NORTH WIND #1 SELLS OUT IN 10 DAYS!
Historic Simultaneous Release Online at Myspace Comic Books and in Retail Stores Leads to Dramatically Increased Sales
Copies Still Available at Comic Shops Nationwide as BOOM! Studios Evaluates Second Printing
LOS ANGELES- January 11th, 2008 - BOOM! Studios announced today that NORTH WIND #1 is completely sold out. Having been launched as part of a historic simultaneous release online and in retail stores, NORTH WIND #1 saw dramatically increased sales across the board.
While publisher BOOM! Studios and distributor Diamond Comics are completely sold out, NORTH WIND #1 may still be found at direct market retailers.
"If you want a copy, I would suggest running, not walking, but running to your local comic shop," said Chip Mosher, Director of Marketing and Sales at BOOM! Studios. "This promotion with MySpace Comic Books has helped us sell through all of our copies of NORTH WIND #1 and has brought new customers into comic stores across the nation. I couldn't have been happier when Diamond called to tell us that we sold out."
Retailers across the country have had tremendous success with this promotion. In Los Angeles, venerable direct market retailer Meltdown, received fifteen copies of NORTH WIND #1 on the day of release. Only four copies were left as of this morning.
"I only wish more companies had the inspired media moxy and sales savvy as displayed by BOOM! -- whether it's their online promotions that pull and create new readers or their simple but very effective shelftalkers. In this day of dinosaur brick & mortar stores, BOOM! is always finding new ways to help us sell, sell, sell. Kudos to you BOOM! We at Meltdown, Inc. look forward to working with all your titles to BOOST! our bottom line. Please continue to keep it innovative and keep sending us new and receptive costumers to sell all types of comics to!" Gaston Dominguez-Letelier proprietor of Meltdown, Inc. said.
"This sell out was driven by demand and dramatically increased re-orders through Diamond. We aggressively went after the comic and non-comic reading audience for this book, and they showed up in droves. BOOM! Studios offered retailers a 3% incentive for re-orders, which led to comic shops that hadn't ordered NORTH WIND #1 to take a chance on it the day it was released. Everything just came together to make this promotion a success," said Ross Richie, Publisher and Co-Founder of BOOM! Studios.
BOOM! Studios is working closely with Diamond Comics Distributor and evaluating the demand for a second printing.
"We are looking at the unfilled re-orders carefully at the moment. But a second printing looks like it may just happen," said Mosher.
NORTH WIND,written by David DiGilio, best known for writing the film EIGHT BELOW and creating the ABC TV show TRAVELER, is a five issue mini-series set in a future Los Angeles after a new ice age has covered the earth. NORTH WIND chronicles the rise of a new hero in a dystopian world where people burn books for fuel, and Skinrunners trade valuable pelts for rations and warmth. The first issue features a cover by Andrew Huerta with interior artwork by newcomer and soon to be fan-favorite, Alex Cal.
MySpace, the world's most popular social network, and BOOM! Studios, a leader in comic book and graphic novel publishing, announced a partnership January 3rd to provide the MySpace Comic Book community with free digital downloads of BOOM! Studios' highly anticipated new comic book series, NORTH WIND. Throughout the five-issue mini-series, MySpace users will be able to download all the issue of NORTH WIND for free exclusively on the MySpace Comic Books profile (http://myspace.com/comicbooks) the day each issue hits store shelves.
About BOOM! Studios
Winner of Wizard Magazine's "Best New Publisher," BOOM! Studios (http://www.boom-studios.com) is a unique new publishing house specializing in high-profile projects from some of the industry's biggest talents. Founded by the creator of the TV show EUREKA, Andrew Cosby, and his partner Ross Richie, BOOM! Studios continues to be on the leading edge of comic and graphic novel publishing.
BOOM! Studios co-founder Andrew Cosby's television series, EUREKA, recently finished its second season at the Sci-Fi Channel, having launched to impressive ratings this past summer and consistently winning several key demographics on basic cable. EUREKA is the highest-rated series in the Sci-Fi Channel's history.
Friday, January 11, 2008
PRESS RELEASE - NIXON'S NOT A CROOK, BUT HIS PALS ARE!
Joe Casey and Chris Burnam bring boiled super crime this March!
January 10th, 2008 (Berkeley, CA) - This March YOUNGBLOOD's Joe Casey and rising star Chris Burnham dig deep into the hidden super-villain
underbelly of Los Angeles this March in the 120-page graphic novel, NIXON'S PALS.
"The 'Nixon' in NIXON'S PALS is Nixon Cooper, parole officer to Los Angeles' ever growing super-villain scene," said writer Joe Casey.
"This is hard boiled storytelling, basically putting a superpowered spin on what I love in crime fiction by writers like Elmore Leonard and Jim Thompson."
Casey is not comparing NIXON'S PALS to Leonard's work lightly. The world of NIXON'S PALS is far from bright, with Burnham bringing
a refreshingly unique twist on the conventional grim and gritty super tale.
Burnham said, "Not only is Joe the type of writer who lets an artist run free, but NIXON'S PALS is exactly the type of comics I love to draw.
It's an insane romp, filled with giant furnance robots, sentient breasts, and a ton of really vile bastards. It's fun for the whole family!"
NIXON'S PALS (JAN082057), a 120-page black and white graphic novel for $12.99, will be in stores March 26th, 2008.
Image Comics is a comics and graphic novels publisher formed in 1992 by a collective of best-selling artists. Since that time, Image has gone on to become one of the largest comics publishers in the United States. There are currently four partners in Image Comics (Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri and Jim Valentino), and Image is currently divided into four major houses (Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline and Image Central). Image comics and graphic novels cover nearly every genre, sub-genre and style imaginable, offering science fiction, romance, horror, crime fiction, historical fiction, humor and more by the finest artists and writers working in the medium today. Visit www.imagecomics.com.
Joe Casey and Chris Burnam bring boiled super crime this March!
January 10th, 2008 (Berkeley, CA) - This March YOUNGBLOOD's Joe Casey and rising star Chris Burnham dig deep into the hidden super-villain
underbelly of Los Angeles this March in the 120-page graphic novel, NIXON'S PALS.
"The 'Nixon' in NIXON'S PALS is Nixon Cooper, parole officer to Los Angeles' ever growing super-villain scene," said writer Joe Casey.
"This is hard boiled storytelling, basically putting a superpowered spin on what I love in crime fiction by writers like Elmore Leonard and Jim Thompson."
Casey is not comparing NIXON'S PALS to Leonard's work lightly. The world of NIXON'S PALS is far from bright, with Burnham bringing
a refreshingly unique twist on the conventional grim and gritty super tale.
Burnham said, "Not only is Joe the type of writer who lets an artist run free, but NIXON'S PALS is exactly the type of comics I love to draw.
It's an insane romp, filled with giant furnance robots, sentient breasts, and a ton of really vile bastards. It's fun for the whole family!"
NIXON'S PALS (JAN082057), a 120-page black and white graphic novel for $12.99, will be in stores March 26th, 2008.
Image Comics is a comics and graphic novels publisher formed in 1992 by a collective of best-selling artists. Since that time, Image has gone on to become one of the largest comics publishers in the United States. There are currently four partners in Image Comics (Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri and Jim Valentino), and Image is currently divided into four major houses (Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline and Image Central). Image comics and graphic novels cover nearly every genre, sub-genre and style imaginable, offering science fiction, romance, horror, crime fiction, historical fiction, humor and more by the finest artists and writers working in the medium today. Visit www.imagecomics.com.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
IDW PUBLISHING LAUNCHES NEW CHILDREN'S DIVISION
AND IMPRINT
Signs Distribution Agreement with Renowned UK Children's Publishing Firm; Pacts With Top Hollywood Screenwriters To Create Children's Books
(San Diego, CA and Newark, NJ; January 10, 2008) -- In a precedent-setting move, IDW Publishing, a division of IDT Internet Mobile Group and an established leader in the comic book and graphic novel arena, is launching a children's division called Jonas Publishing and a new imprint, Worthwhile Books. The move will allow IDW Publishing to expand its library of successful print titles, which to date has been particularly focused in the horror, action, and sci-fi genres, such as 30 Days of Night and The Transformers. To launch the imprint, IDW Publishing has inked a significant agreement with a renowned UK children's publisher and is striking deals with top Hollywood writers to create children's books.
