'First Degree' - Acclaimed Graphic Novel Publisher Humanoids Assembles A Thrilling Team of International Talent for Crime Noir Anthology

First Degree: A Crime Anthology, is a book that puts the spotlight on crime noir and features dozens of short graphic stories from a variety of talent from around the globe.

Here's the full press release, courtesy of Humanoids and Superfan Promotions:

First Degree
Acclaimed Graphic Novel Publisher
Humanoids
Assembles A Thrilling Team
of International Talent
Including David F. Walker
David Aja, and Dozens More
for a Crime Noir Anthology

Humanoids, the acclaimed graphic novel publisher, has assembled a thrilling roster of international creators, including David F. Walker (Bitter Root) and David Aja (Hawkeye, The Seeds), for an anthology that puts the spotlight on crime noir. FIRST DEGREE: A CRIME ANTHOLOGY will feature dozens of short crime noir stories from a variety of talent from around the globe, as well as art by Michael Lark (Gotham Central, Lazarus) and cover art from Aja.A woman lures her husband and his secret lover to an abandoned house. Something sinister is happening inside the convent. A chef commits the perfect murder. In this anthology, a collective of almost thirty authors from all over the globe propose a collection of short crime noir stories that celebrates the genre as well as boldly leading it into the future.

The full list of contributors includes David F. Walker, Michael Lark, Dave Stewart, Simon Bowland, Sydney Duncan, J.P. Mavinga, Tom Napolitano, Thierry Lamy, Pierre Taranzano, Brrémaud & Jean-Yves Segura, Oliver Jolivet, Carole Porche, Jean-David Morvan, Borris, Philippe Hauret, Séra, Jean-François Miniac, Alain Paillou, Catherine Moreau, Rémy Roubakha, André Le Bras, Éric Liberge, Didier Daeninckx, Mako, Raule, David Charrier, Luc Brahy, Éric Le Pape, Sébastien Corbet, David Morancho, Moutch, Facundo Percio, Jeanne Puchol, Algésiras, Servain, Nicolas Pothier, Yannick Corboz, Jim MacDonald, d-pi, Dan Curtis Johnson, Mark Vigouroux, Fred Le Berre, and Corentin.

Over the past 25 years, the POLAR Festival of Cognac, France has established itself as one of the most esteemed crime fiction conventions in the world. FIRST DEGREE: A CRIME ANTHOLOGY is a commemorative celebration of the festival's silver anniversary, containing over a dozen tales by the writers and artists it has recognized, along with a selection of Humanoids' best crime fiction, cover art by David Aja, and an all-new story by Eisner Award-winners David F. Walker and Michael Lark.

“We love discovering new works,” said Bernard Bec, organizer of the POLAR Festival. “Our greatest reward is when award-winning artwork starts in Cognac because closed doors have been opened. This is why the opportunity presented to us in 2018 by Humanoids and its editor Bruno Lecigne - to create an anniversary comics anthology—felt like a continuation of our work and a way to preserve the fruits of our efforts. They deserve infinite thanks, as do the creators whose works appear herein, alongside new and classic stories added to this American edition.”

First Degree: A Crime Anthology will be published by Humanoids on August 3, 2021.

David F. Walker is an award-winning comic book writer, author, filmmaker, journalist, and educator. His work in comic books includes Shaft (Dynamite Entertainment), winner of the 2015 Glyph Award for Story of the Year, Luke Cage, Occupy Avengers, Power Man and Iron Fist, Nighthawk, Fury, Secret Wars: Battleworld (Marvel Comics), Cyborg (DC Comics), The Army of Dr. Moreau, Tarzan on the Planet of the Apes (Dark Horse/Boom), and Number 13 (Dark Horse Comics). Recognized as a leading scholar expert of African-American cinema, Walker is also an adjunct professor at Portland State University. He has taught documentary filmmaking, writing for comics, and film criticism to youth through the Pacific Northwest College of Art, Northwest Film Center, Documentary Northwest, and Project Youth Doc.

David Aja is an Eisner award-winning Spanish comic book artist, best known for his work on The Immortal Iron Fist, Hawkeye, Wolverine, Daredevil and The Seeds. He and his wife, Pilar, live in Valladolid, Spain.

Images and Press Release Courtesy of Humanoid and Superfan Promotions