Tony Fleecs To Take ‘Army Of Darkness Forever’ To The Alternate Future

Army of Darkness fans know about this bit of trivia. Some even have it on cherished home video releases of the third Evil Dead film. After conquering his adversaries and closing the Necronomicon, Ash Williams (Bruce Campbell) is instructed to take several drops of a sleeping potion that will allow him to Rip-Van-Winkle his way back to his own time. In the theatrical release of the film, Ash swallows the correct amount and fights a Deadite when he resumes his shift as S-Mart. But in the alternate ending, Ash takes one too many and awakens to a post-apocalypse 100 years in his future, setting up an Evil Dead 4 that, sadly, never came to pass.

But Stray Dogs’ Tony Fleecs has a few ideas about that burned-out future glimpsed only as a DVD bonus feature. According to Dynamite, he and artist Justin Greenwood will unveil Army of Darkness Forever this October. The series picks up in the immediate aftermath of Army of Darkness, but will jump between three timelines: the Techno Army of Darkness of 2093, the S-Mart back in 1993, and Castle Kandar as new chaos brews in the Middle Ages.

“It’s one of the great, all-time alternate takes,” Fleecs said of the alternate ending, deemed “too pessimistic” by the studio 30 years ago. “I remember the first time I saw it on DVD, my mind just exploding at the possibilities. Ash vs. the post-apocalypse?! But then the theatrical ending has that iconic action scene and last line: ‘Hail to the King, baby.’ So, you don’t want to lose that either.” His solution to making both endings canon should be interesting.

In addition to writing the series, Fleecs will provide covers alongside talent that includes Francesco Mattina, Arthur Suydam, and Nick Dragotta. Blank Authentix covers will also be available.

Also, to celebrate the recent 30th anniversary of the film — and 19 years since Dynamite entered the publishing arena with Army of Darkness #1 — the company will release Army of Darkness Movie Adaptation 30th Anniversary Edition and Army of Darkness 30th Anniversary Trading Cards. The former, written by brothers Sam and Ivan Raimi with painted interiors from John Bolton, was originally released in 1992. The new edition reprints the 80-page comic in its entirety with a Bruce Campbell interview conducted by Kurt Busiek.

The trading card set showcases the best Army of Darkness comic book art and photos, across an 18-card base set, chase cards including 6 signed cards, 9 movie photo cards, 9 line art cards, a 9-card puzzle set, and a special box-topper pack of 3 special cards. Hundreds of exclusive, hand-drawn, one-of-a-kind sketch cards are also included across packs, with a roster of “top artists.”

Army of Darkness Forever hits comic book shops in October.