CHRISTOPHER CANTWELL’S DARK FAIRYTALE, BRIAR, RETURNS WITH THE NEXT CHAPTER AT BOOM! STUDIOS

The new chapter in the reimagined Sleeping Beauty story begins in May!

LOS ANGELES, CA (February 21, 2024) – The smash hit, dark retelling of Sleeping Beauty returns! Eisner Award-nominated writer, producer, and director Christopher Cantwell (Regarding the Matter of Oswald’s Body, Halt and Catch Fire) is joined by rising-star artist Alex Lins (Hellcat, Crypt of Shadows) for the next chapter of the unforgettable dark fantasy BRIAR!

In the wake of slaying Deadcrawl, Grendrid’s deadly henchman, Briar Rose and her companions have become quite the band of bounty hunters with a reputation for murder and mayhem that belies their chivalrous intentions. But overzealous local authorities are not the only foes Briar will face, as Spider hatches a plan that will get them closer than ever to Briar’s malevolent fairy godmother–to the castle of Grendrid herself!

“Briar focuses on people who have fallen out of the grander story, or feel they have no place in it at all. This book is what happens when the entire fairy tale comes apart, and only a few, fringe characters are left to pick up the pieces, having to forge their own radical destinies instead of being handed happy endings,” said writer Christopher Cantwell.

“Briar is for anyone with heart: it is visceral, it is poetic, and the protagonists go much deeper than most heroes do,” said series artist Alex Lins.

“I cannot overstate how thrilled I am that Briar is back for its next chapter,” added series editor Allyson Gronowitz. “Chris is back with a jaw-dropping new arc, and the talented Alex Lins is joining us for Briar’s second outing. I couldn’t be happier!”

BRIAR #5 will be available in comic shops May 15, 2024. It is available for pre-order at your local comic shop. Digital copies can be purchased from content providers, including Kindle, iBooks, and Google Play.

About Christopher Cantwell:

Christopher Cantwell is a twice Eisner-nominated comic book writer and has worked on such titles as Iron Man and Doctor Doom for Marvel, Star Trek: Defiant for IDW, and She Could Fly for Berger Books & Dark Horse. He has upcoming projects for Oni Press, Vault Comics, and DC Comics. Additionally, Cantwell was a Co-Creator and Executive Producer of HALT AND CATCH FIRE for AMC and is currently an Exec Producer & Showrunner for THE TERROR: THE DEVIL IN SILVER, also for AMC.

About Alex Lins:

Alex Lins lives in rural Connecticut, from where he draws comics. In his short career, he has done work for Marvel, Image and Soleil (France), including titles such as the Hulk, New Mutants and Hellcat. Alex has been nominated to an Eisner and more of his work can be found @alexlinsart on instagram.

BRIAR is the newest release from BOOM! Studios’ eponymous imprint, home to critically acclaimed original series, including BRZRKR by Keanu Reeves, Matt Kindt, and Ron Garney; Something is Killing the Children by James Tynion IV and Werther Dell’Edera; Grim by Stephanie Phillips and Flaviano; Stuff of Nightmares by R.L. Stine and A.L. Kaplan; Damn Them All by Simon Spurrier and Charlie Adlard; Once Upon a Time at the End of the World by Jason Aaron, Alexandre Tefenkgi, Leila del Duca, and Nick Dragotta; Know Your Station by Sarah Gailey and Liana Kangas; A Vicious Circle by Mattson Tomlin and Lee Bermejo; The Neighbors by Jude Ellison S. Doyle and Letizia Cadonici; Ghostlore by Cullen Bunn and Leomacs; Sirens of the City by Joanne Starer and Khary Randolph; Coda by Simon Spurrier and Matías Bergara; Rare Flavours by Ram V and Filipe Andrade; Underheist by David and Maria Lapham; and Animal Pound by Tom King and Peter Gross. The imprint also publishes popular licensed properties, including Dune: House Harkonnen from Brian Herbert, Kevin J. Anderson, and Michael Shelfer; Mighty Morphin Power Rangers by Melissa Flores and Simona Di Gianfelice; and The Expanse: Dragon Tooth by Andy Diggle and Rubine.