Daniel Warren Johnson’s Chainkata #1 Launches With 116 Retailer-Exclusive Covers at Image Comics
Daniel Warren Johnson’s new Image Comics series Chainkata is getting an unusually large variant-cover rollout, with 116 retailer-exclusive covers planned for the first issue when it arrives in November. Image Comics announced that comic shops have lined up 116 exclusive covers for Chainkata #1, giving collectors a sprawling assortment of store-specific versions to chase before even counting the regular Image Comics covers and incentive variants. The publisher revealed the first 11 retailer covers as part of the announcement.
The participating retailers span a long list of comic shops and specialty sellers, with artwork commissioned from dozens of artists. Names attached to retailer exclusives include Rob Liefeld, Brett Booth, Riley Rossmo, Skottie Young, Ken Lashley, Tony Trophy, Clay Mann, Nick Dragotta, Daniel Warren Johnson and many others. Third Eye Comics alone is offering covers featuring artwork by Scie Tronc, Wayshak, Jim Rugg, Clay Mann, Nick Dragotta and Johnson, while Comics Toons & Toys has covers by Genki Eguro, K. Okada and Liefeld. Other retailers have commissioned multiple variants of their own, helping push the total retailer-exclusive count to 116.
The enormous cover program is being built around the launch of Johnson’s first new Image series following projects including Transformers, Do A Powerbomb and The Moon Is Following Us. Chainkata follows Luma, a chainsaw-wielding warrior queen traveling through space in search of an unknown power while violence and danger continue to follow her. Image describes the series as blending the large-scale science fiction of Beta Ray Bill and Space-Mullet with the character-driven storytelling of Extremity and Do A Powerbomb.
Collectors will also have a substantial selection of Image’s own covers for Chainkata #1. The regular lineup begins with Cover A by Johnson, followed by a black-and-white Johnson cover and a Sword & Sorcery variant. Riley Rossmo provides Cover D, while Rob Liefeld handles Cover E. Image is also offering a blank sketch cover for collectors interested in commissions or original convention artwork.
The incentives move into much scarcer territory. Two separate 1:100 variants are planned: a Sword & Sorcery foil cover by Johnson and colorist Mike Spicer, and a raw-art cover by Johnson. At the top of the incentive structure is Cover I, a 1:1000 edition featuring an original head sketch by Johnson. Image lists it as the “Original Head Sketch 1:1000” variant, making it one of the most unusual pieces connected to an already variant-heavy launch.
That means Chainkata #1 will reach comic shops with nine regular and incentive covers from Image Comics in addition to the 116 retailer exclusives announced for the issue. The retailer list stretches across more than 60 shops and sellers, including 616 Comics, Dynamic Forces, East Side Comics, KRS Comics, The Comic Mint, Trinity Comics, Third Eye Comics, White Dog Comics and others. Some stores are offering a single exclusive, while others have commissioned several different artists.
The scale of the rollout makes Chainkata #1 as much a cover-collecting event as a new-series debut. Chainkata #1 is scheduled to arrive at comic book shops on Wednesday, November 18. The issue will also be released digitally across multiple platforms.