Courtesy of Panick Entertainment, AIPT can share the news of new series Savager #1 coming to comic shops in the summer 2025. The story is written by Dirk Blackman and Shannon Eric Denton and illustrated by Kewber Ball, and is one of three previously announced launch titles from PANICK’s slate debuting this summer in comic shops nationwide.
So what’s Savager about?
Riley Phillips is the titular Savager—once a human warrior, now a tormented host battling the parasite within. When he encounters the last surviving humans, he must confront his literal inner demon and reckon with the horrors of his past to secure their future. As deadly creatures close in, Savager fights to shield a remnant of humanity thought to be extinct from facing a final, irreversible extinction.
Cover artist Farr found herself inspired by the impassioned pitch of PANICK’s editorial team and the book’s creators, offering, “When the Panick team approached me with this project, from the beginning I was so intrigued and immediately wanted to know more. I’m a huge reader of Lovecraft and many horror writers, and Dirk and Shannon’s ideas for the story were so captivating and different, they had me wanting to know more from the get go.”
Check out the cover by Farr and interior art below.
For more on this news read the press release below.
PANICK ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCES JUNE RELEASE DATE AND UNVEILS SAVAGER #1 COVER BY TEHANI FARR
Los Angeles, CA —January 23, 2024 —Today, PANICK Entertainment LLC, unveils and announces the official retail cover art for SAVAGER #1, due in stores in Summer 2025 painted by innovative cover artist Tehani Farr (credits).
Founded by a team of comic and entertainment industry veterans, PANICK Entertainment is poised to reshape genre storytelling with its slate of bold, original content and unflinching approach to storytelling. SAVAGER, written by Dirk Blackman (credits) and Shannon Eric Denton (Monster Forge, Kingdom Riders) and illustrated by Kewber Ball (Vampirella, Elvira), is one of three previously announced launch titles from PANICK’s slate debuting this summer in comic shops nationwide.
Riley Phillips is the titular Savager—once a human warrior, now a tormented host battling the parasite within. When he encounters the last surviving humans, he must confront his literal inner demon and reckon with the horrors of his past to secure their future. As deadly creatures close in, Savager fights to shield a remnant of humanity thought to be extinct from facing a final, irreversible extinction.
Cover artist Farr found herself inspired by the impassioned pitch of PANICK’s editorial team and the book’s creators, offering, “When the Panick team approached me with this project, from the beginning I was so intrigued and immediately wanted to know more. I’m a huge reader of Lovecraft and many horror writers, and Dirk and Shannon’s ideas for the story were so captivating and different, they had me wanting to know more from the get go.”
Farr details her unconventional creative process, saying, “As always happens with my work, it’s the first burst of ideas that birth the most powerful concepts, it’s like a flash of inspiration, when all the descriptions and ideas, and concepts we have been talking about suddenly just make sense, and I get a vision. And this is how this artwork was born. When I described it to the team, they were all a little dubious, but that’s understandable, they couldn’t see it as clearly as I could. So that same afternoon I sketched it out, with rough lines and lots of color, lots of fleshy red, lots of jungle, abandoned buildings among the reeds, a destroyed city reminiscent of the past. Next day I sent it over, and it was an immediate approval. Those are my favorite mornings!”
Co-writer and creator Blackman was enchanted with the process and delighted with the outcome, offering, “Working with such a talented artist as Tehani was a dream. We talked through the project thoroughly – the main character out to avenge the deaths of every human on earth, a world of the future devoid of animal life except for the creatures that destroyed it, the themes of revenge and rebirth. It clearly resonated with her and the cover speaks for itself.” Adds co-creator and writer Denton, “Tehani understood the dichotomy presented and painted it into the cover, promising the reader a violent hero with a secret, bloody action, monsters, all in a post-human world of unexpected beauty.”
Mark McCann, PANICK’s Chief Creative Officer says “Tehani was a solid fit for the project with her current run on Conan turning heads. I wanted someone who could blend the beauty of an alien earth with the brutality of the character’s circumstances and she did a wonderful job conveying that.”
SAVAGER #1 will be in stores in Summer of 2025, with announcement about a specific on-sale date to follow. A variant edition of SAVAGER #1, featuring cover art by Shane Pierce (credits), was made available as part of PANICK’s first crowdfunding campaign this past Fall. In addition to SAVAGER, PANICK will debut the titles T.A.M.A. and BLACK DIAMOND this summer as well, also via the Direct Market.
Fifty years post-invasion – Earth is a dead world – all organic life consumed by voracious cosmic parasites. Inhabiting barely recognisable husks of earth’s former lifeforms, these remnants fight for dominance in a horrific post-apocalypse.
Riley Philps is the Savager – once a human warrior, now an infected shell – at war with the parasite within him. When Savager discovers the last living humans, he must battle his personal monster and face the harrows of his past if he’s to save their future from the deadly creatures on their trail. Protecting the last of a ‘presumed extinct’ humanity from a new and permanent extinction!
Writers: Shannon Eric Denton (Monster Forge Productions, Kingdom Riders); Dirk Blackman (UNDERWORLD: RISE OF THE LYCANS, OUTLANDER)
Pencils & Inks: Kewber Baal (Elvira, KISS, James Bond, Vampirella)
Letters: Sal Cipriano (The Batman Who Laughs, Carmilla, Resistance Universe)
Cover: Tehani Farr (Heavy Metal)
About PANICK Entertainment
Founded by a powerhouse team of industry veterans, PANICK Entertainment is committed to reviving horror and science fiction storytelling across comics, graphic novels, films, television, and beyond. Leading the charge are:
Kris Longo, CEO – Former publisher of Heavy Metal Magazine and CEO of Modern Fanatic, renowned for his work in branded content and pop culture marketing.
Adam Schlagman, Head of Studio and Executive Editor – Former VP at DC and executive producer of major blockbusters like SHAZAM! and BLACK ADAM.
Doug Pasko, COO – A seasoned executive producer and screenwriter known for his work on THE OUTPOST on The CW.
Charles Christopher Chiang, CFO – Former Manager of Finance for DC Comics, bringing strategic financial expertise.
Mark McCann, Chief Creative Officer – A celebrated writer, illustrator, and editor with a talent for world-building and storytelling.
In addition, PANICK Entertainment will benefit from the guidance of Chris Ryall, Syzygy Publishing co-founder and former President & Chief Creative Officer of IDW, as he steps into the role of Chief Advisor.
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