“WATCHMEN: JUSTICE IS COMING” ONLINE MULTIPLAYER GAME
NOW AVAILABLE ON THE APPLE APP STORE
Burbank, Calif., March 6, 2009 – Warner Bros. Digital Distribution today announced the availability of Last Legion Games’ highly anticipated Watchmen: Justice is Coming online multiplayer game for the iPhone and iPod touch. For a very limited time, Watchmen: Justice is Coming is being offered at a special introductory price of $0.99 on the Apple App Store. Based on the film Watchmen, from Warner Bros. Pictures and Paramount Pictures, in association with Legendary Pictures, Watchmen: Justice is Coming takes iPhone gaming to a new level allowing players to battle in realistic 3D environments and visualize changes to the world in real time.
Watchmen: Justice is Coming uses “cloudMMO,” Last Legion's patent pending cloud based multiplayer technology that leverages Amazon.com Web Services allowing players to adventure through the incredible world of Watchmen. Players experience an ever-changing gaming environment, chat with other players and participate in street battles.
In Watchmen: Justice is Coming, players bring their own unique form of justice to New York City in the 1970s before the film’s central story unfolds. Masked adventuring has been outlawed. During this critical time period, crime is rampant and average citizens must take matters into their own hands to survive. Players create their personal avatar and enter the rain-soaked city of Manhattan. The dark metropolitan world is a vast network of interlocking and overlapping spaces that include: the seedy and saturated neon Red Light District; a run down Financial District and its dark waterfront; the downtown back-alleys of Lower Manhattan; a wide open City Park; and more.
An original story inspired by director Zack Snyder’s big screen version of Watchmen, which is based on the graphic novel illustrated and co-created by Dave Gibbons, Watchmen: Justice is Coming leads players on an immersive adventure inside the depths of the Watchmen universe. Average citizens evolve into fully equipped costumed avengers by completing unique challenges, exploring the universe and battling enemies.
Watchmen fans can download the game by clicking this link http://tinyurl.com/bkfv6f or to learn more visit www.watchmenjusticeiscoming.com.
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ABOUT WATCHMEN: Opening nationwide on March 6, 2009, Watchmen is a complex, multi-layered mystery adventure, set in an alternate 1985 America in which costumed superheroes are part of the fabric of everyday society, and the Doomsday Clock—which charts the USA’s tension with the Soviet Union—moves closer to midnight. When one of his former colleagues is murdered, the outlawed but no less determined masked vigilante Rorschach uncovers a wide-ranging and disturbing conspiracy with catastrophic consequences for the future.
Watchmen is directed by Zack Snyder and produced by Lawrence Gordon, Lloyd Levin and Deborah Snyder. The screenplay is by David Hayter and Alex Tse, based upon the award-winning graphic novel co-created and illustrated by Dave Gibbons and published by DC Comics. Herbert W. Gains and Thomas Tull are the executive producers, with Wesley Coller serving as co-producer. The film stars Malin Akerman, Billy Crudup, Matthew Goode, Carla Gugino, Jackie Earle Haley, Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Patrick Wilson. Warner Bros. Pictures and Paramount Pictures present, in Association with Legendary Pictures, a Lawrence Gordon/Lloyd Levin Production, a Zack Snyder Film, Watchmen.
About Warner Bros. Digital Distribution
Warner Bros. Digital Distribution (WBDD) manages Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group’s electronic distribution streams over existing, new and emerging digital platforms, including pay-per-view, electronic sell-through, video-on-demand, wireless and more. WBDD also oversees the WBHEG’s worldwide digital strategy, partnerships in digital services and emerging new clients and business activities in the digital space.
About Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group brings together Warner Bros. Entertainment's home video, digital distribution, interactive entertainment/videogames, direct-to-DVD production, technical operations and anti-piracy businesses in order to maximize current and next-generation distribution scenarios. WBHEG is responsible for the global distribution of content through DVD, electronic sell-through and VOD, and delivery of theatrical content to wireless and online channels, and is also a significant worldwide publisher for both internal and third party videogame titles.
About DC Comics
DC Comics, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, is the largest English-language publisher of comics in the world and home to such iconic characters as Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and the Sandman. These DC Super Heroes and others have starred in comic books, movies, television series (both animated and live-action) and cyberspace, thrilling audiences of all ages for generations. DC Comics’ Web site is located at www.dccomics.com.
WATCHMEN and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and © DC Comics.
(s09)
About Last Legion Games LLC
Last Legion Games, LLC is a privately held technology company and game developer located in Santa Monica, Calif. Last Legion’s all veteran videogame staff create new gaming paradigms for gesture-based platforms. Last Legion’s proprietary, patent pending cloudMMO technology enables developers to create MMOs on commercially available distributed clouds.
Friday, March 06, 2009
Here are 2 interviews with Moore that you might not have seen yet.
Alan Moore Discusses Watchmen (from The Mindscape of Alan Moore):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwm4TSlNO3U
Podcast interview with Moore and "Mindscape of Alan Moore" director Dez Vynl
http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=294855429
The Mindscape of Alan Moore is a 2-Disc Collector’s Set Featuring the
Film, an Exclusive 20-Page Booklet and Over Three Hours of Bonus
Footage. Review copies or contest copies are stillavailable.
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCSnqQzU7Fw
Pics: http://www.flickr.com/photos/7273278@N06/sets/72157614396306861/
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B001BEGB3O/disinformation
“… an artfully executed documentary …. [I]t will leave casual viewers
with the impression that some of the more peculiar geniuses of our day
gravitate to comics.”
--Los Angeles Times
“Mr. Moore’s interview is great stuff; with his droopy eyes and bushy
beard, he looks and sounds like a talking British bear who spends his
days fixing car engines and his nights philosophizing.”
-- New York Sun
“… rare look at the famously reclusive talent.”
-- Tribune Media Services
“The only exceptional worm in the Moore feeding frenzy may in fact be
a documentary about him, called The Mindscape of Alan Moore…. If you
want to see his true genius at work on the wide screen, start there
and work your way outward. It may be the longest, strangest trip you
ever take.”
--Wired.com
Alan Moore Discusses Watchmen (from The Mindscape of Alan Moore):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwm4TSlNO3U
Podcast interview with Moore and "Mindscape of Alan Moore" director Dez Vynl
http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=294855429
The Mindscape of Alan Moore is a 2-Disc Collector’s Set Featuring the
Film, an Exclusive 20-Page Booklet and Over Three Hours of Bonus
Footage. Review copies or contest copies are stillavailable.
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCSnqQzU7Fw
Pics: http://www.flickr.com/photos/7273278@N06/sets/72157614396306861/
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B001BEGB3O/disinformation
“… an artfully executed documentary …. [I]t will leave casual viewers
with the impression that some of the more peculiar geniuses of our day
gravitate to comics.”
--Los Angeles Times
“Mr. Moore’s interview is great stuff; with his droopy eyes and bushy
beard, he looks and sounds like a talking British bear who spends his
days fixing car engines and his nights philosophizing.”
-- New York Sun
“… rare look at the famously reclusive talent.”
-- Tribune Media Services
“The only exceptional worm in the Moore feeding frenzy may in fact be
a documentary about him, called The Mindscape of Alan Moore…. If you
want to see his true genius at work on the wide screen, start there
and work your way outward. It may be the longest, strangest trip you
ever take.”
--Wired.com
Thursday, March 05, 2009
1492 ENTERTAINMENT ACQUIRES FILM RIGHTS TO BEN TEMPLESMITH’S GRAPHIC NOVEL WELCOME TO HOXFORD FROM
IDW PUBLISHING
(San Diego, March 5, 2009) -- Chris Columbus’ 1492 Entertainment has optioned the motion picture rights to Ben Templesmith’s graphic novel Welcome To Hoxford from IDW Publishing. Columbus will produce with 1492 partners Michael Barnathan and Mark Radcliffe. Michelle Miller brought the project into 1492. Templesmith is the co-creator of 30 Days of Night (with writer Steve Niles), upon which the film was based. His credits include the critically-acclaimed serial Wormwood Gentleman Corpse and Singularity 7.
When a deeply disturbed and violent inmate is transferred to a privately run mental prison called Hoxford, his psychiatrist discovers that the worst of the worst inmates are being transferred into the facility but never out. After trying to see her patient, the doctor find herself trapped in the prison, so she and the inmate must fight for survival … together … against the werewolves … that run the facility. Welcome to Hoxford.
“I actually owe the entire book to an idea I had after receiving a letter about some previous work being banned from a prison,” said Templesmith. “It turned into one of the darker things I’ve ever done, with a few sick twists. It’s really been quite fantastic that Chris Columbus has thought Hoxford worthy enough to perhaps burst from the comic page to the screen.”
IDW president Ted Adams says “We are thrilled to be in business with Chris Columbus and his company. We know these talented filmmakers will do justice to Ben’s singular vision.”
CAA represents both Columbus and IDW Publishing. Columbus’ attorney is Walter Teller. In addition to CAA, IDW was repped by Circle of Confusion and attorney Darren Trattner.
About IDW Publishing
IDW is an award-winning publisher of comic books, graphic novels and trade paperbacks, based in San Diego, California. As a leader in the horror, action, and sci-fi genres, IDW publishes some of the most successful and popular titles in the industry including: television's #1 prime time series CBS’ CSI: Crime Scene Investigation; Paramount's Star Trek; Fox's Angel; Hasbro's The Transformers, and the BBC's Doctor Who. IDW’s original horror series, 30 Days of Night, was launched as a major motion picture in October 2007 by Sony Pictures and was the #1 film in its first week of release. In April 2008, IDW released Michael Recycle, the first title from its new children’s book imprint, Worthwhile Books. More information about the company can be found at http://www.idwpublishing.com.
IDW PUBLISHING
(San Diego, March 5, 2009) -- Chris Columbus’ 1492 Entertainment has optioned the motion picture rights to Ben Templesmith’s graphic novel Welcome To Hoxford from IDW Publishing. Columbus will produce with 1492 partners Michael Barnathan and Mark Radcliffe. Michelle Miller brought the project into 1492. Templesmith is the co-creator of 30 Days of Night (with writer Steve Niles), upon which the film was based. His credits include the critically-acclaimed serial Wormwood Gentleman Corpse and Singularity 7.
When a deeply disturbed and violent inmate is transferred to a privately run mental prison called Hoxford, his psychiatrist discovers that the worst of the worst inmates are being transferred into the facility but never out. After trying to see her patient, the doctor find herself trapped in the prison, so she and the inmate must fight for survival … together … against the werewolves … that run the facility. Welcome to Hoxford.
“I actually owe the entire book to an idea I had after receiving a letter about some previous work being banned from a prison,” said Templesmith. “It turned into one of the darker things I’ve ever done, with a few sick twists. It’s really been quite fantastic that Chris Columbus has thought Hoxford worthy enough to perhaps burst from the comic page to the screen.”
IDW president Ted Adams says “We are thrilled to be in business with Chris Columbus and his company. We know these talented filmmakers will do justice to Ben’s singular vision.”
CAA represents both Columbus and IDW Publishing. Columbus’ attorney is Walter Teller. In addition to CAA, IDW was repped by Circle of Confusion and attorney Darren Trattner.
About IDW Publishing
IDW is an award-winning publisher of comic books, graphic novels and trade paperbacks, based in San Diego, California. As a leader in the horror, action, and sci-fi genres, IDW publishes some of the most successful and popular titles in the industry including: television's #1 prime time series CBS’ CSI: Crime Scene Investigation; Paramount's Star Trek; Fox's Angel; Hasbro's The Transformers, and the BBC's Doctor Who. IDW’s original horror series, 30 Days of Night, was launched as a major motion picture in October 2007 by Sony Pictures and was the #1 film in its first week of release. In April 2008, IDW released Michael Recycle, the first title from its new children’s book imprint, Worthwhile Books. More information about the company can be found at http://www.idwpublishing.com.
PRESS RELEASE - BOMB QUEEN PRESENTS SHADOWLINE'S ALL GIRL COMICS THIS MAY!One-shot to feature Bomb Queen teaming up with the super-heroines of the Shadowline universe!
5 March 2009 (Berkeley, CA) - This May, summer heats up early as Shadowline Publisher Jim Valentino, BRUCE THE LITTLE BLUE SPRUCE's Kristen Simon and I HATE GALLANT GIRL's Kat Cahill and Seth Damoose launch the ultimate super-heroine one-shot, BOMB QUEEN PRESENTS: ALL GIRL COMICS!
"Ever since restarting Shadowline, we've been slowly building up our very own corner of the Image universe, especially in the pages of BOMB QUEEN, SHADOWHAWK and most recently I HATE GALLANT GIRL. A spotlight is long overdue," Valentino said. "BOMB QUEEN PRESENTS: ALL GIRL COMICS showcases our super-heroines and most infamous super-villianess like never before in a self-contained adventure just about any super-hero fan will get a kick out of. It's hard not to enjoy a bevy of beauties quite like this one!"
BOMB QUEEN PRESENTS: ALL GIRL COMICS, illustrated by Damoose, co-plotted by Valentino & Simon and written by Cahill, features the women of the Shadowline universe - Bomb Queen, Dee Rail, Blacklight, Rebound, Editor Girl, Tempest and Fetish - working together to solve a problem that affects them all: something is rendering all the men in the world impotent! Can Bomb Queen team up with Shadowline's pantheon of super-heroines long enough to find the culprit and save the human race? Only this one-shot holds the key to the future of the Shadowline super-universe! BOMB QUEEN PRESENTS: ALL GIRL COMICS also features pinups by Image Comics Founders Jim Lee, Whilce Portacio and Jim Valentino!
BOMB QUEEN PRESENTS: ALL GIRL COMICS, a 32-page full color comic book for $3.50, will be in-stores May 27th, 2009.
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 five partners in Image Comics (Robert Kirkman, 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.
5 March 2009 (Berkeley, CA) - This May, summer heats up early as Shadowline Publisher Jim Valentino, BRUCE THE LITTLE BLUE SPRUCE's Kristen Simon and I HATE GALLANT GIRL's Kat Cahill and Seth Damoose launch the ultimate super-heroine one-shot, BOMB QUEEN PRESENTS: ALL GIRL COMICS!
"Ever since restarting Shadowline, we've been slowly building up our very own corner of the Image universe, especially in the pages of BOMB QUEEN, SHADOWHAWK and most recently I HATE GALLANT GIRL. A spotlight is long overdue," Valentino said. "BOMB QUEEN PRESENTS: ALL GIRL COMICS showcases our super-heroines and most infamous super-villianess like never before in a self-contained adventure just about any super-hero fan will get a kick out of. It's hard not to enjoy a bevy of beauties quite like this one!"
BOMB QUEEN PRESENTS: ALL GIRL COMICS, illustrated by Damoose, co-plotted by Valentino & Simon and written by Cahill, features the women of the Shadowline universe - Bomb Queen, Dee Rail, Blacklight, Rebound, Editor Girl, Tempest and Fetish - working together to solve a problem that affects them all: something is rendering all the men in the world impotent! Can Bomb Queen team up with Shadowline's pantheon of super-heroines long enough to find the culprit and save the human race? Only this one-shot holds the key to the future of the Shadowline super-universe! BOMB QUEEN PRESENTS: ALL GIRL COMICS also features pinups by Image Comics Founders Jim Lee, Whilce Portacio and Jim Valentino!
BOMB QUEEN PRESENTS: ALL GIRL COMICS, a 32-page full color comic book for $3.50, will be in-stores May 27th, 2009.
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 five partners in Image Comics (Robert Kirkman, 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.
TRAVIS KNIGHT NAMED PRESIDENT AND CEO OF LAIKA, INC.
Coraline and Wallace and Gromit Award-Winning Producer Claire Jennings Appointed President of Entertainment
(Portland, OR; March 5, 2009) -- LAIKA, Inc., the Portland-based animation studio whose first feature film, Coraline, has been a critical and box office hit since its release by Focus Features on February 6th, has announced that Travis Knight has been named President and CEO of the company. Knight succeeds Dale Wahl, who has held the position since 2005. Knight, who sits on the LAIKA Board and has been Head of Animation since 2007, was one of the lead animators on Coraline, the first stop-motion animated feature film to be produced in 3-D. Additionally, LAIKA has appointed Coraline producer Claire Jennings, an award-winning independent animation executive and producer of Oscar®-winning shorts and feature films including Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, to the newly created position of President, Entertainment. The appointments were announced today by Philip H. Knight, LAIKA’s owner and Chairman of the Board. Mr. Knight is also Chairman of the Board and Co-Founder of Nike, Inc.
“Travis’ passion has always been the arts in general and filmmaking in particular,” said Phil Knight. “He was Coraline’s earliest champion, playing a key role in our decision to greenlight the project and his creative contribution as lead animator on the film was immense. His ambitious business vision for LAIKA grows out of a first-hand understanding of, and reverence for, the creative process. Enhanced by Claire Jennings’ extraordinary depth of career experience as an award-winning producer and as a development and production executive of the highest order, I’m confident that our new leadership team will continue to move LAIKA to the forefront of the animation industry.
“Dale Wahl steps down as CEO at his request,” Mr. Knight continues. “After four years and at age 65 he felt, in his words, it was time to smell one rose. Dale moves into the position of Vice-Chairman to help Travis and Claire transition into their new positions until his retirement from LAIKA at the end of this October. In addition, he will temporarily fill the role of Executive Vice President of Business Operations and CFO until we complete our search to fill that position. With his steady leadership and business acumen, Dale has presided over our nascent feature film operation as well as our thriving commercial division, led by LAIKA/house President Lourri Hammack. The success of both areas of the company under his leadership has gotten us off to a great start.”
