Patton Oswalt Will Write the First Issue of New Black Hammer Anthology

It’s no secret that Patton Oswalt loves superheroes. His fandom has famously landed him roles on shows like Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Batman Beyond, and Justice League Action. Oswalt is also starring in his own M.O.D.O.K. animated series coming to Hulu next year. But aside from traditional Marvel and DC fare, Oswalt has a lot of love for the indie scene as well. And in February, Oswalt will help flesh out Dark Horse Comics’ ever-expanding Black Hammer universe. Via Entertainment Weekly, Dark Horse has announced Black Hammer: Visions, a new eight-issue anthology series. Oswalt is writing the series’ first installment.

Spinning out of the primary Black Hammer series that writer Jeff Lemire and artist Dean Ormston launched in 2016, each Visions issue acts as a one-shot focusing on a different character. Oswalt’s issue zeroes in on Golden Gail, whom Lemire and Ormston introduced as a play on Shazam. Like the DC character, Gail transforms into a superhero after saying the name of a wizard who gave her powers. Over the years, Gail’s mortal form aged normally, but her heroic persona was frozen at nine years old. After she and her fellow superheroes are stranded in an alternate dimension, she loses the ability to revert back, keeping her imprisoned inside a child’s body. Most of the main Black Hammer series shows Gail struggling with this dilemma.

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Other creators lending their talents to Visions include Geoff Johns, Chip Zdarsky, Cullen Bunn, Kelly Thompson, Mariko Tamaki, and Cecil Castellucci. Lemire also shared his excitement for the upcoming series in a new statement.

“As much as I love writing in the world of Black Hammer, it’s nothing compared to the thrill of seeing creators I admire bringing their voices to these characters that Dean and I created,” said Lemire.

“Getting to explore just one of the endless byways of the massive world of Black Hammer was a nerd-romp of the highest order,” added Oswalt. “I can’t wait for you guys to read this!”

Black Hammer: Visions #1 hits comic shops on February 10. You can check out three different covers for the first issue in the gallery below.

Are you excited to see what Oswalt and his fellow creators bring to the Black Hammer universe? Let us know in the comment section!

Recommended Reading – Black Hammer Volume 1: Secret Origins

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