James Harvey
02-28-2002, 10:28 AM
DC Comics and 100 BULLETS writer Brian Azzarello are pleased to announce that Azzarello has signed an exclusive, two-year contract for his services with DC. The agreement will allow Azzarello to continue contributing stories and concepts to the publisher's various imprints: WildStorm, VERTIGO, and the DC Universe.
"I'll be honest: this was not an easy decision to make," says Azzarello. "I'm not entirely comfortable with the concept of exclusivity, but after sitting down and really listening to the level of commitment DC was offering me and the types of projects I was interested in doing, it just made sense. The gun Karen held to my head didn't hurt, either."
The Chicago-based writer is known for his hard-hitting stories that seem to defy genre classification and have expanded the palette with which modern comics writers work. His work has earned widespread acclaim from fans, fellow professionals, and critics alike. The 100 BULLETS storyline "Hang Up on the Hang Low," illustrated by series co-creator Eduardo Risso for VERTIGO, won an Eisner Award for Best Serialized Story in 2001.
Azzarello is the current writer of VERTIGO's HELLBLAZER, with artist Marcelo Frusin, and the upcoming Prestige Format Wildstorm miniseries BATMAN/DEATHBLOW: AFTER THE FIRE, with Lee Bermejo and Tim Bradstreet. Prior to their work on 100 BULLETS, Azzarello and Risso, who is also contracted exclusively with DC, collaborated on the cult-favorite miniseries JONNY DOUBLE, scheduled for release as a trade paperback in June. For Marvel Entertainment, Azzarello has written Banner and Cage.
Azzarello also is developing a Batman graphic novel to be illustrated by Risso, a graphic novel and another creator-owned project for VERTIGO, and projects for WildStorm to be determined. Details on these projects will be announced as they are available.
Karen Berger, VP - Executive Editor, VERTIGO, says, "Brian's the real deal. From his very first work for VERTIGO, his powerful, spare writing stood out across a crowded room. Like the best modern crime fiction writers, his gripping, hardboiled stories have an unerring sense of realism and pack an understated yet deep impact. And without a doubt, Brian writes the best street-cred dialogue in comics.
"I couldn't be happier that he has made this exclusive commitment to DC," Berger continues. "Brian's writing has had a major impact on the industry, and with Eduardo Risso on 100 BULLETS, he has created a vital and visceral must-read book."
"The lion's share of my work is with and will continue to be at VERTIGO," Azzarello says. "There's an investment here in the types of comics I want to be a part of. Editorially, a mature readers imprint is the best place for me to call home. 100 BULLETS, and working with Eduardo, naturally, is my primary focus. We've still got a lot of story to tell in that book. In addition to 100 BULLETS, there's a graphic novel in the works that should twist some heads, and I'm developing another creator-owned project with Marcelo Frusin that both Karen and Will Dennis are anxious to get off the ground. So am I."
Jim Lee, WildStorm's Editorial Director, says, "Brian's one of the best. With a restrained, stark voice, this guy explores territory others fear to tread. A five-tools-writer, he can do it all: crime noir, action, horror, humor, romance... and usually all in one story. As a fan, I can't wait to read the projects he has planned with us in the coming years."
"WildStorm's an interesting arena," says Azzarello. "I think they make the rules up there as they go along - and I mean that in a good way. It makes for an exciting place to work. Beyond BATMAN/DEATHBLOW, Lee and I are already looking at our next collaboration. It's something very different from what would be expected from either of us - and WildStorm's the right place for it. There's also been some talk about creator-owned projects for WildStorm's mature readers line, which is the direction they'd like me to be moving in."
Mike Carlin, VP - Executive Editor, DC Universe, says, "Brian is writing some of the coolest stories in comics today. And after seeing BATMAN/DEATHBLOW, I'm anxious to see what he does on the Batman graphic novel with Eduardo and to be wide open if he has any other ideas that work best in the DCU."
"I'll be honest: this was not an easy decision to make," says Azzarello. "I'm not entirely comfortable with the concept of exclusivity, but after sitting down and really listening to the level of commitment DC was offering me and the types of projects I was interested in doing, it just made sense. The gun Karen held to my head didn't hurt, either."
The Chicago-based writer is known for his hard-hitting stories that seem to defy genre classification and have expanded the palette with which modern comics writers work. His work has earned widespread acclaim from fans, fellow professionals, and critics alike. The 100 BULLETS storyline "Hang Up on the Hang Low," illustrated by series co-creator Eduardo Risso for VERTIGO, won an Eisner Award for Best Serialized Story in 2001.
Azzarello is the current writer of VERTIGO's HELLBLAZER, with artist Marcelo Frusin, and the upcoming Prestige Format Wildstorm miniseries BATMAN/DEATHBLOW: AFTER THE FIRE, with Lee Bermejo and Tim Bradstreet. Prior to their work on 100 BULLETS, Azzarello and Risso, who is also contracted exclusively with DC, collaborated on the cult-favorite miniseries JONNY DOUBLE, scheduled for release as a trade paperback in June. For Marvel Entertainment, Azzarello has written Banner and Cage.
Azzarello also is developing a Batman graphic novel to be illustrated by Risso, a graphic novel and another creator-owned project for VERTIGO, and projects for WildStorm to be determined. Details on these projects will be announced as they are available.
Karen Berger, VP - Executive Editor, VERTIGO, says, "Brian's the real deal. From his very first work for VERTIGO, his powerful, spare writing stood out across a crowded room. Like the best modern crime fiction writers, his gripping, hardboiled stories have an unerring sense of realism and pack an understated yet deep impact. And without a doubt, Brian writes the best street-cred dialogue in comics.
"I couldn't be happier that he has made this exclusive commitment to DC," Berger continues. "Brian's writing has had a major impact on the industry, and with Eduardo Risso on 100 BULLETS, he has created a vital and visceral must-read book."
"The lion's share of my work is with and will continue to be at VERTIGO," Azzarello says. "There's an investment here in the types of comics I want to be a part of. Editorially, a mature readers imprint is the best place for me to call home. 100 BULLETS, and working with Eduardo, naturally, is my primary focus. We've still got a lot of story to tell in that book. In addition to 100 BULLETS, there's a graphic novel in the works that should twist some heads, and I'm developing another creator-owned project with Marcelo Frusin that both Karen and Will Dennis are anxious to get off the ground. So am I."
Jim Lee, WildStorm's Editorial Director, says, "Brian's one of the best. With a restrained, stark voice, this guy explores territory others fear to tread. A five-tools-writer, he can do it all: crime noir, action, horror, humor, romance... and usually all in one story. As a fan, I can't wait to read the projects he has planned with us in the coming years."
"WildStorm's an interesting arena," says Azzarello. "I think they make the rules up there as they go along - and I mean that in a good way. It makes for an exciting place to work. Beyond BATMAN/DEATHBLOW, Lee and I are already looking at our next collaboration. It's something very different from what would be expected from either of us - and WildStorm's the right place for it. There's also been some talk about creator-owned projects for WildStorm's mature readers line, which is the direction they'd like me to be moving in."
Mike Carlin, VP - Executive Editor, DC Universe, says, "Brian is writing some of the coolest stories in comics today. And after seeing BATMAN/DEATHBLOW, I'm anxious to see what he does on the Batman graphic novel with Eduardo and to be wide open if he has any other ideas that work best in the DCU."