By MICHAEL GINGOLD
The sequel saga of the murderous Frank Zito returns, with a never-before-seen chapter.
Eibon Press and Vinegar Syndrome have announced an April 1 release for MANIAC 2: ROADKILL, the official comic-book sequel to William Lustig’s cult-classic shocker starring Joe Spinell. Written by Stephen Romano and illustrated by Pat Carbajal, it will be available in a boxed set containing freshly minted and rebranded editions of each issue, with new pages, colors and graphic design, including the never-before-published issue #4. According to the PR, “The insane ongoing saga depicts ‘Maniac’ Frank Zito’s journey into madness, as he pursues his one true love Anna D’Antoni into the desert badlands of Arizona…only to discover he is not the only maniac out for blood!”
“The MANIAC sequel has been a long time in coming,” says Romano. “It’s a passion project we started many years ago but were never able to finish until Vinegar Syndrome stepped in to save it. And I have to tell you, it will be worth the wait. It is a sequel like no other and a bloodbath you will never forget.”
This limited release (1,500 units) will come in a two-part interlocking hard case, with the four individual comics inserted in exclusive Eibon sleeve jackets. Also included are a bunch of bonus items:
- One collector’s bookmark per issue, featuring art from the series
- Two collector’s trading cards per issue, with all-new portraits of the cast by Fangroia artist Puis Calzada
- One collector’s newsletter per issue, featuring all-new interviews with Caroline Munro and William Lustig and writing by former Fangoria editor Chris Alexander.
- One full-color character art print per issue, by series artist Pat Carbajal
- Two fold-out 11×17” posters exclusive to box set, with art by Pat Carbajal and Puis Calzada
- Each issue contains special behind-the-scenes extras, showing how the series was created
Retail price is $85.98; the set will be available on the 1st at the Vinegar Syndrome website.