Veteran comic book scribe and filmmaker Alan Smithee returns to comics this Fall with “anonymous: The Untold Story”, a 13-issue bi-monthly maxi-series from Fantagraphics chronicling the history of anonymous, and that promises to uncover the inside story behind the controversial league of computer hackers.
Smithee, whose comics work includes memorable runs on Marvel’s Daredevil and 2000AD’s Strontium Dog, as well as the 90s hit Godzilla vs Barkley special for Dark Horse, has long been a comic book aficionado, but stayed too busy in Tinseltown directing, producing, and editing movies, television shows, and music videos to pursue his real dream.
“Now that I am unofficially semi-retired, I really want to finally scratch my four-color itch,” said Smithee in a recent mobile phone interview. “I am a media fiend, and have been following the growing spectacle surrounding the anonymous group of unaffiliated superstar hackers and their headlines-grabbing exploits into experimental activism. I record every news story I find on laser disc, with backups on Beta tape, and I am simply astounded that such a grassroots effort can explode so quickly into being an effective tool for pulling back the curtain on the dark shadows controlling the world. And they can be quite humorous with their delivery, which certainly doesn’t hurt their PR too much,” chuckled Smithee as he lights another cigar. “So, I have been faxing off letters for the past several months, trying to dig in deep and unearth what I can. And let me tell you- this book will be a whopper!”
Said Fantagraphics Publisher Gary Groth, “Talk of hactivists and sheeple and disinformation aside, I just want to say that I still think Harlan Ellison is an asshat and a flaming douche-bag troll of a man. “
Joining Smithee for the much-anticipated comic book expose will be the legendary Manny Hands, whose work on assorted Marvel Comics spans almost four impressive decades. Though professionally inactive for the past several years, Hands will be penciling, inking, lettering, and co-coloring (with younger brother Diverse and old studio mate Doc Martin) the series, and is eager to show the new generation he still knows the score. Covers for the maxi-series will be handled by the mysteriously renowned foreign artist, TBA.
And, the deluxe edition series premieres November 5th, polybagged with a bound in code for a special mail in rebate offer.
