The Return of Shi, Comic Book Couples and Comics For Ukraine!

Crusade Comics is excited for our panels for this week’s San Diego Comic Con (July 20-24th, 2022). Shi-creator Billy Tucci will be on three panels, Happy Hour With The Comic Book Couples, Comics For Ukraine (where his secret contribution will be announced) and The Return of Shi.

After two years of remote gatherings, San Diego Comic-Con is once again set to take over the city of San Diego with its first live in-person convention since July 2019. 175,000 exhibitors, guests and attendees are expected for Comics’ most prestigious convention.

Billy Tucci can be found all week at the Crusade Comics booth #1801. His panel details are:

HAPPY HOUR WITH THE COMIC BOOK COUPLES!
Thursday, July 21, 2022 6:30PM to 7:30PM ROOM 10

Spend some time with Inkpot Recipients, Amanda Conner (Harley Quinn, The Pro) Brian Pulido (Lady Death), Jeff Smith (Bone, Tuki: Fight For Fire), Jimmy Palmiotti (Jonah Hex, Painkiller Jane), Terry Moore (Strangers In Paradise, Motor Girl) and Billy Tucci (Shi, Sgt. Rock) as they’re joined by Abstract Studios Studio’s Robyn Moore, Cartoon Books Vijaya Iyer, Coffin Comics’ Francisca Pulido and Crusade Comics’ Deborah Tucci for an entertaining and enlightening, refreshment fueled panel on what life is like being married to a comics’ creator and running a successful publishing company.

COMICS FOR UKRAINE
Friday, July 22, 2022 10:00 AM to11:00 AM in Room 10

Comics for Ukraine is a crowdfunded comics anthology through zoop.gg initiated and edited by Scott Dunbier to help relief efforts in Ukraine. Dozens of creators have stepped up to help. Alex Ross, Bill Sienkiewicz, Dave Johnson, and Arthur Adams have supplied covers. More than a dozen all-new stories will be included: Astro City by Busiek and Anderson, Groo by Sergio Aragonés and Mark Evanier, American Flagg by Howard Chaykin, Scary Godmother by Jill Thompson, Chew by John Layman and Rob Guillory, Grendel by Matt Wagner, Star Slammers by Walter Simonson, and Usagi Yojimbo by Stan Sakai make up a portion of this book, But there are more, too many to list—so come to the panel (which will have several of the creators listed here) and find out about this very important book and what you can do to help this charitable endeavor.

THE RETURN OF SHI! 
Sunday, July 24, 2022 3:45 PM to 4:45PM ROOM 5AB

Join Inkpot award-winning artist/writer, Billy Tucci, as he discusses the phenomenal return of his breakout female hero, SHI, in her epic new trilogy. Billy will be joined by SHI trilogy writer Steven Peros (Stoker & Wells), Deborah Tucci (Executive Director of Crusade Comics), and trilogy editor Jeffrey Vaughn (Shi: Gatecrasher, Vampire, PA).

CRUSADE COMICS ANNOUNCES COMIC-CON SHI EXCLUSIVES!
Limited Edition Specials Also Offered Through www.billytucci.com

Crusade Comics is offering two very special exclusives for SDCC, the Shi: Senryaku #1 25th Anniversary Special Edition and an accompanying 11” X 17” print.

Both exclusives are priced at $25.00 each and limited to only 199 editions.

Senryaku was Crusade Comics’ groundbreaking, Eisner Award-nominated series written by comics’ legend and creator of DC Comics’ Amethyst and Blue Devil, Gary Cohn. The book uniquely details Shi’s upbringing and training through thirty-six self-contained Art of War “stratagems”. Stratagems lushly showcased and illustrated by many of the industry’s greatest talents, including Jim Lee, Frank Frazetta, Adam Hughes, George Perez, Jeff Smith, Amanda Conner, Jimmy Palmiotti, Joe Quesada and Billy Tucci.

For those unable to attend Comic-Con, Crusade is offering a limited number of these Special Editions now through https://billytucci.com.

SHI: SAKURA NOW AT THE PRINTER

The 72-page Shi: Sakura graphic novel is now complete with all files being sent to API Print Productions for proofing and production.  #TeamShi has spent hours putting together the many, many aspects of the comic that aside from the 62-pages of story and art, now includes a detailed “Previously in Shi” introduction and cover gallery.

“The book is absolutely gorgeous and everyone from our creatives to editors are working hard to deliver the greatest Shi comic ever.” Stated Tucci. “I am so incredibly proud to be working alongside such amazing and indefatigable talents.”

$150K (And Final) Stretch Goal: The Kenneth Rocafort Trading Card!

As Shi: Sakura’s #NoFanLeftBehind total returns close in on $230K, Indiegogo backers have  unlocked the $145,000.00 Stretch Goal, opening the door to Sakura’s FINAL STRETCH GOAL: The Kenneth Rocafort Trading Card! The card features comics’ superstar Kenneth Rocafort’s astonishing cover artwork and is FREE to all Kickstarter and Indiegogo backers who chose a physical perk.

Thus far Eight Stretch Goals have been unlocked and are FREE to all backers who have pledged for a physical-tier perk. They include:

 • Shi: Sakura Graphic Novel being expanded from 56-pages to 64-pages.
 • Shi: Sakura Graphic Novel being expanded from 64-pages to 72-pages.
 • Shi: Kuroi Hana 5” Vinyl Sticker.
 • Shi: Sakura Hardcover Edition Trading Card.
 • Ana Ishikawa Kick-To-The-Face Bookmark.
 • Asha Kishna Trading Card.
 • Gardenio Lima Trading Card.
 • Shi: Fire Blossom Mini-Print.

Shi: Sakura Indiegogo Exclusive Campaign Can Be Found Here:
https://igg.me/at/Shi-Sakura/x#/

SHI: SAKURA!

From New York to Nagasaki, this action-packed, 72-page, full-color, psychological samurai thriller reunites Shi-creator Billy Tucci and writer Steven Peros with artist Gardenio Lima, and colorist Brian Miller.

Upon learning that she is full-blooded Japanese, Ana Ishikawa has unlocked a danger that she’s not prepared for… her birth mother’s wrath that comes in the form of an automaton-like killer, bent on destroying all that she loves.

At the same time, her teenage daughter, Hotaru, having survived the trauma in Shi: Haikyo, is empowered by the experience and succumbs to an inner violent streak with savage repercussions.  

The final chapter to the Return of the Warrior trilogy sets the final fiery stage for a samurai showdown of epic proportions at New York’s Brooklyn Botanic Garden that will change Crusade Comics canon forever!

Crusade Comics will also be offering other Shi-related items including original art, prints, shirts, commissions, and special editions, including the ashcan to Crusade’s next great adventure, John Broglia and Billy Tucci’s long-awaited sequel to Zombie-Sama. Zombie-Sama 2: Dorm of the Dead!