by MATTHEW PRICE

From the Friday, July 1, 2022, edition of The Oklahoman

Several Oklahomans and former Oklahomans have comics and comics-related projects hitting shelves in the summer months. 

Sterling Gates, New York Times bestselling comic book creator and writer of TV series including “The Flash,” is a University of Oklahoma graduate and Tulsa native with a new story in the superhero prose anthology “Generation Wonder.” On sale this month, “Generation Wonder” is an anthology of thirteen superhero-related prose short stories edited by Barry Lyga and published by Amulet. 

Set for release in July is “Kung-Fu Legume” by Oklahoma City’s Michael Adams.

The comic book asks, what happens when a can of beans is jettisoned into space, bombarded by TV transmissions from the Kung Fu Network, then struck by lightning while hurtling to Earth? It’s kung-fu action with a superpowered bean in this comedic adventure from Keenspot.

Oklahoma City’s Literati Press continues to expand, with multiple releases this summer. June saw the release of the collected edition of “Glamorella’s Daughter.” This series by writer Charles J. Martin and artist Jerry Bennett is the story of a brilliant neuro-diverse girl with a superhero mother. 

On July 20, the publisher will drop a collected edition of season one of “The Black-Jack Demon” by Nick Hermes. The series follows young Silas across the Old West in search of the stranger that brutally murdered his father after destroying their family mine. The publisher will have a crowdfunding campaign for a special edition of this release via the Zoop platform at https://zoop.gg/c/theblackjackdemon

Also set for a July 20 release is “Haunted, Beloved.” This one-shot marks the return of Tulsa writer-artist Natasha Alterici to interior drawing after she developed severe carpal tunnel syndrome working on the second volume of “Heathen.” According to Literati, Alterici was able to get corrective surgery in October 2021 and was then able to work on the supernatural tale “Haunted, Beloved.” 

Matthew Price, matthew@matthewlprice.com, has written about the comics industry for more than two decades. He is the co-owner of Speeding Bullet Comics in Norman.