David Avallone Crafts Multiversal Magic With Classic Characters in 'Altered States: Warlords'

Dynamite Entertainment announces a mind-bending, multiversal masterpiece starting this June, as Altered States: Warlords brings together some of the publisher's biggest stars for a crossover epic by David Avallone (Elvira Mistress of the Dark, Bettie Page) and Mariano Benitez-Chapo.

Welcome to Altered States... Dynamite Entertainment's daring take on parallel realities, alternate tales, and unexpected outcomes in the vein of beloved brands like What If? and Elseworlds. Avallone and company are ready to ramp things up for readers with the most ambitious story in the line to date!

Red Sonja, the She-Devil of Hyrkania, suddenly finds herself far away from the familiar Hyborean lands — transported to the ruby sands of Barsoom, or as Earth-readers know it, Mars. What follows will set up events that ripple across time and space, drawing in additional legendary heroes from all across the galaxy.

John Carter and Dejah Thoris, known as veritable Warlords of Mars, will expectedly leave their mark in this story. Meanwhile, another beloved Edgar Rice Burroughs icon in Tarzan, the Lord of the Jungle comes directly from Earth into this tale. Last but certainly not least, a native of the mysterious planet Drakulon will join the fray — Vampirella!

"[Editor] Joe Rybandt asked me if I’d be interested in doing an Altered States series using Dynamite characters, all centered around Barsoom – the Mars of Edgar Rice Burroughs. That sounded like a whole lot of fun, and right up my alley," said writer David Avallone. "My first thought was ‘Red Sonja: Warlord of Mars.’ Red knocks over the first domino, so to speak, challenging the cult of the Holy Therns at its founding, and setting off a whole alternative timeline where John Carter isn’t the first human from Earth to reach Barsoom… with seismic repercussions for Martian culture, religion, and society. Naturally the Therns, and their goddess Issus, are none too happy about that. Over the course of the series we’ll see how that affects Carter’s arrival and reception, and new adventures with Edgar Rice Burroughs' jungle lord Tarzan and a mysterious princess from the planet Drakulon — you know her as Vampirella — as they all find their way to the Red Planet."

Writer David Avallone is renowned for his seamless voices for wise-cracking heroines like Elvira and Bettie Page, as well as a pulse for pulp. He reunites for Altered States: Warlords with rising star artist Mariano Benitez-Chapo. The Argentinian-turned-Philadelphian grad of The Kubert School is stepping up for his biggest project yet, following a string of Savage Tales specials with Avallone.

The series is complemented with a range of gorgeous variant covers pulled from across the worlds of Altered States. Superstars Joseph Michael Linsner and Mike Rooth wow with covers showcasing the She-Devil in the first issue, with other characters to follow. Benitez-Chapo contributes covers on each issue, all designed to connect with each other. Note that final covers for subsequent issues will be in full color, his stunning pencil and ink work is being showcased, and variants will also be available presenting his work in that manner. Cosplayer Jackie Goehner features on a photo cover, complete with an impressive axe. 

The first issue will also be available through a mystery blind bag release. This offering includes three separate versions of the issue, pulled randomly from a range of virgin, lineart, and other premium books for collectors.