Travis Knight says, “At our core, LAIKA is an audacious, scrappy, and inventive community of filmmakers, driven by our love of animation, a belief in its endless possibilities, and confidence in its promise to touch the world. LAIKA’s potential is limitless. In both the entertainment and commercial arenas, we will continue to develop our visual and storytelling expertise across all animation formats. Simply put, we hope to grow into the boldest, most innovative animation studio in the world.”
Travis has been involved in all business and creative decision-making at LAIKA since the company’s inception in 2003, when Phil Knight took over the failing Vinton Studios, Portland’s renowned animation studio with a distinguished 30-year history, and re-christened it LAIKA. Travis joined Vinton Studios in 1998 as a stop-motion animator, working on the Emmy Award-winning television series The PJs, produced with Eddie Murphy Productions and Imagine Entertainment, as well as the animated series Gary & Mike on UPN. He earned his CG animation stripes by animating numerous television commercials (McDonald’s, Hostess, M&M’s) and promo spots, including the “NFL on Fox” campaign. In June 2007, he was honored by Animation magazine as one of the “Rising Stars of Animation.” He has served on LAIKA’s Board of Directors since 2003.
Claire Jennings was named “Producer of the Year for Animated Theatrical Motion Pictures,” along with Nick Park, by the Producers Guild of America for the Oscar and BAFTA Award-winning feature film Wallace and Gromit: Curse of the Were Rabbit (2005). The award joined a long list of honors garnered throughout a career as an independent and studio producer, development and production executive, and project originator, making her one of the most respected names in the animation industry. In addition to Wallace and Gromit, which earned more than $250 million worldwide, she has produced multiple award-winning animated shorts and television series including the Oscar and BAFTA Award-winning animated short Father and Daughter, the Oscar-nominated and BAFTA Award-winning animated short The Canterbury Tales, and the Oscar and BAFTA nominated short film Jolly Roger. She also developed and produced the BBC animated television series The Big Knights alongside its two directors, produced the BBC series Stressed Eric for Absolutely Productions, and was executive producer of HIT Entertainment’s British children’s TV series Pingu. As an event management and concert promotion executive, she was involved in such projects and talent as Comic Relief, Tina Turner, Talking Heads and Bob Geldof.
“I’m very happy to bring my combined experience in development and production to LAIKA as it embarks upon a new and exciting chapter in its history,” said Jennings. “As Coraline demonstrates, LAIKA is a company committed to taking bold new steps within the animation arena. I believe my strong entrepreneurial skills are a great fit for a company which truly values the creative vision behind any filmmaking process. I have a great deal of respect for this attitude and am looking forward to working alongside Travis to build a studio where many more imaginative films can be produced throughout the coming years.”
All company divisions will report to Travis Knight. Film acquisition, development, production and marketing will fall under Jennings’ purview. LAIKA/house, the advertising and commercial side of the company, will continue to be led by division president Lourri Hammack. Wahl will oversee technology, business affairs, finance and administration. Because of the importance of getting another project into production, Knight and Jennings will head up LAIKA’s film development efforts jointly. Currently LAIKA’s active development slate includes nine film projects, including the already announced Here Be Monsters, based on the best-selling book by Alan Snow; The Wall and the Wing, based on the bestseller by Laura Ruby, and Paranorman, based on an original idea by Coraline Head of Story Chris Butler.
About LAIKA:
Fueled by the vision of its owner, Nike co-founder and Chairman Philip H. Knight, LAIKA, Inc. (www.laika.com), located in Portland, OR, is an animation studio specializing in feature films, commercials, music videos, broadcast graphics and short films.
LAIKA’s initial feature film Coraline (www.coraline.com), was released by Focus Features on February 6, 2009 to overwhelming positive critical reaction. To date it has grossed over $61 million domestically. Directed and written for the screen by Henry Selick (Nightmare Before Christmas, James and the Giant Peach) and based on the internationally best-selling, Hugo Award-winning novel by Neil Gaiman, Coraline is the first major stop-motion animated feature to be shot in 3D. Its voice cast includes Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher, Ian McShane, the comic duo of Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders, John Hodgman, Keith David and Robert Bailey Jr.
LAIKA/house is world renowned for its skill in storytelling and character animation in many media, including 2D, CG and Stop Motion. The commercial studio produces commercials, branded entertainment and content for television, film, Internet and mobile venues. The team’s ability to create stunning designs and commercials has garnered the attention of advertising agencies such as Leo Burnett, Wieden + Kennedy and BBDO and has attracted clients such as Starbucks, Apple, Coca-Cola, ESPN, M&M’s and the NFL on Fox.
The studio has a 30-year animation history of presenting the artistry of award-winning filmmakers, designers and animators. In addition to numerous international honors, the company has won two Academy Awards, 11 Emmy Awards, 11 Clio Awards, three London International Advertising and Design Awards, five Mobius Advertising Awards and two Cannes Lion International Advertising Festival awards.
Coraline and Wallace and Gromit Award-Winning Producer Claire Jennings Appointed President of Entertainment
(Portland, OR; March 5, 2009) -- LAIKA, Inc., the Portland-based animation studio whose first feature film, Coraline, has been a critical and box office hit since its release by Focus Features on February 6th, has announced that Travis Knight has been named President and CEO of the company. Knight succeeds Dale Wahl, who has held the position since 2005. Knight, who sits on the LAIKA Board and has been Head of Animation since 2007, was one of the lead animators on Coraline, the first stop-motion animated feature film to be produced in 3-D. Additionally, LAIKA has appointed Coraline producer Claire Jennings, an award-winning independent animation executive and producer of Oscar®-winning shorts and feature films including Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, to the newly created position of President, Entertainment. The appointments were announced today by Philip H. Knight, LAIKA’s owner and Chairman of the Board. Mr. Knight is also Chairman of the Board and Co-Founder of Nike, Inc.
“Travis’ passion has always been the arts in general and filmmaking in particular,” said Phil Knight. “He was Coraline’s earliest champion, playing a key role in our decision to greenlight the project and his creative contribution as lead animator on the film was immense. His ambitious business vision for LAIKA grows out of a first-hand understanding of, and reverence for, the creative process. Enhanced by Claire Jennings’ extraordinary depth of career experience as an award-winning producer and as a development and production executive of the highest order, I’m confident that our new leadership team will continue to move LAIKA to the forefront of the animation industry.
“Dale Wahl steps down as CEO at his request,” Mr. Knight continues. “After four years and at age 65 he felt, in his words, it was time to smell one rose. Dale moves into the position of Vice-Chairman to help Travis and Claire transition into their new positions until his retirement from LAIKA at the end of this October. In addition, he will temporarily fill the role of Executive Vice President of Business Operations and CFO until we complete our search to fill that position. With his steady leadership and business acumen, Dale has presided over our nascent feature film operation as well as our thriving commercial division, led by LAIKA/house President Lourri Hammack. The success of both areas of the company under his leadership has gotten us off to a great start.”
Travis Knight says, “At our core, LAIKA is an audacious, scrappy, and inventive community of filmmakers, driven by our love of animation, a belief in its endless possibilities, and confidence in its promise to touch the world. LAIKA’s potential is limitless. In both the entertainment and commercial arenas, we will continue to develop our visual and storytelling expertise across all animation formats. Simply put, we hope to grow into the boldest, most innovative animation studio in the world.”
Travis has been involved in all business and creative decision-making at LAIKA since the company’s inception in 2003, when Phil Knight took over the failing Vinton Studios, Portland’s renowned animation studio with a distinguished 30-year history, and re-christened it LAIKA. Travis joined Vinton Studios in 1998 as a stop-motion animator, working on the Emmy Award-winning television series The PJs, produced with Eddie Murphy Productions and Imagine Entertainment, as well as the animated series Gary & Mike on UPN. He earned his CG animation stripes by animating numerous television commercials (McDonald’s, Hostess, M&M’s) and promo spots, including the “NFL on Fox” campaign. In June 2007, he was honored by Animation magazine as one of the “Rising Stars of Animation.” He has served on LAIKA’s Board of Directors since 2003.
Claire Jennings was named “Producer of the Year for Animated Theatrical Motion Pictures,” along with Nick Park, by the Producers Guild of America for the Oscar and BAFTA Award-winning feature film Wallace and Gromit: Curse of the Were Rabbit (2005). The award joined a long list of honors garnered throughout a career as an independent and studio producer, development and production executive, and project originator, making her one of the most respected names in the animation industry. In addition to Wallace and Gromit, which earned more than $250 million worldwide, she has produced multiple award-winning animated shorts and television series including the Oscar and BAFTA Award-winning animated short Father and Daughter, the Oscar-nominated and BAFTA Award-winning animated short The Canterbury Tales, and the Oscar and BAFTA nominated short film Jolly Roger. She also developed and produced the BBC animated television series The Big Knights alongside its two directors, produced the BBC series Stressed Eric for Absolutely Productions, and was executive producer of HIT Entertainment’s British children’s TV series Pingu. As an event management and concert promotion executive, she was involved in such projects and talent as Comic Relief, Tina Turner, Talking Heads and Bob Geldof.
“I’m very happy to bring my combined experience in development and production to LAIKA as it embarks upon a new and exciting chapter in its history,” said Jennings. “As Coraline demonstrates, LAIKA is a company committed to taking bold new steps within the animation arena. I believe my strong entrepreneurial skills are a great fit for a company which truly values the creative vision behind any filmmaking process. I have a great deal of respect for this attitude and am looking forward to working alongside Travis to build a studio where many more imaginative films can be produced throughout the coming years.”
All company divisions will report to Travis Knight. Film acquisition, development, production and marketing will fall under Jennings’ purview. LAIKA/house, the advertising and commercial side of the company, will continue to be led by division president Lourri Hammack. Wahl will oversee technology, business affairs, finance and administration. Because of the importance of getting another project into production, Knight and Jennings will head up LAIKA’s film development efforts jointly. Currently LAIKA’s active development slate includes nine film projects, including the already announced Here Be Monsters, based on the best-selling book by Alan Snow; The Wall and the Wing, based on the bestseller by Laura Ruby, and Paranorman, based on an original idea by Coraline Head of Story Chris Butler.
About LAIKA:
Fueled by the vision of its owner, Nike co-founder and Chairman Philip H. Knight, LAIKA, Inc. (www.laika.com), located in Portland, OR, is an animation studio specializing in feature films, commercials, music videos, broadcast graphics and short films.
LAIKA’s initial feature film Coraline (www.coraline.com), was released by Focus Features on February 6, 2009 to overwhelming positive critical reaction. To date it has grossed over $61 million domestically. Directed and written for the screen by Henry Selick (Nightmare Before Christmas, James and the Giant Peach) and based on the internationally best-selling, Hugo Award-winning novel by Neil Gaiman, Coraline is the first major stop-motion animated feature to be shot in 3D. Its voice cast includes Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher, Ian McShane, the comic duo of Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders, John Hodgman, Keith David and Robert Bailey Jr.
LAIKA/house is world renowned for its skill in storytelling and character animation in many media, including 2D, CG and Stop Motion. The commercial studio produces commercials, branded entertainment and content for television, film, Internet and mobile venues. The team’s ability to create stunning designs and commercials has garnered the attention of advertising agencies such as Leo Burnett, Wieden + Kennedy and BBDO and has attracted clients such as Starbucks, Apple, Coca-Cola, ESPN, M&M’s and the NFL on Fox.
The studio has a 30-year animation history of presenting the artistry of award-winning filmmakers, designers and animators. In addition to numerous international honors, the company has won two Academy Awards, 11 Emmy Awards, 11 Clio Awards, three London International Advertising and Design Awards, five Mobius Advertising Awards and two Cannes Lion International Advertising Festival awards.
After spanning the galaxy, the conflict comes home in “Innocents of Ryloth,” an all-new episode of the hit animated series STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS, premiering at 9 p.m. ET/PT Friday, March 6, on Cartoon Network.
The second in a three-part saga chronicling the liberation of a Separatist-held planet, “Innocents of Ryloth” looks at the civilians caught in the crossfire of the sweeping galactic conflict. When Obi-Wan Kenobi and his clones are sent to the surface to sabotage a powerful Separatist weapon, they encounter heavy resistance from the droid army – but they also come face to face with the humanity of those that they are sent to protect. Seeing the “human” side of the occupation helps to give the clones a new perspective on the war.
“We really wanted to tell a story about troops going into a foreign land, maybe being a little insensitive to the people, but growing fond of them and coming to love them and wanting to rescue them from their plight,” says Henry Gilroy, co-writer of the episode. “We saw it as an opportunity to reflect those great World War II stories of the American GIs moving through Europe and encountering the people of those areas, particularly orphans.”
For Gilroy and director Dave Filoni, inspiration for this particular story came from The Guns of Navarone, a classic war film in which a commando team must infiltrate impregnable enemy territory to destroy a gun emplacement. The narrative device proved to be an effective method for getting the Republic behind enemy lines – and into the occupied homeland of a downtrodden native race.
“The idea is that this cannon is preventing our heroes from arriving to help, to liberate the planet, and basically it’s going to come down to one Jedi – Obi-Wan – to save the day,” Gilroy explains. “Plus, we’re able to really emphasize just how evil the villains are as they use the inhabitants of the town as human shields.”
The second in a three-part saga chronicling the liberation of a Separatist-held planet, “Innocents of Ryloth” looks at the civilians caught in the crossfire of the sweeping galactic conflict. When Obi-Wan Kenobi and his clones are sent to the surface to sabotage a powerful Separatist weapon, they encounter heavy resistance from the droid army – but they also come face to face with the humanity of those that they are sent to protect. Seeing the “human” side of the occupation helps to give the clones a new perspective on the war.
“We really wanted to tell a story about troops going into a foreign land, maybe being a little insensitive to the people, but growing fond of them and coming to love them and wanting to rescue them from their plight,” says Henry Gilroy, co-writer of the episode. “We saw it as an opportunity to reflect those great World War II stories of the American GIs moving through Europe and encountering the people of those areas, particularly orphans.”
For Gilroy and director Dave Filoni, inspiration for this particular story came from The Guns of Navarone, a classic war film in which a commando team must infiltrate impregnable enemy territory to destroy a gun emplacement. The narrative device proved to be an effective method for getting the Republic behind enemy lines – and into the occupied homeland of a downtrodden native race.
“The idea is that this cannon is preventing our heroes from arriving to help, to liberate the planet, and basically it’s going to come down to one Jedi – Obi-Wan – to save the day,” Gilroy explains. “Plus, we’re able to really emphasize just how evil the villains are as they use the inhabitants of the town as human shields.”
Forever Nuts -- Classic Screwball Strips presents:
GEORGE MCMANUS’ BRINGING UP FATHER
By George McManus; Introduction by Bill Blackbeard
You can’t top George McManus’s BRINGING UP FATHER for visual style and wild slapstick. Jiggs, Maggie, and their lovely daughter Nora are a poor Irish-American family who come into wealth. Jiggs wants to wolf down corned beef and cabbage with his old pals, but Maggie wants to make Jiggs respectable for high society -- and enforces her wishes with a rolling pin. This deluxe volume presents every daily cartoon from the strip’s first two years (1913-1915), most of which have never been reprinted. See why comics experts consider McManus one of the greats.
Black-and-white jacketed hardcover, 11” x 6 ½”, 192 pages, $24.95, ISBN 978-1-56163-556-6, Diamond order code MAR 09 4376
Also available are the other volumes in the Forever Nuts series:
THE EARLY YEARS OF MUTT & JEFF
By Bud Fisher
One of the most long-lasting and popular humor strips, MUTT AND JEFF was a triumph of goofiness and irreverence. Here’s a rediscovery of a true oddball classic.
“A real work of art. I love how these knuckleballs are always scrambling for 50 cents so they can get some ham and eggs. I thought Herriman was the greatest till I started reading Fisher's working-scrub comics.” -- Tony Millionaire, The Comics Journal
“A blast to read. There is a lively wackiness to them that still makes them funny today.” -- Tim Janson, Silver Bullet Comics & Amazon.com
“Fisher really was a terrific artist and writer . . . creating material that truly set itself apart from others.” -- Marc Mason, Comicswaitingroom.com
“Brilliantly constructed. . . . Just seeing Mutt gamely assert, ‘Jeff, we're in soft, I just got a job as war correspondent,’ is enough to generate a smile of anticipation.” -- The Onion
“The sharp pacing and sardonic wit in Fisher's work set the standard for every newspaper strip that would follow.” -- Washington Post
Black-and-white jacketed hardcover, 11” x 6 ½”, 192 pages, $24.95, ISBN 978-1-56163-502-3
HAPPY HOOLIGAN
By Frederick Burr Opper
Happy Hooligan’s a well-meaning hobo who always ends up in hilariously bad shape. One of the most popular comic strips ever, HAPPY HOOLIGAN has influenced everything from Donald Duck to the Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoons of Jules Feiffer -- and it’s still delightful. This volume presents the best of Opper’s early, full-color Sunday strips.
“Required reading for anyone who takes comic strips as seriously as they deserve -- and likes to laugh, too.” -- Andrew Smith, Scripps News
“A remarkable talent.” -- Rod Lott, Bookgasm.com
“The joy of the strip is in the way Opper sets up his dominoes before knocking them down.” -- The Onion
Full-color clothbound hardcover, 11” x 7 ½”, 112 pages, $24.95, ISBN 978-1-56163-542-9
BONEYARD #28
By Richard Moore
After a long wait, here’s the last issue of BONEYARD before its indefinite hiatus. ‘Lita (friend of our hero, Michael Paris) has returned as a faerie princess betrothed to a creepy prince she'd rather not marry. When royal guards drag her away, Paris follows -- and finds himself facing whole armies. But his lover Abbey, bent on saving him, is raising her own army. Don't miss this big, super-sized final blowout!
