BOOM! Has a Superhero DEATHMATCH Coming in December, 2012

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It started with teasers that said "Paul Jenkins and Carlos Magno Fight To The Death." Now, if BOOM! Studios was actually starting a snuff film division where comic book creators were killing each other, that would probably not go over too well. Turns out, the writer and artist are teaming up for a new comic book called Deathmatch.

BOOM!'s solicitation and the cover for Deathmatch showed up on CBR yesterday and Diamond's PREVIEWSworld this morning, and gives us an idea of what we'll be seeing from the comic. Superhero Analogues of Marvel and DC characters (see, it's like Captain America, but not quite) will be fighting - yes, to the death - in an arena, thanks to a supervillain who is forcing all of this for his or her amusement. In BOOM's solicit, they specifically market this as "THE SUPERHERO BATTLE ROYALE YOU CAN'T GET FROM MARVEL OR DC!"

There's just one problem - Marvel announced Avengers Arena just last week, also premiering in December, also using "Battle Royale" (both as imagery from the famous book/film and as a term), also having heroes locked in an arena by a supervillain to fight to the death.

 

It's a matter of one of those "zeitgeist" moments we've talked about on Newsarama in the past, but still an interesting coincidence. Deathmatch does change the formula significantly too. According to some digging by Bleeding Cool, the book has a twist: a "Death Draft" kit being distributed to retailers as an ordering incentive. With that, fans can go to their comic book store, participate in a draft, and have their own fantasy football or NCAA tournament style ongoing event throughout the run of the series.

It's a move clearly designed to get people into a comic book shop on a regular basis, and it kicks off with a first issue that costs only one dollar. As the final teaser image shows, everyone has always wanted to know if Multiple Man could beat the Hulk (he can't) and now they can argue it out in their comic shop with an actual victor on the line. 

 

Deathmatch #1

(W) Paul Jenkins (A) Carlos Magno (CA) Whilce Portacio

THE SUPERHERO BATTLE ROYALE YOU CAN'T GET FROM MARVEL OR DC! A powerful and mysterious supervillain has imprisoned the world's greatest superheroes, forcing them to fight to the death until there is but one victor. It's kill or be killed as we settle the score on all those hypothetical superhero match-ups in the ultimate DEATHMATCH.

Written by industry legend Paul Jenkins (SENTRY, INHUMANS) and drawn by comics superstar Carlos Magno (PLANET OF THE APES, TRANSFORMERS), DEATHMATCH is a dark, psychological deconstruction of the superhero genre that can't be missed.

Item Code: OCT120874

In Shops: 12/26/2012

SRP: $1.00