ASP’S AWAKENING NOMINATED FOR 4 EAGLE AWARDS
Including Favourite New Comic Book

Kearny, NJ -- Apr 14, 2008 -- ASP is thrilled to announce that its series of existential horror written by Nick Tapalansky and illustrated by Alex Eckman-Lawn has been nominated for four Eagle Awards, the comics industry's longest established awards.

Here is the rundown of AWAKENING’s nominations:
**Favourite Newcomer Writer: Nick Tapalansky
**Favourite Letterer: Thomas Mauer
**Favourite Colour Comicbook - American: AWAKENING
**Favourite New Comicbook: AWAKENING

Voting is open now and closes soon, so go and vote!
http://www.eagleawards.co.uk/vote.asp

“It’s been a dream come true for Alex, Thomas, and I to work on AWAKENING over the last year,” said writer and nominee Nick Tapalansky. “Now to be nominated for the Eagle Awards…what can you say? The dream continues. Thanks to everyone who has supported the book and thanks to those new readers willing to give it a try.”

To check out previews of AWAKENING, just visit the ASP site:
http://www.aspcomics.com/awakening.php

Introduced in 1976, the Eagles are acknowledged as the pre-eminent international prizes and have been featured on the covers of leading US and UK titles across the last 30 years. Results will be announced at the Bristol International Comic Expo in England (May 9-11, 2008).

AWAKENING tells the story of Derrick Peters, a former member of the Park Falls Police Department, who receives a visit from Cynthia Ford one January afternoon. Cynthia, well known as the town crazy, seems to have finally lost her mind. She claims to have information about a series of gruesome murders…but does she hold the key to unlocking the mystery or has she truly gone insane? To Derrick’s disbelief she utters one word: Zombies.

Ordering Info
A 10-issue bi-monthly series, each 24-page issue of AWAKENING retails for $3.50. A 144-page hardcover collection (Diamond Code: APR08 3552, $19.95) is set for release in June collecting issues 1–5 plus additional material never before published.

Issues currently available or soon to be released include:
AWAKENING #1: JUN07 3242
AWAKENING #2: AUG07 3376
AWAKENING #3: OCT07 3258
AWAKENING #4: DEC07 3387
AWAKENING #5: FEB08 3470

Praise for AWAKENING
“Eye-catching artwork… Tapalansky and Eckman-Lawn have awakened within the realm of the zombie world a new direction to take what could have easily been another retread of tired material.” —The Geeks of Doom

"The coolest and most original zombie piece since The Walking Dead got under way." —Lee, Broken Frontier

"If it needs to be classified somewhere it would still be zombie book, but like 28 Days Later, which wasn't technically a zombie movie, it blazes its own path." —Justin, Wednesday is My Sabbath

“For anyone who sincerely wants to find the next horror concept comic that should be mirrored by writers and artists everywhere for years after its done, aping such an original thing until it's no longer anything of the sort, then AWAKENING will prove a unique experience, and an immensely satisfying one at that." —Dave, Broken Frontier

"AWAKENING is the type of storytelling achievement you often find yourself reading in trade format a year after-the-fact, wondering why the hell you didn't hear more about it at the time of its publishing. The type of book that goes on to achieve eventual cult status and terrible film adaptations that wholly miss the point. Tapalansky and Eckman-Lawn increasingly prove themselves with each successive release. These men deserve a future in this industry, though perhaps it can be said even more-so that the industry deserves a future with them." —Tom, Newseed Comics

All ASP titles are available worldwide at finer comic book shops, bookstores, amazon.com, Indie Press Revolution (www.indiepressrevolution.com) and electronically at DriveThruComics.com.

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.