32-page black-and-white comic book, $3.50, UPC 043016042169-28, Diamond order code MAR 09 4375
New From NBM’s Eurotica imprint:
SIZZLE #42
Christian Zanier’s outrageous “Honey Lickers Sorority” concludes, while Baldazzini’s tongue-in-cheek “Casa Howhard” starts up a new story. Plus: More “Barbarian Chicks,” “Ogenki Clinic,” and “Omaha the Cat Dancer.” Also: the all-new erotic fantasy, “Corinne in Labyrintera.”
Quarterly black-and-white magazine, 8 ½” x 11”, 64 pages, $5.95, UPC 074470753032-42, Diamond order code MAR 09 4247
See previews and more at www.nbmpublishing.com.
Visit our brand-new author/publisher blog at www.nbmpub.com/blog.
Our authors have direct access to post their latest, including art in progress!
For more information and to interact with us, visit www.nbmpub.com/comingup/comaug.html and our MySpace page, www.myspace.com/nbm_publishing.
GEORGE MCMANUS’ BRINGING UP FATHER
By George McManus; Introduction by Bill Blackbeard
You can’t top George McManus’s BRINGING UP FATHER for visual style and wild slapstick. Jiggs, Maggie, and their lovely daughter Nora are a poor Irish-American family who come into wealth. Jiggs wants to wolf down corned beef and cabbage with his old pals, but Maggie wants to make Jiggs respectable for high society -- and enforces her wishes with a rolling pin. This deluxe volume presents every daily cartoon from the strip’s first two years (1913-1915), most of which have never been reprinted. See why comics experts consider McManus one of the greats.
Black-and-white jacketed hardcover, 11” x 6 ½”, 192 pages, $24.95, ISBN 978-1-56163-556-6, Diamond order code MAR 09 4376
Also available are the other volumes in the Forever Nuts series:
THE EARLY YEARS OF MUTT & JEFF
By Bud Fisher
One of the most long-lasting and popular humor strips, MUTT AND JEFF was a triumph of goofiness and irreverence. Here’s a rediscovery of a true oddball classic.
“A real work of art. I love how these knuckleballs are always scrambling for 50 cents so they can get some ham and eggs. I thought Herriman was the greatest till I started reading Fisher's working-scrub comics.” -- Tony Millionaire, The Comics Journal
“A blast to read. There is a lively wackiness to them that still makes them funny today.” -- Tim Janson, Silver Bullet Comics & Amazon.com
“Fisher really was a terrific artist and writer . . . creating material that truly set itself apart from others.” -- Marc Mason, Comicswaitingroom.com
“Brilliantly constructed. . . . Just seeing Mutt gamely assert, ‘Jeff, we're in soft, I just got a job as war correspondent,’ is enough to generate a smile of anticipation.” -- The Onion
“The sharp pacing and sardonic wit in Fisher's work set the standard for every newspaper strip that would follow.” -- Washington Post
Black-and-white jacketed hardcover, 11” x 6 ½”, 192 pages, $24.95, ISBN 978-1-56163-502-3
HAPPY HOOLIGAN
By Frederick Burr Opper
Happy Hooligan’s a well-meaning hobo who always ends up in hilariously bad shape. One of the most popular comic strips ever, HAPPY HOOLIGAN has influenced everything from Donald Duck to the Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoons of Jules Feiffer -- and it’s still delightful. This volume presents the best of Opper’s early, full-color Sunday strips.
“Required reading for anyone who takes comic strips as seriously as they deserve -- and likes to laugh, too.” -- Andrew Smith, Scripps News
“A remarkable talent.” -- Rod Lott, Bookgasm.com
“The joy of the strip is in the way Opper sets up his dominoes before knocking them down.” -- The Onion
Full-color clothbound hardcover, 11” x 7 ½”, 112 pages, $24.95, ISBN 978-1-56163-542-9
BONEYARD #28
By Richard Moore
After a long wait, here’s the last issue of BONEYARD before its indefinite hiatus. ‘Lita (friend of our hero, Michael Paris) has returned as a faerie princess betrothed to a creepy prince she'd rather not marry. When royal guards drag her away, Paris follows -- and finds himself facing whole armies. But his lover Abbey, bent on saving him, is raising her own army. Don't miss this big, super-sized final blowout!
32-page black-and-white comic book, $3.50, UPC 043016042169-28, Diamond order code MAR 09 4375
New From NBM’s Eurotica imprint:
SIZZLE #42
Christian Zanier’s outrageous “Honey Lickers Sorority” concludes, while Baldazzini’s tongue-in-cheek “Casa Howhard” starts up a new story. Plus: More “Barbarian Chicks,” “Ogenki Clinic,” and “Omaha the Cat Dancer.” Also: the all-new erotic fantasy, “Corinne in Labyrintera.”
Quarterly black-and-white magazine, 8 ½” x 11”, 64 pages, $5.95, UPC 074470753032-42, Diamond order code MAR 09 4247
See previews and more at www.nbmpublishing.com.
Visit our brand-new author/publisher blog at www.nbmpub.com/blog.
Our authors have direct access to post their latest, including art in progress!
For more information and to interact with us, visit www.nbmpub.com/comingup/comaug.html and our MySpace page, www.myspace.com/nbm_publishing.
Wednesday, March 04, 2009
BOOM! STUDIOS LAUNCHES MARK SABLE'S UNTHINKABLE
WITH COMICS' FIRST ALTERED REALITY GAME
Win a one-of-a-kind hardcover of the first issue signed and numbered
by series creator Mark Sable and BOOM! E-i-C Mark Waid!
Think the UNTHINKABLE!
JOIN UP AT WOLFPACKPMC.COM TODAY!
March 4th, 2009 - Los Angeles - This May, BOOM! Studios premieres Mark Sable's mini-series UNTHINKABLE, but comic fans everywhere can get a head-start participating in the story NOW by playing comics' first Altered Reality Game at www.wolfpackpmc.com.
Written by acclaimed DC writer Mark Sable, best known for his TWO-FACE: YEAR ONE and CYBORG, UNTHINKABLE is a five-issue mini-series that debuts this May. The series features covers by Paul (PUNISHER NOIR) Azaceta and Kristian (DMZ) Donaldson, with interior art by THE REMNANT's rising-star artist Julian Totino Tedesco.
"Mark Sable is one of the best of the new generation of comics writers. Fans are going to love the smart, action-packed work that he and Julian Totino Tedesco are doing on UNTHINKABLE," said BOOM!'s E-i-C Mark Waid. "At BOOM!, we believe in this project so much that we wanted to really do something to make sure people took notice. This contest not only allows fans to become part of the story, but it also enhances and extends UNTHINKABLE beyond the pages of the comic. And hey, winning a signed one-of-a-kind collector's edition isn't bad, either!"
So while fans will have to wait until May for the first issue of UNTHINKABLE to premiere, comic fans everywhere can start experiencing the UNTHINKABLE story NOW by participating in comic's first Altered Reality Game (ARG) at www.wolfpackpmc.com. Once fans join the Wolfpack Private Military Company (PMC) at www.wolfpackpmc.com, they will be tasked with a series of missions that will inform and enhance the story of UNTHINKABLE. The contestant who enters the most winning answers at the end of the three missions will win a unique hardcover of the first issue signed by series creator Mark Sable and BOOM! E-i-C Mark Waid.
Fans have until March 8th to sign up for the UNTHINKABLE Altered Reality Game. Missions will start March 9th, and run until the end of the month when a winner will be announced.
UNTHINKABLE follows Alan Ripley, a best-selling author who joins a think tank commissioned after 9-11 to think the unthinkable and protect America from possible nightmare terrorist scenarios. But years later, when the think tank's imaginary terror plots become frighteningly real, can he stop the UNTHINKABLE from coming to pass?
Comic fans everywhere can help Alan by joining The Wolfpack PMC today. As part of The Wolfpack PMC (www.wolfpackpmc.com), fans will be dropped into the UNTHINKABLE storyline and required to find other members of the think tank to prevent the UNTHINKABLE from happening. But are the players helping to end the terror or enabling it? Players will have to decide for themselves.
Wikipedia defines an alternate or Altered Reality Game (ARG) as, "an interactive narrative... (where) Players interact directly with characters in the game, solve plot-based challenges and puzzles, and often work together with a community to analyze the story and coordinate real-life and online activities. ARGs generally use multimedia, such as telephones, email and mail but rely on the Internet as the central binding medium."
Coming on the heels of such ARGs as THE LOST EXPERIENCE for the TV show LOST and I LOVE BEES for the HALO 2 launch, the UNTHINKABLE ARG will turn the computing power of everyday comic fans into valuable skills as they find information essential to the UNTHINKABLE storyline making the UNTHINKABLE ARG a first in comic book marketing.
"Each comic deserves its own unique marketing campaign. UNTHINKABLE just screamed ARG to us," said BOOM! Studios Marketing and Sales Director Chip Mosher. "BOOM! has a reputation for having some of the most aggressive comics marketing in the business, and we are always looking to top ourselves. Working with Sable on this ARG has been a blast, and it's always great to do something where you are breaking new ground. The UNTHINKABLE ARG is a first-of-its-kind in comics and it will just be so awesome for the fans to participate in the story in ways that were just - dare I say - unthinkable a decade before."
"As excited as I am about the comic, I'm just as excited by the ARG," says series creator Mark Sable, a huge gamer himself. "I see the game as a way for fans to 'earn' a wealth of bonus material instead of paying for it, and a great way to bring interactivity to comics. The game is called an ARG for a reason--it brings home how frighteningly close UNTHINKABLE is to reality."
UNTHINKABLE #1 is written by Mark Sable and drawn by Julian Totino Tedesco with first issue covers by Paul Azaceta and Kristian Donaldson. The first issue of UNTHINKABLE ships in May and has a Diamond Code of MAR094127.
About BOOM! Studios
BOOM! Studios (http://www.boom-studios.com) is a unique publishing house specializing in high-profile projects across a wide variety of different genres from some of the industry's biggest talents. In its inaugural year, Wizard Magazine named BOOM! "Best New Publisher." 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.
WITH COMICS' FIRST ALTERED REALITY GAME
Win a one-of-a-kind hardcover of the first issue signed and numbered
by series creator Mark Sable and BOOM! E-i-C Mark Waid!
Think the UNTHINKABLE!
JOIN UP AT WOLFPACKPMC.COM TODAY!
March 4th, 2009 - Los Angeles - This May, BOOM! Studios premieres Mark Sable's mini-series UNTHINKABLE, but comic fans everywhere can get a head-start participating in the story NOW by playing comics' first Altered Reality Game at www.wolfpackpmc.com.
Written by acclaimed DC writer Mark Sable, best known for his TWO-FACE: YEAR ONE and CYBORG, UNTHINKABLE is a five-issue mini-series that debuts this May. The series features covers by Paul (PUNISHER NOIR) Azaceta and Kristian (DMZ) Donaldson, with interior art by THE REMNANT's rising-star artist Julian Totino Tedesco.
"Mark Sable is one of the best of the new generation of comics writers. Fans are going to love the smart, action-packed work that he and Julian Totino Tedesco are doing on UNTHINKABLE," said BOOM!'s E-i-C Mark Waid. "At BOOM!, we believe in this project so much that we wanted to really do something to make sure people took notice. This contest not only allows fans to become part of the story, but it also enhances and extends UNTHINKABLE beyond the pages of the comic. And hey, winning a signed one-of-a-kind collector's edition isn't bad, either!"
So while fans will have to wait until May for the first issue of UNTHINKABLE to premiere, comic fans everywhere can start experiencing the UNTHINKABLE story NOW by participating in comic's first Altered Reality Game (ARG) at www.wolfpackpmc.com. Once fans join the Wolfpack Private Military Company (PMC) at www.wolfpackpmc.com, they will be tasked with a series of missions that will inform and enhance the story of UNTHINKABLE. The contestant who enters the most winning answers at the end of the three missions will win a unique hardcover of the first issue signed by series creator Mark Sable and BOOM! E-i-C Mark Waid.
Fans have until March 8th to sign up for the UNTHINKABLE Altered Reality Game. Missions will start March 9th, and run until the end of the month when a winner will be announced.
UNTHINKABLE follows Alan Ripley, a best-selling author who joins a think tank commissioned after 9-11 to think the unthinkable and protect America from possible nightmare terrorist scenarios. But years later, when the think tank's imaginary terror plots become frighteningly real, can he stop the UNTHINKABLE from coming to pass?
Comic fans everywhere can help Alan by joining The Wolfpack PMC today. As part of The Wolfpack PMC (www.wolfpackpmc.com), fans will be dropped into the UNTHINKABLE storyline and required to find other members of the think tank to prevent the UNTHINKABLE from happening. But are the players helping to end the terror or enabling it? Players will have to decide for themselves.
Wikipedia defines an alternate or Altered Reality Game (ARG) as, "an interactive narrative... (where) Players interact directly with characters in the game, solve plot-based challenges and puzzles, and often work together with a community to analyze the story and coordinate real-life and online activities. ARGs generally use multimedia, such as telephones, email and mail but rely on the Internet as the central binding medium."
Coming on the heels of such ARGs as THE LOST EXPERIENCE for the TV show LOST and I LOVE BEES for the HALO 2 launch, the UNTHINKABLE ARG will turn the computing power of everyday comic fans into valuable skills as they find information essential to the UNTHINKABLE storyline making the UNTHINKABLE ARG a first in comic book marketing.
"Each comic deserves its own unique marketing campaign. UNTHINKABLE just screamed ARG to us," said BOOM! Studios Marketing and Sales Director Chip Mosher. "BOOM! has a reputation for having some of the most aggressive comics marketing in the business, and we are always looking to top ourselves. Working with Sable on this ARG has been a blast, and it's always great to do something where you are breaking new ground. The UNTHINKABLE ARG is a first-of-its-kind in comics and it will just be so awesome for the fans to participate in the story in ways that were just - dare I say - unthinkable a decade before."
"As excited as I am about the comic, I'm just as excited by the ARG," says series creator Mark Sable, a huge gamer himself. "I see the game as a way for fans to 'earn' a wealth of bonus material instead of paying for it, and a great way to bring interactivity to comics. The game is called an ARG for a reason--it brings home how frighteningly close UNTHINKABLE is to reality."
UNTHINKABLE #1 is written by Mark Sable and drawn by Julian Totino Tedesco with first issue covers by Paul Azaceta and Kristian Donaldson. The first issue of UNTHINKABLE ships in May and has a Diamond Code of MAR094127.
About BOOM! Studios
BOOM! Studios (http://www.boom-studios.com) is a unique publishing house specializing in high-profile projects across a wide variety of different genres from some of the industry's biggest talents. In its inaugural year, Wizard Magazine named BOOM! "Best New Publisher." 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.
“POLITICAL POWER” COLIN POWELL COMIC BOOK LAUNCHES IN JULY AT BLUEWATER
Due to the considerable buzz and sales success generated by the recent Female Force comic series, Bluewater announced it will build on the popular biography series with a spin-off title Political Power, a new title that focuses on past and present American politicians.
Launching in July, the inaugural issue will feature former Secretary of State and retired four-star general Colin Powell. This one-shot format will cover his entire military and government service career.
“Like Female Force, Political Power will tell even-handed stories of the individuals responsible for shaping the American way of life,” said Bluewater publisher Darren G. Davis.
Future issues of the series will include Barack Obama, Ronald Reagan, Alexander Hamilton, Mae Ella Nolan (the first woman elected in her own right to the House of Representatives) and Nancy Pelosi.
“The title is not a history book with pictures,” Davis said, “but they look to analyze what made these individuals influential, and in some respects, integral to our national identity.”
With Female Force moving away from politics to women in the media, Davis felt compelled to find other intriguing and important political stories to tell.
“I think we have a unique way of exposing a younger demographic to these leaders that extend beyond the headlines,” Davis added. “We are excited how well the Female Force series did with schools and libraries. We hope for a similar reception to Political Power.”
The “Political Power: Colin Powell” cover was painted by Vinnie Tartamella whose credits includes “Female Force” Hillary Clinton & Michelle Obama covers. Bluewater announced last week that Female Force: Sarah Palin is getting a 2nd printing. Bluewater is expecting the same of the Hillary Clinton issue.
About Bluewater Productions:
Bluewater Productions, Inc., is one of the top independent production studios of comic books, young adult books and graphic novels. Its extensive catalog of titles includes the bestsellers FEMALE FORCE, 10th MUSE, VSS and THE LEGEND OF ISIS. Bluewater publishes comic books with legendary filmmaker Ray Harryhausen and soon will launch a series in conjunction with sci-fi icon William Shatner. Bluewater aims to unite cutting-edge art and engaging stories produced by its stable of the publishing industry's top artists and writers. For more information, visit www.bluewateprod.com.
Due to the considerable buzz and sales success generated by the recent Female Force comic series, Bluewater announced it will build on the popular biography series with a spin-off title Political Power, a new title that focuses on past and present American politicians.
Launching in July, the inaugural issue will feature former Secretary of State and retired four-star general Colin Powell. This one-shot format will cover his entire military and government service career.
“Like Female Force, Political Power will tell even-handed stories of the individuals responsible for shaping the American way of life,” said Bluewater publisher Darren G. Davis.
