Host Mortem Graphic Novel Preview

 

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The Hosts of Where In The World Is Carmen Sandiego? and Where In Time is Carmen Sandiego? Reunite in the Pages of the Noir Graphic Novel HOST MORTEM 

A Tongue-in-Cheek, Time Travel Metafiction Mystery by Writer (and Real Life Game Show Host) Kevin Shinick is Now on Kickstarter

Kevin Shinick used to have all the answers. Before he was an acclaimed comic writer on titles like W.E.B. of Spider-Man and The Flash, before he was an Emmy Award-winning writer on Robot Chicken, before he was a bestselling novelist (Star Wars: Force Collector), before he was an Annie award-winning producer (MAD), Kevin Shinick had all the answers — as the TV gameshow host of Where In Time Is Carmen Sandiego? Now Shinick is writing Host Mortem, an all-new tongue-in-cheek, time travel metafiction mystery in which he appears (as himself!), along with Greg Lee (the host of Where In The World Is Carmen Sandiego?). When the two former gameshow hosts are transported to the year 1947 by a time portal at Comic-Con, they find themselves enmeshed in a murder mystery involving Humphrey Bogart’s legendary noir film The Big Sleep. When one of the stars winds up dead, Kevin and Greg’s knowledge of random trivia might be the key to solving this Hollywood caper. The graphic novel is now on Kickstarter.

“Between the two of us, Greg and I have hosted a number of game shows,” says Shinick. “As a result, we have a lot of random trivia floating around in our heads and I always wished I could put that knowledge to better use other than just, “Hey, did you know the singular of spaghetti is spaghetto?” And since we both played fake detectives on Carmen Sandiego (me a time traveling detective and Greg a classic gumshoe detective) I got to wondering how we might fare with an actual murder? The ultimate question being, “Are hosts really smart? Or do they just have the answers?”

This one-of-a-kind thriller is illustrated by Damien Torres (Marvel Crisis Protocol) and Andrea Schiavone (Gangsters Versus Nazis), colored by Pippa Bowland (Judge Dredd, Project Cryptid), and lettered by Taylor Esposito (Red Hood and The Outlaws). The 180-page graphic novel will be told in four chapters from four different characters’ point of view. Kevin Shinick, Greg Lee, their fast-talking receptionist, and a surprise mystery narrator will guide readers through the epic, time travel adventure. Each chapter will have a distinct look and will be available collected in a gorgeous slipcase drawn by Jesse Larson (Hades Speaks!). Host Mortem is being crowdfunded on Kickstarter and will be released by Clover Press, the publisher behind acclaimed graphic novels, art books and novels including The Marvel Art Of line of books, Ricardo Delgado’s Dracula, Spawn Till You Die: The Fin Art of Ray Troll, and Craig Yoe’s Woman & Man+. Kickstarter tiers include original art from the book, critical evaluation of work-in-progress comic books, offers of voice over narration on your next animated project, and striking covers by Tony Foti, Timothy Anderson, and Damien Torres. 

 

Now, let's take a look inside:

 

 

“I think what Kevin’s come up with is simply brilliant and it continues to be a blast just getting to be a small part of it,” says Greg Lee. “With his hilarious and nuanced writing I actually feel I’ve spent time in 1947. Why I didn’t buy some potential stock or at least win an Oscar pool while I was there is beyond me. Instead, Kevin puts me in the middle of a murder scene and expects me to rely on my game show trivia to help him solve the crime. But the real crime is that we don’t know the first thing about being detectives so it’ll probably come down to something random like knowing Humphrey Bogart’s middle name. (It was DeForest, by the way. A fact I know because I’m a game show host and not a detective!) Luckily, Kevin’s a great friend and a talented writer, so this project is nothin’ but “win-win-and more win” for me and, if I’m being honest, for all our backers and readers.”

“Working on Host Mortem has been the biggest and most rewarding story of my career so far,” says artist Damien Torres. “Comics has been my dream, but film is my first love, and I’ve been afforded the opportunity to bring that love into this graphic novel. As someone who is a fan of the likes of Sean Phillips, Greg Smallwood, Lee Weeks, David Mazzucchelli, and Alex Toth to name a few, channeling the use of heavy black has been key to nailing the noir tone. Researching the 1940s and grounding the scenes with iconic LA landmarks has helped bring pages to life, and I’ve worked to make that authenticity show through in each panel. Watching a good number of Bogart and Bacall films hasn’t hurt one bit either. I’d be remiss in not mentioning how fun and thorough Kevin Shinick’s writing is, and an honor it’s been to work with someone who happened to play a part in my childhood!”

TV hosts are already raving about HOST MORTEM: 

“Believe in this book! It's L.A. Confidential meets The In-laws.”   

