective

2008-02-27T10:00:00.000-08:00

What did I miss at fill-in-the-blank-con? That’s what everyone seems to ask when I get back from attending a comic book convention. If you are looking for pr from the big companies’ panels, sites like Newsarama and Comic book resources do it far better than I can. If you are looking for gossip, there’s Lying in the Gutters. But I thought it would be more interesting to discuss what it’s like to attend a convention from a creator’s perspective. Don’t worry; I’ll try to throw in a little news and gossip as well.

When I attend a con, my goals are usually this: sell as many copies of my books as I can, and network with as many editors and creators as possible. All this while trying to resist (often futilely) the urge to spend the proceeds of the weekend on comics, action figures etc. and avoid getting sick from being in a poorly ventilated convention center handling germ infested dollar bills.

I rarely have time to attend any of the panels. In fact, I usually find out any news when I get back to wherever I’m crashing that night and check the internet. I did pop in this weekend to the DC Nation panel to see if Dan DiDio would announce my top-secret dream project for DC. He didn’t, but he told me that should be announced sometime this week. All I can say is what he told me, which is that it stars one of his favorite DCU villains. In other words, I better not screw it up.

I also popped in on the BOOM! Studio presentation, deftly run by VP of Marketing/Left on Mission writer Chip Mosher. Again, to see if my name was mentioned. I was asked my BOOM! EIC Mark Waid to do a short story for BOOM!’s Cthulhu Tales anthology, and said yes despite the fact he stole artist Paul Azaceta from me to do Potter’s Field. I’m also in talks with them to do a bigger project…but again, sworn to secrecy.

While I was generally good at avoiding spending money, I did buy two pieces of original art from Ale Garza, who drew the issue of Supergirl #19 that I co-wrote with Joe Kelly. I’m proud of those pages because, whether or not it’s still canon, they are the first appearance of “The Phantoms”, which I helped create. They are the original inhabitants of The Phantom Zone. I’m surprised in more than a half century no one ever thought of who lived in the Zone before.

There were of course some cool meetings and sightings:

Someone dressed as Darth Nihilis (if you listen to Howard Stern you should get that reference).
My buddies Jim Mahfood and Dave Crosland, with whom I’m going to be doing a really cool HAZED signing event at Meltdown Comics in LA later this month (more on that soon).
Early Sandman artist Mike Dringenberg. I got to learn that “Death” was based in part on a schizophrenic Goth dominatrix from Salt Lake City (where they are in sorely needed). Speaking of Neil Gaiman characters based on real people, I should mention I’m doing an adaptation of a song by Tori Amos (the inspiration for “Delirium”) in this summer’s Comic Book Tattoo book.

But most of the WonderCon involved me sitting at my Artist’s Alley table. I think I had the best placement in terms of surrounding talent out of any con, between American Flagg’s Howard Chaykin and Astro City’s Kurt Busiek and Brent Anderson.

Still…sitting at and artist’s alley table can be hard work if you’re not a writer. You can’t sketch, and worse, there’s that deflating feeling every time someone comes up and says, wow, that’s a beautiful looking book, and you have to tell them that, in fact, you didn’t draw it. Assuming that as a writer, you only write what’s in the word balloons, they usually walk away disappointed.

Luckily, I had HAZED artist Robbi Rodriguez as my wingman. Besides making inappropriate jokes about how I was able to get him as cheap labor because he’s Mexican (not true, although I did pick him up randomly at Home Depot), Robbi was nice enough to do free sketches for anyone who bought HAZED, which rumor has it he will do at Wizard World LA and New York Comic-Con if you stop by my table at either.

And HAZED (along with GROUNDED and FEARLESS) is really what WonderCon, or any con, is about. Considering the book wasn’t out yet (it’s out this Wednesday the 27^th, along with the fourth and final issue of FEARLESS), it got a great reception – we pretty much sold out. Lots of compliments on the cover that Kristyn Ferretti designed. Ditto for Robbi’s work…no disrespect to Maintenance but I think this is the best work he’s done (Nick Filardi’s grey tones didn’t hurt) As far as the words inside, the best praise I got was from Mia MacHatton and Lee Atchison of Sequential Tart. Speaking of which, Lee did a great interview with me here.

Actually…saying cons are about the work is only half true. It’s about the fans. I’ve been doing this professionally for about three years now, and the magic of someone saying they like a book I’ve worked on, let alone want to buy a copy, let alone want it SIGNED hasn’t worn off on me. My favorite story from this end involves a professor at the University of Oregon (go Ducks!) who is using Grounded as a textbook for a class he’s teaching. I’m hoping to have more about that here when I get in touch with him.

All in all, an extremely successful convention. Got to interact with without exception incredibly nice fans of Fearless and Grounded, and enjoy a great reception for the mini-debut of Hazed. And managed to (mostly) stay action figure and convention bug free.

Convention Schedule (So Far!)

2008-02-24T14:35:00.000-08:00

Robbi Rodriguez and I are currently at WonderCon signing HAZED and FEARLESS (well, Robbi won't be signing Fearless unless he learns how to forge PJ's signature in the next few days).

Also definite:

Wizard World LA (with Robbi and Dave Roth)
NY Comicon (with Paul, PJ Holden and Robbi probably rotating)
San Diego (everyone?)

I can't wait to give you my WonderCon report! Stay tuned!