Future issues of the series will include Barack Obama, Ronald Reagan, Alexander Hamilton, Mae Ella Nolan (the first woman elected in her own right to the House of Representatives) and Nancy Pelosi.
“The title is not a history book with pictures,” Davis said, “but they look to analyze what made these individuals influential, and in some respects, integral to our national identity.”
With Female Force moving away from politics to women in the media, Davis felt compelled to find other intriguing and important political stories to tell.
“I think we have a unique way of exposing a younger demographic to these leaders that extend beyond the headlines,” Davis added. “We are excited how well the Female Force series did with schools and libraries. We hope for a similar reception to Political Power.”
The “Political Power: Colin Powell” cover was painted by Vinnie Tartamella whose credits includes “Female Force” Hillary Clinton & Michelle Obama covers. Bluewater announced last week that Female Force: Sarah Palin is getting a 2nd printing. Bluewater is expecting the same of the Hillary Clinton issue.
About Bluewater Productions:
Bluewater Productions, Inc., is one of the top independent production studios of comic books, young adult books and graphic novels. Its extensive catalog of titles includes the bestsellers FEMALE FORCE, 10th MUSE, VSS and THE LEGEND OF ISIS. Bluewater publishes comic books with legendary filmmaker Ray Harryhausen and soon will launch a series in conjunction with sci-fi icon William Shatner. Bluewater aims to unite cutting-edge art and engaging stories produced by its stable of the publishing industry's top artists and writers. For more information, visit www.bluewateprod.com.
**FREE** WILL EISNER WEEK PANEL THIS SATURDAY, MARCH 7, IN NYC, WITH DENNIS O'NEIL, DANNY FINGEROTH, N.C. CHRISTOPHER COUCH, AND KENNETH GINIGER
New York, March 4, 2009
From Danny Fingeroth:
CELEBRATING WILL EISNER: A panel of Eisner experts discusses his life and career, examining just what made (and still makes) him so significant to the comics medium. Featuring DANNY FINGEROTH (Disguised as Clark Kent: Jews, Comics, and the Creation of the Superhero), DENNIS O'NEIL (longtime Batman writer and editor), N.C. CHRISTOPHER COUCH (The Will Eisner Companion), and KENNETH GINIGER (legendary publisher and lifelong friend of Will Eisner).
Saturday, March 7, 2:00-4:00 pm
Jim Hanley's Universe
4 W. 33rd Street
New York, NY 10001
New York, March 4, 2009
From Danny Fingeroth:
CELEBRATING WILL EISNER: A panel of Eisner experts discusses his life and career, examining just what made (and still makes) him so significant to the comics medium. Featuring DANNY FINGEROTH (Disguised as Clark Kent: Jews, Comics, and the Creation of the Superhero), DENNIS O'NEIL (longtime Batman writer and editor), N.C. CHRISTOPHER COUCH (The Will Eisner Companion), and KENNETH GINIGER (legendary publisher and lifelong friend of Will Eisner).
Saturday, March 7, 2:00-4:00 pm
Jim Hanley's Universe
4 W. 33rd Street
New York, NY 10001
PRESS RELEASE - IMAGE COMICS TEAMS UP WITH CELEBRITY APPRENTICE THIS COMING SUNDAY!NBC's hit series works with Image Comics to realize celebrities' superhero dreams!
4 March 2009 (Berkeley, CA) - This upcoming Sunday the celebrity contestants of Donald Trump's popular Celebrity Apprentice series team up with Image Comics for their next challenge -- to create and costume a comic book character for Zappos.com!
MICE TEMPLAR's Michael Avon Oeming, I KILL GIANTS' Joe Kelly, VIKING's Ivan Brandon and GROUNDED's Paul Azaceta will assist remaining contestants Clint Black, Annie Duke, Tom Green, Natalie Gulbis, Scott Hamilton, Jesse James, Claudia Jordan, Khloe Kardashian, Brian McKnight, Joan Rivers, Melissa Rivers, Brande Roderick, Dennis Rodman, Herschel Walker and Tionne Watkins as they compete for the coveted top spot in the Celebrity Apprentice tournament to support their favorite charities.
Celebrity Apprentice airs Sunday, March March 8th (9-11 p.m. ET) on NBC.
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 five partners in Image Comics (Robert Kirkman, 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.
4 March 2009 (Berkeley, CA) - This upcoming Sunday the celebrity contestants of Donald Trump's popular Celebrity Apprentice series team up with Image Comics for their next challenge -- to create and costume a comic book character for Zappos.com!
MICE TEMPLAR's Michael Avon Oeming, I KILL GIANTS' Joe Kelly, VIKING's Ivan Brandon and GROUNDED's Paul Azaceta will assist remaining contestants Clint Black, Annie Duke, Tom Green, Natalie Gulbis, Scott Hamilton, Jesse James, Claudia Jordan, Khloe Kardashian, Brian McKnight, Joan Rivers, Melissa Rivers, Brande Roderick, Dennis Rodman, Herschel Walker and Tionne Watkins as they compete for the coveted top spot in the Celebrity Apprentice tournament to support their favorite charities.
Celebrity Apprentice airs Sunday, March March 8th (9-11 p.m. ET) on NBC.
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 five partners in Image Comics (Robert Kirkman, 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.
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: WEDNESDAY MARCH 3RD, 2009
AWARD NOMINATED MINISERIES HOPE FALLS COLLECTED AS TRADE
Hope Falls, the five-part miniseries that AAM/Markosia released in 2007/2008 is an enigma. In many ways, it's known as the 'little train that could', beating all expectations and finishing 2008 as one of the few monthly creator owned books not from Image, Dark Horse or IDW that actually made it to the end of its run, gathering critical acclaim from fans, reviewers and even fellow professionals in the process.
Telling the story of Helen Gane, a small-town waitress who, twenty years after she is murdered and buried in a shallow grave returns to the town, seemingly alive and having not aged a day, Hope Falls weaves a tale of supernatural vengeance and of religious conspiracy. Helen's reason for returning is simple - she's here to claim back a debt of vengeance on the three men who in their various ways allowed her to die that cold evening two decades ago - and the one man, McClusky, who performed the deed.
And some debts can only be paid in blood.
As the bodycount rises, you discover that not only is Helen a free-falling Angel, plummeting towards Hell, but that another Angel, Michael has arrived in the town of Hope Falls with an intent of stopping her bloodthirsty revenge - for there is a secret tied into her murder that runs back all the way to Jesus Christ, and Heaven won't allow her killer to die just yet.
As Helen learns the true reasons for her murder, Michael learns of an Angelic conspiracy in Heaven and McClusky calls in a Voodoo priest to save his soul. And Hope Falls as a town will never be the same again as every secret hidden for twenty years come together in an explosive conclusion. Will Helen be able to kill all of her personal demons - including a man beloved of God? And what happens when she tries? Will the killing change her - or stop her?
Created by writer Tony Lee (Doctor Who, Spider Man, The Prince Of Baghdad, 2000ad, Midnight Kiss) and artist Dan Boultwood (Dopple Ganger Chronicles, Phonogram: The Singles Club, The Prince Of Baghdad, The Gloom) and with stunning painted covers by Szymon Kudranski (Scatterbrain, Zombie Cop, 30 Days Of Night) , Hope Falls is a tale that has been described as The Crow meets Twin Peaks, and writer Tony Lee has on many occasions named it as 'The best book I have ever written.'
For over a year now, fans of the book have asked Markosia when Hope Falls would be released as a trade, but due to the ever changing economy, the release date has always been tentative. Until now.
'This is a great year for Tony Lee.' Harry Markos, publisher of AAM/Markosia explained. 'With his announcement as the ongoing writer of Doctor Who for IDW and his upcoming Graphic Novel with us - Harker, Tony is going to exceed all expectations. And with Dan finally gaining credit with his Phonogram work and his stellar art in G.P Taylor's The Doppleganger Chronicles, we decided that no matter what, we had to find a way to release this book.'
But the release has not been easy, as Diamond Distribution has altered the way that comics, especially from smaller publishers are submitted.
'We have to sell about four hundred copies through Diamond to show that this is a book they want to work with.' Harry explained. 'Now this might not sound much, but with many people buying the book through places like Amazon, and with retailers only buying smaller publisher titles on demand, there's a very serious possibility that we might only sell below Diamond's cut off point, and we might find that for all this work, the book gets cancelled. So we need as many sales as possible, to ensure that this classic story gets out there.'
And Markosia are eager for all retailers and readers to see a taste of what they could be missing if they let Hope Falls pass them by.
'We're sending a free copy of one of the comics issues to every UK comic shop this month.' Harry explained. 'Unfortunately we can't do this through Diamond US as well, but what we can do is provide a taster of the series - anyone who goes to our MyEBook site at http://www.myebook.com/index.php?option=ebook&id=1389 will find, online the entire first issue for free. No strings attached.'
'If you're a fan of this series, we ask you to order this book from your local store - the code is MAR094036: HOPE FALLS TP - and tell your friends, your local store about it. Ask them to order an extra copy for the shelf. We even have a facebook group created by Tony and Dan at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=52130014295 - go and join, and show your support.'
One creator who has shown his support is Australian comics artist superstar Ben Templesmith who, after reading the comic while in London in 2008 agreed to write the introduction for the collected trade.
'Ben sent me an email saying "Man that was awesome."' Tony Lee explained. 'And he also said that Dan's artwork was stunning. And it is. Dan was nominated for an Eagle Award in 2008 because of this work, although confusions in the committee dropped him off - but he deserved to win for the work he's done here. It truly is big leagues.'
'With an industry dominated by 'Big two event books', Hope Falls is a story that deserves to be read by more than just the people who managed to find the comic.' Finished Harry Markos. 'And it will only get out there if the retailers know about it. So tell your retailers. Pass this to your comic news sites. Post this on your blogs, on your message forums. Let's make sure that somehow, Hope Falls gets the attention and acclaim that it deserves.'
Hope Falls: The Collected Edition (with introduction by Ben Templesmith) will be available in May 2009. It is in the current Previews under AAM/Markosia.
For more information on Tony Lee, visit his website at www.tonylee.co.uk. For more information on Dan Boultwood, visit his website at www.shedmanor.co.uk. For more information on Szymon Kudranski, visit his website at www.szymonkudranski.com.
About AAM Markosia:
Launched in 2005 AAM Markosia has been a leader in the independent publishing field, with titles such as Starship Troopers, Kong: King of Skull Island, The Boy Who Made Silence, Midnight Kiss, Hope Falls, The Lexian Chronicles and many more. 2008 marked their most ambitious campaign to date as the company debuted a range of new titles, with many more exciting and innovative titles to follow in 2009. In addition, AAM Markosia has and will be exhibiting at many conventions around the globe, including New York Comic Con, San Diego Comicon, Angouleme, The Birmingham International Comics Show and the Bristol Comic Expo.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: WEDNESDAY MARCH 3RD, 2009
AWARD NOMINATED MINISERIES HOPE FALLS COLLECTED AS TRADE
Hope Falls, the five-part miniseries that AAM/Markosia released in 2007/2008 is an enigma. In many ways, it's known as the 'little train that could', beating all expectations and finishing 2008 as one of the few monthly creator owned books not from Image, Dark Horse or IDW that actually made it to the end of its run, gathering critical acclaim from fans, reviewers and even fellow professionals in the process.
Telling the story of Helen Gane, a small-town waitress who, twenty years after she is murdered and buried in a shallow grave returns to the town, seemingly alive and having not aged a day, Hope Falls weaves a tale of supernatural vengeance and of religious conspiracy. Helen's reason for returning is simple - she's here to claim back a debt of vengeance on the three men who in their various ways allowed her to die that cold evening two decades ago - and the one man, McClusky, who performed the deed.
And some debts can only be paid in blood.
As the bodycount rises, you discover that not only is Helen a free-falling Angel, plummeting towards Hell, but that another Angel, Michael has arrived in the town of Hope Falls with an intent of stopping her bloodthirsty revenge - for there is a secret tied into her murder that runs back all the way to Jesus Christ, and Heaven won't allow her killer to die just yet.
As Helen learns the true reasons for her murder, Michael learns of an Angelic conspiracy in Heaven and McClusky calls in a Voodoo priest to save his soul. And Hope Falls as a town will never be the same again as every secret hidden for twenty years come together in an explosive conclusion. Will Helen be able to kill all of her personal demons - including a man beloved of God? And what happens when she tries? Will the killing change her - or stop her?
Created by writer Tony Lee (Doctor Who, Spider Man, The Prince Of Baghdad, 2000ad, Midnight Kiss) and artist Dan Boultwood (Dopple Ganger Chronicles, Phonogram: The Singles Club, The Prince Of Baghdad, The Gloom) and with stunning painted covers by Szymon Kudranski (Scatterbrain, Zombie Cop, 30 Days Of Night) , Hope Falls is a tale that has been described as The Crow meets Twin Peaks, and writer Tony Lee has on many occasions named it as 'The best book I have ever written.'
For over a year now, fans of the book have asked Markosia when Hope Falls would be released as a trade, but due to the ever changing economy, the release date has always been tentative. Until now.
'This is a great year for Tony Lee.' Harry Markos, publisher of AAM/Markosia explained. 'With his announcement as the ongoing writer of Doctor Who for IDW and his upcoming Graphic Novel with us - Harker, Tony is going to exceed all expectations. And with Dan finally gaining credit with his Phonogram work and his stellar art in G.P Taylor's The Doppleganger Chronicles, we decided that no matter what, we had to find a way to release this book.'
But the release has not been easy, as Diamond Distribution has altered the way that comics, especially from smaller publishers are submitted.
'We have to sell about four hundred copies through Diamond to show that this is a book they want to work with.' Harry explained. 'Now this might not sound much, but with many people buying the book through places like Amazon, and with retailers only buying smaller publisher titles on demand, there's a very serious possibility that we might only sell below Diamond's cut off point, and we might find that for all this work, the book gets cancelled. So we need as many sales as possible, to ensure that this classic story gets out there.'
And Markosia are eager for all retailers and readers to see a taste of what they could be missing if they let Hope Falls pass them by.
'We're sending a free copy of one of the comics issues to every UK comic shop this month.' Harry explained. 'Unfortunately we can't do this through Diamond US as well, but what we can do is provide a taster of the series - anyone who goes to our MyEBook site at http://www.myebook.com/index.php?option=ebook&id=1389 will find, online the entire first issue for free. No strings attached.'
'If you're a fan of this series, we ask you to order this book from your local store - the code is MAR094036: HOPE FALLS TP - and tell your friends, your local store about it. Ask them to order an extra copy for the shelf. We even have a facebook group created by Tony and Dan at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=52130014295 - go and join, and show your support.'
One creator who has shown his support is Australian comics artist superstar Ben Templesmith who, after reading the comic while in London in 2008 agreed to write the introduction for the collected trade.
'Ben sent me an email saying "Man that was awesome."' Tony Lee explained. 'And he also said that Dan's artwork was stunning. And it is. Dan was nominated for an Eagle Award in 2008 because of this work, although confusions in the committee dropped him off - but he deserved to win for the work he's done here. It truly is big leagues.'
'With an industry dominated by 'Big two event books', Hope Falls is a story that deserves to be read by more than just the people who managed to find the comic.' Finished Harry Markos. 'And it will only get out there if the retailers know about it. So tell your retailers. Pass this to your comic news sites. Post this on your blogs, on your message forums. Let's make sure that somehow, Hope Falls gets the attention and acclaim that it deserves.'
Hope Falls: The Collected Edition (with introduction by Ben Templesmith) will be available in May 2009. It is in the current Previews under AAM/Markosia.
For more information on Tony Lee, visit his website at www.tonylee.co.uk. For more information on Dan Boultwood, visit his website at www.shedmanor.co.uk. For more information on Szymon Kudranski, visit his website at www.szymonkudranski.com.
About AAM Markosia:
Launched in 2005 AAM Markosia has been a leader in the independent publishing field, with titles such as Starship Troopers, Kong: King of Skull Island, The Boy Who Made Silence, Midnight Kiss, Hope Falls, The Lexian Chronicles and many more. 2008 marked their most ambitious campaign to date as the company debuted a range of new titles, with many more exciting and innovative titles to follow in 2009. In addition, AAM Markosia has and will be exhibiting at many conventions around the globe, including New York Comic Con, San Diego Comicon, Angouleme, The Birmingham International Comics Show and the Bristol Comic Expo.
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
JULIE GARDNER JOINS BBC WORLDWIDE’S U.S. PRODUCTION STUDIO
“Doctor Who” Exec to Become Key Member of Jane Tranter’s Scripted Team
March 3, 2009 – Los Angeles, California – BBC Worldwide America today announced the appointment of Julie Gardner as Executive Producer under exclusive contract. Gardner, who headed up the revival of sci-fi series Doctor Who, to critical acclaim on both sides of the Atlantic, is the first hire announced by Jane Tranter, recently-appointed Executive Vice President, Programming and Production, BBC Worldwide America.
Gardner will be responsible for scripted projects, working with top-level U.S. writers in addition to UK creative talent including Russell T Davies (Doctor Who, Torchwood, Casanova), Matthew Graham and Ashley Pharaoh (Life on Mars, Ashes to Ashes). She is expected to join the LA studio full-time in June of this year.
Gardner was formerly Head of Drama, BBC Wales. In this role, she was responsible for the production of a string of hit dramas including Doctor Who, Torchwood, Life on Mars, Ashes to Ashes, Being Human, Girl in a Cafe, Stuart: A Life Backward, Mistresses and Casanova.
