Tyler Kirkham and Alé Garza, two longtime comic creators, have launched a new publishing company alongside retailer/publisher Shawn Hudachko, Artists Elite Comics, that will release its first project this summer.

Kirkham and Garza are introducing a new team of otherworldly superheroes in the upcoming Primer Red and Primer Blue specials, which release in June. Each release is a 26-page special preview issue with four pages of sketches, concepts and more focusing on each new character created by a handful of legendary artists.

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Primer Blue features characters such as SandWenches by Garza, Deathwatch by Chad Hardin, Red Ronin by Dexter Soy, Belong by Freddie Williams, Apotheosis by Jordan Gunderson and Final Boss by Kirkham. Primer Red highlights Mecha Girl by Alan Quah, Darkskulls by Ben Templesmith, Lost Serpent Prince by Brett Booth, Seraph and the Seven by Ryan Kincaid, Obina by Paolo Panalena and Karnal Confessions. Both specials have a main cover that connects to one another, as well as a separate 1:25 ratio variant cover.

"Artists Elite Comics was created by artists/writers for artists/writers," Kirkham told CBR. "A publishing house for creators to support each other through the creative process! A virtual bullpen! Some of us come from the studio environment where you are constantly trying to be your best and one-up the next artist. A competitive environment brings out the best in a creator. A lot of artists have amazing stories to tell but may not have a big-name writer to team up with. This is a perfect way for us to tell our stories and develop our own intellectual properties, while having the support of editors, designers, retailers and, of course, our peers. Wave one has brought 12 name industry creators together to showcase our own, original, creator-owned projects in a new pulp comic style magazine similar to Heavy Metal and foreign comics. Multiple stories and creators in each issue!"

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Kirkham has worked for Marvel, DC and a number of other publishers in the past. Some of his work includes Absolute Carnage vs. DeadpoolUltimate Fantastic FourX-Men: Phoenix, New Avengers/Transformers, Teen TitansEarth 2: World's EndDeathstrokeGreen Lantern: New Guardians and more. Garza has also previously worked for Marvel and DC. Some of his past work includes Infinity Wars: ArachknightBatgirlSupergirlSkye Runner and more.

Primer Red and Primer Blue release through Lunar Distribution. Preorders are available at Artists Elite Comics or by contacting local comic book shops. Both issues release on June 1. More information can be found at Artist Elite Comics.

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Source: Artists Elite Comics