Husbands: The Comic

Husbands: The Comic is a digital comic book series published by Dark Horse Comics. The series serves as a canonical continuation of the acclaimed newlywed sitcom Husbands, following the events of its third season, and is written by the television series’ creators Brad Bell and Jane Espenson. The storyline follows Cheeks and Brady after they receive a mysterious wedding present, which sets in motion a chain of events, thematic to the rabbit hole metaphor. It was ultimately collected in a hardcover edition, released on March 27, 2013.

Husbands: The Comic
Art by Ron Chan
Publication information
PublisherDark Horse Comics
ScheduleWeekly
FormatLimited series
Genre
Publication dateOctober 24, 2012 – November 28, 2012
No. of issues6
Creative team
Created byBrad Bell
Jane Espenson
Written byBrad Bell
Jane Espenson
Penciller(s)Ron Chan
Natalie Nourigat
M. S. Corley
Benjamin Dewey
Tania del Rio
Letterer(s)Nate Piekos
Collected editions
HardcoverISBN 978-1-61655-130-8

Development

An announcement at the 2012 Dragon Con revealed that an exclusive digital comic book series, based on the newlywed sitcom Husbands, would be released on October 24, 2012, published by Dark Horse Comics, featuring art by Ron Chan, Natalie Nourigat, M. S. Corley, Benjamin Dewey and Tania del Rio.[1][2][3] In early 2013, a hardcover edition was released,[4][5] featuring an introduction by Neil Gaiman.[6]

Jane Espenson explains that "[Husbands] is set in a marriage-equalized world, so it's already got a hint of an alternate-universe thing going on".[7] Reiterating that sentiment, she goes on to say, "the comic books are going to totally dive into a whole [alternate-universe] premise. So we're going from genre-curious to full-on genre!"[8] Brad Bell elaborated, "I wanted to make sure we translated Husbands into something worthy of the comic realm. It’s not some sort of trans-media marketing ploy. I think fans of comics and fans of Husbands will enjoy it". Bell obtained inspiration from the feature film Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, saying that he "thought it was an incredible interpretation of comics on the screen". This developed into an affinity for the comic book writing style.[9]

Espenson and Bell felt that an allegorical examination of the story would lend itself to find aspects of realism in its metaphors, which would give them a framing device to connect the alternate universes, to which Bell continued, "would be a way to explore a bunch of different universes with a bunch of different stories while still connecting it". Espenson determined that, even though "each comic is a discrete adventure", there is "always one or two threads that tie into the larger mythology". In conclusion, she equated its overall paradigm with the type of serialized storytelling employed by the reimagined Battlestar Galactica series.[10]

Publication

Issues
TitleIssue #Release date
"Drawn In"1October 24, 2012
Writers: Brad Bell & Jane EspensonPenciller: Ron Chan
Cheeks, Brady Kelly and Haley are launched into an alternate universe, where they have no memories of the past. Supervillain Chet Deckfin, depicted as Cheeks, poses a threat to superhero Light Fantastic, depicted as Brady, in the search for hexagonal diamonds.
"The Well-Intentioned-but-Oblivious Prince and the Justifiably Belligerent Peasant OR Equally Ever After"2October 31, 2012
Writers: Brad Bell & Jane EspensonPenciller: Natalie Nourigat
Through a vortex of time, they are spun farther out of reality, into The Middle Ages. Prince Arden, depicted as Brady, kidnaps Cheekston, depicted as Cheeks. He does this in order to make Cheekston his consort. However, when Cheekston declines, he is imprisoned in the royal castle, forced to plan his escape.
"A Case of Assumption"3November 7, 2012
Writers: Jane Espenson & Brad BellPenciller: M.S. Corley
Detective Winston Chess and Colonel Bradon, depicted as Cheeks and Brady respectively, venture into a situation involving the murder of a landlord and a missing gem. They investigate the mystery, encountering obstacles to defeat as a means to solve the puzzle.
"Nocte Machinas"4November 14, 2012
Writers: Brad Bell & Jane EspensonPenciller: Benjamin Dewey
In a post-apocalyptic universe where a perpetual war called Nocte Machinas continues on, Chipper Twee, depicted as Cheeks, and Blaze Hull, depicted as Brady, have fled away from the strife. Faced with an opportunity to stop the warfare, they carry out the fortuitous assignment in hope that it will succeed.
"Arch Nemesis"5November 21, 2012
Writers: Brad Bell & Jane EspensonPenciller: Tania del Rio
Upon hearing a rumor that his boyfriend Chick, depicted as Cheeks, was unfaithful, Brick, depicted as Brady, confronts him about it. Their friend, depicted as Haley, reasons that the gossip is unfounded. With an appetite for revenge, Chick and Brick join together to plot against the one who spread the lie.
"Agent Secrets"6November 28, 2012
Writer: Brad BellPenciller: Ron Chan
In St. Petersburg, secret agent Austin Chase, depicted as Cheeks, and secret agent Brink, depicted as Brady, searches for two Egyptian royal rings, rumored to endow ancient powers to anyone who wears them. Serpentina, depicted as Haley, kidnaps secret agent Chase as a way to get the rings for herself.

Accolades
Year Award Result Reference
2013 The Geekie Award for Best Writing Nominated [11]
2013 The Geekie Award for Most Original Concept Nominated
2014 GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Comic Book Nominated [12]

References
  1. Jane Espenson's 'Husbands' Gets Comical, splashpage.mtv.com, November 26, 2012, retrieved November 14, 2012
  2. Wright, Eddie (September 7, 2012), Dark Horse Bringing Jane Espenson's 'Husbands' To Comics, geek-news.mtv.com, retrieved November 14, 2012
  3. Villagomez, Andrew (November 24, 2012), EXCLUSIVE: First Look At 'Husbands' Comics, out.com, retrieved November 14, 2012
  4. Khouri, Andy (November 6, 2012), Jane Espenson & Brad Bell's 'Husbands' Sends Same-Sex Heroes Through Time and Space, comicsalliance.com, archived from the original on November 9, 2012, retrieved November 14, 2012
  5. CBR TV @ NYCC: Espenson & Bell on "Husbands," Money and Agendas, comicbookresources.com, November 1, 2012, retrieved November 14, 2012
  6. Langshaw, Mark (December 6, 2012), 'Husbands' collected by Dark Horse Comics, digitalspy.co.uk, retrieved November 28, 2013
  7. Carter, Ricky (September 7, 2012), The GLAAD Wrap: Keep the Lights On Opens, In The Life Ending, and Melissa Etheridge's New Album, glaad.org, retrieved November 14, 2012
  8. Townsend, Megan (October 24, 2012), Husbands Digital Comic Spinoff Releases First Installment 'Drawn In', glaad.org, retrieved October 25, 2012
  9. Portwood, Jerry (September 5, 2012), EXCLUSIVE: 'Husbands' Comic Art Revealed, out.com, retrieved November 14, 2012
  10. Kennedy, Ed (October 24, 2012), It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's "Husbands the Comic!", afterelton.com, archived from the original on October 26, 2012, retrieved November 14, 2012
  11. "Comic Book & Graphic Novels". thegeekieawards.com. Archived from the original on June 17, 2013. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
  12. "GLAAD Media Awards Nominees". glaad.org. Retrieved January 30, 2014.
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