Black Summer #0 – 7 (2007–2008)
Publisher: Avatar Press
Writer: Warren Ellis
Artist: Juan Jose Ryp
Editor: William A. Christensen
Genre: Superhero, Political Thriller, Science Fiction, Action
Summary:
Black Summer is a hard-hitting political superhero saga written by Warren Ellis and illustrated by Juan Jose Ryp, exploring the dark intersection between justice, power, and consequence. When John Horus, a member of the elite superhero team known as The Seven Guns, concludes that the President and his administration are war criminals, he takes matters into his own hands—violently. With the entire White House slaughtered, the nation is thrown into chaos.
This act turns his fellow heroes — some broken, some reclusive, and all now fugitives — into enemies of the state. As the government unleashes its full force to hunt them down, these former icons must decide whether to run, fight, or confront the ideals they once upheld. Black Summer dives deep into the moral decay of power and the line where justice ends and tyranny begins.
Main Characters:
- John Horus – The most powerful member of the Seven Guns, whose radical decision sets the story in motion.
- Tom Noir – Former tactician of the Guns, now a cynical drunk with a shattered past.
- Kathryn Artemis, Zoe Jump, Frank Blacksmith, Dominic Atlas Hyde – The remaining Guns members, each coping with the fallout in different, often tragic ways.
Themes & Tone:
The comic explores themes of vigilantism, political morality, justice vs. law, and the abuse of power. Expect intense action, philosophical debate, and heavy socio-political commentary wrapped in a gritty, dystopian atmosphere.
Short Description:
Black Summer by Warren Ellis and Juan Jose Ryp is a gripping political superhero thriller where justice turns deadly. When hero John Horus assassinates the U.S. President, his former teammates in The Seven Guns become fugitives in a nationwide manhunt. With explosive action and provocative themes, this Avatar Press series questions what happens when power answers only to itself.
