Celebrating 25 years in comics, Shi creator Billy Tucci and Crusade Comics have produced two New York Comic Con exclusive limited editions of Shi: The Way of the Warrior #1. The fantastic Amazing Spider-Man #300 Homage Exclusive Newsprint Edition (limited to 500 copies) and the Actual Metal Edition (limited to 30) will both be for sale in Artist Alley at Tucci’s table L20. 

Crusade is offering those who cannot attend the con a special presale via their website store. The Newsprint Edition is priced at only $10 while the serially numbered Actual Metal Edition retails for $125 (plus shipping). All books are signed free of charge by Tucci upon request.

Todd McFarlane’s legendary 25th anniversary issue cover holds a special place in Tucci’s heart as it was the book that got him back into comics. 

“Growing up, my favorites were Daredevil, Spider-Man, Werewolf By Night and DC’s war comics, but by the time I had gotten to high school my interests had strayed elsewhere,” he said. “But I’ll never forget that day back in art college when I first saw ASM #300. It literally was life-changing for me. David Michelinie’s writing and Todd McFarlane’s free-wheeling, dynamic art rekindled that old love and made me believe that I, too, could make a living making comics.”

With 32 full-color pages of story and art, the Shi: #300 Homage Edition Tucci also strived to be as historically accurate production-wise to the original as possible. “I tried to replicate the same cover stock and interior quality. After all, the greatest comic books in history have all been printed on newsprint!” he said.

“With that one book, I fell back in love with comics,” the 2019 Inkpot Award recipient continued. “Todd and David had a fan in me for life, and I’ve waited 25 years to illustrate my own homage to ASM #300. I just had to make this comic to coincide with Shi’s 25th anniversary and I am forever in debt to Todd and David for their inspiration!”

The New York Comic Con will be held Thursday through Sunday, October 3-6, 2019 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in Manhattan. During the convention, Tucci will sign daily at his booth, table L20, in the Artist Alley section. He will have copies of this edition and his other works, including Zombie-Sama, and the Big, Big Overstreet Price Guide Vol. 49 available for sale.

The online presale for the #300 Homage Edition of Shi: The Way of the Warrior #1 Actual Metal Edition is currently underway on billytucci.com/store.

Crusade is offering special bulk retailer discount levels for this edition. Comic shop owners and dealer can contact Deborah Tucci at tuccitroopers@optonline.net for more information.