Worthwhile Books has finalized a first-look arrangement with UK children's publisher Meadowside Books (www.meadowsidebooks.com), known for its unique character-driven picture books for young readers. Worthwhile will be the exclusive U.S. publisher of selected Meadowside titles and will retain domestic film and television rights on those properties. The first Meadowside Books title in the deal, Michael Recycle, by Ellie Bethel, follows the escapades of a "green-caped" environmental hero and will be released in March by Worthwhile Books. Worthwhile expects to issue approximately 10 Meadowside titles over the course of the first year, including William's Dinosaurs, by Alan Baker, which tells the tale of a little boy who finds more than trees in the dark woods near his home.
Worthwhile's Hollywood outreach is tapping into the top ranks of movie and television writing talent to bring original literary stories to the young reading audience. The collective credits of the entertainment writers include some of the industry's most successful television series and movies. These writers include:
· David N. Weiss, whose writing credits include Shrek 2, Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius and both Rugrats movies
· David Sacks, a writer/producer on The Simpsons, producer on Malcolm in the Middle, and writer on 3rd Rock from the Sun
· Dava Savel, an Emmy Award- winning comedy writer with credits on shows such as Grace Under Fire and Will & Grace, in addition to being an executive producer on the children's program That's So Raven
· David Steinberg, whose producing credits include Meet the Robinsons, Home on the Range and Cats Don't Dance
· Robert Kurtz, who wrote for the movie Everyone's Hero and has written for such shows as Boy Meets World and Grace Under Fire
"Our growth strategy calls for continued expansion into other areas of the entertainment sector," said Ted Adams, IDW co-founder and president. "Creating and controlling successful children's properties helps us in those endeavors. Meadowside's books are playful, empowering, smart and exciting and the artwork is simply breathtaking. These are children's picture stories in the classic tradition with a central character that is relatable to today's kids."
In speaking of the outreach to Hollywood writers, Robert Kurtz, vice-president and creative director at Worthwhile Books, said "Every writer I know who works in television or movies has a children's story inside him or her that they've wanted to tell for years but for a variety of reasons never were able to get out into the marketplace. We want writers to think of Worthwhile Books as the one-stop destination for that kind of project. It is designed to be a writer-driven company and we think that will be very attractive to these talented artists."
ABOUT IDW PUBLISHING:
Idea and Design Works, LLC, (DBA IDW Publishing) is a division of IDT Internet Mobile Group (IIMG). An established leader in the comic book and graphic novel marketplace, particularly in the horror, action, and sci-fi genres, IDW Publishing also owns Jonas Publishing and its children's imprint, Worthwhile Books. IDW lists some of the most successful and hottest print titles in the industry in its portfolio, including: television's #1 prime time series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation; Sony's Underworld; Paramount's Star Trek; Fox's 24 and Angel, and Hasbro's The Transformers. The feature film version of IDW Publishing's graphic novel, 30 Days of Night, recently topped the box office when it premiered in October. The company also works with foreign licensing agents to sell their comics around the world, with titles being published in multiple languages and crossing dozens of regions.
ABOUT IDT INTERNET MOBILE GROUP:
IDT Internet Mobile Group (IIMG), a division of the Fortune 1000 telecommunications firm IDT Corporation (NYSE: IDT, IDT.C), is a leader in the development, management and growth of cross-platform consumer entertainment, distribution and financial services. From providing mobile content to consumers in over 200 countries through the mobile content portal Zedge (www.zedge.net) to the creation, development and distribution of top graphic novels through IDW Publishing, and providing cash remittance services via mobile phones to millions of people living abroad, IIMG is dedicated to turning innovative ideas and companies into products and services that span various industries.
In this press release, all statements that are not purely about historical facts, including, but not limited to, those with the words "believe," "anticipate," "expect," "plan," "intend," "estimate," "target" and similar expressions, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All forward-looking statements and risk factors included in this document are made as of the date hereof, based on information available to IDT as of the date thereof, and IDT assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements or risk factors.
AND IMPRINT
Signs Distribution Agreement with Renowned UK Children's Publishing Firm; Pacts With Top Hollywood Screenwriters To Create Children's Books
(San Diego, CA and Newark, NJ; January 10, 2008) -- In a precedent-setting move, IDW Publishing, a division of IDT Internet Mobile Group and an established leader in the comic book and graphic novel arena, is launching a children's division called Jonas Publishing and a new imprint, Worthwhile Books. The move will allow IDW Publishing to expand its library of successful print titles, which to date has been particularly focused in the horror, action, and sci-fi genres, such as 30 Days of Night and The Transformers. To launch the imprint, IDW Publishing has inked a significant agreement with a renowned UK children's publisher and is striking deals with top Hollywood writers to create children's books.
Worthwhile Books has finalized a first-look arrangement with UK children's publisher Meadowside Books (www.meadowsidebooks.com), known for its unique character-driven picture books for young readers. Worthwhile will be the exclusive U.S. publisher of selected Meadowside titles and will retain domestic film and television rights on those properties. The first Meadowside Books title in the deal, Michael Recycle, by Ellie Bethel, follows the escapades of a "green-caped" environmental hero and will be released in March by Worthwhile Books. Worthwhile expects to issue approximately 10 Meadowside titles over the course of the first year, including William's Dinosaurs, by Alan Baker, which tells the tale of a little boy who finds more than trees in the dark woods near his home.
Worthwhile's Hollywood outreach is tapping into the top ranks of movie and television writing talent to bring original literary stories to the young reading audience. The collective credits of the entertainment writers include some of the industry's most successful television series and movies. These writers include:
· David N. Weiss, whose writing credits include Shrek 2, Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius and both Rugrats movies
· David Sacks, a writer/producer on The Simpsons, producer on Malcolm in the Middle, and writer on 3rd Rock from the Sun
· Dava Savel, an Emmy Award- winning comedy writer with credits on shows such as Grace Under Fire and Will & Grace, in addition to being an executive producer on the children's program That's So Raven
· David Steinberg, whose producing credits include Meet the Robinsons, Home on the Range and Cats Don't Dance
· Robert Kurtz, who wrote for the movie Everyone's Hero and has written for such shows as Boy Meets World and Grace Under Fire
"Our growth strategy calls for continued expansion into other areas of the entertainment sector," said Ted Adams, IDW co-founder and president. "Creating and controlling successful children's properties helps us in those endeavors. Meadowside's books are playful, empowering, smart and exciting and the artwork is simply breathtaking. These are children's picture stories in the classic tradition with a central character that is relatable to today's kids."
In speaking of the outreach to Hollywood writers, Robert Kurtz, vice-president and creative director at Worthwhile Books, said "Every writer I know who works in television or movies has a children's story inside him or her that they've wanted to tell for years but for a variety of reasons never were able to get out into the marketplace. We want writers to think of Worthwhile Books as the one-stop destination for that kind of project. It is designed to be a writer-driven company and we think that will be very attractive to these talented artists."
ABOUT IDW PUBLISHING:
Idea and Design Works, LLC, (DBA IDW Publishing) is a division of IDT Internet Mobile Group (IIMG). An established leader in the comic book and graphic novel marketplace, particularly in the horror, action, and sci-fi genres, IDW Publishing also owns Jonas Publishing and its children's imprint, Worthwhile Books. IDW lists some of the most successful and hottest print titles in the industry in its portfolio, including: television's #1 prime time series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation; Sony's Underworld; Paramount's Star Trek; Fox's 24 and Angel, and Hasbro's The Transformers. The feature film version of IDW Publishing's graphic novel, 30 Days of Night, recently topped the box office when it premiered in October. The company also works with foreign licensing agents to sell their comics around the world, with titles being published in multiple languages and crossing dozens of regions.
ABOUT IDT INTERNET MOBILE GROUP:
IDT Internet Mobile Group (IIMG), a division of the Fortune 1000 telecommunications firm IDT Corporation (NYSE: IDT, IDT.C), is a leader in the development, management and growth of cross-platform consumer entertainment, distribution and financial services. From providing mobile content to consumers in over 200 countries through the mobile content portal Zedge (www.zedge.net) to the creation, development and distribution of top graphic novels through IDW Publishing, and providing cash remittance services via mobile phones to millions of people living abroad, IIMG is dedicated to turning innovative ideas and companies into products and services that span various industries.
In this press release, all statements that are not purely about historical facts, including, but not limited to, those with the words "believe," "anticipate," "expect," "plan," "intend," "estimate," "target" and similar expressions, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All forward-looking statements and risk factors included in this document are made as of the date hereof, based on information available to IDT as of the date thereof, and IDT assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements or risk factors.
