Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.  June 11, 2014 – Von Allan, an Ottawa-based artist and comics creator, is using the action and adventure comics genre to deliver some real-world commentary in his brand new series, “Metal Gods.”  Unlike many other mediums, comics are generally perceived as being approachable and accessible, which makes them perfect for talking about contemporary issues; often the best stories are the ones that speak to the reader and are grounded in reality even as they entertain.  The first issue of “Metal Gods,” in a digital-first format, arrives on the popular comics platform comiXology, through comiXology Submit, on June 11, 2014.

“In 'Metal Gods,' I really want to play with comic book action and adventure tropes but I also want to write stories connected to the real world.” said Allan.  “I love the classic silver-age Marvel comics work by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, and Steve Ditko, who wrote stories that lived right in the contemporary zeitgeist of 1960s America.  Their stories took place in real time with the characters living in real cities, ageing, and going through the same things at the same time as their readers.  And the stories were grounded but also filled with action, adventure, and escapism.  I'm very pleased that 'Metal Gods' is in the same vein.  My characters will be dealing with the reality of life in 2014 but, at the same time, they'll be laughing a lot, loving each other, and running from a whole lot of villains and monsters.”

“Metal Gods” is the action/adventure story of two ordinary people dragged away from their everyday life of work, school, and bills into a fight against evil.  The story is set in modern-day Ottawa and follows Nick Connelly, a mechanic, and his girlfriend, Louella “Lou” Amos, a university student, whose lives are fairly ordinary until Nick's parents vanish.  Nick and Lou set out to find them, expecting yet another church or pyramid scheme, only to realize that the situation is far more serious.  Nick and Lou must find a way to defeat zealous cultists, supernaturally altered humans, well-armed thugs, and a powerful corporation, as they attempt to save his parents and possibly even the world.  “Metal Gods” is a series about personal strength, good and evil, and persistence in the face of huge odds.

“I love the themes of heavy metal,” Allan continued.  “Album cover art, demonic entities, kick-ass heroes, and the working class theme that was especially evident in the early days of metal.  Putting that into comic book form is a challenge, but something that I've been wanting to do for a few years now.  And 'Metal Gods' as a series is approachable enough that someone doesn't need to be a fan of metal to enjoy each issue; they'll have fun with it no matter what.  On top of it, my last few graphic novels have all featured kids and teens and, though I loved doing the all-ages work, it's been a lot of fun to spend time with grown-up characters.  I get a kick out of writing a tough-guy adult main character in Nick and an equally strong female one in Lou.  And even Nick and Lou themselves are really part of the modern zeitgeist with their bi-racial relationship, equal partnership, odd jobs, and economic and school worries.”

“Metal Gods” has an ISSN of 2292-7654, ISBNs of 978-0-9781237-6-5 (Issue 1) and 978-0-9781237-7-2 (Issue 2), a suggested retail price of $0.99 US per issue, and is presented in full colour. 

About Von Allan: Von Allan has been living and breathing comics in the Great White North for a number of years and has built an active and well-respected presence in the larger comics community. He has written, pencilled, and inked a number of short stories and two full-length, original graphic novels.  Both books were well received by fans, retailers, and critics and continue to sell today:  “the road to god knows...,” the heartwarming story of a teenager growing up with a schizophrenic mother; and “Stargazer,” an all-ages sci-fi/fantasy adventure.

About ComiXology: ComiXology has revolutionized the comic book and graphic novel industry by delivering a cloud-based digital comics platform that makes discovering, buying, and reading comics more fun than ever before. ComiXology’s Guided View™ reading technology transforms the comic book medium into an immersive and cinematic experience, helping comiXology become a top ten grossing iPad app in 2011 and 2012 and the top grossing non-game iPad app in 2012 and 2013. Offering the broadest library of comic book content from over 75 publishers – and independent creators as well – comiXology will not stop until everyone on the face of the planet has become a comic book fan. ComiXology is based in New York City, with an office in Los Angeles. For more information visit www.comixology.com.