For immediate release
For further info, contact Jeff Parker parker@undergroundthecomic.com

Portland’s Parker, Lieber, and Chan team up to go UNDERGROUND.

As Warner Brothers gears up to release their adaptation of the graphic novel WHITEOUT, its Eisner Award-winning illustrator STEVE LIEBER returns to comics with a new serialized thriller from Image Comics, pairing with acclaimed writer JEFF PARKER (AGENTS OF ATLAS, EXILES) and color artist Ron Chan (Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic.) All three work together as members of Periscope Studio, located in Portland, Oregon.

Park Ranger and avid caver Wesley Fischer is on a one-woman mission to stop Stillwater Cave from being turned into a tourist trap, but public opinion is not on her side. When locals begin blasting in the cave, Wes and a fellow ranger investigate – and a confrontation spirals into a deadly chase deep under the Kentucky mountains!

“This is a fast, tough story about people who have been pushed into tight corners — both ethical and literal,” Parker said. “None of them knew they were about to be caught up in a life or death struggle, it’s a situation that has spiraled out of control.” Of his collaborator, Parker said, “I’ve known Steve Lieber for years and he’s the best at this. No one can put the real world on the comics page the way he does. He draws real people and puts them in real danger.”

Lieber was equally enthusiastic about his collaborators. “Jeff Parker’s built an enormous fan-following at Marvel Comics based on his wild imagination and snappy, hilarious dialogue, but this will show another side of his talent. In UNDERGROUND, he’s crafted a scenario that’s all about tension, danger, and the consequences of a couple of bad choices. And Ron Chan’s color is second to none. The three of us work right next to each other at Periscope, so it’s a seamless collaboration.”

Periscope Studio is the largest studio of freelance comic book artists in North America. “We’re one of the secrets of Portland’s creative class.” Lieber said, “There are twenty of us here, and we’ve worked on just about every comic book character you’ve ever heard of.  The breadth of comics talent in Portland is incredible, and Periscope has been able to bring aboard the best of the best.  Parker added, “Despite being in the same space, we usually all work on different projects. Our studio was founded in 2001, but UNDERGROUND is the first all-Periscope comic.”

UNDERGROUND #1 is published by Image Comics and retails for $3.50. It has 22 pages of full-color story and art, and will arrive in comic book stores September 23. It contains harsh language and mature situations. Preview it at undergroundthecomic.com

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