DSTLRY, the next-generation publisher redefining creator-owned comic books and collectibles, is proud to announce THE BIG BURN, an infernal new heist comic from the Eisner-nominated creative team of writer Joe Henderson (Skyward, Shadecraft, Netflix’s Lucifer) and artist Lee Garbett (Lucifer, Loki: Agent of Asgard, Uncanny Spider-Man). With colors by Lee Loughridge (Somna) and letters by Simon Bowland (The Sandman Universe: Nightmare Country), THE BIG BURN #1 launches in comic book stores and digitally on dstlry.co in July 2024.
Owen and Carlie are the Bonnie and Clyde of the 21st century—a slick duo who pull off impossible heists and have the time of their lives doing it. When justice finally catches up to them and they think it’s all over, the Devil himself offers them a deal—their freedom for their very SOULS. But they soon find that without their souls, their love is missing, too, so they set out to recruit a crew of the damned for the ultimate heist: break into Hell and steal their souls back.
This July, Henderson and Garbett invite readers on a thrilling journey to a Hell they’ve never seen before. A place perfectly designed to give people hope, so that the devil can torture them with it when he takes it away, again and again. That’s right, Hell is a CASINO. And even with the greatest team of thieves, the house always wins.
“Creating these worlds with Lee is always an absolute dream, and I’m excited to introduce readers to our unique and deeply twisted take on Hell this summer,” said writer and co-creator Joe Henderson. “While THE BIG BURN features a darker tone than our previous work, the emotional journey of our star-crossed thieves Owen and Carlie maintains the same heartfelt storytelling we’re known for. It’s exciting for us to challenge ourselves with this book, and I always love a good heist.”
“As Joe and I developed the idea for THE BIG BURN, we knew DSTLRY was the perfect partner to help bring our vision to life,” added artist and co-creator Lee Garbett. “As a Founding Creator of the company, I’ve seen my fellow founders flourish this past year with the unwavering support of Chip, David, and the rest of the team, and this ambitious, blockbuster story is right at home here. Crafting a completely new take on Hell has been an awesome challenge, and I can’t wait for readers to see it come to life in DSTLRY’s beautiful, prestige format. Expect all the heart, action and character Joe and I love to deliver – this time with a devilish twist.”
THE BIG BURN marks the third creator-owned collaboration between Henderson and Garbett, following Eisner-nominated sci-fi series SKYWARD and teen horror comic SHADECRAFT. With a terrifying north star of ‘Hell as an inescapable casino,’ the duo are building their entry in the pantheon of great heist stories—a must-read for fans of Ocean’s Eleven and Inception.
“THE BIG BURN continues our streak of announcements featuring top-shelf creators exploring irresistibly fresh ideas, and we couldn’t be happier to welcome Joe Henderson to the DSTLRY family for this project as he reunites with Founding Creator Lee Garbett,” said DSTLRY co-founders Chip Mosher and David Steinberger in a joint statement. “Readers, retailers, and creators are all taking note of DSTLRY as THE destination for unrestricted innovation in storytelling and visuals, and there’s a whole lot more of that on the way.”
THE BIG BURN #1 features a main cover by co-creator Lee Garbett and an open-order variant cover by DSTLRY Founding Creator Tula Lotay, with additional open-order, incentive, and DTC variant covers to be revealed leading up to launch.
Perfect for fans of Ocean’s Eleven, Inception, Out of Sight, and, of course, Lucifer, THE BIG BURN #1 is available for pre-order now and will debut in comic shops and digitally via dstlry.co in July 2024.