[PRESS] 'DRAFTED' #4 NOW OUT OF STOCK WITH MORE COPIES EN ROUTE
New issue of Devil's Due Publishing's hot sci-fi epic goes quickly as new shipments head from the printer to Diamond
Chicago, IL. (January 10, 2008) – A flood of orders quickly depleted Diamond's stock of the fourth issue of Mark Powers' ongoing sci-fi saga Drafted this week. Readers and retailers will not have to wait long to see the drought ended, however, because Devil's Due is currently rushing a new shipment from its printer to fulfill new orders.
"I've been in love with this concept from beginning," said DDP President Josh Blaylock. "I'm really glad that readers have latched onto the story with the same level of appreciation."
Powers' story follows Earth's first contact with extraterrestrial emissaries after the destruction of Jerusalem. When humans from all over the planet are removed from their everyday lives and told they have been drafted for a coming war to decide the fate of their world, the drama heats up as their training commences.
"Things are about to get really insane over the next few issues," Blaylock confirmed. Powers' intricately woven epic in the tradition of Star Wars and Battlestar Galactica unfurls with each new issue, crafting a new saga for this generation.
The Diamond order codes for the first six issues of Drafted are as follows:
DRAFTED PREVIEW APR073607
DRAFTED #1 JUL073478
DRAFTED #2 AUG073554
DRAFTED #3 SEP073564
DRAFTED #4 OCT073451
DRAFTED #5 NOV073504
DRAFTED #6 JAN083550
For more information, please visit www.devilsdue.net.
# # #
About Devil's Due Publishing:
After exploding on the comic book scene by igniting the "80s retro
revival" in the industry, Devil's Due quickly became one of the largest
and most popular comic book publishers in the United States. Today DDP's
lineup is a diverse mix of original properties and licensed books
including Drafted, Lost Squad, Sheena: Queen of the Jungle, G.I. Joe,
Storm Shadow, Dragonlance, Forgotten Realms, DemonWars, Voltron, The Nye
Incidents, and the cult-favorite Hack/Slash, which is currently in
pre-production as a feature film for Rogue Pictures.
Devil's Due: reminding everyone that "Pop culture IS our culture". For
more information on Devil's Due Publishing, please
visit http://devilsdue.net.
New issue of Devil's Due Publishing's hot sci-fi epic goes quickly as new shipments head from the printer to Diamond
Chicago, IL. (January 10, 2008) – A flood of orders quickly depleted Diamond's stock of the fourth issue of Mark Powers' ongoing sci-fi saga Drafted this week. Readers and retailers will not have to wait long to see the drought ended, however, because Devil's Due is currently rushing a new shipment from its printer to fulfill new orders.
"I've been in love with this concept from beginning," said DDP President Josh Blaylock. "I'm really glad that readers have latched onto the story with the same level of appreciation."
Powers' story follows Earth's first contact with extraterrestrial emissaries after the destruction of Jerusalem. When humans from all over the planet are removed from their everyday lives and told they have been drafted for a coming war to decide the fate of their world, the drama heats up as their training commences.
"Things are about to get really insane over the next few issues," Blaylock confirmed. Powers' intricately woven epic in the tradition of Star Wars and Battlestar Galactica unfurls with each new issue, crafting a new saga for this generation.
The Diamond order codes for the first six issues of Drafted are as follows:
DRAFTED PREVIEW APR073607
DRAFTED #1 JUL073478
DRAFTED #2 AUG073554
DRAFTED #3 SEP073564
DRAFTED #4 OCT073451
DRAFTED #5 NOV073504
DRAFTED #6 JAN083550
For more information, please visit www.devilsdue.net.
# # #
About Devil's Due Publishing:
After exploding on the comic book scene by igniting the "80s retro
revival" in the industry, Devil's Due quickly became one of the largest
and most popular comic book publishers in the United States. Today DDP's
lineup is a diverse mix of original properties and licensed books
including Drafted, Lost Squad, Sheena: Queen of the Jungle, G.I. Joe,
Storm Shadow, Dragonlance, Forgotten Realms, DemonWars, Voltron, The Nye
Incidents, and the cult-favorite Hack/Slash, which is currently in
pre-production as a feature film for Rogue Pictures.
Devil's Due: reminding everyone that "Pop culture IS our culture". For
more information on Devil's Due Publishing, please
visit http://devilsdue.net.
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
Inside the Comic Writers Studio – Episode 15
Atomika Writer Andrew Dabb Speaks Exclusively to ComicBloc
(San Antonio, Texas) January 7, 2008 – One of Devils Due Publishing's busiest writers, Andrew Dabb recently spoke exclusively to ComicBloc's Eric Moreno in the first installment of the acclaimed Inside the Comic Writers Studio series of 2008.
http://www.comicbloc.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1083&Itemid=52
During the discussion, Dabb speaks about finding his niche as a successful adaptor of such varied properties as Dungeons & Dragons , G.I. Joe and The Ghostbusters, his collaboration with legendary artist Seth Fisher and writing Japanese science-fiction. While speaking on the subject of writer's block, Dabb had this to say:
"I believe that writer's block, to the extent it actually occurs and I'm sure it does, is self-inflicted. When you're legitimately engaged and excited about a project, it's fun to sit down and write for hours. But by contrast, when you're doing something out of obligation, or for the paycheck, or pounding on an idea that just won't work for some reason, that flashing cursor becomes your enemy."
ComicBloc (www.comicbloc.com ) is a conglomerate of members and readers that seeks to elevate the status of the sequential art into the mainstream. This is a weekly series featured exclusively at ComicBloc. Past guests include, HACK/Slash creator Tim Seeley, Virgin Comics Editor Ron Marz, Wildstorm: Armageddon author Christos N. Gage, Whiteout author Greg Rucka and Dynamo 5 creator Jay Faerber.
Atomika Writer Andrew Dabb Speaks Exclusively to ComicBloc
(San Antonio, Texas) January 7, 2008 – One of Devils Due Publishing's busiest writers, Andrew Dabb recently spoke exclusively to ComicBloc's Eric Moreno in the first installment of the acclaimed Inside the Comic Writers Studio series of 2008.
http://www.comicbloc.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1083&Itemid=52
During the discussion, Dabb speaks about finding his niche as a successful adaptor of such varied properties as Dungeons & Dragons , G.I. Joe and The Ghostbusters, his collaboration with legendary artist Seth Fisher and writing Japanese science-fiction. While speaking on the subject of writer's block, Dabb had this to say:
"I believe that writer's block, to the extent it actually occurs and I'm sure it does, is self-inflicted. When you're legitimately engaged and excited about a project, it's fun to sit down and write for hours. But by contrast, when you're doing something out of obligation, or for the paycheck, or pounding on an idea that just won't work for some reason, that flashing cursor becomes your enemy."
ComicBloc (www.comicbloc.com ) is a conglomerate of members and readers that seeks to elevate the status of the sequential art into the mainstream. This is a weekly series featured exclusively at ComicBloc. Past guests include, HACK/Slash creator Tim Seeley, Virgin Comics Editor Ron Marz, Wildstorm: Armageddon author Christos N. Gage, Whiteout author Greg Rucka and Dynamo 5 creator Jay Faerber.
ROAD TRIP FROM HELL
URBAN MONSTERS hit the road this February!
January 9th, 2008 (Berkeley, CA) It’s been said that Hollywood is controlled by monsters and in February’s URBAN MONSTERS, four creatures head on a road trip to make that statement literal.
"URBAN MONSTERS pokes a lot of fun at the post-Warhol American Dream wherein everyone's after their fifteen minutes of fame," mini-series co-writer Joanne Moore said. "Our four road trippers learn not only that attaining any dream is hard, you'll have a heck of a time getting anywhere near it!"
Such dreams of fame hit a misfit group of east coast friends consisting of a beastman, a satyr, a fish-man and a zombie who strike out west on a country wide road trip. URBAN MONSTERS was created by Andrew Stroscher for noted television producer Vin Di Bona’s first foray into the comics medium and features the writing talents of Will Wilson & Joanne Moore alongside fan-favorite Tone Rodriguez on art duties.
Shadowline President Jim Valentino said, "URBAN MONSTERS is a wonderful fit in the eclectic lineup of titles under the Shadowline banner. Each book we publish is unique to everything else both in our line and on the stands altogether. We're very happy to have Andrew, Will, Joanne and Tone on board."
URBAN MONSTERS (DEC072051), a 3-issue 32-page miniseries for $3.50, will be in stores February 27th, 2007
URBAN MONSTERS hit the road this February!
