Mike Eakins
Last October at New York Comic Con, Humanoids publishing announced that they will dive into the crowded superhero pool with their H1 Universe. Humanoids has been turning out works by Moebius, Alejandro Jodorowsky, just to name a few. However when they announced their new creative team of Mark Waid (Kingdom Come), John Cassaday (Planetary), Cara Speed McNeil (Finder), Kwanza Osajyefo (Black AF), and Yanick Paquette (Wonder Woman Earth One) would be giving us our first taste of a brand new monthly title called Ignited, eyes were opened more wide and attention was on Humanoids. Here’s the official first-issue synopsis from Humanoids: “It’s the first day back at Phoenix Academy High, but this year there’s no back-to-school excitement in the air as returning students and faculty are haunted by memories of last year’s horrific attack. So many friends and colleagues were lost, and some of those who survived underwent changes; they “ignited,” gaining supernatural abilities they barely understand. Little do they know: this is just the beginning!”
The H1 Universe will be built initially around six titles: Ignited, Omni, Strangelands, The Big Country, Meyer & Nicnevin and The Bloody Queen. Together they will “forge a universe with real consequences that are relevant to today’s readers,” according to Fabrice Giger, Humanoids CEO and Publisher. The Ignited writing team, Waid and Osajyefo, say they are looking to ground the new mythology in a restlessly relevant, trope-challenging, risk-taking manner. “With H1, we’ve set out to create a shared comic book universe that reflects the world around us,” Osajyefo said. “Anonymity is impossible. Capes are conspicuous. And heroism isn’t without cost.” His collaborator, Waid, who is also the Humanoids director of creative development, weighed in further: “No story has a lasting impact unless it’s provocative unless it skirts right up to the edge of dangerous — and sometimes steps over. Those are the stories you remember. Those are the stories we’re promising to deliver.” Fans will be able to see more from the H1 Universe on Free Comic Book Day (May 4) with a special release that sets the stage for the events of Ignited No. 1 and previews the half-dozen titles launching the H1 Universe initiative and imprint.