Gardner and Tranter’s working relationship began when Tranter assigned Gardner to head up the revival of Doctor Who. Working with writer and executive producer Russell T Davies, the series debuted in March 2005 to huge audience and critical acclaim. Gardner went on to oversee two Doctor Who spin-offs, Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures.
“Julie is a remarkable talent and I’ve had the privilege of working with her for the past six years. She brings an unprecedented insight into drama development and production and has a solid track record of forging strong relationships with the creative community,” commented Tranter. “She will be an asset to our already talented team of scripted executives, and we all feel lucky to have her working with us.”
"I couldn't be more excited to join Jane and the team in Los Angeles," said Julie Gardner. "I'm a long-time fan of US dramas - everything from Buffy the Vampire Slayer to The West Wing to Breaking Bad. To have the chance to work with some of the best creative talent on both sides of the Atlantic, it's a dream come true.”
Gardner first joined the BBC in 2000 where she worked as a script editor and producer. She went on to work for London Weekend Television where she produced dramas including the multi award-winning modern version of Othello. Returning to the BBC in 2003, Gardner took the post of Head of Drama, BBC Wales.
On her arrival in LA, Gardner will be working alongside Development Executive, Angie Stephenson, and SVP of Programming and Production, Ian Moffitt, who also serves as an Executive Producer on the U.S. pilot of Absolutely Fabulous.
About BBC Worldwide America:
BBC Worldwide is the main commercial arm and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). BBC Worldwide America, helmed by President Garth Ancier, with offices in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington DC and Rhode Island, brings together all of BBC Worldwide’s businesses in the U.S. The company exists to maximize the value of the BBC’s assets for the benefit of the UK license payer, and invests in public service programming in return for rights. The company has seven core businesses: Channels, Sales and Distribution, Content and Production, Home Entertainment, Digital Media, Global Brands and Magazines. Under these businesses fall two key brands in the U.S. – digital cable channel BBC America and a bi-coastal production arm responsible for the smash hit Dancing with the Stars for ABC
“Doctor Who” Exec to Become Key Member of Jane Tranter’s Scripted Team
March 3, 2009 – Los Angeles, California – BBC Worldwide America today announced the appointment of Julie Gardner as Executive Producer under exclusive contract. Gardner, who headed up the revival of sci-fi series Doctor Who, to critical acclaim on both sides of the Atlantic, is the first hire announced by Jane Tranter, recently-appointed Executive Vice President, Programming and Production, BBC Worldwide America.
Gardner will be responsible for scripted projects, working with top-level U.S. writers in addition to UK creative talent including Russell T Davies (Doctor Who, Torchwood, Casanova), Matthew Graham and Ashley Pharaoh (Life on Mars, Ashes to Ashes). She is expected to join the LA studio full-time in June of this year.
Gardner was formerly Head of Drama, BBC Wales. In this role, she was responsible for the production of a string of hit dramas including Doctor Who, Torchwood, Life on Mars, Ashes to Ashes, Being Human, Girl in a Cafe, Stuart: A Life Backward, Mistresses and Casanova.
Gardner and Tranter’s working relationship began when Tranter assigned Gardner to head up the revival of Doctor Who. Working with writer and executive producer Russell T Davies, the series debuted in March 2005 to huge audience and critical acclaim. Gardner went on to oversee two Doctor Who spin-offs, Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures.
“Julie is a remarkable talent and I’ve had the privilege of working with her for the past six years. She brings an unprecedented insight into drama development and production and has a solid track record of forging strong relationships with the creative community,” commented Tranter. “She will be an asset to our already talented team of scripted executives, and we all feel lucky to have her working with us.”
"I couldn't be more excited to join Jane and the team in Los Angeles," said Julie Gardner. "I'm a long-time fan of US dramas - everything from Buffy the Vampire Slayer to The West Wing to Breaking Bad. To have the chance to work with some of the best creative talent on both sides of the Atlantic, it's a dream come true.”
Gardner first joined the BBC in 2000 where she worked as a script editor and producer. She went on to work for London Weekend Television where she produced dramas including the multi award-winning modern version of Othello. Returning to the BBC in 2003, Gardner took the post of Head of Drama, BBC Wales.
On her arrival in LA, Gardner will be working alongside Development Executive, Angie Stephenson, and SVP of Programming and Production, Ian Moffitt, who also serves as an Executive Producer on the U.S. pilot of Absolutely Fabulous.
About BBC Worldwide America:
BBC Worldwide is the main commercial arm and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). BBC Worldwide America, helmed by President Garth Ancier, with offices in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington DC and Rhode Island, brings together all of BBC Worldwide’s businesses in the U.S. The company exists to maximize the value of the BBC’s assets for the benefit of the UK license payer, and invests in public service programming in return for rights. The company has seven core businesses: Channels, Sales and Distribution, Content and Production, Home Entertainment, Digital Media, Global Brands and Magazines. Under these businesses fall two key brands in the U.S. – digital cable channel BBC America and a bi-coastal production arm responsible for the smash hit Dancing with the Stars for ABC
ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY VET SALAMOFF JOINS BLUEWATER
Bluewater Productions is proud to announce that it is joining forces with Paul J. Salamoff, a twenty-year veteran of the Film & TV Industry, to pen a number of exciting new titles based on licensed properties to be released in late 2009.
Over the years Salamoff has worked as a Make-Up FX Artist, Producer, Writer, Director, Author and Film Executive (President of Production, Rat Bastard Prod.) He also serves as Film Moderator for The Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films. “What attracted us to Paul is that he brings these combined talents as well as a filmic sensibility to the world of comics and graphic novels,” says Bluewater’s publisher Darren Davis.
As a screenwriter, Salamoff has written features for the screen as well as the Sci-Fi Channel. He is also author of two non-fiction books: ON THE SET: The Hidden Rules of Movie Making Etiquette and The Complete DVD Book (co-written with Chris Gore).
Raised on a healthy diet of science fiction and horror from the age of five, writing for the comic world was a natural fit for Salamoff. When asked about his experience with Bluewater, he had this to say: “Working with Blue Water has truly been a rewarding experience. Their attention to detail is fantastic and the Artists in their stable are top notch. The comics have turned out far better than I could possibly have imagined.”
Davis adds to this with: “Paul has great love and respect for genre material. It is clear in all his writing that he attempts to elevate the material and approach it with a fresh perspective.”
Salamoff has just finished penning BLACK SCORPION and DEATHSTALKER & BARBARIAN QUEEN, two 4- Issue series under the Roger Corman Presents banner.
“Paul has been a fan of ROGER CORMAN his entire life and brought that passion to this new series.” said Davis. “Paul is also developing a couple of Bluewater’s properties into feature films, which we will announce soon.”
About Bluewater Productions:
Bluewater Productions, Inc., is one of the top independent production studios of comic books, young adult books and graphic novels. Its extensive catalog of titles includes the bestsellers FEMALE FORCE, 10th MUSE, VSS and THE LEGEND OF ISIS. Bluewater publishes comic books with legendary filmmaker Ray Harryhausen and soon will launch a series in conjunction with sci-fi icon William Shatner. Bluewater aims to unite cutting-edge art and engaging stories produced by its stable of the publishing industry’s top artists and writers. For more information, visit www.bluewateprod.com.
Bluewater Productions is proud to announce that it is joining forces with Paul J. Salamoff, a twenty-year veteran of the Film & TV Industry, to pen a number of exciting new titles based on licensed properties to be released in late 2009.
Over the years Salamoff has worked as a Make-Up FX Artist, Producer, Writer, Director, Author and Film Executive (President of Production, Rat Bastard Prod.) He also serves as Film Moderator for The Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films. “What attracted us to Paul is that he brings these combined talents as well as a filmic sensibility to the world of comics and graphic novels,” says Bluewater’s publisher Darren Davis.
As a screenwriter, Salamoff has written features for the screen as well as the Sci-Fi Channel. He is also author of two non-fiction books: ON THE SET: The Hidden Rules of Movie Making Etiquette and The Complete DVD Book (co-written with Chris Gore).
Raised on a healthy diet of science fiction and horror from the age of five, writing for the comic world was a natural fit for Salamoff. When asked about his experience with Bluewater, he had this to say: “Working with Blue Water has truly been a rewarding experience. Their attention to detail is fantastic and the Artists in their stable are top notch. The comics have turned out far better than I could possibly have imagined.”
Davis adds to this with: “Paul has great love and respect for genre material. It is clear in all his writing that he attempts to elevate the material and approach it with a fresh perspective.”
Salamoff has just finished penning BLACK SCORPION and DEATHSTALKER & BARBARIAN QUEEN, two 4- Issue series under the Roger Corman Presents banner.
“Paul has been a fan of ROGER CORMAN his entire life and brought that passion to this new series.” said Davis. “Paul is also developing a couple of Bluewater’s properties into feature films, which we will announce soon.”
About Bluewater Productions:
Bluewater Productions, Inc., is one of the top independent production studios of comic books, young adult books and graphic novels. Its extensive catalog of titles includes the bestsellers FEMALE FORCE, 10th MUSE, VSS and THE LEGEND OF ISIS. Bluewater publishes comic books with legendary filmmaker Ray Harryhausen and soon will launch a series in conjunction with sci-fi icon William Shatner. Bluewater aims to unite cutting-edge art and engaging stories produced by its stable of the publishing industry’s top artists and writers. For more information, visit www.bluewateprod.com.
Hey Comics Fans,
Here's the latest news from Top Shelf!
*********************************************************
NATE POWELL'S SWALLOW ME WHOLE
NOMINATED FOR LA TIMES BOOK PRIZE
*********************************************************
--First graphic novel since 1992's MAUS to make the list--
Top Shelf Productions is bursting with pride to announce that
Nate Powell's graphic novel SWALLOW ME WHOLE has been nominated
for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize!
SWALLOW ME WHOLE is one of five official finalists in the
category of Young Adult Fiction, making it the first graphic
novel to be nominated for this prize, in any category, since
Art Spiegelman's MAUS won the Fiction category in 1992! "I'm
honored just to be considered," says Powell, "and feel dizzy
having my book even placed in the same sentence as MAUS."
Although SWALLOW ME WHOLE was not created exclusively for
young adult readers, it is fundamentally a story about the
dark, quiet corners of adolescence. The book follows two
teenage stepsiblings, Ruth and Perry, through the ups and
downs of school, family, and suburban restlessness -- all
complicated by the insect armies, swirling visions, and
haunting voices that no one else can perceive.
"To be a young person is to be surrounded at all times by
frightening transition and the terror of losing touch with
a safe and familiar world," says Powell. "Sometimes the only
salvation from that terror is in what a teenager can create
for themselves."
The LA Times Book Prize nomination follows months of critical
acclaim for SWALLOW ME WHOLE's rich storytelling and dazzling
visuals, which have led some to call it "the best graphic
novel since Craig Thompson's BLANKETS." Douglas Wolk wrote in
the New York Times that "Powell's flowing, impressionistic
artwork, with its ravenous expanses of negative space, swirls
the reader's perspective through his characters' perceptions
and back out again." The Onion's AV Club agreed that the book
"achieves some stunning effects with the art and the lettering"
and admired how "SWALLOW ME WHOLE captures the desperation of
the clinically obsessed, and how from the right angle, it can
look like genius." The book also received an Ignatz Award from
the 2008 Small Press Expo.
"What makes this book so worthy of acclaim is the way it
immerses the reader in the life and mindset of a gifted yet
mentally ill teenager," proclaimed Walter M. Mayes, a middle
school librarian and one of the members of the award committee.
"To get a glimpse of what it must feel like to be inside such
a head can be overpowering and disorienting upon first read,
but when reread, the book offers such literary power that it
is hard to deny, even if you don't totally 'get' what is
happening. Teens will find this book compelling, weird, scary,
and ultimately affirming."
Nate Powell will be attending Seattle's Emerald City ComiCon
(April 4-5) and the SPACE Expo in Columbus, OH (April 18-19)
before traveling to Los Angeles for the LA Times Book Prize
ceremony on Friday, April 24. The ceremony serves as the
kickoff for the LA Times Festival of Books (April 25-26),
where Nate will be a special guest hosted by Hi De Ho Comics
all weekend.
To celebrate Nate's achievement, Top Shelf is holding a
mini-sale through April 26th: order SWALLOW ME WHOLE and get
a free copy of Nate's autobiographical short story collection,
PLEASE RELEASE for free! To order, visit
http://www.topshelfcomix.com/natepowell. Top Shelf 2.0 is
also hosting a new online comic by Nate Powell and Rachel
Bormann, entitled "Cakewalk," at
http://www.topshelfcomix.com/ts2.0.
SWALLOW ME WHOLE
-- Diamond Order Code: JUL084290
-- ISBN 978-1-60309-033-9
-- $19.95 (US)
----
NATE POWELL (http://www.seemybrotherdance.org) was born in
1978 in Little Rock, Arkansas. He started publishing comics
in 1992 at age 14. His comics include the Ignatz-award-winning
"Swallow Me Whole" (Top Shelf, 2008), "Please Release"
(Top Shelf, 2006), "Sounds of Your Name" (Microcosm, 2006),
"It Disappears" (Soft Skull, 2004), "Tiny Giants" (Soft Skull,
2003), and the "Walkie Talkie" series.
Nate lives in Bloomington, Indiana, where he eats breakfast
all day and sighs a lot. From 1999-2009 he worked full-time
assisting adults with developmental disabilities. Nate
occasionally runs Harlan Records out of his bedroom, played
with punk ensemble Soophie Nun Squad from 1992-2007, and
currently performs in the band Still Hidden.
*******************************************************
THE TOP SHELF 2009 PUBLISHING SCHEDULE IS ANNOUNCED!
*******************************************************
Click on the link below to check out all the information on
our complete 2009 schedule. With LEAGUE III and the all-new
edition of LOST GIRLS hitting this Spring; THE SURROGATES
movie hitting theatres on September 25th; the ESSEX COUNTY,
ALEC, MARSHAL LAW, and AX MANGA omnibuses coming out; as
well as several key literary debuts in hitting this year --
FAR ARDEN, SECOND THOUGHS, and MOVING PICTURES -- it's going
to be an amazing year!
www.topshelfcomix.com/2009releases
www.topshelfcomix.com/2009releases
Jan JOHNNY BOO (BOOK 2): TWINKLE POWER by James Kochalka
Mar WORLD WAR 3 ILLUSTRATED #39 Edited by Peter Kuper
Apr THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMAN (VOL III):
CENTURY #1 ("1910") by Alan Moore & Kevin O'Neill
Apr VOICE OF THE FIRE (All-New Paperback) by Alan Moore
May LOST GIRLS (Single-Volume Hardcover Edition)
by Alan Moore & Melinda Gebbie
May FAR ARDEN by Kevin Cannon
May SECOND THOUGHTS by Niklas Asker
May AWESOME II: AWESOMER
Edited by Indy Spinner Rack's Charlito and Mr. Phil
Jun WELCOME TO FOREST ISLAND by Bwana Spoons
Jul THE SURROGATES (VOL 2): FLESH & BONE
by Robert Venditti and Brett Weldele
Jul THE SURROGATES (SPECIAL HARDCOVER EDITION - VOLS 1 & 2)
Jul New-Cover Edition of THE SURROGATES (VOL 1)
by Robert Venditti & Brett Weldele
Aug THE COMPLETE ESSEX COUNTY by Jeff Lemire
Aug THE COMPLETE ESSEX COUNTY (HARDCOVER) by Jeff Lemire
Aug JOHNNY BOO (BOOK 3): HAPPY APPLES by James Kochalka
Sep ALEC: THE YEARS HAVE PANTS by Eddie Campbell
Sep ALEC: THE YEARS HAVE PANTS (HARDCOVER) by Eddie Campbell
Oct MOVING PICTURES by Kathryn and Stuart Immonen
Nov THE MARSHAL LAW OMNIBUS by Pat Mills & Kevin O'Neill
Dec AX (VOL 1): A COLLECTION OF ALTERNATIVE MANGA
Edited by Sean Michael Wilson and Mitsuhiro Asakawa
www.topshelfcomix.com/2009releases
www.topshelfcomix.com/2009releases
*******************************************************
BLANKETS -- BACK IN STOCK!
*******************************************************
Craig Thompson's BLANKETS seems to be more popular than ever.
Be sure to grab the copies you need before the new printing
sells out (yet again).
BLANKETS by Craig Thompson
-- Diamond Order Code: STAR19060
-- ISBN 978-1-891830-43-3
-- $29.95 (US)
http://www.topshelfcomix.com/catalog.php?type=23&title=194
*******************************************************
*******************************************************
See y'all on the convention trail this year!
Your friend thru comics,
Chris Staros
Top Shelf Productions
Here's the latest news from Top Shelf!
*********************************************************
NATE POWELL'S SWALLOW ME WHOLE
NOMINATED FOR LA TIMES BOOK PRIZE
*********************************************************
--First graphic novel since 1992's MAUS to make the list--
Top Shelf Productions is bursting with pride to announce that
Nate Powell's graphic novel SWALLOW ME WHOLE has been nominated
for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize!
SWALLOW ME WHOLE is one of five official finalists in the
category of Young Adult Fiction, making it the first graphic
novel to be nominated for this prize, in any category, since
Art Spiegelman's MAUS won the Fiction category in 1992! "I'm
honored just to be considered," says Powell, "and feel dizzy
having my book even placed in the same sentence as MAUS."