January 9th, 2008 (Berkeley, CA) It’s been said that Hollywood is controlled by monsters and in February’s URBAN MONSTERS, four creatures head on a road trip to make that statement literal.
"URBAN MONSTERS pokes a lot of fun at the post-Warhol American Dream wherein everyone's after their fifteen minutes of fame," mini-series co-writer Joanne Moore said. "Our four road trippers learn not only that attaining any dream is hard, you'll have a heck of a time getting anywhere near it!"
Such dreams of fame hit a misfit group of east coast friends consisting of a beastman, a satyr, a fish-man and a zombie who strike out west on a country wide road trip. URBAN MONSTERS was created by Andrew Stroscher for noted television producer Vin Di Bona’s first foray into the comics medium and features the writing talents of Will Wilson & Joanne Moore alongside fan-favorite Tone Rodriguez on art duties.
Shadowline President Jim Valentino said, "URBAN MONSTERS is a wonderful fit in the eclectic lineup of titles under the Shadowline banner. Each book we publish is unique to everything else both in our line and on the stands altogether. We're very happy to have Andrew, Will, Joanne and Tone on board."
URBAN MONSTERS (DEC072051), a 3-issue 32-page miniseries for $3.50, will be in stores February 27th, 2007
NEW 'DUNGEONS & DRAGONS' SERIES GETTING LOWDER
D&D® legend editing new ongoing 'Worlds of Dungeons & Dragons™' series for Devil's Due Publishing
Chicago, IL. (January 10, 2008) – Bestselling author and award-winning editor James Lowder (Prince of Lies, Knight of the Black Rose) applies his talents to a new ongoing comic book series this February in Devil's Due's Worlds of Dungeons & Dragons. Lowder will oversee adaptations of the works of such legendary storytellers as R.A. Salvatore, Margaret Weis, and Tracy Hickman, which will pack the giant 48-page monthly comic.
"Each issue of Worlds of Dungeons & Dragons will feature two stories from Wizards of the Coast's bestselling fantasy settings, including the Forgotten Realms, Dragonlance, Ravenloft, and Eberron," Lowder said. Issues 1 and 2 will adapt R.A. Salvatore's "Dark Mirror," starring the Forgotten Realms' most famous drow, Drizzt Do'Urden, with a script by Nick Schley (Abiding Perdition, "Red Lotus") and art by Rafael Kayanan (Conan, Star Wars, Spider-Man), and Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman's "The Legacy," featuring the world of Krynn's most infamous wizard, Raistlin Majere, with a script by Neil Kleid (Brownsville, Ninety Candles, X-Men Unlimited), and art by Javier Sanchez Aranda (Hellina).
"Future issues of Worlds of Dungeons & Dragons will feature a wide array of iconic characters, including the arch-wizard Elminster, the vampire Strahd von Zarovich, and the death knight Lord Soth," according to Lowder. "Writers will include authors familiar to comics readers, as well as fans of fantasy fiction and role-playing games: Jeff Grubb, Ed Greenwood, Richard Knaak, Elaine Cunningham, P.N. Elrod, Monte Cook, Keith Baker, and Stan Brown, many of them scripting the adaptations of their own short stories."
Devil's Due tapped Lowder, whose background includes time directing the Forgotten Realms® and Ravenloft® book lines for TSR, Inc., and comics scripting assignments with DC, Moonstone, and Desperado. Lowder notes, "The worlds and characters featured in the anthology are already fan favorites for millions of readers and gamers around the world, but the stories are also terrific adventure fantasies that are accessible to anyone looking for great sword and sorcery tales."
For more information, please visit www.devilsdue.net.
Or find out more about James Lowder on his website www.jameslowder.com.
# # #
About Devil's Due Publishing:
After exploding on the comic book scene by igniting the "80s retro revival" in the industry, Devil's Due quickly became one of the largest and most popular comic book publishers in the United States. Today DDP's lineup is a diverse mix of original properties and licensed books including Drafted, Lost Squad, Sheena: Queen of the Jungle, G.I. Joe, Storm Shadow, Dragonlance®, Forgotten Realms, DemonWars, Voltron, The Nye Incidents, and the cult-favorite Hack/Slash, which is currently in pre-production as a feature film for Rogue Pictures.
Devil's Due: reminding everyone that "Pop culture IS our culture."
D&D® legend editing new ongoing 'Worlds of Dungeons & Dragons™' series for Devil's Due Publishing
Chicago, IL. (January 10, 2008) – Bestselling author and award-winning editor James Lowder (Prince of Lies, Knight of the Black Rose) applies his talents to a new ongoing comic book series this February in Devil's Due's Worlds of Dungeons & Dragons. Lowder will oversee adaptations of the works of such legendary storytellers as R.A. Salvatore, Margaret Weis, and Tracy Hickman, which will pack the giant 48-page monthly comic.
"Each issue of Worlds of Dungeons & Dragons will feature two stories from Wizards of the Coast's bestselling fantasy settings, including the Forgotten Realms, Dragonlance, Ravenloft, and Eberron," Lowder said. Issues 1 and 2 will adapt R.A. Salvatore's "Dark Mirror," starring the Forgotten Realms' most famous drow, Drizzt Do'Urden, with a script by Nick Schley (Abiding Perdition, "Red Lotus") and art by Rafael Kayanan (Conan, Star Wars, Spider-Man), and Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman's "The Legacy," featuring the world of Krynn's most infamous wizard, Raistlin Majere, with a script by Neil Kleid (Brownsville, Ninety Candles, X-Men Unlimited), and art by Javier Sanchez Aranda (Hellina).
"Future issues of Worlds of Dungeons & Dragons will feature a wide array of iconic characters, including the arch-wizard Elminster, the vampire Strahd von Zarovich, and the death knight Lord Soth," according to Lowder. "Writers will include authors familiar to comics readers, as well as fans of fantasy fiction and role-playing games: Jeff Grubb, Ed Greenwood, Richard Knaak, Elaine Cunningham, P.N. Elrod, Monte Cook, Keith Baker, and Stan Brown, many of them scripting the adaptations of their own short stories."
Devil's Due tapped Lowder, whose background includes time directing the Forgotten Realms® and Ravenloft® book lines for TSR, Inc., and comics scripting assignments with DC, Moonstone, and Desperado. Lowder notes, "The worlds and characters featured in the anthology are already fan favorites for millions of readers and gamers around the world, but the stories are also terrific adventure fantasies that are accessible to anyone looking for great sword and sorcery tales."
For more information, please visit www.devilsdue.net.
Or find out more about James Lowder on his website www.jameslowder.com.
# # #
About Devil's Due Publishing:
After exploding on the comic book scene by igniting the "80s retro revival" in the industry, Devil's Due quickly became one of the largest and most popular comic book publishers in the United States. Today DDP's lineup is a diverse mix of original properties and licensed books including Drafted, Lost Squad, Sheena: Queen of the Jungle, G.I. Joe, Storm Shadow, Dragonlance®, Forgotten Realms, DemonWars, Voltron, The Nye Incidents, and the cult-favorite Hack/Slash, which is currently in pre-production as a feature film for Rogue Pictures.
Devil's Due: reminding everyone that "Pop culture IS our culture."
THE PHANTOM #24
Written by Mike Bullock , Art: by Silvestre Szilagyi
Colors by Bob Pedroza, Cover: Rick Leonardi, Terry Austin and Bob Pedroza
32pgs, color, $3.99 …………"Checkmate #4 (of 5)"
Bangalla Invaded! The biggest arc in Moonstone's Phantom run, culminating in the double sized issue #25, continues!
In the aftermath of last issue, the Phantom must hurry to follow the murderer's trail before it grows cold.
However, the hunt leads him to a place no man, even one Who Cannot Die, wants to go.
" The Phantom may be decades old but his stories continue to be fresh, relevant and exciting." – Broken Frontier
"I think Lee Falk would have been proud." – Chronicle Chamber
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
KOLCHAK TALES: NIGHT STALKER OF THE LIVING DEAD #2 (of 3)
written by Chris Mills
illustrated by Tim Hamilton
cover by Dave Aikins
32 pages, color, $3.99
Forget the Children of the Corn...
Kolchak and the local sheriff are up to their ears (pun intended) in ZOMBIES at a small-town corn festival.
But what is the terrible secret behind these walking, lifeless people...
and what else besides people has it affected?
This is one story Kolchak may not want to get to the bottom of!
