Hoax Hunters: Case Files #1

New stuff keeps on coming around these parts! Next up is some info on our annual issue, Hoax Hunters: Case Files #1.

It's available to order right now, this second (Diamond order code APR130437) and features a killer lineup of amazing creators. Here's the contributors, listed by team:

Tim Daniel and Nick Pitarra
Tim Seeley and Clint Hilinksi
Steve Seeley and Ryan Browne
Erik Burnham and Keith Burns
Gabriel Bautista
Michael Moreci and Brian Level (featuring Fact or Faked's Ben Hansen)
Frank Barbiere and Tyler Champion

Also, this cover from Mike Norton!

And, here's some previews! (In various stages...)

 

 

Introducing T-Rex Jones...

New Hoax Hunters artist! You may remember his work from Hoax Hunters issue #2--he did the much beloved cover, Murder in the famous Bigfoot pose. He's also worked on TMNT, Ghostbusters, and is taking over Hoax Hunters starting in issue #10. He's been doing excellent work so far, and is going to really add a great new dimension to the book. Here's a look at some of his takes on the characters, and his cover for issue #10.

Thoughts on Hoax Hunters Being Optioned for a Movie

I'm willing to bet most of you have heard this news--Jeff Krelitz, the producer of Peter Panzerfaust and Red Brick Road, has picked up the option on Hoax Hunters with the intent of turning it into a movie. Suffice to say, this is an incredibly exciting development. The news broke last Thursday, and it has been a roller coaster since. Steve and I were slammed at C2E2 this past weekend, doing better business than we ever had at a con, fielding questions (casting, directors, etc), and receiving so many kind words, which we appreciate. It's going to be a fun couple months as this moves forward, and we look forward to sharing news as we get it.

So what does this mean for the book? Well, I can't say for sure, not yet. Hopefully good things. Hopefully great things. Because, as many people know, Hoax Hunters has struggled with sales. There's no getting around that fact. It's been a challenging few months for Steve and I--exhausting and stressful. It hasn't been easy watching the reviews get better and better with each passing issue while sales continue to slide down and down despite our very best efforts. Our backs have been against the wall, we've been pushed to a point where many other creators would've called it quits already and moved on.

But Steve and I are invested in this thing, all the way.

Thankfully, many of you are as well. I can't tell you how much the tweets and messages and facebook shares, the support of retailers and journalists, means to us. Hearing that Hoax Hunters is someone's favorite comic, among the myriad other choices out there, has helped ward off many nights where I'd lie awake, frustrated beyond repair, desperately trying to conjure a way to keep this book going.

The coming arc, which begins in August (we have the second trade in May, the annual in June, then July off--more on why later this week), is some of the best Hoax Hunters story I've written, that Steve and I have crafted. So much of what has happened comes to a head, it's emotional, surprising, and really dark. And the ending for this arc, which marks the end of season one, is going to be killer.

Does the movie news validate our struggle? Well, yes and no. It's certainly beyond both Steve's and my dreams that this is even happening. It's incredible, and we are both grateful and aware of how lucky we are. But, ultimately, the book is what matters most. It's what we control; it's the story that we're telling, on our terms; it's where this all started over two years ago, as a small backup in Tim Seeley's (the generous and kind and amazing Tim Seeley) Hack/Slash. We want to keep the series going for a long time, and whatever helps us in doing so is more than we can ask for.

To those who have been with us from the start, thank you. Thank you thank you thank you. We wouldn't have made it this far without you, and I can't wait for you to see what's in store in the coming months. And anyone new to the Hoax Hunters world, welcome. Things are about to get really good.

-MM

C2E2 Pre-Orders!

Wow, we've got a lot going on for C2E2--secret announcements! Exclusive figures! Terrible sketches! The fun and surprises refuse to relent.

To make things easier, we're setting up a pre-order for our exclusive items, specifically the Murder figures that will make their debut at the show. Yes, debut! Let's start with ManOrMonster?'s amazing creation, a variation of the figure you may have seen during our Mini Comics Included drive (don't worry, those will be ready to ship come August):

SOLD OUT! 

SORRY, MANORMONSTER? MURDER SOLD OUT IN THREE HOURS. CONTACT HOAXHUNTERSCOMIC@GMAIL.COM TO INQUIRE ON A WAIT LIST. THERE MAY BE MORE AVAILABLE AT C2E2.