Although SWALLOW ME WHOLE was not created exclusively for
young adult readers, it is fundamentally a story about the
dark, quiet corners of adolescence. The book follows two
teenage stepsiblings, Ruth and Perry, through the ups and
downs of school, family, and suburban restlessness -- all
complicated by the insect armies, swirling visions, and
haunting voices that no one else can perceive.
"To be a young person is to be surrounded at all times by
frightening transition and the terror of losing touch with
a safe and familiar world," says Powell. "Sometimes the only
salvation from that terror is in what a teenager can create
for themselves."
The LA Times Book Prize nomination follows months of critical
acclaim for SWALLOW ME WHOLE's rich storytelling and dazzling
visuals, which have led some to call it "the best graphic
novel since Craig Thompson's BLANKETS." Douglas Wolk wrote in
the New York Times that "Powell's flowing, impressionistic
artwork, with its ravenous expanses of negative space, swirls
the reader's perspective through his characters' perceptions
and back out again." The Onion's AV Club agreed that the book
"achieves some stunning effects with the art and the lettering"
and admired how "SWALLOW ME WHOLE captures the desperation of
the clinically obsessed, and how from the right angle, it can
look like genius." The book also received an Ignatz Award from
the 2008 Small Press Expo.
"What makes this book so worthy of acclaim is the way it
immerses the reader in the life and mindset of a gifted yet
mentally ill teenager," proclaimed Walter M. Mayes, a middle
school librarian and one of the members of the award committee.
"To get a glimpse of what it must feel like to be inside such
a head can be overpowering and disorienting upon first read,
but when reread, the book offers such literary power that it
is hard to deny, even if you don't totally 'get' what is
happening. Teens will find this book compelling, weird, scary,
and ultimately affirming."
Nate Powell will be attending Seattle's Emerald City ComiCon
(April 4-5) and the SPACE Expo in Columbus, OH (April 18-19)
before traveling to Los Angeles for the LA Times Book Prize
ceremony on Friday, April 24. The ceremony serves as the
kickoff for the LA Times Festival of Books (April 25-26),
where Nate will be a special guest hosted by Hi De Ho Comics
all weekend.
To celebrate Nate's achievement, Top Shelf is holding a
mini-sale through April 26th: order SWALLOW ME WHOLE and get
a free copy of Nate's autobiographical short story collection,
PLEASE RELEASE for free! To order, visit
http://www.topshelfcomix.com/natepowell. Top Shelf 2.0 is
also hosting a new online comic by Nate Powell and Rachel
Bormann, entitled "Cakewalk," at
http://www.topshelfcomix.com/ts2.0.
SWALLOW ME WHOLE
-- Diamond Order Code: JUL084290
-- ISBN 978-1-60309-033-9
-- $19.95 (US)
----
NATE POWELL (http://www.seemybrotherdance.org) was born in
1978 in Little Rock, Arkansas. He started publishing comics
in 1992 at age 14. His comics include the Ignatz-award-winning
"Swallow Me Whole" (Top Shelf, 2008), "Please Release"
(Top Shelf, 2006), "Sounds of Your Name" (Microcosm, 2006),
"It Disappears" (Soft Skull, 2004), "Tiny Giants" (Soft Skull,
2003), and the "Walkie Talkie" series.
Nate lives in Bloomington, Indiana, where he eats breakfast
all day and sighs a lot. From 1999-2009 he worked full-time
assisting adults with developmental disabilities. Nate
occasionally runs Harlan Records out of his bedroom, played
with punk ensemble Soophie Nun Squad from 1992-2007, and
currently performs in the band Still Hidden.
*******************************************************
THE TOP SHELF 2009 PUBLISHING SCHEDULE IS ANNOUNCED!
*******************************************************
Click on the link below to check out all the information on
our complete 2009 schedule. With LEAGUE III and the all-new
edition of LOST GIRLS hitting this Spring; THE SURROGATES
movie hitting theatres on September 25th; the ESSEX COUNTY,
ALEC, MARSHAL LAW, and AX MANGA omnibuses coming out; as
well as several key literary debuts in hitting this year --
FAR ARDEN, SECOND THOUGHS, and MOVING PICTURES -- it's going
to be an amazing year!
www.topshelfcomix.com/2009releases
www.topshelfcomix.com/2009releases
Jan JOHNNY BOO (BOOK 2): TWINKLE POWER by James Kochalka
Mar WORLD WAR 3 ILLUSTRATED #39 Edited by Peter Kuper
Apr THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMAN (VOL III):
CENTURY #1 ("1910") by Alan Moore & Kevin O'Neill
Apr VOICE OF THE FIRE (All-New Paperback) by Alan Moore
May LOST GIRLS (Single-Volume Hardcover Edition)
by Alan Moore & Melinda Gebbie
May FAR ARDEN by Kevin Cannon
May SECOND THOUGHTS by Niklas Asker
May AWESOME II: AWESOMER
Edited by Indy Spinner Rack's Charlito and Mr. Phil
Jun WELCOME TO FOREST ISLAND by Bwana Spoons
Jul THE SURROGATES (VOL 2): FLESH & BONE
by Robert Venditti and Brett Weldele
Jul THE SURROGATES (SPECIAL HARDCOVER EDITION - VOLS 1 & 2)
Jul New-Cover Edition of THE SURROGATES (VOL 1)
by Robert Venditti & Brett Weldele
Aug THE COMPLETE ESSEX COUNTY by Jeff Lemire
Aug THE COMPLETE ESSEX COUNTY (HARDCOVER) by Jeff Lemire
Aug JOHNNY BOO (BOOK 3): HAPPY APPLES by James Kochalka
Sep ALEC: THE YEARS HAVE PANTS by Eddie Campbell
Sep ALEC: THE YEARS HAVE PANTS (HARDCOVER) by Eddie Campbell
Oct MOVING PICTURES by Kathryn and Stuart Immonen
Nov THE MARSHAL LAW OMNIBUS by Pat Mills & Kevin O'Neill
Dec AX (VOL 1): A COLLECTION OF ALTERNATIVE MANGA
Edited by Sean Michael Wilson and Mitsuhiro Asakawa
www.topshelfcomix.com/2009releases
www.topshelfcomix.com/2009releases
*******************************************************
BLANKETS -- BACK IN STOCK!
*******************************************************
Craig Thompson's BLANKETS seems to be more popular than ever.
Be sure to grab the copies you need before the new printing
sells out (yet again).
BLANKETS by Craig Thompson
-- Diamond Order Code: STAR19060
-- ISBN 978-1-891830-43-3
-- $29.95 (US)
http://www.topshelfcomix.com/catalog.php?type=23&title=194
*******************************************************
*******************************************************
See y'all on the convention trail this year!
Your friend thru comics,
Chris Staros
Top Shelf Productions
Monday, March 02, 2009
Friends-
Issue 28 of CWR is here, and it’s packed with comics goodness. Here’s what we have for you this time!
Jeff Mariotte interviewed! Marc Mason chats with the prolific writer about the upcoming DESPERADOS omnibus, his novels, and more!
http://www.comicswaitingroom.com/jeffmariotte.html
CWR’s first Guest Columnist! Alan David Doane, the honcho of Comic Book Galaxy, steps in to talk about why he writes about comics and how you can find a critic you can trust!
http://www.comicswaitingroom.com/add.html
Orion Jerwa, the young son of two of CWR’s finest, has completed his first animated film project and we have it for you.
http://www.comicswaitingroom.com/cwrtv.html
Marc Mason says that WATCHMEN may be all the rage, but it isn’t Alan Moore’s best work. So what is?
http://www.comicswaitingroom.com/mason28.html
Matt Maxwell has seen the WATCHMEN film and has an early review.
http://www.comicswaitingroom.com/fullbleed36.html
Elliott Serrano wonders why someone thought WATCHMEN needed to be a film in the first place.
http://www.comicswaitingroom.com/ccw23.html
Avril Brown finally read WATCHMEN and came away optimistic about the film’s chances.
http://www.comicswaitingroom.com/avril27.html
Jocelyn Saddler did the same, but came away feeling quite the opposite.
http://www.comicswaitingroom.com/bb6.html
Saurav Mohapatra introduces you to Twitter by showing how he “live-tweeted” this year’s Oscars ceremony:
http://www.comicswaitingroom.com/npg10.html
Remember: If you read something at CWR that you like, pass it on to friends and blogs. Enjoy the reading!
Marc Mason
Editor-in-Chief
Comics Waiting Room
Issue 28 of CWR is here, and it’s packed with comics goodness. Here’s what we have for you this time!
Jeff Mariotte interviewed! Marc Mason chats with the prolific writer about the upcoming DESPERADOS omnibus, his novels, and more!
http://www.comicswaitingroom.com/jeffmariotte.html
CWR’s first Guest Columnist! Alan David Doane, the honcho of Comic Book Galaxy, steps in to talk about why he writes about comics and how you can find a critic you can trust!
http://www.comicswaitingroom.com/add.html
Orion Jerwa, the young son of two of CWR’s finest, has completed his first animated film project and we have it for you.
http://www.comicswaitingroom.com/cwrtv.html
Marc Mason says that WATCHMEN may be all the rage, but it isn’t Alan Moore’s best work. So what is?
http://www.comicswaitingroom.com/mason28.html
Matt Maxwell has seen the WATCHMEN film and has an early review.
http://www.comicswaitingroom.com/fullbleed36.html
Elliott Serrano wonders why someone thought WATCHMEN needed to be a film in the first place.
http://www.comicswaitingroom.com/ccw23.html
Avril Brown finally read WATCHMEN and came away optimistic about the film’s chances.
http://www.comicswaitingroom.com/avril27.html
Jocelyn Saddler did the same, but came away feeling quite the opposite.
http://www.comicswaitingroom.com/bb6.html
Saurav Mohapatra introduces you to Twitter by showing how he “live-tweeted” this year’s Oscars ceremony:
http://www.comicswaitingroom.com/npg10.html
Remember: If you read something at CWR that you like, pass it on to friends and blogs. Enjoy the reading!
Marc Mason
Editor-in-Chief
Comics Waiting Room
PRESS RELEASE - SOLD OUT JERSEY GODS #1 GETS A SECOND PRINTING THIS WEEK!Glen Brunswick and Dan McDaid's superhero epic enters into a second printing coinciding with the second issue's release!
2 March 2009 (Berkeley, CA) - The superhero epic JERSEY GODS by writer Glen Brunswick and artist Dan McDaid returns for a second printing after a stellar sellout just in time for this week's second issue!
"Dan and I are just thrilled to death with the sell-out," Brunswick said. "We put our heart and soul into JERSEY GODS. It's a very personal project. We're elated to find that so many people are feeling passionate about it as well."
JERSEY GODS, the story of a superpowered god meeting a small-town girl amidst an apocalyptic battle, gained instant notoriety after its unique blend of superheroics and slice of life situations was featured in mainstream press including CBS Evening News, New York 1, The Courier Post, The Bergen Record and even the front-page of the Star Ledger. The impressive debut resulted in a near-instant sellout at the distribution level, with artists Mike and Laura Allred stepping in for an alternate version of their original cover. This will coincide with the second issue, featuring the fallout of the debut's shocking battle and the romance JERSEY GODS will be driven by for years to come.
JERSEY GODS #1 2nd Printing (JAN098065) and JERSEY GODS #2 (JAN092396), both 32-page full color comic books for $3.50, will be in stores March 4th, 2009.
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 five partners in Image Comics (Robert Kirkman, 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.
2 March 2009 (Berkeley, CA) - The superhero epic JERSEY GODS by writer Glen Brunswick and artist Dan McDaid returns for a second printing after a stellar sellout just in time for this week's second issue!
"Dan and I are just thrilled to death with the sell-out," Brunswick said. "We put our heart and soul into JERSEY GODS. It's a very personal project. We're elated to find that so many people are feeling passionate about it as well."
JERSEY GODS, the story of a superpowered god meeting a small-town girl amidst an apocalyptic battle, gained instant notoriety after its unique blend of superheroics and slice of life situations was featured in mainstream press including CBS Evening News, New York 1, The Courier Post, The Bergen Record and even the front-page of the Star Ledger. The impressive debut resulted in a near-instant sellout at the distribution level, with artists Mike and Laura Allred stepping in for an alternate version of their original cover. This will coincide with the second issue, featuring the fallout of the debut's shocking battle and the romance JERSEY GODS will be driven by for years to come.
JERSEY GODS #1 2nd Printing (JAN098065) and JERSEY GODS #2 (JAN092396), both 32-page full color comic books for $3.50, will be in stores March 4th, 2009.
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 five partners in Image Comics (Robert Kirkman, 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.
Moonstone places the GREEN HORNET & KATO at the
scene of the crime in upcoming prose anthology series:
Legendary crime fighters to make triumphant return!
CHICAGO, Feb. 28, 2009 – Moonstone has announced plans to publish several original short story collections featuring radio, film, comic book and television heroes The Green Hornet and Kato. The debut entry is expected to hit the streets by late 2009.
Bold newspaper publisher Britt Reid (the Green Hornet’s alter ego) along with his faithful valet and ally Kato have thrilled audiences with their daring adventures as they “hunt the biggest of all game, public enemies who try to destroy our America” ever since springing from the imaginations of George W. Trendle and Fran Striker in 1936. Fans have longed for the green-masked crime fighter to once again match wits with and bring down the criminal underworld.
Like his fictional granduncle The Lone Ranger, The Green Hornet differs from other masked heroes because he is a wanted outlaw himself. This is his ‘edge”, which enables him to effectively destroy crime from within. The Green Hornet and Kato stalk their prey from their sleek rolling arsenal known as the Black Beauty, whose high-pitched buzzing engine evokes the memorable “Flight of the Bumblebee” theme music that hailed each new radio and television episode.
“We’re obviously thrilled to add The Green Hornet to our stable of licensed properties,” said Moonstone publisher and The Green Hornet editor Joe Gentile. “As a huge fan, I’ve dreamed of bringing back and adding to these great characters’ legacy. It is an honor and a responsibility we take very seriously. I can’t wait to see the new crime fiction stories come in from the many talented authors we have lined up.”
The Hornet’s return has created quite a buzz among today’s top writers from mystery, suspense, science fiction and pulp fiction. Contributing authors include Harlan Ellison, Max Allan Collins, Ed Gorman, Mel Odom, Greg Cox, Will Murray, Ron Marz and scores more! Actor Van Williams, who starred in the 1960’s television show along with expert martial artist Bruce Lee as Kato, will introduce the first prose volume.
Moonstone tapped acclaimed former Disney artist Rubén Procopio, now principal of Masked Avenger Studios, to art direct and contribute cover art and interior illustrations for each volume. “It’s a dream project to explore new facets of one of my all-time favorite masked heroes… and ‘protect the rights and lives of decent citizens!’” said Procopio, recalling a memorable line from the television show.
About Moonstone Books:
Longtime publisher of comic books and graphic novels, Moonstone has invigorated the illustrated fiction category by introducing anthology format collections. Following on the success of its prose collections The Phantom Chronicles, Tales of Zorro, and others, Moonstone provides readers and fans an exciting avenue of escapism that brings many longtime classic heroes back to life, such as Kolchak the Night Stalker, Captain Action, Buckaroo Banzai, the Spider, and more!
Website: http://www.MoonstoneBooks.com
scene of the crime in upcoming prose anthology series:
Legendary crime fighters to make triumphant return!
CHICAGO, Feb. 28, 2009 – Moonstone has announced plans to publish several original short story collections featuring radio, film, comic book and television heroes The Green Hornet and Kato. The debut entry is expected to hit the streets by late 2009.
Bold newspaper publisher Britt Reid (the Green Hornet’s alter ego) along with his faithful valet and ally Kato have thrilled audiences with their daring adventures as they “hunt the biggest of all game, public enemies who try to destroy our America” ever since springing from the imaginations of George W. Trendle and Fran Striker in 1936. Fans have longed for the green-masked crime fighter to once again match wits with and bring down the criminal underworld.
Like his fictional granduncle The Lone Ranger, The Green Hornet differs from other masked heroes because he is a wanted outlaw himself. This is his ‘edge”, which enables him to effectively destroy crime from within. The Green Hornet and Kato stalk their prey from their sleek rolling arsenal known as the Black Beauty, whose high-pitched buzzing engine evokes the memorable “Flight of the Bumblebee” theme music that hailed each new radio and television episode.
“We’re obviously thrilled to add The Green Hornet to our stable of licensed properties,” said Moonstone publisher and The Green Hornet editor Joe Gentile. “As a huge fan, I’ve dreamed of bringing back and adding to these great characters’ legacy. It is an honor and a responsibility we take very seriously. I can’t wait to see the new crime fiction stories come in from the many talented authors we have lined up.”
The Hornet’s return has created quite a buzz among today’s top writers from mystery, suspense, science fiction and pulp fiction. Contributing authors include Harlan Ellison, Max Allan Collins, Ed Gorman, Mel Odom, Greg Cox, Will Murray, Ron Marz and scores more! Actor Van Williams, who starred in the 1960’s television show along with expert martial artist Bruce Lee as Kato, will introduce the first prose volume.
Moonstone tapped acclaimed former Disney artist Rubén Procopio, now principal of Masked Avenger Studios, to art direct and contribute cover art and interior illustrations for each volume. “It’s a dream project to explore new facets of one of my all-time favorite masked heroes… and ‘protect the rights and lives of decent citizens!’” said Procopio, recalling a memorable line from the television show.