Written by Mike Bullock , Art: by Silvestre Szilagyi
Colors by Bob Pedroza, Cover: Rick Leonardi, Terry Austin and Bob Pedroza
32pgs, color, $3.99 …………"Checkmate #4 (of 5)"
Bangalla Invaded! The biggest arc in Moonstone's Phantom run, culminating in the double sized issue #25, continues!
In the aftermath of last issue, the Phantom must hurry to follow the murderer's trail before it grows cold.
However, the hunt leads him to a place no man, even one Who Cannot Die, wants to go.
" The Phantom may be decades old but his stories continue to be fresh, relevant and exciting." – Broken Frontier
"I think Lee Falk would have been proud." – Chronicle Chamber
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
KOLCHAK TALES: NIGHT STALKER OF THE LIVING DEAD #2 (of 3)
written by Chris Mills
illustrated by Tim Hamilton
cover by Dave Aikins
32 pages, color, $3.99
Forget the Children of the Corn...
Kolchak and the local sheriff are up to their ears (pun intended) in ZOMBIES at a small-town corn festival.
But what is the terrible secret behind these walking, lifeless people...
and what else besides people has it affected?
This is one story Kolchak may not want to get to the bottom of!
Great Expectations, the Graphic Novel
Best-selling Treasury of Victorian Murder creator Rick Geary adapts
Charles Dickens’ tale of mystery and obsessive love
It’s been made into movies nearly a dozen times. School systems
worldwide tell their students to read it. It’s in the top one-tenth of
one percent of Amazon.com’s bestsellers. And in April, Charles Dickens’
Great Expectations appears under the Papercutz Classics Illustrated
imprint as a graphic novel by Rick Geary, creator of the popular series
Treasury of Victorian Murder.
Great Expectations is a full-color hardcover, 56 pages long, at a size
of 6 1/2” by 9”, a cover price of $9.95, and the ISBN
978-1-59707-097-3. In both the prose novel and the graphic novel, the
homeless orphan Pip falls desperately in love with the beautiful but
shallow Estella. Pip struggles to prove himself worthy of Estella while
a mysterious benefactor intervenes in the boy’s life. You can see
preview art at http://www.papercutz.com/classics/greatexpectpre1.html.
Geary has won the 2007 “Best Title for a Younger Audience” Eisner
award (the comic-book Oscar) and the National Cartoonists Society’s
Book and Magazine Illustration Award. His Treasury of Victorian Murder
graphic novels have inspired praise such as:
• “First rate. Superb as always.”--Publishers Weekly
• “Meticulously researched, beautifully drawn, and quite entertaining.
My highest recommendation!”--Comics Buyer’s Guide
• “A must read!”--Andrew Smith, Scripps-Howard Newspapers
• “ Will have even reluctant readers immersed in history.”--School
Library Journal
• “Geary relies not on gore but on the scrupulously drawn detail and
the droll, telling expression.”--Booklist
• “A keen sense of period detail and sharp pacing.”--Kirkus Reviews
• “Filled with rich detail and told with the tightness of a
thriller.”--Time.comix
• “Geary shows a true talent for capturing the images, mood and even
language of Victorian society.”--Washington Post
Classics Illustrated has introduced generations of students to great
literature. These comic-book editions of novels, plays, and epic poems
sold about 200 million copies from 1941 through 1998. Geary originally
created his version of Great Expectations for a Classics Illustrated
series published by Berkley Publishing and First Publishing in 1990. It
has been out of print for more than a decade, and Papercutz is proud to
bring it back.
Great Expectations is the second of Papercutz’s new Classics
Illustrated volumes. The first two was Kenneth Grahame’s The Wind in
the Willows, adapted by Michel Plessix. Up next: Grimm’s Fairy Tales
by Mazan (pen name of Pierre Lavaud), Philip Petit, and Cecile
Chicault.
Best-selling Treasury of Victorian Murder creator Rick Geary adapts
Charles Dickens’ tale of mystery and obsessive love
It’s been made into movies nearly a dozen times. School systems
worldwide tell their students to read it. It’s in the top one-tenth of
one percent of Amazon.com’s bestsellers. And in April, Charles Dickens’
Great Expectations appears under the Papercutz Classics Illustrated
imprint as a graphic novel by Rick Geary, creator of the popular series
Treasury of Victorian Murder.
Great Expectations is a full-color hardcover, 56 pages long, at a size
of 6 1/2” by 9”, a cover price of $9.95, and the ISBN
978-1-59707-097-3. In both the prose novel and the graphic novel, the
homeless orphan Pip falls desperately in love with the beautiful but
shallow Estella. Pip struggles to prove himself worthy of Estella while
a mysterious benefactor intervenes in the boy’s life. You can see
preview art at http://www.papercutz.com/classics/greatexpectpre1.html.
Geary has won the 2007 “Best Title for a Younger Audience” Eisner
award (the comic-book Oscar) and the National Cartoonists Society’s
Book and Magazine Illustration Award. His Treasury of Victorian Murder
graphic novels have inspired praise such as:
• “First rate. Superb as always.”--Publishers Weekly
• “Meticulously researched, beautifully drawn, and quite entertaining.
My highest recommendation!”--Comics Buyer’s Guide
• “A must read!”--Andrew Smith, Scripps-Howard Newspapers
• “ Will have even reluctant readers immersed in history.”--School
Library Journal
• “Geary relies not on gore but on the scrupulously drawn detail and
the droll, telling expression.”--Booklist
• “A keen sense of period detail and sharp pacing.”--Kirkus Reviews
• “Filled with rich detail and told with the tightness of a
thriller.”--Time.comix
• “Geary shows a true talent for capturing the images, mood and even
language of Victorian society.”--Washington Post
Classics Illustrated has introduced generations of students to great
literature. These comic-book editions of novels, plays, and epic poems
sold about 200 million copies from 1941 through 1998. Geary originally
created his version of Great Expectations for a Classics Illustrated
series published by Berkley Publishing and First Publishing in 1990. It
has been out of print for more than a decade, and Papercutz is proud to
bring it back.
Great Expectations is the second of Papercutz’s new Classics
Illustrated volumes. The first two was Kenneth Grahame’s The Wind in
the Willows, adapted by Michel Plessix. Up next: Grimm’s Fairy Tales
by Mazan (pen name of Pierre Lavaud), Philip Petit, and Cecile
Chicault.
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
VIZ MEDIA LAUNCHES SIX NEW MANGA SERIES FOR FIRST QUARTER 2008
Diverse New Titles To Kick Off The New YearSan Francisco, CA, January 8, 2008 –
VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry's most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, has announced the launch of six highly anticipated new manga comic series for the First Quarter of 2008.The new releases are designed for Teen and Older Teen readers and include SAND CHRONICLES, HIGH SCHOOL DEBUT, HONEY AND CLOVER and MONKEY HIGH, to be published under the popular SHOJO BEAT imprint, RAL Ω GRAD, under the SHONEN JUMP ADVANCED imprint, and SWITCH, to be offered by the VIZ Media imprint.“We open 2008 with an exciting and diverse collection of new manga titles designed for fans of everything from gritty crime dramas and fantasy/action tales to bittersweet romance stories and zany high school comedy,” says Alvin Lu, Vice President, Publishing VIZ Media, “The debut of DEATH NOTE artist Takeshi Obata’s latest manga series RAL Ω GRAD continues to show the versatility of this very talented creator as he tackles the genre of fantasy adventure manga. New teen-oriented series like SAND CHRONICLES and HONEY AND CLOVER present softer but equally intriguing stories about growing up, entering adulthood and dealing with life’s dramas. The unique stories and characters presented in our newest collection of titles should strike a chord among even the most discriminating fan and we look forward to their success in the New Year.”
SAND CHRONICLES • Rated “T” for Teens • MSRP: $8.99 • Available Now!Twelve-year-old Ann and her divorced mother move from big city Tokyo to her mother’s rural hometown, where the menu consists of mystery meat, the village kids are totally uncool, the cute woodland creatures are not destined to be her faithful companions, and there aren’t even any bookstores! How will she survive her exile from civilization? When Ann’s mother unexpectedly dies, she must grow up fast, relying on the kindness of her new friends—Daigo and aristocratic siblings Fuji and Shika. But after her father reappears and moves her to Tokyo, will Ann be able to maintain a long-distance relationship with Daigo ?And do Fuji and Shika harbor romantic feelings for each other that will rip apart these childhood friendships…?
