(September 4, 2024) Actors H. Jon Benjamin—the voice behind Bob Belcher on Bob’s Burgers and Sterling Archer on Archer—and Jefferson White, who plays Jimmy Hurdstrom in Yellowstone, star as rogue police officers Schitt and Swamp Cop in the surreal and irreverent trailer for the upcoming graphic novel JUSTICE WARRIORS: VOTE HARDER. Co-written by Pulitzer Prize finalist and political cartoonist Matt Bors and acclaimed filmmaker and illustrator Ben Clarkson, the JUSTICE WARRIORS: VOTE HARDER graphic novel is a scathing satire of capitalism, police, and politics in a future of severe inequality, as well as a cop buddy story for the ages. The trailer for the bitingly funny graphic novel is directed, animated and produced by Clarkson and stars H. Jon Benjamin as Schitt and Jefferson White as Swamp Cop, two police officers who patrol the crime-free metropolis of Bubble City and its surrounding mutant-packed Uninhabited Zone. You can view the trailer here.
“JUSTICE WARRIORS is a world of blazing action, warped characters and caustic politics all rolled up into an Akira-meets-Lethal Weapon-reboot of The Simpsons,” says Clarkson. “To see it come to life in animation causes heart palpitations. Be advised.”
The trailer features compositions by Brendan James aka The Great Vorelli, audio engineering by Vlad Baran, sound design by Diego Escobar, and voice acting by Ben Clarkson, Ben Vigus, Shanthony Exum, Simon Bracken, Kristina Guevarra, and Shaumbé. It provides the first look inside JUSTICE WARRIORS: VOTE HARDER, the highly anticipated graphic novel from AHOY Comics in which crime-free utopia Bubble City’s first ever election for mayor pulls Officer Swamp into a violent mission to protect and/or subvert democracy that will put him on a collision course with his beloved partner Schitt.
“We didn’t want to create your typical book trailer for this comic,” says Bors. “Ben has animated this entire trailer from scratch to work as its own short, enticing film. Citizens will be given a glimpse of the story we tell in our new graphic novel and what it might mean to Vote Harder.”
Matt Bors is the founder of The Nib and a political cartoonist who has twice been named a Pulitzer Prize finalist, while Ben Clarkson is an acclaimed filmmaker and illustrator whose art has been featured on Adult Swim and Vice Noisey. Co-written by Clarkson and Bors with art by Clarkson and backup illustrations by Bors, JUSTICE WARRIORS: VOTE HARDER features colors by Felipe Sobreiro and lettering by Bors and is a stand-alone follow-up to the widely acclaimed JUSTICE WARRIORS. Initially published by AHOY Comics as a trade paperback in 2023, JUSTICE WARRIORS received widespread attention from CHAPO TRAP HOUSE, IGN, POD DAMN AMERICA, CURRENT AFFAIRS, COMIC BOOK COUPLES COUNSELING, LEDGER, SUPER NICE CLUB, GRAPHIC POLICY, QANONANON, and STRUGGLE SESSION. The title went back to press for second and third printings in the wake of its popularity.
Here’s what people are saying about JUSTICE WARRIORS: VOTE HARDER:
“Savage, brilliant, funny as hell in a way that will make you uncomfortable and bitter, and you’ll be better for it. Laugh it up, Chuckles, we’re all goin’ to hell!”
—Cory Doctorow, author of LITTLE BROTHER, RED TEAM BLUES, and THE INTERNET CON
“Justice Warriors: Vote Harder is (perplexingly) great popcorn sci fi and great social commentary at the same time. It is somehow a love letter to old science fiction comics and totally of the moment. One of the most addictively page-turning comics I’ve ever read.”
—Mark Russell, author of Second Coming and Superman: Space Age
“Clarkson, Bors, and Sobreiro have done it again: The finest, most acidic satire going paired with gorgeous, gonzo art. If you’re in line to read this…stay in line!”
—Mattie Lubchansky, author of Boys Weekend
“The first volume was one of my favorite series in ages, and this one is even stronger. Funnier, more incisive, more absurd. This is going to be one of the best comics of the year; if you haven’t read the first volume, go get it. It’s Judge Dredd meets Rick and Morty. This volume has pop-star Mayors, militant Home Owners Associations, and more!”
—Deniz Camp, author of 20TH CENTURY MEN and Agent of WORLDE
JUSTICE WARRIORS: VOTE HARDER will be published by AHOY Comics, the Syracuse-based independent publisher perhaps best known for SECOND COMING, a controversial satire by Mark Russell, Richard Pace and Leonard Kirk in which Jesus Christ resumes his holy mission. The company is the brainchild of journalist and satirist Hart Seely (publisher), an award-winning reporter whose humor and satire has appeared in The New York Times and on National Public Radio, comics writer Tom Peyer (editor-in-chief), and cartoonist Frank Cammuso (chief creative officer). AHOY Comics launched five years ago with four acclaimed comic book magazine titles featuring full length comic book stories, poetry, prose fiction, and cartoons.
Trailer credits
Directed, animated and produced by Ben Clarkson
Written by Matt Bors and Ben Clarkson
Composer: Brendan James aka The Great Vorelli
Audio Engineer: Vlad Baran
Sound designer: Diego Escobar
Cast (in order of appearance)
Swamp Cop: Jefferson White
Schitt: H. Jon Benjamin
Visor Mutant: Ben Clarkson
Sheriff Brundth: Ben Vigus
The Chief: Shanthony Exum
The Prince: Simon Bracken
Advisor 1 & Fen: Kristina Guevarra
Advisor 2: Shaumbé
Special thanks to: Alain Mercica and Theatre St. Catherine, Solly KP, Will Menaker, and Stavros Hakias
JUSTICE WARRIORS will be on sale bookstores and comic shops everywhere on September 11, 2024. To watch the trailer, visit this link. To pre-order the book, visit this link.
About the Creators
Ben Clarkson is a filmmaker, illustrator and artist who lives in Montreal. His work has been featured on Time.com, Adult Swim, MuchMusic, and Vice Noisey. He has been a finalist for the International Lumen Prize in Digital Art, A Juno, and a National Magazine award.
Matt Bors is a cartoonist, writer, editor, and publisher who founded the comics publication The Nib. His work has appeared in The Nation, CNN, The Guardian, The Village Voice, Daily Kos, and was collected in the book We Should Improve Society Somewhat. He is a two time Pulitzer Prize Finalist for his political cartoons and drew the graphic novel War Is Boring.
About AHOY Comics
AHOY Comics debuted in the fall of 2018 with the bold promise for readers to expect more from its line of comic book magazines, featuring comic book stories, poetry, prose fiction, and cartoons. The independent, Syracuse-based company is the brainchild of publisher Hart Seely, an award-winning reporter whose humor and satire has appeared in The New York Times and on National Public Radio. AHOY’s editor-in-chief Tom Peyer is committed to publishing comics with a (dark) sense of humor with titles like the religious satires SECOND COMING and HIGH HEAVEN, the superhero parodies THE WRONG EARTH and HASHTAG: DANGER, the sci-fi spoof CAPTAIN GINGER, the time travel tales PLANET OF THE NERDS and BRONZE AGE BOOGIE, and the humor/horror anthology series EDGAR ALLAN POE’S SNIFTER OF BLOOD.
