Press Release
Timed to February’s full moon, Papercutz’s Super Genius imprint has announced that it will publish the definitive edition of HIGH MOON, the acclaimed graphic novel series by writer David Gallaher and artist Steve Ellis. Originally published by DC’s Zuda Comics imprint in 2007 and the Winner of the Harvey Award for Best Online Series, HIGH MOON is a unique western and horror genre mash-up about the investigations of a mysterious bounty hunter, one whose own dark secret emerges every full moon. Or, as Molly Crabapple said, “With werewolves, gunslingers, and the sumptuous artwork of Steve Ellis, HIGH MOON will change everything you thought you knew about the Old West.”
Super Genius will publish HIGH MOON: BULLET HOLES AND BITE MARKS this October, followed by volume 2 in May of 2018. For their release of HIGH MOON, Super Genius will remaster the existing art for Volumes One and Two, before concluding the story with all new material in Volume Three. All three graphic novels will feature new covers by artist and co-creator Steve Ellis, the storyboard artist and illustrator on AMC’s Breaking Bad (The Cost of Doing Business) and The Walking Dead (Dead Reckoning) games, and the co-creator of THE ONLY LIVING BOY graphic novel series, also written and co-created by Gallaher and published by Papercutz.
“Super Genius is committed to publishing unique, creative visions from the likes of Jessica Abel (TRISH TRASH) and Melissa Jane Osborne & Veronica Fish (THE WENDY PROJECT). David Gallaher and Steve Ellis are extremely gifted storytellers and their smart and relevant story is a natural fit for this imprint,” said Super Genius Editor-in-Chief Jim Salicrup. “I immediately gravitated to HIGH MOON’s classic themes of xenophobia and self-reliance which are as relevant today as they ever have been.”
In HIGH MOON, former Pinkerton agent and current bounty-hunter Matthew Macgregor investigates a series of strange happenings in a small Texas town. Drought has brought famine and hardship to Blest. The summer heat pushes the temperature to unbearable heights during the day. The nights are even worse– for the streets are haunted by strange, unnatural creatures. And even as Macgregor works to uncover the truth about the creatures, he struggles to keep his own supernatural nature a secret.
“A decade ago, we began designing these tough guy heroes, magnificent landscapes, and unearthly creatures,” said co-creator and artist Steve Ellis. “With Super Genius publishing HIGH MOON, we can create the full story, as we always envisioned.”
The Super Genius editions will be larger than the previous Zuda Comics print edition and will present the landscape formatted series in a removable slipcase that allows it to be racked vertically, maximizing its visibility for retailers and consumers. “Looking at Steve’s gorgeous artwork, we knew we didn’t want to alter the layouts of the original pages,” said Super Genius publisher Terry Nantier. “At the same time we wanted to amplify the exposure of the book in the market. We didn’t want any physical limitations to hold that back. With the slipcase, we have the added bonus of creating a really nice contemporary edition that will look great on bookshelves.”
All three volumes of HIGH MOON will be published in hardcover at $24.99 and simultaneously in paperback at $14.99. HIGH MOON: BULLET HOLES AND BITE MARKS will be available in bookstores and comic book stores across the United States and Canada on October 17th, 2017.
“Between WESTWORLD, LOGAN, and RED DEAD REDEMPTION, the western is resonating in our culture in weird and unusual ways,” said co-creator and writer David Gallaher. “HIGH MOON recalls the best tropes of both the classic western adventure and werewolf mythology. I can’t wait for readers to discover our bloody tale of werewoles six shootboys, bullets and the supernatural.”