SAND CHRONICLES was created by Hinako Ashihara and won the 50th Shogakukan Manga Award. The ten-volume series sold more than 5.7 million copies in Japan and also spawned a live-action television series and a feature film, set to be released next year. The series currently appears in SHOJO BEAT magazine and also has been published in Italian, German and Spanish.
HIGH SCHOOL DEBUT • Rated “T” for Teens • MSRP: $8.99 • Available Now!Can a junior high tomboy turn into a high school sweetheart overnight? When Haruna Nagashima was in junior high, her life consisted of playing softball and reading comics. Now in high school, Haruna decides to put all of her energy towards getting a boyfriend and having the high school romance of a lifetime. She enlists the help of a cute upperclassman named Yoh Komiyama to help her transform into the kind of girl who can catch a guy. Yoh agrees to the challenge with one catch – Haruna had better not fall for him!
HIGH SCHOOL DEBUT was created by Kazune Kawahara, who drew her first manga series at age 18. Since then, Kawahara has developed a variety of comics for Shueisha's Bessatsu Margaret magazine. HIGH SCHOOL DEBUT is also previewed in the December issue of SHOJO BEAT magazine.
RAL Ω GRAD • Rated “T+” for Older Teens • MSRP: $7.99 • Available Feb. 5, 2008Renowned manga artist Takeshi Obata, artist of HIKARU NO GO and the wildly popular DEATH NOTE, introduces a new series of fantasy and action set in medieval times. In the midst of a meaningless war, a child named Ral is born during a bloody battle at the cost of his mother's life. From this baby’s shadow comes forth a huge and powerful dragon named Grad, which lays waste to the landscape within minutes. A quick-thinking knight locks the baby in a cage of darkness, where he grows to be a young man, knowing only the kindness of his young female tutor named Mio, but never seeing her face. One day an army attacks and the people of Sphaein are put under siege by horrendous monsters knows as Shadows. With the castle walls collapsing and their doom within sight, the people are persuaded to set Ral free knowing he also has a Shadow within him—the large blue dragon. Released from his black cell, Ral finally meets his beloved teacher face-to-face and discovers there are differences between men and women…differences he deems worth fighting for!
RAL Ω GRAD artist Takeshi Obata won the 2003 Tezuka Shinsei "New Hope" award and the Shogakukan Manga award for his wildly popular Shonen Jump title HIKARU NO GO. RALΩGRAD is his newest series and the latest addition to the Shonen Jump Advanced imprint and will appeal to fans of fantasy RPGs.
MONKEY HIGH • Rated “T” for Teens • MSRP: $8.99 • Available March 4, 2008After her politician father is disgraced in a scandal, Haruna Aizawa transfers to a new school where she becomes convinced that school life is like a monkey mountain—all the monkeys form cliques, get into fights, and get back together again. She even meets a boy called Macharu who reminds her of a baby monkey! Will Haruna remain jaded and distance herself from everyone around her, or will Macharu win her over with his monkey magic?
MONKEY HIGH was created by Shouko Akira, who made her manga debut in 1995 with THE SOLAR SYSTEM IS YOURS, which was serialized in Japan's Deluxe Bessatsu Shojo Comic. Akira is notable for her Betsucomi style art which features rosy cheeks and cute, clean designs. She is also the creator of TIMES TWO, a collection of five romantic short storiesthat's currently available from VIZ Media. MONKEY HIGH will be previewed in SHOJO BEAT magazine in February.
HONEY AND CLOVER • Rated “T+” for Older Teens • MSRP: $7.99• Available March 4, 2008Takemoto is a student who lives in a run-down student apartment, where his greatest worries are when he'll next be able to afford to eat meat and whether he'll get to class on time. Along with a crazy cast of five friends, Takemoto sets out to discover life and his true self. Set in a Tokyo art college, HONEY AND CLOVER realistically blends comedy and pathos to bring to life a very unique set of individuals. One day, one of the art professors introduces Takemoto to his cousin's daughter, Hagumi Hanamoto, a first-year art student who has come to live with him. Takemoto is immediately smitten and the plot thickens as Hagumi becomes embroiled in a complicated love triangle that also includes Takemoto’s friend, Shinobu Morita.
HONEY AND CLOVER showcases the journey from adolescence into adulthood and the long and challenging road these five young people must navigate to balance the demands of school, work, and love.Chica Umino is the creator of HONEY AND CLOVER, which debuted in 2000 and received the Kodansha Manga Award in 2003. The series was extremely successful and was also nominated for the Tezuka Culture Prize and an award from the Japan Media Arts Festival. Over 7.8 million copies of the 10-volume series have been sold in Japan and the series inspired both and anime series and live-action film, set for release by VIZ Pictures in 2008. Chica Umino is also a merchandise designer and created an array of HONEY AND CLOVER bags, purses, hats, and clothing available in Japan. There is even a HONEY AND CLOVER café in Tokyo. The series has been translated into Dutch, Korean, Chinese, and German and is also serialized in SHOJO BEAT magazine.
SWITCH • Rated “T+” for Older Teens • MSRP: $9.99 • Available March 11, 2008Kai Eto may look like a squeaky clean kid, but the Greater Kanto Narcotics Control Division's new investigator hides a violent alter ego and a dangerous past. Together with his stoic partner, Hal Kurabayashi, Kai is assigned to track down and stop the distribution of a dangerous new drug called Dragon Speed. But the hard-boiled syndicate trafficking the drug is almost impossible to infiltrate and combined with street violence and a jurisdiction war with the Meguro Police, poor Kai is in for some very long days at the office.
SWITCH was created by the Naked Ape duo, a collaboration of artist Tonomi Nakamura and writer Otoo Saki. The two women also produced an array of posters, album covers, phone cards and manga series such as BLACK TAR and the futuristic crime thriller DOLLS. SWITCH was originally published by Square Enix, the Japanese company behind FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST and FINAL FANTASY, and will appeal to fans of crime dramas such as Miami Vice, CSI, and NCIS.
LIBRARY EDITIONS • MSRP: $15.99 • Available January 2008In January, the company will also publish new hardcover Library Editions of the first volumes of several popular manga series including BLEACH, DEATH NOTE, FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST, INUYASHA, NARUTO and RANMA ½. The content of these editions will match their original manga counterparts but now packaged with a rugged hardcover to make the volumes viable for years of library use.
About VIZ Media, LLCHeadquartered in San Francisco, CA, VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), is one of the most comprehensive and innovative companies in the field of manga (graphic novel) publishing, animation and entertainment licensing of Japanese content. Owned by three of Japan’s largest creators and licensors of manga and animation, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan Production Co., Ltd. (ShoPro Japan), VIZ Media is a leader in the publishing and distribution of Japanese manga for English speaking audiences in North America and a global licensor of Japanese manga and animation. The company offers an integrated product line including, magazines such as SHONEN JUMP and SHOJO BEAT, graphic novels, videos, DVDs and audio soundtracks and develops and markets animated entertainment from initial production, television placement and distribution, to merchandise licensing and promotions for audiences and consumers of all ages. Contact VIZ Media at 295 Bay Street, San Francisco, CA 94133; Phone (415) 546-7073; Fax (415) 546-7086; and web site at www.VIZ.com.
Diverse New Titles To Kick Off The New YearSan Francisco, CA, January 8, 2008 –
VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry's most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, has announced the launch of six highly anticipated new manga comic series for the First Quarter of 2008.The new releases are designed for Teen and Older Teen readers and include SAND CHRONICLES, HIGH SCHOOL DEBUT, HONEY AND CLOVER and MONKEY HIGH, to be published under the popular SHOJO BEAT imprint, RAL Ω GRAD, under the SHONEN JUMP ADVANCED imprint, and SWITCH, to be offered by the VIZ Media imprint.“We open 2008 with an exciting and diverse collection of new manga titles designed for fans of everything from gritty crime dramas and fantasy/action tales to bittersweet romance stories and zany high school comedy,” says Alvin Lu, Vice President, Publishing VIZ Media, “The debut of DEATH NOTE artist Takeshi Obata’s latest manga series RAL Ω GRAD continues to show the versatility of this very talented creator as he tackles the genre of fantasy adventure manga. New teen-oriented series like SAND CHRONICLES and HONEY AND CLOVER present softer but equally intriguing stories about growing up, entering adulthood and dealing with life’s dramas. The unique stories and characters presented in our newest collection of titles should strike a chord among even the most discriminating fan and we look forward to their success in the New Year.”
