Phillip Kennedy Johnson Pens CROCODILE BLACK–Newest Original at BOOM! Studios
A New Pandemic- Era Crime Thriller Arrives May 2024
Eisner-nominated writer Phillip Kennedy Johnson (Incredible Hulk) and rising star artist SOM (Brigands) give birth to an iconic new noir lead in the macabre new thriller CROCODILE BLACK at BOOM! Studios in May 2024.
What makes someone turn to crime–especially in a modern, pandemic-riddled dystopia?
During the height of the 2020 COVID-19 Pandemic, Danny–a seemingly mundane young man lost in escapism with a spiraling lack of control over his life–sees something during a delivery job that will change him forever, turning his life as dark as the black, crocodile-skin boots he can’t take his eyes off of…
“Crocodile Black is a story about dark reinvention. It’s about hidden trauma, unchecked obsession, the power that masks give us, and a dead man’s black crocodile-skin boots. It’s about a COVID-era kid with no prospects finding something he never knew he wanted, and using it to become someone he never knew he wanted to be: a dangerous man.
“At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, I was fascinated with how many people left behind jobs they hated or college programs they were never that interested in, and pursued paths they’d been afraid to before. Crocodile Black is a thought-provoking, disturbing take on that phenomenon. It’s a story I hope will leave readers asking themselves, “Given the opportunity, could I be capable of great things, too… or terrible things?”
“Som is a visionary, a genius of an artist. He was the only choice to draw Crocodile Black. Much of Som’s work illustrates the otherworldly or grotesque violently intruding on reality, which we really wanted to capture for this story. I routinely get art back from Som with elements that are so distinct or haunting that it impacts the way I write for him going forward. More than any other, that kind of collaboration is the reason I love the medium like I do. Som is a joy to work with, and I’m beyond excited for readers to experience Crocodile Black,” said series writer Phillip Kennedy Johnson.
“I found Crocodile Black to be a harrowing tale of immoral dissent triggered by PTSD and blended with the cold narration style of contemporary American Crime fiction. It strikes a delicate balance between mayhem and sanity which I often try to capture in my works. And having lived the dysphoria that COVID-19 was, who wouldn’t want to talk about the time that changed us. Needless to say, I just had to grab this.
“It was Philip’s writing that pulled me in. He has an incredible understanding of the medium and creates brutally harrowing moments page after page with such aplomb, that it becomes a joyride for someone like me. It pushes me to create visuals that could do justice to the writing. I truly hope this labour of love fascinates you all the same way it fascinates us. “People at BOOM! were an absolute treat to work with. Ramiro understands an artist’s creative approach, and went out of his way to give me the time I needed to visualise the story. So thrilled to be a part of this series.” said series artist SOM.
CROCODILE BLACK #1 will be available in comic shops May 8, 2024. It is available for pre-order at your local comic shop. Digital copies can be purchased from content providers, including Kindle, iBooks, and Google Play.
About Phillip Kennedy Johnson:
Phillip Kennedy Johnson is an Eisner-nominated writer and musician living in the Washington, DC/Baltimore region. Best known for his work on Superman, Incredible Hulk, Alien, Green Lantern, and 007, his stories have been published by DC, Marvel, BOOM! Studios, Archaia, Dynamite, IDW, Aftershock, and Scout Comics. He is the creator of comic series The Fellspyre Chronicles, Last Sons of America, Warlords of Appalachia, Smoketown, and more. Find Phillip on Instagram, Twitter, Threads, and Bluesky at @phillipkjohnson, or at PhillipKennedyJohnson.com.
About SOM:
SOM is a Superani artist based out of Mumbai, India. He works primarily in animation, VFX and film. With Crocodile Black he makes a return to his first true love, comics. It also marks his debut into international comics. Find SOM on Instagram under the obscure handle @old_qfwfq, a tribute to a writer he deeply admires.
CROCODILE BLACK is the newest release from BOOM! Studios’ eponymous imprint, home to critically acclaimed original series, including BRZRKR by Keanu Reeves, Matt Kindt, and Ron Garney; Something is Killing the Children by James Tynion IV and Werther Dell’Edera; Grim by Stephanie Phillips and Flaviano; Stuff of Nightmares by R.L. Stine and A.L. Kaplan; Damn Them All by Simon Spurrier and Charlie Adlard; Once Upon a Time at the End of the World by Jason Aaron, Alexandre Tefenkgi, Leila del Duca, and Nick Dragotta; Know Your Station by Sarah Gailey and Liana Kangas; A Vicious Circle by Mattson Tomlin and Lee Bermejo; The Neighbors by Jude Ellison S. Doyle and Letizia Cadonici; Ghostlore by Cullen Bunn and Leomacs; Sirens of the City by Joanne Starer and Khary Randolph; Coda by Simon Spurrier and Matías Bergara; Rare Flavours by Ram V and Filipe Andrade; Underheist by David and Maria Lapham; and Animal Pound by Tom King and Peter Gross. The imprint also publishes popular licensed properties, including Dune: House Harkonnen from Brian Herbert, Kevin J. Anderson, and Michael Shelfer; Mighty Morphin Power Rangers by Melissa Flores and Simona Di Gianfelice; and The Expanse: Dragon Tooth by Andy Diggle and Rubine.
