Book Prize winning writer Alex Segura (Secret Identity) and acclaimed writer and Best Issue Ever podcaster Sara Century will team up with fan-favorite artists Pat Kennedy (Archie) and Dean Kotz (Rocketeer) for a fresh new spin on superheroes in the upcoming The Forgotten Five. This all-new, ongoing series was first announced in an exclusive scoop atCBR last week and is set to launch this December from Image Comics.
“The Forgotten Five is a potent blend of all the kinds of comics and adventures Sara, Pat, Dean, and I loved growing up—with a decidedly modern twist,” said Segura. “The kind of long-running series with simmering subplots, outcast teen angst, and terrifying powers that we were addicted to as readers ourselves. If the New Mutants were an indie comic, you’d have The Forgotten Five.”
The series will also boast eye-popping variant cover art by Nickolej Villiger (Little Moons, The Spirit of Denendeh), Michel Fiffe (Copra), Inkpot Award winning Jerry Ordway (Crisis on Infinite Earths, Superman), and Kotz himself.
Kotz added: “Like most kids in the Eighties, I started with Marvel and DC superhero comics. Their sprawling, interconnected stories (and backstories!) completely captured my imagination. Then I discovered indie comics, and those quickly became my favorites. They were personal and raw, and you’d find the creators’ fingerprints in every panel. With The Forgotten Five, we’re bringing both styles of storytelling together. It’s an indie book infused with superhero DNA.”
Decades ago, five teens with strange powers barely managed to escape the clutches of a shadowy organization known as The Contingency. Aided by former Contingency agent Polly Napier and her partner Gilly Stokes, they became The Five: a team of freedom-fighting outcasts!
Years later, with the Contingency defeated, The Five have grown up and moved on, leaving the world-saving to new teams of heroes across the country. But when rumors of their old foes begin to resurface, can the Forgotten Five cast off their civilian lives in order to reconnect and resume the fight?
“Superhero movies always make having super powers look so epic and heroic, but I assume having superpowers would be a monkey’s paw situation that would cause endless unforeseen problems,” said Century. “We wanted to use non-linear storytelling to show how being reluctant heroes sort of derailed these characters’ lives over decades. This whole creative team loves superhero fights, but we might love drama even more, so that makes The Forgotten Five basically a soap opera with explosions.”
The Forgotten Five #1 will be available at comic book shops on Wednesday, December 16:
- Cover A by Villiger – UPC: 70985304966100111
- Cover B by Kotz – UPC: 70985304966100121
- Cover C by Fiffe – UPC: 70985304966100131
- Cover D by Ordway – UPC: 70985304966100141
The Forgotten Five #1 will also be available across many digital platforms, including Amazon Kindle, Google Play, Apple’s iBooks, Barnes & Noble’s Nook, Scribd’s Everand, Kobo, Overdrive, Hoopla, Sweet app, Comic Plus, and more.
Early praise for The Forgotten Five:
“The Forgotten Five is a throwback to the super powered team books of spinner racks gone by. Not sure why they went away or where they’ve been—but I’m glad to have this flavor of teen angst back!” —Gerry Duggan, Deadpool, Marauders, X-Men
“A love letter to team superhero books that makes you root for the misfits and outliers trying to find their place and purpose in the world. The layering of time—and the new challenge of old threats, previous loyalties, and complicated interpersonal relationships—adds a whole other perspective that makes this not just a delight but an epic.” —Benjamin Percy, The Ninth Metal, Thrill Me, Wolverine, Ghost Rider, The Punisher
“The show’s over, the bar’s closed, and the music has dimmed to a tinny whisper. The floor is stick with spilled beer and littered with crushed cups; artifacts of a good time, now passed. The Forgotten Five evokes a different era, masterfully weaving a melancholy music-infused superhero story that bounces between both its varied eras and myriad characters with the ease of a meandering hang. Don’t miss it.” —Chris Condon, That Texas Blood, The Enfield Gang Massacre, Of the Earth, News from the Fallout
“Half X-Men, half Love & Rockets and all heart! The Forgotten Fiveserves government conspiracies, cosmic mystery, and high-key soap opera behind a stylish veil of weirdness!” —Spencer Ackerman, Iron Man, No One Escapes The Dialectic
“Superheroes with a sharp indie edge, Segura, Century and Kennedy infuse the familiar with a nervous jolt of energy! You’re going to remember The Forgotten Five!” —Fabian Nicieza, Deadpool, X-Force, Cable, X-Men, Thunderbolts
“I really enjoyed The Forgotten Five. I love Kennedy’s art style and distinct visual language, and it fits so well with how Segura and Century tell the story. I want to know more about the world and the characters! What is awoken? What made the group disband? Who is Polly? I can’t wait to read more!” —Stephanie Williams, Any Given Smile, Roots of Madness, Wonder Woman
“An intricate sprawl of memorable names and unforgettable faces, a web of characters who already feel like they have decades of history. This is a kind of book you just don’t see on shelves anymore; like the Hernández brothers and Chris Claremont went on a once-in-a-lifetime bender, and had to walk off the hangover together. Not to be missed.” —Connor Goldsmith, Did You Hear About Mimi Green?