SAND CHRONICLES • Rated “T” for Teens • MSRP: $8.99 • Available Now!Twelve-year-old Ann and her divorced mother move from big city Tokyo to her mother’s rural hometown, where the menu consists of mystery meat, the village kids are totally uncool, the cute woodland creatures are not destined to be her faithful companions, and there aren’t even any bookstores! How will she survive her exile from civilization? When Ann’s mother unexpectedly dies, she must grow up fast, relying on the kindness of her new friends—Daigo and aristocratic siblings Fuji and Shika. But after her father reappears and moves her to Tokyo, will Ann be able to maintain a long-distance relationship with Daigo ?And do Fuji and Shika harbor romantic feelings for each other that will rip apart these childhood friendships…?
SAND CHRONICLES was created by Hinako Ashihara and won the 50th Shogakukan Manga Award. The ten-volume series sold more than 5.7 million copies in Japan and also spawned a live-action television series and a feature film, set to be released next year. The series currently appears in SHOJO BEAT magazine and also has been published in Italian, German and Spanish.
HIGH SCHOOL DEBUT • Rated “T” for Teens • MSRP: $8.99 • Available Now!Can a junior high tomboy turn into a high school sweetheart overnight? When Haruna Nagashima was in junior high, her life consisted of playing softball and reading comics. Now in high school, Haruna decides to put all of her energy towards getting a boyfriend and having the high school romance of a lifetime. She enlists the help of a cute upperclassman named Yoh Komiyama to help her transform into the kind of girl who can catch a guy. Yoh agrees to the challenge with one catch – Haruna had better not fall for him!
HIGH SCHOOL DEBUT was created by Kazune Kawahara, who drew her first manga series at age 18. Since then, Kawahara has developed a variety of comics for Shueisha's Bessatsu Margaret magazine. HIGH SCHOOL DEBUT is also previewed in the December issue of SHOJO BEAT magazine.
RAL Ω GRAD • Rated “T+” for Older Teens • MSRP: $7.99 • Available Feb. 5, 2008Renowned manga artist Takeshi Obata, artist of HIKARU NO GO and the wildly popular DEATH NOTE, introduces a new series of fantasy and action set in medieval times. In the midst of a meaningless war, a child named Ral is born during a bloody battle at the cost of his mother's life. From this baby’s shadow comes forth a huge and powerful dragon named Grad, which lays waste to the landscape within minutes. A quick-thinking knight locks the baby in a cage of darkness, where he grows to be a young man, knowing only the kindness of his young female tutor named Mio, but never seeing her face. One day an army attacks and the people of Sphaein are put under siege by horrendous monsters knows as Shadows. With the castle walls collapsing and their doom within sight, the people are persuaded to set Ral free knowing he also has a Shadow within him—the large blue dragon. Released from his black cell, Ral finally meets his beloved teacher face-to-face and discovers there are differences between men and women…differences he deems worth fighting for!
RAL Ω GRAD artist Takeshi Obata won the 2003 Tezuka Shinsei "New Hope" award and the Shogakukan Manga award for his wildly popular Shonen Jump title HIKARU NO GO. RALΩGRAD is his newest series and the latest addition to the Shonen Jump Advanced imprint and will appeal to fans of fantasy RPGs.
MONKEY HIGH • Rated “T” for Teens • MSRP: $8.99 • Available March 4, 2008After her politician father is disgraced in a scandal, Haruna Aizawa transfers to a new school where she becomes convinced that school life is like a monkey mountain—all the monkeys form cliques, get into fights, and get back together again. She even meets a boy called Macharu who reminds her of a baby monkey! Will Haruna remain jaded and distance herself from everyone around her, or will Macharu win her over with his monkey magic?
MONKEY HIGH was created by Shouko Akira, who made her manga debut in 1995 with THE SOLAR SYSTEM IS YOURS, which was serialized in Japan's Deluxe Bessatsu Shojo Comic. Akira is notable for her Betsucomi style art which features rosy cheeks and cute, clean designs. She is also the creator of TIMES TWO, a collection of five romantic short storiesthat's currently available from VIZ Media. MONKEY HIGH will be previewed in SHOJO BEAT magazine in February.
HONEY AND CLOVER • Rated “T+” for Older Teens • MSRP: $7.99• Available March 4, 2008Takemoto is a student who lives in a run-down student apartment, where his greatest worries are when he'll next be able to afford to eat meat and whether he'll get to class on time. Along with a crazy cast of five friends, Takemoto sets out to discover life and his true self. Set in a Tokyo art college, HONEY AND CLOVER realistically blends comedy and pathos to bring to life a very unique set of individuals. One day, one of the art professors introduces Takemoto to his cousin's daughter, Hagumi Hanamoto, a first-year art student who has come to live with him. Takemoto is immediately smitten and the plot thickens as Hagumi becomes embroiled in a complicated love triangle that also includes Takemoto’s friend, Shinobu Morita.
HONEY AND CLOVER showcases the journey from adolescence into adulthood and the long and challenging road these five young people must navigate to balance the demands of school, work, and love.Chica Umino is the creator of HONEY AND CLOVER, which debuted in 2000 and received the Kodansha Manga Award in 2003. The series was extremely successful and was also nominated for the Tezuka Culture Prize and an award from the Japan Media Arts Festival. Over 7.8 million copies of the 10-volume series have been sold in Japan and the series inspired both and anime series and live-action film, set for release by VIZ Pictures in 2008. Chica Umino is also a merchandise designer and created an array of HONEY AND CLOVER bags, purses, hats, and clothing available in Japan. There is even a HONEY AND CLOVER café in Tokyo. The series has been translated into Dutch, Korean, Chinese, and German and is also serialized in SHOJO BEAT magazine.
SWITCH • Rated “T+” for Older Teens • MSRP: $9.99 • Available March 11, 2008Kai Eto may look like a squeaky clean kid, but the Greater Kanto Narcotics Control Division's new investigator hides a violent alter ego and a dangerous past. Together with his stoic partner, Hal Kurabayashi, Kai is assigned to track down and stop the distribution of a dangerous new drug called Dragon Speed. But the hard-boiled syndicate trafficking the drug is almost impossible to infiltrate and combined with street violence and a jurisdiction war with the Meguro Police, poor Kai is in for some very long days at the office.
SWITCH was created by the Naked Ape duo, a collaboration of artist Tonomi Nakamura and writer Otoo Saki. The two women also produced an array of posters, album covers, phone cards and manga series such as BLACK TAR and the futuristic crime thriller DOLLS. SWITCH was originally published by Square Enix, the Japanese company behind FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST and FINAL FANTASY, and will appeal to fans of crime dramas such as Miami Vice, CSI, and NCIS.
LIBRARY EDITIONS • MSRP: $15.99 • Available January 2008In January, the company will also publish new hardcover Library Editions of the first volumes of several popular manga series including BLEACH, DEATH NOTE, FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST, INUYASHA, NARUTO and RANMA ½. The content of these editions will match their original manga counterparts but now packaged with a rugged hardcover to make the volumes viable for years of library use.
About VIZ Media, LLCHeadquartered in San Francisco, CA, VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), is one of the most comprehensive and innovative companies in the field of manga (graphic novel) publishing, animation and entertainment licensing of Japanese content. Owned by three of Japan’s largest creators and licensors of manga and animation, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan Production Co., Ltd. (ShoPro Japan), VIZ Media is a leader in the publishing and distribution of Japanese manga for English speaking audiences in North America and a global licensor of Japanese manga and animation. The company offers an integrated product line including, magazines such as SHONEN JUMP and SHOJO BEAT, graphic novels, videos, DVDs and audio soundtracks and develops and markets animated entertainment from initial production, television placement and distribution, to merchandise licensing and promotions for audiences and consumers of all ages. Contact VIZ Media at 295 Bay Street, San Francisco, CA 94133; Phone (415) 546-7073; Fax (415) 546-7086; and web site at www.VIZ.com.
Dan Dare Flies off Shelves & to Computers
www.virgincomics.com offers Digital Comic of sold-out title
JANUARY 8, 2008 - NEW YORK, NY - With comic book collectors scooping up every issue of Virgin Comics’ sold-out Dan Dare #1 at retail, fans desperate to read the new adventures of this classic British science fiction hero have found a solution. As part of Virgin Comics’ popular Widescreen Digital Comic Book series, installments of Dan Dare #1 are being posted every Monday and Wednesdays at www.virgincomics.com. “With Dan Dare we are seeing why online digital comics are so important to Virgin Comics” said Sharad Devarajan, CEO of Virgin Comics. “The global demand for comics and graphic story telling far exceeds the distribution available through physical distribution.”
