Home › Comics › downthetubes Comics News › European comic album model inspires new Binge Books “Heroes Union” title, created by US comic industry legends Roger Stern, Ron Frenz and Sal Buscema

European comic album model inspires new Binge Books “Heroes Union” title, created by US comic industry legends Roger Stern, Ron Frenz and Sal Buscema

By John Freeman on May 21, 2021

Acclaimed writer Roger Stern (The Avengers, Captain America) has joined forces with celebrated artists Ron Frenz (Thor, The Amazing Spider-Man) and Sal Buscema (Captain America, The Defenders) to chronicle the explosive journey of a marvelous new generation of superheroes in The Heroes Union #1.

Debuting 4th August 2021, this is the first of several planned releases to be made available as a modernised, Binge Books edition.

As we previously reported, Binge Books has also published comics that include Super ‘Suckers, The Blue Baron and Telepathetic.

The Binge Books project is the brainchild of veteran TV writer Darin Henry, who many will recognise for his work on shows such as Seinfeld and Futurama, and British comedy shows such as My Family. He also wrote The Game, a Doctor Who audio drama starring the Fifth Doctor, Peter Davison.

The books are tailored for today’s audiences used to “bingeing” their favourite content, so at 68 pages, The Heroes Union #1 will be longer than the average American comic, allowing for the complete, family-friendly adventure to be released all at once as a standalone story for $4.99.

In addition to their length, Binge Books have a number of other attributes that make them unique in the comic space. The Heroes Union #1 reunites Stern and Frenz, the creative team behind the iconic Spider-Man story, “The Kid Who Collects Spider-Man,” (The Amazing Spider-Man #248). By special arrangement with the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, The Heroes Union #1 will be the first comic in over a decade to feature the official Comics Code Authority Seal and each copy will also be uniquely numbered for collectors.

The publisher has hinted that some of these numbered variants may eventually entitle their owners to additional perks, but further details have not yet been revealed.

With an action-packed, engrossing story featuring compelling new superheroes with names such as ‘Startup,’ ‘Windfall,’ ‘Protégé’ and more, The Heroes Union #1 will also offer adults a unique way to teach children about business.

Writer/publisher Darin Henry began his sitcom writing career in 1995 as a staff writer on the Emmy-Winning ABC sitcom Muppets Tonight. Since then he has written for over a dozen series in the US and the UK including Seinfeld, Futurama, My Family, Grosse Pointe, Hotel Babylon, The War At Home and The Ellen Show.

“Like millions of other kids, I grew up devouring comics by Roger Stern, Ron Frenz and Sal Buscema, so to have some of the 20th Century’s greatest creators introducing readers to the 21st Century’s greatest heroes is a personal and professional dream come true,” he explains. “I was inspired to create Binge Books by European comic albums like TinTin and Asterix because I wanted to publish affordable graphic novellas for US readers to enjoy.”

• The Heroes Union #1, and other soon-to-be-announced Binge Books releases, will all be distributed by Diamond Comics | More information at sitcomics.net

The Heroes Union #1
Written by Roger Stern, Art by Ron Frenz (p), Sal Buscema (i), Chris Nye (i), Cover by Ron Frenz (p) & Brett Breeding (i)
Distributed by Diamond Comics | Order Code: JUN211347
On Sale 8/4/2021
68 Pages | All Ages | $4.99

Naucrate the Auteur Cosmic — half the universe celebrates her genius, the other half cowers before her world-shattering power. And the only ones who can stop her are Earth’s foremost super-group… The Heroes Union! Legendary creators Roger Stern (The Avengers), Ron Frenz (Thor) and Sal Buscema (Captain America) unite to chronicle the adventures of a marvelous new generation of heroes in a cosmic epic bursting with so many breathtaking twists and thrills, it should probably come with seat belts!

This 68-page, standalone story introduces all-new 21st Century Heroes in an exciting new, square-bound “Binge Book” format!

John Freeman

The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.

He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.