Happy! Gets a Super Secret Surprise Cover

Image is stoked for the release of Happy! #1 this September. You could say they're "happy" about it even. The book features the talents of Grant Morrison and Darick Robertson, as well as Michael and Laura Allred.

"I have been a fan of Mike's for many years and, unbelievably, this is the first time we have had the opportunity to work together," said Morrison. "In his own inimitable style, he has mashed Happy the Horse with Hitchcock to amazing effect and I can't wait for everyone to see the spectacular result."

Fans will get a glimpse at a super secret surprise cover when the issue hits stores on September 26. That cover features the art of Michael Allred and colors of Laura Allred. But you won't see it before then.

"I am honored and excited to have Mike and Laura Allred's art on the variant cover of Happy! #1!" said series artist and co-creator Robertson. "Mike's always been one of my favorite artists, and he really did us a solid by coming through with a classic Allred image. Laura's colors are great too! It's a real treat to see my designs interpreted through their artistic genius."

A Christmas story featuring a fallen cop, soulless sex, casual murder, agonizing skin conditions... and a tiny feathered horse, Happy! is is Morrison and Robertson's first Image Comics series. The Allred variant cover (JUL128081) is available for pre-order now.

Full press release below.

HAPPY! #1 GETS A MYSTERY COVER First look at Happy the Horse from Madman creator Berkeley, CA - August 16, 2012 -- Of the many mysteries in HAPPY!, the new series by Grant Morrison and Darick Robertson being launched by Image Comics in September, the little blue horse for whom the comic is named is one of the most closely-guarded. The wait will be over on September 26, when HAPPY! #1 lands in stores, and many readers will get their first glimpse of Happy courtesy of a special, secret variant cover by MADMAN creator Michael Allred, colored by Eisner Award winner Laura Allred. But not before then. "I have been a fan of Mike's for many years and, unbelievably, this is the first time we have had the opportunity to work together," said Morrison. "In his own inimitable style, he has mashed Happy the Horse with Hitchcock to amazing effect and I can't wait for everyone to see the spectacular result." "I am honored and excited to have Mike and Laura Allred's art on the variant cover of Happy! #1!" said series artist and co-creator Robertson. "Mike's always been one of my favorite artists, and he really did us a solid by coming through with a classic Allred image. Laura's colors are great too! It's a real treat to see my designs interpreted through their artistic genius." A Christmas story featuring a fallen cop, soulless sex, casual murder, agonizing skin conditions... and a tiny feathered horse, HAPPY! is Morrison and Robertson's first Image Comics series. The Allred variant cover of HAPPY! #1 (JUL128081) is available for pre-order now. ABOUT IMAGE COMICS Image Comics is a comic book and graphic novel publisher founded in 1992 by a collective of best-selling artists. Image has since gone on to become one of the largest comics publishers in the United States. Image currently has five partners: Robert Kirkman, Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri and Jim Valentino. It consists of five major houses: Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline, Skybound and Image Central. Image publishes comics and graphic novels in nearly every genre, sub-genre, and style imaginable. It offers science fiction, romance, horror, crime fiction, historical fiction, humor and more by the finest artists and writers working in the medium today. For more information, visit www.imagecomics.com.