Dan Dare #2 was released on December 26th, and is still available at limited retail locations. The highly anticipated Dan Dare #3 is scheduled to street on January 23rd. Both of these issues, as well as copies of the second print run of Dan Dare #1, can currently be ordered at www.virgincomicsstore.com.
Virgin Comics’ Dan Dare is written by legendary comic author Garth Ennis (Preacher, The Boys, Hitman, John Woo’s Seven Brothers and other acclaimed and best-selling titles). The story is set in the future, albeit not too many decades from the present day. Colonel Dare is still vibrant and courageous – but now he’s retired. His retirement is a self-imposed exile, the result of his disgust with politics and the post-nuclear warfare that has destroyed North America and much of Asia – leaving the UK as the world’s last remaining superpower. Readers familiar with Dan Dare stories will recognize many of the original cast including a wiser and more experienced Digby; the innovative, brilliant and beautiful Professor Peabody; and of course the enemy of all that is good, the super-intelligent ruler of the Treens – The Mekon, together with a mix of galactic evil beings.
In addition to Dan Dare, other Virgin Widescreen Digital Comics titles include Guy Ritchie’s Gamekeeper, Devi, Weston & Nicolas Cage’s Voodoo Child, Deepak Chopra’s & Shekhar Kapur’s Ramayan 3392AD, Dave Stewart’s Walk In, The Sadhu, Deepak Chopra’s India Authentic, John Woo’s Seven Brothers and Snake Woman.
About Virgin Comics
Virgin Comics LLC is a character entertainment company creating original stories and epic myths for worldwide audiences. The company was founded in November 2005 by Sir Richard Branson and Virgin Enterprises Ltd., alongside author Deepak Chopra, filmmaker Shekhar Kapur and entrepreneurs Sharad Devarajan, Gotham Chopra and Suresh Seetharaman. Virgin is developing new stories with acclaimed filmmakers, actors and musicians including John Woo, Guy Ritchie, Terry Gilliam, Jenna Jameson, Dave Stewart, Ed Burns, Nicolas Cage, Duran Duran, Sachin Tendulkar and others. Feature films based on Virgin Comics' characters are also in the works, including an animated feature, The Secrets of the Seven Sounds, and theatrical live action feature films including Gamekeeper in development with Warner Bros. and Virulents with Fox. In India, Virgin Comics recently established a partnership with Studio 18 to pioneer the Indian "teen-horror" genre and a separate partnership with UTV Motion Pictures to develop new Indian superheroes. Virgin Comics also formed a joint venture with NBC Universal to create new science fiction properties for graphic novels and television with the Sci Fi Channel. www.virgincomics.com
ABOUT THE DAN DARE CORPORATION
The Dan Dare Corporation is the global rights holder in the intellectual property Dan Dare and the Eagle Comic. It represents the film, television, merchandising and publishing rights. The Company produced the highly successful CGI animated series 'Dan Dare - Pilot of the Future' in 2001. The $20 million production in LA has now been distributed by Columbia TriStar to over 130 countries worldwide. In October 2007, the book ‘The Best of the Eagle’ will be published worldwide. www.dandare.com
www.virgincomics.com offers Digital Comic of sold-out title
JANUARY 8, 2008 - NEW YORK, NY - With comic book collectors scooping up every issue of Virgin Comics’ sold-out Dan Dare #1 at retail, fans desperate to read the new adventures of this classic British science fiction hero have found a solution. As part of Virgin Comics’ popular Widescreen Digital Comic Book series, installments of Dan Dare #1 are being posted every Monday and Wednesdays at www.virgincomics.com. “With Dan Dare we are seeing why online digital comics are so important to Virgin Comics” said Sharad Devarajan, CEO of Virgin Comics. “The global demand for comics and graphic story telling far exceeds the distribution available through physical distribution.”
Dan Dare #2 was released on December 26th, and is still available at limited retail locations. The highly anticipated Dan Dare #3 is scheduled to street on January 23rd. Both of these issues, as well as copies of the second print run of Dan Dare #1, can currently be ordered at www.virgincomicsstore.com.
Virgin Comics’ Dan Dare is written by legendary comic author Garth Ennis (Preacher, The Boys, Hitman, John Woo’s Seven Brothers and other acclaimed and best-selling titles). The story is set in the future, albeit not too many decades from the present day. Colonel Dare is still vibrant and courageous – but now he’s retired. His retirement is a self-imposed exile, the result of his disgust with politics and the post-nuclear warfare that has destroyed North America and much of Asia – leaving the UK as the world’s last remaining superpower. Readers familiar with Dan Dare stories will recognize many of the original cast including a wiser and more experienced Digby; the innovative, brilliant and beautiful Professor Peabody; and of course the enemy of all that is good, the super-intelligent ruler of the Treens – The Mekon, together with a mix of galactic evil beings.
In addition to Dan Dare, other Virgin Widescreen Digital Comics titles include Guy Ritchie’s Gamekeeper, Devi, Weston & Nicolas Cage’s Voodoo Child, Deepak Chopra’s & Shekhar Kapur’s Ramayan 3392AD, Dave Stewart’s Walk In, The Sadhu, Deepak Chopra’s India Authentic, John Woo’s Seven Brothers and Snake Woman.
About Virgin Comics
Virgin Comics LLC is a character entertainment company creating original stories and epic myths for worldwide audiences. The company was founded in November 2005 by Sir Richard Branson and Virgin Enterprises Ltd., alongside author Deepak Chopra, filmmaker Shekhar Kapur and entrepreneurs Sharad Devarajan, Gotham Chopra and Suresh Seetharaman. Virgin is developing new stories with acclaimed filmmakers, actors and musicians including John Woo, Guy Ritchie, Terry Gilliam, Jenna Jameson, Dave Stewart, Ed Burns, Nicolas Cage, Duran Duran, Sachin Tendulkar and others. Feature films based on Virgin Comics' characters are also in the works, including an animated feature, The Secrets of the Seven Sounds, and theatrical live action feature films including Gamekeeper in development with Warner Bros. and Virulents with Fox. In India, Virgin Comics recently established a partnership with Studio 18 to pioneer the Indian "teen-horror" genre and a separate partnership with UTV Motion Pictures to develop new Indian superheroes. Virgin Comics also formed a joint venture with NBC Universal to create new science fiction properties for graphic novels and television with the Sci Fi Channel. www.virgincomics.com
ABOUT THE DAN DARE CORPORATION
The Dan Dare Corporation is the global rights holder in the intellectual property Dan Dare and the Eagle Comic. It represents the film, television, merchandising and publishing rights. The Company produced the highly successful CGI animated series 'Dan Dare - Pilot of the Future' in 2001. The $20 million production in LA has now been distributed by Columbia TriStar to over 130 countries worldwide. In October 2007, the book ‘The Best of the Eagle’ will be published worldwide. www.dandare.com
BACK ON THE HORIZON!
THE INFINITE HORIZON Returns to Store Shelves!
January 7th, 2008 (Berkeley, CA) - Following excellent reviews and a free convention preview, the debut issue of THE INFINITE HORIZON sold out at a distribution level and will return to store shelves alongside the second issue. on January 9th with a new cover by artist and series co-creator Phil Noto.
“Working with Phil Noto has been a true dream, I’ve been a fan of his for a long time,” said Writer Gerry Duggan. “We’re both ecstatic about the very gratifying reviews and then selling out of the first issue from the distributor. We think every issue gets better, and we want to take a second to thank the fans, retailers and reviewers that have all supported this new comic book.”
The reprint of the first issue of THE INFINITE HORIZON (OCT071959) and the brand new second issue (NOV072044), both 32-page comics for $2.99, will be available January 9th, 2008. The oversized third issue (DEC072091) will feature the soldier with no name against the Cyclops and arrive on racks in late February with a cover price of 2.99. For more information please visit http://www.the-infinite-horizon.com/site and http://www.imagecomics.com.
Image Comics is a comics and graphic novels publisher formed in 1992 by a collective of best-selling artists. Since that time, Image has gone on to become one of the largest comics publishers in the United States. There are currently four partners in Image Comics (Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri and Jim Valentino), and Image is currently divided into four major houses (Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline and Image Central). Image comics and graphic novels cover nearly every genre, sub-genre and style imaginable, offering science fiction, romance, horror, crime fiction, historical fiction, humor and more by the finest artists and writers working in the medium today. Visit www.imagecomics.com.
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