An example of Martin Simmonds’ art from PUNKS NOT DEAD #6: (IDW Publishing)

According to SYFY Wire, today writer Joe Hill confirmed that he and artist Martin Simmonds are working on a new comics series titled “S.T. Holmes, the Insulting Detective, in… Dying Is Easy!”:

“Hill also revealed plans for a new comic titled S.T. Holmes, the Insulting Detective, in… Dying Is Easy! a throwback type of comic story that feels more like a Bruce Willis-style action romp. He’s working on the book with Martin Simmonds.”

This information was shared by Hill at a San Diego Comic-Con panel focusing on Hill’s Locke & Key comics series. MEANWHILE first reported in December 2018 that Hill was working on a new comics series with Simmonds; the series was originally envisioned as a four-panel comic strip for Hill’s newsletter, Escape Hatch.

As noted by Hill on May 28, 2019 in Escape Hatch:

“Funny story about this. I started writing a four panel strip for Escape Hatch about nine months ago. Only it all got away from me, and in fits and starts has become a new comic book. I’ve got about three and a half scripts now on a six issue initial run. I thiiiiiink it might be good? You’ll be hearing more about it soon.”

Hill’s prose work includes Heart-Shaped Box, Horns, NOS4A2, and The Fireman. His comics work includes the acclaimed Locke & Key series (with artist Gabriel Rodriguez) for which Hill won an Eisner Award for Best Writer in 2011. Recently, DC Comics announced that Hill would be curating the publication of new horror comics under the imprint Hill House Comics.

Simmonds’ recent comics work includes the IDW Publishing series Punks Not Dead and the Vault series Friendo

Last month, MEANWHILE published a fictional story featuring private detective (and comics enthusiast) Paige Potter. The story speculated that Hill and Simmonds’ new comic would be published by IDW’s Black Crown imprint. Although Hill’s announcement at the IDW-sponsored panel suggests IDW will be publishing the new comics series, at this time it is unclear whether the comic will be published under IDW’s Black Crown banner.