Joseph P. Illidge and Chriscross are teaming up for The Winterfields, a crime noir making its debut as the opening short in January’s expanded edition of Fairsquare anthology Noir is the New Black. The graphic novel will then debut in 2025 as part of Noir is the New Black imprint under FairSquare Comics.
“The Winterfields is the kind of Lone Wolf and Cub meets Road To Perdition father and son story I’ve been itching to do in comics for some time, so when I was asked if I would like to introduce the characters in a new edition of FairSquare Comics’ groundbreaking anthology Noir is the New Black, it was an automatic yes!” said writer Joseph P. Illidge. “Our short story, which serves as a prelude, gives readers a taste of the rough and tumble lives of Cain Winterfield and his son Carver.”
So what’s The Winterfields about?
1920s Harlem: a time of culture, art, and free enterprise. This is the backdrop for the saga of The Winterfields. Cain Winterfield is a former World War I soldier who returned home to a nation that discriminated against him, forcing him to fight once again to survive. Now he makes a living as a bodyguard, putting himself in harm’s way for whomever can pay his price. Taking punches and giving them back. Carver Winterfield is his 10-year-old son, a handsome boy with a good heart, bruised knuckles…and too many secrets for someone his age. When a client’s wife goes missing under Cain’s nose, her merciless husband wants answers, even if he has to get them through bloody violence.
Continued Illidge: “What happens by the end will lead to the big story in the upcoming graphic novel, which will be a love letter to the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s. A time of artistic and philosophical innovation, cultural movement, and affluence in both human charity and entrepreneurial enterprise. Working on The Winterfields with artist extraordinaire and fellow Milestone Comics alumni Chriscross has been great and we’re not holding back, so get ready for a dose of crime noir, hard-boiled action, and steamy intrigue!”
“Our Noir is the New Black anthology is the backbone of FairSquare Comics. It was our first ever graphic novel and our biggest hit to date—we have sold over 5,000 copies. For its third printing, we are featuring extra content, and I couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome Joe Illidge and Chriscross as creators for this new trove of Black noir stories and art,” said Fabrice Sapolsky, CEO & Founder of FairSquare Comics.
Check out a preview below.
For more on this news, read the official press release below.
Esteemed comic book writer and editor Joseph P. Illidge (MPLS Sound) and famed artist Chriscross (Thor, Blood Syndicate) are teaming up to craft a no-holds-barred crime noir story set during the historic Harlem Renaissance, titled The Winterfields. The two creators, both Milestone Comics veterans, will debut their new historical project with a short story that opens the Expanded Edition of the bestselling FairSquare Comics anthology Noir is the New Black, which goes on sale on January 31 at comic book shops and February 14 at bookstores, in celebration of Black History Month. The short story serves as a prelude to the upcoming full-length graphic novel The Winterfields to be published in 2025 by FairSquare Comics, under the company’s Noir is the New Black imprint.
1920s Harlem: a time of culture, art, and free enterprise. This is the backdrop for the saga of The Winterfields. Cain Winterfield is a former World War I soldier who returned home to a nation that discriminated against him, forcing him to fight once again to survive. Now he makes a living as a bodyguard, putting himself in harm’s way for whomever can pay his price. Taking punches and giving them back. Carver Winterfield is his 10-year-old son, a handsome boy with a good heart, bruised knuckles…and too many secrets for someone his age. When a client’s wife goes missing under Cain’s nose, her merciless husband wants answers, even if he has to get them through bloody violence.
“The Winterfields is the kind of Lone Wolf and Cub meets Road To Perdition father and son story I’ve been itching to do in comics for some time, so when I was asked if I would like to introduce the characters in a new edition of FairSquare Comics’ groundbreaking anthology Noir is the New Black, it was an automatic yes!” said writer Joseph P. Illidge. “Our short story, which serves as a prelude, gives readers a taste of the rough and tumble lives of Cain Winterfield and his son Carver.”
Continued Illidge: “What happens by the end will lead to the big story in the upcoming graphic novel, which will be a love letter to the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s. A time of artistic and philosophical innovation, cultural movement, and affluence in both human charity and entrepreneurial enterprise. Working on The Winterfields with artist extraordinaire and fellow Milestone Comics alumni Chriscross has been great and we’re not holding back, so get ready for a dose of crime noir, hard-boiled action, and steamy intrigue!”
“Joseph Illidge and I are creating a gritty story of the African-American experience in 1920s Harlem. The Winterfields is something I’d like to see more of in comics, especially as Joe and I plant the seeds for the characters’ future adventures in the upcoming graphic novel,” said artist Chriscross. “Exploring the visual aspects of that time period and setting the mood is a fun challenge and refreshing change of pace from superheroes and sci-fi. More shadows and light, drama, and grime. It’ll be as dynamic as we can make it, with our editor Fabrice Sapolsky at the helm. Cain and Carver will take you on a grunge-filled ride you won’t forget.”
The six-page prelude short story about the Winterfields, which will also feature colors by artist Morby, will be highlighted as the opening tale in the new Extended Edition of Noir is the New Black. The sold-out bestselling anthology is coming back to print with even more additional material, also including the new short story “Systemic Rise,” by Victor Dandridge (Vantage:Inhouse Productions) and Jean Paul Deshong (Sons of Fate), as well as additional pinups and behind-the-scenes content never seen before. The fan-favorite book will now feature 18 noir stories crafted by 47 of the finest Black creators from all around the world, such as Brandon Thomas (Excellence, Hardware) Gary Phillips (Angeltown, The Be-Bop Barbarians), M.D. Bright (Icon, Iron Man), Melody Cooper (Omni), Brandon Easton (Star Trek, Robotech), David F Walker (Bitter Root, Naomi), comedian Roxxy Haze, and many more, with a foreword by Shawn Martinbrough (Thief of Thieves).
“Our Noir is the New Black anthology is the backbone of FairSquare Comics. It was our first ever graphic novel and our biggest hit to date—we have sold over 5,000 copies. For its third printing, we are featuring extra content, and I couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome Joe Illidge and Chriscross as creators for this new trove of Black noir stories and art,” said Fabrice Sapolsky, CEO & Founder of FairSquare Comics. “TC Harris, my co-editor, and I immediately fell in love with The Winterfields and its portrayal of the Harlem Renaissance era. The Winterfields will be published alongside our other titles Watson & Holmes and Little Rock Files as full-fledged graphic novels under our Noir is the New Black imprint in 2025. We’re kicking off the celebration of FairSquare Comics’ fifth anniversary in 2024 by developing our flagship graphic novel imprint and will be shining a spotlight on The Winterfields. Per our motto, we’re showing how relevant ‘comics from the rest of us’ are, more than ever.”
The Expanded Edition of Noir is the New Black goes on sale on January 31 at comic book shops and February 14 at bookstores. Orders are now open and the Final Order Cut Off is on January 8, 2023.
To learn more about FairSquare Comics, visit fairsquarecomics.com and follow the publisher on Facebook and Instagram @fairsquarecomics. To learn more about Joseph P. Illidge, visit josephillidge.com and follow Joe on X @JosephPIllidge and Instagram @illmasterone. To learn more about Chriscross, follow Chris on X @chryslus and Instagram @chriscrosserx.
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