ARTESIA RETURNS IN LONG-AWAITED ARTESIA BESIEGED #3

Kearny, NJ -- Feb 19, 2008 -- ASP and Mark Smylie are proud to announce the return of ARTESIA. The epic military fantasy story of the warrior queen continues where it left off with ARTESIA BESIEGED #3 (of 6, April 2007, $3.95, 32 painted pages, Diamond Code: FEB08 3464). To prove we really mean it, check out a few of the finished pages at www.artesiaonline.com

And to catch up on the first two issues, be sure to order and read ARTESIA BESIEGED #1 (Diamond Code: FEB08 3465) and ARTESIA BESIEGED #2 (Diamond Code: FEB08 3466).

“It’s incredibly cathartic to get back to painting,” said ARTESIA creator and ASP Publisher Mark Smylie. “Building a new company with my partner Aki has taken far more time than I expected, but I wanted to do it right, I wanted to create a special kind of company. Unfortunately, that forced an involuntary ARTESIA delay. Now that we’ve brought on some additional help, I’m finally able to get back to it. I’m so grateful to every fan, old and new alike, who has waited patiently for ARTESIA’s return. I promise, it’ll be worth the wait.”

ARTESIA BESIEGED #3
“As I Lay Dying.” Stabbed and poisoned, Artesia hovers on death’s door while ghosts and spirits debate when she will die and King Euwen presses his assault on the city of Abenton and the palisades of the Daradjan camp. Mature Readers (Strong Sexual Content, Nudity, Graphic Violence, and Adult Content).

ARTESIA and all of ASP’s titles are available at finer comic book retailers and bookstores worldwide.

ABOUT ARCHAIA STUDIOS PRESS
Mark Smylie founded Archaia Studios Press (ASP) in 2002 as a new home for his epic fantasy comic book, Artesia (first published by Sirius Entertainment). Artesia, winner of ForeWord Magazine’s Best Graphic Novel of 2003, and its sequels -- Artesia Afield and Artesia Afire -- gave ASP its foundation. Artesia: Adventures in The Known World, a roleplaying game written by Mark, expanded ASP into the world of gaming; the game won the Origins Award for Role-Playing Game of 2005. Now Mark and publishing partner Aki Liao have expanded ASP to include a line of idiosyncratic and creator-driven comic books and graphic novels in the fantasy, science fiction, and horror genres, as well as translations of several of Europe’s best titles. More information can be found at www.aspcomics.com