About Moonstone Books:
Longtime publisher of comic books and graphic novels, Moonstone has invigorated the illustrated fiction category by introducing anthology format collections. Following on the success of its prose collections The Phantom Chronicles, Tales of Zorro, and others, Moonstone provides readers and fans an exciting avenue of escapism that brings many longtime classic heroes back to life, such as Kolchak the Night Stalker, Captain Action, Buckaroo Banzai, the Spider, and more!
Website: http://www.MoonstoneBooks.com
“WATCHMEN: JUSTICE IS COMING” ONLINE MULTIPLAYER GAME
TO LAUNCH ON THE iPHONE AND iPOD TOUCH
Burbank, Calif., March 2, 2009 – Warner Bros. Digital Distribution today announced Watchmen: Justice is Coming, an online multiplayer game for the iPhone and iPod Touch based on the upcoming film Watchmen, from Warner Bros. Pictures and Paramount Pictures, in association with Legendary Pictures. Available from the iTunes App Store this March, Watchmen: Justice is Coming will take iPhone gaming to a new level allowing players to battle in realistic 3D environments and visualize changes to the world in real time.
Watchmen: Justice is Coming is a multiplayer online adventure fighting game developed by Last Legion Games exclusively for the iPhone and iPod Touch. The game will use “cloudMMO,” Last Legion's patent pending cloud based multiplayer technology that leverages Amazon.com Web Services allowing players to adventure through the incredible world of Watchmen. Players will experience an ever-changing gaming environment, chat with other players and participate in street battles.
In Watchmen: Justice is Coming, players bring their own unique form of justice to New York City in the 1970s before the film’s central story unfolds. Masked adventuring has been outlawed. During this critical time period, crime is rampant and average citizens must take matters into their own hands to survive. Players create their personal avatar and enter the rain-soaked city of Manhattan. The dark metropolitan world is a vast network of interlocking and overlapping spaces that include: the seedy and saturated neon Red Light District; a run down Financial District and its dark waterfront; the downtown back-alleys of Lower Manhattan; a wide open City Park; and more.
An original story inspired by director Zack Snyder’s big screen version of Watchmen, which is based on the graphic novel illustrated and co-created by Dave Gibbons, Watchmen: Justice is Coming leads players on an immersive adventure inside the depths of the Watchmen universe. Average citizens evolve into fully equipped costumed avengers by completing unique challenges, exploring the universe and battling enemies.
Watchmen fans can visit www.watchmenjusticeiscoming.com for updates on the game and to read Last Legion’s blog.
###
ABOUT WATCHMEN: Opening nationwide on March 6, 2009, Watchmen is a complex, multi-layered mystery adventure, set in an alternate 1985 America in which costumed superheroes are part of the fabric of everyday society, and the Doomsday Clock—which charts the USA’s tension with the Soviet Union—moves closer to midnight. When one of his former colleagues is murdered, the outlawed but no less determined masked vigilante Rorschach uncovers a wide-ranging and disturbing conspiracy with catastrophic consequences for the future.
Watchmen is directed by Zack Snyder and produced by Lawrence Gordon, Lloyd Levin and Deborah Snyder. The screenplay is by David Hayter and Alex Tse, based upon the award-winning graphic novel co-created and illustrated by Dave Gibbons and published by DC Comics. Herbert W. Gains and Thomas Tull are the executive producers, with Wesley Coller serving as co-producer. The film stars Malin Akerman, Billy Crudup, Matthew Goode, Carla Gugino, Jackie Earle Haley, Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Patrick Wilson. Warner Bros. Pictures and Paramount Pictures present, in Association with Legendary Pictures, a Lawrence Gordon/Lloyd Levin Production, a Zack Snyder Film, Watchmen.
About Warner Bros. Digital Distribution
Warner Bros. Digital Distribution (WBDD) manages Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group’s electronic distribution streams over existing, new and emerging digital platforms, including pay-per-view, electronic sell-through, video-on-demand, wireless and more. WBDD also oversees the WBHEG’s worldwide digital strategy, partnerships in digital services and emerging new clients and business activities in the digital space.
About Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group brings together Warner Bros. Entertainment's home video, digital distribution, interactive entertainment/videogames, direct-to-DVD production, technical operations and anti-piracy businesses in order to maximize current and next-generation distribution scenarios. WBHEG is responsible for the global distribution of content through DVD, electronic sell-through and VOD, and delivery of theatrical content to wireless and online channels, and is also a significant worldwide publisher for both internal and third party videogame titles.
About DC Comics
DC Comics, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, is the largest English-language publisher of comics in the world and home to such iconic characters as Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and the Sandman. These DC Super Heroes and others have starred in comic books, movies, television series (both animated and live-action) and cyberspace, thrilling audiences of all ages for generations. DC Comics’ Web site is located at www.dccomics.com.
WATCHMEN and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and © DC Comics.
(s09)
About Last Legion Games LLC
Last Legion Games, LLC is a privately held technology company and game developer located in Santa Monica, Calif. Last Legion’s all veteran videogame staff create new gaming paradigms for gesture-based platforms. Last Legion’s proprietary, patent pending cloudMMO technology enables developers to create MMOs on commercially available distributed clouds.
TO LAUNCH ON THE iPHONE AND iPOD TOUCH
Burbank, Calif., March 2, 2009 – Warner Bros. Digital Distribution today announced Watchmen: Justice is Coming, an online multiplayer game for the iPhone and iPod Touch based on the upcoming film Watchmen, from Warner Bros. Pictures and Paramount Pictures, in association with Legendary Pictures. Available from the iTunes App Store this March, Watchmen: Justice is Coming will take iPhone gaming to a new level allowing players to battle in realistic 3D environments and visualize changes to the world in real time.
Watchmen: Justice is Coming is a multiplayer online adventure fighting game developed by Last Legion Games exclusively for the iPhone and iPod Touch. The game will use “cloudMMO,” Last Legion's patent pending cloud based multiplayer technology that leverages Amazon.com Web Services allowing players to adventure through the incredible world of Watchmen. Players will experience an ever-changing gaming environment, chat with other players and participate in street battles.
In Watchmen: Justice is Coming, players bring their own unique form of justice to New York City in the 1970s before the film’s central story unfolds. Masked adventuring has been outlawed. During this critical time period, crime is rampant and average citizens must take matters into their own hands to survive. Players create their personal avatar and enter the rain-soaked city of Manhattan. The dark metropolitan world is a vast network of interlocking and overlapping spaces that include: the seedy and saturated neon Red Light District; a run down Financial District and its dark waterfront; the downtown back-alleys of Lower Manhattan; a wide open City Park; and more.
An original story inspired by director Zack Snyder’s big screen version of Watchmen, which is based on the graphic novel illustrated and co-created by Dave Gibbons, Watchmen: Justice is Coming leads players on an immersive adventure inside the depths of the Watchmen universe. Average citizens evolve into fully equipped costumed avengers by completing unique challenges, exploring the universe and battling enemies.
Watchmen fans can visit www.watchmenjusticeiscoming.com for updates on the game and to read Last Legion’s blog.
###
ABOUT WATCHMEN: Opening nationwide on March 6, 2009, Watchmen is a complex, multi-layered mystery adventure, set in an alternate 1985 America in which costumed superheroes are part of the fabric of everyday society, and the Doomsday Clock—which charts the USA’s tension with the Soviet Union—moves closer to midnight. When one of his former colleagues is murdered, the outlawed but no less determined masked vigilante Rorschach uncovers a wide-ranging and disturbing conspiracy with catastrophic consequences for the future.
Watchmen is directed by Zack Snyder and produced by Lawrence Gordon, Lloyd Levin and Deborah Snyder. The screenplay is by David Hayter and Alex Tse, based upon the award-winning graphic novel co-created and illustrated by Dave Gibbons and published by DC Comics. Herbert W. Gains and Thomas Tull are the executive producers, with Wesley Coller serving as co-producer. The film stars Malin Akerman, Billy Crudup, Matthew Goode, Carla Gugino, Jackie Earle Haley, Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Patrick Wilson. Warner Bros. Pictures and Paramount Pictures present, in Association with Legendary Pictures, a Lawrence Gordon/Lloyd Levin Production, a Zack Snyder Film, Watchmen.
About Warner Bros. Digital Distribution
Warner Bros. Digital Distribution (WBDD) manages Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group’s electronic distribution streams over existing, new and emerging digital platforms, including pay-per-view, electronic sell-through, video-on-demand, wireless and more. WBDD also oversees the WBHEG’s worldwide digital strategy, partnerships in digital services and emerging new clients and business activities in the digital space.
About Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group brings together Warner Bros. Entertainment's home video, digital distribution, interactive entertainment/videogames, direct-to-DVD production, technical operations and anti-piracy businesses in order to maximize current and next-generation distribution scenarios. WBHEG is responsible for the global distribution of content through DVD, electronic sell-through and VOD, and delivery of theatrical content to wireless and online channels, and is also a significant worldwide publisher for both internal and third party videogame titles.
About DC Comics
DC Comics, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, is the largest English-language publisher of comics in the world and home to such iconic characters as Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and the Sandman. These DC Super Heroes and others have starred in comic books, movies, television series (both animated and live-action) and cyberspace, thrilling audiences of all ages for generations. DC Comics’ Web site is located at www.dccomics.com.
WATCHMEN and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and © DC Comics.
(s09)
About Last Legion Games LLC
Last Legion Games, LLC is a privately held technology company and game developer located in Santa Monica, Calif. Last Legion’s all veteran videogame staff create new gaming paradigms for gesture-based platforms. Last Legion’s proprietary, patent pending cloudMMO technology enables developers to create MMOs on commercially available distributed clouds.
BARACK OBAMA COMIC BOOK BIOGRAPHY SEQUEL COMING;
IDW PUBLISHING CAPTURES HISTORY IN THE MAKING
WITH NEW SERIES
Series Chronicles Barack Obama From The Democratic National Convention Through The First 100 Days Of His Historic Administration, Available In June
(San Diego, CA; February 28, 2009) -- Capture history with IDW Publishing’s new comic book series about America’s 44th president, Barack Obama. Hot on the heels of IDW’s repeatedly sold out Presidential Material: Barack Obama comic (now in its fifth printing), this two-issue series will chronicle then-Senator Obama from his Greek column-framed acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention in August, through the 100th day of his groundbreaking administration.
“This is a momentous period in our country’s history, and IDW wanted to document it,” said Scott Dunbier, editor of the Obama biography comics at IDW. “Coming from the same creative team that did the initial Obama comic, Barack Obama is a great series for both comic book and political fans.”
Barack Obama #1 debuts in June and will feature 22 pages of historic moments, beginning with the Democratic National Convention and running through the election and inauguration. Barack Obama #2 starts on day one for the 44th President, and will capture the highs and lows of his first 100 days—it is a story that is still unfolding even now.
The Barack Obama follow up series will match the same high standards set forth by Presidential Material: Barack Obama, and strives to be just as meticulously researched and unbiased in its reporting. Jeff Mariotte and Tom Morgan return as writer and artist, while artist J. Scott Campbell once again supplies the iconic covers.
About IDW Publishing
IDW is an award-winning publisher of comic books, graphic novels and trade paperbacks, based in San Diego, California. As a leader in the horror, action, and sci-fi genres, IDW publishes some of the most successful and popular titles in the industry including: television's #1 prime time series CBS’ CSI: Crime Scene Investigation; Paramount's Star Trek; Fox's Angel; Hasbro's The Transformers, and the BBC's Doctor Who. IDW’s original horror series, 30 Days of Night, was launched as a major motion picture in October 2007 by Sony Pictures and was the #1 film in its first week of release. In April 2008, IDW released Michael Recycle, the first title from its new children’s book imprint, Worthwhile Books. More information about the company can be found at http://www.idwpublishing.com.
IDW PUBLISHING CAPTURES HISTORY IN THE MAKING
WITH NEW SERIES
Series Chronicles Barack Obama From The Democratic National Convention Through The First 100 Days Of His Historic Administration, Available In June
(San Diego, CA; February 28, 2009) -- Capture history with IDW Publishing’s new comic book series about America’s 44th president, Barack Obama. Hot on the heels of IDW’s repeatedly sold out Presidential Material: Barack Obama comic (now in its fifth printing), this two-issue series will chronicle then-Senator Obama from his Greek column-framed acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention in August, through the 100th day of his groundbreaking administration.
“This is a momentous period in our country’s history, and IDW wanted to document it,” said Scott Dunbier, editor of the Obama biography comics at IDW. “Coming from the same creative team that did the initial Obama comic, Barack Obama is a great series for both comic book and political fans.”
Barack Obama #1 debuts in June and will feature 22 pages of historic moments, beginning with the Democratic National Convention and running through the election and inauguration. Barack Obama #2 starts on day one for the 44th President, and will capture the highs and lows of his first 100 days—it is a story that is still unfolding even now.
The Barack Obama follow up series will match the same high standards set forth by Presidential Material: Barack Obama, and strives to be just as meticulously researched and unbiased in its reporting. Jeff Mariotte and Tom Morgan return as writer and artist, while artist J. Scott Campbell once again supplies the iconic covers.
About IDW Publishing
IDW is an award-winning publisher of comic books, graphic novels and trade paperbacks, based in San Diego, California. As a leader in the horror, action, and sci-fi genres, IDW publishes some of the most successful and popular titles in the industry including: television's #1 prime time series CBS’ CSI: Crime Scene Investigation; Paramount's Star Trek; Fox's Angel; Hasbro's The Transformers, and the BBC's Doctor Who. IDW’s original horror series, 30 Days of Night, was launched as a major motion picture in October 2007 by Sony Pictures and was the #1 film in its first week of release. In April 2008, IDW released Michael Recycle, the first title from its new children’s book imprint, Worthwhile Books. More information about the company can be found at http://www.idwpublishing.com.
COMPLETE ROCKETEER BY DAVE STEVENS
COMING FROM IDW
Two Versions, Including A Deluxe Edition Featuring
Many Never-Before-Seen Images
(San Diego, CA; February 28, 2009) -- IDW Publishing is proud to announce the upcoming release of The Complete Rocketeer by Dave Stevens, collecting the classic series in its entirety for the first time ever.
After more than a decade out of print, The Rocketeer makes a triumphant return to stores this October with a comprehensive hardcover edition featuring artwork digitally re-mastered from Stevens’ own lovingly maintained collection of originals, and all-new coloring by Laura Martin, the Eisner-Award-winning colorist handpicked by Stevens himself.
The Rocketeer, a rollicking tribute to pulp novels and Saturday morning matinee serials, follows the high-flying adventures of stunt pilot Cliff Secord and his girlfriend Betty, after Cliff finds a mysterious jet pack and takes to the sky. The graphic novel went on to become a much-loved major motion picture directed by Joe Johnston.
In addition to the mass-market hardcover, a very special deluxe edition is planned. Presented in a larger format, the deluxe edition will be filled with behind-the-scenes material, a treasure of additional pages featuring previously unpublished Rocketeer designs, preliminaries, and sketches by Dave Stevens, many taken from his personal sketchbooks.
“It is an honor to work on The Rocketeer,” said IDW Special Projects editor Scott Dunbier, “I’ve been a fan of Dave Stevens and The Rocketeer since I first read it in the early 80s. It was a dream of Dave’s to see his creation return to the shelves in a complete collection. We are dedicated to making this the definitive edition, a book Dave would have been proud of.” This October The Rocketeer will fly once more.
About IDW Publishing
IDW is an award-winning publisher of comic books, graphic novels and trade paperbacks, based in San Diego, California. As a leader in the horror, action, and sci-fi genres, IDW publishes some of the most successful and popular titles in the industry including: television's #1 prime time series CBS’ CSI: Crime Scene Investigation; Paramount's Star Trek; Fox's Angel; Hasbro's The Transformers, and the BBC's Doctor Who. IDW’s original horror series, 30 Days of Night, was launched as a major motion picture in October 2007 by Sony Pictures and was the #1 film in its first week of release. In April 2008, IDW released Michael Recycle, the first title from its new children’s book imprint, Worthwhile Books. More information about the company can be found at http://www.idwpublishing.com.
COMING FROM IDW
Two Versions, Including A Deluxe Edition Featuring
Many Never-Before-Seen Images
(San Diego, CA; February 28, 2009) -- IDW Publishing is proud to announce the upcoming release of The Complete Rocketeer by Dave Stevens, collecting the classic series in its entirety for the first time ever.
After more than a decade out of print, The Rocketeer makes a triumphant return to stores this October with a comprehensive hardcover edition featuring artwork digitally re-mastered from Stevens’ own lovingly maintained collection of originals, and all-new coloring by Laura Martin, the Eisner-Award-winning colorist handpicked by Stevens himself.
The Rocketeer, a rollicking tribute to pulp novels and Saturday morning matinee serials, follows the high-flying adventures of stunt pilot Cliff Secord and his girlfriend Betty, after Cliff finds a mysterious jet pack and takes to the sky. The graphic novel went on to become a much-loved major motion picture directed by Joe Johnston.
In addition to the mass-market hardcover, a very special deluxe edition is planned. Presented in a larger format, the deluxe edition will be filled with behind-the-scenes material, a treasure of additional pages featuring previously unpublished Rocketeer designs, preliminaries, and sketches by Dave Stevens, many taken from his personal sketchbooks.
“It is an honor to work on The Rocketeer,” said IDW Special Projects editor Scott Dunbier, “I’ve been a fan of Dave Stevens and The Rocketeer since I first read it in the early 80s. It was a dream of Dave’s to see his creation return to the shelves in a complete collection. We are dedicated to making this the definitive edition, a book Dave would have been proud of.” This October The Rocketeer will fly once more.
