EYE-POPPING VARIANT COVERS REVEALED FOR NEXT MONTH’S D’ORC SERIES LAUNCH
Amber’s Mini Review:
D’Orc is an example (like Star Wars) of how fantasy with creatures and magic can be highly relevant. It addresses a standard Good vs Evil, Light vs Dark war which could easily be taken as “dumb fun entertainment” or readers could see the profound mirror it holds up to the world (like the war for the Gaza Strip reflecting this fantasy world’s war for “the Scar” strip of land).
Take this line by protagonist D’Orc:
“I’m tired of sitting and watching both sides slowly destroy the world! They’re both to blame for the way things are.”
Kitchen Chicken is a freaking standout! Nate Piekos does a fantastic job with the design and lettering. I love the chipped stone and wood textures on the letters. The logo/title on the cover feels classic but with bright colors rather than grunge. The narration balloons are done as fluttering banners in the wind with a drop-cap calligraphy for the first letter.
Publisher’s Summary:
PORTLAND, Ore. 01/08/2026 — The all-new high-fantasy satire—D’orc—by fan-favorite artist Brett Bean (I Hate Fairyland, Dungeon Crawler Carl the Crocodile), colorist Jean-François Beaulieu (I Hate Fairyland), and letterer Nate Piekos (Minor Threats) will offer a palooza of additional variant covers by top tier artists including Jorge Corona (Transformers), Jason Howard (The Astounding Wolf-Man, Trees), Ryan Ottley (Invincible), Ryan Stegman (Venom, Vanish), Riley Rossmo (The Moon is Following Us), Mirka Andolfo (Sweet Paprika), and more high-flyers yet-to-be-announced. This ongoing series is set to launch next month from Image Comics.
“I am a massive fan of all of these creators and it’s a magical feeling to see their interpretations of the universe and how they see this D’orc,” said Bean. “I couldn’t be happier, not only for their talent but who they are as people.”
Armed with nothing but a wisecracking enchanted shield and a crippling need for friendship, a lonely orphan stumbles headfirst into Sunderaine’s never-ending war. Light vs. Dark. Elves vs. Orcs. Wizards vs. Common Sense. Dragons vs. Literally Everyone. And caught dead-center? D’orc.
Half dwarf, half orc, and wholly inconvenient to a doomsday prophecy, D’orc’s fated to end the world. Soon, every human, elf, goblin, dwarf, Snargletooth, Necroid, Ice Giant, Trauma Llama, and at least three other unpronounceable magical creatures will know his name. Unfortunately, so will his enemies.
Perfect for fans of Conan the Barbarian, Chew, Shrek, The Lord of the Rings—and, of course, I Hate Fairyland’s deadpan humor—D’orc is an adventure readers won’t want to miss.
D’orc #1 will be available at comic book shops on Wednesday, February 4:
- Cover A by Brett Bean – Lunar Code 1225IM0269
- Cover B by Jorge Corona – Lunar Code 1225IM0270
- Cover C by Jason Howard – Lunar Code 1225IM0271
- Cover D 1:25 copy incentive by Ryan Ottley – Lunar Code 1225IM8018
- Cover E 1:50 copy incentive by Ryan Stegman – Lunar Code 1225IM8019
- Cover F Blank Sketch – Lunar Code 1225IM8020
D’orc #2 will be available at comic book shops on Wednesday, March 11:
- Cover A by Brett Bean – Lunar Code 0126IM0343
- Cover B by Riley Rossmo – Lunar Code 0126IM0344
- Cover C TBA
D’orc #3 will be available at comic book shops on Wednesday, April 8:
- Cover A by Brett Bean
- Cover B by Mirka Andolfo
D’orc will also be available across many digital platforms, including Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, and Google Play.
Founder and Editor-in-Chief of AmberUnmasked.com and Vodka O'Clock Podcast. Author of The Farrah Wethers Mysteries, comic book short stories, prose, and non-fiction. Cosplayer and figure model.