                                                — TV Host Donovan Patton of Blues Clues

“I double dare you to back this hysterical, historical and homicidal tale!”    

                              — TV Host Marc Summers of Double Dare

"We are absolutely thrilled to be bringing Kevin Shinick's fun and utterly unique voice to our readers,” says Publisher Hank Kanalz. “HOST MORTEM is a genre-defying time-travel murder-mystery graphic novel that will leave you full of knowledge – of the most trivial but entertaining facts. You’ll learn something new with every page!”

For more updates, follow Kevin Shinick on X and Clover Press on X, Facebook, Instagram, and Blue Sky.

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KEVIN SHINICK (creator/co-star) began his career as the host and time-traveling detective of the Emmy winning series Where In Time Is Carmen Sandiego? before becoming an Emmy winning writer (Robot Chicken), a bestselling author (Star Wars: Force Collector) and a celebrated comic book creator (W.E.B. of Spider-Man, The Flash, Guardians of the Galaxy, Batman). Perhaps best known for creating the animated series MAD, Kevin has earned a veritable pop culture pedigree by working alongside George Lucas (Star Wars: Detours), directing Stan Lee (Marvel’s Spider-Man), collaborating with the rock band KISS (Scooby-Doo and KISS: Rock and Roll Mystery) and helping Mike Tyson solve some mysteries (The Mike Tyson Mysteries).

GREG LEE (co-star) began his career as the host and special agent gumshoe of the Emmy winning series Where In The World Is Carmen Sandiego? as well as Nickelodeon’s Total Panic, ESPN's Max Out and NBC's Inside Stuff. For 6 years he co-hosted the NBA’s “Stay In School Spectacular” for NBC, and for 8 years he was the voice of Principal (Mayor) White on DOUG (Nickelodeon./ABC). Greg has appeared on AJ and the Queen, The George Lopez Show, The District, The Drew Carey Show, Newsradio, Mad About You Sesame Street and Ghost Writer. 

DAMIEN TORRES (artist) is a graduate of The Kubert School, and has worked with publishers such as Dynamite, Source Point Press and White Ash Comics as well as creating tabletop games, trading cards, and art for documentaries streaming on Netflix, Max, and National Geographic. Most recently, Damien was the artist on The Winchester Mystery House for Source Point Press, and for Atomic Mass Games’ Marvel Crisis Protocol.

ANDREA SCHIAVONE (artist) Hailing from the faraway Land of Pizza, Andrea Schiavone is a caffeine-fueled geek, comic book artist, self-styled ape connoisseur and space exploration enthusiast. His work has appeared in Jeff McClelland’s Planet Comics and Limit Break’s anthologies Down Below, Fractured Realms and Wish Upon A Star. He’s the co-author of Gangsters vs Nazis, written by Matt Garvey, and Shitkickers, penned by Joey Esposito.

PIPPA BOWLAND (colorist) Pippa has been colouring comics since 2017. During this time, she has worked with publishers including Rebellion (Judge Dredd, Rogue Trooper, John Steel and more), Ahoy (Ash and Thorn, Project Cryptid), Legendary (Three Little Wishes), Dynamite (Altered Carbon), Aftershock (Miskatonic), Heavy Metal (The Modern Frankenstein), Image (Saucer Country) and many others. Pippa lives with her husband, little daughter and old rescue cat in Cheshire, England.

TAYLOR ESPOSITO (letterer) is a comic book lettering professional, owner of Ghost Glyph Studios and teacher at the legendary Kubert School. A former staff letterer at DC and production artist at Marvel, he has lettered titles such as Red Hood and The Outlaws and Constantine; Interceptor, Heavy, Finger Guns (Vault Comics), Exorsisters, Jook Joint (Image), Babyteeth, Hot Lunch Special, Knock ‘em Dead (Aftershock), and No One Left to Fight (Dark Horse). Other publishers he has worked with include Line Webtoon (Caster, Backchannel) Dynamite (Elvira, Red Sonja and Vampirella meet Betty and Veronica, Green Hornet), and IDW (Scarlett’s Strike Force).

CLOVER PRESS is an eclectic boutique publisher headed by IDW co-founder Robbie Robbins and former DC executive Hank Kanalz. Clover Press publishes a wide variety of collected and original content ranging from re-mastered reprints of classic newspaper strips to horror graphic novels and high-quality art books. Clover Press is working with a wide variety of creators including David Mack, Kevin Eastman, Steve Niles, Gabriel Rodriguez, Ruben Bolling, Richard Bennett, Ray Troll, John K. Snyder III, Stewart Kenneth Moore, Aron Wiesenfeld, Alex Maleev, David Nakayama, Russell Dauterman, Michael Allred, and more.

 

Thanks to Superfan Promotions for sharing this preview with us.