About IDW Publishing
IDW is an award-winning publisher of comic books, graphic novels and trade paperbacks, based in San Diego, California. As a leader in the horror, action, and sci-fi genres, IDW publishes some of the most successful and popular titles in the industry including: television's #1 prime time series CBS’ CSI: Crime Scene Investigation; Paramount's Star Trek; Fox's Angel; Hasbro's The Transformers, and the BBC's Doctor Who. IDW’s original horror series, 30 Days of Night, was launched as a major motion picture in October 2007 by Sony Pictures and was the #1 film in its first week of release. In April 2008, IDW released Michael Recycle, the first title from its new children’s book imprint, Worthwhile Books. More information about the company can be found at http://www.idwpublishing.com.
THE FAMILY CIRCUS BY BIL KEANE TO BE COLLECTED
IN DELUXE FORMAT BY IDW
Book One To Be Released In Time To Celebrate Strip’s 50th Anniversary
(San Diego, CA; February 28, 2009) IDW Publishing is pleased to announce The Family Circus Library by Bil Keane. The Family Circus, which was originally published in only 19 newspapers, is now seen in over 1500 newspapers worldwide, making it one of the most enduring and popular comic strips ever.
Drawing inspiration from his own family’s antics, Bil Keane brought the charming adventures of Billy, Dolly, Jeffy & PJ to life where they have been beloved by millions of readers ever since
“Having truly enjoyed drawing my Family Circus cartoons,” Bil Keane said, “it is icing on the cake to see them now preserved in these very special volumes that will go on and on and on! Realizing that future generations may read the Keane family drawings that I penned so long ago is a happy bonus for this old cartoonist. I am eternally grateful.”
The initial book will collect the first two years of daily and Sunday strips, starting from the very beginning, February 29th, 1960. Volume One will be released in November, in celebration of the 50 year anniversary of The Family Circus.
“The Family Circus has been a favorite of mine since I was a kid,” said Scott Dunbier, the project’s editor, “and is even more so now that I have kids that age!” Each hard cover book will be designed by Eisner Award winner Dean Mullaney, and will be part of the critically acclaimed Library of American Comics.
About IDW Publishing
IDW is an award-winning publisher of comic books, graphic novels and trade paperbacks, based in San Diego, California. As a leader in the horror, action, and sci-fi genres, IDW publishes some of the most successful and popular titles in the industry including: television's #1 prime time series CBS’ CSI: Crime Scene Investigation; Paramount's Star Trek; Fox's Angel; Hasbro's The Transformers, and the BBC's Doctor Who. IDW’s original horror series, 30 Days of Night, was launched as a major motion picture in October 2007 by Sony Pictures and was the #1 film in its first week of release. In April 2008, IDW released Michael Recycle, the first title from its new children’s book imprint, Worthwhile Books. More information about the company can be found at http://www.idwpublishing.com.
IN DELUXE FORMAT BY IDW
Book One To Be Released In Time To Celebrate Strip’s 50th Anniversary
(San Diego, CA; February 28, 2009) IDW Publishing is pleased to announce The Family Circus Library by Bil Keane. The Family Circus, which was originally published in only 19 newspapers, is now seen in over 1500 newspapers worldwide, making it one of the most enduring and popular comic strips ever.
Drawing inspiration from his own family’s antics, Bil Keane brought the charming adventures of Billy, Dolly, Jeffy & PJ to life where they have been beloved by millions of readers ever since
“Having truly enjoyed drawing my Family Circus cartoons,” Bil Keane said, “it is icing on the cake to see them now preserved in these very special volumes that will go on and on and on! Realizing that future generations may read the Keane family drawings that I penned so long ago is a happy bonus for this old cartoonist. I am eternally grateful.”
The initial book will collect the first two years of daily and Sunday strips, starting from the very beginning, February 29th, 1960. Volume One will be released in November, in celebration of the 50 year anniversary of The Family Circus.
“The Family Circus has been a favorite of mine since I was a kid,” said Scott Dunbier, the project’s editor, “and is even more so now that I have kids that age!” Each hard cover book will be designed by Eisner Award winner Dean Mullaney, and will be part of the critically acclaimed Library of American Comics.
About IDW Publishing
IDW is an award-winning publisher of comic books, graphic novels and trade paperbacks, based in San Diego, California. As a leader in the horror, action, and sci-fi genres, IDW publishes some of the most successful and popular titles in the industry including: television's #1 prime time series CBS’ CSI: Crime Scene Investigation; Paramount's Star Trek; Fox's Angel; Hasbro's The Transformers, and the BBC's Doctor Who. IDW’s original horror series, 30 Days of Night, was launched as a major motion picture in October 2007 by Sony Pictures and was the #1 film in its first week of release. In April 2008, IDW released Michael Recycle, the first title from its new children’s book imprint, Worthwhile Books. More information about the company can be found at http://www.idwpublishing.com.
FOX ATOMIC BOOM!S WITH NEW CO-PUBLISHING DEAL
Film Studio Forms Co-Publishing Venture
February 27th, 2009 - BOOM! Studios announced today that Fox Atomic, a division of 20th Century Fox, has entered into a broad multi-title comic book and graphic novel co-publishing deal that will see the formation of a Fox Atomic Comics imprint at BOOM!.
Titles will cover a vast array of different titles and characters, some very familiar to fans, others being new turns on old favorites, as well as entirely new, original series.
Fox Atomic first made a splash with a series of SpikeTV Award-winning original graphic novels in 2007 including 28 DAYS LATER: THE AFTERMATH, featuring work from 30 DAYS OF NIGHT creator Steve Niles, followed by THE HILLS HAVE EYES: THE BEGINNING written by Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray. A third graphic novel, the International Horror Guild Award-winning THE NIGHTMARE FACTORY was also released, adapting stories from Bram Stoker and World Fantasy Award-winner Thomas Ligotti. THE NIGHTMARE FACTORY: VOLUME TWO, the second graphic novel in the series, followed in 2008.
The new Fox Atomic Comics and BOOM! Studios collaboration will see titles serialized as individual single issue comic books before being collected into trade paperback graphic novels available in the direct and mass bookstore markets.
The new venture will see a broad expansion of Fox Atomic's titles after its previous success. Partners are keeping the specific details of the series under wraps with expectations for further announcements later in the convention season featuring marquee series and high-profile creators.
About BOOM! Studios
BOOM! Studios (http://www.boom-studios.com) is a unique publishing house specializing in high-profile projects across a wide variety of different genres from some of the industry's biggest talents. In its inaugural year, Wizard Magazine named BOOM! "Best New Publisher." 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.
About Fox Atomic
Fox Atomic (http://www.foxatomic.com) is a culturally branded entertainment company producing theatrical movies and digital content targeting the 17-24 year old demographic. Atomic also houses a graphic novel division. Formed in 2006, this entity of Fox Filmed Entertainment produces and acquires product spanning all media. Fox Atomic is a unit of Fox Filmed Entertainment, a unit of Fox Entertainment Group.
Film Studio Forms Co-Publishing Venture
February 27th, 2009 - BOOM! Studios announced today that Fox Atomic, a division of 20th Century Fox, has entered into a broad multi-title comic book and graphic novel co-publishing deal that will see the formation of a Fox Atomic Comics imprint at BOOM!.
Titles will cover a vast array of different titles and characters, some very familiar to fans, others being new turns on old favorites, as well as entirely new, original series.
Fox Atomic first made a splash with a series of SpikeTV Award-winning original graphic novels in 2007 including 28 DAYS LATER: THE AFTERMATH, featuring work from 30 DAYS OF NIGHT creator Steve Niles, followed by THE HILLS HAVE EYES: THE BEGINNING written by Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray. A third graphic novel, the International Horror Guild Award-winning THE NIGHTMARE FACTORY was also released, adapting stories from Bram Stoker and World Fantasy Award-winner Thomas Ligotti. THE NIGHTMARE FACTORY: VOLUME TWO, the second graphic novel in the series, followed in 2008.
The new Fox Atomic Comics and BOOM! Studios collaboration will see titles serialized as individual single issue comic books before being collected into trade paperback graphic novels available in the direct and mass bookstore markets.
The new venture will see a broad expansion of Fox Atomic's titles after its previous success. Partners are keeping the specific details of the series under wraps with expectations for further announcements later in the convention season featuring marquee series and high-profile creators.
About BOOM! Studios
BOOM! Studios (http://www.boom-studios.com) is a unique publishing house specializing in high-profile projects across a wide variety of different genres from some of the industry's biggest talents. In its inaugural year, Wizard Magazine named BOOM! "Best New Publisher." 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.
About Fox Atomic
Fox Atomic (http://www.foxatomic.com) is a culturally branded entertainment company producing theatrical movies and digital content targeting the 17-24 year old demographic. Atomic also houses a graphic novel division. Formed in 2006, this entity of Fox Filmed Entertainment produces and acquires product spanning all media. Fox Atomic is a unit of Fox Filmed Entertainment, a unit of Fox Entertainment Group.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE :
DCBS.com TO OFFER EXCLUSIVE SIGNED EDITION OF STEVE MANNION'S FEARLESS DAWN #1
ASYLUM PRESS ANNOUNCES IT HAS PARTNERED WITH ONLINE COMICS RETAILER DISCOUNT COMIC BOOK SERVICE TO OFFER A SIGNED EDITION OF FEARLESS DAWN #1
Feb. 27, 2009 (Los Angeles) Frank Forte, publisher of Asylum Press, has announced that DCBS.com (Discount Comic Book Service) will offer an exclusive signed edition of Fearless Dawn #1. The signed edition will be offered at the same $2.95 that the regular edition sells for.
"We want to give the fans something extra without breaking the bank," says publisher Frank Forte, " you can get an autograph at a con for free so why charge $10. Comics fans have limited funds just like the rest of us, and we want to give back. The regular and signed editions can be pre-ordered here:
http://www.dcbservice.com/search.aspx?search=fearless%20dawn
And a great intro to Fearless Dawn is The Bomb TP featured here:
http://www.instocktrades.com/product.aspx?id=50m&pid=9801
Jet riding good girl FEARLESS DAWN battles her arch nemesis Helga Von Krause in this mini-series from Steve Mannion. Fearless Dawn infiltrates the vaunted "Manitoba Sector" to discover the secret behind Helga's chemically-induced NAZI MONSTERS. Meanwhile, all is not well back at home base when Fearless Dawn's boss discovers our hero has broken probation and flown the coop! Join us now as Steve Mannion's beautifully rendered comic book tale unfolds in full-color glory! Fan's of Steve Mannion's The Bomb will love this new action-packed series. "I am excited to bring Fearless dawn to a full-color series," says creator Steve Mannion," this is a dream project and I'm having a blast."
"This is a great opportunity to showcase one of the great undiscovered comic illustrators of our time," says publisher Frank Forte. "Steve's dedication to the medium is unsurpassed. His pages are just a marvel to look at." Steve Mannion’s amazing artwork is a beautiful homage to classic comics of yesteryear, and it brings to mind the timeless styles of artists that include Wally Wood, Will Elder, and Robert Crumb. Page layouts vary in style as well, bringing back memories of old Archie Comics, to stuff you see as recently as Eric Powell’s The Goon!
Fearless Dawn website: www.fearlessdawn.com
Fearless Dawn production blog: http://fearlessdawn.blogspot.com/
Fearless Dawn preview: http://www.fearlessdawn.com/FD_1_preview.html
Title:Fearless Dawn #1 (of 4)
Publisher:Asylum Press
Format/Price: SC, color $2.95, 32 pages
Still available from Asylum Press is Steve Mannion's The Bomb TPB. This huge compilation features Steve Mannion at his unfiltered best spinning yarns of his favorite creations: Fearless Dawn, Sea Goin' Lil, Brownhole Jones, Helga Von Krause and Jungle Chick and the Dinosaur.
ABOUT ASYLUM PRESS:
Founded in 1999 by Frank Forte, Asylum Press is a unique publishing house specializing in high profile projects from some of the industry's biggest names. Publishing superhero comics with Warlash: Zombie Mutant Genesis, continuing their tradition of horror with Undead Evil, Satan’s 3-Ring Circus of Hell, the upcoming Asylum of Horrors and Beyond Lovecraft, venturing into dark humor with Billy Boy The Sick Little Fat Kid and The Cletus and Floyd Show, Asylum Press continues to be on the cutting edge of comic and graphic novel publishing. Asylum Press is distributed by Diamond Comics, Haven Distributors and Partners Publishers Group. Asylum Press can be found on the web at:www.asylumpress.com
ABOUT DCBS:
Discount Comic Book Service has been serving the comics community since 1999. With monthly specials up to 75% off and a minimum of 40% off of major publishers, DCBS offers great discounted prices on every item listed in the Previews catalog and a growing number of independently released titles through its First Light Program. DCBS has nearly 7,000 collected editions and graphic novels in stock and has flat rate shipping of just $5.95. www.dcbservice.com
ABOUT INSTOCKTRADES.com
InStock Trades offers a growing list of trade paperbacks, hardcovers, Absolute Editions, Omnibus Editions, and graphic novels. With nearly 7,000 titles in-stock, InStock Trades offers great discounted prices and as well as monthly specials on selected titles. Orders usually ship within 48 hours and all orders over $50 ship for free..
DCBS.com TO OFFER EXCLUSIVE SIGNED EDITION OF STEVE MANNION'S FEARLESS DAWN #1
ASYLUM PRESS ANNOUNCES IT HAS PARTNERED WITH ONLINE COMICS RETAILER DISCOUNT COMIC BOOK SERVICE TO OFFER A SIGNED EDITION OF FEARLESS DAWN #1
Feb. 27, 2009 (Los Angeles) Frank Forte, publisher of Asylum Press, has announced that DCBS.com (Discount Comic Book Service) will offer an exclusive signed edition of Fearless Dawn #1. The signed edition will be offered at the same $2.95 that the regular edition sells for.
"We want to give the fans something extra without breaking the bank," says publisher Frank Forte, " you can get an autograph at a con for free so why charge $10. Comics fans have limited funds just like the rest of us, and we want to give back. The regular and signed editions can be pre-ordered here:
http://www.dcbservice.com/search.aspx?search=fearless%20dawn
And a great intro to Fearless Dawn is The Bomb TP featured here:
http://www.instocktrades.com/product.aspx?id=50m&pid=9801
Jet riding good girl FEARLESS DAWN battles her arch nemesis Helga Von Krause in this mini-series from Steve Mannion. Fearless Dawn infiltrates the vaunted "Manitoba Sector" to discover the secret behind Helga's chemically-induced NAZI MONSTERS. Meanwhile, all is not well back at home base when Fearless Dawn's boss discovers our hero has broken probation and flown the coop! Join us now as Steve Mannion's beautifully rendered comic book tale unfolds in full-color glory! Fan's of Steve Mannion's The Bomb will love this new action-packed series. "I am excited to bring Fearless dawn to a full-color series," says creator Steve Mannion," this is a dream project and I'm having a blast."
"This is a great opportunity to showcase one of the great undiscovered comic illustrators of our time," says publisher Frank Forte. "Steve's dedication to the medium is unsurpassed. His pages are just a marvel to look at." Steve Mannion’s amazing artwork is a beautiful homage to classic comics of yesteryear, and it brings to mind the timeless styles of artists that include Wally Wood, Will Elder, and Robert Crumb. Page layouts vary in style as well, bringing back memories of old Archie Comics, to stuff you see as recently as Eric Powell’s The Goon!
Fearless Dawn website: www.fearlessdawn.com
Fearless Dawn production blog: http://fearlessdawn.blogspot.com/
Fearless Dawn preview: http://www.fearlessdawn.com/FD_1_preview.html
Title:Fearless Dawn #1 (of 4)
Publisher:Asylum Press
Format/Price: SC, color $2.95, 32 pages
Still available from Asylum Press is Steve Mannion's The Bomb TPB. This huge compilation features Steve Mannion at his unfiltered best spinning yarns of his favorite creations: Fearless Dawn, Sea Goin' Lil, Brownhole Jones, Helga Von Krause and Jungle Chick and the Dinosaur.
ABOUT ASYLUM PRESS:
Founded in 1999 by Frank Forte, Asylum Press is a unique publishing house specializing in high profile projects from some of the industry's biggest names. Publishing superhero comics with Warlash: Zombie Mutant Genesis, continuing their tradition of horror with Undead Evil, Satan’s 3-Ring Circus of Hell, the upcoming Asylum of Horrors and Beyond Lovecraft, venturing into dark humor with Billy Boy The Sick Little Fat Kid and The Cletus and Floyd Show, Asylum Press continues to be on the cutting edge of comic and graphic novel publishing. Asylum Press is distributed by Diamond Comics, Haven Distributors and Partners Publishers Group. Asylum Press can be found on the web at:www.asylumpress.com
ABOUT DCBS:
Discount Comic Book Service has been serving the comics community since 1999. With monthly specials up to 75% off and a minimum of 40% off of major publishers, DCBS offers great discounted prices on every item listed in the Previews catalog and a growing number of independently released titles through its First Light Program. DCBS has nearly 7,000 collected editions and graphic novels in stock and has flat rate shipping of just $5.95. www.dcbservice.com
ABOUT INSTOCKTRADES.com
InStock Trades offers a growing list of trade paperbacks, hardcovers, Absolute Editions, Omnibus Editions, and graphic novels. With nearly 7,000 titles in-stock, InStock Trades offers great discounted prices and as well as monthly specials on selected titles. Orders usually ship within 48 hours and all orders over $50 ship for free..
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