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Comicsgate Scores Expendables IP

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Submitted by RJ Carter on Tue, 02/04/2020 - 12:54
Expendables Go To Hell

Sylvester Stallone has confirmed via his Twitter account that the greenlight has officially been given for a comic book extension of THE EXPENDABLES, the action franchise that specializes in reuniting actors from classic action films into the ultimate action team-up adventure.

That, in and of itself, is big news.

What is perhaps bigger news is the venue selected for the venture: an Indiegogo campaign, managed by start-up publisher Richard C. Meyer. If you don't know the name, you probably haven't been following the comics industry online for the past few years. Meyer is one of the most recognizable names in the loose-knit and frequently highly contentious confederation of independent creators collectively known as Comicsgate, an entity that has been attacked from without almost as much as it has from within.

Meyer's name came to prominence first when he announced his comic book, JAWBREAKERS: LOST SOULS was going to be published by Antarctic Press. The following intervention of comic book veteran Mark Waid in the process resulted in Antarctic Press later dropping their plans, and earning Waid a tortious interference lawsuit from Meyer which is set for trial in early 2021. Since the announcement of the suit, Meyer has gone on to release the aforementioned title, as well as IRON SIGHTS and JAWBREAKERS: GØD K1NG, under his own imprint, Splatto del Gato, which presumably will be the masthead for this newly announced title, THE EXPENDABLES GO TO HELL.

That Meyer has scored such a high profile IP has to be a sting felt in several corners of mainstream comics publishing, and certainly a warning shot that the creator movement isn't going away any time soon.

THE EXPENDABLES GO TO HELL will contain a main story and three shorts. The primary tale will be writtten by Stallone and comic book veteran Chuck Dixon (BIRDS OF PREY), with artwork from Graham Nolan, Jason Johnson, Butch Guice, and Kelsey Shannon The book will be released with multiple covers, including work by Billy Tucci (SHI), Renzo Rodriguez, Jason Johnson, and Meyer himself.

With an initial goal of $10,000, this crowdfunded comic has already pulled in nearly $60,000 in its first day, guaranteeing this is a project that is going to happen.

Stay tuned for updates as they happen...