Ripperman Graphic Novel Hits catalogs

Posted: Wednesday, July 28, 2004
Posted By: Shawn Patty

Chanting Monks Press brings more mainstream project to retailers.

From the publisher who brought you the unrelenting anthology Sex Crimes, and published the stories "The Party's Over"(surrounding a high school party and sexual assault with devastating consequences) and the tale "Brutal" (which Johnny Butane of Creature Corner claimed "...made me feel unclean...") comes...a new mainstream graphic novel?

Chanting Monks Press puts out its second title in less than a year designed to satisfy readers and retailers alike when Joe Martino's much-anticipated graphic novel, Ripperman, hits stands this October. The release coincides with other Chanting Monks horror Halloween offerings and introduces Martino's serial killer for serial killers, title character Ripperman.

Following on the heels of last January's Zacherley's Midnite Terrors, CMP President Joe Monks explained the offering: "We're still doing a load of very edgy, in-your-face material. Sex Crimes II, a zombie book to be released in the spring, things like that. But this kind of title is reminiscent of those big Marvel double-issues in the 70s and 80s, but with an edgier theme. This is the kind of book that retailers can rack along those Punisher-gone-wild kind of excursions into anti-hero territory. It has some gruesome imagery and themes, but it is mainstream enough to sit out there on a shelf with Conan and Steve Niles' books and other Image and DC books."

Ripperman tells the story of a stranger come to town just as a mysterious series of child abductions begins. Befriended by a local preacher who believes in him, the amnesia-suffering protagonist begins a journey towards finding out not only his own origin, but whether or not he might be the fiend stalking the small town. The book is part tense action-thriller and part adventure, with the underlying back story drawing the reader in to join in the search for who Ripperman really is.

Monks has made advance copies of the entire book available to retailers. To view a copy, please contact him via e-mail at: editor@chantingmonks.com.

Having the book in the can and ready to ship is a big bonus for the publisher, and will allow retailers to take advantage of a product they can see in its entirety. With stunning covers by painters Jeff Pittarelli and Ben Templesmith to bookmark interiors that feature art by Martino, Peter Palmiotti, Naser Subashi, Rick Buckler Jr., John Orlando and others, Monks expects the readership that favors Image and Marvel titles to typical Chanting Monks fare to be both pleasantly surprised. "It isn't the overly heavy greytoned, mood pieces we usually do. It has a distinct traditional flair and people who have read it liken it to books they read growing up, but with edgier subject matter and better storytelling."

Among the early critical acclaim for the project comes this, from Chris Delloiacono of 411Mania.com: "I must say that I was extremely impressed! The book evoked a lot of my favorites and did something totally new as well. It had a feeling of Ennis' Preacher, but also a '70's Marvel feel as well. I loved the theological aspects. "

Fletch Adams from comicskins.com offered: "I was surprised by how much I actually enjoyed the character of Ripperman. Typically, I don't care for anti-heroes, but Martino does a very good job of giving his character depth."

To order Ripperman through your local retailer, you can use the order code: AUG042576 RIPPERMAN GN (MR). And, if your local retailer isn't planning on ordering Ripperman? "With the ordering code and your business at stake, your retailer should be happy to put your request in for a copy," noted Monks. Ripperman is 64 pages, painted covers by Ben Templesmith and Jeff Pittarelli, graphic novel format, $5.95 USA.

For additional information you can go to www.jgmcomics.com or www.chantingmonks.com.

For a 5 page preview you can click here.

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