Yeah, amazing, eh? We'll only have FIVE of these figures, so got on the pre-orders--they're going to all be gone by Sunday, without a doubt. They run $65/each and come carded with original header art, painted by Steve:

Next up is yet another awesome Murder figure, this one courtesy of our buddy Josh Crawley. Only TEN will be available at C2E2! Check this out:

This variation runs $15 and comes carded with this header:

Last, but not least, Steve and I will be doing THE WORLD'S WORST SKETCHES! Seriously, they're terrible, but also fun. For just $10, you can get something like this:

Or this:

You name it, Steve and I will combine to bring it to life (sort of). Whatever you want, we'll do it.

We'll also have prints, issues, and trades--in addition to Steve having original paintings and Michael having copies of his graphic novel, ReincarNATE.

Come see us at table I4 in artist alley all weekend. And remember, get those pre-orders in to hoaxhunterscomic@gmail.com.

Thanks!

Oh, also, not going to C2E2? No problem. We'll work something out--just drop us a line.

Hoax Hunters to "Flip" Out in April

This April, the critically acclaimed Image Comics series HOAX HUNTERS presents a fun and unique issue that can be readily enjoyed by both current readers and new fans. Riffing on the hook of the series, where a group of “myth-busters” travel the world dispelling various lore on their reality TV show, issue #9 of HOAX HUNTERS presents both sides of their story. One half shows what happened on-air, what you’d see if you watched an episode; the other shows what happened behind the scenes, how the HOAX HUNTERS team manipulated everything—in this case, a haunted house confrontation—that happened to make it appear to be fake.

“With issue #9 and the use of the flip book feature, we allowed ourselves a dynamic and uncharacteristic way to show what happens in front of and behind the camera to super fun effect,” said Steve Seeley, co-writer.

The issue will literally have two opposing halves and thus two covers, each from Joe Eisma (MORNING GLORIES). Readers will be able to check out one half of the story then flip the comic over for the other half. Brent Schoonover (MR. MURDER IS DEAD) fills in as guest artist for this special issue.

“This is, to me, a great representation of everything that Hoax Hunters is about—fun, inventive, and willing to take risks,” said co-writer Michael Moreci.

HOAX HUNTERS has met with critical praise since its launch:

“Fresh, exciting, and delightfully bizarre”—Ain’t It Cool News

“10 of 10”—Newsarama

“Out of all the new comics that debuted this year, none of them captured my imagination like Hoax Hunters.”—Horror Talk

“A comic on the verge of greatness”—Read Comic Books

“A-”—Weekly Comic Review

“Worth the cover price each and every month”—IGN

HOAX HUNTERS #9 will be in stores April 17 (Diamond Code FEB130447) and is available now for preorder.

Review Round Up

Issue 6 just came out, and the consensus is that it's pretty damn awesome. See for yourself:

Newsarama gave the issue 10 of 10 (a perfect score, people!), saying "This sharper outing is just what Hoax Hunters needed to make it stand out from other similar comics."

Bloody-Disgusting awarded #6 with four skulls, saying "If you haven’t already, this is a the perfect issue to start reading the series."

The Beat gave the issue a fantastic review, noting the "smartly woven" character stories, saying "the subplots give readers something to hang onto from issue-to-issue, and distracts from the ‘monster of the week’ format."

"I am most definitely looking forward to seeing how it continues," says Unleash the Fanboy in their four star review.

IGN says "this feels like it could be the first issue of the series" in its very strong review.

Read Comic Books says "Hoax Hunters is a comic on the verge of greatness," awarding the issue an 8 of 10 rating.

Team Hellions declares issue #6 the "best issue of Hoax Hunters to date."

"Hoax Hunters is a fun, refreshing, modern take on the sci-fi horror mysteries you grew up loving, and shouldn’t be missed by fans of the medium," says Biff Bam Crash! in its stellar review.

Weekly Comic Review scored issue #6 an A-, calling it a "great series."

Geekality gave the issue four stars, declaring "Hoax Hunters is a riot. Read it!"

Talking Comics says "this series is one that I’ve been reading and enjoying since the start" in its strong review.

Horror Talk, who names Hoax Hunters the best comic of 2012, gave issue #6 a four and a half star review.

Even Comic Bastards, who really, really didn't enjoy the first arc are starting to come around, giving it a three of five rating. 

Vote Hoax!

Hey, Hoax Hunters has been nominated for a Ghastly Award for Best New Series! Help us take home....whatever the prize is by voting for us today!

Go ahead and follow this link to cast your ballot: