SUNSETAs announced at Emerald City Comic Comicon, Image Comics and Top Cow Productions will release the first original graphic novel from the Minotaur Press imprint, SUNSET, in July 2012.

SUNSET, written by CHRISTOS GAGE (Avengers Academy, GI Joe: Cobra) and artist JORGE LUCAS (THE DARKNESS) is a self-contained, black-and-white hardcover graphic novel published in the signature Minotaur Press digest format. The publisher will also offer fans an opportunity to sample the story in a low cost, full-color First Look earlier that month. SUNSET: FIRST LOOK (MAY120527) will be available for comic book stores to order or for fans to pick up at San Diego Comic-Con.

In the noir tradition of Chandler and Spillane, comes a two-fisted tale of revenge and redemption. On the surface, Nick Bellamy looks like any other veteran retiree left behind by a modern world. In reality, Nick is a former enforcer, who stole a fortune and years of freedom from his former mob boss. Now, in the twilight of his life, Nick will lose everything except two things: revenge… and the chance to die with his guns blazing.

"I couldn't be more excited or honored to be part of the very first original graphic novel from Top Cow and Minotaur Press. And their release of the $1.00 preview book containing the first chapter ensures everyone can sample it for a bargain price," explained writer Christos Gage. "Once people see Jorge Lucas' hard-hitting art and witness Nick Bellamy snarl hipsters into submission - not to mention kill three armed mobsters with a lightbulb, a paint can and some drain cleaner - I hope they won't be able to resist reading the rest of the story!"

"I was proud to work on Sunset, and thrilled that the epic story of Nick Bellamy will be seen at last! I hope all readers will enjoy this story as much as I enjoyed drawing it," added artist Jorge Lucas. "Christos Gage is an amazing writer, who has built a real thriller in the spirit of film noir and the great road movies."

Fans who want to get an advanced look at the original graphic novel will have a chance to do so with SUNSET: FIRST LOOK, coming out July 4th, 2012. Collecting the first 22 pages of the hard-hitting noir tale and priced at only $1.00, SUNSET: FIRST LOOK is a perfect low risk way to sample Minotaur Press's first original graphic novel.

SUNSET HC (MAY120526), a 160-page black-and-white hardcover graphic novel, will be in stores July, 18th, 2012.